Home Sweet Home

Valdosta, GA to Lakeland, FL: 2 states, 235 miles, 4 hours on the road, 3.5 in the saddle.

After traveling through 16 states and over 3700 miles on the Harleys, we made it home safe and sound.  The bikes ran great, we had only a smidgen of rain, and we rode down miles and miles of beautiful country
roads.  We enjoyed visiting with a dear friend we hadn't seen in a while and we met some great people along the way.  We enjoyed Harley's 110th celebration and even met up with some of our Florida friends.  After 12 full days, we have returned home happy, refreshed and ready to start planning the next trip.  With all the wonderful small towns we rode through, there are many we would love to travel back to and spend more time visiting.

We want to thank all our family and friends for their thoughts and prayers that kept us safe (and dry) during our travels.  We were blessed with great weather and great hospitality everywhere we went.  I love this country and I love experiencing it from the saddle of my Harley!

Woke Up to the Sound of Thunder

Asheville, NC to Valdosta, GA: 3 states, 405 miles, 9.5 hours on the road, 7 in the saddle.

When the crack of thunder woke me up at 5am, I knew there would be a rain delay to today's journey.  So, we enjoyed the morning talking to a few other riders staying at the hotel who were heading over to ride the "Dragon's Tail".  We finally got on the road about 9:30 to a bit of a chilly start, which was expected since we were up in the Smokey Mountains and the rain had just passed through.
 
Before hitting the road, we checked the weather and planned our route for the day.  The rain looked to be to the west of us, around Atlanta, so we headed south but kept to the east.  We managed to stay off the Interstate all but 50 miles and enjoyed some more back roads through South Carolina and Georgia.  Plus, we managed to dodge all the rain and thunderstorms in the area and arrived at the hotel dry. Very nice!

We rode through some more great American farm country today and not just corn fields.  We also rode though several cotton fields.  I had to laugh at myself when we rode by a cute little plantation looking house with a sign identifying it as the "Cotton Patch".  Being that I grew up in Nevada, cotton fields was not my initial thought.

We're down to the last 230 miles or so of our trip.  Hopefully, we can get an early start tomorrow so we can get home in time to pick up the dog and cat. It's been a wonderful vacation but I'm ready to sleep in my own bed.

Highways and Byways

Madison, IN to Ashville, NC: 4 states, 370 miles, 9 hours on the road, 7 in the saddle.

Today was all about enjoying the journey through this beautiful country.  After about 75 miles of riding through some great back roads of Kentucky, we jumped on the Interstate for about 75 more. Although it was the Interstate, the scenery was beautiful as we rode through the Daniel Boone National Forest.

When we left the Interstate we traveled through the little town of Corbin, birthplace of Kentucky Fried Chicken, and continued our ride on US 25 E.  Wow!  What a beautiful ride.  If you are ever in the area and looking for the scenic route, this is the one.  So beautiful with forests and valleys and lakes and rivers.

We had about 30 seconds of rain as we passed through Prineville, Kentucky, and those 30 seconds of rain managed to soak my pant legs.  No worries, though.  After we dropped down into the heated valley, they quickly dried.

As we passed through the tunnel into Tennessee, we came into the town of Harrogate, home of Lincoln Memorial University and the Abraham Lincoln Library and Museum.  Unfortunately, we didn't have time to stop and hope to come back sometime.  

We had one road construction detour that took us off course several miles but through some more beautiful winding roads.  Sometimes the unplanned can be worth the extra time/miles.

Today, like most days when the sound of the wind is going through my helmet and I'm off in my thoughts, I got to thinking about when I was a kid and the road trips my family would take. Sometimes we would go just for a weekend, sometimes across the country.  I didn't appreciate the beauty of our country back then.  My mom tried to get us kids to enjoy it and now I understand why.  It's just breathtaking. 

Also, during those family road trips, my dad would always tell us about the lost Indian and, after all these years, they are still looking for Falling Rock.

