--- Bb' LifeStyle Report ---

Monday, August 8, 2016

Thelma and Louise do the Northwest

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....

Sunday, May 15, 2016

Southeast to Southwest ...'16

Saturday, April 9, 2016

Norway and Portugal 2016

Norway and Portugal '16

Day: 1 Date: 3.16.16 Wednesday
Str Cty: Home End Cty: Bergen, NOR via Stockholm
Notes: BY SAS AIR
Left Madison by VanGalder at 2pm ($60 round trip each) and arrived terminal #5 at 5:30 to check in at 6:45 for our 8:45 flight on Scandinavian airlines #667. We sat on the back of the plane and did not take advantage of extra seat for nite sleep. Watched Creed and Steve Job movies and slept a little before breakfast. Landed in Stockholm at 11:15 local and got a wheelchair transport. Caught flight SK899 to Bergen leaving at 12:30 arriving at 1:30.

Day: 2 Date: 3.17.16 Thursday
Str Cty: Bergen Norway Str Mls: Norway Coast
End Cty: on our way north
Landed at 2:00 in Bergen, changed money and caught bus ride for 18$ per. Dropped our luggage at the ship at 3:00, sat til the line ended to check in at 4:30. Safety training then boarded at 6:00, had dinner at 7:30, a community meeting and leaving Bergen dock at 10pm. Our small abode is one step above the bottom grade so we could have a window. Had to sit and wait to go to our room til 6pm, room #346 with two singles and small cabin. We immediately took a nap for an hour. Then shower and buffet dinner with an English couple. This is the fourth group of people we talked with this afternoon and the topic every time went to Donald trump and their fear and trepidation thereof. MS Polarlys --- Year built 1996 ShipyardUlstein Mek. Verk (refurbished and this was its first 22 day round trip); Passenger capacity 619/Beds 471/Cars 35/Gross tonnage 11341/Length 123 m/Beam 19,2 m/Speed 15 knots. We toured the gym and then sat in the observation deck behind huge windows watching Bergen disappear and the channel markers leading us out. However, we could not figure out the light pattern which according to international rules is green-right-return, keeping green to left on the way out which we did not do consistently. We had one stop at 4am...sleeping!

Day. : 3 Date. : 3.18.16 Friday
Str Cty : see itinerary on page 7.. 3am
IU won 99-57, 1 down, now Kentucky Saturday. Up at 8 but too tired to go to the gym.. Off to breakfast and 11 workout. Overcast and misty today, making the coast indistinct in the spotty fog until the sun was found in Alesund. We are at 62NORD. I sat on the quay dock and talked with two young fishing boathand brothers, learning about their work at sea and life at home, and shared contact info with them. To get history and architectural introduction. Marnie took a walking tour of Alesund, voted the most beautiful city in Norway, as after a fire burned the town down (1905) it rebuilt in the Art Deco style. This is the city where my bike stopped in'12 and I stayed here for three days and toured the whole area on a borrowed bike. I worked out at 11 in the gym- walk, row, bike, floor....and Marnie exercised after returning at 3 ( while R napped). Assigned seats for our 7:30 dinner hour - guess what.. We were assigned seating with a mid-aged, American couple with a 18 month old and a 17 year old from Omaha... Read til 3:40 am because of anger over seating and because of lots of evening coffee.

Day: 4 Date: Saturday 3.19
Str Cty: Trondheim and the Arctic
Up at 6 looking for dining manager and to eat small breakfast of fruit and yogurt. By 8am we got our time to eat changed to an hour earlier and with Europeans. Finally, we got some heat in our cabin and it is more comfortable. I went back to bed at 8:30 and slept til 10:45. Then to the gym where I finally figured out how to translate from kms to miles.. walked, rowed and biked for over an hour. I talked to two post high school kids from a sports school coming home in the north for spring break. Rained the whole time in Trondheim (6am to noon), then to sea. Dinner earlier at a new table with great conversation. We walked on the outside walking deck for 1/2 mile in winter conditions. Read my Norway book about homesteading in the Dakota Territory. When the IU game came on we could stream the play by play...becoming very excited and apprehensive near the end... great elation as IU win over Kentucky 73-67... To sleep...as we are at another harbor for a 15 minute mail, passenger, and goods stop.

