To the Redwood and the NorthWest

---- REDWOODS TO THE NORTHWEST ----
Trip Four  --- WI, IA, NE, CO, UT, ID, CA, OR, WA, MT, SD, & MN
Redding, Boise, Corvallis, Salem, Walla Walla, (Bellingham & Kootnay)
6.22 - 7.4.15
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BIKE MILES: 5382   GPS MILES: 5218   TOTAL YEAR: 20910
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       First Week : 2801 miles
Day      : 1 Date       : 6.22.15 Monday
Str Cty  :  Home                       Str Mls.   : 6600
End Cty  :  Norfolk, NE End Mls   : 7112
Dly Mls   : 469   Tot Mls     : 469
Time.      : 7:21 hrs Notes       : x Iowa on 20
Left at 7:30 and rode till I discovered I forgot my riding belt, so backtracked home to start again. By Dodgeville it started sprinkling and the last 20 miles into Dubuque it was a torrential downpour. Luckily I had gotten my rain gear on so when cars stopped along side the road I kept going. The rain continued for 4 hours with only sporadic downpours. I took Hwy 151 to catch 20 in Dubuque for the ride across Iowa to Sioux City as the temperatures rose from the mid 60s to the mid 80s. There I caught Hwy 35 and rode into Norfolk, home to 25k people and the hometown of Johnny Carson. The new seat gave me fits; when the rear was up I slid forward and bound my pants with my knees on the tank and ache in my lumbar area, and when I lowered the back area my hips were not supported so I had to reach forward for the bars an developed an ache in my upper back and in my rib cage. I called Russell and made and appointment for next Monday. HIx was 10k pas +$70. The wind and sun aggregated my nose to itching and touchy. Tried using my MP3 to listen to music, but the wind noise drowned out the major part of the sound..
Day : 2 Date : 6.23.15 Tuesday
Str Cty : Norfolk Str Mls     : 7112
End Cty : Fort Collins, CO   End Mls   : 7633  
Dly Mls : 516   Tot Mls     : 985  
Time : 8:30 hrs   Notes     :  cold to hot 1 to 5 K'
Awake at 4... Left at 7:30 south down 81 from Norfolk in mid 60 temp and bright sun lite at 1k'.  Ran 40 miles Hwy 81 to I-80 and then cross country on Hwy 6 to McCook and onto Sterling for Hwy 14. The corn is calf high (I actually saw a farmer cultivating the corn rows, something not seen for years) potatoes in bloom, wheat is brown and about ready to harvest, and hay is cut and drying everywhere. This ride on back state roads and wandering around was the best crossing of Iowa and Nebraska I have had. Ended in Fort Collins at 5k' and high 80s heat. Kelzie left for Tanzania today. Same seat and back problems as yesterday. Bike is running well tho I have had low milage..Monday with head winds I got 39 mpg and today with heat and elevation I got 45 mpg. Tried to ride the speed limit all day and did an admirable job. Paid $83

Day : 3 Date     : 6.24.15 Wednesday
Str Cty : Fort Collins, CO     Str Mls     : 7633
End Cty : Heber City, UT   End Mls     : 8085  
Dly Mls : 453   Tot Mls     : 1438 miles  
Time : 7:45   Notes     : temperatures over 100...
Awake at 2:00 with fitful sleep thereafter worrying about Kelzie, having lack of good sleep and trying to decide if I should return home. Left at 7:30 in mid 60s but as I rose in Poudre Canyon and 10300 feet the temp dropped to the low 50s. As I moved on I came to the Continental Divide at 9426', third for the year. Very comfortable riding as I approached Walden at 6k'. By noon and beyond Steamboat Springs the temp went progressively up to 100.5 west of Craig. The temperature only came down to the mid 80s at 8k' in UT and the AC in HIx  - Heber City. Saw two moose grazing, several mule deer (some sleeping on the road) and a herd of antelope. Almost all the land today was used for grazing cattle and commercial hay. A shower  but I barely got the sweat and road grime off me without soap. Ate a salad at a local bbq joint... $83





Day : 4 Date : 6.25.15 Thursday
Str Cty : Heber City, UT Str Mls     : 8085
End Cty : Boise, ID   End Mls   : 8476  
Dly Mls : 387   Tot Mls     : 1825 miles  
Time : 5:20   Notes     :  interstate ..heat to 101.5
Rode the speed limit all day...very proud of myself ---of course, the limit was 80 mph.
Rode thru the Wasatch Mountains til 10am in 70-80 degrees - these mtns are austere but neat with prosperous farms and communities in the valley. Stopped at rest area and a truck driver who just bought a GSA came over to talk (for a 1/2 hour) and get info on touring. Above Ogden the terrain started flatter desert terrain and along the Great Salt Lake and the heat started to rise. I started to make more stops as the time and heat interfered with my feeling settled and comfortable. The temps since noon were averaging 96 degrees and peaked at 101.5. I stopped frequently to drink diet coke and Gatorade to stay alert and hydrated. Patience with stops worked out very well. At a Candlewood Suites for two nites for 5000 points/nite (usually HIx is 15-20000) and included breakfast with full kitchen, may stay a week.. Haven't heard from Kelzie in the last 36 hours. Checked temps and Redding where I'm going is 107 at 3pm. Some left side phantom pain the last two days. I misplaced my electronic bike key and had the retrace my activities since I got here and tear my room apart.. Sweaty I found it in my pants where it is not suppose to be! I took duct tape and to neck lanyard and made a way to carry on my neck or hooked into the pocket of my jacket.

Day : 5 Date     : 6.26.15 Friday
Str Cty : Boise, ID     Str Mls     : 8476
End Cty : Boise   End Mls     : 8530  
Dly Mls : 40   Tot Mls     :    
Time : 2 hrs   Notes     : 90 degrees by 11am
On being alone... I think of this abnormal state, that I've come to like, often as I ride. I have yet to find a definition or condition to assign it. Thinking alone and liking it makes me feel competent, but errors in life make my doubtful and obsessed, especially early in the morning hours as errors, omissions and fears come to lite. When I get on and get going I reverse the morning worry trend and conquer. Any intrusion takes effort.. Breaking thot and struggling to translate experience into words. I've learned to like the condition most people would think of as loneliness. No music like at home! Content to be silent and with only thots. I don't mind being alone tho I always miss Marn when I leave.

 Up at 6:30 and at BMW at 9 to have my bike washed and checked. Then rode to Boise State and the Capitol of Idaho. After riding some neighborhoods and the temp 90 at 11 I returned to my AC. Boise is 215K with a major university and the state Capitol. The housing is typical of a working class, teaching, and state workers with upscale mercantile areas. If I knew the place better I think it would not be significantly different from Madison, except for Madison's medical services and tech industry. Ate salad at Applebee's at 4:30 preparing for the World Cup soccer game and leaving at mid nite to beat the heat.