Small-town U.S.A.

Milwaukee,WI to Madison, IN: 3 states, 420 miles, 10 hours on the road, 7.5 in the saddle.

Before heading out of Milwaukee this morning we headed over to Harley headquarters for a quick photo of our bikes next to the "shed" replica where Harley-Davidson all began.

We hit the interstate to try and get some miles under our belt but after 220 miles on the interstate and paying for two toll roads, we hit the country back roads for another 200 miles.  Sweet!  The speed was a lot slower, so it took us longer but that just gave us more time and opportunity to enjoy the ride.  Winding through the country and smelling the smells is what it's all about.  Sometimes the smells are sweet, sometimes not so much.  Such as, the smell of the dairy farms.  But, while the aroma of a dairy farm may not smell so nice to me, for the dairy farmer it's the smell of money.  Something a dairy farmer once told us.

Our small-town U.S.A. ride took us through some great little towns such as Crawfordsville, home of the author of Ben Hur, and Bloomington, home of the Indiana Hoosiers.  We finished today's ride in Madison, Indiana.  A great little town with lots of shops and antique stores.  We enjoyed dinner on the river and watched the sun set.  I love this beautiful country and can't wait to see where tomorrow takes us.

Enjoying Our Last Day in Miwaukee

Milwaukee, WI: Day 3 of the local festivities

I couldn't get the wifi to work at the hotel last night.  So, once again, this post is a day late.  Ugh.

Demo Bikes Lined Up and Ready to Ride

We had another great day enjoying the Harley 110th Anniversary festivities.  We rode back over to the Powertrain Factory for the tour and more demo rides.  We arrived a bit early so spent the waiting time taking some more demo rides.  I rode the Dyna Switchback which was pretty nice.  It was very similar to my Deluxe but a bit smaller.  For my second demo ride I took out another Street Glide Special.  The attendant set the radio for me so that I could listen to it on the ride, but as soon as I pulled out of the parking lot the navigation came on telling me to turn around.  I couldn't figure out how to cancel the programmed route and the lady was driving me crazy, so ended up putting the audio on mute.  Oh well, the ride was what I really wanted to enjoy and it was great.  Curtis took out an Ultra Classic and was very pleasantly surprised.  For his second demo of the day he took out a Sportster 48. 

We enjoyed the factory tour.  Another nicely organized event by Harley.  We were able to walk through and see how they manufacture the engines on all the Harleys.  Not only did we enjoy learning about the process but the factory was impressively clean and organized.  It's quite an operation and worth the visit if you are ever in the area.  The provide guided tours every Monday.

We spent the afternoon back over at Summerfest watching the police skilled rider competition.  Those guys are good!  Over 100 police riders from all over North America participated in the competition for a chance to win a new 2014 Harley for their agency provided by Harley.  The top ten riders included seven Floridians.  Six were from Jacksonville but it was the police rider from New Smyrna that won. I wonder if their year-round riding season helped any.
 
We finished the evening up on the Rooftop Patio of our hotel enjoying a cocktail.  We reminisced about the fun we had with our Oregon friends up on the patio five years ago.  Such good memories.  Maybe in another five years we can meet up again.

Demos and More Demos

Milwaukee, WI: Day 2 of the local festivities

Enjoyed another great day of festivities.  We started at the Harley Powertrain Operations Factory to take a tour of the facilities and participate in their demo rides. Once again, Harley has outdone themselves with the organization of the demo rides.  Not only did they have a lot of bikes available to test ride but the 10 mile self-guided route was fabulous.  And every Harley representative working the event was such a pleasure.

Blinged out Street Glide Speical

We each took out three different bikes.  My first was the new Street Glide Special.  Nice!  All my concerns about the fairing, the bike being too big, and all the in between worries left me within a minute of leaving the parking lot.  I love this bike!  I also took out the new CVO Softail Deluxe.  It was nice but not that much nicer than my current Deluxe.  And finally, I took out a Sportster 72.  While it may be fun and sporty, it's not my cup of tea.  Curtis took out the CVO Breakout, Street Glide Special and a VRod.  He liked the Breakout and was nicely impressed with the power of the VRod.

