Not bad range of travel...
December 22, 2011
April 26, 2011
Hail in Oklahoma
April 26, 2011
Trying to make it to Dodge City, Kansas when I ran into this in the panhandle of Oklahoma. As I was looking at the black clouds ahead of me, a police officer came roaring up with lights flashing. He stopped and said, "turn around! Don't go there. Dangerous weather."
The next day I found out that the storm dropped 4" of hail.
April 12, 2011
Riding Outside of Vegas
April 12, 2011
North Shore Road, Valley of Fire State Park, Nevada
Amazing ride through Valley of Fire State Park just outside of Las Vegas. Beautiful road, beautiful country, wonderful time.
April 11, 2011
April 10, 2011
April 9, 2011
States on my Triumph Bonneville, (so far)
Currently snowed in in Flagstaff, AZ with my friend Robby. Nice day of rest. Helped shovel out some of Robby's elderly neighbors. Robby is a good hearted fellow.
Yesterday my ride through northeast New Mexico was absolutely spectacular. I'd never seen much beauty in the plains. Well, my opinion has changed. It was some of the most spectacular land I have ever seen. I didn't take any pictures knowing how short they would fall from the actual experience.
April 8, 2011
State Lines
Another magnificent Oklahoma / New Mexico State Line marker off, you guessed it, "State Line Road." It's a dead straight dusty road that runs the length of the west boarder of the Oklahoma panhandle border with New Mexico. My only regret is that I didn't ride the whole thing. Next time....
April 7, 2011
Yup. Had to do it....
Oklahoma is big on Rt. 66 Museums. I came across both the official Oklahoma Museum and this, the National Museum. As expected, the national museum had a larger and more impressive sign.
I fully expected to find the "Official Route 66 Museum of the Universe, Sanctioned by God" a couple of exits down I-40, but, no such luck. Maybe that will be my next business...
Corner of Oklahoma, Texas anD New Mexico
This is the glorious corner of Texas, Oklahoma, and New Mexico. This os not the northwest corner of the Tezas Panhandle. That State Corner, bordering only New Mexico, is about a mile west of this point. None of the locals knew, or particularly cared, how such a idiotic bit of survey took place. My guess is that the survey was done in a smoke filled room in Washington by inebriated politicians. More research is required to sort out this puzzle.
Take a look at a map to see what I mean.
April 6, 2011
On The Road in Oklahoma.
Today, Day 4, started with a drive by Graceland. Quite a place.
Then, I crossed the Missippi and touched Arkansas for the first time. I'm sure glad I didn't go through great effort to see the State. It's probably the least interesting state in the country. Purdue Chicken, Bill Clinton, and Walmart are the very est poor Arkansas has to offer.
Next, without much fanfare, comes Oklahoma. This may have been my first visit to the "OK" state. Haven't been impressed by anything yet, but my hopes are high. Right now I'm staying somewhere in the middle of Oklahoma near not a damn thing worth anything.
April 5, 2011
Snow in SW Virginia on April 5.
This was the low point of Day3. I started out in a light drizzle that turned driving rain, and finally culminated in sleet. This photo was at an exit with nothing. No gas station, no restaurant, nothing, and I was freezing. I was finally told that the exit 10 miles ahead had a restaurant. Long freezing ass ride took me to a restaurant with a fireplace. I ate my muffin and drank coffee for three hours.
As the forecast predicted, the violent weather passed. I was lucky not to have been in the hot spots of the storm. There were a number of fatalities in the region from the storm.
Most of my day was spent traversing Tennesse. What a great state. Beautiful hills and mountains in the Northeast corner, and then as I-40 approaches Nashville the hills flatten to the smooth western half. I spent the night in Memphis at a cheap motel outside of downtown. When I was looking for a room, everything downtown was either booked or charging New York prices. My place was just fine, maybe 5 miles from Beulle St.
Beulle Street was great, but somewhat sadly reminds me of Key West. Sort of a Bad Boy Disneyland. Sadly there are many 50 & 60 year olds who need a place to go to imagine being wild and carefree. I guess in that regard, it's probably a good thing.
April 4, 2011
Plan for Day 3???
I'm giving some thought to a 1,000 mile day tomorrow. If I do it, I'll earn the coveted "IRON BUTT" patch. Guess it all depends what time I wake up, and whether I feel like it at the end of the day.
The weather is forecast to be great.....
MOUSE OR MAN (Iron Butt)?
Day 2, April 4, 2002
Lunch Visit with Chuck and Lisa in Washington.
Day 2 started at a "No Tell Motel" in the shadow of the Meadowlands Stadium in NJ. The satellite weather showed bad stuff approaching from the west. Wisely, I decided to abandon my plan to head west through PA, and instead headed South down the NJ Tpk. Smooth riding, and on my second fill up, I decided to give Chuck a call, and got an invitation for lynch. Had a delicious vegan meal at an Indian restaurant. Delicious meal.
From DC headed west on Rt 66 to I-81 down the western boarder of Virginia. Beautiful ride.
My good fortune continued as a downpour waited to begin until I pulled off the interstate in Fort Chiswell, VA. I not rest in a lovely "Super8 Hotel." watching the Butlet vs. U Conn NCAA final. The Fort Chiswell, VA Super8 Motel is a marvelous facility with a gracious front desk clerk who offer that I park my bike under the front canopy out of he rain. All this, plus WIFI, for the reasonable price of $49 per night. Life simply can't get better than this.
April 3, 2011
Day 1, On The Road, March 3, 2011
Day 1 started a little latter than planned. Getting the girls, Chloe & Lilly" off to the Sargents, and final packing resulted in a noon start down the road.