Day: 5 Date: Sunday 3.20.16
Str Cty: Boda and many fjords
Up late, awake at 8:30, breakfast and rest session, and to 10am crossing the Arctic circle celebration- 66.33 degrees north. At 1am it was snowing and above the Arctic Circle there was 4+ inches of snow. This area is not as forlorn as one would expect- in fact small houses and fishing buildings dot the shores of the fjords wherever a small valley and flat land are available. We watched the Arctic Circle crossing celebration and then went to 1+ hour workout while in Boda. After workout we showered, shaved, read, and had a great nap. By 5 the skies cleared for bright sunshine. We have been surprised how rugged the coast areas are as we did not experience these kinds of conditions on our bikes in '05. The clear skies led to mild aurora borealis over Svolvaer (capital of the Lofoten Islands) while walking a 1/2 mile on very icy deck. It is still full winter here and we need heavy clothes to be outside. Read to sleep - Pre Hans frozen to death as result of his wife and dying friend's desire for him to go for a minister on skis in a blizzard.

Day: 6 Date: Monday 3.21.16
Str Cty: awoke in Harstad and moving north...
Set off north thru snow-covered wilderness and big, rugged mountains in below freezing temps ... Few signs of winter life with a few summer cabins. However everywhere appears to be connected by roads, bridges and tunnels. We were told they tried to connect all outlying areas so people did not overly migrate to the cities for sustenance and convenience. Into ice in the fjord. Workout and by 1:00 we were in huge mountains so big and rough as to not have trees. Nap 3-6 and then dinner. Sat and read in evening and took a deck walk. Tired ... A lot of people went dog sledding and touring and we think they get their excitement by something organized for them rather than like us... making adventures. Overall this trip is not very adventurous, just relaxed satisfaction...we are not sightseers.

Day: 7 Date: Tuesday 3.22.16
Str Cty: Honningsvag and Nordkapp 71.16 degrees Nord
We shall be the furtherest north today...we were here in 2005 by bike, hard to imagine having done so. Boring just sailing along, but very relaxing and demotivating. Best part is post workout (biking, rowing and walking for 1+ hours), having the feeling of accomplishment. Snow everywhere with sense of deeper winter - feet of snow now and ice in the water, but out of the most rugged mountains! No trees anymore.. In to Honningsvag by noon for a walk around and shop souvenirs. 70.98 degrees north... Tides of 3 meters... We shopped the streets of Honningvag and talked with the locals about why they live there... Back to the boat for Marnie's workout and a nap. I met and talked about forensic work with a nice British couple. Interestingly three people asked me about Route 66 - they had no idea it did not exist and where it used to go is pretty bland. Ate crab til it came out of our ears, talked with Brits, and into bed dead asleep. Overnite we stopped in Mehamn (where we have stayed) was 71 Nord and Nordkapp 71.16...

Day: 8 Date: Wednesday 3.23.16
Str Cty: Kirkenes, Norway ...top of the trip.. Turning around... 69 nord
Awoke to a different terrain - low rolling rocks and moss with no trees. Up and went into Kirkenes by bus for a 3 hour walk. Thot I deserved lunch so I overate since I have not been eating at noon. Read until exhausted and went for 1 hour nap when we were invited to the bridge for a tour. Later in the day and at the next port a small group of us were taken to the bridge. Tons of electronics and way beyond what I've seen in Polish, Patagonian, military, and New Zealand ships. This ship has three thrusters: two up front and a 360 prop rotator in the aft. She sails at 13-18 knots depending on the place in the time schedule...very punctual. The pilot house was just refurbished with all the latest nav and control equipment. Worked out except walking cuz of town and got clean clothes for dinner at 6:30 (our assigned time).
We lived on the 3rd deck ....the bottom passenger deck and just above the staff deck -- the least posh and the most noisy from the engines. The true tourists and expensive rooms are decks 5&6 with double beds and TVs. We have two comfortable singles, a desk and a bathroom/shower. We have open breakfast times, two shifts for lunch and 8 seatings for dinner with assigned seating. Great and fun staff. Rather good food with reindeer last eve and King crab the nite before. You do not choose who you sit with so little variety- we have upper British dinner people we enjoy. Everyday there are all kinds of activities and tours one pays for in addition to the cruise fee. Non-adventurist (organized activities for them) take snowmobile trips, dog sled tours, rides to the Russian border, but we make our own free excursions to town to walk to see and talk to the local people. We go to the gym, daily. 69 miles per degree of latitude... We are now the only Americans on the ship, as Omaha family left to fly home. We have slept very well but I am increasing in pain, knees and lumbar, and less ambulatory than usual, started Aleve.

