Homeward bound, Day 25, May 15, 2011

I stayed and played computer games(world of tanks) with Bruce on saturday but today it was time to go.

Packed the bike, though there was less on it now and headed home to buckeye,az. A trip that I have made many times. Heading in on the last day always stirs many feelings. Sorry the trip is ending but happy to be home...and the desire to start planning for the next trip.

approximately 8000 miles covered.

This trip had some of the worst weather that I have ever had. Brush fires in TX, 328 tornados chasing us in the east. Rain, thunderstorms, freezing cold and 4 days of 50-60 mile an hr gusting winds. Lots of fun, but oh, the stories it will make later...

Will add pictures in a day or two

Going South to Las Vegas, Day 24, May 13,2011

Today was a great day to ride, sunny and clear.

Did I mention the koa had ducks? Ducks quacking and waddeling everywhere. When I started talking about removing feathers they left my area.

Going thru St George was beautiful.

380 miles later we pulled in Marsden and Bruce's home and unloaded. For Marsden the trip is over but I have a few days left.

West thru Wyoming, Day 23, May 12, 2011

Got up this morning, and started checking the weather channel and the Wyoming road depts road maps. The road west from casper to rawlins looks good, not like last night when it was snowing.

We had our typical motel breakfast, actually not to bad for the price...free..and packed the motorcycle. It was a hundred miles to casper, the first 80 were cold but doable, but the last 20 were not fun. By the time we arrived the shivering had started so after a lot of coffee we went to an outfitters supply store. I got a red thermal union suit (longjohns), wool socks and some chemical heaters for my gloves. Marsden got some more thermals. We were now wearing four layers including the suit. We went to rawlins, 120 miles, with no problem and then on to green springs. Since the weather was still holding we pushed thru to evanston, wy, the last town in wyoming. By now we had covered 400 miles thru the cold. But we knew there was always a chance that the pass to salt lake city could snow in so decided to go for it. We finally stopped at a koa in provo, ut. 530 miles from our starting point, buffalo, wy. I was beat but very happy to be out of the miserable weather we had been in for the last four days.

Went to a golden corral buffet to celebrate, they were closed but opened the doors for us, very nice.

Looking forward to good riding weather tommorow and reaching las vegas.

To Montana and back, Day 22, May 11, 2011

I was up early today and in the jaquizzi by 6:30. The weather looked better and it was supposed to be warmer. Had breakfast and got on the road north to alaska, no make that montana. By the time we got to the the custer battlefield the sun was out and we had clear skys.

We were done about 2:30, got some lunch and headed south. The temperature was dropping and the clouds were dark and filling the sky.

We had decided to return to buffalo,wy and hole up there for the night. On the way back,about the time I was thinking we had about 20 miles until reserve the engine coughed once, I switched to reserve thinking that was very strange and worried that since we went on reserve very eary that gas consumption may have jumped and spent the next 18 miles worrying about running out of gas. Because of that and the poor weather I decided not to stop at fort phil kearny, site of the fetterman fight.

When we got to buffalo I found that I still didn't have to be on reserve....somthing else had caused the cough but what? The bike had run fine the rest of the way.

We had a good time as always visiting the custer battlefield. But the museum at garry owen wasn't open yet.

We are now worried about our route tommorow, it is snowing south and west of us but will check the weather channel before leaving in the morning.

Into Wyoming, Day 21, May 10. 2011

This was a short day, we stopped in buffalo, wy at noon. The weather was very bad, it was raining and cold and had snow, 41f, ...which on the bike was 21f with wind chill factor. My worst day riding in a long time. Wow are at a comfort inn with a Jacuzzi, guess what my first stop was.

Our mosquito repellant is still frozen after an hr in a heated room and it took awhile for my hands to thaw out.

The forcast for tommorow is sunny and 70f..if so we go to custer's battlefield, if not it will wait for the next trip and we will head south.

I'm going via the interstate just in case of snow, did I mention the snow plow following us over the pass between jolette and buffalo..not sure if he was waiting for us to find the snow/ice or to use his plow to clear our wreck off the highway.

Still in South Dakota, Day 20, May 9, 2011

Lightning lit the sky but it was on the other side of a ridge from us and the wind started blowing hard enough to wake me at midnight plus 30. But in anticipation of this we had put on all guy ropes for both tents, a first for mine.

No rain hit us for the second night in a row. I could get used to that.

