Well, today was relatively short for the ride.  We only went 460 miles.  When we left Rapid City this morning, we headed north on I-90 to go to Sturgis.  It is a small town that is highly over rated.  You can tell the town looks forward to the event as a lot of buildings and signs were painted all over the town.  We stopped at the beginning of Sturgis and Art decided he wanted to go visit a Veteran's Cemetery that we saw just before town and he said he would catch up with us in Cody, Wyoming.

     On the road again Stan and I pulled off to a side trip to go see "Devil's Tower".  You know the famous one from the movie "Close Encounters".  On the rode up as we turn one of the many twisties we came right into the middle of a cattle drive.   Cowboys (And Girls) were driving them up the rode to another pasture.  We got some great pictures.  We drove up to the tower and took the 1.3 mile hike around the tower.  On the hike we saw a four foot snake.  He was minding his own business so we took some pictures and left him be.  On the far side of the tower we looked up and saw a climbing crew up about half way.  We think it was about three or four people. I tried to get pictures of them up there but not sure how well they came out.

     Back on the road we took I-14 out of Sheridan, Wy.  All the way to Cody.  We stopped about 200 miles from Cody to gas up and met the nicest couple on a new black 1800.  They are from Alaska.  We immediately shared travel stories.  He bought the bike new in Ohio and is riding it back to Alaska, by the way of Virginia and Mississippi.  We played tag with them at the stops all the way into Cody only to find them checking into the same Hotel as us!  As we pulled into the main street in Cody Art arrived also!  It has been quite the day.  I have seen country that rivals any in the world.  I can not wait to ride it again someday.  Our new friends have asked us to met them for dinner at the local restaurant next to the hotel so I will go for now.  

     565 miles today and we are spending the night in Rapid City, South Dakota.  We got into the hotel about 4pm.  Stan and I went off to see the Crazy Horse and Mount Rushmore.  Art wanted to stay at the room and do laundry.  Stan and I rode out of town about 35 miles to see the amazing things.  Crazy Horse is a work in progress and will take decades to complete but it will be a sight to see when done.  I understand that the Presidents take a lot of care and are in constant motion and need of repair.  It rained really hard for about ten minutes while we were at Rushmore but nothing to mention on the rest of the day.  At one time on the ride in we stopped and put on our rain gear but it turned out not to be needed.

     I think maybe I was a little harsh on the landscape yesterday in Nebraska and Ohio.  While the gentle rolling hills and flat lands have a special allure all their own, there is a special beauty that is specific to this area.  Most of the problem is that I can not take pictures while riding and we have been riding hard the last few days.  We are ahead of the thunderstorms and winds.  So far we have been very lucky in our travels.  Hope that keeps up. 

     What a surprise!   I can not believe it!   That was the best part of the whole trip. 

     The day was long and the landscape boring compared to what I have seen up to now.  I did not take any pictures the last couple of days because there really is nothing worth remembering in the landscape.  Now don't get me wrong, I am truly grateful for the "breadbasket" of America.  It is just that it is not worth the pictures.  Now tomorrow should be a whole lot different.  I can not wait to see Mount Rushmore and the Crazy Horse monument.  We rode 647 miles today.  All the way from Terre Haute, Indiana to Omaha, Nebraska.  When we got to the hotel he told me he had a friend (a girlfriend!) that was in room 251 and he wanted me to meet her!  I was flabbergasted and did not want to go.  He insisted that I meet her and I did not want to be rude to her so reluctantly I went up to the room.  To my surprise Stan Brooks was there waiting for us!   Apparently he went out to Oklahoma to see Bobbie and drove up to Omaha to ride home with us.  It is just getting better and better.  I just don't know how it will get any better and yet it does!   Many thanks to all who planned this and a special thanks to all who manage to keep it a secret. It is nice to have friends!!

May 29, 2008

    Sorry for the delay in the blogs again but the cousins do not have internet connection.  So I will have to catch up for lost days. 

     We left Punxsutawney at 8:30am after having breakfast at the family (Art's Cousins) at the Flying J.  We rode 538 miles today and stop to spend the night at a Best Western Hotel.  It is right next to a "Bob Evens" Restaurant.  It turned out to be a good choice as the food was great (and greatly priced) and the hotel has bent over backwards to accommodate us with the motorcycles.  We met three other bikes here also and we had a very nice conversation. 

     Well, I think I have fallen in love with Pennsylvania.  I like the country style of living, I like the people there and I love the architecture of the older buildings all around you.  The streets are small and uneven, the grass is overgrown everywhere. Some of the houses are pretty run down and need a lot of attention but some have been restored to their former glory and are just magnificent!  . I just think it would be a great place to retire someday. 