Day: 9 Date: Thursday 3.24.16
Str Cty: moving South .... Hammerfest midday... 70.39 nord
Awoke to rough seas in exposed area and heavy snow... Overcast and looking very cold. Into Havoysund and the snow is 24 inches on the dock. We spent all day in the port side 4th deck cafe, now on the land side of the ship. We missed some attractions we might have attended but we only feel remorse after having not planned and going on the activity- Now I would have liked to snowmobile and dogsled, mostly to see the land and infrastructure of the Arctic areas. It is not the matter of the cost, but of comfort and motivation. Fashion show by staff at 10:30 pm to show and sell clothes from the ships store.

Day: 10 Date: Friday 3.25.16
Str Cty: Harstad - 68 nord
We are back in forest but still in snow in the Lofoten islands. We are getting close to the Arctic Circle. Trip to the engine room today. This trip and it's many activities are well planned and organized. The unfortunate part is we cannot mix more at meals to spend greater time with different folks. Favorites are the dancer and her clothes, Danish guy with whom I can't talk, Cardwells, blondy- Amanda, Ballen, skinny chef, Suzann, and etc. Now passing a church built in 1250... Watched a road along the forlorn coast and it disappeared into a mountain for one k and then reemerged before the next level area and a town. 10 hrs to the circle at 14 knots with 110 k/degree. We passed the cod drying racks again (a poor picture, but nice re-memory). Norwegian Sea / North Sea at 51 Nord... Workout very early, walked in heavy snow on deck, napped, and dinner and read much today.

Day: 11 Date: Saturday 3.26.16
Str Cty: Boda 67 Nord ...Arctic Circle today
IU lost in a good effort.. we followed the box score/pbp at 3am. Slept less well last nite. Nothing much to look forward to today. Amanda with part of the crew leaves tomorrow in Trondheim and we shall depart the day after. After the city tour we will be at a hotel...just learned city tour was cancelled, however. South on Arctic Circle at 9am. Tour of the engine room postponed til today. Worked out and read before tour. Feel the best of the whole trip. Went on engine room tour with master of the power... 4-9 cylinder engines, 20k liters of diesel, 40k liters of water/sewage, auto control from the bridge with prepackaged programs for use of/caring for/ needs for the 4 engines, two types of gears for each engine, rotary prop rear thruster, water heaters, prop feathering, and shop for maintenance. Bergen has the engine makers so it is easy to get parts and repair at the end of each trip. Good lunch and talked with Cardwells all afternoon. Get told off for talking with Danish hog farmer living on an island.

Day: 12 Date: Sunday 3.27.16
Str Cty: Trondheim and a city tour. Happy Easter
Poor sleep after reading very late. Leaving at 8 for city tour for two hours. Gave the two kids- Beth and Amanda - money for America, doubting we shall see them again. The hotel-casino is closed for Easter. Thru the Lutheran cathedral with hat... Our tour around Bergen for tomorrow has been canceled due to a lack of participation. Read the remainder of Salem Falls and it resolved the way I'd hoped. Went for 45 min work out, shower and computing. Nothing much but relaxing and tired today. Dinner was free and we sat and talked with the English for evenings entertainme
... Did not sleep well.. Dreaming and bad seas..this boat lists badly on turns and rocks in quarting seas.

Day: 13 Date: Monday 3.28.16
Str Cty: Bergen
Up at 7 to pack (vacate cabin by 9), pastry and coffee. Stowed the bags at the lift at 9 am, waiting out the last 4.5 hours in the cafe reading and writing. Rain and a grey sky. OH, BY THE WAY...WE DID NOT HAVE TELEVISION (the 5th and 6th floor rooms did) and we have not seen TV for two weeks....wow!!... That has not happened since living on Kelzie's School. They did a minimal straightening of our room daily and once in awhile exchanged towels. Assigned seating at lunch and dinner got boring..tho we liked the assigned table mates. Did more than 3000 miles in 11 days to 50 harbors on the MS Polarlys at between 13-18 knots. Shuttled to the Clarion hotel, room 309, by 4 PM. Went for a drizzling walk and ate fruit for dinner in room while watching a Tattoo from Edinboro. Slept well.

Day: 14 Date: Tuesday 3.29.16
Str Cty: train to Oslo Up at 6, 6:30 breakfast, taxi to train station at 7, loaded train at 7:30, and left at 8. Breakfast was massive with over- abundance of food types. The train over the mountains to Oslo goes thru 182 tunnels, longest is 10.3k. We passed thru Voss and by the hotel I stayed in '12. Up higher in the mountains, thru valleys and into the snow - very deep snow and snowbound cabins to which the inhabitants must ski. Junction with the Flam railroad. As we passed over the top it got more white and no trees. Snow to the top of the houses and no one home in this environ at 4000' and 6.4 mile tunnel. Interesting country. The train goes up to 70 mph even in this dramatic weather on great rail bed in rugged mountains. Finally, we passed thru an area of downhill skiing at 2.5k'. Into Oslo at 2:45 PM followed by a difficult walk to the Clarion hotel. So far plans have worked as prescribed. Went to info to find a city tour but none worked with our schedule, so we walked a couple of blocks to McDonalds and gorged, for which I needed rolaids. Slept from 5 til 8 and then prepped for tomorrow.

