Hip, Hip, Ouch!

WARNING! WARNING! WARNING! WARNING!

If you don't like the sight of slightly paunchy middleaged blokes in underwear go no further!!!!!








Right hip about 6hrs after being taken off blackie by a short sighted Irishman.

Same hip, one week later after bruising came out, nice eh!

Have just come back from a week cruising on the River Shannon (keeping a sharp lookout for short sighted Irishmen), letters have started to arrive from the Insurance company and solicitors. Have got to make enquiries tomorrow regarding the bike being examined by an assessor. Took measurements today and find that left exhaust has been knocked down by about 1", don't know if the hanger has bent or perhaps the rear frame. Will certainly need new lower right front panel, new nose cone, mirror, brake lever, front mudguard, and complete rear panel (the one that goes around the bike below the seat and holds the rear light assembly). Will also need new panniers, new Givi Wingrack and fixing kit. My Arai helmet also needs replacing.

The panniers, wingrack and helmet alone come to about £900.00 before they even start looking at the bike itself.

I was just in the process of selling blackie to a mate as I have a nice new Silver Honda Blackbird waiting for me in a showroom in Manchester - picking her up on October 2nd. Will have to raise more funds now until insurance claim is sorted. Oh well, at least no-one was killed I suppose.

What a weekend!!!!!!!!!!!!

Friday 5th September, time to collect the bike from Southampton, so loaded with spare parts off I trot to Ronaldsway airport for my flight. Flight at 1200hrs, must get to the port by 1700hrs as the office closes then till Monday.

Weather atrocious, heavy, heavy rain - flight put back 4 times. Finally take off at 1730hrs (port office closed). Get to Southampton at 1820hrs, still raining, and as port office is closed and I will have to return on Monday, I catch a train to Birmingham in order to spend the weekend with my family. Train fare £106.00 return. GULP!!

Have a great weekend, parents anniversary and granddaughters 2nd birthday, so not all bad.

Up at the crack of dawn on Monday and catch train back to Southampton. Pay my money at the office and go to see bike. Boy, has she got dirty whilst she has been on the boat, covered in dust, still, we are re-united.

Get to work and fit new regulator and generator windings, press the starter and the battery is dead. Try jump starting her, she fires up, take of the jump start and she dies. Call RAC man!!!

He comes out and checks battery and tells me that the battery is not holding amps - new battery required. Question - was this the problem all the time, and I have I wasted £200 on rectifier and windings? I don't know but suspect that is so. Bugger!

It is now 1730hrs on Monday, and the RAC man runs me to a Honda dealer to get a battery - dealer does not have one - more bugger.

The upshot of this is that the RAC have now got to arrange a full recovery for me and the bike from Southampton to home on the Isle of Man, all for the sake of a battery.

I was originally booked on the 1800hrs ferry from Liverpool, but due to the problem I have changed the sailing to the 0215hrs from Heysham, so the recovery has till 0130hrs to get me up there

Recovery turn up and onto the truck goes Blackie, and off we go, getting to Heysham at 0100hrs - no problem, and onto the boat we go. Give the RAC a quick call just to let them now that I will arrive at Douglas at 0545hrs and they say a recovery vehicle will be waiting.

Arrive Douglas as expected, and guess what - no recovery!!!! More phone calls, will be a 2 hour wait as the message was not passed on! Decide to forgo recovery and go home to bed and collect bike at lunchtime after buying a battery.

Got up and purchased battery from the local dealer, back to port and fitted same, pressed starter - she lives!!!!!!!

Start to ride home, and get taken off buy a myopic idiot in a car doing a U turn to get to a parking space. I find myself sliding across the tarmac and tram lines on my head, shoulder and hip whilst the bike slides along on its side propped up on the panniers. "Sorry, didn't see you" says the driver, blaming a blind spot in his mirrors.

The upshot of all this is that I am now waiting to have the bike examined by the insurance company to see if it is repairable (hope it is as I was selling it to my mate) and I am left with whiplash, stiff shoulders and a grazed, bruised and swollen hip.

How do I do 8000 miles across America and 0.2 miles back on the Isle of Man? Answers on a postcard please.

Do Honda's Cry?

Jed looking all forlorn astride a broken Blackie (see below)

Fancy looking forward to joining Baltimore Police and then being given one of these to drive. You couldn't face anyone could you!

Got up this morning and we made our way to the dock in order to drop off Blackie. No problems getting there as I had had a dummy run yesterday, I also remembered the worse of the potholes and avoided them, clever eh.

Stopped at the dock gates to give information and get directions to Customs for clearance, get back on the bike, press the starter....................and......................nothing, well a few clicks but no spinning engine!!!!!!!!!! Ahhhhhhh!!!!!!!!! Remove the seat, fiddle with the terminals on the battery (Oh madam!) and...........................nothing!.