May 28, 2008

     There we are in Punxsutawney (try that one with your eyes closed!).  Sorry I did not blog the last two days but the family (Art's side) does not have internet connection.  The area is amazing.  It is a small town America feeling.  The stores are small family owned businesses that have been in the family for generations.  We walked around town and saw all the homes that were built a hundred years ago.  Some of the homes are in need of repair and some have been remolded and some have being restored to the original beauty.  It strikes me right away that the homes do not have fences or dedicated areas for the houses.  One home lawn runs into the neighbors and no one seems to mind.  There is no graffiti or vandalism.  The buildings are clean.  Streets are small and well kept.  I thought the street would be in worst shape due to the snow and ice year in and year out. There are statues of "Punxsutawney Phil" all around the neighborhood.  A business might sponsor one of the statues and thus dress or decorate him in something to do with the business.  The one in front of the hardware store has a hard hat, overalls, tool belt and safety glasses.  I have managed to take pictures of quite a few of them.  I will be glad to show you when I get home.     

     I challenge anyone to have had a better Memorial Day than I!   I arrived in Gettysburg on Memorial Day just in time to see the parade.  Just think the place where freedom and justice for all was fought and died for.  The parade was only an hour long.  But the streets were filled to capacity.  There were no floats, no clowns, or trappings of the "put on" parade.  It had bands, only from the local high, middle, and elementary schools.  It had period customs that were authentic down to the shoes.  Every war, conflict, every intervention was represented.  VFW, UFW, ELKS', ROTORS, DAUGHTER'S OF THE CIVIL WAR, and many, many more were there.  The polotitians were far and few between.  It was a parade for the people.  There is only one main street in Gettysburg and the parade went down it to the cemetery.  At the cemetery there was a wreath laying ceremony. It is hard to believe that so many gave their lives on that very spot.  I could almost hear President Lincoln giving his two minute speech.  The former governor of Penn. had given a two hour speech just before Mr. Lincoln and Mr. Lincoln thought no one liked his because it was so short.  Even Mr. Lincoln can be wrong sometimes!

     I rode through Lancaster, Pa. this morning and got to see the Amish and Quakers tending to their fields and flocks.  It is funny to see them plowing a field with horses and a plow.  I spoke with a set of young people at a yard sale.  They are very nice, polite, quick witted and very fair in their dealings.  Maybe we all could learn something from their way of life.  One of the boys asked how I got here from California.  I pointed at the bike and said, "On my mechanical horse".  He just smiled and walked away.  He went right over to his sister and started talking to her and you could tell he was excited at tell of his encounter with me.  The roads and towns are small rural townships and two lane roads.  The buildings are made of brick and you can see the history of them just begging to be told.  I wish I had more time in this area of the country.  Oh well, at least I have a good reason to come back someday.  

      Again, I found a tee shirt for Stan.  It had a picture of a grumpy old confederate solider on it and it said, "of course I am mean and grumpy, my side lost".  Do they make these just for Stan?  I wonder.   

     Imagine, I am standing on the birthplace of freedom.  I have seen the liberty bell and the hall of Independence.  The feeling that I get is that the emotions of this place has changed the world.  Standing in "Freedom Square" I can almost hear the people screaming for independence from England. 

     Art and I did not stay in Washington D.C. for the Thunder parade.  He has seen it before and I have had my fill of Harley noise.  I saw the bikes yesterday in the Mall and lining the parade routes.  And really, I just completed a three thousand mile parade with them!  Now remember, the parade is a different function than the "Run for the Wall" event.  The two just happen to be on the same weekend.  Being in one does not give anything special to the other.  Besides I decided to use the extra day and ride to Lancaster, Pa.  I wish to see the Amish and Quakers and their simple ways of life.

I will get up early tomorrow and head out that way.  See you later.  

     Well, I need to start this blog with a disclaimer about last night's blog.  Art is 61 not 62 as previously stated.  Sorry Art, but when you are so well preserved it is hard to get the age right!  Many happy returns buddy.

      "The best laid plans of mice and men often go a rye".  I went to the Metro this morning but it was not running for some reason so I drove the 95 freeway down to

 The Arlington Cemetery.  What an awesome place.  The peace and serenity of the place is so soothing to the soul.  I forgot it was Memorial weekend and every (EVERY) headstone had a small American flag placed on it.  Row after row, it was truly a sight to see.  It is one thing to honor someone when they are gone but I wonder if we honored them while they were still alive.  I mean, do you have to die in your country's service to be honored like this? 

