End of August

For the first time in three years we are NOT riding for Torches Across America.

On the one hand I am sad because this noble effort appears to be failing.

On the other hand I am so happy NOT to be riding in the awful heat of the southwest at this time of year.

Went riding to the coast yesterday with our friends...roasted getting there and then FROZE until we headed back inland. A great day - no really silly drivers.

I am working for the census bureau for the next couple of months....I had forgotten just how silly the government could be!

August

Our summer adventure ended 3 weeks ago.

Poor Larry. He dropped his favorite GPS toward the end of our ride. Fortunately through one of the motorcycle forums he found someone that had the same GPS sitting around on a shelf.

We drove to Roseville to buy this relic (honest, it is older than dirt, no touch screen, no remote, no street names mentioned in the directions) for a reasonable price.

Nothing would have it but we drove secondary roads to get to Roseville. There were several turns that would have put us on dirt roads. We ignored Ms. GPS and ended up on a short section of dirt. Nothing like seeing the farm land in Northern California.

It was nice to visit with Larry's Aunt Rosemary in Sacramento and our friends in Wilton.

Sunday and Monday we set to work on the 5th wheel. Poor thing hadn't been used in 3 months. One type of ant had set up house in one of the walls....die you buggers, die! Now the 5th wheel is bug free and smelling fresh!

On returning home Larry installed the new kitchen faucet....one of my little projects that has been sitting around for years. It is SO nice. I haven't had a usable sprayer for years.

Yesterday we went to Santa Rosa where I purchased a new Husqvarna Viking sewing machine. (When we were in Sacramento I had seen one of these sewing machines in use and really liked it, but wanted to buy one closer to home.) Of course we also through in Macy's, COSTCO, Best Buy, Office Depot, Target, Bed, Bath & Beyond and Borders. There were a couple places I wanted to stop at but just ran out of energy!

I drove home via Ukiah so that we could go to Lucerne for Thai food. Looked forward to it all the way up Hwy 101...unfortunately the quality just wasn't up to par.

Home

Butterfly on my butterfly bush
Flowers at the Lassen National Park Visitor Center...north entrance
Lassen National Park
Larry's Bike in Lassen
My tan...thanks to a pair of water sandals!


My trike in Lassen.


We headed out early from Old Station and rode through Lassen National Park.

Last year when we rode through Lassen in June there was still plenty of snow. This year it looked like spring.

As we were leaving the visitor center a couple on a 2009 Yellow Goldwing rode in...they were from northern Arizona. Pretty bike with lots of chrome purchased from Wing Stuff. They had been camping with their Bunkhouse tent trailer for nearly 3 weeks. More power to them, I like motels!

New visitor's center on the south side.

We had moderate temperatures all the way to Williams, CA where we stopped for lunch at Granzella's....then the hot weather set in.

Good to be home. Loren obviously is better at watering the plants because it was a veritable jungle next to the driveway.

In the days we have been home we have been busy with 2 1/2 months of mail and assorted other maintenance items.

Yesterday we went to breakfast in Kelseyville with our friends. Good to be back.

Oregon to California

We departed Stanley around 11:30 yesterday. Made it as far as Burns, Oregon for the night.

We stayed at the Days Inn....I'd definitely recommend it and stay there again.

Today we rode to Old Station, California. We are staying at the Hat Creek Resort and Campground. This room is very nice...half the cost of the room in Jackson and lots more amenities! Only downside...dirty carpet.

We had a very nice ride today--I think we are just a little too tired to really enjoy all this wonderful scenery.

Tomorrow we will ride through Lassen National Park...and be home in time for dinner.

Two and one-half months on the road. I'm looking forward to cooking!

Idaho

When we departed Jackson Hole, Wyoming last week Larry found a route we had never been on...that led us to Howe, Idaho for awesome German food at Heidi's. (Those who went to Billings in 2000 may remember this place).

Larry had set the GPS for Sunshine Village, Idaho...nothing there but a bunch of nice guys trying to make a living on raft adventures.

We rode on to Stanley, Idaho because that is the closest place with accommodations. We expected to head back to Sunshine for a raft adventure on Wednesday.

