11 Sept 2012 Jefferson City MO to Davenport IA

The plan was to ride to Davenport Ia and meet up with Streak and Patty Blackman, old Marine Corps friends.  I got a call earlier and Streaks brother is sick in NYC and Streak is going back to see him but will be back early on the 12th.  The Trip to Davenport was mostly uneventful.  However, that bitch navigator got me off on gravel roads again for about 20 miles and when I finally hit hard surface my black bike was gray.  I used to like her but on this trip she's been suspect.  I think she may be union and waiting for Obama to pay her rent and put her through college.  It was a long trip but good weather and the last thirty miles from Muscatine to Davenport was done on RT. 22 which runs right along the Mississippi river and is very picturesque.  I got to the motel, unpacked and made a cocktail and then traveled a block to the Thunder Bay Cafe for a very good evening meal.  Back to the motel and I crashed.

12 Sept 2012.............Up at 0600 and had a good breakfast at the followed by a two hour serious motorcycle cleaning exercise.  Got a shower and Streak called.  He was back and would pick me up at noon.  We drove around a little bit and then went to a sports bar for lunch and a catch up on twenty or more years.  After that we drove over to John's business office and Met AD and Luke, his sons and his wife, Patty.  Then John took me across the river to a John Deere museum which was outstanding.  Coming off a little dairy farm in CT I was amazed to see the complex machinery they have today to plant, cultivate and bring in the crops.  We then spent an hour on the Mississippi in a water taxi seeing the sights.  It was a beautiful day and very pleasant on the water.  Following that John took me to the house and we had cocktails and Patty joined us and we had another cocktail and then Streak grilled some pork chops and we sat out on the deck and had a great meal and reminesced late into the evening.

13 September 2012Woke up early and had a good breakfast at the motel.  Yesterday was a beautiful sunshiney day with temp's around 84.  This morning it was 52 and overcast.  As I started out it was overcast and a little windy.  About 45 minutes out it commenced a steady rain and it rained until 1:30 in the afternoon.  Wasn't a pleasant ride but thank God for three wheels.  I stopped in West Liberty Iowa for a short time to visit Fred's Feed and Supply store.  I watch a show on Sunday mornings called American Heartland on our PBS station and one Sunday they featured this store on their show so I thought I would check it out.  Tonight I am in Winterset Iowa which is John Waynes hometown and also home to six remaining covered bridges in Iowa.  The Roseman bridge is the one that was used in the movie....The bridges of Madison County with Meryl Streep and Clint Eastwood.  I will visit those spots tomorrow as I head west to Sioux City Iowa for a stay tomorrow night.

10 Sept 2012  Heber Springs Arkansas to Jefferson City Missouri

This was a long trip for me but at the same time one of the best riding days I have had.  The entire trip was 300 miles.  Jake and I had breakfast at a little shop in Heber Springs and by 8 AM I was on the road heading north up through the Ozarks.  The temp. started out at 62 degrees and by the time I reached Jefferson City it was 81.  Again, beautiful countryside and a bunch of small interesting towns along the way.  My one brother went to the Missouri School of Mines and Engineering in Rolla MO so I made it a point to go through there.  As it turned out, it was lunch time and I had lunch at Coultons Steak House and the meal was fantastic.  I have to apologize because I don't do a very good job of explaining the beauty I find every day in my travels.  If I was to take pictures I would have to take one every mile to show you just how beautiful our country really is.  Suffice it to say, you have to see it for yourself.
If anybody reading this has trouble believing there is a God please hop on the back of my bike and I'll take you for a ride and show you God's presence is everywhere you look.

I've got another long trip tomorrow so I had better hit the rack and catch up on my sleep.  So far, it' been a rain free trip and I hope it remains that way.

I was unaware they had moved the Washington Monument but as I drove through Hopkinsville KY, there it was.  Had to stop and get a picture. 

 Later in the day I got to Sikeston MO and was told I had to stop at the very famous Lamberts Cafe and catch a roll.  It was a fun experience and I did catch one.  Sat. was a beautiful day.  Started off towards Heber Springs AR with 62 degrees and no humidity,  The hotest it got was 76 which was very pleasant.  The scenery was beautiful especially going through and over the Ozarks. 

