So the trip went relatively well until the return from Inuvik. About 80 kms north of Eagle Plains, I hit a deep patch of gravel and high-sided at about 50 kmh. I was out for about five minutes- it appears that I held on to Big Blue throughout, and so rode the Dempster on my face. Thank the gods for my excellent helmet. It took me three or four days to make it to Whitehorse for proper medical attention. It seems that I am made of titanium - no breaks in my back, neck or hip - just a lot of bruises and a damaged rotator cuff.
Big Blue was hauled off the Dempster to Eagle Plains by a passing trucker. She started the very next day, and short of some plastic that has now been crazy glued together, and some "character scuffs" on the crash bars and, oddly enough the front brake reservoir, she is good to go. She was loaded up today in Eagle Plains and should be back in Edmonton in the next few days. The owner of Eagle Plains, Stan, is a prince of a man who looked after my brother and I very well.
Next year I will go back and finish the ride. I'll be f*&#ed if I will survive the Taliban only to be defeated by a road.