Southeast to Southwest ...'16

Southeast X Southwest -Spring '16

WI-IL-IN-KY-VA-TN-NC-SC-GA-AL-MS-AR-TX-NM-AZ-CA-OK-KS-MO-IA
Odometer = 21835 - 28036 / Total miles= 6201 / GPS=6005 / 95 Hrs

Day: 1 Friday Date: 4.15.16
Str Cty: Home Str Mls: 21835
End Cty: Bloomington, IN End Mls: 22448
Dly Mls: 412 Tot Mls: 412
Time: 6:34 Notes: nice temp after Crawfordville
Left at 9:15 and rode straight thru except for 4 stops- down 231 to Spencer and saw Tim Figg on my way thru Ellettsville so we talked for a half hour. Very sore and tied, so bed early.  Saturday 4.16.16 we went to the Men's Little 5 bike race and gorged on kettle corn while sitting in the shade...nice exhausting time with huge crowd. Then dinner at Smok'in Jacks bbq. Sunday 4.17.16 ended a religious menagerie - two weeks ago in a 1777 Catholic Church in Portuguese and Latin with the "holy father" visiting the homes, to a traditional Methodist service at our Bethany UM, to a country service in rural fundamentalist tradition at Mt Pleasant Christian Church with a young pastor giving a punishment sermon of 45 minutes with forced alter call (but no "light of the world" candle on the alter or Lords Prayer). The panic was played thru the enter sermon. We enjoyed visiting many old friends from the time we lived nearby on Chittenden Brook Farm.

Day: 2 Monday Date: 4.18.16
Str Cty: Bloomington Str Mls: 22448
End Cty: Johnson City, TN End Mls: 22845
Dly Mls: 396. Tot Mls: 809
Time: 7:11 Notes: crashed at 325 in mtns
Saturday and Sunday with Kelzie.. Little 500 on Saturday and Mt Pleasant church on Sunday. Nice visit and weekend. Left at 9:00 riding 37 to 150 thru Indiana countryside for 90 miles, then I64 thru Louisville and beyond Lexington for 90 miles. Caught Hwy 15 to Hazzard, KY and to the mountains. Took one wrong road and then back on 7-667-etc-23 out of the mountains to Appalachia and Big Stone Gap, leaving KY, crossing the corner of VA, and entering TN and caught the expressway to Johnson City HIx. I crashed in the mountains in Kentucky. ..too fast in an off cant uphill curve... Slid on berm and went down.. and then fell again trying to get back to the road... Luckily the berm was dirt and leaves, thus soft and forgiving so my bike has no marks. I was very skittish thereafter as ankle was badly sprained, my knee hurt, and my ribs were bruised on the left side, making it difficult to get my bike up when getting on .. No damage to bike except tank bag snap broke.  Now to fix the tank bag.. One more stupid move like that and I am done riding.... The Red Bud was dramatic and the weather improved to 80+ degrees into the mountains of KY, VA, & TN. Went over 4100 feet on the KY-VA border. Icing my ankle and when I cough my ribs hurt. Dinner of salad at Cheddars. Sore-ankle, rib, and right knee. Slept well but up at 5:30. Saw an eagle today.

Day: 3 Tuesday Date: 4.19.16
Str Cty: Johnson City, TN Str Mls: 22845
End Cty: Pittsboro, NC/Tarpley's End Mls: 23080
Dly Mls: 228 Tot Mls: 1040
Time: 4:15 Notes: into North Carolina
On the road before 8. Eastern TN and western part of NC are very rural & hilly with twisting roads showing lots of backwoods poverty. You never see this condition in Europe. Broke out of the mountains at Boone at 3200 feet, home to Appalachian State University. The students were hustling to get to class. From there on I rode increasingly sophisticated roads, finally on interstates. Went thru the city centers of Winston-Salem and Greensboro to survey the academic triangle. I arrived at Tarpley's by 12:30. Bill and I toured the house and grounds. They live in a large home on a 2-3 acre wooded lot isolated from their next neighbor. Very nice setting. At 2 Andrea came home from golf and we drove to Chapel Hill - Carraboro area, to a huge lake and to eat at The Pig bbq joint. We got home and talked til the NY primary results started coming in..then talked more about Bedford county, people, and our families. During dinner we had a very blasting discussion about very conservative model of govt, economics and business, trying to actively avoid the topics of economics and fiscal policy with a very interesting contrast on social policy. Bed by midnight.