 Spent a day and a half with Jake and Linda Jacobsen, old Marine Corps friends.  They have a home right on the shores of the Little Red river and just below a very big hydroelectric dam.  They also have a house on the cliffs overlooking the dam and river so we shuttled back and forth between both places.  We drank beer and manhattans and discussed everyone we knew in the Corps.  I took Jake for a nice easy ride on the motorcycle and he took me for a ride from "HELL" in his Porsche Boxter.  We were out for at least thirty minutes (it felt like the 24 hours of Lemans).  For at least 25 of those minutes there was never a time that all four wheels were on the ground at the same time.  It was a great visit but all too short.  Tomorrow Jake and I will have breakfast together and then I'm heading for Davenport IA with an overnight in Jefferson City MO.

5 Sept. 2012  Charlotte NC to Harlan KY

the weather reports all said rain between Charlotte and Harlan.  Said goodbye to David at 0830 and got on the road.  Everything was going fine and got around Charlotte no problem and onto 29 west.  Then my navigator somehow got me on I-85 and pretty soon I started seeing signs for Spartanburg and I knew my daughter Sam would be pissed if I showed up a month early so I stopped and did a restart on the GPS and Alice got me going again in the right direction.  As I went through TN and into KY we were in so real mountainous territory.  When I entered TN, I was actually in the clouds and had a few rain drops but nothing serious.  Alice doesn't do real well through forests with high cliffs on both sides and she took me on a ride.  At one point she got me on a one lane dirt road for 20 miles.  I saw places that I don't think God has seen yet.  It was so bad, I almost followed some cows into a barn before I realized where I was.  I finally got back to hard surface roads and made it to Harlan.  It was a great ride and the scenery was beautiful.  I traveled through parts of the Pisgah National Forest and up and down steep hills and switchbacks.

6 Sept 2012  Harlan to Bowling Green KY

I checked the weather first thing and was expecting to get rained on.  For the first couple hours in the mountains it was looking pretty bad but it never did rain and by 1100 the sun was out and it was a pretty day.  As I traveled south I went through the Daniel Boone National Forest.  It was beautiful but I kept seeing signs for deer crossings so I was being very cautious.  When out of the woods walked a black bear with two cubs.  I stopped and let her proceed on her way with out any interference from me.  Naturally the camera was in the trailer so I missed that opportunity.  The remainder of the trip was uneventful but long.

7 Sept 2012  Bowling Green to Poplar Bluffs MO

Seems like everything went wrong this morning.  Either I didn't set it correctly or it didn't work but the alarm didn't go off at 0600 like planned.  I woke up at 0740 and had to hustle packing up and getting breakfast before leaving.  It was a perfect morning weatherwise.  Temp was 77 and humidity was 55% but it was a long trip today so I had to do some hustling.  What a difference between eastern and western KY.  East is mountainous and west is rolling hills and farm land.  It was beautiful country and some really big farms.  Passed a few Amish communities.  I was not aware that they raised tobacco in KY but saw a lot of it.  There were times when I didn't see a car for 15 to 20 minutes and it was just so peaceful riding down these two lane highways.  Anyone who doesn't believe in God needs to spend a day riding these highways.  And I'd like to get that dirtbag Obama out here for a ride to let him see that man was responsible for building these great farms and successful businesses and not the government.  I crossed the Mississippi river at Cairo Il and it took me back to Tom Sawyer and Huck Finn.  I didn't see any paddle wheelers but I did see an awful lot of barges waiting to be moved.
When I got into Sikeston MO I was told that I had to stop by Lamberts Cafe for a meal so I did.  It's very large and from the outside makes you think of a Cracker Barrel.  But inside it's entirely different.  You sit at your table and order a drink, no booze.  You order and while you are waiting you will see a couple of guys hollering..."Hot rolls" and if you raise your hand he will toss you one, sometimes from 20 feet and with great accuracy.  Other gals are walking around offering spoonfuls of fried Okra, or fried potato's or apple butter and molasses for the hot roll.  The food and the atmosphere was great.
I got back on the road after that meal and it started looking like rain clouds were building and I still had 70 miles to go to Poplar Bluffs so I put the pedal to the metal and I made it to the Holiday Inn before the rain hit.  It was  another good day on the road and a cold beer sure tasted good at the end of the ride.  I did take a couple of pictures and was going to download them tonight but alas, I left the connector from the camera to the computer in the trailer so I'll have to get them tomorrow.  At least I am now caught up.

