We're Home!!!

We arrived home today at about 4:45 pm under cloudy skies. We left Danville this morning in the first rain since the 2nd day of our trip. It was just a light on and off sprinkle until we stopped for lunch at Stingray's at the Cape Center just this side of the Bridge Tunnel. As we left after lunch it became a light steady rain until just before Exmore when it returned to a light drizzle again. By the time we reached the Maryland line we had riden out of the rain and would have no more the rest of the way.

While we were sad the trip had come to an end we were all glad to be home where we wouldn't have to check into another motel again and to sleep in our own beds. Perhaps the best part is no 6 am alarm tomorrow morning. Everyone arrived home safely and except for a few lost items, a dead battery and a new tire the trip went without any problems. In a day or two I will write some more to wrap this all up. I may even go back and rewrite some of the posts I had to write in a hurry. Well that's it for tonight. It's good to be home!!!

Plans Change!

Day 25:
I ended last nights blog by saying we pan to ride to Grandfather Mountain and then some of the Blue Ridge Parkway. Well after scrutinizing the map a little closer I decided that might not be a good idea as Grandfather Mountain was about 50 miles out of the way in North Carolina. I had thought it was in Virginia and up ahead of us. I decided Grandfather Mountain was better left for another trip. Instead we rode Rt. 58 which runs across the bottom of Virginia from Abingdon to Va Beach. It is a winding mountain road which runs up and over the Blue Ridge Mountains. It is a great motorcycle road as evidenced by the number of fellow motorcyclists we met going the other way. We found a nice restaurant in Hillsville and had a great lunch. It was just one of those places you pull into on an impulse and it turns out to be a place you want to remember for future trips. They even had strawberry shortcake for only $1.00!!! Shortley after we left there Kathy wanted me to pull into a gift store we happened upon coming around a curve. It was a really nice place with collectables, food produce, baked goods and anything you could imagine. We spent 30 to 40 minutes there before we got back on the road. We checked into our last motel about 5:30 pm. The only room they had was a suite. It was real nice with a very large room, two queen beds and a livingroom area. Tomorrow we begin our final leg as we ride the last 355 miles of our trip. We hope to get home sometime between 2 and 4 pm. Though the time has passed too quickly it will be good to be home.

Almost Home!

Day 24:
Today we rode 411 miles to Kingsport, Tn. For the first time since Williams, Arizona we have finally left I-40. We are just over 500 miles from home. We should arrive sometime Sunday afternoon. Tomorrow we hope to go to Grandfather Mountain and ride some of the Blue Ridge Parkway. If all goes as planned we should end up in Charlottesville, Va. tomorrow night.

A visit to a King! Of Rock and Roll that is!

Day 23:
Today was a slow day for a couple reasons. First while checking my tires this morning I noticed a cut running the circumference of the tire right in the center tread groove. As luck would have it there was a Harley dealer just a couple hundred yards from the motel we were staying at. I arrived just about 10 minutes after they opened and they took me right in. After talking to the customer rep for the Harley Davidson extended warranty they determined since it could have been caused by running over something they would cover it under the wheel and tire provision of my warranty at no expense to me. After a couple hours I had a new tire and also had my rear brake pads replaced. Total bill was $75.00 for the brake pads and installation. Finally around 10:45 am we were on the road but not for too long.

About 130 miles later we arrived in Memphis, TN. where it was soon determined we were going to go to Graceland. We toured Elvis's home and were really surprised just how modest his home was. With all the money he had I expected marble & gold and such all over the place but while his home was nicely furnished it was pretty much just a small family home. We saw his cars, motorcycles, awards, costumes from his shows and movies and even toured his private jets. Again these were not as extravagant as you might expect of someone of his wealth.

By the time we resumed travel it was almost 6:00 pm. After fighting traffic to get out of Memphis and back on I-40 we manage to travel about 60 -70 more miles to Jackson, TN. where we found a motel and had a good steak dinner. Tomorrow I would like to reach the Virginia line and perhaps get as far as Blacksburg, Va. We'll see.

The above photos are of Kathy and I outside of Graceland and of a bronze statue of Elvis at the Tennessee Welcome Center.