Day: 4 Wednesday Date: 4.20.16
Str Cty: Pittsboro, NC Str Mls: 23080
End Cty: Charleston, SC End Mls: 23338
Dly Mls: 258 miles Tot Mls: 1298
Time: 4:43 Notes: Sturdevant's
Up at 6:30 and on the road by 10 after long discussions. Rode US 15-150 south on 2 lane roads for over 150 miles, then caught I26  and finally took 52 into the city expressway.  Hwy 17 to Folly Rd and to their apartment. So much useless, junk land south and east of the Appalachian front. The mountains, however, are beautiful...and in the midst of spring. South of Pittsboro it is summer. Tried Marnie on FaceTime...and marn and Kelzie called back to discuss payment for K's accident. Dinner at home. Al has lost 10#s mostly in muscle and has lost his hair. He has periods of tremors but continues to fight to be active and in the best shape possible by daily stretching and Nordic trac. Spent late eve reading emails and then slept very well and got up late..

Day: 5 & 6 Thursday - Friday Date: 4.21-22.16
Str Cty: Charleston Str Mls: 23383
End Cty: End Mls:
Dly Mls: Tot Mls:
Time: Notes:
We were up by 8 but I was hurting in ankle, ribs and knee due to the fall, so a rest day. We talked and read the whole morning, learning about the treatment and condition of Al's situation/health. I took a rest day and did not hurt too much. We went for an auto ride around Folly Island for about two hours and then stopped for an early dinner at the Roadside Seafood Cafe. We met the mother of the young black owners outside and kibitzed merrily, then met the rest of the family inside to get food recommendations and got the last of 11 tables, for which there was a line outside when we left. I splurged badly- fried clams, calamari, sweet potato fries, and onion rings...I smell like fried food. But what a treat. Read in evening and to bed at 11.

Friday .. We were up and done with breakfast by 8:30 so we left for a tour of downtown Charleston. We drove over the Yacht basin we tied up at on Kelzie's School, rode the waterfront with the majestic homes (all restored from $$s after hurricanes), and looked at the old jail (now a trading center for people who can restore old buildings properly), and reviewed the row areas of cheaper housing and semi-slums.   Home for a nap, reading and dinner. Al is lean and trim from loss of weight with loss of strength. The port on his right upper chest which goes directly into the juggler takes a significant amount of care and caution. We have had some good discussions/conversations about the old days in WV, the current political shenanigans, the future and our hopes. Spent evening reading and eating ice cream.

Day: 7 Saturday Date: 4.23.16
Str Cty: Charleston Str Mls: 23383
End Cty: Woodstock, GA End Mls: 23717
Dly Mls: 334 Tot Mls: 1632
Time: 5:43 Notes: Edler's
I left at 8:45 and rode the two lane state highway 78 to Augusta. Then I got on the interstate 20 to Atlanta and north to Woodstock and their beautiful lake house. We talked and talked til a salmon and shrimp dinner. Talked on til 11 and wrote til 12. Nice day and great visit. Their house is set back from the lake and the roads from Atlanta to their house is villages and developments- like 30 miles north.

Day: 8 Sunday Date: 4.24.16
Str Cty: Woodstock Str Mls: 23717
End Cty: Greenville, MS End Mls: 24111
Dly Mls: 445 Tot Mls: 2078
Time: 7 hours Notes: started at 11:30
Had a great baked breakfast, then we went to their marina, had to charge the batteries to get the engine to start, and went for a 45 minute boat ride. Back at the house I loaded up and was on the road by 11:30. First, I skirted west Atlanta and then caught
2 lane Hwy 278 to Gadsden. When I could not get a HIx due west I dropped south to Birmingham and Tuscaloosa on I20-59. Then Hwy 82 all the way to Greenville, MS on the Mississippi River. Poor area and poor eating choices so I went to McD for breakfast and hamburger to tide me over. Rode to the river on some streets not even on my gps in very poor housing areas where the predominate ethos was black. The downtown looked prosperous and there were several southern mansions. Crossed 1/2 Georgia, all of Alabama and all of Mississippi - Almost all roads were very good 4 lane limited access federal highways. Greenville 32k and 69% black....did laundry

Day: 9 Monday Date: 4.25.16
Str Cty: Charleston, SC Str Mls: 24111
End Cty: Wichita Falls, TX End Mls: 24596
Dly Mls: 481 Tot Mls: 2558
Time: 7:38 Notes:  Got up at 6:30 preparing bike.
Crops in Mississippi River valley are planted and up. 200 miles across Arkansas on 2 lane roads, mostly violating the speed limit. Nice rural countryside and small rural towns. Crossed into Texas and got 4 lane roads and speeds of 70 or 75. The further I went the more tired and hot..  92.5 temperature in WF. 7:30 hours riding is too long for me now...less tomorrow I hope. Nothing of note except an open agricultural landscape and rural simple towns. Ate at Back Porch for hamburger...and indigestion during the nite. Watching Sanders interview. Am weak and tired ... Can't keep up this pace and will only go 400 tomorrow.. Bad nite of watching TV, thinking of problems Alex may create and worrying about my front tire. Will make a tire appointment in Albuquerque.