Day : 6 Date : 6.27.15 Saturday
Str Cty : Boise   Str Mls     : 8530
End Cty : Redding, CA   End Mls   : 9024  
Dly Mls : 546   Tot Mls     : 2371  
Time : 10 hrs riding time   Notes     : Lv @ midnite... arr. 11am...
To bed at 9, up at 11:30, and on the road at 12:00 to get to Redding without being in 107 degree heat. At start the temp was 80 and as I proceeded it randomly went down as low as 55 and as hi as 80, sometimes within a mile. I did not exceed 80 degrees until 40 miles out and below 3500'. 10 miles out it went to 90 and more in town. I had terrible breakfast in Burns about 150 miles in. At 5 I was so tired I stopped and laid on a brown bench 18" wide..slept about 20 minutes, I think, and awaking when my neck cramped 2ndary to my hand as a pillow. I was wide awake then for the next 5 hours, amazing recoup in such a short sleep and short bed sleep. Most of my ride was above 4k' and went as high as 5k'. The first 150 miles was on poor road and very dark so I was very slow. When I turned south on 395 and the sun rose I made better time, passing Paisley about 9am. Saw hundreds of jackrabbits on the road. The Goose Lake which is 25x10 miles was dry as far as I could tell. Then on ca299, Mt Shasta came into view...    Continually dropping altitude in the Cascade Mountains and increasing temps I got to Redding HI at 11:00 and in 11 hours with just over 1 hour of non-riding time. Ready for a rest and took a swim. Applebee's wedge salad and tea-lemonade.

Day : 7 Date     : 6.28.15 Sunday
Str Cty : Redding     Str Mls     : 9024
End Cty : Redding   End Mls     : 9060  
Dly Mls : 25 miles around town   Tot Mls     : 2400  
Time :   Notes     : rest and laundry day
Laundry done and gassed up by 8am. After nap I had parfait breakfast and I took a ride to Shasta Lake to see how low it was, forgetting my camera. It is low and they have already lost 20 feet this year to make power and it shows more than 60 feet down. Back to read and shave- my razor broke so I must use poor handout from desk. These cheap razors are hazardous to my scalp and I have several skin problems in addition to no hair. Took a swim, it is very hot outside - 100 today.  I recommend the book Plain Truth by Picoult - re Amish and a murder trial. Ate wedge salad and shrimp at Applebee's again.. Been reading all late afternoon.



Day : 8 Date     :  6.29.15 Monday
Str Cty : Redding     Str Mls     : 9060
End Cty : Mckinleyville, CA   End Mls     : 9344  
Dly Mls : 284 Tot Mls     : 2655  
Time : 7:30   Notes     : difficult drive,  seat worked on..
To the coast and relief from heat....  After a review of my seat problems at Russell Day Long... I hoped they would rectify the problem ... Awake much after 2 and up at 5:30 cuz of too much thinking and trying not to worry. I pray they rectify the problem with my seat today, but I feel at their mercy. I arrived after McD parfaits at 8:00. Immediately my seat maker started working with me cuz his appointment was late. By 9:30 we had what felt like a change in the back part of the seat which felt good. I was off on a back highway (Plantina Road) of twists and turns, ups and downs at 30 miles per hour on the western slopes of the Coastal Range. The vegetation on this side of the range was fried and every plant, bush and tree had some dried damage, I met Hwy 36 at Plantina in the Trinity Mountains and then had a much improved road where one could ride 30-50 mph at about 88 degrees. Once over the top at over 4200 feet (which I exceeded twice) the vegetation looks okay. At 101 near Fortuna (150 miles) (at mid 70 degrees) I turned south to get on the Avenue of the Giants, the Humboldt Redwood State Park, and the Rockefeller Grove. After a tour of the redwoods I went out the back of the Rockefeller Forest on a very damaged, pot holed Mattole Road (in the Mattolie valley by the Mattole River) for 50 miles and over 2400 feet several times in heavy coniferous forests to Petrolia in the hinterland of CA over the Salmon Mountains and the Coast Range. I stopped at a store and snacked as I kibitzed. The community of 300-500 persons, with a total school of 30 students in all grades, is very isolated and I am sure was established as a homesteading, hippie location (with attendant pot plantations). Leaving Petrolia (with temps in the low 60s and hi 50s) I went over the mountain along the ocean to 45 feet then rose straight up the mountain to 945 and back down to 45. It then rose thru the first to 1800' before coming down to the beautiful community of Ferndale and Hwy 101. After 60 miles from Petrolia I got to my HIx for the nite... Hard ride with millions of turns, bad roads and overheating to freezing temperatures coming up the coast. Ate at Mexican place..salad and tortilla-cheese.





Week Two :1072 miles.

Day : 9 Date : 6.30.15 Tuesday
Str Cty : Mckinleyville, CA   Str Mls     : 9344
End Cty : Corvallis, OR   End Mls     : 9678
Dly Mls : 334   Tot Mls     : 3000 miles   Time : 6:15, arrive at 4:00  
Notes : 45 minutes on FaceTime with Nook...HIx with a view onto the Willemette River... Great time talking to and seeing Kelzie this morning in breakfast area...allayed alot of anxiety. Left in overcast cold about 9 after our FaceTime. The first 250 miles up Hwy 101 was slow and cold, averaging about 65 degrees, but it was great undulating alone the ocean and passing thru the port towns and cities. At Florence I turned inland toward Eugene and went thru the hinterland with temperatures averaging 95 degrees for the last 100 miles. Having taken sleep meds during the nite screwed me up until late afternoon. Passed thru a lot of timberland coming over the Coast Ranges until I got to the inner valley which supports wheat, grass fescue, oats, berries (raspberries and boysenberries), and fields of mint. Stopped to talk to a farm hand and saw four combines working in one huge field where they lay the grasses down in windrows to dry before combining..they combine wheat standing up. The seat for my bike is still screwed up.. Sliding forward on low and producing an excruciating ache. Corvallis has 56000 citizens and Oregon State University. Rode around town, to the HP facility here, and ate at the Spagetti Factory next door...what a waste, poorly done calamari and terrible fat chicken Caesar salad. Biggest food bill I've had as I wanted to eat well tonite and I wasted the $$ and opportunity. Corvallis reminds me of Burlington VT or Bloomington --  university towns with a lot of older well maintained small homes, nice eating places and commercial districts, well organized, and clean! Do not see anything special tho.

Day : 10 Date     : 7.1.15 Wednesday
Str Cty : Corvallis, Or     Str Mls     : 9678
End Cty : Walla Walla, WA   End Mls     : 10037  
Dly Mls : 346   Tot Mls     :  3335 miles
Time : 6:30   Notes     : to Salem and Walla Walla ...
Left Corvallis in mid 60s and very comfortable... Rode the 35 miles to Salem and toured the Capitol area and to the visitors center with long sleeves on. Very nice downtown and residential area thereby, upscale compared to Corvallis. This country is very agricultural with grasses, grain crops, berries, and truck farming. So far I would choose Salem as a place to abide. Gassed and opted for country and state roads rather then interstate, thus wondering from town and turn to town and turn. I then headed toward the mountains and into the coniferous forests. Finally, Mount Hood came into view and I drove up to and around it. I found a forest service road which was hard in mid 80 temps and took it across the base area and above 3-4000 feet. As I came down and onto Hwy 197 the temp began to rise in the 90s. Here the area was ranching and huge wheat fields, with no crop rotation and fallowing the land between crops. When I got across to Hwy 14 and along the Columbia River to the north side the temperature went into the 100s, averaging over a 100 for the last 150 miles and peaking at 106 just outside Walla Walla.  This area is hot, dry plains of rocky, burned terrain. It would be beautiful if it were not so hot. I got a fantastic room in the HIx, but it is too hot now to explore the city...later and in am. I spend a break at every stop to rehydrate with a coke and Gatorade and am now blotted. My 52 day old bike turned 10000 miles today in 106 degree heat. A day to change into clean riding clothes. WW has 31k folks and three colleges - one is Seven Day Adventist, Walla Walla univ ..Whitman liberal arts college ...Then & Now - City of Walla Walla.... www.wallawallawa.gov/visitors/history... Walla Walla is an Indian name meaning "many waters." In 1805, when Lewis and Clark traveled by the mouth of a small river flowing into the Columbia River, ... The Indians were there..so named by L&C... Explored the city..spread out, all services here, 3 colleges, penitentiary, VA facility, hospital, and nice downtown.