Little Rock

Day 22:
When we left Elk City this morning the skies were mostly sunny and it was warming fast. There was no sign of the storms that came through overnight. By about 10 am there was not a cloud in sight. The temperature eventually reached 92 degrees today. We stopped at at a place called Cherokee Trading Post for breakfast. Afterward we browsed the gift shop where Kathy found a couple rings she liked. I believe Ginny bought something too but I am not sure what. there were some pictures we liked but they don't ship pictures. In spite of the time spent there we still managed to do about 450 miles, the longest day of the trip so far. We ended the day at Little rock Arkansas. we should get well into Tennessee tomorrow though I am not sure just where we will end the day. It will depend on if we stop anywhere or not.

Headin' Home

Day 21:
We left Morority, N.M. this morning under mostly sunny skies which eventually turned to clear blue skies. We traveled through the rest of New Mexico and across the panhandle of Texas and ended the day in Elk City, Oklahoma. We had a great dinner at the Western Sizzlin' Steakhouse where we all ate way to much. I didn't remember how flat Texas was at the panhandle. In some places it was like looking out over the ocean. Tomorow I hope to make Conway, Arkansas. While there were thunder storms in the area we managed once again to avoid them. Hopefully our luck will hold out. I hope to make it home by Saturday so Kathy can have a day off before she has to return to work. Well that's it until tomorrow night.

The Petrified Forest

Day 20:
Today we left Winslow, Arizona and headed for Moriarty, New Mexico. We made a stop just outside of Holbrook, Arizona. While it was pretty nice especially near the northern end it paled compared to the likes of Yosemite, Grand Canyon, Canyonlands etc. While rain threatened and we even caught a sprinkle we managed to avoid the rain once again. Tomorrow we should finish the day in either East Texas or West Oklahoma. That's it for today. Mostly we will just be heading home from here on. We should arrive as planned sometime Sunday.

What a Grand Day!!!

Day 19:
Today we headed for the south rim of the Grand Canyon. The only way I can describe the views is by letting the pictures do the talking. The weather was great and we finally ended the day in Winslow, Arizona. tomorrow we will visit the Petrified Forest and then head east for somewhere in New Mexico. That's it for tonight. Like I said I am letting the pictures do the talking tonight. If you haven't already tried it you can view the photos full size by clicking on them.

Jeepin'!

Day 17: Today we headed to the bottom of the Grand Canyon via Jeep! We started out in a bus to Grand Canyon Caverns, the largest dry cavern in the US. We took the tour which was included in the price and lasted about 45 minutes or so. It was interesting but didn't compare to the caverns in the east. After the caverns we got into the jeeps to begin our trip to the canyon. The dirt road was about 18 miles or more long and very rough. the scenery was outstanding and the driver kept us informed of what we were seeing and other interesting facts about the canyon and the desert. We arrived at the Colorado river where we had lunch and had about an hour to explore and wade in the river. Soon it was time to load back up for the return trip. Along the way we had the good fortune to see two wild burros. This is a rare event since a roundup a few months ago. They were friendly and came to our jeep where we feed them some leftover apples. After the apples were gone and everyone had enough photos we resumed our trip to the top. We got back on the buss and headed back to Williams but not before a stop in Seligman at Snow Caps, a 50's era drive in restaurant. After snow balls or ice cream and more photos it was back on the bus. We will spend tonight in Williams and tomorrow we are going to the south rim and then on to at least Flagstaff, Arizona.

The Mother Road

Day 17:
The sun was shining and the air was warm as we pulled out of Kingman, AZ. We rode east on US 66 making a stop in Seligman, AZ. Seligman is a town that has preserved a lot of the flavor of Rt 66 in it heyday. The shops are maintained in the period and are full of all kinds of memorabilia and souveniers. After a little browsing around and picture taking we grabbed some pie and coffee at the Road Kill Cafe before heading on to Williams, AZ. In Williams we had already decided that Kathy and I as well as Roger and Ginny would stay behind as we wanted to visit the Grand Canyon and the others prefered to continue on toward home. It was not an easy decision for me but I couldn't come this close to the Grand Canyon and not go. Too soon we had to say our goodbyes and wish each other a safe ride home. After we found a room we did some more browsing of the shops in Williams. After dinner we booked a jeep tour to the bottom of the Grand Canyon. As you can see Kathy and I ran into a bit of trouble in Seligman but manged to get out of town ok. It is near midnight and I am just finishing up this post from yeasterday. I will have to wait until tomorrow to post todays jeep ride int the Grand Canyon. Sorry!

