We got up and attended the retirees breakfast in Prescott before heading for home. Got home about 11:30 am another years long ride over. With many shorter rides to come before next years long ride.
A short recap of this year:
Route 66- left home April 14, Chicago April 20th, Santa Monica April 27, home April 28, 15 days, total miles just shy of 5000
Taking JB home-Left home May 3 in KC May 4, Illinois May 5, left KC May 8, Home May 10, 8 days, total miles just over 3500
Sunday, May 11, 2008
Friday, May 9, 2008
FRIDAY MAY 9 HEADING TOWARDS HOME
Woke up to a beautiful day, temp in the high 40's sunny sky very little traffic on the road, perfect day to ride.
As we prepared to leave an older couple came out of a room near us and waved, they were obviously headed for breakfast near the office. As the wife tried to walk on the husband stopped her and stood still for about two minutes as we suited up and started the bikes. Driving off the husband gave us another wave and a thumbs up, great start to my day. It does make you wonder though was he reliving things he also did in his younger days or wishing he had...I hope the former.
Headed down to road, sun at my back, wind in my face, 96 cubic inches under me, a good friend riding with me and all was right with the world.
The day couldn't stay that nice and towards afternoon we picked up a lot of wind making it a more difficult ride. Arriving in Flagstaff found out there was a shortage of motel rooms due to NAU graduation. We made the decision to keep heading south and ended up stopped for the night at a Days Inn in Prescott Valley. The motel had the requirements met, government discount, hot tub, Denny's next door, once again all was right with the world.
We will make the Retirees breakfast in the morning before turning and making the ride home to stay for a while.
Stats for today include over 700 miles and two time zone changes, stopped at about 6:30 local which was 8:30pm Amarillo.
As we prepared to leave an older couple came out of a room near us and waved, they were obviously headed for breakfast near the office. As the wife tried to walk on the husband stopped her and stood still for about two minutes as we suited up and started the bikes. Driving off the husband gave us another wave and a thumbs up, great start to my day. It does make you wonder though was he reliving things he also did in his younger days or wishing he had...I hope the former.
Headed down to road, sun at my back, wind in my face, 96 cubic inches under me, a good friend riding with me and all was right with the world.
The day couldn't stay that nice and towards afternoon we picked up a lot of wind making it a more difficult ride. Arriving in Flagstaff found out there was a shortage of motel rooms due to NAU graduation. We made the decision to keep heading south and ended up stopped for the night at a Days Inn in Prescott Valley. The motel had the requirements met, government discount, hot tub, Denny's next door, once again all was right with the world.
We will make the Retirees breakfast in the morning before turning and making the ride home to stay for a while.
Stats for today include over 700 miles and two time zone changes, stopped at about 6:30 local which was 8:30pm Amarillo.
Thursday, May 8, 2008
HOMEWARD BOUND MAY 8TH
Said our goodbyes after breakfast and headed out with JB leading the way to get us out of town. Made it almost a mile before the honda broke down and had to be jump started. Went to the KC honda dealer and they decided the battery just needed a good charge as we had already tightened the terminals.
Headed out at 10:30 and rode and rode and rode. Five gas fills later we found ourselves in Amarillo at 9:30 at night for a daily total of 650 miles under beautiful skies and cool temperatures.
Plan on Flagstaff tomorrow then and early start Saturday to make the Prescott Retirees breakfast before finally returning home and calling this years trip officially over.Oh well....
Headed out at 10:30 and rode and rode and rode. Five gas fills later we found ourselves in Amarillo at 9:30 at night for a daily total of 650 miles under beautiful skies and cool temperatures.
Plan on Flagstaff tomorrow then and early start Saturday to make the Prescott Retirees breakfast before finally returning home and calling this years trip officially over.Oh well....
Wednesday, May 7, 2008
WEDNESDAY MAY 07, STILL IN KC
With all the thunderstorms west of us we decided that we didn't really need to leave today and fight the weather.
Great lunch at a place called "Mother's" then sight seeing around KC. Good day all around glad we got to spend another day with the Henderson family. Susie and Aaron made salmon for dinner and we sat at the table telling stories and reminiscing for awhile.
