On the road again!

Heading for the Caribbean probably Wednesday the 26th of December.

New Blog has been set up at caribbeancruzin.blogspot.com

Lots of time at sea between posts and internet access!

Final Map

This is the final map of my 15,821 mile trip to Alaska and back.

Close Encounters with a Canteloupe

Sunrise

Yep sunrise found me on the road again! Starting an 5 AM, I headed east on a Bunburner/Saddlesore 1,000 mile/1,500 rides. The first one in 24 hours, the second in 36 hours.

I left Presho, South Dakota and swung south into Iowa and Nebraska. Large thunder storm cells moved from the west to east, cleaning a lot of the bugs my bike and rain gear had accumulated. At least it was cool. I headed down to Kansas City, then on to Saint Lewis. Crossing the Mississippi, I rode across Illinois and Indiana.

This was looking over my shoulder in Indiana as it set. The ride through Kentucky to Frankfort was great until I stopped to look for a room. I covered about 40 miles then gave up and slept for an hour and a half or so at my bike. Hitting the road again, I started hitting increasingly heavier fog. Driving on I saw an orange light ahead. It kept getting bigger and coming over one hill, I broke through the fog and found that the weird light was actually the moon coming up. It hung just above the mountains and looked unreal, like someone had hung a canteloupe in the sky.

I dropped back down in the fog and rode until I couldn't see the road. After another nap in a rest area, I headed into Charleston, West Virgina and stopped for breakfast. Following that, a sprint over the mountains and down to the beach and Home! This ride was 1,793.5 miles in 31 and a half hours. My total mileage was 15,894 for the 48 days. A disappointment at the end was my good buddy Dave was following me on spot and headed up to meet me with a cold beer. Spot can be delayed up to 20 minutes so he missed me. I went and collected this morning. Great trip, I'm planning another trip to Sturgis and the area around it for next year.

This Blog is now complete.

Ron

Sturgis and Mt Rushmore

I finally left Wyoming and headed to South Dakota. More than 350 vendors were set up in Sturgis and the early arriving bikers were everywhere. Workers were preparing for the 800,000 plus riders expected. One bar has 400 waitresses working at a time. They make $800-$1200 each for a four hour shift. I asked the Organizers what were the dates of the event? They responded it actually starts the first of August with the official kick-off the first full weekend.

Betty and I are considering visiting next year. This rally has not only incredible entertainment, huge bars to enjoy a few while people watching, but numerous incomparable rides, guided fishing trips, Yellowstone, the Bad Lands Mt Rushmore and the Devil Tower to visit. The is by far the best biker rally to attend.
While walking down the street viewing activities, I ran into my friends from Wilminton. We walked for a while then had a token beer before we split up.

Wyoming High Country

Rode solo again up through canyons and over the Big Horn National Forrest.

I met these two in the middle of no where and wondered what they were doing. It then became apparent, a cowboy on a horse was about half a mile on the other side of the herd. The sheep are on open range.

It was cold at 9500 foot, colder when I had to go down through the clouds.

The Devil, with a devil's brew at the Devils Tower National Monument! I'm camping here tonight.

Looked like the Indians were blowing a smoke signal.

Montana and Wyoming day 2

Lousey internet, best I could do.

Lunch stop

The dots are many bison


Four rode today

My next ride

Been there and wondered where it was?

Bear tooth pass 10,947 feet

Randys repaired trailer

Montana and Wyoming

Met up with three Wilmington friends to ride. Randy was pulling a trailer and needed to get it repaired after a woman ran over top of it!

Ed, retired Navy Chief Corpsman/ Seal, and Big Ernie, The last enlisted marine Pilot (C130), retired Sargent Major rode through Montana, across Yellowstone and to Cody with me. Nice day.



These are white pelicans, that summer in Montana and winter in the Florida Keys, they are found no where else.




This is Big Earn, recreated the Badger episode, those that know the story understand why we rode 28 miles of dirt to get there, those that care, let me know and I'll tell the sad tale.

We rode by a huge herd of Buffalo, that were the smaller of the Ted Turner herds.

Mountain States

What do you call someone from Idaho? They are Idahoans. I didn't know that until today.

I always thought that West Virginia was the mountain state, but realized Montana is Spanish for mountain. It figures, there are a lot of them. My scenery from our ride through the Yukon, Alaska and British Columbia have spoiled me with incredible views or I'd be impressed with Idaho and Montana. I stopped in Bozeman after a speed run across Rockies on Interstate 90. Three of my Wilmington friends are here so we will ride somewhere tomorrow, then I will hit Yellowstone before heading to Sturgis

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Headed East

Ron and I headed out in drizzle and the low 50's this morning. We found his best friend's house and were met by his great family. Following breakfast, Ron and I split ways after 23 days and more than 8,000 miles together! Because of my deployments in the Navy and work in aerospace, we never had so much time together. My son is someone I'm very proud of.

I Headed east up the Columbia River Valley following my trusty GPS, missing Ron's presence in my mirror immediately. Almost felt like when he left for college again. He still has over 2,000 miles to get home to Austin, solo. I passed the 12,000 mile point for this trip.

I made it about 450 miles for the day and chickened out from the storm I was running from and grabbed a room in Spokane. Tomorrow evening, I link up with my buddies Ernie and Grady from home to ride the Yellowstone area for a few days.

s