Coast to Coast – Mission Accomplished!

Well Folks! The cross country adventure has come to an end. It hurts to write that. From Kansas I flew across Missouri. I stopped briefly to check out a few sights.
I stopped at the Locust Creek Covered Bridge. I wasn’t expecting a 2 1/2 mile gravel road to get there, but I had to ‘get back on the horse’ after that drop in Utah.

As I rode across Route 36 about to pass into Illinois I had to make another stop. My friend Marc and I passed through here 9 years ago on mad cross country trip. At that time we went out of our way to see it. Hannibal, Missouri. Boyhood home of Mark Twain.

I flew across Illinois, Indiana, Ohio, and West Virginia. I was ready for some rest and the company of friends.
I stopped by my Dad’s place in Maryland.

Stopped by my friend Brian’s place. His was the first street bike I ever rode. Sorry Dobro, I had to move north. Ran out of time.

Then I headed North to New Jersey. Worst ride of the trip. And the worst part of New Jersey was Delaware. It took over 2 hours to get through Delaware. I wanted to stop in Margate to see my friend Bob, but traffic held me up and I went straight to the friendly faces of Belmar.

It’s party time!

That night we went to an awsome show at the Stone Pony in Asbury Park! It was Todd Rundgren and friends doing Sgt.Pepper. Great Show!

Jersey had it’s share of wildlife.

Then it was back to New York City!
Over 10,000 miles of fun and adventure had come to an end.
I hope you have enjoyed the show!
It’s time for new adventures.

Who said there is nothing to see in Kansas!

Though I am guilty of having said it myself, I have to disagree with that statement now. In the footsteps of the great Clark Griswald, I tied a dog to the bike, spray painted ‘Honkey Lips’ on the gas tank, and visited The Worlds Largest Ball of Twine in Cawker City, Kansas!

Also in Cawker City there is a guy who collects all kinds of junk and old cars. While I was taking some pictures he pulled up on a bulldozer and asked if I was interested in buying. I was taking a picture of this old Dodge pick up at the time.

Have a look at the emblem on the grill. Dodge was ‘Dodge Brothers’ and they used a star of David on a globe as their symbol.

Here in Holenberg Kansas, you can find one of the original stops for the Pony Express. Between 1860 and 1861, Pony Expess riders would stop at such places to change horses. Then every three stops they would change riders. The telegraph came around in 1862 putting the Pony Express out of business.

As if that wasn’t enough, I found the geographic center of the United States in Lebenon, Kansas.

At 2am I was awakened by the sound of thunder. I got up to take a picture.

Ain’t it funny how the night moves.

Truck Reflects

You know I love reflections. Especially when they are of me!

Heading East

I am finally on an eastern route. Although I have been making my way in an easternly direction it has been anything but direct.

Remember I mentioned the Mormon’s who founded Bluff City. This is the only existing cabin left from a large group.

As I was riding along a reccommended road I saw a sign which said Canyons of the Ancients. It didn’t look like much but I decided to explore a bit. I just started hiking. And look what I found!

Apparently there are ruins and petroglyphs throughout these canyons. But I forgot to carry water when I excitedly started wandering into this vast canyon. If you don’t have water bad things can happen.

The following evening I had a special beer in the horses’ honor.

I have always wanted to see Mesa Verde. It’s an entire city of ancient cliff dwellings.

It’s fascinating to see these ruins. I met a guy Dan while taking this photo. He told me of an old man in Utah who sold his property to the Department of the Interior 4 years ago that contains  untouched ruins larger than Mesa Verde. If you hear of it opening to the public, let me know!

There are so many unusual and colorful rock formations out here.

I’ve got it made in the shade.

This was my view.

This is the southern part of Canyonland. It has many windy roads weaving between these amazing sites.

That night I camped right along side the Colorado River just outside Moab.

Here’s how it looked in the morning.

Then I went to explore the northern part of Canyonland. My lens needs cleaning. There is dirt behind the outside lens. Life on the road is tough and dirty.

No, it’s not the Grand Canyon. It’s Canyonland.

I then took a road Dan had suggested. It’s the same road where I found the campground I stayed at the night before. The road runs along the Colorado and along the way is Castle Valley.

And then another milestone. 10,000 miles.

10,000 miles without a scratch. Then at 10,015 miles I pulled over to take this picture and hit some loose gravel. The bike went down.

Fortunately I was able to pull my leg out. The damage was minimal. I just bent my clutch handle and scratched the mirror. But damn that bike is heavy. Of course my bags didn’t help. I couldn’t lift the bike. A guy passed by on a Harley and stopped. He was returning from Sturgis. With his help I got the bike back up. I had flooded the carbs, but after letting the bike sit for a while it started up and I was on my way.

Now I am headed East!

Greetings from Bluff City.

I camped out last night in Bluff City. It’s a small town founded by Mormons in 1880.

But let’s get back to Vegas first.

I had a great meal and a couple mojitos next to a canal in Venice.

The ceilings are painted like the sky. It feels as though the clouds are moving.