Day: 10 Tuesday Date: 4.26.16
Str Cty: Wichita Falls, TX Str Mls: 24596
End Cty: Santa Rosa, NM End Mls: 25006
Dly Mls: 409 Tot Mls: 2967
Time: 6 hrs Notes: 4800'
Rode Hwy 82 from Tuscaloosa to Lubbock...then Hwy 84 to Santa Rosa, NM. Today from Wichita Falls to here I gained 4000'. The Texas countryside was lush and filled with cattle and horses while the New Mexico side was desert grey and brown as still not into spring. At Lubbock I arranged a review of my front tire at the BMW dealer in Albuquerque at 10 and then on to Flagstaff for the nite. As I crossed the border in NM there were grey fields and significant wind from the south ..temperature dropped from 88 degrees to 61 degrees and the temp rose 10 degrees in the next 100 miles. As one crosses the border you come into the city of Clovis. It is a disaster, half the buildings are empty and falling down, half of the rest of the buildings are decrepit and deteriorated badly, the streets are a disaster, and the environment is sterile. This is a military-supported town near Cannon Air Force Base which is off a few miles. After passing thru Fort Sumner, Billy the Kid's home, I arrived in the transit town of Santa Rosa. The remainder of the afternoon Marnie and I  talked of plans to talk to Alex's father, the insurance claim, and iPad. Talked with Marnie and Kelzie, and Nook is worried about not having enough supervision, practice, and modeling of sport psychologist work. I ate hot Mexican food at the Silver Spoon which is the best restaurant on old Route 66. Got gas. Slept 9 1/2 hours.

Day: 11 Wednesday Date: 4.27.16
Str Cty: Santa Rosa Str Mls: 25006
End Cty: Flagstaff, AZ End Mls: 25459
Dly Mls: 447 Tot Mls: 3414
Time: 6:13+3hrs for service Notes: stop at Albuquerque BMW
Rose 2000' to 7K' in the 125 miles and a temperature only in the high 40s. 1.5 hours to BMW Sandia in Albuquerque and they did not have the tire I needed..after checking around they found one in Santa Fe and proceeded to secure it in 2 hours. Hopefully, I'll be out of here by 1:00 for my 4.25 hours and 325 miles to Flagstaff.. and I got out in 3.5 hours.  Went over 4200' at the Continental Divide and not over 60 degrees at any time today. As I enter Flagstaff the temp dropped to 51. Tires were over $294.. Leak in coolant and air in brake lines. Rain and freezing over nite...must wait to see how weather breaks. Did not sleep well..to bed at 8:30 and up at 4 trying to figure out what to do today- stay or go and how far with late am start. Changed clothes...

Day: 12 Thursday Date: 4.28.16
Str Cty: Flagstaff Str Mls: 25459
End Cty: Kingman, AZ End Mls: 25605
Dly Mls: 148 Tot Mls: 3562 miles
Time: 2:30 Notes: check tire pressure
Snow, rain and cold... Decided to give it a try since the temp went above 43. Rode slower to keep cold air off me. I stopped to warm up in Williams and put on rain pants for warmth, and when I remounted the corn snow started. By the time I was back on the rode it was rain. Dropped my glasses when taking off my helmet and a lens popped out. Went over the Arizona divide above 7200' with temps in the high 30s. Shortly hereafter it seriously started to snow with 34.5 degrees, and the snow stayed on the road...I slowed to 30 mph and others did as well. 10 miles later the roads cleared and snow turned to constant rain. Temperatures would rise to 50 degrees then plummet to 40 sometimes depending on elevation, tho I dropped to 4000' and temp still did not rise above the high 40s. When I saw a sign for HIx in Kingman, I opted to look into transferring my reservation here- after 30 minutes of hassling with the Philippines I got my transfer and stopped riding at noon. Washed clothes, skipped dinner and plan to stay up late so I don't wake too early in am. Rained on and off all afternoon...glad I stopped.