Day: 15 Date: Wednesday 3.30.16
Str Cty: to Lisbon by plane
Left at 10:30 to walk to the 11:30 airport bus, arrived at the airport at 12:30, to checkin at 1:05, for 2:05 flight on TAP - Portugal Airlines. Up at 7:30, shower-shave, breakfast-read. The workers here and in the service industry of Norway do not look Scandinavian, and we saw an unusual number of Muslims. Oslo is a beautiful and interesting city, but it does not show itself best without green... Like it did when we were here in '05 to fix Marnie's moto - Rain and grey do not help. At the airport early and relaxed here to avoid rushing. Bought great chocolate bars. Fly at 14:05 on TAP 761. Got a pusher for me and went to car rental... many add-on things to pay for to jack up the cost, like toll pass option, no insurance for Spain, etc. got the car and pulled into rush hour traffic to the west and outside LISBOA to HIx. Ate delivered pizza/salad for dinner - ordering done by the staff (due to language) who are very nice. My stomach fought all nite and I did not sleep restfully.

Day: 16 Date: Thursday 3.31.16
Str Cty: Lisbon Paodia by car
start miles: 17863 Miles: 230 miles
Up at 6:30 with gippy tummy... Breakfast and left at 8 with diluted expresso. 20 miles to Sintra and up the mountain to the Moorish castle and village area, settled in 14th C by Muslims. Removed later. 40 miles to Batahla to see the tomb of Prince Henry the Navigator in the national cathedral. Henry died before the advent of the GPS in 1460. 30 miles on to Tomar where the Knights Templar had their castle and training area before leaving for the crusades. Then 90 miles on fast road before turning into the mountains going over 3200' on increasingly smaller and winding roads to Piodao. Checked into the Inatel. In Piodao we walked the church and hillside village of 60 inhabitants made totally of stone. Then we drove to several other valley and hillside villages for a look-see at the terracing, ancient stone walls, and unique housing. It is spring throughout Portugal and beautifully green except for a few higher mountains. There were thousands of electric generating fans on the very top of every range of mountains..thousands all turned by Atlantic air. I was the only person in '12 and thought it was a forgotten place, but it is full of people and a tourist attraction today. I was here shortly after a fire had burned of the hills and maybe that kept the tourists away. Met Alexandra Dias at the desk. Swam for a soak. Smorgasbord dinner at 7 and one meat was goat which we did not know until after eating (otherwise we might have been sensitive). There is to be a 25K and 50 k trail run race here Sunday...and several runner are already here. We have a Hyundai small car which drives very well. Slept with the window open for fresh mountain Air... We are in nice spring weather now.

Day: 17 Date: Friday 4.1.16
Str Cty: Piodao start Ks: 18546
Miles 200 End Cty Tourem
The forests in Portugal are either eucalyptus or pine and most are factory forests. The Inatel with breakfast - cost 74E for b&b and dinner for two was 23E. = hotel. Fuel 1.38 E/liter - fill up = 49+ E. Up at 7 for 8 breakfast and off at 9. Drove 200 miles north, stopping in Viseu and Vila Real for looking and shopping. Spent a great amount on toll A roads (but only $25 for all, a surprise when we turned the car in). Arrived to tour Piteous and then to Tourem / Casa dos Bragnacas about 2:30. After a joyous reunion we negotiated our stay - 55E for room and breakfast and dinner with family at 8 in the evening. I spent the rest of the afternoon with grandfather and uncle who took me to work on vehicles with dad and Marcio, who were working on grandfather's tractor. We met Tania's boyfriend, Daniel, who was fixing the lights on the school bus. Snowed here yesterday and was warm in the sun but cold in the evening. As I was working in the courtyard the cattle bells started ringing to indicate returning to pasture after milking. They walk thru the streets to unfenced pastures. Family dinner of pork followed by family around the fireplace - Tania, Marcio, Fernando, Elisa Carvalho, grand mother Lucilia, and boyfriend Daniel.