Heading to Route 66

Day 16:
We left Las Vegas amid a bit of confusion. Bernie called me in the morning and said his oil was a quart low and asked me to pick up a quart for him. I forgot to mention in yesterdays post that Bernie and Shirley stayed at Shirley's sisters house in Las Vegas. Well we found the Harley shop again with no trouble and got the oil. we were to meet them at McDonalds at 9:30 am. We rode all over Las Vegas trying to find the McDonalds. Finally about an hour late we found it. After that we hit hte road to ride over the Hoover Dam and then on to Kingman, Arizona. The day started out hot but soon became overcast which really cooled things nicely. We got seperated enroute to Kingman and one half of the group had no idea where the other was. In Kingman though we all got back together and had a great lunch at little place on Rt. 66 called Mr. D’Z. the food was good, the waitresses very friendly and there were lots of Rt. 66 clothing and gifts for the ladies to browse while we waited for the food to arrive. After lunch we checked into the the Knight's Inn and went back into town to do laundry. While Kathy and Ginny did the laundry I sat outside watching the trains go by. It seems one came by every 10 to 15 minutes and each one had at least 4 locomotives and well over 100 cars. Almost all were carring truck trailers. Anyway we finished laundry and got back to the motel in time to head out to the Cracker Barrel for a light dinner since we had a lte lunch barely 3 hours earlier. Tomorrow we ride Rt. 66 and then head for the Grand Canyon. Sadly we have to leave the group here as Bernie, Shirley, Sheila and Don want to continue on I-40 towards home. ginny and Roger will be traveling with us to the Grand Canyon and on to points as yet undetermined. Sorry for the poor quality of the writing and the lack of photos but we have been having some long days and some with no internet. We have to rise early each day so most of this gets done in a hurry so we can get to bed. I hope to slow the pace a bit over the coming days and try to get more photos in and some better writing.

Las Vegas

Day 15:
In my last post I forgot to mention we stayed in Bishop, Ca. We left about 7 am and the air was cool. We were heading to Death Valley. It didn't take long for the temperature to start to rise. I don't know how hot it got but it was over 100 degrees for sure. Just before we entered death Valley we stopped for gas and found the gas prices were the only thing higher than the temperature at over $4.00 a gallon. Unfortunately soon after we passed the entry to Death Valley we took a left turn and headed out of Death Valley. We only reached sea level. Death Valley is 282 feet below sea level. Oh well, perhaps another time. We proceeded on to Las Vegas where Bernie and I took our bikes to get the oil changed at Las Vegas Harley Davidson. When we arrived our bikes were covered with 15 days of dirt and bugs from coast to coast. when they came out you couldn't recognize them as they were all cleaned up. while the oil change was a bit high the clean bikes were well worth it.
After we were done there we headed to the old part of Las Vegas to spend the night. We checked in to the Fitzgerald Hotel for $29.00. It was a really nice hotel right on Fremont street which has been closed to traffic and has become sort of a mall where there are vendors and shows going on all day and night. The best show is the overhead jumbo vision show which plays on a jumbo screen about 200 yards long. The shows are music videos and play on the hour and half hour. We also saw a band called Yesterday which is a Beatles tribute band . They were really good. Tomorrow we will head for Kingman, Arizona.

Catching Up!

Day 12, 13 & 14:
First I am going to change up a bit to save some time. I am going to do three days in one entry. Also this entry will replace the update I posted last night. I am posting a few pictures of the redwood, the Pacific coast and Yosemite. You can figure out which is which.

Going back to the 12th which would be Sunday the 21st. We got a relatively late start today which was planned so we could sleep in a bit. After breakfast we headed off the Avenue of the Giants. These trees are so huge you have to see them to believe them. We first visited a tree called the Chimney tree. It is a broken hollow tree that is still alive and producing leaves branches and cones. You can walk into it's trunk and look up at the sky through it. We then started out riding through the Avenue when we made a stop at one of the pullovers. we wandered the woods in awe of these massive giants. You could hear them creaking as they swayed with the wind. We made a few more stops including the visitors center where we learned a lot about these trees. For instance while these trees can top 300 feet their roots rarely go more than 6 feet into the ground. After riding through one tree on the Avenue we headed to Legget to ride through perhaps the most famous of all trees, the Chandelier Tree. This tree is a 2400 year old tree with a square cutout in the base you can drive a full size pickup through. Most likely you have seen a photo of this tree as it appears in almost any publication or tv documentery about the redwoods.