Day: 13 Friday Date: 4.29.16
Str Cty: Kingman Str Mls: 25605
End Cty: Bakersfield, CA End Mls: 25944
Dly Mls: 341 Tot Mls: 3904
Time: 5 hrs Notes:  woke at 3am and tried to get direction. Tuff to decide how to head home... Knee is very painful and in cold aches on bike. Left at 8 in 55 temps and worked my way down 3000'  to 500' on the Colorado River and the California border on I40. Paid $3.49 per gallon for fuel at DQ. On to Barstow where I caught Hwy 58 to Bakersfield.. Temperatures varied with elevation from 59 to 72, and finally 88 in Bakerfield at 250' elevation. I rode 22 miles to find and get around the Kern River Oilfield. It was discovered in 1890 when they could get oil at 70 feet depth. One company owns almost all (chevron) the field now and must drill to about 1000' and get 10% oil and 90% water. The water is used for steam or pumped back into the earth. Wells are about 100 feet apart and 60% were pumping today and oil piped to the central place for processing. Thousands of wells and all connected by insulated piping. 88 degrees hot here. Dinner and staying up til 10 so I don't wake too early and be tired mid day. I ate at Hunter Hearth and had a small prime rib and a great salad. Got gas.....$14.02 debit.

Day: 14 Saturday Date: 4.30.16
Str Cty: Bakersfield Str Mls: 25944
End Cty: Gallup, NM End Mls: 26639
Dly Mls: 700 Tot Mls: 4602
Time: 10:30 Notes: hail, rain, sun, snow.
Up at 4am worried about where to go, so I talked with Marnie at 6 and left to backtrack from Bakersfield at 7 am. The only problem on 58 to Barstow was the temperature which fluctuated between 40 and 50 with elevation changes.. On I40 the rain started and just before Flagstaff the temp went to 34.5 and there was snow on the road. I had to slow. Then after Flagstaff a deep slush spot occurred and a accident bottled up traffic and I lost traction in snow momentarily. When I went back to the HIx I found my seat cover. Then when I asked I was allowed to cancel my reservation there so I could go on. It rained at least 50% of the time on the road. IT hailed twice. Had a surprise HIx in Gallup so I stopped short. Elevation.. 500 in Cal and rising to 4000 across CA, rising from 500 at the Colorado River to 7300 in Flagstaff and 5-6000 continuous for the rest of the trip. Gas in California $1.50 higher than adjacent states. Did not walk to the restaurant in rain, thus no dinner.

Day: 15 Sunday Date: 5.1.16
Str Cty: Gallup, NM Str Mls: 26639
End Cty: Santa Rosa End Mls: 26892
Dly Mls: 253 Tot Mls: 4856
Time: 4:30/ 0ver 7 hrs Notes: bike not undercover/snowed upon
I slept 7.5 hrs and awoke to snow on the vehicles and 34 degrees. Will leave at 8:30... @6400'. The temp once rose to the 50s @ 5000' feet in Albuquerque. I went thru two snow belts, the first was forty miles in the 34.5 degrees and dangerous looking roads but the second belt was not as menacing. When temps went to 32-38 it made my deck flash the ice warning. Into the low forties about 1/3 of the trip. Stopped every 40-50 or less miles to warm as my legs and arms got cold from wind draining heat at higher speeds.. Mostly rode at 50-55 mph with flashers on. When I was getting chilled to the bone I decided to cut the ride short in Santa Rosa, 150 miles from Amarillo. Misting when I got here. Pizza in house as the options were all Mexican and it is too cold to go out- been cold enough today. Tired but no nap. Morning temp predictions look better and elevations will reduce.

Day: 16 Monday Date: 5.2.16
Str Cty: Santa Rosa Str Mls: 26892
End Cty: Kansas City, MO End Mls: 27563
Dly Mls: 676 Tot Mls: 5531
Time: 9:30 Notes: cool - cross country
Left at 8:15 and rode I40 for 80 miles to Tucumcari. By chance I discovered a short cut on US54 to Wichita that saved me 150 miles if I went to OC and north. Great ride as I rode 80-90 mph all day. Found a HIx in north KC which cut my distance home tomorrow. Meat and salad for dinner. Lowlife HIx. Temp started at 40 and gradually increased to 64.5 before eve cooling.

Water pump leaks
Air in brake system
Gas cap open/closing difficult
Service.
Double sided tape

Day: 17 Tuesday Date: 5.3.16
Str Cty: Kansas City, MO Str Mls: 27563
End Cty: Home End Mls: 28036
Dly Mls: 474 Tot Mls: 6005 miles
Time: 6:30 Notes: cold
Woke at 7 swollen on the face and eyes...slept well. Left at 8:15 on I35 to Des Moines where I caught I80 east to Iowa City, then 150 the rest of the way home... The closer I got to Madison the less spring was apparent. Saw another eagle that flew directly over my head..what a view. .....386000 Life Miles....