Grand Canyons

Saturday morning we decided to part ways, Amber going 80 miles east to Mesa Verde and me going off to do my own exploring then meet up Mexican Hat, UT.  Before I pulled out of the campsite the couple hosting the site gave me some good routes to follow. So I went to see the Natural Bridges, then followed 261 thru Valley of The Gods. There was three miles at the end of this 26 mile stretch that switch-backed thru a canyon that was all gravel and downhill. Pretty intimidated, I went anyway, because my other option was to turn around and back track, and we all know I am much to stubborn to do that. At the end you always feel victorious that you followed through  and I did. Valley of the Gods is a must for anyone traveling along hwy 191. Soon after I entered Mexican Hat, where we had planned to meet and stay at the recommended San Juan Inn, I was calling Amber to let her know that I would be meeting her at the South Rim (Grand Canyons).  Mexican Hat was not all that it was cracked up to be and I would of rather spend my Saturday night with my friend Tank in the Canyons. Tank is guiding tours with the National Geographic for the summer.  So on my way there, I did get to see Monument Valley, a sand storm and met a guy riding his bicycle from San Francisco and load a 18pk of beer on his bike to ride uphill for 5 miles. Now that guy is my hero. Upon arriving to Tank's home, he showed up 20 minutes later and took me and a couple of beers and off we went to see the sunset at Grandview point. Perfect. When Amber got here a couple hours later, we all caught up, met his roommates and drank beer, played guitar, and sang until we all passed out voiceless. Tomorrow is a big day for hiking and adventure! We will sweat it out.

Moab, UT

A couple of days ago leaving Boulder,Co. The weather took an interesting twist. The higher the elevation toward Vail, Co. the colder it got as expected at 10000ft. But I was not expecting 38 degrees and and snowing. I knew if I pushed thru it couldn't last long. It was moments like this that you find your inner strength and know you will be better for it. We got to Moab and took the scenic byway in thru 128. Beautiful. We followed the Colorado River and rock formations trying to find a campsite early and three hours later at nine o'clock we found one. It would of sucked to come all this way to Moab and slept in a hotel. It would of been like cheating on your husband . Guilty as shit.  Amber's car is out of the question for a nightcap because we have a small kitchen, clothes, camping accessories, and whatever else we have collected. However, it worked out and the next day we went into the Arches National Park and hiked to the Delicate Arch. That hike was a little hard but when you reached the top it was yet another moment that we both just wanted to cry. Met a cute boy up there named Corey that walked down with us. But whatever, we are off to camp one more night in the Canyonlands only 60 miles away. 

Boulder, Colorado rocks!!

Before leaving Dodge City, Ks. (which smelled like a bad fart, because of the meat and fertilizer plants)we decided that we must go to the Wyatt Earp Museum. It was a teacher hall of fame museum as well. This nice lady in her middle 80's, Euela, gave us a tour and decided she wanted to adopt me. lol. Well we headed out north on 283 so we could get back to an interstate thru western Kansas. 300 more miles thru Kansas did not happen fast like the first 2 days, I was wearing out. I must have had three epiphanies driving that long stretch of interstate with nothing but poisoned farmlands.I did meet this wonderful lady in her mid fifties named Vicky, from South Carolina. She pulled up behind me in her Suburban and asked if I was driving all the way from Tenn. by myself on the bike. Anyway,  we both have been traveling for 3 days straight and it was nice to talk to someone. We hung out at a picnic table at this gas station in Mid America, KS. for about 20 minutes and she told me all about herself and how she was traveling to Steamboat, Co. to stay with a friend that had lost her husband 8 months ago. She was quite a free spirit and nothing was gonna get her down long.

When we drove into Denver and I saw the Rockies I must say it made me a little emotional. I made it. 1500 miles. 3 days. I drove thru 2 dust devils (scary). Sometimes when things are hard it makes what's good, magical. We missed 2 tornadoes by an hour so there was some heavy winds, but it was as if God moved the clouds out of our path and gave us a little sunshine thru the clouds. It was dark all around us. We went on to Boulder to meet up with Amber's friend Paul at Boulder Brewing Co. where he brews beer and him and his friends made me feel like a rockstar. They were buying us beer and I told them I couldn't drink to much because I had to ride to where we would be staying for the night. So the boys suggested that I park it in the warehouse where they bottled the beer behind the restaurant and Dottie the Dyna crashed at the brewery for the night and I continued to get a little bit intoxicated. We stayed at Paul's friends house, John, at the top of a mountain with a hot tub. They both were the perfect hosts. Tonight we are staying and healing with Paul and his girlfriend Kristy, then off tomorrow for Moab, UT. How lucky could we be, and so very grateful.

Well, we are off! Me on the bike, Amber in her car, we made it 550 miles the first day and camped in the

 Ozarks (Mark Twain National Forest) at a place called Twin Creeks. The weather was good, but thunder stormed that night.  I really thought today would be even more exhausting, but again, we were lucky enough to have perfect weather. Every part of my body that aches is worth it so far, the ride out weighs the pain. 1200 miles in two days. Hwy 54 and 400 West thru Kansas is like the autobahn. I actually went 110 a few times. It is completely straight with much farmland. Very beautiful and better than we both thought it would be. It's all about perspective. Tonight we are staying in Dodge City, Kansas with the high hopes of finding karoke, but instead found a cool place called Central Station, had a few beers with our bartender Jamie (who was awesome) and is calling it a night. Boulder, Co. here we come!

The Beginning

 Well the time is coming. I can't believe it is really here. I have wanted this trip since I was 13 yrs old.  Going around the United States on my motorcycle. Everyone dreams about taking off, but responsibilities weigh in on us and most of us end up saying  something like, "I've always wanted to do this or that, but I need to do things around the house,  pay off bills, or can't get time off work." We never get caught up, because  all of this is always going there, it's life. So one day we all wake up and ask ourselves the same questions we all eventually ask, "where did it all go, what have I done, where have I been?"....I hope I have good answers to these.  I am definitely scared of the unknown and of letting go, but I'm more scared of not living before dying.

        I guess what started this whole fascination with motorcycles was my brother coming home with one and my grandmother flipping out, of course I've wanted one ever since. Well I got one at the age of 24, saving tip money as a bartender at a local bar while in school. Since then, I sold that one and have collected two more. A 1989 Harley rat rod sportster that has caused a lot of blood and tears, literally, but very personal. And  a 2009 Dyna Super Glide,  that is for this trip. I didn't want the worry of being broke down and alone. And it still could happen but not as often as it would be if I took Betty(the 89). The itinerary has varied in my journal since I was 13,  but its still includes the bike and 6500 miles. My boss was not to thrilled about me taking a month off work, but since has been extremely cool and supportive. 

       My friend Amber, who I met at February, moved here in July from Bozeman, MT.  She is a high school biology teacher and has two months off this summer. When I told her about what I was planning on doing in June, she was instantly interested in driving her car and meeting me in different destinations. The two of us meeting almost seemed kismet.  We share very similar agendas and have enough free spirited natures that we could make this work for a month. So we will be off June 7th early in in the A.M. Our first stop being Memphis, for Graceland of course. Who doesn't love Elvis.  Well if you don't, you don't count.  The good thing is, we can do whatever and go wherever we want for a whole month. So, I will keep posting for those that are interested in our journey and as well as safety reasons so our friends and family will know where we are.  Peace and Love.