Went about 20 miles to get breakfast and then on the way. I had never been thru/in the badlands of South Dakota so decided to add that loop to the trip...pretty awesome. We decided not to do a tour of a minuteman silo..saved it for another time.

Then it was onto Mount Rushmore, got really cold on the way there, could see my breath. After Rushmore we went into the town of Lead (pronounced leed) to get hamburgers at my favorite spot, Lewies Saloon, very awesome. Then thru Deadwood and to Sturgis. Most of the Sturgis spots weren't open yet. Also tried to see the cavalry museum at Fort Meade but it also wasn't open yet. We were just to early for the tourist rush. The fog and cold rolled in as we left Lewies and went down the mtn to Sturgis.

After Sturgis it was 3pm and we decided to push on towards Sheridan, WY (about 200 miles).

Did I mention the fog, moisture and cold yet? After 10 miles kip pulled into a comfort inn and said enough.

So here we are in Spearfish, SD for the night.

The weather prediction for Sheridan and on into the Little Big Horn battlefield for the next 3 days is thunderstorms and rain. But even with that we look forward to our last battlefield of this trip.

South Dakota, Day 19, May 8,2011

Got up and no dew on the tents, neat stuff. Returned to the local diner but breakfast was not as good as their dinner. Hit the road and dodged lightning but got some rain. Took the us20 to interstate 29 north and then 90 west. The wind was horrible, it made riding not a lot of fun.

Stopped about 5pm at a koa in midland, SD. Very nice they fed us and had a laundry.

The weather doesn't look good for tonight, we will see...

Got to Iowa, Day 18, May 7,2011

Left our comfort Inn in mendota, IL after our prepaid/included breakfast. It was cold and wet. It was pretty country and we stopped in Sac City, Iowa for dinner and got directions to the state aprk about 15 miles away. But when we left the resteraunt we found the local park was setup for camping so we got a great spot very cheap.

Onto Illinois, day 17, May 6, 2011

Today was a long day on the bike, cold and wet. I would like to say we covered a lot of miles but we were on us30 and went thru southern chicago....it took hours and I will never do it again. A bad area and I didn't even like stopping at the lights.

We pushed on to about 70 miles out of Chicago to a state campground. But the only site with grass and fairly flat was the handicapped spot and they wouldn't let us use that.

Backtracked a bit and stayed at a nice comfort inn.

Into Ohio, Day 16, May 5, 2011

After talking to a rider from Iowa I decided to take us30 thru Iowa. It was nice but very slow, always going thru small towns, of course that is what made it interesting. Going around Pittsburg was very bas, seemed like it took forever and lots of traffic. I was ready to give upon hwy 30.

We stopped at the site where flight 93 went down on sept 11. A permanent national monument is under construction. A brave group of people on board that plane.

We went off us30 to camp at Loudenville, Ohio for the night. Got there after they closed and were gone before they opened.

Gettysburg, Day 15,May4, 2011

Got up today to rain,did that stop us? Of course not we had lots more of Gettysbug battlefield to see...and we had the park to ourselves for the first couple of hours and then the West Point bus showed up followed by tourists,not raining as hard by now.

We had done the Culp's Hill part of day two's battle yesterday so we started by going to the starting points for Longstreet's corp. From there we followed the route to Little Round Top. What an overlook of the battlefield. Then we went thru Devil's Den, the Wheatfield and peach orchard.

After that we went to the bloody angle where Pickett's charge got accross the wall on day three. After discussing it we drove back to the confederate side and I let Marsden off at the VA monument and she walked Pickett's attack route and I met her at the bloody angle. We then finished our tour with a visit to the cemetary.

Had lunch and did laundry, the rain has stoped and we are now ready to leave in the morning. We are going to head nw to Altoona so Marsden can see some train stuff.

Gettysburg, Day 14, May3, 2011

Today we covered the first day's fighting and also went to the east cavalry battle field. Whoever the battle planer was that selected the terrain for the cavalry did an awesome job. We also talked extensively with a retired tour guide.

This was a good day and after dinner Marsden saw a couple of funnel clouds above. Awesome!!!

Onto Bull Run and North day 13, May 2, 2011

It rained last night but the tents and ground covers did their jobs as expected. The new air mat worked well, my back felt better.

Went on to Bull Run/Manassas and walked a part of the battlefield and took more pictures.