Al and I will hit the road tomorrow and put some miles on heading west no real goal but to head towards home.
Great lunch at a place called "Mother's" then sight seeing around KC. Good day all around glad we got to spend another day with the Henderson family. Susie and Aaron made salmon for dinner and we sat at the table telling stories and reminiscing for awhile.
Al and I will hit the road tomorrow and put some miles on heading west no real goal but to head towards home.
Tuesday, May 6, 2008
SOMEWHERE IN IL MAY 6
Left the hotel this morning and headed due west towards the river. Great two lane roads through the farm country until we reached the river. Turned south along the river, absolutely gorgeous road under a cloudy sky with very little traffic. It was one of those rides you want to go on forever but sadly we eventually came to the interstate and turned towards KC.
The weather stayed cool and cloudy all day ideal riding conditions except for the Missouri department of transportation closing lanes to literally watch cement dry.
Back at JB and Susie's we decided to go out for mexican food since we missed cinco de mayo and headed downtown for a great meal, conversation and beer.
May head out tomorrow depending on the weather if it is as forecast we will park on the couch here in Gladstone until it passes.
The weather stayed cool and cloudy all day ideal riding conditions except for the Missouri department of transportation closing lanes to literally watch cement dry.
Back at JB and Susie's we decided to go out for mexican food since we missed cinco de mayo and headed downtown for a great meal, conversation and beer.
May head out tomorrow depending on the weather if it is as forecast we will park on the couch here in Gladstone until it passes.
CINCO DE MAYO
JB and i went to his local dealer for an oil change before packing up and heading for Litchfield IL. Drove by some of the devastation in Gladstone, thankful that JB and Susie's place is ok. Took our time driving to IL but finally arrived in time for Al to get his brand new motorcycle!
Found a nice motel just down the road next to route 66 with a paddle wheel boat in a pond next to the motel. Will head back to JB's tomorrow put the first road miles on Al's bike and get ready for the ride back to Phoenix probably starting Wednesday.
Found a nice motel just down the road next to route 66 with a paddle wheel boat in a pond next to the motel. Will head back to JB's tomorrow put the first road miles on Al's bike and get ready for the ride back to Phoenix probably starting Wednesday.
Monday, May 5, 2008
SUNDAY MAY 4 HAPPY B-DAY GENNA
800 MILES
Left Santa Rosa at a pretty god time and headed east again on I-40. Great weather, no traffic tie ups today, just movin down the road. I told JB since he was leading at lunch time that if he wanted something other than a Subway I was ok with that he said that sounded good to him. Fifteen minutes later JB lead us to a Subway, oh well some habits are hard to break.
Short breaks except for dinner at Applebys and we continued towards are goal of JB and Susie's. Some where around 11:30 we puled in and I was extremely happy to call it a day. We made 800 plus miles which is a new daily high for me.
Tomorrow it is on to Illinois to buy Al a motorcycle.
Left Santa Rosa at a pretty god time and headed east again on I-40. Great weather, no traffic tie ups today, just movin down the road. I told JB since he was leading at lunch time that if he wanted something other than a Subway I was ok with that he said that sounded good to him. Fifteen minutes later JB lead us to a Subway, oh well some habits are hard to break.
Short breaks except for dinner at Applebys and we continued towards are goal of JB and Susie's. Some where around 11:30 we puled in and I was extremely happy to call it a day. We made 800 plus miles which is a new daily high for me.
Tomorrow it is on to Illinois to buy Al a motorcycle.
Saturday, May 3, 2008
SATURDAY MAY 3 BACK TO MISSOURI
After a long breakfast with Bruce and Barn, Al, JB, and I hit the road about 8:30. We didn't get as far today as we wanted to but still drove until 8:30 PM. We had to slow down for a grass fire, a car fire, an overturned truck, and lots of New Mexico construction. Ended the day in Santa Rosa NM after about 600 miles. We are a few hundred feet down the street of the Route 66 Cafe where we had breakfast a little over a week ago.
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