Well, that didn't happen. After we had registered at the Mountain Village motel we headed for their natural hot spring. On the way we met Jon and his son Thomas heading back to the motel. Larry and Jon got to talking and the upshot was that Jon and Thomas were there to begin a 6 day raft adventure on the Middle Fork River. Jon was SURE there were a couple of places available.

So...at 11:30 Tuesday evening we were booked on a raft adventure that began at 8 a.m. Wednesday. How is that for fast acting?

So, from last Wednesday until 4 p.m. today we have been on the Middle Fork River...thoroughly enjoying the adventure. Larry is awesome in the inflatable kayak. I stuck with the 7 person paddle raft or the guided float. We saw some awesome white water - and so many other things I am too tired to mention right now.

Bottom line - Middle Fork Rapid Transit puts on a Five Star adventure.
I'll add more later and add some photos.

Since this was our very first multi-day raft adventure we had much to learn...not the least of which is that on the Middle Fork PEOPLE may only urinate IN THE RIVER...and everything else brought in is taken out. Leave as little trace as possible. Micro trash-those are the little crumbs one would normally sweep aside. Not so in the wilderness. You pick them up and put them in a trash container.

Wanna wash your hair...wet it in the river, go above the water line, soap up and rinse with a bucket of river water. Same goes for brushing your teeth...and make sure you dilute that toothpaste you spit out.

There are approximately 10k people using the river and camping areas during the summer...you can imagine the UGH! if people didn't comply with the forest service requirements.

Taking a leak in the river was a major adjustment....and for females squatting is a tad bit more problematic than for guys. Next time I'm taking a muumuu. I think that is the way to avoid mooning others who might be wandering around or passing by in the river.

The guides usually set up the portable toilet in a scenic spot...the last evening had an especially beautiful view of the river and anyone passing!

We have GOT to get tents like MFRT has. They are a snap to put up and taken down. Small space user too.

Rafting was new to us...and with some trepidation with just jumped in! The staff was awesome. At no time did I feel afraid. Obviously Larry didn't because he opted for the 7 person paddle boat at the first opportunity. When the inflatable kayaks came out he was one of the first to volunteer....and pretty much used them for the remainder of the trip. Larry even mastered the class IV rapid...or so it looked. What he lacked in style he made up in the ability to keep the kayak afloat AND stay in it. He was ONE with the kayak!

Neither of us is physically fit...but except for being tired at the end of the day we didn't experience anything more than mild muscle aches. (Glad I had used the Wii Fit before we left!)

Food....food, and more food. I was impressed...not only with the quality of the ingredients but the talent of the various guides who were the chefs of the day. If I had eaten some of everything offered I would have gained weight.

Jackson, Wyoming

Yesterday we rode from Billings to Laurel to Red Lodge to Cooke City to Yellowstone.

We spent the night in one of the western cabins at Canyon Village.

Riding over Beartooth Pass was AWESOME. We experienced a little rain before getting to Cooke City and it was like ice picks. We stopped for lunch in Cooke City and on leaving it looked like a storm blowing in. Sure enough, before we could ride out a rain storm blew through. The bikes are a mess...muddy water left marks everywhere.

Yellowstone was also awesome...we experienced animals like never before, light traffic because we rode out early and the cabin was nice, if lacking in most everything you'd get anywhere else for the price.

There was construction in Yellowstone. There was construction in Wyoming. There was construction in Teton Park. The bikes look more like Wyoming MUD.

The Tetons were magnificent. There is a really nice visitor center just inside the park we had never been to before. We chose the road closest to the mountains and found the experience delightful.

We are at the Super 8 in Jackson.....$150 a night. Three stories and no elevator. We are on the 3rd floor. Then the key to the room didn't work. No pool, no spa, no place to eat. The view from the room is dirt, wooden pallets and storage buildings. Fortunately we had points with Windham so we aren't out of pocket.

The weather was perfect today....

Tomorrow....who knows where we will be!

Billings, Montana

We have had such a great visit here in Billings. Jack & Barbara have treated us to an awesomely relaxing time with great conversation!

