We leFt Knoxville, TN. on July 4th and returned on the 18th. Fourteen days, 4,358 miles and only three days of not so good weather. (Not real bad weather, either). We rode the Interstates to Bangor Maine then got up early on Monday to catch the CAT Ferry in bar harbor. After landing in Yarmouth (can you believe they let me in) we rode to Shelburne on the east Coast. Next day we rode to Digby, then Halifax the day after, then Port Hawkins, then Cheticamp on Cape Breton. (Cabot's Trail was awesome.) When we returned to the U.S. we kind of zip zagged down through New England. Anyway, 4 bikes and six people had a great time. Only two from BK made it. No breakdowns or accidents.
Looks like I am going to be near Montgomery Texas for a few weeks in April. heading that way tomorrow and will be there until around May 1st. Then, I head down to Grapevine to meet some new friends and do some business. South carolina and the Darlington NASCAR race the following weekend.....whew.
Well, it has been awhile...longer than I thought, but here is the latest on my travels and adventures. Not much to tell actually. I have my RV parked in North Central Florida, between Gainesville and Ocala, and have been enjoying the very mild winter. Oh, we have had a couple of nights that were below freezing followed by a chilly day, but a day or two later and BAM, back in the 70's. I have been leading a few rides from the RV park I am in. There are several bikers staying there for the winter most of whom are from up North. Yesterday, I caught a flight from Orlando to Seattle and then rented a car for the 3 1/2 hour drive to Forks, Washington where I am now. I am taking today off to get some things done before I start fishing tomorrow through Tuesday. Thats right, four days of fishing for the elusive Steelhead trout. If any of you are interested, Google the following rivers: Sol Duc, Calawah, Bogachiel and HOH. These are the rivers I will be fishing on. I fly back to Orlando on Wednesday and will be in Florida until April 1st. My calendar includes a trip to Montgomery Texas for a meeting in mid-April. Then I will be in Hilton Head (late April to mid-May) then up to Gafney. S.C. for a couple of days (RV service) then off to Darlington, S.C. for the race. While in Darlington, I will be riding over to Myrtle Beach for a day or two. I took the attached photo of Cresent lake yesterday on my drive from Seattle to Forks. It is one of my favorite scenics places.
I am riding to Nova Scotia, leaving Knoxville, TN. on July 4th and returning to Knoxville on July 18th. We will ride the Interstates to Bar Harbor, Maine where we will board the CAT Ferry on the morning of July 7th arriving in Yarmouth, N.S. 4 hours later. We will spend the week on NS exploring all the scenic spots such as Digby Neck (Tide changes of 30-50 feet), Peggy's Cove, Halifax, Cabot's Trail and much much more. On Friday, we will leave N.S. and return to the U.S. via New Brunswick and enter in Northern New Hampshire. Our route will be similar to a pin ball as we travel South down through the back roads of New Hampshire and Vermont. I lead a similar ride a few years ago and I learned quite a bit about the area. Benefit from my mistakes last time by not making them again. This is a group ride so you must understand your participation means you are with the group......not me as an individual. (In other words, I am not inviting you for a date.) In fact, this invite if for all....men and women. The rules are simple.....we obey the laws and absolutely no alcohol comsumed while we are riding. Zero tolerance. (At the end of the day.....after the bikes are parked.....come to my room for a little JD and coke.) I suggest you budget $2,000 per bike with one person. $3,000 if you are two up. Thus far, we have a couple from Raleigh, N.C. who rides two up on a GW trike and a woman in Nashville on a Wide Glide who have confirmed they are going. Two other people are trying to scrape up the $$$ to make the trip. You are welcome to go....just contact me via email if you are interested.
I have been traveling for the last few weeks....well, since the Holidays. Mostly work in the Adjusting business but also doing some production for radio stations. I am keeping the bread buttered while my RV and Harleys sit in 75 degree weather just South of Gainesville. Today, I was in W.Va and Ohio driving in the snow on salt coated roads. Sounds like my pickup has a rough wheel bearing so I will have that checked tomorrow. Next trip is back to the west coast in my pickup. Leaving on Feb. 9th.Taking my camera for scenic shots. Wanna go?
I have been in Florida a few days now. The weather has been great for riding but now a cold front has come through and the temps. are dropping. It is suppose to be below freezing tonight. The good news is that tomorrow will be in the 60's and it will warm up as the week progresses. A few days ago, I took a ride over to Cedar Key. It is the same old place and one of my favorite destinations. They are rebuilding the Wharf which was damaged in the 04 hurricane and I think it will be done in time for a ride back there during bike week. Cedar Key reminds me of a mini Key West. Kinda old and run down with several shops, restaurants and watering holes. I have never seen a cop on Cedar Key. I have paid my lot rent here up to April 1st. I am thinking of heading North to Hilton Head, South Carolina from here. Then, the Darlington NASCAR race in South Carolina on Mother's Day weekend and possibly over to Myrtle Beach for the Rally.I plan to head down to Key West for New Year's eve but not sure about that yet. The weather is a big factor in my decision. If I go, I will leave the RV here and ride the motor but I won't go if it is going to be a total wash out. June will probably be in the Tennessee and/or Western North Carolina area. Who knows after that. Canada.....maybe? If you are on I-75 in Florida and wanna go for a putt, just give me a holler. I am between Gainesville and Ocala.