I went to downtown Vegas and saw that crazy light show. I’ll post video of it when I get home. So stay tuned nygumbo fans. But they also display a lot of the old Vegas neon signs.

I must admit, being in Vegas made me a little home sick. It was time to get back to nature where I could be one with mother earth! As I stood along side Route 66 I looked at a hell of a storm ahead in the direction of the Grand Canyon. I actually thought of skipping the canyon to avoid the storm. What a mistake that would have been. Though I have been there before, the Grand Canyon is always breathtaking.

I was afraid I wouldn’t get a campsite. When I tried to make a reservation I was told they were booked. But, because of the rain many people canceled. Lucky me. Not only that, but the rain stopped and I woke up to a sunny sky. Reason to jump for joy!

Here is an interesting road crossing sign.

What a place.

I knew I wanted to head toward Mesa Verde. I was side tracked when I saw nature’s skyscrapers. Huge rock formations were to my left so I changed direction. I then had an Easy Rider moment. Fortunately it wasn’t rednecks with shotguns, but Navajo indians in a pick up truck pelting rocks is no picnic. I was tagged in the shoulder with a boulder! Today I am forming a posse to hunt them down. Even if we don’t get them…you can never have too much posse.

The locals told me about some small roads to take on the way to Mesa Verde. After that I am back tracking to Monument Valley to see more of this awesome beauty.

The place I had entered was Monument Vally. I wish sunset could last forever. The colors are fantastic. This is a rock formation called Mexican Hat.

I’ll be back with more monuments and who knows what else. See ya soon!

After Berkeley it’s time to move East

Hello everybody. After leaving Berkeley I headed toward Yosemite.

I was still pretty upset about my cousin asking me to stay at a hotel in Berkeley when I visited. Yes, the same cousin who my family gave a home to for years. But a good dip in a waterfall cooled me off.

The bike is filthy but it’s been running like a dream.

After Yosemite the terrain became hot and dry. Apparently it hasn’t rained in these parts for quite some time. I stopped at this old foundation of a home.

I went south to Sequoia National Park. Man these trees are awesome!

Campfires were necessary for warmth earlier in the trip. Now I make ‘em just because fire is cool!

A little morning desert meditation.

If you look at the center of the photo you will see a jet that used me for target practice as I was going down the road. I mentioned this to a park ranger in Death Valley and said, “Yeah, they do that.”

Death Valley. That’s 117 degrees in the shade!!!

Death Valley is an interesting place, but there is a reason I was the only bike there. The heat was brutal.

An old steam engine.

An old wagon train used for hauling Borax.

As the sun set I headed toward Vegas.

Then I checked into a cheap motel where I stayed when Linda and I crossed the country 5 years ago. Can’t beat 38 bucks a night.

That’s it for now. Again time is up at the library.

I’m Back Online!

OK. Let’s bring everybody up to date. I had made it to Washington State when we last met. After that grueling ride I stayed in a motel. When I woke up the next morning this little guy was hanging out just above my door.

Then it was across Route 2 and through the Norther Cascades. I was high in the clouds.

It was cold and rainy for much of the ride at almost 8000 feet high. A strange and wicked environment.

I came across a herd of elk.

I rode until dark again and stayed at the last town before having to catch a ferry to cross to Washington’s Northern peninsula.

The next day I crossed on the ferry.

I completed the last of my western travel as the Route 101 turned south without seeing the ocean yet.I rode into Olympic National Park to the Hoh Rain Forest where I saw Bambi.

Then I entered the forest and found a new home.

There were 26 miles of paths through this amazing lush forest.

And finally just before dark I saw it. The Pacific ocea with giant trees all along the beach which drifted and bleached in the sun.

I pitched my tent at a campsite between the rain forest and the ocean. Then I was introduced to the reason they call it the rain forest. It rained all night. Then all the next day. I decided to pack it up and head south. It was ugly. I rode all day in the cold rain. Then I came upon the Columbia River which was the end of the line for Lewis & Clark before turning back east. The rain was horizontal and I had to cross a 4 1/2 mile bridge to get to Oregon on the other side. It was the most frightening part of my journey to date.

Oregon

What can I say about Oregon. Nothing good. It is my least favorite place I’ve encountered on this journey. I really thought I was going to be impressed. NOT! There was some nice scenery but pretty lame other than that. As I was at the northern tip I asked a guy if there was anything cool I should check out on my way south. He said there is a cheese factory in Tilamook and a Ripley’s Believe it or Not museum in Newport. Thanks Huckleberry, not what I had in mind. Also the road in Oregon were awful. An erratic textured patchwork of bumps and grooves. Two people nearly drove into me and there were loads of crappy beach towns with neo-conformist former hippies.  But as I said I did find some nice scenery.

Later to you Oregon.

Then….

California

California has everything Oregon had on it’s coast and more. Then there is the redwoods. Magnificent and huge.

And I got to ride through one of those badboys!

After that I rode well into the night to see my cousin in Berkeley where I am now.