The basic route home... Not from Great Falls, but Walla Walla to Helena MT and on...
Day : 11 Date     :  7.2.15. Thursday
Str Cty : Walla Walla, WA     Str Mls     : 10037
End Cty : Helena, MT   End Mls     : 10632
Dly Mls : 586   Tot Mls     : 3921 miles  
Time : 9:30   Notes     : extra 140 miles. And hot..
Up at 4:30am and decided to head home and made reservation in Helena and cancelled Bellingham since tires look bad and the heat...rode 30 miles to Waitsburg and decided I should go to Bellingham...when I got to Pasco, I cancelled Helena and reinstated Bellingham. After 70 miles at 7am the temperature exceed 90, so I turned around and rode back to the spot where I changed reservations and changed them back. Now I felt terrible for wasting 2 hours and 140 added miles of 60-70 temperatures. Gased at Lewiston and the temperature rose to hi 90 and peaked at 102.5 in the valley alongside the Clearwater River and going over 4800' at Lolo Pass. Drank a coke and Gatorade three times going to and over Lolo pass. Came out of Missoula on interstate for 80 miles before getting on Hwy12 and crossing the Continental Divide (4th time) at 6300'. Remembered the back way to the HIx. Cancelled the over-the-top, Twisp, Glacier, and Kootenany portions of the planned ride...too hot and exhaustingly dangerous.

Day : 12 Date     :  7.3.15 Friday
Str Cty : Helena     Str Mls     : 10632
End Cty : Watertown, SD   End Mls     : 11468  
Dly Mls : 840   Tot Mls     : 4761 miles
Time : 12:15   Notes     : never above 85 degrees
Up and away by 7:00 on a lovely day in the mid 60s with haze. Figured I'd ride on Hwy12 to Miles City where I had a reservation..got there at noon and thot I'd rather not sit around all afternoon, particularly since the temperature was in the low 80s and very comfortable.. Thus, I set out for Mobridge crossing Mt, ND and into SD. Got to Mobridge by 4:45 so I made a reservation for 200 miles hence. I rode to Ipswich on 12 and then dropped down to Hwy 20 where Paul and I rode several weeks ago on our trip to the Missouri River. I lucked out with the haze and temp not rising above 85 degrees - so comfortable I could keep riding with just a few diet cokes. Arrived with little gas and twilight at 8:45pm at the Watertown HIx. Ordered pizza. A one day-ride record..840 miles. Saw a badger crossing the road...why was the badger crossing the road??

Day : 13 Date     :  7.4.15 Saturday
Str Cty : Watertown, SD     Str Mls     : 11468
End Cty : Home   End Mls     : 11982  
Dly Mls : 457   Tot Mls     : 5218 miles  
Time : 7 hours   Notes     : Home......
Left Watertown and headed cross country to Mankato where I caught Hwy 14 and stuck to it until home. I did not stop for 250 miles until Byron, MN to test the limits of the comfort of the seat and I was amazed how comfortable it was. Then I rode 190 more miles in great discomfort, having clothing binding like I was sliding forward. Had 100 home in LaCrosse and I finally stopped in Richland Center to unbind. Temperatures were in the mid 60sto start and mid 80s to finish. I still have cuts on my head where I shaved with HIx cheap razors after mine broke in transit.

---Not ridden due to heat---

Week Three: 1834 miles






Jay... Seat problems: I rode 840 one day and 250 without a stop the next day with little discomfort..
---Left feeling good about the seat and it felt right
By the end of the day to Eureka... I started to slide forward clothes rolled in the crotch...painful and bottom irritated. I experimented with raising the front and lowering it..when lowered it was painful, when up in front it was more comfortable...
I finally left the front in the up position and the back in the down position... And finished the next 3000 miles in the up position.
---Now the repair needed... I think the front collapsed or we built the back too high (tho it did not feel like then we finished), or I just plain screwed up...

---So cut the back and sits area down some and raise the front
- I shall measured and take these pictures.  The difference is 1 3/8 inches....
front 1/4 should gradually  come up 1 3/8 inch with very stiff material -- rear 1/2 should be dropped 1/2- 1 inch
- hopefully this adjustment will lead to a leveling seat that does not make me slide forward or lean back from the handle bars ...

these seats were from my 12 1200 GS..





---the left 2 pictures are the high front position..see the upper mark...
---right 2 pics  is lower front position and lines up just under the stitching on the black piece ..
---The difference is 1 3/8 inches in front. I want to ride with seat in lowered position for ground reach.. Thus the front 1/4 needs to gradually come up 1 3/8 inches with stiff material... the back 1/2 of the seat possibly needs to drop 1/2 to 1 3/8 inches (what do you think) ...hollow out the sitz area some

Riding West of the Missouri River in the Sioux and Rosebud Reservations

----RIDING WEST OF THE MISSOURI RIVER ----
Trip three of the season
WI, MN, SD, IA to ride West of the Missouri River...

BIKE MILES: 2092 GPS MILES: 1620 TOTAL YEAR: 15528
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Day      : 1 Date      : 6.3.15 Wednesday
Str Cty  :  Home.            Str Mls.  :  62875
End Cty :  Mankato, MN End Mls  :  63166
Dly Mls  :  281 Tot Mls   :  281
Time.     : 4:38 hr Notes     : little sprinkles
On the road to the Home Land..of South Dakota.. Worked out at PC and left at 10 am. Rode Hwy 14 all the way from Cross Plains to Mankato. Sprinkles started just before Rochester just like last year and then the temp dropped. I beat the heavy rain by 20 minutes. Tired all day.. Applebee's wedge salad, a riding tour of Minnesota State University - Mankato (used to be Mankato State) and went for a walk.

Day : 2 Date     :  6.4.15 Thursday
Str Cty :  Mankato Str Mls    : 63166
End Cty :  Watertown, SD   End Mls    : 63367  
Dly Mls :  183   Tot Mls     : 464  
Time.       :  3:07   Notes       : Paul catches up... In Mankato  
Fell asleep early and awoke at 4:45 to read and txt. Cloudy from waking. Paul arrived at 10 and we loafed. Left in the clouds on 14 until we rerouted on county roads and mostly MN 68 for a short ride day. Arrived at 2 in Watertown at HIx almost out of gas. I was amazed by the corn rows ...only 12 inches apart and some fields had 2 rows every 12 inches.. The soy beans were spaced further apart. As we approached the SD line the terrain switched from flat crop land to rolling grassland with cattle in the fields.



Day    : 3   Date   :  6.5.15. Friday
Str Cty   : Watertown, SD       Str Mls.  :  63367
End Cty  :  Ipswich End Mls  :  63634
Dly Mls   : 265   Tot Mls   :  729
Time      : 6 hrs   Notes     : 125 to Ipswich, Beebe, Roscoe, Ashley ND, and to Ipswich
Left late in grey overcast on Hwy 20.  In 50 miles the sun was out and it began to warm. Up. We passed glacial lakes and we came over the glacial front and onto the flattest land I have every seen with huge, 640 acre fields of grain. Some winter wheat was calf high and headed out. This crop land continued all the way to Ipswich by 11am. We then went to Roscoe, stopping to find Johnny who was out of town, G and G's house and graves. The head stone is still perfectly straight. The special restaurant was open so we had a donut. Then we decided to ride north out of Roscoe to ND - ending in Ashley. As we approached the border the land went from crops to cattle and pasture. We got the lowdown on the roads from old codgers in the cafe because we were trapped by gravel roads. So we headed back south and east to Long Lake (very depressing) and on to Ipswich. Dinner at Subway cuz all 3 of the restaurants open last year have closed. Walked outside to the Yellowstone road overarch but retreated cuz of the mosquitos. This part of South Dakota we have toured looks extremely prosperous, except for the many little dying towns.