I have reservations from December 1st - April 1st at Grand Lake RV Resort in Orange Lake Florida. Mickey Mouse, Bike Week and the Daytona 500 will be nearby. The bummer is that it looks like another solo XMas and New Years. Have to see who I meet when I get there. U never know.http://www.grandlakeresort.com/
Well, I made it to Tennessee last night and need a few days to do my business and pay bills. I hope to be in Florida before turkey day. I am looking for a RV Resort between Gainesville and Ocala, near I-75. When situated, I intend to hang there through the Daytona 500 and Bike week.
Photo taken from a ferry with Seattle in the background.
I moved to Crater lake and got some riding in last Sunday. I stayed in Prospect Oregon which is in the Cascade Mountains and a unique little town. (No cell service.) I took this photo of the lake during the warmth of the afternoon but it was still about 45 degrees. There was still some snow along side the roads where it had been plowed. As I type this, I am in Park City Utah. I had to get the electrical problem fixed on my RV so I stopped by a service facility in Ogden Utah. Now, I have TV again....yeah! I am not much of a TV watcher BUT, NASCAR and the World Series are worth watching. I missed seeing the Sox win...again. I am going to be here until tomorrow. I have some work to do and I have a strong cell signal and wifi connection here. I am heading back through Colorado towards Tennessee.......I think.
I am now in North Bend Oregon. Been hanging out on the coast and riding my Harley. I have a freezer full of Salmon (about 30 lbs.) all vacuum packed and frozen. There is an ongoing electrical issue that I need to get fixed so I am turning towards Salt Lake City. I have an appointment there this Tuesday. I hope to go via Crater lake. More 2 follow.
I almost made it here last Wednesday but ended up spending the night in Bremerton, Washington. I hit some of the local hangouts before calling it a night. Setup in Forks on Thursday (October 25th) and fished Friday-Monday. I have about 30lbs of salmon in the freezer. Anyone for a fish fry? On Thursday (November 1st) I am heading South down the Pacific coast. I plan to go 200-300 miles then setup camp for a few days. Ride my Harleys on day rides then move south another few hundred miles and do it again.....for at least two weeks. Sometime, before Thanksgiving I am turning east. I have invites to go to Texas and Colorado, but I can't do both. I may go to Colorado first as I will be back in Louisiana and Texas in November. We will see.
Did you see the movie? It is about a boy that other kids tied to a fence post just outside of town and left him to die of exposure. One guy in town said he died "watching the sizzlin lights of Laramie Wyoming". As I approached town on I-80, I dropped off a mountain from above the town. The city lights do sizzle. Damnest thing I have seen. They twinkle like stars, It is 30 degrees here with snow. YUCK!
I am on the way, finally. I left Tennessee yesterday and tonight I am in Lincoln Nebraska in the Wal Mart parking lot. (They let RV's park for the night.) I had a flat today on the trailer and I hope they can fix it here in the Tire Service. I nearly pulled out from a Rest Area with the flat tire which would have been a disaster. I did the same thing a month ago and did $1,200 damage to my trailer. Scheduled to fish on Friday - Monday in Forks Washington. Then, I am heading South along the Pacific Coast for a couple of weeks.
Sometime around October 20th, I am going to head West to the very North Western tip of the lower 48. My route will be directed by the weather and I hope to travel through South Dakota, Wyoming and Montana along I-90. If it is bitter cold I may have to take a more Southern route. My first destination will be Forks Washington where I will be salmon fishing on October 26th - 28th. Thene I will head South down the coast to the Washington/Oregon state line. I will setup camp in that area and ride the Harley along the coast for a few days. Then I will move the camp South towards California and setup camp again. I will ride some more along the coast and the redwood forests of Northern California. While it is not definite, I hope to head to Florida and setup down there for the winter. Maybe by Thanksgiving. Should I post photos and keep you updated on my trip?
I will be in Gatlinburg, TN. until Sunday, then I head Northeast to Huntington, WV for a much overdue visit to my parents. Then, back to Tennessee until about October 15th.
I have to be in Forks Washington for some Salmon fishing on October 26th, 27th and 28th.I will then head South to the western coast of Oregon where I will setup camp for a week. I will ride my Harley on day rides along the Pacific coast from my campsite. Then back to Tennessee for a few days.
I will be heading to Florida in mid November and setting the RV up down there until March. I will be riding down to Key West the week of Thanksgiving. I have been there many times during Thanksgiving and find it is less crowded.
Am I traveling close to you? Maybe I can buy you a cup of coffee?
Back in Nashville now (09-13) and Gatlinburg on 09-15)
Ok, I did not do what I said I would do. I promised to keep you posted via this blog as my trip progressed however, I did not count on my membership expiring (BK IS GETTING EXPENSIVE) and my Internet access was limited. But here I am on I-70 in Limon, Colorado heading back to Tennessee.
I left Tennessee on August 10th and traveled to West Glacier Montana where my old riding buddy "Ned" was waiting on me. (Ned is 84 and still rides thousands of miles per year.) I spent 5 days in Glacier National Park, 5 days in Yellowstone, 5 in Bryce Canyon and 5 in Zion National Park. Additional days were spent camping here and there in between. I have covered about 4500 miles with another 1000 to go. Should be home by Tuesday.