Day: 18 Date: Saturday 4.2.16
Str Cty: a day in Tourem miles 20
Touring the towns after 9 up and breakfast. Drove all the winding, undulating streets of Tourem before going to the countryside, Spanish communities within 4 miles, and to Pitoes da Junias. The streets in these villages are where the houses aren't, thus very narrow and walled originally sized for walking and animal drawn vehicles. While in Pitoes we saw 2 men with bakery box and without language were given a look and required to each have a pastry. We were stopped several times by herds of cows transiting thru the village streets to pastures. The cobbled streets are narrow and developed originally for the cattle herds, animal-drawn carts and small autos, with no walkway and abutted by granite-constructed buildings. There is little fencing except for small rock walls. An unattended flock of sheep with a dog found and stayed in their field only surrounded by low rocks. Collecting basins for water are common. We watched a stork nest and family but could not get a good picture. Saw several persons fishing in the lake. Tourem is at 2500' and we had to go over a very rocky 4200' in the 6 miles between the towns. Back by 1:00 for a nap. Questions: haying now...feed for cattle. Plaque of Red square with white circle? Hunting limited to club, restrict hunting area... Cutting trees on road west? Grow better. Rain started in the late afternoon and continued all nite. This is the only place we have not been asked about Trump. We had an afternoon nap while the women of the extend family and friends made special dinner bread loaves with meat/cheese over a wood fire - 7 dozen eggs, 24#s of flour, and other secrets ingredients. This is a special meal around which the families get together. After a nap and the baking was complete everyone gathered in the central room with fireplace. We ate the breads with meat and cheese baked into them, drank wine, and Marcio, an untrained but accomplished accordion player, played for 2 hours while many danced. The men, all at one end of the table, argued politics until I told them they could not argue unless they held hands...many around the table grasped each other and laughed like wow! We also had soup, tho others didn't and we did not understand why. Sleeping at mid nite.

Day: 19 Date: Sunday 4.3.16
Str Cty: Tourem 71 miles around the area over the two days touring
Tourem is in a national park and limited in development - hunting is allowed and wild horses roam the area. Now we know what it is like to live in a late Middle Ages castle with only fireplace heat, tho we had many more heat sources and comforts. Went to 10 am church in a building built in 1777 and toured a house on the way back built in 1776...of course we could not understand a word spoken in Portuguese of the itinerate priest (or "holy father" as the natives call him) ...but the intent was there. We knew several people from the party last nite. Instead of shaking hands to greet each other during the service they do the traditional double cheek kiss. Now for a countryside trip... Holy father then made a visit to each home in the village to make a blessing... Marcio carried the cross to be kissed..and collecting money from each house. The family prepared a small table alter in prep for visit... Tania and Daniel left to return to LISBOA and their jobs- nurse and delivery truck driver. Now for a tour...to Montalegre to get payment for Casa and buy pastries (blah!), ride around a well ordered, non-agri town, and out into the mountains with an ancient walled castle at the highest point in the city. Also this city is the center of the bull pushing contests, where field bulls touch heads and see which one can push the other backwards- the town has a nice statute to this activity. Back at Tourem we napped and then joined family for a traditional cod dinner. Rained off and on all day. Total Casa cost was 250 euros.

Day: 20 Date: Monday 4.4.16
Str Cty: leaving Tourem for Marvao...
Miles start: 18658/ 790 miles total/ 289 miles today..
Time to leave Tourem... Worst nite of sleep in a long time, pain and thinking. Marcio and Fernando were off to school in Montalegre- dad is the bus man and there are 3 kids from Tourem in school 17 miles away on small winding roads..trips back to bring them home in afternoon. The roads in the north are narrow and winding but after getting to Chaves and the A roads the infrastructure of Portugal is excellent and maintained. 75% of the land we have seen is overall scrub and unproductive.....except for olives, grapes, minimal grazing, and cork trees. We drove back roads to Chaves to catch A24. South to Viseo to catch A25 toward Spain. South of Guarda we saw many cork trees (now black from last year's harvest- when they would have been bright red-brown) and many stork colonies nesting in trees. On back hill roads we got to Marvao, only getting trapped by the GPS in a town. One goes up and up til the fort walls appear and then enters thru a tight barbican. The roads are much smaller then elsewhere and are very steep. We drove the very, very narrow streets and at one point were blocked by a truck and lost our way. Eventually we happened on the hotel we were looking for... El Rei Dom Manuel, a hotel with a parking place, a restaurant, and a magnificent view when the rain stopped and the clouds receded. It gives a surround view of the plains far below. Marvao is a castle town high on a large hill placed to repel Spanish invasions of Portugal in the late Middle Ages. Dinner is 7:30 of omelette and salad. After dark we could see the lights of the villages far below and into Spain. Rained all the 280 plus miles, the first 200 of which were in mountainous terrain on A road (toll).