Day        : 4   Date   :  6.6.15. Saturday
Str Cty   : Ipswich     Str Mls.  :  63634
End Cty  :  Vermillion, SD End Mls  :  64428
Dly Mls   : 595   Tot Mls   :  1187
Time      : 10 hrs   Notes     :  4 rains
From North Dakota to Nebraska ... Left without breakfast and had to wait to eat in Mobridge. After crossing the Missouri River/Ohau lake bridge we entered the Sioux Indian Reservation and turned north on road Bia1806. We inspected several villages and entered ND to 24 west. At Hwy 63 we turned south thru McLaughlin, Timber Lake, Eagle Butte, Murdo, and Mission on the Rosebud Indian Reservation. We then turned east on 18 into 3 mild rains while almost touching NE. We gassed in Yankton before we hit the big downpour and needing the dryer at Vermillion HIx. There was a deer in the median in the heaviest part of the downpour, so we passed slowly to let her cross. Need to get something ordered in to eat..PIZZA. Rained rained and rained thru a tornado warning. Great ride thru west of the Missouri River - Great Plains terrain.

Day        : 5   Date   :  6.7.15 - Sunday
Str Cty   : Vermillion, SD     Str Mls.  :  64428
End Cty  : Home End Mls  :  64967
Dly Mls   : 433   Tot Mls   :  1620 miles
Time      : 7 hrs   Notes     : home and lucked out-no rain
Left in grey overcast but no rain. 50 miles out the sun was out and stayed that way until we got home. We rode east on SR 3, which varied in surface, until we found it shorter to go to Prairie du Chen and come into WI on #18. One of the reasons we came home fast and early was because we were worried about Paul's tires, many miles and balding..but we made it home safely. It was a nice and tiring ride, particularly the last two days when we made distance and sampled the prairie and the areas from which our genes came. Marnie will be home tomorrow. West of the Missouri looked very healthy and much more productive than on other trips across the area.

The trip to close the Border Ride

FINISHING THE  BORDERS....
Borders IV:  SOUTH AND EAST
WI, IL, IN, KY, TN, MS, LA, AL, FL, GA, SC, NC, VA, MD, WV, PA, OH
BIKE TRIP MILES:  5412 GPS TOTAL MILES:  4587 TOTAL FOR YEAR: 12522
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Day       : 1 Date      : 4.24.15
Str Cty  : Home Str Mls.  : 65
End Cty  : Home End Mls  : 300
Dly Mls  : 240 Tot Mls   : 240
Time.     : 5 hr Notes     : with Paul and in rain/cold. Rode 151 to Dodgeville, then to Montfort where I bought blue and Gorgonzola cheese, on to Prairie du Chein, up 35 to 82 and east in the rain to Viroqua. Home on 14 as the temp dropped from 50 to 41. Took Paul home in the car. Good breakin and test ride..

Day      : 2 Date      : 4.26 Sunday
Str Cty  : home Str Mls.  : 300
End Cty  : home End Mls  : 425
Dly Mls  : 125 Tot Mls   : 4225
Time.     : 3 hrs Notes     : sunny and mid 50s
rode 14 to Janesville, then 59 to Whitewater, north cross country to Johnson Creek and  home on 12 with Paul.

Day      : 3 Date      : 4.27-30
Str Cty  : home Str Mls.  : 572
End Cty  : home End Mls  : 741
Dly Mls  : 256 Tot Mls   : 741
Notes     : a day of riding with Paul for 121 miles and then to Mischlers BMW for 600 mile service and adjustments.. now the GSA is ready for the trip.


Day          : 4 Date         : 5.4.15 Monday
Str Cty.   : Home Str Mls.   : 741
End Cty  : Bloomington, IN/Nook End Mls  : 1158
Dly Mls   : 422 Tot Mls   : 1158
Time.      : 6:40 Notes     : upper back/IL bridge was out...
Comfortable temps all day..Left at 8 and proceeded to Janesville the back way. Caught 39 to 74 to 57 and Tuscola.  A little rain before Bloomington IL..  Started across Illinois and came to a closed road due to the absence of a bridge. Went south on farm road, some gravel, in southeast direction adding 20 miles to my trip. Caught I-70 thru Terra Haute, onto SR 46 thru Spencer and Ellettsville, arriving at Kelzie's at 5 with sore butt and tired shoulders. Applebee's for dinner with Kelzie after her swim practice.

Day          : 5 Date.       : 5.5.15 Tuesday
Str Cty.   : Bloomington Str Mls.  : 1158
End Cty  : Florence AL End Mls  : 1544
Dly Mls   : 390 Tot Mls   : 812/1544
Time.      : 8 hours Notes     : last 100 miles on the Trace.
Left when Kelzie went to write a paper at 8am. Got gas and headed to hwy 45. My gps took me out on the country roads in Eastern Green, past the HS, and past the farm we looked at several times but could not get a solid $$ number. I got a great review of the farm conditions around Bloomington- the conditions of the land look great and haying should start this week. The further south I got the worse the farming progress was. Finally, I got to 231 south and rode to Owensboro at the Ohio River. I did not realize I went back to CST. From there I caught 431 in Kentucky and rode all the way to just outside Nashville. There I got on the Natchez Trace and rode 100 miles before cutting off to Forence, AL. Stopped at the Merryweather Lewis memorial. After Lewis and Clark finished their trek Clark became the administrator for the western frontier and Lewis committed suicide along the Natchez Trace. About 150 miles out my back started to bother and the pain moved to my front left rib area. Pressure on my front reduced the pain.  Rode downtown Florence - impressive in it's style and finish..downtown is all open and clean, the University of North Alabama is beautiful, and southern style housing is beautifully kept... The harbor is on the Tennessee River and the Tombigbee water way.

Day.         : 6 Date        : 5.6.15 Wednesday
Str Cty.   : Florence Str Mls.  : 812/1544
End Cty  : Laurel, MS End Mls  : 2052
Dly Mls   : 499 Tot Mls   : 1311
Time.      : 8.5 hrs Notes     : pain-ache / believe it is phantom.
Left in 70 degrees at 8:00 and drove 30 miles back to the Trace for 50 mph speeds (59). I pre medicated for pain but it did not work and just made me drowsy. Ate 2 bananas for potassium and drank two diet cokes. My pain started at 10 and late in the day I decided it was phantom pain from my damaged nerve on the left thorax. I stopped trying to relieve it and let the pain go; it did not consume so much of my actions and attention. Rode the 385 miles on the Trace by 3 and turned east for 135 miles much faster to Laurel and the HIx. Had a bad salad at the best restaurant in Laurel.  The town does not look prosperous and well kept, except I slept well.

