IN RETROSPECT

After having been home now for about three weeks, I have shaved off my beard, my hair is growing back, my monkey butt and other things are back to normal but the memories of that "EPIC" trip still linger. I received my official Four Corners Tour Plaque in the mail and that put the finishing touch on my fantastic summer vacation.

I have read the entire blog at least every day since I ended my journey and the memories are as fresh as ever. Even though my wife did a fantastic job entering our stories and daily travels, I have made some minor corrections to the text.

I cannot believe that I had the opportunity to travel this beautiful country in this fashion; on the back of a motorcycle! I have been on at least one hundred motorcycle trips with various members of my family but this one will live forever as one of my favorites.  Why? you ask:

• Because this "Is What I Live For!".  It was one year and three months in the planning.
• Because I spent the same amount of time communicating with my son about various aspects and possibilities of this trip and that was priceless.
• I received and read tourist guides and maps from thirty states (all though we didn't follow the exact route because we chose not to sight-see).
  
• I thought about this trip every spare moment since its conception.
• This was a "Man Trip" because we could conquer as many miles as we desired each day. It was such an accomplishment for me to be able to travel that many miles and hours each day.
• I discovered that after one-on-one time for eighteen days with my oldest son, he has not lost his original sense of humor and has even improved on it. He is a really funny guy and enjoyable to be around.
• I enjoyed being able to call my wife at the end of each day and laugh and share all of our day's adventures.  "Absence", did indeed, "make the heart grow fonder".
• Because I love the sense of accomplishment for myself and of course, the bragging rights. :-)

I now have twenty eight plus 16 X 20 photo frames of each trip I have taken with my wife, kids and grand kids. They all hang in my college office and it has become quite the conversation piece with students and colleagues.

HOMEWARD BOUND

LAST AND FINAL DAY OF TRAVEL FOR ME FOR OUR TRIP ALL AROUND THE USA!
603 Miles today
Friday, August 8, 2014
Rexburg, Idaho to St. George, Utah
With a little stop in Cache Valley to visit with my own Dad

THOUGHTS AND MUSINGS

>I discovered that I was not as old as I was beginning to feel and look.
 
>This trip restored my confidence in myself as a motorcycle rider. I was encouraged to be able to travel that many miles on that many consecutive days.

>I re-affirmed the fact that I love the freedom and openness of riding motorcycles. My first motorcycle was a Suzuki 90 then I moved up to a Suzuki 185,Yamaha 920, and my current and most favorite Goldwing 1800!

>At the end of each day we were tired and beat up but after a shower and a little bit of "Duck Dynasty" and a good night's sleep we could not wait to begin riding the next morning. 

>I really enjoyed traveling the country. I loved Delaware and Maryland - their farms and farmlands were absolutely gorgeous. Every state had something unique to offer. We saw the Great Lakes, the Atlantic Coast, Gulf of Mexico, and the Pacific Coast all within a matter of days.

>Both Honda Goldwings ran flawlessly. My son and I both purchased new tires to begin  the trip and now we need to buy new ones again!  All we did for maintenance for our cycles was to add air, gas and a little bit of oil. 

>We were amazed at how far we could travel each day. After we reached Wisconsin we were well ahead of schedule and by the time we reached Maine we were one day ahead. There we began to challenge ourselves to see how fast we could accomplish the Four Corners Tour. That decision is what turned this into a "Man Trip". We finished the trip seven (7) days ahead of schedule.

>Words cannot express how much it meant to me to be with my oldest son 24/7 for 18 straight days. Because he was older and involved in school activities and sports, he missed out on the early motorcycle trips when I began the longer, more extensive trips with my other two children. However, the very first motorcycle trip I took was back in 1980 on my Suzuki 185 and he and I rode up to the Upper Palisades Reservoir and camped overnight. Every since then I have been hooked on the longer motorcycle trips.

Some of you have been totally amazed at how we could produce information and photos for this Blog every night. This is how it worked:

1.Tried to remember to take photos each day on our cell phones.
2.Sent text messages and e-mails to wife.
3.Called wife each evening. Expounded on our day's travels, adventures and experiences.
4.Waited for the Blog to get done and posted so we could see what we did!


I want to thank my wife (Shelle) for making our trip so much fun by posting all of the adventurous things we did each day. We did allow her some artistic liberty and license. :-) 

 

Thanks Hon.....I AM SUCH A BIG "YOU" FAN! 

 

"SELFIE"

AFTER ALL IS SAID AND DONE

 

 

DAY 18

328 Miles

Wednesday, August 6, 2014

Missoula, MT to Rexburg, ID through Butte, MT and Spence, ID

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

TO ALL OF OUR 3,000 HITS +

THANKS FOR YOUR

ENCOURAGEMENT 

SUPPORT

MESSAGES

COMMENTS

NOTES

DAILY VIEWING 

AND

PRAYERS

CELEBRATING IN STYLE

DAY 17

419 Miles

Wednesday, August 6, 2014

Cle Elum, WA to Missoula, MT through Ellensburg, Moses Lake, Spokane WA and Coeur d'Alene, ID.

• Ended up in Missoula, Montana for the night
• No antelope - no elk - no moose - Just Freeway I-90 heading home
• After 10,000 miles we are still, thoroughly, enjoying our ride All Around The USA. Beautiful farmland and no traffic.  So fun to ride our motorcycles each day!