Day 13:
The next morning was cool and clear as we headed to the famous route 1 that travels virtually the entire coast of California and Oregon. It is also considered by many motorcycle publications as one of the best motorcycle roads in the country. We stopped for breakfast were I told everyone I had been thinking of riding to San Francisco on Highway 1 and taking some pictures at the Golden Gate. Roger and Ginny decide they wanted to go too. The trip was almost 200 miles just to San Francisco but was well worth it. We had the Pacific Ocean to our right most of the way. The Sky was clear so the ocean had the deep blue color it is famous for. We had a great lunch at a general store and arrived at the Golden Gate around 5:00 pm. After looking around we had a good dinner at a good price for Fisherman's Wharf. After taking time to look a little more and take a few photos we headed for Placerville about 130 miles. We arrived at the motel around 10 pm. It was a long day but a very good day. Even after close to 400 miles of hard riding no one regretted takinvg the ride.

Day 14:
Finally today we rode to Yosemite N.P. It was a very impressive park with huge rock cliffs, clear rushing river and waterfalls that fall hundreds of feet. We reached elevations of over 9000 feet and rode among the snow covered peaks. the temperture ranged from comfortably cool or cold depending on who you asked to hot as in over 90 degrees. The temperture rose and fell as the altitude rose and fell. All in all Yosemite is a very beautiful park and worth another visit if I can in the future.

Our luck with the weather is still holding out. Except for the first 2 days we have had no rain. The past few days have been sunny with cool mornings and warm afternoons. Tomorrow we should encounter the hottest day of the trip as we head to Death Valley. I will get that blog up ASAP.

Heading to the Redwoods

Day 11:
Sorry it took so long to resume the blog but for the last two days we have been staying in a motel that only had dial up internet and I didn’t know how or if I could connect to it or not.

Once again we hit the road with cool temperatures and sunny skies and not even a hint of rain. Like yesterday it warmed quickly and we had a nice day as we rode from Carson City, Nevada to Garberville, California. We have seen quite a few beautiful sights on this trip and it is hard to say which was the best but it would be hard to find a more beautiful sight than the that of snow capped mountains combined with the deep blue waters of Lake Tahoe. It was like riding into a photo in National Geographic. Even after leaving Lake Tahoe the scenery kept on coming as we wound our way around the curves and switchbacks of the mountains of northern California, This time of year is typically a dry season in California and this year is no different as the hills and grasslands were all a golden brown. The brown hills were a good contrast for the evergreen trees growing on them and made for some beautiful pictures. After we stopped for lunch in Linda, California the winds picked up and made riding a little more challenging but not so much so that it was unpleasant. What some people did find unpleasant was the unseasonably cold temperatures we encountered a little later in the day. It was much warmer when we were in 2000 and the girl at the motel said it is usually much warmer.

We encountered a little problem though when after stopping for a break Roger’s bike wouldn’t start. We determined his battery was dead. However luck was on our side as there happened to be a NAPA store right next door. Though it was getting late the store was still open and had a battery in stock. After about 30 minutes or so we had the battery changed and got back on the road. The 68 miles to Garberville were cool but very scenic as the trees got bigger and bigger. The last few miles before reaching Garberville we got a sneak peek as to what is in store for us tomorrow as we passed several big redwoods as well as some of the attractions in the area such as the store in a tree and the one log cabin. Tomorrow we will go out to the Avenue of the giants, the drive through tree etc. I should have some great pictures to post by then.

The Loneliest Road

From top to bottom: A view down US 50 in Nevada also known as the Loneliest Highway, Me behind a jailhouse door in Ely, Nevada and a photo of a mountain along US 50 in Nevada.








Day 10:
Today we left Ely, Nevada to ride what is known as the Loneliest highway. The photo of me above in Ely was taken at our motel known as "the Jailhouse". The name comes from the fact it is built on the site of the old jailhouse. The cell door is all that remains. While the day started out cool it quickly warmed as we headed out under a clear blue sky. I mean not a cloud to be found anywhere. It remained that way until in the early afternoon when a few billowy white clouds started showing up but that was about it for the rest of the day. By then it was starting to get hot although it was still cool by desert standards. Along the way we stopped at about 6 different towns to get our "I survived the Loneliest Road" books stamped. We turned them in at the last stop and should receive a certificate soon proving we rode the road. we ended the day early in Carson City, Nevada. We took advantage of the short day by catching up on laundry. Tomorrow we should finally reach California sometime in the morning. Our final destination for the day is as yet undetermined but we could reach the redwoods by the end of the day. We'll see tomorrow.