       I wandered through the Cemetery for about two hours (I arrived at 8am).  The "Run for the Wall" was honored again at the wreath laying ceremony at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier.  It was a real tear jerker.  I then bought a bus pass to the "Mall" area of the monuments and museums. Once there I went to the Vietnam Wall Monument.  That was hard.  I know that is not right and will not set well with a lot of people but it is my feeling and opinion, here goes:  What is wrong with a Nation that would send 58,263 of it's best, young men and women to die in a foreign country that it was not even at war with?  Why in the world do we not send our older men and women to fight the wars?  I mean, at least they have had a chance to live and love.  Please do not misunderstand me; their sacrifices are just as valiant and courageous as anyone.  I just can not believe the number of names on that wall.  It just hit home that so many died in that conflict.  Anyway,   I walked all day long, about 5pm I caught the last bus back to Arlington and then rode back to the motel.  Last night I went to Best Buy to buy a bigger memory chip for the camera as it has only 250MB about 66 pictures worth.  Well, I bought the 2GB, which will give me 586 pictures.  All set, right?  Wrong!  After about 120 pictures the battery went dead (yes, I fully charged it last night knowing I was going to take a lot of pictures).  Anyway I believe I got some "keepers" and can not wait to bore you all with them!  There was so much to see.  I actually walked on Penn. Ave. and saw the White House.  I went to the Natural History Museum and saw the Hope Diamond.  I told the guard there that my girlfriend has a Hope Diamond also.  He just looked at me.  Then I explained that she still hopes it's a diamond and not zirconium.  He just walked way, I don't understand?!? 

     I think I was most impressed with the Air and Space Museum.  It was awesome and I keep wishing Michael and Stan were here to enjoy it with me. I found a shirt for Stan.  It says, "You don't know me,,, I am in the federal witness program".  That is Stan dead out!!

I going to try and down load the video of the wreath ceremony.  Hope it works.   

     Well, I need to start this blog with a disclaimer about last night's blog.  Art is 61 not 62 as previously stated.  Sorry Art, but when you are so well preserved it is hard to get the age right!  Many happy returns buddy.

      "The best laid plans of mice and men often go a rye".  I went to the Metro this morning but it was not running for some reason so I drove the 95 freeway down to

 The Arlington Cemetery.  What an awesome place.  The peace and serenity of the place is so soothing to the soul.  I forgot it was Memorial weekend and every (EVERY) headstone had a small American flag placed on it.  Row after row, it was truly a sight to see.  It is one thing to honor someone when they are gone but I wonder if we honored them while they were still alive.  I mean, do you have to die in your country's service to be honored like this? 

       I wandered through the Cemetery for about two hours (I arrived at 8am).  The "Run for the Wall" was honored again at the wreath laying ceremony at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier.  It was a real tear jerker.  I then bought a bus pass to the "Mall" area of the monuments and museums. Once there I went to the Vietnam Wall Monument.  That was hard.  I know that is not right and will not set well with a lot of people but it is my feeling and opinion, here goes:  What is wrong with a Nation that would send 58,263 of it's best, young men and women to die in a foreign country that it was not even at war with?  Why in the world do we not send our older men and women to fight the wars?  I mean, at least they have had a chance to live and love.  Please do not misunderstand me; their sacrifices are just as valiant and courageous as anyone.  I just can not believe the number of names on that wall.  It just hit home that so many died in that conflict.  Anyway,   I walked all day long, about 5pm I caught the last bus back to Arlington and then rode back to the motel.  Last night I went to Best Buy to buy a bigger memory chip for the camera as it has only 250MB about 66 pictures worth.  Well, I bought the 2GB, which will give me 586 pictures.  All set, right?  Wrong!  After about 120 pictures the battery went dead (yes, I fully charged it last night knowing I was going to take a lot of pictures).  Anyway I believe I got some "keepers" and can not wait to bore you all with them!  There was so much to see.  I actually walked on Penn. Ave. and saw the White House.  I went to the Natural History Museum and saw the Hope Diamond.  I told the guard there that my girlfriend has a Hope Diamond also.  He just looked at me.  Then I explained that she still hopes it's a diamond and not zirconium.  He just walked way, I don't understand?!? 

     I think I was most impressed with the Air and Space Museum.  It was awesome and I keep wishing Michael and Stan were here to enjoy it with me. I found a shirt for Stan.  It says, "You don't know me,,, I am in the federal witness program".  That is Stan dead out!!

I going to try and down load the video of the wreath ceremony.  Hope it works.   

     At 1:53pm Eastern Standard Time Art, myself and the run for the wall group made it to Arlington, Virginia.  By 2:15pm we were riding around D.C.  We saw the Washington monument, The White House, the Senate Building and many more wonders. 