After three test rides, the place was filling up and the weather was getting pretty hot.  We ventured over to take a tour of the facility but the line was super long, so we decided to head over to one of the big Harley dealers.  Unfortunately, that location was pretty busy too, so we changed plans again and found a great little place to eat in Greendale.  It's always nice to cruise around the city and find something off the beaten path.

A thunderstorm decided to make its way through town, so we spent the rest of the afternoon doing laundry, preparing for our trip back home.  It's sad to think our Milwaukee trip is almost over but it's a bit bitter-sweet as I am looking forward to getting back on the road and seeing more of this beautiful country.

Tomorrow, we're heading back over to the Powertrain Operations Factory for more demo rides (I think it's addicting!).  I'm hoping to be able to tour the place too.

American Pride

Milwaukee, WI: Day 1 of the local festivities

We enjoyed a nice, very long day for the first day of the Harley festivities.  In fact, the day was so long that by the time we got home and showered it was past midnight and I was too tired to blog.

We started the day by visiting the Harley museum and taking in the history of the brand.  If you're ever in Milwaukee, take the time to visit the museum.  This museum ain't no hobbyist's garage collection.  Harley has done such a first class job with the displays.  While learning about the Harley history, you are taken in by the beauty and work of art each display portrays. 

While at the museum, Curtis and I stopped in the members lounge and had the opportunity to meet the Davidson family and get something autographed.  I had them sign my visor; one guy brought in his saddle bag to be signed and a disabled gal had her leg brace sign.  Really cool!  The Davidson's were all nice and I was thrilled that they took the time to meet with us.  I wonder if they know just how many lives have changed because of a Harley.  Mine has.  I have experienced more of this country than I would have ever dreamed.  I have also formed some of the best friendships I never would have had if it wasn't for a Harley. 

We walked around the Summerfest grounds, the primary location for the 110th celebration.  We watched a skilled riders competition for a bit and wandered over to the wall/banner set up for autographing.  It's only the first day and the thing was nearly full of signatures.

There are several stages throughout the grounds with an amazing line-up of bands.  Last night alone they had Lynyrd Skynyrd, Joan Jett & Blackhearts, Doobie Brothers, Bret Michaels, and a bunch more.  And those were all FREE!  We paid extra to to see Toby Keith and it was worth every penny.  He is a perfect fit for the American made motorcycle Harley Davidson weekend with his numerous patriotic songs.  I'm telling you, if you didn't feel "proud to be an American" after that show, then something is wrong. 

Our hotel is about a mile from the festivities so we decided to walk back after the show instead of catching the shuttle.  Somehow we managed to take the long way and go about an extra half mile, which is another reason I was so tired last night. Oh well.

Enjoying the celebration!

We Have Arrived

Hannibal, MO to Milwaukee,WI: 4 states, 420 miles, 8.5 hours on the road, 6 in the saddle.

We made it to Milwaukee! And what a great ride we had today. We rode through several small towns, crossed rivers and met some great people along the way. While fueling up in Dixon, IL, we struck up a conversation with one of the locals who told us about a 50 mile route to take along the Rock River.  Wow!  What a great, unexpected ride.  It was beautiful.  We haven't ridden on roads like that since Oregon.

One of the things I enjoy about riding in this beautiful country is the opportunity to just be with my surroundings and my thoughts.  Today, as we rode along more and more corn fields, I got to thinking about how many ways we use corn.  I also got to thinking about how much work it takes by so many people to keep this country beautiful and most importantly those that have fought for us and continue to fight for us to enjoy this beautiful country.  We are so blessed to have all this and I am forever thankful.  I wish everyone could see our country from the seat of a motorcycle. It really does show you things in a different perspective.