Reckon the rectifier has burnt out (part of the charging circuit) as I had one go on a previous Blackbird. Will start fine with a push or a jump start, but not under its own steam. Anyway, helped out by Port Security who gave me a jump start and got me to the customs shed where all paperwork was sorted within 10 minutes, off to the shipping shed where there was a long queue, so switched off engine. Mistake. Came out 30 mins later and ..............nothing. Kind man gives me a jump start, and I ride her to her allocated position in the shed to await her placement on the boat back to Southampton on 8th August. Left big note on top of tankbag to effect that battery is under seat and how to get seat off (have heard horror stories about people ripping off side panels to get at batteries - don't want that to happen)

Why did she pick that moment to stop running? Does she have feelings and knows that the trip is over? Is she sad that she is being left by myself and Jed? Who knows, but I will have a nice new rectifier to put on her when we are re-united in Southampton in a few weeks time.

Some numbers for you.

Total distance covered 7974 miles.

Money spent on petrol, $844.00.

Amount of petrol. 201 gallons US

Average mpg. 40 mpg US

Money on hotels and camping $3930.77 Including first week in New York.

Average cost per night $78.61 or 40 English pounds per night, don't forget, I am getting on and like a bit of comfort so didn't stop at any old place you know.

I have booked my train up to NY and a shuttle from Newark Airport to JFK for tomorrow, so this may be the last post till I get home. We will see!

Baltimore

Rode into Baltimore this morning in order to sus out where the bike has to go tomorrow. Came in via a Walmart where I managed to get my daughter a new digicam. Same make as the old one but probably updated. Not a bad price either, as you would expect. Just hope it works because I can't return it.

Weather was nice and hot today, but clammy, just like an English summers day, all sticky. In view of this I was riding in just my jeans and T shirt, helmet and light gloves (and still boiling). As I entered Baltimore the heavens opened, yet again Jed says, and as I was on the interstate I could not pull over to don waterproofs so had to ride through the storm for about 10 mins until we entered Baltimore proper and I could pull over. Glad I did pull over because the rain then fell with a vengeance but I had managed to get some shelter. Pulled on my dry waterproofs over my wet clothing and got back onto the bike, and, yes, the rain stopped and the sun broke out.

Found the road I need to take in the morning to the docks and had a recce. Boy, the state of these roads. If you think the prom in Douglas is bad, imagine it lifted up, scrunched together, then put back down. There were ruts from heavy lorries, potholes akin to mine shafts and ridges like the Himalayas. I was fearful at one stage of having the front wheel buckle or the pannier frames fracturing. I kid you not, it was bad. At least tomorrow I have only to do the trip one way, and its only 7 miles.

On the way to the hotel I was sweating up in my waterproofs so stopped and took off my jacket and continued, within 2 mins it started raining again!! As I was now in traffic waiting to turn into the road the hotel was in I could do nothing about it, so another soaking. When will it end?

Booked into my hotel in Baltimore, a short walk from the harbour and went for a stroll around the shops by the harbour. Very impressive I can tell you. I have also sighted the Baltimore Aquarium which also looks very good, so after dropping the bike tomorrow (so to speak) I will pass my time with a visit to there.

As soon as I finish this I will be booking my train for New York and JFK, so must go.

Dog Wash

This doggie wash was at the car wash, 6 bays for cars and this one for dogs. Good eh!

Walk dog up ramp onto tray and shampoo and set, not bad eh, and all for $5.00.

Horse drawn carriage in Gettysburg, one of about 8 in use all day. Note the bag at rear of the horse to catch his droppings. There was not a single deposit left anywhere on the carriage route so must work.

This is what they are talking about for the trammers in Douglas!

Battle tour.

Went on a coach trip of the Gettysburg battle sites today, with commentary. A 3 day battle condensed into 2 hours. As you can imagine, the surface was only scratched, but the appetite whetted.

The battleground has, wait for it, 1,300 memorials, statues or stones on it, I have never seen so much commemorations in my life. The whirlwind tour was very good (and like everything on this trip, excellent value) but it was only after visiting the new National Battlefield visitor centre that things fell into place. I mean, I did not even know what had kicked off the civil war in the first place and it was never explained. The visitor centre was free and the displays and video pieces were excellent, it really bought home not only Gettysburg, but the whole civil war.

PM I spent a little time giving the bike a little TLC before she sails back, in other words, she had a good wash in a car booth. I'm sure she appreciated it, although I will be glad when I can give her a good polish, she deserves it, she has been great, thanks Blackie!

Did my second ghost tour (there are 13 separate companies doing ghost tours, now what does that tell you) and this one was much better than last nights, and covered different ground and stories. Whilst standing listening to the guide, I was fascinated watching the little firefly's lifting off the ground, you could see little lights rising about 18 inches off the ground and then going out - or were they orbs?????