After a couple of hours we were back on the Valkyrie(m/c) and heading north on hwy 15. Into Maryland and then Pennsylvania. By midafternoon we were in Gettysburg. Plan on staying here for two days and walking the ground. Got a room because the forcast is for intermittent thunderstorms. Much easier to deal with if you have a hot shower to return to.

Spent about two hours driving around the main battlefield.

Ran into a rider from WA state who told us that if he can't find a spot to camp he just sets up behind a harley or honda dealer. Said that nobody has questioned him about it. Another good idea.

Four battlefields day 12, May 1,2011

Left Hampton. VA and headed north. Went to four battlefields, Spotsylvania, wilderness, Chancellorsville and Fredricksburg...a very busy day, lots of neat sights and still managed to get the tents up before dark. Camped at Burke lake north of quantico.

Fort Monroe Daytrip, April 30, 2011

Today was our last day trip based out of Kendall and Jeans place.

We went to Fort Monroe and visited the largest stone fortification in the US. I always seem to learn something and this was my 3rd or 4th trip. Marsden was surprised when she realized that when I said this was where the monitor/merrimac battle took place...that I meant right here not a generic area...that they watched the fight from the ramparts. Also a day earlier she had asked what happened to Jefferson Davis after the war, so she was able to visit his cell at Fort Monroe. An awesome star fort that was always in union hands during the civil war.

We have tried to get the netbook computer working without success. So the blog may not be updated again but I will try when we are doing laundry every 3rd or 4th day.

We leave on Sunday May1st heading North. Plan on stopping at Fredericksburg, Bull Run, Spotslyvania and Chancellorsville on the way to Gettysburg.

Yorktown/Jamestown daytrip, Day 10, April 29, 2011

Took advantage of the day off to take a daytrip to the Yorktown Battlefield and museum. MY 4th time there and always great.

Then to the Yorktown Tavern and their good burgers, fries and oh yes beer.

For a Friday lots of bikes and bikini's, not that I noticed the later.

Then to Jamestown to checkout the glass blowing and the first sucessfull english settlement in the americas in 1607. I sat and let Marsden wander around.

Shopping Day 9 April 28, 2011

Part of my back problem is that my most awesome mountaineering air mattress seams are coming apart and it has large bulges which makes it hard to use so....off to Bass Pro shops...Marsden knew they carried a low cot that we thought would fit in my small tent.

They let us set up the cot so we could see how it worked, the salesman helped up with it. We found it very poorly made and two grommets broke while setting it up and following instructions. So I passed on that.

But bought a thermorest self inflating 2 in. mattress. It has to be an improvement.

Back to the house. oh yes and we bought more mosquito repellant. Somehow lost the first can without ever using it. Very Frustrating.

To Hampton, VA Day 8 April 27, 2011

The next mornings ride out of the mountains was very interesting, lots of debris on the road and at one point we crossed under a downed tree. Should have got a picture of that, oh well.

Knew this would be a long day in the saddle because we wanted to reach Hampton to stay with Kendall and Jean.

Ran into bad storms in the center of NC but stopped for a late lunch and when we were finished they had moved by. After 12 Hrs we pulled into their driveway and beds. Very nice. Looking forward to a few days sleeping in a bed to see if my back will come around.

First rain and The Dragon, Day 7 April 26, 2011

Our plans originally had been to go to Shiloh but the weather forcast of tornados changed our minds and we headed for The Dragon.

The Dragon is Hwy 129 where it goes from TN to NC. 318 turns in 11 miles. And it swarms with motorcycles. After almost getting loast we did find 129 and the rain found us. But good gear does pay on a MC trip and the First Gear suits did their job once again. The rain stopped shortly before we got to the Dragon. But loaded as we were it was a cruise not a race over the mountains.

There is a MC motel/campground at Deals Gap where I have stayed before and the tree of shame is pretty awesome. And it constantly grows thanks to the crotch rockets that keep crashing on the Dragon. OH, no cops this time. Last time their was a cop every 2 miles.

Decided not to stay at Deals gap because there was a Corp of Engineers campground at the dam about a mile or two down the road. Saved money, always good.

AT the campground the ground was hard so we didn't use stakes. If we had know what was coming that night we would have.

Ran into a guy that is in his second year of hiking the eastern mtn trails, very neat.

That night there were very high winds and rain but both tests stayed up. Though we each got a little rain inside. Since we weren't staked down it was able to blow up the rain fly.

