First Sightseeing of the trip

Tuesday was a day for Lew and I to collect some sights for our bucket lists. Lew made his pilgrimage to Riverside Iowa to visit Murphy's Bar & Grill where the future Captain James T. Kirk will be conceived under the pool table in the year 2227.

We  also visited the National Motorcycle Museum in Anamosa, Iowa.

The best part of the day for me was spending time at the sight of the movie "Field of Dreams". I have wanted to go there ever since the movie was released. For the diehard baseball fan it is a must see. This is so much like my childhood memories.

Here are a couple of shots of Field of Dreams

Day one is done

Well day one is complete and the bike is still as intended; in one piece.  Day one was just riding. We made Dubuque, Iowa for the night (about 450 miles).

Left Ann Arbor about 8:30 am in a light rain. The rain stopped around Michigan International Raceway in Brooklyn, Mi. From there on we were dry.

Did a lot of slab riding. The highlight was a wonderful section of the "Great River Road" on the west side of the Mississippi south of Dubuque. It is route 52 along this section and well worth the ride; about 20 miles of flowing, sweeping curves. Great fun.

So It Will Be Four Years Later, Not One

Yes, I know it's been four years, not one. But I am on the verge of leaving once again for Alaska. Lew and I will leave on the morning of June 10  8, 2015.

I recently purchased a 2015 BMW R1200 GSA. Knock on wood, but there shouldn't be bike problems this time.

Here is a picture of our first nights lodging four years ago. Let's see where we end up the first night  this time.

Final going north entry

This is map of the United States with the states that I have ridden my motorcycle in highlighted with different colors.

States that are white are states that I have not had the chance to visit yet. Next summer I will be attempting my Alaska trip again and should make excursions into Montana, Idaho, South Dakota, Colorado, Iowa, and maybe some others too.

It's a wrap

Natches Trace Parkway
444 miles of good road
and sight seeing

 The last part of our trip included riding the 444 mile "Natches Trace". This is a National Park road similar to the Blue Ridge Parkway. It has limited access and limited facilities along the parkway. There are numerous side trips available that document the rich history of the area. The roadway itself is very well maintained and a very enjoyable ride (especially if the temps had been below 100 degrees).

 The final touristy stop was in Bowling Green Ky., to visit the National Corvette Museum. A pretty impressive place for the Corvette-istys in the crowd. There are lots and lots of cars on display including probably at least one of every year since 1953 (don't know this for a fact but it sure seemed that way)

Too bad they did't make this one.

Besides the regular production cars, there were race cars and many fantasy cars. This one really caught my eye.

The rest of the trip was just riding and enduring the heat until home. Even so, it was a great time despite not getting to Alaska. Alaska will be there next summer and all of our trip planning is already finished !!

Catchin' Up

   Spent the weekend with our friend Curt in Biloxi, MS. and now the three of us are working our way north and eventually back to Mi. While in Biloxi, we went to the Battleship Park where the USS Alabama is moored. You can tour the ship and easily spend 2 hours wandering all over.  What struck Lew and I the most was the determination and sense of duty the men who served on the Alabama. The ship is huge but the quarters are cramped, hot and dark. I have a new found respect and admiration for all the men who lived and fought for our freedom.  Thank a veteran when you can.

The heat continues in the upper 90's and low 100's. Lew, Curt, and I are making our way up the "Natchez Trace" and are spending the night in Kosciusko, MS. Tomorrow promises more of the same. It appears that we are bringing this wonderful weather with us, so get ready!

It's officially summer

The past couple of days have been riding days. No sight seeing Thursday or Friday.

Thursday morning, Lew got a text message from the guy (Puffer) he hiked the Appalachian Trail with. Puffer is in Panama City, FL. A quick change of route and off we were to sunny Florida. The ride down from Rome was just short of 400 miles.

Spent the night w/Puffer and then made it over to Biloxi yesterday. We made a stop at the Suzuki dealer in Biloxi for a rear tire for my LT. It just wasn't going to make it home. I knew this was a possibility when we left.

Okay. I said it was officially summer ... Thursday we saw triple digit temps and Friday was 99 degrees most of the day.  HOORAY for summer!!!!

Earlier, we rode the dragon. Killboy finally got July 5th photos posted and here I am.

Geoff - Tail of the Dragon: July 5, 2011

A Dam, A Ride, and the Heat

Leaving Fontana this morning, Lew and I made another stop at Fontana Dam. This time we went to the top of the dam and had some good views of the dam and the gorge downstream.

From there we rode up to Cherohala Skyway and had a great ride in good weather. This is one of my favorite roads. Here a couple of scenes from the Cherohala.

Lunch was at a small diner in Tellico Plains at the end of the Cherohala Skyway. After lunch, we headed south and I could watch the thermometer on the bike rise all the way to 95 degrees. We've stopped in Rome, GA. for the night and will continue toward Biloxi, MS. where we will turn north and head home.

BRP, CD, & ToD

Such a busy day and it seems like we hardly got anywhere.  We started in Hendersonville, NC where we left our friends Bill and Carol and ended up at the Fontana Village Resort in Fontana, NC. Not very far as the crow flies, but we packed in quite alot.

First we finish the Blue Ridge Parkway

Despite the damaged sign,
this is the highest point on the BRP

Then it's on to Clingman's Dome. It was a great ride up on a very nice road. Just as we got to the top the fog rolled in and the view was somewhat obscured. I did get to step down the Appalachian Trail for a short bit.
















Next, it was on to the Tail of the Dragon for the 318 turns in 11 miles (I lost count after 198 turns). I did get the T-shirt this time though.

From the Dragon it was on to Fontana Village Resort for the night with a quick stop at Fontana Dam.

Time to find something to eat ... see ya soon.

Catching Up

Well time to catch up on our travels and whereabouts. Friday we left Meadows of Dan, VA. and rode down to some college friends for the holiday weekend. We are now in Hendersonville, VA.

Somewhere along the BRP

The last four days have been sunny, hot and great. The ride down here on Friday included stops at Linville Falls and Mt. Mitchell.

Linville Falls

 Linville Falls was a nice quiet break from the hot weather and very nice. Mt. Mitchell is the highest peak east of the Mississippi River (6684 ft.). The views were spectacular !!

Oh my!

It's all downhill from here.