Also, whilst standing outside a building that was a field hospital during the war I saw 3 bats flying around, no one else seemed to notice, or if they did nothing was said.

For those interested in ghosts and the paranormal, the Most Haunted team is having a 6 hour live special from Gettysburg on October 10th, got that in your diary Marie? I will be able to say I've been there!

Saw a cool dog wash today, will post a photo tomorrow - keep you in suspense, dog lovers, bet you would like one at home when you see it!

Gettysburg

Jed about to address his (imaginary) troops on the battlefield.

He knew he was the right calibre for the job!

Final days are here folks. Have now covered just shy of 8000 miles far quicker than I thought I would, but I have seen almost everything I set out to see. So, I am making my way down to Baltimore now, and the bike will be dropped of on Monday morning. I will then catch the train up to NY and make to JFK where I hope I can arrange my flight. (don't see a problem but I've said that before)

On route to Baltimore I have stopped off at Gettysburg where the deciding battle in the American Civil War took place. The hotel I am in is on the edge of the "battlefield" and from the town I have to ride through it. I have never seen so many memorials in one place, from the road you can literally see hundreds, statues, blocks, stones and cannons, they are everywhere. I have booked to do a battlefield tour today at 11, it should be good.

Had a look around the town last night and it is steeped in atmosphere and history. Although the battle only lasted 3 days, every old building in the town seems to have a story to tell. Where I ate last night, (outside in the garden as the weather has broken) the building was used by snipers, and the wall is pockmarked with bullet holes. It brings history to life. Incidentally, last nights meal was one of the better ones I have all trip. The steak was sublime, almost up to the Cregs standard (but not quite). Don't know what it is about Americans, but they go on about steak but they don't seem to be able to cook it or serve best quality.

The restaurant served what they call period food, so before the meal I was served preserved water melon, which was unusually to say the least, and something in a little pot called crack spoon bread. To my taste, this was just like bread and butter pudding but without the fruit, tasted very similar at any rate and had a similar texture. I was too stuffed after the meal for pudding but I'm sure they would have been as good.

Did a ghost walk last night as well. The town seems to have about 10 different places doing ghost walks, the one I chose actually goes into an old orphanage where children were apparently locked in the cellar for being naughty. This could have been so better had the guide been a bit more interesting. He was boring!!! Still, I will pick another tonight, glutton or what.

Whilst walking through town I dropped into a music shop, as you do, and they were holding a Bluegrass jam session in the back (read 12 old men playing bass, banjo and guitar and warbling, and you get the picture) Not my taste but why not, it passed 3/4 of an hour and it was free!

So off for my battlefield tour. More to come.

Bit of a waste

Up and out yesterday morning from Keystone (mt Rushmore) and straight onto the road. Decided to call at the drug store, Wall, this seems to be a main attraction in South Dakota and adverts for it start to appear about 100 miles before you get there. The story is that a couple bought the drug store on the main road in Wall but over the 1st 5 years only managed to break even. On the verge of selling up, the wife of the owner was watching the traffic driving past on the hot dusty road and thought "why not offer free iced water", so that is what they did.

The put signs up on the highway on the approach to the store offering free iced water, and lo and behold, people started to flood in. The business boomed and grew and now covers about 3 blocks of this small town. I must admit it is a bit kitche and touristy, but it was packed. People come from miles around by all accounts.

From Wall, I crossed the interstate and entered the Bad Lands of South Dakota. It cost $10.00 to enter the state park and although it is very beutiful and stark, once you have seen one rock formation you have seen them all. Anyway, I also wanted to visit a site marked on my map as the site of the Wounded Knee Massacre. This entailed a 150 mile ride south, but would eventually put me back onto the US20. This route took me through a small township called Scenic, where I stopped for a cool drink as the temperature was up in the 100's which I found very draining. Talking to the lady in the one shop or Trading Post, I was told that the township had a population of only 10 people, how do these towns survive? Eventually reached Wounded Knee, part of the Sioux Indian reservation (read dump!) and what was there? - nothing, not even an information board, boy, was I pissed off. To cap it all, in front of me was some very, very black angry clouds. What to do? Try to outrun the storm. Shot off at warpe factor 10 and make a run for it. Could not quite make it though, and as I hit US20 the rain started. I know lets find a motel. I stopped at the first one I came to (it was 5.30pm by now anyway) and got a room for the princely sum of $35.00. As I got into the room the rain stopped and the sun came out and the temperature rose again, bugger!

Looking at my map I see that I am only about 60 miles from where I was 2 days ago, so one good day, one bad day ant total gain 60 miles.

