Mile 1474

After a lazy day yesterday and a small coffee run up to New Buffalo, MI, some laundry, and hanging around the pool, we wanted to make some distance today.  So we are up early, have the bike packed before the sun is up, and leave Elkhart, IN in the cool air of the morning.  We find the Lincoln Highway, and make our way through South Bend, IN, south to Plymouth, IN and then west to Valparaiso, IN and Joliet, IL.  As the heat is rising, we stop for lunch and some cool drinks, and then turn north, north-west to Aurora, IL and Geneva, IL to go west into Iowa to Cedar Rapids.  It has been a difficulty ride today, not only because of being another hot day, but also because of the absence of change in scenery.  Question, what do Indiana, Illinois and Iowa have in common?  Right, long straight roads, and lots of corn fields left, right, and ahead.  It's been now 15 years that we have been last in Iowa, and it appears that nothing has changed since then.  It is still flat, windy, and empty, and the sweet corn smell is all around you.  Didn't liked it then, don't like it now neither.

But the ride today had some interesting sights in store.  In Plainville, IL we drove on a short section where two iconic American roadways join, Route 66 (from Los Angeles, CA to Chicago, IL) and Lincoln Highway (from New York, NY to San Francisco, CA) share a section for about three blocks before parting again.

Some sights from along the way today:

... and many thanks to all the birthday wishes I received throughout the day.

"Age is a case of mind over matter. If you don't mind, it don't matter." - Satchel Paige, American Baseball Player

Mile 1007

Today we want to run some miles down.  So we are out of the sleeping bags early and have our stuff packed in no time. We leave Canton / Sparta, OH and find the Lincoln Hwy again to make our way West.  The road is in good condition and we make miles, but not without stopping in Bucyrus, OH to have a look at the "Great American Crossroads" mural.  This is one impressive piece of art, and a great tribute to the people and country.

In the meantime the sun is scorching us, and it is time to get moving again.  Driving through the mid day heat we reach Lima, OH early noon, and have a look for one iconic diner / burger place, the KEWPEE.

After a quick lunch in another icon, the "Happy Daz", we continue West moving into Indiana and up to Elkhart, IN.  By the time we arrive there our only thoughts are out of the sweaty clothes, and into the pool.  And after a cool down and a dinner at the Italian, the day could not have been better, except for the sunburn we both caught.  

So for the next couple of days we need to make some miles.  Moving on this old Highway is more time consuming than I thought, and if we want to spend some extra days in the West, we have to make up time.  We will see, but the heat is just so exhausting.

“A perfect summer day is when the sun is shining, the breeze is blowing, the birds are singing, and the lawn mower is broken.” - James Dent, American author and sportswriter

Mile 670

This morning we started with slightly cloudy skies in Lawrence, PA heading into several state parks like Shawnee S.P. and some other summits along the Lincoln Hwy, just to be driving into the morning mist and fog.  But the sun burned all that away quickly, and gave way to a hot and sunny day.  Loosing my way in Pittsburgh it was a sweaty exercise to find our way onto the northern path along the Ohio river to find the Lincoln Hwy again.  Maneuvering a more than fourteen hundred pound bike on a Friday through downtown Pittsburgh is no fun, and so I was happy to find the long, winding road along the river leading us to Rochester, PA, Midland, PA, and finally to Canton, OH.  It is a very sad picture to see along the way around Pittsburgh and up the Ohio river many steel factories just falling into pieces, as well as many other heavy industries.  A once healthy area has lost its identity and the Lincoln Hwy is just another picture highlighting the change in time as many portions of the original Hwy are today swallowed by a modern two lane Hwy.  But we were still able to find snippets of the old charm, partly in murals depicting the old times, or in old buildings.  Not all is lost yet, but the days are counted.

Coffe in Bedford, PA or Tee in Chester, WV

George Westinghouse Memorial Bridge, East Pittsburgh, PA

"A nation's culture resides in the hearts and in the soul of its people." - Mahatma Gandhi