Green River, Colorado to Ely, Nevada

Day 9:
This will be a short entry tonight. Today was an unusually cool day. It was uncomfortably cold for a while but the rest of the day was ok. Basically today was just a travel day. Again we rode through some very scenic country, dodged some more showers and had a very good ride. Again tomorrow will be another travel day so I don't know how much I will have to write tomorrow. Since we had no internet last night and I am writing two tonight from the same weak connection I still have no photos. Will get some more posted ASAP!

2 Great National Parks and 1 Great Road!!!

Day 8:
What a great day today was. We got up this morning and rode to Arches N.P. first. The weather was great and the park was unbelievable. The red rocks and the bright greens of the trees and shrubs you would have to see yourself to believe. We rode all through the park and then went back to Moab for some lunch before heading to Canyonlands N.P. Again the views were fantastic. you could watch storm clouds in the distance pouring rain that was eventually to come our way. When the storms drew near we took off. It looked at times that the rain would catch up to us but we managed to stay ahead of them. We returned once more to Moab for dinner that night before heading off to Green River, Colorado via Rt. 128. We rode alongside the Colorado River through canyons and valleys that rivaled anything we had seen already that. Why the land laong that route is not a national park is a mystery to me. Once again the storms played games with us as we headed west on I-70 to Green River and again me got away from them. While at a rest stop about 40 miles from Green River we saw a double rainbow coming from one of the storms. I guess it was natures way of saying that we won today. The conection at the motel tonight is weak and won't allow me to post any pictures. I will try to do a slide show whenever we get a strong enough signal and if I figure out how to do it. In any event I will post pictures.

Across the Rockies to Moab Utah!!

Day 7:
Today had to be the best day of our trip so far. Although we rode over 365 miles today it didn't seem that far as the scenery was absolutely unbelievable. Every time you thought it it couldn't get any better it did. We headed out of Canon City about 7:30 am and headed across the Rockies on US 50. Our first stop was at Monarch pass where you see Kathy and myself at the sign marking the Continental Divide at Monarch Pass. Though we were wearing our rain suits the sky was clear. The suits served as windbreakers as it was fairly cool though no where near as cold as Pikes Peak. While there they were having a bicycle rally with thousands of bicyclists riding over 40 miles across the mountain. After we left Monarch we rode on to Moab Utah where we will spend the night. Like I said before "Every time you thought it it couldn't get any better it did" but as we approached Moab it really got better. Due to the possibility of rain which never came Kathy put the camera away. Since we will be spending most of the day tomorrow here we will take pictures then and I will post pictures tomorrow night. Tomorrow we go to Arches N.P. and Canyonlands N.P. and will probably spend the night in Green River only about 50 miles or so from here. By the way, most of the photo credits go to Kathy as she does 99% of the photography on the trip.

The Rockies At Last!

Day 6:
When we arrived in the Rockies on Sunday evening June 16th. One of the first sites to greet us was the snow covered peak of Pike Peak, our destination for today. We left our motel in Pueblo and headed over to Pikes Peak. We arrived in plenty of time to purchase our tickets and boxed lunches to eat on the Cog Railway which would take us to the top. The train pulled out on time at 12:00 pm and we enjoyed the ride to the top. The scenery was unbelievable as we took the hour plus ride to the top. As we rose higher above the clouds the temperature dropped lower and lower. At the top there was plenty of wind and snow. They had a 3 foot snowfall just a few day earlier. The thin air was affecting everyone and that combined with the extreme cold limited the number of pictures we took. After we returned to the bottom we rode the 45 miles to Canon City where we spent the night. Tomorrow we will visit Royal Gorge which is only a few miles from here. After a short visit there we will set out across the Rockies and the continental divide to our destination for the day in Moab Utah.

Heading to Pueblo.

