HOME!!! HOME!!! HOME!!!

08/02/2013 2:15PM 42095 Miles.  HOME AGAIN!  Total trip: 6251.6 miles.

Scruffy welcomes me back home!

Georgia! Almost home!!

08/02/2013 10:30AM 41965 Miles.  I can almost SMELL home!!!

Tennessee (again). Heading to daughter Mary's house in Oak Ridge.

07/31/2013 08:20AM 41497 Miles - Back in Tennessee.  Spending a couple of days with my daughter, who just had surgery.

Missouri (Again)!

My route, across the northern part of Arkansas, meant I had to cross the Mississippi River in Missouri.  Spent the night at the Super-8 motel in Kennett, MO.
Entered MO 07/30/2013 7:00PM  41441 Miles.

The Arkansas "Pig Trail" Scenic Byway

Heading up the "Pig Trail" (Arkansas Hwy 23).  It's a great route for a bike.  It was worth the time I spent.

Ain't that beautiful??

Pine Lodge Motel in Bull Shoals.  Did not stay here this trip, but wife and I have stayed here before.  Couldn't remember the name of it, so I drove by and took this picture.  

Arkansas!

07/29/2013 7:45PM 41086 miles. 

After being on the interstate for three states, I'm about sick of the super-slab.  Spending the night in Van Buren, then I'm heading up into the northern part of Arkansas to see some hills and curves.  

Oklahoma!

07/29/2013 12:45PM 40740 miles - Entered Oklahoma.

For a couple of hours today, I had company for the first time on this trip.  "Tony" from Amarillo rode with me until we stopped for gas about 80 miles inside Oklahoma.   He was heading up to visit his girlfriend north of Oklahoma City.  Wish I had gotten his email address, all I know is "Tony".  

Texas!

7/28/2013  11:20PM - Entered Texas!  Heading to a hotel in Amarillo.

New Mexico! (old Route 66)

7/28/2013  3:50PM  40202 miles. Entered New Mexico.  Chasing thunderstorms the whole way.

Had to wait out a violent storm in a picnic shelter.  See the rope tying the Vstrom to the support post. Wind was that strong!
Bike kept trying to fall over.  

After the storm, a rainbow!

Campsite: McPhee Recreation Complex

Arrived about 7:15 PM.  Very cool and woodsy.  My site appears to be a deer hangout.  Several bedding spots and droppings everywhere.  Host says that black bears come through sometimes, so I put my food in one of my metal side cases, and suspended it in a tree. 

It rained most of the night, and was still raining in the morning, so breaking camp took much longer than usual.  Eventually hit the road around 11:15AM.  

Colorado!

7/27/13 6:30 PM.  40006 miles.

Campsite: Yuba State Park.

Eagle View campground is about 7 miles down a dirt road,  and some of the drives are deep, soft sand.  Got bike stuck, had to get help from neighbors to pull it out.  Very strong winds rattled tent most of the night.  When I got ready to leave, bike lights would not come on.  Arrrgh!!  I used my backup phone to call Jason at Freedom PowerSports in Lawrenceville, GA, and he figured out that my start button was not returning completely.  Thanks, Jason! (6-pack of Bud Light is yours!)

From Yuba, rode through some awesome scenery in Utah, and I had to keep stopping for pics.

San Raphael Reef, UT

Wilson Arch - South of Moab, UT

Utah! Bonneville! Moab! What a beautiful state!

7/26/13. 11:20 AM.  91 degrees. 

Just after entering Utah, I stopped off to see the legendary Bonneville Salt Flats!   This is the site where virtually EVERY land speed record has been set for 100 years.  No action today, but I was still there, and it was cool!

Nevada!

8:55 AM.  39335 miles.  75 degrees.  Jackpot.

Back on the road

Situation with family changed due in part to poor timing, so I left Twin Falls Friday 7/26/13 @ 7:00 AM.  39278 miles.  59 degrees.

The day quickly heated up, and for most of the day, the temperature ranged from 96 to 99.8 degrees.  I kept watching for it to go over 100, especially near the Bonneville salt flats, but it stopped stubbornly at 99.8.  I wore full gear, and apparently I chose wisely.  My First Gear mesh jacket, and my Bilt Blaze mesh pants, along with my Bilt Air Pro mesh gloves (From Cycle Gear) all breathe very well and as long as I am moving, I'm pretty comfortable.  

Family time and First Ink!

Arrived safely at the Randy and Tish's house after riding through a typhoon outside Pocatello.  Arrived about 10:30pm.  39221 miles.   Will not post much during this part of the trip.

Unfortunately, visit was poorly timed and I ended up having to cut short my visit with my brother. Spent a few days with my sister Susie and her family.  Took this opportunity to get my first Tattoo.  Niece Wendy recommended Ascension Tattoo in Twin Falls.  Josh did a great job of guiding me through the process, and I'm very pleased with the results.  This trip was made possible by my wonderful wife, Sandi, so the tattoo is for her.

Moving on to Randy's

Time to move on to my brother Randy's house in Twin Falls, ID.  Started on Wyoming, passed through Montana in about ten minutes and on into Idaho.
Hit one heckuva thunderstorm outside of Pocatello. 

Yellowstone Park - Day 2

Second day in the park was pretty damp and rainy.  That didn't stop me from enjoying Old Faithful and plenty of Elk.  I also saw a Bald Eagle, but couldn't get a picture. 

There's a WHAT behind me?

Old Faithful just warming up

Female Elk feeding.

Yellowstone Park! - day 1

Took a day off from hunting Zombies to take a tour of America's oldest national park.  Man there's a lot to take in.  Being on a bike leaves you feeling a bit exposed when a huge Bison walks right past you.  Did the north loop today, will hit south loop, including Old Faithful, tomorrow.

Petrified Zombie - My first sighting!

7/16/13.  Heading into Yellowstone east entrance about 9:30 AM,  I saw my first Zombie signs.  As you can plainly see in the photo, this Zombie had somehow been turned to stone!  At least I know I'm close!

Wapiti Campground!

20 miles from Yellowstone east gate.  Check out the bear box.  7/14 7:45pm 38505 miles.

This doe walked right through my camp.  

Wyoming!

Crossed over into Wyoming 11:00 AM.  64 degrees and dry for now.  38118 miles.   On my way to my campground, I passed an open pot coal mine. I took a picture because I've never seen one before.

Left Kemp's Kamp

After breakfast, (coffee, eggs, hash), I got a visit from Liam, a boy from the next site.  He is considering a Vstrom, and wanted to sit on mine and see how it felt.  Looks like a perfect fit to me.  l left camp at 9:05 (mountain).  Headed for Yellowstone.  Rainy and 60 degrees.