We have also visited with Larry's Aunt Ida and several cousins on both sides of the family.

Billings has grown since we were here in 2007. Biggest observation is that the drivers are as bad or worse than many other cities we've been in. Many drivers are lacking in courtesy. Can anyone say turn signal?

Tomorrow we head for Yellowstone Park via the Cooke City Highway (aka Beartooth Pass). We had originally planned to bypass Yellowstone this trip but the powers that be are offering free admittance this weekend... so we couldn't we resist.

For the first time in 37 years we will be spending the night at a hotel in the park...hope it is really good, because it is 37 times more expensive!

Monday night we will be in Jackson for the night...and then who knows!

July 10

We departed Alliance in great riding weather. After we got on the road we decided to go to the Agate Fossil National Monument...good thing we had moderate temperatures because it really was out of our way.

If you or someone you know is interested in dinosaurs you really need to check this out. In the early 20th century they found ENTIRE skeletons of fossilized animals...too cool.

We continued our ride into Wyoming...stopping in Douglas to complain about our property taxes, in Glenrock to check on the house and on to Casper for the evening.

We visited with our friends Doug and Carla (and grandson Jayden) at the Central Wyoming Fair. The fair looked smaller than it was when our children were little! Had a nice time and stayed up visiting until after 1 a.m.

Today we will ride to Billings...with a little stop at Custer's Last Stand on the way north.

After Billings...who knows. There is a lot of our country yet to see!

July 8

Cottontail rabbit baby!





Still in Nebraska...while the wind has not blown EVERY day ALL day....it seems like it is saved up so it can blown at gale force in the evening.

July 6

We had a lovely day on July 4th...complete with a reunion banquet, alumni band performance, alumni men's chorus and a special performance by David Hickman and his lovely fiance (David is a KHS graduate and world class trumpet player). All this was followed by a spectacular fireworks display put on by the firefighters of Kimball, NE.

We rode back to Sidney in SOME rain....and lots of people were still shooting off fireworks!

On Sunday we went back to Kimball for the picnic and another lovely performance by the alumni band. (For a bunch of people who haven't played together in years they sounded darned good!)

After the concert and picnic we rode to Scott's Bluff National Monument. I stamped my national parks passport!

There was a storm brewing so we hurried back to Alliance...where they haven't had rain since we left on Friday. We had dinner at Jay & Shannon's house --it was a surprise birthday party for Jayme. Jayme will be 22 on the 7th.

Today Larry is changing the spark plugs in his ride....I'm taking it easy shopping for gutter guards and doing laundry. A nice peaceful day!

July 4

We rode to Sidney, NE yesterday morning and checked in to the motel in preparation for the class reunion in Kimball, NE (we were unable to get a motel in Kimball).

While we were relaxing in the room a severe thunderstorm passed over the area. Can you say RAIN? Buckets. Of course the rides weren't covered. Just a tad bit damp when it was all over.

In better weather we rode over the Kimball (36 miles) for the informal meet and greet of the Class of 69 and 70. Fortunately they had a bunch of year books available so Larry was able to look at faces he MIGHT recognize and put them to the faces for today. Wow, some of these classmates haven't changed much at all. A smile certainly doesn't change in 40 years! There was only one lady who looked like she was at least 10 years older than everyone else - and she was the only woman walking around carrying a pack of cigarettes.

We had a lovely evening and finally rode back to Kimball around 10:30 p.m. - perfect timing to follow the newest severe thunderstorm passing through the area.

Today we will ride back to Kimball for the festivities and keep all our fingers and toes crossed in hopes of avoiding all severe weather.

Tomorrow we will head back to Alliance.

July 1

The last few days have been a welcome respite from traveling.

Larry has spent two days cleaning up the bikes. Lots of BUGS!

Each evening there has been a severe weather warning. Some of the cloud formations are really scary!

Went to the big town of Scottsbluff today....you know I'm desperate when I find a Menards hardware store fascinating. Cool store.

