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.