Day: 21 Date: Tuesday 4.5.16
Str Cty: to LISBOA 280 miles start 19121. / today 180 miles
Breakfast at 8 and leaving for LISBOA at 9 thru the barbican. We saw many cork trees, they are a variety of oak. We drove leisurely back to LISBOA and then went to the airport to confirm a wheelchair tomorrow then the city center and old town area where we saw many places and monuments we had visited in '03.. To HIx by 1 pm. Went for gas, packed for the trip home, read, edited, ate pizza/salad and got ready for bed.

Day: 22 Date: Monday 4.6.16
Str Cty: toward home all day. Total miles: 957 miles driven/15236K
Up at 6, 6:30 breakfast, 7:00 to return car.... Cracked windshield for 586 euros..or $665 for replacement. Wheelchair to gate 3 hours early to fly at 11 to London Heathrow. Load for London on time.. Rest in London for 3 hours. Heathrow is a screwed up place...no wheel chairs..two buses and no cart to get us to the gate..one block walk..went thru the expedited line cuz pissed.. Followed a wheel chair person being pushed on to beat the line.. Seat and exhausted, at least one the last leg. Watched three movies- the Big Short, Concussion, and Spotlight. Paul picked us up at park and ride at 11:30 and we were in bed by midnite.

Saturday, February 27, 2016

Heat Seeking Adventure

HEAT-SEEKING ROAD TRIP 1.15-1.29.16

Day: 1 Date: Friday - 1.15.16
Str Cty: Home Str Mls: 40364
End Cty: Bonner Spring, KS End Mls: 40854
Dly Mls: 493 Tot Mls: 493
Time: 6:45 Notes: Mercedes SLK
Leaving the freeze... Got on the road at 8:15 due to a diligent leavings list and switched drivers every 100 miles. Overcast grey all day with lots of fog until Des Moines. Arrived 3:45 in Bonner springs, KS for walk in exercise room to delay dinner. No MSNBC. Tired of sitting after first day out. Dinner at Applebee's for salads.

Day: 2 Date: Saturday - 1.16.16
Str Cty: Bonner Springs Str Mls: 40854
End Cty: Garden City, KS End Mls: 41244
Dly Mls: 393 Tot Mls: 948
Time: 6:45 Notes: out of the snow into 40 deg
Left at 8 south for Olathe and I35 to Emporia. Looked around there and went cross country 50-150-56 to Garden City by 2:30. Walked and ate at Lone Star Steak, rode into Garden City (28k pop), and got back to HIx early so could watch the playoffs. Sunny most of the day and warmed to mid 40s from low 30s. IU beat Minnesota - 10 straight victories and 5-0 in Big Ten. Packers lost...oh well! We have been following the Santa Fe trail across Kansas. Used two tennis balls on my back for the first time. Stopped at a huge feeder lot. Mostly irrigated crops and cattle herds. Towns were nondescript.

Day: 3 Date: Sunday - 1.17.16
Str Cty: Garden City, KS Str Mls: 41244
End Cty: Santa Fe, NM End Mls: 41656
Dly Mls: 415 Tot Mls: 1364
Time: 6:30 Notes: Done with this Brownback defunct state
Continued on two lane roads.... Done with this Brownback's defunct state of KS and started terrible OK roads. Across pancake scrub plains at 4K' with frost white on every stalk of vegetation at 18degs. This is where the Dust Bowl was centered and started. Crossed to OK - terrible roads and since in cold grey skies. After a stop in OK for a change of driver a Police woman in a pickup flashed us when we tried to pass her to go above the speed limit to our usual 80mph. When we crossed into NM roads improved, the sun shone and the temps rose to 45 degs as we rose to 5600 ft. Once on I25 we rose to over 7k' with snow drifts in spite of mid 40 temperatures. Crossed into mtns and arrived at 2:00. 26 mpg for 1200 miles and over 7400 feet elev. At Springer we met I25 and drove on to HIx in SF at 7100', the end of the Santa Fe Trail. After resting we drove around the Capitol, walked the plaza and scooped the Indian market wares, toured a mall, and did a short walk. We ate at Panera before retiring before nine.

Day: 4 Date: Monday - 1.18.16 MLK DAY
Str Cty: Santa Fe Str Mls: 41656
End Cty: Santa Fe End Mls: 41744
Dly Mls: 89 Tot Mls: 1453
Time: 4 hours Notes: went to the high end gated residential area west of SF and then over 10400' to the Santa Fe ski area 15 miles out of town. The snow at elevation looked deep but packed..$70 for a day ticket. Then the the Capitol and a tour thereof, passing thru a MLK ceremony. Finally, we got a car wash before lunch, took a nap, and then walked .6 miles. Rested and ate at Outback, having the best steak I've ever had there. The temp rose from the low 30s to the mid 40s.