AFTER 16 HOTELS - HERE ARE A FEW OBSERVATIONS FROM "THE SON":

"DAD'S" ROUTINE

1. Change day-number on motorcycle
2. Carry in water cups
3. Read Blog
4. Call Wife
5. Put black tape over every possible light source
6. Re-make bed (to avoid flesh-eating bacteria and short sheets)
7. Re-read Blog (check for updates)
8. Arrange boots against curtain to make sure no light enters
9. Check maps and GPS fo find a stopping place (a place we always drive 200 miles past!)
10. Sort through inordinate amount of pills
11. Take inordinate amount of pills
12. Re-read Blog
13. Re-check maps
14. Take off all hotel pillows and replace with his own pillow
15. Look to see if "SON" is asleep and then re-set thermostat to 70 degrees
16. Re-read Blog

"SON'S" ROUTINE

1. Carry all bags to hotel room
2. Set thermostat to 60 degrees
3. Call Wife
4. Climb into bed
5. Look for football game on TV or Duck Dynasty
6. Fall asleep

RESTAURANT ROUTINE

1. "DAD" Must never sit at a table or booth with his back to the door!
2. "SON"" Look at all the pictures on the menu - Order what looks good
3. "DAD": Read all menu items - verbalize through the choices - Eventually order the same choice and item as "SON".

FUEL ROUTINE

1. "DAD":Always fuel on the right side
2. "SON": Fuel on whatever side is open and in the shade

DOMESTIC WILDLIFE SEEN TODAY.....
Sheep, sheep, sheep

Are you kidding? We didn't take this photo!  It was just cuter than cute!

FOUR-CORNERS TOUR RE-CAP

• We are tied for "fastest" for the 2014 Year so far
• So far this year 32 people have certified but took longer to do it.
• Official Miles for Tour Certification: 6,753 miles from Madawaska, Maine down and around to Key West, Florida, over to San Ysidro, California and up to Blaine, Washington.
• 11 days just about to the hour to reach the fourth Check Point
• It is 10,368 miles from Rexburg to Rexburg
• Add an additional 1,100 miles from St. George to St. George

WE ARE TIRED TODAY

• We have come down off our "high" of making it to our 4th and final Check Point
• Even "SON" is getting silly
• However, he looks pretty good in that Daniel Boone Hat

COMPLETELY CIRCLED THE USA....ALMOST

DAY 16

680 Miles

Tuesday, August 5, 2014

 

Roseburg, OR to Cle Elum, WA through Eugene, Salem, Portland, OR - Vancouver, Olympia, Seattle, Bellingham, Blaine, Bellingham, Seattle (again) WA 

 

KNUCKLES

Showing friendship - no aggression intended
Expressing "COOL" Accomplishment
Kind of a motorcycle rider thing
Expressing "Hey! We did it!"
Meaning: Awesome Dude

DAY 16
BLAINE, WASHINGTON
Our 4th Check Point
680 Miles Today
We made it to Cle Elum, Washington - We challenge you to find that on the map!

Check out this link to reference the finishers for the SCMA Four-Corners Tour. http://sc-ma.org/rides/usa-four-corners-tour-site/finishers/2014-finishers We will be listed as soon as we fill out all the paperwork and send in our evidence to the official Four-Corners Tour people. 




Well...We kind of have a few more miles to get back to Rexburg. But we hit all four corners of the USA!

 

 

We are giving ourselves a big "Thumbs Up"

Hey Look! We stopped for a break at some place other than a gas station!

After 9,000 miles of riding we want to stand up to eat!



See - we are trying to widen our horizons and see some of the USA that we are flying by!

CELEBRATION DINNER! YUM!

THE SMELL OF VICTORY

DAY 15

640 Miles

Monday, August 4, 2014

Kettleman City, CA to Roseburg, OR through Stockton, Sacramento, Redding, CA - Medford and Grants Pass, OR

CLOSE CALL? OR IS "DAD" PLAYING "CHICKEN"?

JUST KIDDING - This Semi is being towed

THE SMELL OF VICTORY
Or is it the smell of FOREST FIRE SMOKE? Or FERTILIZER? Or DAIRY FARMS?
When you are in a car you can close the windows - When you are on a motorcycle you get to experience everything! "Cough" "Cough"

CALIFORNIA AND OREGON ARE ON FIRE!

WHAT DID WE GET TO DO TODAY?
Wear our Heated Jackets!  Burrrr! 61 degrees at times!

WHAT DID WE GET TO SEE ON OUR JOURNEY TODAY?

CROWS

EXIT SIGNS

TRUCKS

TRUCK AFTER TRUCK FULL OF TOMATOES

GAS STATIONS - OF COURSE!

PEOPLE WE MEET - NOT TOO OLD TO BRAG!
Today at the Black Bear Diner in Mount Shasta an 80-year old lady shared her motocycle stories with us.  She and her husband had an early model 1976 Honda Goldwing 1000.  In the 70's they towed a tent trailer and camped and traveled their way to all 48 states and Canada. Now the 48 states we can identify with.....but we just can't get our head around the camp trailer tale.  Who would do that? Obviously, two people in love! 


BLAINE, WASHINGTON OUR 4TH AND FINAL CHECK POINT - HERE WE COME!