mile 1538

The miles haven't changed today, and that's for a really bad reason.  The Central US is hit with torrential rain and thunderstorms, and with all that water coming down we would rather need a canoe than a motorcycle (even so I we saw at the HD Museum that Harley at one point in time also made outboarders during the AMC time).  But we did hit the jack pot in selecting our spot as our camp site is relatively dry, but the camp ground around us is land under, roads are washed out or under water, and all in all not a day to even consider to get going.  So we decided to make it a rest day, do some laundry and hang around (what else to do?).  Nevertheless, the forecast is that the weather is improving going West, and that what we will do tomorrow.  But first we have to get over the upcoming night, once again thunderstorm and heavy rain is forecast, so it will be a wet packing tomorrow morning.

Camping and Road under

Hopeless attempt to dry some gear

mile 1538

What a day! This morning the rain gave us 25 min to pack, break down the tent and have breakfast, and then the rain came done again.  So it was time to test another piece of our equipment, rain gears.  For the rest of the day we were driving in rain and thunder towards Minneapolis.  The water was running in on top and out at the bottom of our rain gear, but finally the sun came out at 3 o'clock and we started to dry off and feel like humans again.  With the last days of heavy storms all our things are damp, and we are ready for some sun to dry the tent and the bike, and to feed the soul with some warmth (now that would be a great opportunity for some encouraging comments).
But riding through the upper state of WI into MN was also quite educational.  You ride through farmlands for corn and wheat, then you ride through dairy country, dropping down into forrest areas.  A perfect symbiosis of two states, for the greater good of man (cheese, steaks, bread, sorry no milk for me, fire wood, etc.).  Now we are entering the lesser traveled country, and tomorrow we shall reach the Badlands.

"Do not be angry with the rain; it simply does not know how to fall upwards" - Vladimir Nabokov - Russian Novelist

"Some people walk in the rain, others just get wet" - Roger Miller, Author

mile 1038

Thanks friends for your comments, keep on going, and so will we.

We broke the thousand miles, and have reached the birthplace of our bike.  After a relatively uneventful day of riding and taking the shortcut with the Lake Express Ferry over lake Michigan, we reached early evening Milwaukee and gained a hour (change of time zone).  The breeze was quite strong over the lake, and I got a new hair doo.

How do you like me now?

We reached our camp site just in time to get set-up, grabbed a bite and laid down, before hell broke loose around us.  The mother of all thunderstorms fell in, and tested our juvenile skills of tent setting.  So far so good, it stood the test, and we too.

This morning it was off to the holy place of motorcycles, the H-D Museum, a must for every rider of this brand (other riders are welcome too).  111 years of company history, 111 years of motorcycle making, and every bike built in any of the years is collected and stored here.  What a great place to visit.   And then we went on to search our plaque we placed 11 years ago at the wall of HOG members (row A, column 184).

Harley-Davidson Museum, Milwaukee

"A spirit with a vision is a dream with a mission" - Neil Peart, Ghost Rider

mile 870

Good morning!  After a sunny day riding through PA and OH, with a stop in Cleveland to get some education on the history of Rock n' Roll, we have last night entered Michigan.  The day was pretty much without major events, just the Father's Day traffic caused some difficult riding here and there.

Street Art at the Department of Road Work

Billy Joel, R n' R Hall Of Fame

mile 440

Day 1 is almost over and we have reached the Allegheny Reservoir in PA.  We had all day long cloudy skies from the time we left Granby, going south I-91 to join I-84 west and Rt. 6 westbound.  Some drizzle as expected hit us in the state of NY, but no worries.  The weather channel was of course wrong, temps never came significantly above 60, so scarf and sweater gave good insulation.  We are quite happy with the distance traveled today, not bad for the first day, and our buds are not hurting yet.  Anyway we will be sleeping like babies tonight, all that fresh air is really tiering.

Our partner loaded

Elke at our remote office

Follow us, ............

15 hours till departure

The bike is packed, or let's say the stuff is stuffed, and I still have space to get Elke on it as well.  I don't know if we have the right stuff, but over the next few days we will discover what we have too much,  and what we need but don't have.

Ralph having a deep conversation with the bike.  There are no hidden spaces for any of the stuff to go with us, so go figure its just the saddlebags, top case and the duffle bag.


Anyway, the rain has stopped and tomorrow it shall be warm and sunny.  One good night sleep in our bed (to remember the luxury) and then we are on our way.  We both are looking forward to this trip, and as we have no expectations, besides reaching Alaska, we shall have lots of fun.  But there are, and I admit some thoughts in the back of my mind, such as "why am I doing that?", or "what, if?", but those are brushed aside very quickly by my wife who says, "what the heck, it is what it is".
With that thought  in mind, and with a great spirit we will leave you all behind and hope to see ya'll in two month with many stories to tell.

"… you either travel and write yourself, or read about what others have done, experiencing the adventure vicariously." - Ted Simon, Dreaming of Jupiter

10 days till departure

10, 9, 8, 7, ……. the days are counting down.  Our two wheeled companion got new socks yesterday and will get a good cleaning, polishing and wax coat, and a last look over before we will pack our ride for the next 10 weeks.  We’re studying already the 10 day weather forecasts for the regions we will pass first, and at the moment it looks like we will be starting with sun shining on our heads.  What could be better than having your best friend sitting behind you, sun in your face and the wind blowing away all thoughts of past stress and worries, and the prospect of a great adventure in front of you.  As often as we have heard it, not the destination is what counts, but the way traveled.  And therefore we will start in 10 days heading west, as thousands of people had done in this country many, many years ago leaving the east coast heading in to unknown territory.  Some made it, some didn’t, and those who came back had a story to tell.  And one way or the other, so shall we.

“To be worth making at all, a journey has to be made in the mind as much as in the world of objects and dimensions.” – Ted Simon, Jupiter’s Travels