Day: 5 Date: Tuesday -
Str Cty: Santa Fe Str Mls: 41744
End Cty: Tucson, AZ End Mls: 42226
Dly Mls: 487 Tot Mls: 1931
Time: 8 hours Notes: over the mountain in NM-AZ
Rose colored morning cloud forms on west mtns. Hit rush hour traffic at Albuquerque on I25-I40 junction area. Turned off I40 at Grants and stopped by El Malpais national monument conservation area and lava fields on NM 117. We saw a herd of 20 cow Elk at the conservation area. We moved onto the mountains and mesas and over 7600 feet. At the top of the mountain the land was fenced but no buildings to be seen. We went thru several small towns including Quemado/hwy 36 Eagar, Show Low/ 56, and Globe/Hwy 77. Arriving at 4:00 in the bright sun. Gradually the temp rose from the teens in Santa Fe To 41 and sunny in the mountains and to 72 degrees as we neared Tucson so we put the top down. As we came out of the mountains and below 2k' we began seeing Saguaro cacti. We watched IU slaughter UoI by 40 points...we overate at Sweet Tomatoes salad restaurant. Very tired!
Day: 6 Date: Wednesday - 1.20.16
Str Cty: Tucson, AZ Str Mls: 42226
End Cty: San Diego, CA End Mls: 42643
Dly Mls: 420 Tot Mls: 2360
Time: 4.5 hrs Notes: crossed the Sonoran Desert south of Maricopa county to the urban areas next to the sea. Exercised in workout room, ate and left by 9:00. Rode thru desert to below sea level to above 4K' close to the Mexican border, arriving by 1:30 for a huge room upgrade. Rested til 3 and rode the coast from here to south of the harbor. Returned to eat bbq at 5:30 and come back for the news. Huge city which I visited twice on bike trips, but the first time we were here together in 40 years.

Day: 7 Date: Thursday - 1.21.16
Str Cty: San Diego, CA Str Mls: 42643
End Cty: Carpinteria, CA End Mls: 42895
Dly Mls: 254 Tot Mls: 2615
Time: 7:45 Notes: exhausting day / pain from sitting
Exercised in the gym, ate, and left on I5 for Hollywood. Went to all the places Beebes lived, took pics and sent them off to all the grandkids. All the way up and around Hollywood traffic was horrific... at least by our standards. Above Hollywood we went out to the Pacific Coast Highway and visited Malibu, Pepperdine, and Oxnard. Got in Carpinteria HIx by three for a walk and swim...oh, and clothes washing. Dinner of salad and pizza at the deli Nutberry.

Day: 8 Date: 1.22.16 - Friday
Str Cty: Carpinteria, CA Str Mls: 42895
End Cty: San Francisco End Mls: 43275
Dly Mls: 385 Tot Mls: 2999
Time: 8 hours Notes: CA1 and the pacific coast...
Left in sunshine and at 100 miles hit CA1. Rain started and continued all day. Stopped in the Hearst Castle parking lot for a break and soon after Marianne Mitchell called. Stopped to see the elephant seal breeding grounds, where the seals only come ashore each year for breeding. Otherwise, they are off to the Aleutian islands or above for feeding - up to 5000 pounds. Fierce fighting for the haram. On in the rain on undulating roads til Santa Cruz where we turned inland on interstate and hit the terrible Friday rush hour traffic. We finally got to the HI civic center at 5 and immediately left for the wharf for dinner. Marn's was great but I got calamari steak instead of fried calamari and I did not like it. Went to bed very early and died after the exhaustion from the rain added to coastal roads.
Day: 9 Date: 1.23.16 - Saturday
Str Cty: San Francisco Str Mls: 43275
End Cty: Fort Bragg End Mls: 43495
Dly Mls: 186 Tot Mls: 3183
Time: 5 Notes: visiting with Tilak's family/ friends
Up at 6 and left for Tilak's at 7 arriving about 7:30. Went in the house they rent with another couple and everyone emerged - wife, brother (actually friend) and wife, parents of woman, friends from living near by ...it is a Nepali community in El Cerrito .. We could not decide what to do so we took them all to brunch at Denny's. We had the whole table practicing spoon on nose trick. First time American food for older couple. Left about noon - up I80 to Petaluma, to CA1 and then the coast for 100+ miles. Very rugged seas and beautiful cliffs. We put the top down for the entire coastline trip. It was sunny, sprinkling, raining hard intermittently so we were constantly having to adjust the wipers, to say nothing about shifting thru the undulating terrain. We passed an area where foam bubbles were blowing up out of a beach cul du sac. 5 at HIx in Fort Bragg...had reservation for 25k points because cheapest was $159, very expensive, but she gave us a room for $90....you only get what you ask for.