You know the glass globe watering devices they sell "As seen on tv"? Well, the hardware store had mini-globes for $1.49....couldn't resist. I also found some solar lights CHEAPER than what I paid for the exact same thing at Walmart.

I met a young lady today that finds the THOUGHT of driving to Deadwood, South Dakota daunting. Apparently she has rarely left Scottsbluff...and even when she has someone else has done the driving. I didn't tell her about our adventure....probably too much excitement for her.

June 25, 26, 27, 28

On the 25th we headed for Bismarck, North Dakota to visit Larry's Uncle John, Aunt Ida and Aunt Connie.

It is about 500 miles from Alliance to Bismarck....most of the drive is through South Dakota. BORING! Lots of bugs on the car too!

As soon as we arrived in Bismarck we had a tornado warning!

On the 26th we drove to Solen, ND....where Larry's mother and her siblings grew up. We visited the cemetery to see where Larry's grandmother is buried. We then headed for Mandan, ND and the cemetery where Larry's grandfather is buried.

The 27th was spent visiting with family and a dinner with more cousins in the evening.

Today we departed Bismarck at 4:30 a.m. This time we drove west on the interstate for quite a while before heading south. We went to Devils Tower and to Mount Rushmore before driving to Alliance.

We stopped in Chadron at Helen's for food....what a mistake. The spaghetti sauce was simply tomato paste! The country fried steak was rare and my steak was FRIED not grilled.

We saw HUNDREDS of motorcycles today. We saw more trikes today than any other day of our trip. There was one black trike with gorgeous flames painted on the fenders. There was a GL1500 Goldwing with so much chrome that it looked like a diamond in the sun!

We enjoyed our stay in Bismarck...but today's drive was close to 12 hours and we are glad to be back in Alliance!

June 24

We spent the day regrouping and visiting with Larry's family.

We also dodged bad weather....a storm system brought tornado warnings.

June 23

We headed out at 6:30 this morning...with a temperature of 79 degrees and LOTS of humidity.

There are no pictures because corn fields are corn fields....and more corn fields.

The Platte River was full...as was the North Platte.

As we continued west the temperature only got up to 83 and the humidity dropped so it actually felt cooler.

An uneventful ride on I-80 and then north to Alliance, NE.

The rides are in the garage of Larry's brother-in-law, Jay....big storm brewing in the area. Last night they had 60 mile an hour winds. Tonight they could get golf ball size hail.

It is nice to sit, relax, eat and visit!

June 22

When we started the day at 7 a.m. it was already 79 degrees....fortunately as we continued our ride the temperature stayed around 83 degrees for most of the day.

As we continue west the high was 93...and the humidity was a killer. The heat index for the area was 101.

Not a great day to be riding a motorcycle.

We rode on I-72 to Highway 36 to I-29. At one point traffic was diverted to the exit so that authorities could continue the investigation of a fatality....which was under a trap on the pavement below an overpass. A reminder of how precious life is.

We are staying at the Americas Best Value Inn in Percival, Iowa. If you are looking for a place to stay....this is the place. Very nice and the price was right.

Tomorrow we should be in Alliance, NE

June 21

Happy Father's Day....Happy 1st day of summer.

We headed out with a temp. of 73 degrees....and wimped out 100 miles later and put on our cooling vests when it was ONLY 81 degrees.

We saw more trikes today than on any other day of our adventure...all headed east.

The ride was only a little over 230 miles today. Our destination was Lincoln's home in Springfield.

Wow...the National Park Service has done an awesome job. This is the 200th anniversary year of Lincoln's birth, so there is special stuff happening all year.

They have free tours of the home and today it was free parking. Couldn't ask for more! This was well worth the stop.

The weather here is sort of hot...89 and 55% humidity, so it feels worse. We are holed up at the motel staying cool.

The photos include one with a park employee in period clothing (poor young woman was roasting in the heat); one of what the Lincoln's outhouse would have looked like (it was actually a 3 hole); me; a photo of the Lincoln home....from a location that has been photographed since 1861; and Mary Todd Lincoln's ACTUAL kitchen stove.