Day         : 7 Date       :5.7.15. Thursday
Str Cty   : Laurel Str Mls.  : 2052
End Cty  : Dothan, AL End Mls  : 2313
Dly Mls   : 260 Tot Mls   : 1572
Time.      : 4:30 Notes  : nice afternoon rest
Left at 8 at 70 degrees in great sun. Initially the terrain was forest and I passed hundreds of log trucks on Hwy 84. Gradually the land was farmable and cotton was a primary crop. Arrived at Geoff and Luree Hubbard's house (kids are Zane and Ashlynn) in Ozark AL at 12:30. Nice short day. I had a lot of problems with phantom pain emanating from my left front rib cage that is numb from surgery around to my back bone. Nothing relieves the pain but getting off my bike and standing up. We had a nice time talking with Luree until the kids got home from school and Geoff arrived from work. Geoff's back is making good progress from the surgery more major than mine. They have brought a tractor anticipating the acquisition of a farm. Yard looks great!  After visiting we went to Dothan where I shall stay and for dinner at Outback.

Day          : 8 Date.       : 5.8.15 Friday
Str Cty.   : Dothan Str Mls.  : 2313
End Cty  : South Pasadena, FL End Mls  : 2673
Dly Mls    : 365 Tot Mls   : 1936 miles
Time.       : 5:45 Notes     : hot in the last hour
Left in comfortable shinning weather and rode to Tallahassee on 84-29. Took I-10 to 19 and turned south all on four lane. I had three pains- butt from sitting on my non-Russell (custom) seat, clavicle ache from keeping my arms up in riding position, and 3 minor bouts with phantom nerve pain 2ndary to lung surgery injury. Thank God my phantom pain did not act up today- I am grateful not to have to deal with that problem all day and let it wreck the mood of the ride. Got to Elaine and Ross Jett's in South Pasadena at 3:30 and refreshed along with updates of our lives.  We had a lovely dinner by the bay and a ride-walk around downtown St Petersburg for gelato.
Day          : 9 Date :  5.9.15  Riding to the Fourth Corner
Str Cty.   : South Pasadena Str Mls.  : 2673
End Cty  : Marathon Key End Mls  : 3127
Dly Mls    : 459 Tot Mls   : 2395
Time.       : 8:46 Notes     : above 94 deg/hot!
Left at 8 after a breakfast out with Jetts. Temp in the low 80s but made it to 90 degrees and above by noon. 200 miles on I-65 before turning onto the Tamiami Trail thru the Everglades and the Big Cypress swamp.  From then on I had to contend with traffic and slower than 55 speeds all the way across Hwy 41 and then down Hwy 1 in the Keys. Nice to look out for where we learned to ocean sail and anchored...great memories of bygone adventures. Saw a huge wild iguana. Marathon HIx at 3:00 in 87 deg heat to cool down before riding on to Key West and back here for the nite. Rode the 100 mile round trip to take a picture of Southernmost.. The last time I was there I was all alone; now I could not get an encumbered pic. I wanted to get the Sundown celebration for Kelzie but the press of people and traffic made my bike overheat. After getting back I went to the Sundown Restaurant and ordered a Cobb with shrimp on top...then I noticed calami so I got a side thereof..local seafood.  Now to cool off.  Only a couple of short bouts with phantom pain and some clavicle ache... Feeling better riding.  My bike is 2 weeks and 2 days old and turned 3000 miles today.. This year I have ridden 10200 miles so far.

Day          : 10 Date.       : 5.10.15 Sunday
Str Cty.   : Marathon Str Mls.  : 3127
End Cty  : Savannah area End Mls  : 3736
Dly Mls    : 515 Tot Mls   : 3010
Time.       : 11 hrs Notes     : fast & hot
Up at 6 and off by 7 to avoid as much heat as possible..went well until Dayton Beach..130 miles to Hollywood Marina (where we had a boat home!) on Hwy 1 and the Florida Turnpike. Little change at the marina but did not talk to anyone. Rode on for 150 miles on I-95 to Daytona to meet Brian and Lynette Fitzpatrick at the flea market where she was working. Spent an hour visiting before getting back on the road for another 270 miles to outside Savannah. Since 11am the temp was above 90. Pain was minimal, except for butt on prolonged day. The best-worst meal I've had in the last 10k miles...southern cooking of pulled pork panini with onion hay was great but the nutrition left much to be desired..last trip I came home at the same weight I left at, not this time however.  Worked out my travel and visiting schedule.. Trying to slow down.




Day          : 11 Date.       : 5.11.15 Monday
Str Cty.   : Savannah, GA Str Mls.  : 3736
End Cty  : Sun City, SC End Mls  : 3760
Dly Mls    : 24 Tot Mls   : 3034
Time.       : 30 Notes     : Sturdevant @ SunCity
Loafed in am and drove the 25 miles to friends in Hilton Head Sun City.. Al and Linn Sturdevant. Will take a rest day... Laundry too... Dinner in Beaufort ...

Day          : 12 Date.       : 5.12 Tuesday
Str Cty.   : Sun City, SC Str Mls.  : 3760
End Cty  : Atlantic Beach, NC End Mls  : 4112
Dly Mls    : 356 Tot Mls   : 3389
Time.       : 6:30 Notes     : to Smail/Crandells
Rode from Beaufort (eu) SC to Beaufort (oo) NC on Hwy 17. Left in great weather and rode the road closest to the coast on limited access roads. Lots of trashy areas like Myrtle Beach and it got hot - 90s - only for about 1 hour, before it was 85 deg from ocean breezes. Arrived at 3:30 in Atlantic Beach NC (a great community on the outer beaches) at friends - Ken Smail/ Kathy Crandell- from Milwaukee and were my mentors of starting  practice in WI. Spent hours catching up about our kids and their sail to/from Europe on their sailboat. Dinner in Beaufort. Fantastic what has happened with all of us since 2000, when we lost contact.. Lou called about South Africa ...

Day          : 13 Date.       : 5.13 Wednesday
Str Cty.   : Atlantic Beach Str Mls.  : 4112
End Cty  : Hampton, VA End Mls  : 4343
Dly Mls    : 232 Tot Mls   : 3621
Time.       : 6:30 Notes     : FINISHING THE BORDERS...
I learned Bob Reese died and waited during the day for details about his funeral. Rode Hwy 17 to Norfolk stopping at Elizabeth City to see where we docked at the end of the Dismal Swamp Canal in 1990 on election eve...The canal was surveyed by George Washington.  I stopped at our anchorages/docking in Marathon, Key West, Key Largo, Biscayne Bay, Hollywood, Hilton head, Beaufort, Myrtle Beach, Beaufort, Moorhead, James River, Elizabeth City, Norfolk, and Hampton ( where we pulled anchor to find a cannon ball stuck therein).  I decided to go to part of the outer bank but did not see much as the area next to the ocean was short, wasting time really.  Got screwed up in Norfolk, trying to go to the anchorage there and went in the wrong tunnel or two to get to Hampton. This was the finish of my riding the borders of the U.S. Finally got off my bike. Then went touring to the harbor and Hampton University. Beautiful weather just right for long sleeves-what relief... In 15 days of riding = 4343 miles.



Day          : 14 Date.       : 5.14 Thursday
Str Cty.   : Hampton, VA Str Mls.  : 4343
End Cty  : Fairfax, VA End Mls  : 4535
Dly Mls    : 192 Tot Mls   : 3813
Time.       : 4.5 hrs never above 61 deg
Learned Bob's funeral is Sunday afternoon so instead of overnite with Werner's in Indiana, I shall ride home Saturday and cut my trip short.  I left at 8 in 60 degrees and rode Hwy 17 to 28 with some corners cut thru the hinterlands to see the countryside. I arrived 12:30 at the home of Celeste and Scott Meyer on Meyer Wood Lane. Celeste and I sat outside to catch up until Scottie got home from his grant writing firm and the discussion went on, mostly about our Carroll experience, football days and plays, and our many brothers-girlfriends-acquaintances, "do you remember ...".  Had a nice time with their lab, Jeffrey who is named for Scott's deceased brother who was developmentally challenged. Scott has written a lovely book about Jeffrey's life and experience and his own experience of having this older brother ...beautiful! We went out to eat and watched our palate as all are on WW.  Beautiful home in a beautiful setting, now surrounded by starter castles.