Vicksburg and to Birmingham Day 6 April 25, 2011

We did the tour of Vicksburg by riding the road thru it. Because of the trees it is impossible to see what the soldiers saw but it once again shows how men can haul heavy objects, cannon, up steep hills. They didn't have to fire the guns, in places they could have just rolled the cannon balls downhill.

One of the neat things was a gunship that they have recovered from the river. An awesome display.

After the tour we headed NE to Birmingham. Stayed the night with Marsden's neice, Kat, a budding rock star. She even bought dinner and a beer. Awesome!!

Onto Vicksburg, MS Day 5 April 24, 2011

Up early and on the road. The rest of the camp was thinking of getting up as we left.

It was a long day of riding but we got to Vicksburg at dusk and set up at an RV park. My back has been bothering me the whole trip and sleeping on an asphalt slab, though on an air mattress, didn't help it. But we have found the tylanol does.

The Alamo and North Day 4 April 23

Got up early and got coffee at the camp store, great way to start the day. Loaded the bike and off to the Alamo.

This was my first visit to the Alamo but one that I had waited for since I was in the 5th grade and found my great uncle Ben Milam, was a hero of the Texas revolution.

For someone that loves visiting battlefields, it was a disappointment. Awesome to see, and what I was expecting but kept as a shrine. But Marsden found that there was Milam park about 8 blocks away so we hopped the trolley. It was very neat and more fun for me than the Alamo was.

Afterwards we traveled on hwy 59 NE about half way to Shreveport when we stopped at an ATV park for the night. I think they were very surprised to see a loaded cruiser come up their road thru the ruts and whoop de doos. Much quieter night than we expected.

To San Antonio, TX Day 3 April 22, 2011

We rode thru a lot of smoke from the TX brushfires, talked to one man who said his son, who works fighting the fires, told him the winds were over 60mph when the fires started so they were just trying to save homes. Not good.

We got to Braketville and found that the John Wayne Alamo set was closed. The owner had died and the heirs hadn't decide what to do.

We also Found Fort>We Clark in Bracketville, it was the home of the 5th cavalry. And has been turned into an HOA. With the officers houses, barraacks all turned into housing. A trailer park added and lots available for building on. We were going to stay overnight but it was two hours until the office would open so after eating we decided to push on to San Antonio.

We found a very nice campground on a lake about 10 miles south of san antonio and set up with our tents on the lakeside. It was nice and inexpensive. And they had coffee in the morning, what more could you ask.?

Las Crusas, NM to FT Stockton, TX Day 2

Got up, packed our gear,had breakfast and back on the road. Stopped in FT Stockton, TX. Couldn't find a decent place to camp and big storm blowing in with thunderstorm and tornado warnings so got a room.

Averaging 355 miles a day, 710 total now.

Tommorow off to see the john wayne alamo movie set and then to San Antonio to see the real thing.

The trip is on, day 1 April 20,2011

Buckeye, AZ to Las Crusas, NM

Well I was supposed to start yesterday but woke up witha headache, so put it off one day. But Martin left anyway, guess he didn't want to watch me play world of tanks all day :)

Marsden abd I left after Dori left for work. I decided to bypass Phoenix traffic by first going south to Gila Bend and the turning east to join up with the I-10 below Phoenix.

Stopped at our first civil war battlefield...Pacheko Peaks....see the story below.

Then cruised on to Las Crusas, NM. Stayed at the KOA and for the first time in two years set up my tent.

Marsden got to try her new tent and sleeping bag.

Trip planning 2011

Ok, this year I get my trip to the Alamo. I plan on leaving the middle of April and returning the 3rd week of May.

My route is to travel south to the Alamo, then swing up to the Vicksburg civil war battlefield. Then Shiloh and turning North to visit "The Dragon". Up the east coast to see my brother in Conneticut, oh and stopping at Gettysburg on the way there.

Yes, Civil war battlefields are a must see, Gettysburg for the 5th-6th time? Then I will turn West, and hopefully seee my cousins and aunt in Ohio.

From there, thru the plains to Sturgis, it won't be started officially yet but the town will be cranked up. Then to the Little Big Horn and the Custer battlefield, where a company would defend as much ground as a regiment at Gettysburg.

Then to Yellowstone Nat'l Park and South thru the Tetons. On to Las vegas and then SE to home. This is the plan and I may be sticking to it.

Now to start my yearly maintenance on the motorcycle.