We had a small world experience at dinner tonight when we met the GM from Fort Meyers HD.  He just so happens to be staying at the same hotel as us.  Nice guy.  I'm sure Curtis will be stopping by his store during one of his many visits to Fort Meyers.

If you're wondering how we rode through 4 states today, our route took us up to the southeast corner of Iowa.  We started in Missouri, tiptoed through Iowa, traveled through Illinois and then on into Wisconsin.  Total state count for our trip so far is 10.  Nice.

We're heading to the Harley Davidson Museum first thing tomorrow and then Toby Keith concert tomorrow night.  What happens in-between is hard to tell.  Harley has tons to choose from. 

Family History Tour

Mountain Home, AR to Hannibal, MO: 2 states, 340 miles, 10 hours on the road, 6 in the saddle.

Once again we enjoyed a nice cool ride this morning as we made our way into Mansfield, Missouri.  The road was nice and curvy but none of that up and down stuff.  Perfect riding for me.

We stopped in Mansfield for a bit of time to check out some of Curtis' childhood days and visit his grandfather's grave.  After walking through most of the cemetery we finally found the headstone. Curtis cleaned it off and spent some time reflecting on his memories of Gramps.  We also checked out the Wilder's grave, as in Laura Ingalls Wilder.  They are buried in the same cemetery as Gramps.  Pretty cool.

We spent time riding around town and even stopped at the Laura Ingalls Wilder house/museum.  Having the Scala Rider communication set came in real handy as Curtis was able to tell me all about his memories while we rode around town on the motorcycles. 

After leaving town, Curtis set out to drive by another old family home outside of town.  We finally found it after taking a wrong turn and driving until the pavement ended. Our first detour of the trip.  Several miles down the road we took another detour but this one was due to road construction. And wait, there's one more detour of the day.  Curtis missed the turnoff to the Lake of the Ozarks and proceeded to take us about 7 miles off course down a pretty road along the lake which deadended at a marina.  Another "end of pavement" detour.  No worries, it's all good.

Our ride into Hannibal took us through some great country and many, many corn fields along with other crops. Although it was another hot afternoon ride, the smells and scenery were awesome.  I love riding through this beautiful country of ours.

Tomorrow we make our way into Milwaukee to join the thousands of other Harley Davidson enthusiasts for the 110th party.  Good times for sure.

The Hills of Arkansas

Bossier City, LA to Mountain Home, AR: 3 states, 375 miles, 9.5 hours on the road, 6.5 in the saddle.

Had a great start to today's ride.  The weather was beautiful and we got to ride a few miles out of town with Gregg before we said our goodbyes.  Took a side trip into Texas to stop at the Texarkana Harley store and check out the new 2014 models.  We then rode up to the Harley store in Little Rock with a quick fuel stop in Hope, AK, birthplace of President Clinton.

During lunch at a local diner in Little Rock, we took up a conversation with one of the locals who suggested a route for us to take to tonight's destination, Mountain Home, AR.  So, we set out for the adventure.

The heat was pretty intense this afternoon and I wasn't feeling too well.  Plus, it's been a while since I've done the up and down curvy roads which are usually a bit of a challenge for me anyway.  The curves ended up not being so bad but the up and down terrain got me a bit jittery.  But I pulled up my big girl panties and enjoyed the ride best I could.  The country was definitely beautiful, what I was able to see, anyway.

Our day ended with a good laugh.  We walked to a dollar store to purchase some soda and water.  After paying, the cashier handed us a couple of scratch-it tickets for their instore promotion.  The first one was a bust but I managed to win on the second.  I gave it to the cashier who told us to scratch the bottom to reveal the prize we won.  We both laughed when the prize was a 2-pack of Bounty paper towels.  Not much room or need on the motorcycles for a 2-pack of paper towels.  I gave the big winning ticket to the cashier to give to someone else.

Tomorrow's ride should be an easy one as we make our way up to Hannibal, MO.