Day          : 15 Date.       : 5.15.15 Friday
Str Cty.   : Fairfax, VA Str Mls.  : 4535
End Cty  : Huron, OH End Mls  : 4950
Dly Mls    : 421 miles Tot Mls   : 4235
Time: 6:30 Notes     : little rain /no pain

Rode expressway except thru Bedford- Everett PA area to see our old and first house and orchard out of Everett. Dick and Darlene Paulsen in Huron, OH. Stopped to see our home south of Everett on 26 and had coffee with Marg Robbinette and Gary came in, he was 6 when we left PA. One terribly scary movement when a person pulled in my lane forcing me nearly into the center barrier before I got control and made him back down and in his own lane. Riding fast roads all day is little fun.

The evening was consumed by meeting daughters, son in law, the 4 grand children and having a locally caught fish fry.  We kibitzed til exhaustion and we're off for  a great sleep. Had a great time at Darlene and Dick Paulsen's home and family. Dick was my freshman floor counselor and I last saw him at Ohio Univ in '66. They are parenting the three developmental challenged grandchildren.. A fun zoo at times... I really enjoyed the kids... Also their 2 daughters, son in law and new grandchild where there. A huge, very functional and beautiful home. What a great time and reunion... Slept great and up early.

Day          : 16 Date.       : 5.16 Saturday
Str Cty.   : Huron, O H Str Mls.  : 4950
End Cty  : Home End Mls  : 5412
Dly Mls    : 452 Tot Mls   : 4587
Time.       : 6:30 Notes     : all interstate and thru Chicago/ 1 hr rain
Left at 6:30 CST and rode fast.. At 100 miles I put on rain gear and stayed covered for 75 miles.. Then sun. When I-80 was toll I decided I might as well cut off 50 miles and take I490 around Chicago. It was not bad on a Saturday morning. Arrived home about 1:30 and had a tour from Marnie and a discussion of all the changing flora and fauna... Started the process of managing finances, requests and payment for my tolls. I am tired from the last 2 days and 1000 miles... However, I must ride my bike another 600 miles before she needs servicing...so I am I texting  my brother to lead me on a big ride...

Overall a fast trip... Phantom pain did not bother in the last week, sorbunitis was a problem because I did not have a Russell seat, and shoulder/back ache were minimal as the trip went on....bike is basically comfortable, stable, quick and fast.. Rode a lot of 80 mph interstates. Over half of last years miles are complete... I worked out on Sunday and discovered I lost 1 # on this trip....

Day          : 17 Date.       : 5.
Str Cty.   : Home Str Mls.  : 5412
End Cty  : St Ignatius, MI End Mls  :
Dly Mls    : Tot Mls   :
Time.       : Notes     : with brother Paul to up milage

Day          : 18 Date.       : 5.
Str Cty.   : St Ignatius, MI Str Mls.  :
End Cty  : Home End Mls  :
Dly Mls    : Tot Mls   :
Time.       : Notes     :

South and West Borders of the U.S. - 4.15

Trip South and West Borders... April 6 - 21, 2015
WI, IL, AR, TN, MS, LA, TX, NM, AZ, CA, UT, CO, KS, & IA
7110 MILES in 15 Days / 474 miles per day

Day      :  1 Date    :  4.6.15 On the road again...
Str Cty:  Madison Str Mls:  55522
End Cty:  Marion, IL End Mls:  55955
Dly Mls:  419 miles Tot Mls :  419
Time    :  7:15 hrs Notes:     57 mph average
Personal Trainer session at 8:30-9:30.   Home, packed, and Left at 10:15 and 45 degrees. Went to 50 degrees and then got overcast, grey, and cold, never rising into the 60's with rain the last 4 miles. Down Hwy 14 to Janesville, 39 to Bloomington IL, 51 south beyond Decatur to I57 and Marion HIx. Cold most of the day. Nothing very exciting as I've ridden this section before and it is Illinois level farm land, not yet worked. Dinner is apples and bananas. Now for the final game...go Bucky!

Day       : 2 Date      : 4.7.15  Tuesday ..up late to friends... The Branches
Str Cty  : Marion, IL Str Mls  : 55955
End Cty : Wall, MS-Branch's End Mls :  56195
Dly Mls  : 232 miles Tot Mls  : 652 miles
Time.     : 4:30 Notes     : cold and grey
Rained last nite, but stopped by am. Left at 8am. Rode I55 to I57. Cold and grey. Flat, flat and more flat. Arrived by 12:30... Went to Sun Records for a tour and then Chinese buffet.

Day      : 3 Date      : 4.8.15  ... on to the Southern Border...
Str Cty  : Wall- Branch's   Str Mls.  : 56195
End Cty  : Lafayette, LA End Mls  : 56656
Dly Mls  : 446 Tot Mls   : 1098
Time.     : 8 hours Notes     : I10 closed
Left at 8 in sunshine and 70 degree weather..Spring was in the air. Down 61 to 120 miles on st R 1 thru the farm land with many fields being worked. Went past Vicksburg and south on 61 to the Natchez Trace near Alcorn State University. Summer has arrived this far south and I was out of ag land. Rode thru St Francesville, LA and crossed the new bridge - the ferry was closed in '11 when the bridge was opened. The temp was in the 90s and I had to strip down. Near New Roads I ran into heavy traffic because traffic from I10 was rerouted north due to an accident blocking the bridges. I took a wrong turn but could speed ahead of the traffic jam. Traffic ran well west on 182 and I came down I49 to the HIx near Lafayette, LA.

Day       : 4 Date      : 4.9.15 Thursday
Str Cty  : Lafayette Str Mls.  : 56656
End Cty : Port Lavaca, TX End Mls  : 57069
Dly Mls  : 387 Tot Mls   : 1488
Time.     : 9 hours Notes     : along the Gulf Coast
Up at 5:45 and walked outside for 15 minutes. Left at 8 in 80 deg weather which was overcast until mid aft. Rode to Abbeville, then south and west to the coast and rode a ferry which was free cuz of my age on the ride to Port Arthur. From PA I went south on 124 to 87 along the water. One can see piles of tar collected from the beaches. Then to a ferry to Galveston and the island. Rode the length along the water and then cut inland before coming across Lavaca Bay at 4:45 and my HIx home for tonite. My upper back hurt from noon til 3, then my left shoulder took the ache. Saw a lot of rice farming and cattle land.

Day      : 5 Date      : 4.10.15 Friday
Str Cty  : Port Lavaca Str Mls.  : 57069
End Cty  : Harlingen, TX End Mls  : 57289
Dly Mls  : 221 miles Tot Mls   : 1709
Time.     :4 hrs Notes     : rain
It seldom rains in South Texas, but today it decided to sprinkle for 180 miles as I rode 35 south to 234 west and then 77 south. Finally, palm trees, cacti, and armadillos and flat, flat, flat. This area is all agricultural and mostly for cattle..but actually FL has more cattle than TX. Got to Sanchez's at 1pm and washed my grubby bike. Less ache today due to short ride. I actually lucked out and took rain in place of heat, as in the afternoon it must have gotten to the high nineties. Nilda and kids got home at 3:30 and Beto at 5. Dinner out at the Longhorn Cattle company for BBQ and hot bean soup.  Afterwards we took a ride to South Padre Island and a walk on the beach. Washed clothes...

