This will be short it's about 10:30 and we just finished dinner, I'm tired.
Left Gladstone at about 9 AM after the temperature had warmed to almost 40. First 150 miles cool and cloudy. After lunch stopped for gas and decided to put on rain gear, good idea. The next 8 hours was in the rain but at least the temperature had climbed into the higher 40s.
Except for the last ten miles or so the entire day was two lane roads crossing Missouri, along the Mississippi and part way across Illinois to Bloomington. The good roads and good friends were the only thing that saved the day. Plenty of breaks and the fact we had all of our rain gear on kept everyone mostly dry.
Tomorrow hopefully less rain and into Chicago early.
Friday, April 18, 2008
THURSDAY DAY 4
Rained all day, stayed at JB's and Susie's for a down day. Went to a great local spot for lunch and out for barbecue for dinner.
Very nice day spent reminiscing and telling tales with friends while watching the rain from a safe and dry location.
Bruce left to go to Cedar Rapids and will catch up with use on Saturday, called to say he got there ok had a little rain.
Very nice day spent reminiscing and telling tales with friends while watching the rain from a safe and dry location.
Bruce left to go to Cedar Rapids and will catch up with use on Saturday, called to say he got there ok had a little rain.
Wednesday, April 16, 2008
WEDNSDAY DAY 3
Headed out this morning and forty miles down the road had to stop in Dodge City, yeah we did the tour of boot hill and the Long Branch. The did have one of the best collections of late 1800 firearms that I've ever seen.
From mid day yesterday and most of today we followed the route of the Santa Fe trail. Famous for all the cattle drives and wagon trains. It's route 50 if you're looking at a map. We drove by some huge cattle feed yards where all that midwest beef comes from.
JB and Suzy drove down from Gladstone and met us in Empora KS about 120 miles southwest of their house. Once we headed out with all six bikes now together everything seemed as it should be.
Went out to a local place for fried chicken with all the fixings just like Mom used to make. We are spending the night with JB and Suzy and hanging around Kansas City tomorrow before finally heading toward Chicago to start our Route 66 ride.
From mid day yesterday and most of today we followed the route of the Santa Fe trail. Famous for all the cattle drives and wagon trains. It's route 50 if you're looking at a map. We drove by some huge cattle feed yards where all that midwest beef comes from.
JB and Suzy drove down from Gladstone and met us in Empora KS about 120 miles southwest of their house. Once we headed out with all six bikes now together everything seemed as it should be.
Went out to a local place for fried chicken with all the fixings just like Mom used to make. We are spending the night with JB and Suzy and hanging around Kansas City tomorrow before finally heading toward Chicago to start our Route 66 ride.
Tuesday, April 15, 2008
TUESDAY DAY2
What a beautiful day, left Durango and started climbing into the snow covered mountains. Hit Wolf Creek Pass and the temperature dropped into the 30's. We couldn't stop for a photo because the signs and parking lot were deep in snow.
Started down the east side of the Rockies and headed across the high plains when the radio played a little Neil Young;
"We've been through some things together
With trunks of memories still to come
We found things to do in stormy weather
Long may you run.Long may you run.
.Although these changes have come
With your chrome heart shining in the sun
Long may you run. "
It was the right moment.
Continued east across the plains with some severe winds that made riding a little scary, lost another hour and decided to call it a day after about 450 or so miles.
Currently holed up in a Motel in Garden City KS with hopes of making Kansas City tomorrow to pick up JB.
I will try to find time tomorrow to put a photo link on the web site to show you some of these incredible sights of the last two days.
Started down the east side of the Rockies and headed across the high plains when the radio played a little Neil Young;
"We've been through some things together
With trunks of memories still to come
We found things to do in stormy weather
Long may you run.Long may you run.
.Although these changes have come
With your chrome heart shining in the sun
Long may you run. "
It was the right moment.
Continued east across the plains with some severe winds that made riding a little scary, lost another hour and decided to call it a day after about 450 or so miles.
Currently holed up in a Motel in Garden City KS with hopes of making Kansas City tomorrow to pick up JB.
I will try to find time tomorrow to put a photo link on the web site to show you some of these incredible sights of the last two days.
Monday, April 14, 2008
MONDAY DAY 1
Left Phoenix this morning turned north on the freeway heading to pick up Jan. The weather was great, bike running good, turned on the radio just in time to hear the Doobie Brothers "Rockin Down The Highway".
Grabbed Jan in Cordes Junction left Flagstaff for the four corners and the day just kept getting better. Once I got a few hundred miles behind me with blue skies, good roads, tunes, wind in your face, big v-twin rumbling, everything is right with the world.
Made it to Durango before calling it a day, shirt sleeves with snow on the side of the road. A few minutes in the hot tub to unwind with four deer feeding not 20yards from use just finished the day off.
Tomorrow we continue east on 160 hopefully over Wolf Creek Pass and on to Dodge City.
Grabbed Jan in Cordes Junction left Flagstaff for the four corners and the day just kept getting better. Once I got a few hundred miles behind me with blue skies, good roads, tunes, wind in your face, big v-twin rumbling, everything is right with the world.
Made it to Durango before calling it a day, shirt sleeves with snow on the side of the road. A few minutes in the hot tub to unwind with four deer feeding not 20yards from use just finished the day off.
Tomorrow we continue east on 160 hopefully over Wolf Creek Pass and on to Dodge City.
MONDAY MORNING, 6AM
Check the weather report one last time, throw the last bag on the bike, kiss the wife, pet the dog it's finally time to go. With a little luck and some good weather should be in Durango tonight, if not who cares as long as we're riding. That's it for this morning time to open the garage and head down the road.
Thursday, March 13, 2008
IT'S ALMOST TIME FOR ROUTE 66
John Steinbeck called it the "Mother Road" in his 1938 novel "The Grapes Of Wrath" for its part in taking the dustbowl survivors to the new promised land.
It was also called America's Main Street since it connected small towns from Chicago to Santa Monica.
We all grew up with it and well it is almost April and time for a ride.
We hope to retrace as much as possible of the old road, since it was decommissioned it no longer appears on most maps. Thanks to the interest in Route 66 there are plenty of resources to help us find the remains of the road
It was also called America's Main Street since it connected small towns from Chicago to Santa Monica.
We all grew up with it and well it is almost April and time for a ride.
We hope to retrace as much as possible of the old road, since it was decommissioned it no longer appears on most maps. Thanks to the interest in Route 66 there are plenty of resources to help us find the remains of the road
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