Mile 434

Today will be a much better day.  Waking up to sunshine and a few clouds only, we have a 55+ breakfast at IHOP (here with "P") and then we are on our way to the birthplace of our motorcycle.  In York, PA we visit the Harley-Davidson Custom Vehicle Operations assembly plant, and even though that the factory is shut down as the 2018 assembly is finished and the plant is getting serviced and switched over for the 2019 production, the tour through the plant was very informative, and the whole operation of the assembly line was very impressive.  Now I know through how many step our bike went before it left the plant, and where it was born.  Great!
Then it was off to Best Buy to get a new camera to replace our lost one.  Figure we got a good deal, but sorry now pictures from it yet, as the batterie needs to be charged and the camera be set-up.  Hope tomorrow we are fully operational.
Both of course delayed us a little, and so our millage progress was not very much.  From York to Gettysburg, and then on to Breezewood.  Finally around Gettysburg the Lincoln Highway showed signs of its former days, with an old gas station (not in operation anymore), some toll houses from even the time before the Lincoln Hwy, some murals depicting the old days.  And above all, a beautiful new road going winding through some nice countryside, a light breeze, and almost no traffic lights.  What could be better, a perfect day.

Harley-Davidson Custom Vehicle Operations in York, PA

Lincoln Highway sign at the President Inn & Suites in Gettysburg, PA

St. Thomas Toll House outside Chambersburg, PA

"Live is hard but so very beautiful." - Abraham Lincoln

Mile 297

The day started pretty good, and after a good breakfast and a last check around the bike we were ready in no time.  We avoided morning traffic on I-91 and had an easy going on Hwy-15 until we crossed the border into NY.  From there it was Stop & Go, and getting to and over the Washington bridge took forever.  But we weren't out of the woods yet, as the Lincoln Hwy trails through Newark on Hwy-1 and then South.  The urban road is far away from being a Highway, and it is a very exhausting ride, made worse as a felt thousand traffic lights were always red when we came.  It continued like that all the way down to Philadelphia and as much as we tried to make out the old Lincoln Highway, it has been completely swallowed by the modern day roads.

But not enough that Germany lost against South Korea in the Soccer World Cup today and has to go home, we lost as well our camera, but that wouldn't have been too bad (the camera has a metal casing exactly to survive such things) but as Elke was already on her way to collect it, a Philly Taxi driver ran over it and gave it the final death sentence.  So no pictures today, we need to buy a new camera first.  And to make the day perfect, it started to rain.  After all, what would be us traveling across the country without rain, we somehow are proven to that already.  Anyway, no tenting tonight, we have to dry our skin and clothing, a perfect day isn't it?

"Some people walk in the rain, others just get wet." - Roger Miller, American Musician

Only one more night till departure

It is done!  The stuff is "stuffed" into bags and every conceivable corner of the bike, and even though we don't have to carry any gasoline canister with us this time, the added available space somehow is all gone.  Perhaps the two camping chairs we carry this time with us are taking their toll.  But after all, we are four years older now, and sitting on the ground is not as comfortable as sitting in one of those brand new Helinox chairs, really comfy.

Anyway, tomorrow morning I will change that seat with the seat on our bike, and I hope it will be as comfortable as I'm now.  We shall leave pretty early to make it through New York and Newark as early as possible, and then make our way West into Pennsylvania.  Reaching Gettysburg would be nice, let's see how far we get.  For now I will grab a cold brew, as all stuff is stuffed and there is nothing left to do.  See you on the road.

"Oh the places you'll go! There is fun to be done! There are points to be scored. There are games to be won. And the magical things you can do with that ball will make you the winning-est winner of all." - Dr. Seuss, The Places You'll Go!

The President Run 2018

Dear Friends,

Once again has the travel bug hit us and Elke and I are going on a US only cross country trip.  It’s only ten (10) days till our departure, and preparations are in their final stages.  The tent has been checked, sleeping bags are vented and rolled up now, other gear is in their bags, maps have been sorted out, bits and pieces are being collected, and the most important thing, our trusted HD Ultra Classic Electra Glide has undergone an oil change and inspection, the batterie is charged and all looks ready for the tour.

Our plan is to follow a historic road going West, the Lincoln Highway from New York, NY to San Francisco, CA, started in 1912 and conceived in 1913, the first Hwy running continuously from the Atlantic to the Pacific.  We then go South to met with Elke’s brother in LA, after which we turn around and follow the Pacific Coastline on Coastal Hwy 1/101 to Seattle, WA.  Here we turn the bike East and follow the Theodore Roosevelt Hwy (US Hwy 2) along the Rockies back home.  Like the last time, we will try to keep you up to date with our tour and of course like to hear from you as well, especially after a miserable day riding in rain.  For now it's enough, there is still some prep-work to do, so much to do, so little time.  Have fun, we certainly will.

"Be sure you put your feet in the right place, then stand firm." - Abraham Lincoln