Day       : 6 Date :4.11.15  Saturday ... Up the Rio Grande..
Str Cty  : Harlingen Str Mls.  : 57289
End Cty  : Del Rio, TX End Mls  : 57670
Dly Mls  : 362 Tot Mls   : 2071 miles
Time.     : 7 hrs Notes     : cold and overcast
Very poor sleep and awake much, up at 6:30 to make and eat breakfast. Packed and on the road by 7:50. Left just as the rain stopped. First thru urban areas for 100 miles on I-35. In the first 100 miles I saw at least 2 dozen state police, singles in vehicles. At 150 miles I saw 40-50 INS and state police cars at a Holiday Inn X in Zapata. Hwy 83 and then 277 to Eagle Pass and Del Rio. Most of the time the speed limit was 75 mph.. And I basically travelled within 20 miles or less of the border in scrub lands. There was some rice and cattle farming...but nothing looked very prosperous. Texas lived up to the southern mantra "slow and dirty". Not one window washing service had paper towels and generally even the roads and parking lots were dirty. Luckily the day was overcast, actually had fog for awhile, and the cold required long sleeved shirts. Rained hard after I got here.  Stayed at the Del Rio HIx and had dinner at Appleby's.

Day      : 7 Date      : 4.12.15 Sunday
Str Cty  : Del Rio, TX Str Mls.  : 57670
End Cty  : El Paso, TX End Mls  : 58263
Dly Mls  : 572 miles Tot Mls   : 2644 miles
Time.     : 10:30 Notes     : cold am, rained in Presidio
Left at 8 am in the chill and it never warmed up. Rode Hwy 90 at 75 mph and was going to go straight thru to Las Cruces...but as I traveled I decided to be true to my mission and go to Big Bend and Presidio, thus adding 150 miles to my day. I went over 4100 feet before turning to BB. Good run with max clothes on 385 toward BB thru beautiful desert scenes and purple flowers trimming the road (220 so far). From BB I headed west on 170 for 97 miles to Presidio...The best ride of the trip so far on undulating, winding roads along the Rio Grande with no other vehicles. The road was the "Texas Mountain Trail". When I stopped for gas in Presidio it started a thunderstorm.  I waited 45 min before leaving and encountering rain the next 80 miles to I-10. On I10 the speed limit was 80 so I did my usual 10 over and made good time into ElPaso instead of to LC at a HIx. Tomorrow will be a day in Las Cruces. Saw a roadrunner bird today but no antelope I had expected. Otherwise not much wildlife. I passed many cattle feedlots with only Holstein cattle along I-10.

Day      : 8 Date      : 4.13.15 Monday
Str Cty  : El Paso Str Mls.  : 58263
End Cty  : Las Cruces, NM End Mls  : 58390
Dly Mls  : 59/68 town Tot Mls   : 2702
Time.     : 1.5 hrs Notes     : rain
Awake at 4:30 after 8 hours of sleep and could not go back to sleep. Finally up on a day to rest. Rode the 50 miles to Las Cruces and checked into the wrong HIx but it is better located. Left immediately to scoop the city and rode 25 miles thru various city sections. The upscale new development house looked like ... The standard for the type to emulate is... The court house.  I rode thru typical older areas which looked like the housing on Breedlove in Harlingen where g&g, m&d lived. Could not find the visitors center but looked thru all the municipal services areas. The community at 3900' of 98k citizens advertises 350 days of sunshine per year. It has multiple city-area events for the community and thru NM State Univ. I could not find a visitors center yet - there is none! The primary ag things apparently are pecans, truck farming and irrigation. Went to "old town" - Mesilla - where the city actually started. Like other Adobe designs the yards are surrounded by rock walls. Left my phone at dinner at Appleby's and had to go back. Changed clothes.

Day      : 9 Date      : 4.14.15 Tuesday
Str Cty  : Las Cruces, NM Str Mls.  : 58390
End Cty  : Scottsdale, AZ End Mls  : 58774
Dly Mls  : 369 Tot Mls   : 3074
Time.     : 6:40 Notes     : Lordsburg cutoff to Globe ...
Awake at 5:30 and walking in the lot. Left at 7:45 on I10 at 75 mph in the cold. After 100 miles at Lordsburg I decided to get off the I and follow the Westward Trail through Globe, AZ. Had a great ride through the hills and over the Continental Divide going as high at 4700' in the cold. I went thru several areas of Sonoran cacti. The heat hit and I hit traffic 30 miles out of Phoenix and slowed to protect myself from the onslaught of urban traffic. I arrived at 1:30 instead of my projected 2:30 due to entering the pacific time zone. Stayed at my cousin Mark Engelhard's (480/221-4840) home in Scottsdale. He retired at 57 from A VP position with CVS. We talked of our lives and family for 8 hours, sharing info and connections. Probably had not seen him since grandpa Elford's funeral in December 1989, at Elford's 50th anniversary in the early 70s, and probably then 47 hrs ago when he was 10 years old. His wife is in New York with their daughter, the youngest daughter has returned home to finish her degree and work at an addiction treatment program, and their son is in school and lives elsewhere. They have a dramatically beautiful home in the desert style with great living spaces in and outside. He restores Motos and has 5 vintage, restyled as racer types in the garage. We talked BMW and he has been looking for one, probably a GS cuz of so many off-road opportunities around here. We had a great time talking and having dinner. Went thru an Apache Reservation in AZ around Globe.







Day      : 10 Date      : 4.15.15 Wednesday
Str Cty  : Scottsdale Str Mls.  : 58774
End Cty  : Camarillo, CA End Mls  : 59348
Dly Mls  : 555 Tot Mls   : 3630 miles
Time.     : 13 hours Notes     : LA rush hour from San Diego
Awakened at 4:30 by a text and could not get back to sleep, having had problems with early morning re-sleeping. Visited with Mark and Katie over coffee and got underway by 8am. Went out on I 10, cut down on 78, to catch I8 west. Lots of irrigation for alfalfa and some truck farming, and feed lots along the way. Went thru desert with cross sand and strong winds. Passed a solar area a couple of miles long and very shiny. Went from sea level to over 4200' in 40 miles in the forest just east of San Diego; it was cold up there. I saw a lot of the border fence about 60 miles out from SD. One can tell in the hills that that there has been no moisture...looks like dried out kindling and grass is dry-brown to black. I cancelled my reservation in La Mesa and moved north. Rush hour traffic for 80 miles to, around, and thru Los Angeles from SD. Rode very near to where grandparents Beebes lived near the Capitol Records building in Hollywood and I could see the Hollywood sign on the mountain. I did NY morning rush hour last year, and this was no different - start and stopping, switching lanes for advantage, and riding between the lanes of cars. Finally found a HIx in Camarillo that was where the gps said it was. My thanks to Katie and Mark for a great time in Scottsdale.

Day      : 11 Date      : 4.16.15 Thursday - finished 3/4 of the Border
Str Cty  : Camarillo, CA Str Mls.  : 59348 at Santa Cruz....
End Cty  : Chowchilla, CA End Mls  : 59771
Dly Mls  : 410 Tot Mls   : 4040 miles
Time.     : 8:45 Notes     : best ride this year
Left at 7:45 in warm weather and rode 100 miles to San Luis Obispo and the Channel Islands, and caught CA1 on the coast. There was an accident right in front of me and I missed the debris in the road. The twists and turns, undulation and beauty were the most exciting and challenging. Lost the pictures I took, you must use your imagination to see yourself high on the wall rising out of the ocean and the surf and elephant seals below. This section of CA1 is much superior to the northern section of CA1. Lots of cars but I zoomed for the 125 miles. At Santa Cruz I turned west toward Sequoia NP... Got to Chowchilla in the valley where everything is truck farming, wine grapes, and great DRY soil. Gas in CA is $1 to $1.30 higher than anywhere at home or this trip and motels are $40 higher. Changed clothes! My bike really needs washing but I don't feel I should do so in drought ridden California.










