Shake down trip to make sure bikes are working properly!

Ok so maybe the above is true to some extent. My brother and I both had our bikes in the shop to make sure they were ready for out journey to Key West. Really we both needed an excuse to go ride our bikes and have a good time together.

He is on vacation and I, well I am retired! So I have time, he had time and we decided that Erie Pennsylvania was just too far for a day ride so we decided to go tho State College from Carlisle Pa. The day was nice so we would enjoy our trip.

Staring out at Fay's Restaurant in Carlisle is a very nice was to start the day. Eggs over, home fries (with Onions), toast and coffee. That fueled my belly for the first half of the day.

We left Carlisle by 8:15 am and were no our way up RT 74 to RT 75 to RT 322. We had nice weather and no traffic problems. At first I thought he and I would stop to say high to a couple I met in New Mexico at a KOA campground. But unfortunately this trip was a hurry up pick me up kind of ride we could not make contact since they were out of town.We did however navigate to their neighborhood on the bikes.

We took PA 26 to State College which goes right beside the Penn State Campus. Man O Man the place was crawling with Co Ed's.

We stopped at the Track N Trail Honda dealer in State College just to say high!
Got some really good advice on a road to take back to Carlisle. Seems Rt 333 is on the other side of the Juanita river and neither of us have been on it. So headed back to Carlisle we took an exit that said Train Station and heading into Lewistown. Off the exit ramp I got a second phone call on the cell. We stopped for me to check out the calls. They were both from my friends in State College whom we missed hooking up with today. Seems they will be in Harrisburg next month for a doctor's visit and we will try to get together then.

Across the street from where I stopped was a BBQ stand at the back of a house. We pulled in to have lunch. I was impressed with the BBQ trailer that was working hard but the food from the house was just so-so. I will not stop again.

Found RT 333 and rode on it for a while (had to stop and use Google maps on cell phone to find the route) the entire way to Port Royal. This road lived up to expectations with lots of two lane twists and turns. It was a fun ride for us.

Then on toward Carlisle on RT 75 and then RT 74. Once back in Carlisle we split up and went our separate ways but first told each other that the days ride was lots of fun and we wondered where we would go tomorrow? Oh yes it is supposed to rain on Wednesday. Well what about Thursday.

Until then, TTFN

Maintenance really done.

Well the good people of Velocity Cycles have my Goldwing back on the road. New tires, oil change, state inspection, front fork seals and a new headlight bulb. All for just over $1000. This machine ain't cheap to keep running safely but the open road experience and safety are worth every penny.

BTW, I had to take a test drive on the newly road worthy bike so I ran Pa Route 34 towards Biglerville from Carlisle. Stopped for the first purchase of the new season of apples grown over there in Adams County Pa.. Bike ran perfectly but then I had to go home.

Found a local Public Auction for Aug 24th that looks very interesting. They have a nice BMW with a side car. It had been listed on Craig's List for $9,500 dollars but never sold. Wife, Brother and I are planning on visiting the auction just to see how much it goes for. They also have a motorcycle camping trailer.

2001 year 

1991 year

 I have some reservations about the camper and the old canvas on it but it does make it worthwhile to check it out.

Maintenance done soon.

Well I had to make an appointment for another day since the bike didn't pass inspection. It needs front fork seals replaced. So took the bike over Wednesday and dropped it off. Took a used tire with only 5,000 miles over to be put on the rear, new front tire, front fork seals, oil change already done, asked them to look at the trunk light indicator ( it is doesn't always(mostly) work properly(very much a pain)).

Just called the shop and it isn't ready yet (Friday around 11:00 am) so I will patiently wait for the call to say it is ready to rock and roll. Then of course I have to go pay for it.

On the up side I will feel confident the bike is in good enough shape for a ride to Ocean City, Maryland and Delmarva Bike week as well as the trip to Daytona and Key West.

Still really enjoying this retirement business. Summer is more than halfway over and some of the mornings are nice and cool. Will probably see some hot weather yet but who knows.

Thinking about going south in mid October. I will be comfortable no matter the weather (as long as it is dry, mostly). But I am wondering about my fellow riders. You see they have Suzuki Boulevard M-109's which are a big sportier bike without fairing of any kind for protection from the elements like my big beautiful black Goldwing.

Add caption

Honda Goldwing

I'll keep you posted about the maintenance after I pick up my Goldwing.

TTFN

It has been a few months!