Day 5:
The day started out sunny and warm as we pulled out of Garden City Kansas but soon turned much cooler. The ride across Kansas was not the most exciting ride in the world as the roads were long and straight. The scenery changed little as the land is flat and bare as far as you can see. The smell of the cattle feed lots followed us across most of the state. Things began to change though as we neared the Colorado state line. The trees became more plentiful, the land started to rise and fall and the roads started to twist and turn a bit. Once in Colorado we made our first sight seeing stop of the trip. We visited Lamar Colorado to see the gas station made of petrified wood that is in the above photo of Kathy and I. It is just an empty building now. Just a few blocks away was a park with a statue of the "Madonnas of the Trail" (see above) this statue is one of twelve across the country honoring the contributions of the pioneer women who helped build this country, The statues are all the same but each one has it's own inscription. After our visit there it was on to Pueblo, Colorado.

Getting Out of Dodge!

Day 4:
I know we were supposed to be heading to Dodge, not getting out of Dodge but more on that later. The day started out on a great note with sunny skies and warm temperatures. It didn't last long though. As we headed west toward Kansas it quickly became cloudy and the temperatures began to drop. Nothing drastic but enough to require medium jacket. It threatened rain but fortunately it never arrived. By the time we crossed into Kansas though the sun had finally broken through and the temperatures began climbing back to normal. Soon the jackets were put away and we were off again. The scenery started changing in Kansas to flater ground and very few trees. You could see for miles over flat land with little to obstruct your view. It was apparent we were in cattle country by the numerous cattle farms and stockyards we passed along the way. soon we arrived in Kinsley, Kansas at a place they call Midway USA. It is 1561 miles to both New York City heading east and 1561 miles to San Francisco if your heading west. We stopped for a photo op and to browse the museum they had there. There were all sorts of antique farm and household equipment as well as photos, clothing and tools from many years ago though not so long that I couldn't remember some of them myself. After the museum it was off to Dodge to spend the night. Unfortunately we were unable to get a room in Dodge due to several events going on this weekend so we had to get out of Dodge! We ended up in Garden City, Kansas instead. Tomorrow we head for Pueblo, Colorado. Should be a short day. Only about 250 miles more or less.

Tipton, IN. to Bedford, MO.

Kathy and I on a break in Linn, IN.

Day 3:
Today we headed for Bedford, Mo. The weather forecast called for cloudy skies in the morning then clearing in the afternoon. For a while I was not sure he was right as it seemed the sun was never going to come out and perhaps we might even see some rain. Turns out though there was no need for concern as the sun did finally arrive around noon. Earlier in the day we crossed our first time zone from eastern to central daylight time. We hit our first milestone when at 12:03 PM we crossed the Mississippi River. We stopped at Bedford and checked into our motel. It was supposed to have wi fi but it didn't work. We headed out to a Mennonite buffet restaurant where we all ate far more than we should have. Back at the motel we played some cards before retiring for the night. We have a long day ahead of us tomorrow, about 410 miles. Destination, Dodge City Kansas. Hopefully I can get this posted then.

More Rain

Due to problems I have yet to figure out it won't let me post the blog from day one so I am incorporating it into this day two blog. I will fix it latter if I find the problem.

Day One:
Day one started off with a bit of confusion. Somehow I manged to ride right past the McDonald's on Kent Island where we were supposed to meet the others to have breakfast and begin our trip. It wasn't until I noticed the towers of the Chesapeake Bay Bridge that I realized something was wrong. To make a long story short we got together on the other side of the bay and we were off. The weather was pretty good though it became cloudy a little later on but that was ok. Even going around the inner loop of the DC beltway went pretty smoothly up to the last few miles. We came upon a backup about 2 or 3 miles from where we were supposed to get off onto US 50. It moved along pretty well and it was a good ride on to Parkersburg, W.V. We caught just enough rain around Clarksburg to make up put on our rainsuits but it wasn't enough to dampen our spirits. we have all ridden in much worse. The sun came out in Parkersburg and we checked into our motel and headed off to eat as we had all worked up a good appitite after a long days ride. We walked to a nearby restaurant and had a great time reliving the days events and looking forward to the next days ride which should take us to Bedford, Indiana. The weather channel says more rain and severe storms. We'll see tomorrow.