Day: 10 Date: 1.24.16 - Sunday
Str Cty: Fort Bragg Str Mls: 43495
End Cty: Ferndale / Fortuna End Mls: 43610
Dly Mls: 150 Tot Mls: 3333 miles
Time: 4 hours Notes: finishing CA1 on to Ferndale
We ran along the Pacific before turning inland and going over 1800' in the coastal range. We came upon 4 bull elk grazing along side of the road. One jumped a 5' fence from a standing jump and then two pushed each other around by the horns. After 68 miles we hit 101 and the Avenue of the Giants...so into the redwoods we went. Rode to my favortie grove - the Rockefeller Grove along the Eel River. Arrived at Ferndale by noon and explored the environs before deciding on the Comfort Inn in nearby Fortuna for the game and rest...out of the cold and rain.

Day: 11 Date: 1.25.16 - Monday
Str Cty: Ferndale / Fortuna Str Mls: 43610
End Cty: Tehachati End Mls: 44206
Dly Mls: 602 Tot Mls: 3939
Time: 10 hours Notes: turning back
Left early..out 36 to I 5 for Sacramento/Stockton. Took 3 hours for the first 140 miles on undulating roads and over 4600' - some snow and great views ...I had ridden 100 miles of 36 last summer on the way to the redwoods. Hit I5 to Sacramento and Stockton. Mess in Stockton getting 99 south to TEHACHATI. fast and tiring ride.

Day: 12 Date: 1.26.16 - Tuesday
Str Cty: Tehachati, CA Str Mls: 44206
End Cty: Flagstaff, AZ End Mls: 44648
Dly Mls: 441 Tot Mls: 4384
Time: 6:11 Notes: front tires in Williams/snow
Tired but up at 7 and on the road at 8 with 40+ temps thru the desert. 58 to Barstow to I40 and then 80 mph switching every 100 miles. Stopped for 2 gallons $$ gas at Williams and the owner came out and pointed out how bad our front tires were. We decided to put on front tires for $360 and 45 minutes. On to Flagstaff at 7k' and lots of snow covering the ground and got into HIx in time for the game. Birthday day! Marnie picked up some redwood on 36 for display at home. Time to watch IU-UW.... First loss for IU in 8 Big Ten games. Sleepless nite and long drive tomorrow.

Day: 13 Date: 1.27.16 - Wednesday
Str Cty: Flagstaff, AZ End Mls: 44648
End Cty: Amarillo, TX End Mls: 45263
Dly Mls: 617 Tot Mls: 5002
Time: 8:15 Notes: long ride..lost an hour
Rode rode rode starting at 7:15. High desert and some snow covered ground in NM. We passed a car earth sculpture (Cadillac Ranch) on 66 and little useful land until we got into the grasslands of Texas. Worked the treadmill and swam. Dinner at Outback. Exhausted.

Day: 14 Date: 1.28.16 - Thursday
Str Cty: Amarillo Str Mls: 45263
End Cty: Tulsa End Mls: 45642
Dly Mls: 381 Tot Mls: 5383
Time: 5:39 Notes: 😇to Peers
Got going early and arrived at Peers (IU friends) at 1:30 after gas and skin moisture. Sat and talked to catch up and then toured Oral Roberts Univ ( sixties trashy and garish) and Tulsa uUniv where Gary worked for 12 years. Home to meet Mike who was a preteen when we knew the Peer kids in Bloomington for the institute. Great talking about their linage to many great grandchildren. Went to dinner at Red Rock Grill... Talked til 11:30 and slept well.

Day: 15 Date: 1.29.16 - Friday
Str Cty: Tulsa Str Mls: 45642
End Cty: Home End Mls: 46395
Dly Mls: 755 Tot Mls: 6139
Time: 10:15 Notes: headed for Home/ stiff & sore
Enough said....WI, IA, MO, KS, NM, AZ, CA, TX, OK.... 2000 miles on the front tires...found they had a pulling cord and pulled right until rotated and then they pulled left...will put 4 new tires on slk and try to warrantee the bad tires.. 44444 - 46444 at Capitol Tire today 2.1.16...