Well it has been a while since my retirement ride across the country. I have been itching to do another ride for sometime now.

So my brother says he wants to do Daytona this year. I look up Biketoberfest in Daytona in 2013, click here for details. http://biketoberfest.org/  Now it runs from 10/17 to 10/20/2013. Also there is the need, my brother says to visit the Florida Keys. He has always wanted to go there and now is his chance. Additionally, Key West has the Fantasy Festival running that same week. If you don't know about the Fantasy Festival follow this link to see what it is all about.
http://www.vagabondish.com/travel-guide-fantasy-fest-key-west-florida/

So I have been doing some research and worked out a good route to and from these places. I have now made reservations at Best Western Motels all along the route. BW has certain standards you can count on just like KOA when I was camping on my retirement ride. When you are on the road, surprises are not always desirable if you have to keep moving and don't want to waste time and effort on finding places to stay that vary in standards. So Best Western it is all the way. BTW, this is not a commercial for BW but my opinion only.

Mean while the bike still has the same tires and needs an oil change since my retirement ride. So I have an appointment to have State Inspection, Oil change (now with synthetic oil) done on Tuesday 10/6/2013. I will require two new tires since I now have 14,000 miles on the front and 11,500 on the back tire. They will probably last for a few more miles but my life is worth more than the $400 cost of new Dunlap's.

I got a budget together to give brother and nephew an idea of the costs of the ride. The figures are based on my Goldwing mileage and eating habits. I added them all up and figured I should divide by three for a good round number for each of us to expect to spend. No additional expenditures have been figured in. Such as my brother wants to snorkel in Key West. We are going to be there for four days.

Motel accommodations - 350
Gas                               - 166.50
Lunch                            - 120
Dinners                          - 350
Total minimum               - 986.50 each

So until the next time I feel like posting.

TTNF

Day 33

Start mileage 99042
End mileage  99360
Daily total 318
Ride total 8385

Well today should be the last day of this once in a life time ride.

I was up early but didn't really get with the program very quick. I did daily duties, packed everything I took into the motel room last night. Then put it all in the trailer and bike. I was rip roaring and ready to get ice and breakfast. I did both. Gas station for Ice and Denny's for breakfast.

After all that, I got on the bike, headed to I70 East and continued the ride. Google Maps which has been very instrumental in my planning and execution of this ride said I had 314 miles to Dillsburg. I got email from a friend who wanted to know what time I would be home. I could only guess and said around noontime.

Off I went. Not wanting to have an inglorious finish to the ride I made sure I did the speed limit or as close as I could so as to not get a ticket on the final day of my Retirement Ride Across America. Had to travel through the rest of Ohio, West Virginia and half of Pennsylvania until I rested.

Actually the ride went well today with no issues. No rain or tornadoes. Thank you Lord! I got home around 12:45 pm and my neighbor was parked on my door step until I got there. She took several pictures of me arriving, getting off the bike and the Welcome Back sign on the garage door. I thought that was very sweet that she would do that for me. She will emailing me the pictures she took or I will assist in getting them from her camera to the blog site.

Come back for pictures.


Almost home.

Parking on the sidewalk.

Trying to get off the bike.

Home at last, Home at last!

Once home, picking up the family cat and giving him some attention, I proceeded to unload the bike and trailer. It was hot and I managed to change into sneakers from my riding boots. The sneakers were much cooler.

I made a mad dash to the state store in Carlisle to resupply the house with alcohol that seemed to disappear while I was away. I had to have a celebratory Beef Eaters Gin Martini as my brother-in law says should be Beef Eaters. Of course Grey Goose for the wife's martini.

When I arrived home after the alcohol run my wife's car was in the drive way. Upon going inside she said she had to come home early since she was unable to function knowing I was at home after 33 days on the road. We ate a meal and had our celebratory martini's. All is good in the world now.

I missed home and being here but would not have missed this Ride of a Life Time!
 I hope to go over the ride check list to advise on things I used and things I never used. Also some Wisdom from the Road thoughts to pass along to others who want to ride distance on their motorcycles.

Please do come back for more.

Day 32

Start mileage 98561
End mileage  99042
Daily total 481
Ride total 8067

I am sitting here after finishing my ride today thinking, I wonder where I was when I started today. Yes I am kind of tired. Oh yes! I started in Troy, Il.. You know everything seems to run together.