Day Two:

Like the weather man said it rained today. It started out not too bad. It was cloudy but so far it was dry. After eating the continental breakfast at the motel we headed out. I don't recall exactly when it started but I guess after about 45 minuted to a hour it started raining. It got hard briefly but soon became a little lighter but steady for a while. Since it was moving east and we were moving west we soon rode through it. for the rest of the day it was on an off with mostly dry or near dry roads most of the way to Bedford. We arrived in Bedford about 4:30 pm. After a brief search we found a Comfort Inn. This was a big improvement over last nights motel. The room was bigger and much nicer. We ate at the restaurant inside the motel. The food was good and the servings large and the price unbelievable, $5.99 for the entree and three sides. all the food was good and as last night we relived the day and looked forward to tomorrow. The forecast? Partly sunny and warm! It should be a great day to ride. We are heading to Tipton, MO.

36 Hours to go!

We're getting down to the wire now. Only 36 hours until we pull out to meet the rest of the group. I wanted this to be 24 hours to go but I am not getting up 5:30 in the morning to write this blog. Roger and Ginny will be meeting us here at our house Wednesday morning at 5:30 am. We will head over to Kent Island, Md where we will meet Bernie, Shirley, Don and Sheila at the McDonalds there for breakfast. Sheila is our ride leader. She has the ride all mapped out with each days planned destination. After breakfast we get to ride the Beltway around Washington D.C. That's always a lot of fun but after that the trip is on!!!
I thought we had stopped buying stuff last week. Since then we have bought a new helmet for me, two wind socks for the microphones on our intercom headsets and a pair of compact binoculars. there were a few other things Kathy had on hold at the Harley shop but she brought them home yesterday. Our prescriptions are being filled today so we should finally be ready to go. I still have to wash my bike tonight or early tomorrow. It was too hot to do it today so maybe this evening when it cools a little. If we are on schedule my next post will likely be Wednesday night from either Clarksburg or Parkersburg, W.V.

One week to go!

This time next week we will be on the road. This is only my second post since starting this. I will post daily once we get on the road assuming we have wi fi at the motels. If there is no wi fi I will still write in Word and copy and paste it here the next time we can get online. I will post each day as a separate entry.
Anyway we began some packing about 2 weeks ago. Tomorrow we are going to get the rest done. I am taking the bike in Friday for a new front tire. The rear should be fine. I'll keep an eye on it as we go as you should with any tire new or used.
Since my first entry I have added a luggage rack to my bike with an LED light bar. We have also purchased a new bag and a siren for my security system on my bike. I have removed my XM radio ( the subscription has expired plus I have an IPOD) and replaced my hand held microphone bracket for my CB radio. We haven't left the garage and this is getting expensive. I think we have just about everything we need now though. Kathy is getting a few more items from the Harley shop but nothing major.
It was 9 years ago today Kathy and I took our first cross country trip. Hope the weather this time matches what we had 9 years ago. Well that's it for this time. I'll add some photos to this later.

My First Blog!

This, as the title suggests, is my first attempt at a Blog. I am one of the 8 traveling across country with Ramblin' Rose who has a blog on here at http://sheilaclendaniel.blogspot.com/ . Kathy, my wife of over 38 years, will be on back with me. She has been riding with me as long as I have been riding. I hope to use this blog as a journal of our trip. We won't be pulling our trailer on this trip so I am not sure if I will have room on the bike for my laptop. If not this will be a short blog. I have named this blog "The Last Big Ride?" as I don't know if I will ever be able to do another cross country trip or not. Hopefully this one won't be the last thus the question mark but who knows what the future holds. This is my 2nd cross country trip with my first being in June of 2000 with 14 people on 7 bikes and a pickup. We took a more northern route than we are taking on this trip. So far the reality of this trip hasn't hit me yet. I was laid off my job of more than 33 years in February of this year. I don't have a job yet so I never expected to be doing this. Two things motivated me to make this trip though. First is that given the current situation I may never get another chance to do this again. Second is something Samuel Clemens, aka Mark Twain said “Twenty years from now you will be more disappointed by the things that you didn't do than by the ones you did do. So throw off the bowlines. Sail away from the safe harbor. Catch the trade winds in your sails. Explore. Dream. Discover.” Well that is what I intend to do. I may have some short term regrets but as the quotation says 20 years from now (probably a whole lot less) those regrets will be forgotton but I will remember until the day I die this trip. That's it for my first blog. I'll write more as we get closer to the departure date. If I calculate right that should be in 29 days.