Relaxing Day with Good Friends

Clinton, MS to Bossier City, LA: 2 states, 230 miles, 5 hours on the road, 4.5 in the saddle.

Enjoyed a nice, relaxing day.  Stopped in Monroe, LA (quack quack dynasty) to fill up and then a few miles down the road we took a side trip into Arcadia, LA to check out the Bonnie and Clyde Trade Days.  Unfortunately, the place wasn't what we expected, so we didn't stop but continued on our little side-trip road through some great little towns and twisty roads.  It was nice to get off the freeway and enjoy some of the country.

Just before we got back on the freeway, we passed through Gibsland and came across a Bonnie and Clyde museum. We stopped for photos and then rode around the small town. Sadly, it has seen better days but I love the charm and I bet there were some great stories created there.

After our leisurely ride into Bossier City, we received a visit not only from our good friend Gregg but Eunice showed up too! It was fun reminiscing about our adventures with her during the 2008, 105th trip.  Now she gets to make her way back to Milwaukee for the 110th.  I wonder what memories she'll create along this adventure.

Tomorrow we head to Mountain Home, AR with a couple Harley store stops along the way.  Gregg's going to join us for the first part of the leg on his new-to-him '98 Heritage Softail Springer.  It's beautiful and nothing sounds like an Evo!

What a Long Day

Lakeland, FL to Clinton, MS: 3 states, 720 miles, 14 hours on the road, 11.5 in the saddle.  Whew!  What a long day and the first time I've ridden that many miles in one day.  But we made up for the miles we didn't get done yesterday and the weather was decent which helped with the long ride.  There was no sunshine in the Sunshine State, though.  Fog this morning, overcast the rest of the way with a few sprinkles before Pensacola.  No sideways winds or torrential downpours, thank goodness.  We managed to stay far enough behind all the downpours.  Many of the streets were quite wet by the time we passed through.  Nice.

As we were getting ready to head out after lunch, I found a butterfly on my front rim dancing to its reflection.  It brought me happy thoughts and reflections of my journey five years ago when we traveled with 11 of our Portland friends.  That was such a wonderful, memorable trip and taking some time to reflect back on those memories brought happiness to my soul. 

Our new Scala Rider communications system worked great and the batteries lasted the entire trip. I was able to listen to my MP3 player most of the day and when I needed to bug Curtis, I just pushed a button (probably pushed his buttons after a while too).  I didn't know what to expect having the bike-to-bike communication but I'm liking it more and more.

Tomorrow's ride is a short one.  Heading over to Bossier City, LA to meet with our good friend Gregg Lindsey.  I really, really wish Laura was going to be there.

All My Bags are Packed, I'm Ready to Go

Bikes are loaded and ready to go.  Over the next 12 days we will ride over 3500 miles through 14 plus states. We will visit friends along the way, check out some family history, ride through the Ozarks, celebrate Harley's 110 Anniversary, party with Tobey Keith, pass through the Smokey Mountains, and lots more.  

We were hoping to head out this afternoon but one of those unscheduled things come up, and by the time we were packed and ready to go the violent afternoon thunderstorm showed up.  Yes, I've been caught in these storms and I've ridden in these storms but I sure ain't going to leave the comfort of my house in one of these storms.  Tomorrow will be a long day but my excitement will keep me going. So excited.

Dusting Off the BlogWebs

110th Party Tickets

Time to dust off my blog and start preparing for another awesome trip on the Harleys.  We'll be making our way from Lakeland, Florida to Milwaukee, Wisconsin, where we will join tens of thousands of other Harley enthusiasts to celebrate Harley Davidson's 110 anniversary and H.O.G.s 30th Celebration.

Back in 2008, when we made this trip from Portland, Oregon, I used my blog as a way to keep family and friends updated.  So, once again, I will be posting my updates here with occasional posts on Facebook.

Stay tuned for stories of new adventures, new friends and new discoveries of this beautiful country we live in as I travel over 3700 miles in the saddle of my Harley.  So excited!