First day on the road

9/4/2012

I left Wilson NC this morning at 0830 with great trepidation.  It was overcast and my direction was west to Charlotte and the in-laws of my youngest daughter Samantha.  The Lemonds are fine people and have risk their home and sanity to take in "The Dancin Bear" for the evening.  As I jumped on the bike, or truthfully, hoisted myself over the seat I said a prayer for good weather.  Immediately thought better of that because a prayer from me would normally increase by tenfold the chances of rain.  But to my amazement, only six drops fell on the windscreen the entire trip.  I stopped in Garner for coffee and in Albemarle at the Log Cabin for some great BBQ.  The trip to Matthews was pleasant.  Every time I ride I marvel at the beauty I see all around and the smells of fresh country air.  Then, two eighteen wheel pig haulers go by and you get the true picture of fresh air in NC.  I say that jokingly because it really was a very nice day.  Now comes the visit with the Lemonds.  Absolutely fantastic.  After a shower and dressed comfortably, it was time for Manhattans.  I made one for Susan and myself and David had some wine and we caught up on all the happenings since I had last seen them at the beach on Emerald Isle in July.  The neighbors, Tom and Liani came over bearing steaks that Dave had hand picked that day and Tom cooked.  We had a great evening and the wine flowed profusely.  I have now decided to end my journey and stay with the Lemonds for 40 days.  They seem to be as of yet unaware of my decision but I'm not sure that is correct.  After I mentioned how much I enjoyed his hospitality and especially the wine, David mentioned something about having to visit a sick aunt who had been a teacher at East Alabama A & M.  So, as all good things have to come to an end, I think I will be on the road tomorrow heading for Harlan Kentucky.  I hope y'all had as good a day as mine and I hope my next 44 are as good as the first.

Trip Preparation

8/30/12

 One more day closer to departure.  Planning complete now it a matter of getting the show on the road.  Took some pictures of the bike and trailer.  They are ready to go.  I'm not so sure about the rider.  I did buy a gel seat cover for this years trip.  I've been praying to whoever will listen, for good weather along the route.  However, I haven't discarded my rain suit.

I'm looking forward to the trip.  All travel is on secondary or back roads so I can see the real America and not the interstate America.  I hope I'll run into Obama performing on a shovel ready job but more likely I'll see him at a golf course or in Chic-fil-et stuffing his face.  Just a little jab because I'm waiting to hear Mit's acceptance speech and he just makes Obama look like a rookie. 
I have spent the past month researching what I should see of interest along my route.  It's sometimes difficult deciding what to and what not to see because of time/distance restraints.  I managed to find four military bases along my route that have visiting officers quarters.  I have stayed at Cherry Point a number of times and their rooms are far superior to the Holiday Inn  and they are $39 dollars a night with no tax as compared to $110 to $120 plus tax at the Holiday Inn.  I'll bet you can guess where I'll be staying those four nights.  I'm starting to get antsy and want to get on the road.  Tuesday will be here shortly.

2012 Trip West

Just about two weeks to go before starting out on my 2012 Western trip.  Had the bike in for service, updates, new front tire and oil and filters.  The bike is ready to go.  Not sure about this old body.  Did get a new gel seat cover which might make the ride a little easier.  Route planning pretty much complete but still have a lot of work on motel/hotel reservations along the route.  Again, on this trip I will be riding almost completely on secondary/back roads.  Staying at a few military bases along the way.  They always seem to have very nice facilities at reasonable prices.
The basic route takes me to Harlan KY, Heber Springs AK, Davenport IA, Watertown SD, Sturgis and Mt. Rushmore SD, Boulder CO, Payson AZ, Austin and Frisco TX, Natchez MS, Muscle Shoals AL, Brevard NC, Spartanburg SC and home to Wilson NC.  Trip will take just about 40 days and is right around 7,000 miles. 
One of the highlights of the trip will be to ride the Natchez Trace 440 mile Parkway.  The Trace bisected the traditional homelands of the Natchez, Chickasaw, and Choctaw nations.  The history books say that in the early 1800's through the mid-1820s "Kaintucks" from the Ohio River Valley floated cash crops, livestock, and other materials down the Mississippi River on wooden flat boats.  At Natchez or New Orleans, they sold their goods, sold their boats for lumber, and walked or rode horseback toward home via the Old Trace.  As the road was improved, stands(inns) provided lodging, food, and drink to Trace travelers.
Back to planning and gathering all the things I will be taking on the trip.