     Today is Art's 62 birthday and it was a good day for him.   After the quick tour of D.C. we found our way to Art's daughter's house by GPS and phone calls.  I am staying in Holiday Express about fifteen minutes from her house and about forty miles from D.C.  My plan is to take the Metro downtown tomorrow morning and spend the day wandering around D.C.  Wish me luck!

      The ride is over and the end was quite a let down.  We pulled into a Holiday Inn off the freeway and within ten minutes we were dispersed without so much as a "good bye".  I was expecting more for the end.  We will meet tomorrow morning at the Arlington Cemetery for a wreath ceremony.  But that is all!

      The picture of the gentleman in the orange sleeves is a guy on active duty to the Army and on leave.  He chooses to spend his leave this way.  Anyway he has a handle of "wrong way".  He was the road guard who blocks onramps and intersections for the group to pass.  Anyway, in El Paso he took his squad (of four other road guards) and when into town to block intersections for us.  He waited and waited and waited no group.  He had picked up the wrong map and the group had taken another route.  Motorists were mad and honking and yelling at him.  Anyway, he was a very nice young man who is dedicated to "serving". We were very fortunate to have him. 

     The run is put together by a "Board of Directors" and each year in September they get together and place the staff in positions.  This year they picked a man that is only known as "Cowboy".  He has made the run many times and is very good at what he does.  He has that "command" presents about him and he delegates well but retains full responsibility for all factions of the ride.  As you can see by the picture he always wears a cowboy hat when not in a helmet.  I understand that he has been bringing his granddaughter on the rides since she was fourteen.  I believe she is eighteen now. They have given a nickname or handle of ,"little bit".   She handles the 50/50 raffles (a money drawing where fifty percent of all tickets sold go into the kitty for operations expenses and the other fifty percent is given away as the prize) every morning. I noticed that she does not always ride with Cowboy and I do not know why.  Cowboy is the leader of the group and rides at the front of the columns.                                                               

      The day has been a short day.  We gathered at the park in Wytheville and the students from the elementary school near by were brought in to do a wreath ceremony (the students made the wreath themselves).  Songs were sung, hugs given, pictures taken, and we were on our way to Montvale.   At Montvale we went to the Elementary school and actually ate lunch (served by the cafeteria staff) in the classrooms with the students.  It was powerful stuff!   One veteran who has a hook on the end of a metal rod for his left arm was asked by a first grader, "is there an arm in there?" Veteran: "No", student; "where is your arm?" Veteran; "I left it in Vietnam." Student; "you will have to be more careful where you leave things".   It was moments like this that makes it all worth while!  The students treated us to a program of songs and picture slide show that melted all the hearts of everyone there. 

     I can not believe I am in the Smoky Mountains!  It has been a life long dream of mine to see the Blue Ridge Mountains and now I have.   The Blue Ridge is at the southern end of the Appalachian  range.  The scenery is be on description as any attempt to describe the beauty will fail.  You must see it for yourself to truly appreciate it! 

     The night is to be spent in Roanoke and tomorrow we are to ride 238 miles to the Arlington Cemetery.  There will be a brief ceremony and will get ready for Saturday in Washington. 

      Yesterday, late afternoon just west of Chattanooga Tn., we were hit by a thunderous hail storm that came out of no where.  The hail was the size of golf balls and came at us unexpectedly.  We were driving the number one lane at about 60 miles an hour when it started to rain.  The group (over 450 bikes)  had already decided not to stop due to rain unless something hazardous should happen.  Well, it started to rain and we powered down.  Before we could reduce to 50 mph the rain turned to sheet and you could not see the motorcycle you were sitting on.  Within just seconds of the rain, hale started and stopped but not before hitting the bikes and the helmets and the people.  I have a big burse on my stomach from one hale that hit me while I was still moving.  One road guard had short sleeves on and the hale actually drew blood on his arms. One man jumped off his bike and was hit in the back right between the shoulder blades. One of the Veterans said  he went down like he had been hit by shrapnel. Two bikes were dropped as they tried to stop.   When you think of hale you think of round little balls falling from the sky.  Well, this was odd shaped, jagged, heavy things.  At first I thought someone was throwing things at us or rocks were being thrown up by the vehicles in front of us.   A major rule was broken; we came to a dead stop on the side of the freeway.  One of the road guards had the sense to stop two semi trucks to block all lanes because there were stopped bikes on all sides and in the lanes and traffic was still coming at us.  The rain only lasted about two minutes until we could see again enough to move off the freeway and regroup. As we stood on the freeway with bikes stopped, no where to duck and cover, with hale still falling, we were all extremely glad that were wearing our helmets.  Not one head injury occurred due to the helmets.  Again, another reason to wear them at all times

      Following directions without questions, staying off the CB so the guards could asset and direct, and people helping people, all this saved the day and no serious injuries were reported.