There were 11,000 miles between Bryant Mixon and at least 13 other bikers who wanted to make a difference for children in need.
By Sunday, the miles were behind them, and they were starting to unwind the memories. Mixon, a 62-year-old former Dale County Sheriff, was expected to return to Ozark today after his trip to Alaska to raise money through pledges for the SKI-HI Institute, an organization committed to enhancing the lives of children with special needs.
Mixon set out on the trip July 1 and made it to Alaska on July 12 after raising more than $2,500. His goal was to raise $1,000.
Mixon said in an e-mail that most of the route in British Columbia West and the Yukon Territory was without gas stations and other amenities for hundreds of miles at a time. One Alaska town did not even have a paved road.
He had to use his own wits for protection on the route to avoid wild animals, he wrote.
He loaded down with souvenirs on the way.
“It is different, but that is the attraction. I literally drove 124 miles one day without meeting an automobile,” he wrote. “But as you know, I like food. The farther into the wild we went the better the food. I can’t explain that, but it is reality.”
Mixon said he drew interest in Ski-Hi Institute after learning about Dr. Mike Tuccelli, a University of Florida professor who is also hearing-impaired. Tuccelli started motorcycling to Alaska eight years ago to help the institute, Mixon said. Three of those years were completed alone on a motor scooter.
According to his Web site, Tuccelli’s goal is to make the journey to Alaska for decades to come.
Mixon said it might take a few days before he makes such a commitment.
“It is very physically and mentally challenging to ride a motorcycle 500 miles every day through excessive heat, cold , fog , severe thunderstorms and on occasion big city freeway traffic,” he wrote.
“But there was great charity and this was an unbelievable experience! I met and enjoyed a lot of nice people along the way. The strangers I met and then rode over 11,000 miles with are now friends.”
For former Sheriff Bryant Mixon’s blog entries to and from Alaska, visit www.dothaneagle.com/dea/eagle_ozark
or www.alaskabikerun.com for pictures and live updates
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