First stop was a quick visit with Annie at Deerfield. She was is good health and spirits. I layed off some excessive stuff that I had considered essential just 1 and 1/2 hour before. Annie graciously took the junk off my hands, but not without a jab, "I guess this is what happens when 'The Heides' isn't home to help!"
Little jerk.
My next stop was "The Meadolands" as Virginia's guest in the mega luxury box to watch Syracuse kick Duke's buttoux. It was a real joy to eat and drink on Virginia's professional reputation.
"the Liz" & "The Sean" were also in attendance. "The Sean" is "Still Dangerous". Yea!
March 21, 2011
March 14, 2011
March 9, 2011
Florida Keys, A Long Time Ago
In truth, I just figured out how to use Photo Shop on my iPad. Pretty cool, at least I think.
March 7, 2011
Euphemistically called "Winter Mix"
It shouldn't be called "Winter Mix." It should be called, "Crap." I marvel at how many people live in New England and tolerate this terrible weather.
March 3, 2011
March 2, 2011
February 28, 2011
February 11, 2011
Five Days of Travel
1,650 Miles
A leisurely five days of travel.
The first day, as I've said, was one cold "mothaa." Starting in snow was not what I was anticipating.
The second day was a beauty. Although it started out way too cold, the adventure down the outer banks was spectacular. Two ferry rides, and may miles of smooth (thanks Obama bucks), deserted straight roads tucked between sand dunes.
The third, and longest, day was 445 miles from Dillon, SC to Palm City, FL. Although I-95 was far less interesting than the prior two days, the warmer weather was welcome.
The fourth day started with the long haul down I-95 in Florida. It's about as beautiful as the Garden State Parkway. However, at the bottom of Florida are the Keys. The 125 mile drive of the Florida Keys is spectacular.
After a couple of days in Key West, the drive up to Useppa Island was great. The trip back across the Keys was enhanced by spectacular blue skies and puffy white clouds. Then the ride across Route 41, the Tamiami Trail which of course follows the Tamiami canal is a place where breakdowns would be no fun. I could only imagine the reptiles who would want me for dinner if I ventured off the road.
February 10, 2011
February 3, 2011
Florida at it's finest....
Great schlock at a bar at the South end of Pine Island Florida. $1.00 Budweiser bottles here. All class.
February 2, 2011
Florida Keys
The Florida Keys have everything that is American. There is majestic natural beauty next to miniature golf courses featuring King Kong. This is Harley country.
Actually, to give credit where credit is due, the Keys are motorcycle friendly. Hundreds of bikes on the road. Road side signs that say, "Look Twice for Motorcycles." And, free motorcycle parking everywhere.
All in all, a pretty decent place. If only they would stop asking, "What year is it?"
February 1, 2011
Middle of the Florida Keys
Fully loaded leaving Key West. Great feeling riding across the bridges and keys of South Florida.
January 30, 2011
The Shadow
The Shadow
Lost and Found
Volunteers for Leukemia
The result is what you see.
January 29, 2011
Ferry
Ferry from Hatteras to Oacracoke Island. Forty minute free ride.
I missed the 8:00 AM ferry due to the fog between Nags Head and Hatteras. My plan had been to ctch the 8:00 AM giving me and hour and one-half to ride the length of Oacracoke and catch the 10:00 AM Ferry to Cedar Island. The Ferry to Cedar Island takes almost 2 hours, and if you miss it, it is four hours to the next ferry
January 28, 2011
Dawn on Hatteras
Frost and Fog
Not sure why, but my early morning start was slow going because of visibility the temp was below freezing, and my windscreen and helmet shield wouldn't clear. The temp made going bare eyed impossible. In any case, I missed the 8:00 ferry, but had a nice ride regardless.
January 27, 2011
Day 1: Richmond VA to Nags Head, NC
February 27, 2010
Woke up early at friend Laura Wright's house for an early start on my adventure south to Florida on my trusty Triumph Bonneville T-100. However, "but what to my wondering eyes should appear," but 2 inches of snow and no tiny reindeer. This bit of empirical data gave me just the excuse I needed to roll over and go back to sleep.
10:00 AM seemed like a good time to go downstairs, brew some coffee, and suit up for the ride.
11:00 AM found me, suited, loaded and on the road. My ride began on the west end of the road headed east leading to the State Capital at the road's terminus at the east end. Monument Avenue in Richmond is a truly remarkable road, especially for a Northerner with little appreciation for Southern history. Monument Avenue was laid out in 1887 and most of the buildings in the historic area were built between the turn of the century and about 1930. The road is an old style four lane boulevard with a lush green (white on this day) median with beautiful mature trees. The well maintained Southern mansions line each side of the beautiful street. Every few blocks have massive monuments to Richmond's heros. The Lee Monument is easily the largest and grandest of the statues on Monument Avenue. Bronze tablets attached to the sides of the base say simply, "LEE." The horse and rider was unveiled in 1890.
General Lee
Monument Avenue, Richmond, VA
(behind a beauty of a ride)
On the West end on Monument Avenue is a monument honoring Richmond native Arthur Ashe.
Arthur Ashe
Monument Avenue, Richmond, VA
From Monument Avenue I found Rt. 60 and headed uneventfully toward Norfolk, VA. The temperature this day never reached 40 degrees, so I was happy to have my new heated gloves.
The ride was uneventful, and I arrived in Nags Head around 5:00 PM and found a room in the Quality Inn.
In total the first day was 177 miles. Not many miles, but a start on the road.
Day 1
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