June 20

Clearview, PA to Centerville, Indiana

Headed out of Clearview after 8 a.m. with all our gear for wet weather on our persons. It was raining but the National Weather Service information was promising toward the west. The Weather Channel was as useless as tits on a boar hog.

We continued to have light rain for most of the morning with one section of heavy rain. Everyone drove sensibly so the ride was safe!

In the a.m. we saw 2 motorcycles, but as the weather improved there were many more....obviously no helmet law in Ohio or Indiana. Lots of friendly people on the road and at fuel stops. Sometimes I wish they were less friendly...like when they checkout the trike looking in their right hand mirror and steer in that direction!

The farther west to got the better the weather. When we stopped for the day at 4 p.m. it was 88 degrees and sunny!

We saw a Boss Hog at the gas station here this evening....12 miles to the gallon and no suspension. Doesn't sound like fun but IT IS SO PRETTY!

Too bad this crappy Super 8 doesn't have a swimming pool! The place isn't bad, just over priced.

June 17, 18 and 19

No we haven't fallen off the face of the earth.

On the 17th we headed south on Maine's Highway 1....and made it as far as Milbridge before we gave up for the day.

We stopped in Eastport at the Chowderhouse for seafood. Larry had lobster, I had steamer clams. Larry enjoyed his lobster, the clams were so sandy as to be awful. I ate some and they paid me back a couple of hours later.

The motel we stayed at in Milbridge was the Red Barn. BEWARE - if you have any allergies avoid this place. There are cats all over the place. One slept on the seat of my bike...and was flea ridden. Fleas all over the place. The room wasn't bad...no internet, no coffee, no breakfast, over priced.

On the 18th we didn't leave until close to 9 a.m. still determined to ride all the way down Highway 1....made it most of the way!

We rode on NON-toll roads. Slow. Awesome. Pretty, Gorgeous....WET, WET, WET in the afternoon. We rode in Maine, New Hampshire and Rhode Island.

We spent the night at the Glochester Inn outside of Glochester, Rhode Island. Hmm...all I can say is that we were very tired and it was raining pretty hard. The place was clean, the bed was almost comfy, the water was hot....and it was next door to a REALLY good restaurant with a bar! If these people ever get all the efficiency apartments updated it will be a good place to stay if you'd like the peace a quiet. Right now the 70s carpeting is a real negative to people walking in the room!

This morning, June 19th, we were on the road by 7 a.m. - and no rain. We rode through our 49th continental state....together and on the yellow rides. We also have been in Alaska, Pacific, Mountain, Central, Eastern and Atlantic time zones.

Twice in New York drivers decided to steer their cars into my lane while I was using it...and then some twit decided to pass me and THEN exit at the same time. That one sent my blood racing.

Most driving habits are the same from state to state....except I KNOW people in California show more respect for construction areas than what I have seen back here. People don't even slow down, let alone do the speed limit.

We had very little rain all day. We having been riding I-80 and are now in Clearfield, PA. It is warm and dry with rain on the way for tomorrow. We had dinner at the Dutch Pantry - another bad meal. I have been recalling the awesome meal we had in Stover, MO last September, so this was a major disappointment.

Already miss the nice folks in Maine...

I'm trying to talk Larry into going to Lincoln's home in Springfield, IL....weather permitting I think that is where we will point the bikes toward tomorrow.

Maintenance Day in Madawaska

We slept in this morning....got up at 6 a.m.

The day started out foggy and quickly changed to an awesome, warm, sunny day.

Larry was out early changing the oil in our rides. While he was out there a neighborly guy stopped by and offered his place to change the oil and offered to take the used oil. Thanks to this new friend there was one less thing to do today.

After the bike maintenance we rode to the other end of town and cleaned the rides and the clothes. The two jobs took an equal amount of time. The rides hadn't been cleaned since Blaine so they were more bugs than paint!

The internet access this evening is slow, so Skype calls keep getting dropped....nice ALMOST talking to Frank!

We had dinner at the Lakeview Restaurant in Saint Agatha....awesome views and tasty food.

Tomorrow we will complete our tour of the 49 continental states and head west.

Yippee!