Day      : 12 Date  : 4.17.15 Friday ...to Sequoia NP/Fellows..
Str Cty  : Chowchilla, CA Str Mls.  : 59771
End Cty  : Las Vegas End Mls  : 60445
Dly Mls  : 674 Tot Mls   : 4715 miles
Time.     : 13:45 Notes     : 7500/5200/5200/5400/4600 - elevation
Four National Parks... Kings Canyon, Generals Highway, Zion, & Death Valley....WOW what a day! Left at 7:45 and rode to Fresno on 99. Then hwy 180 to Kings Canynon to see General Grant (sequoia tree). Then I rode 75 miles on the Generals Highway to General Sherman going over 7500' and 5200'  passes and some residual snow. Then went back down to the valley at 200 miles in the Bakersfield -Fellows area to see the 22 mile long oil field with thousands of pumping well heads. I passed a hazardous waste disposal site. Rode thru all kinds of orchard areas, orange, lemon, apple, grape, grapefruit..in the valley and grow well wherever irrigated. All the remaining vegetation is brown and burned. After the oilfield I went up 178 out of Bakersfield and rose over 4600' and 5200' in the high Sierra Mountains before coming to hwy 395 on the Sierras eastern front. On 190 and 160 thru Death Valley (seeing -226') and over 5200' after passing sea level (actually 3 times today). On the way into Las Vegas I again went over 5400'. Into LV on hwy 360 thru Pahrump. I arrived at 9:39, 2 hours after dark. At HIx in Las Vegas. I had 250 miles of undulating, winding road in beautiful spots, even better than yesterday... My arms started to hurt from pushing on the corners. Will do these mountain routes again I hope.

Day      : 13 Date      : 4.18.15 Saturday
Str Cty  : Las Vegas, NV Str Mls.  : 60445
End Cty  : Torrey, UT End Mls  : 60849
Dly Mls  : 368 Tot Mls   : 5083 miles
Time.     : 8 hrs Notes     : lost an hour
Zion, Bryce, Red Canyon, Escalante, Flute man, Torrey UT...
Another great ride.. Left Las Vegas and got oil and gas before catching I15 to St George, UT going over 4600' and thru a neat Canyon that the Virgin River carved on the way to St George. Went to Zion south and it was free passage today and therefore it was packed...Went over 6400' in the pass and beautiful rock valley high above and far below with a tunnel half way thru. Caught 189 north to UT 12 ... Went thru the Red Canyon, overlook at Bryce NP,  and Escalante NP with it's canyons with stone bluffs and walls carved and shaped by water. Then went high over 9600' where there was no sign of even spring and residual snow. Spent most of the ride between a mile high and 6000'. Stopped at the Flute Man's shop and got a thorough tour and explanation of his work. Bought some items cuz I appreciate him and his craft. Went on to the Broken Spur for the nite where I have eaten and visited twice on each of the two trips thru here. Washed my bike and am sorting things. Steak for dinner..first time in 6 months.

Day      : 14 Date      : 4.19.15 Sunday
Str Cty  : Torrey, UT Str Mls  : 60849
End Cty  : Alamosa, CO End Mls  : 61427
Dly Mls  : 558 Tot Mls   : 5642 miles
Time.     : 12:00 Notes     : cold all day
LOOKING FOR SPRING....29 degrees when I arose and 31 when I left at 7:45. Rode slowly to Hanksville on 24 and then headed south on my favorite part of the trip which is thru canyons and across the Colorado River ( see the bridge thru the rocks on either side). There were lovely desert flowers along side the road. On hwy 263 I had three miles of gravel and a 1400' foot cliff drop in less then 2 miles. When I reached Mexican Hat I passed the San Juan motel where Marnie and I stayed in the early century. Then on to Monument Valley Navaho Park. Bought a pop and back to MH where I caught a direct route to Cortez. So far the temps were tolerable ... But the 8400' rise between Cortez and Durango proved to send a chilly message. I had risen to above a 6k' level and stayed there with cooler temps throughout out the rest of my trip. Stopped to see my cousin, Lynne Meirstein Ford and her husband Steve, who live on a beautiful reservoir at 7k'. She works in an addiction treatment facility on the Ute reservation and Steve is retired. On the short 12 mile  trip to their house I got a speeding ticket for 68 in a 55 zone for 169+$s and as I was departing the officier it began to snow. On the way down I got stopped by a local for late reduction from 55 to 35 but did not get a ticket. So much for relatives. Past Pagosa Springs one goes to 10850' (over the Continental Divide again ) in the snow on Wolf River pass and very low temps. There were state cops everywhere and I was really nervous in spite of my exquisite driving. I pulled into the HIx in Alamosa at sunset and 38 degrees. Off to Chilli's for a salad. There were no sings of spring anywhere in Colorado, and they must only have 4 months of spring-summer-fall.

Day      : 15 Date      : 4.20.15 Monday
Str Cty  : Alamosa, CO Str Mls  : 61427
End Cty  : Topeka, KS End Mls  : 62061
Dly Mls  : 612 Tot Mls   : 6254 miles
Time.     : 10 hrs Notes     : cold all day
Lost another hour... Nothing but riding.... Up and left at 39 degrees and 7:45 with start elevation about 6k .. Rose to 9400' in pass east of Alamosa with snow surrounding the road. Rode catercorner across Kansas to Salina and caught I70. Arrived at 59 deg but it still felt very cold and I had all my warm clothes on. Fretted my way across Colorado and Kansas for fear of cops and speeding tickets...keeps one hyper aware.

Day      : 15 Date     : 4.21.15 Tuesday
Str Cty  : Topeka, KS Str Mls  : 662061
End Cty  : Madison End Mls  : 66632
Dly Mls  : 547 Tot Mls   : 6801 miles
Time.     : 8 hrs Notes     : cold all day
It never got to 50 degrees anywhere I was.. Stopped only 5 times (once per hundred miles) all the way home. Cross winds were terrible 40 miles south of Des Moines and all the way from Iowa City home. i tried to ride in the down wind side of semis as they drove in the left lane. Home frozen... Rode I70 to Kansas City, I35 to Des Moines, I80 to Iowa City and 150 home..not very exciting riding, but very fast averaging 76 mph for the first 400 miles. HOME by 3:30

gps = 6801 miles / bike = 7110 miles

Black person killed by killer cop in Madison

3.12.15

Dear Editor

What could the cop be thinking? If it is that training of "cops to kill" ... Then training needs to change...

Why not learning to RETREAT, REORGANIZE, TAZER, OR MAIM, instead of an instant reaction "to kill" .....? Killing by the police appears (3 in 10 months) to be the major strategy and action in the face of dangerous, uncooperative, or threatening situations. Training must discontinue "shoot to kill" and focus on stopping uncooperativeness, avoiding contact, deescalating situations and passively subduing suspects (before pulling out a gun)... four alternatives before pulling the trigger.

E Rick Beebe and Marnie B Beebe
8906 Royal Oaks Drive
Verona, WI 53593
608/497-1123
rmbeebe@gmail.com
#WEareFERGUSON

Kelzie's School