Got up early. Around 5:30 am. Decided to redo yesterday and get an early start. Got up did daily duties, packed all my stuff. Carried out to bike and loaded up. Hit the road about 6:38 am. Heading East of course on I70. At 80 mph I might add. It was overcast again and I was wanting to get out of the way of thunder storms forecast for later on in the morning.

I stopped after some 100 miles for breakfast. The sign said BBQ place. They are open seven days a week and serve breakfast. I had short stack and  eggs over easy on top. Not great but breakfast. Then back on the bike to continue my journey.

Rode through Illinois and into Indiana That includes Terre Haute, Indianapolis and Richmond.  Into Ohio through Columbus and I thought it was too early to quit just yet so I rode until my butt said enough is enough. I stopped in Zanesville at another cheap motel. Still spent $67.00 on the room for just one night. Call me cheap.

I did get rained on before hitting Columbus Ohio. It started to rain then got progressively faster. I decided to pull over under a bridge. I thought might as well have lunch. Had my usual Peanut butter and Ranch Dressing rolls and milk. Well after lunch was over, BTW, I dripped ranch dressing all over the side of my bike, it is even in the back speaker. I will have fun cleaning this. Oh yes! and another BTW, I am now missing a piece of my back seat. The missing piece has come out before but never to the point that I lost it. So I believe remodeling of the bike will be in order when I get home. If you remember I had a run into with dried manure and straw just yesterday and had to wash the bike. That probably means there is dried manure (shit) in the air filters. Just some things to have the mechanic look at and things to replace. So I put on my rain pants and started out again. Wouldn't you know it. Just 10 miles or so down the road it stopped raining and never rained again today. I am sitting on the bike in 80+ degree temps with this rubber pants thing on and sweating my behind  off just because I didn't want to get it wet. I will rethink my decisions on riding in the rain from now on.

So I am in a motel. I have somewhat recuperated from today's ride and plan on hitting Denny's down the road. BTW, I will be walking to it since I am very much done riding for today.

Looks like only 314 miles to good old Dillsburg and my baby and  her cat. I am looking forward to that.

TTFN

Day 31

Start mileage 97964
End mileage  98561
Daily total 597
Ride total 7586

I got up early this morning because I was concerned about the potential for bad weather today in the area. Turns out it was extremely overcast and I thought I had better get out of Dodge while I had the chance. I was thinking I might out run the storm front if I left now instead of doing several things before leaving. Pulled out at 6:30 am. Ran about 60 miles with the conditions staying about the same but I was hungry. Stopped at a little restaurant after passing all the gas stations and fast food places. Seems this is the locals favorite place to congregate on  a Saturday morning. I sat beside six old, older than me, Farmers who were discussing weather and crops. They didn't care if the weather was rough just as long as they got rain. Crops in the state are in if they have irrigation and some in even without irrigation and still for the time being look like they are healthy.

I wanted to take pictures of another windmill farm this morning but it was to foggy to seen the tops of the windmills. I gave up on pictures.

I ran about 150 miles before I saw the sun. It now is shining and the sky's are clear with some white puffy clouds. I doesn't look  at all  like rain. I continued finishing my crossing of the great state of Kansas.

While crossing the Missouri, Kansas border on I 70 the sign welcoming you to the state was on a bridge so I could not stop in traffic to take my picture with the sign. I stopped in a shopping mall parking lot for lunch. I thought I still had some lunchmeat but it was not in the cooler. I made rolls with peanut butter and Ranch Dressing sandwiches for lunch. I am now out of lunch and dinner foods. I still have cereal and  milk to go with more peanut butter and rolls. But the number of meals eaten on the road is getting fewer and fewer because I should be home day after tomorrow.

Altogether I rode through Salinas, Topeka, Kansas City Kansas. Through Independence Missouri, Columbia and St Louis Missouri. I crossed into Illinois and stopped in Troy, Il for the evening. I saw several motels I am familiar with so decided this exit would be the one the end of the day. First I got gas. As I was pumping it I saw Congress Inn just beside the gas station. The sign said $39.95 for a single. I thought cheap motel sounds good to me. I registered and went into the  room. It looks  ok to me. The building is a little rundown and the parking lot has holes in the macadam but I am not interested in that.

Went to Cracker Barrel for dinner. Had the Chicken Livers. They were excellent. Back to motel and a nice hot shower  and I feel like a new me. Will be researching distances and places for tomorrow's  ride.

Enough for now..

TTFN