Anyway, up bright and early today and I am going to put some miles in to try to reach an area where I can get a phone signal so that I can at least phone home, we will see. Have now crossed the line into the central time zone, so to cap it all, I have also lost an hour as well, only 6 hours behind UK time now.

Hope to get close to Sioux City today, so must close and hit the road agin and get a few more miles covered, crossing the Sandhills of Nebraska at the moment, long straight roads that seem to flow quite nice.

Oregan Trail

Road from the other day, you can see it twisting down and in the far distance there is a faint line running a few degrees off horizontal, that is also the road.(may need to save, and blow the photo up if you can in order to see the road in all its glory.)

Is this any way to transport your dog, look in the top box! This bike was in full sun at 10am on Sunday morning in Cody and the temperature was already in the 80's.

On of the carvings on the wall at Guernsey.Reads "The Oregan Wagon Train

Tex 1889
Serpa

Wagonmaster"

First,I know I have been a bad lad and not given you your State facts for Montana, well here goes,

Montana is the Treasure state, its bird is the Western Meadowlark (think we have had him before), tree is the Ponderosa Pine and the flower is the Bitterroot.As I am now in South Dakota you can have theirs as well,

South Dakota is the Mt Rushmore State (going there tomorrow), bird is the Ring Necked Pheasant, tree is the Black Hills Spruce and the flower is the Pasquflower, whatever that is!

Nebraska is next folks, bet you can't wait can you.

Anyway up, the past few days the bike has being playing up a little, just the occasional hiccup when sitting at a constant speed, a little miss fire, nothing wrong with acceleration I can tell you, still pulls like a train. I don't know what is wrong with her but my thoughts were along the lines of blocked air filter (all those flies that hit my visor must also be getting sucked into the filter, or, the altitude I have been riding at. I have after all been riding at 8000 ft and the plains, according to my GPS are at 5000 ft plus. With this in mind I found a Honda dealer in Caspar this morning, however they did not have a filter in stock,suprise suprise, however between us we took the air filter out and lo, it was filthy. Took the airline too it and reverse blew it and put it all back(had too take it all apart again before I could ride away as we had trapped the throttle cable - idiot). Anyhow, the upshot is she seems to be running clean again and better still there was no charge - so I tipped the lad $20, even though I did half the work - good 'aint I?

Rode down to Guernsey today - what no beach!, this is part of the Oregan trail where the covered wagons were taken across west in the 1800's, it is just by the real Fort Laramie. At Guernsey there is a cutting in the soft rock where the wagons have worn the rock over there many years of travel, this cutting is shoulder deep in parts, very impressive.

Nearby is also a wall of the same soft rock where the trailers used to carve their names, there are thousands of names carved and dated, spoilt a bit by all the idiots that have carved there names since, people will spoil anything.

Had an easy ride today, covered 275 miles but it felt a lot shorter, it was one of those days where everything flowed. I am now at Hot Springs and tomorrow I will do the short ride to Mount Rushmore, there is supposed to be a fantastic road up there that twists and turns everywhere, I have seen a postcard of it and it looks great. I will spend tomorrow night at Rushmore as there is a light show each evening and I do not want to miss it.

For all of you with an interest in my bum and the powder - I'm not sure if it works or not, bum still sore (it is actually my inner thigh where it meets the point where the seat edge is - thats disappointed a few of you hasn't it),well the upshot is I am back on the Vaseline - there!!!

Thats all for the moment folks.

Jed and his atrange ideas

Jed finally gets his wish and gets to try the seat of a Harley, his verdict, far better that the Honda, can we have one?



Jed about to tuck into some road kill. He tells me that it is something to do with the initiation ceremony for him to join the Hangman Motor Cycle Club. I really don' know where he gets these ideas from, I'm sure he must have some very weird dreams. I can't leave him alone for a minute.

Yellowstone Park

Have had a great couple of days at Yellostone Park, what a fantastic place, nothing like I expected. I expected quite rugged scenery but it is in fact gentle rolling hills surrounded in the far distance by some peaks. The thing that is interesting is the volcanic activity in the whole basin. I thing everyone knows about the geyser Old Faithful, a geyser that erupts about every 90 minutes or son, and sends a spout of boiling water somewhere between 100 and 200 ft into the air, well that is only part of the story.

The whole park is littered in volcanic sites, from numerous geysers, some bigger than Old Faithfull but not so predictable, to steam vents, to bubbling ponds to bubbling mud sites, what a variation. I was looking a a hillside today that is devoid of living trees, plenty of dead trunks though. On reading the blurb it states that in 1979 an earthquake set off a new geyser and also shifted quite a few of the trees from the hill, then at the start of this century about 7 yrs ago there were further quakes, hundreds over several days, and the ground that the hill is made up off super heated to about 200 degrees C and slowly cooked all the trees, eventually killing every one. Remember this is only 7yrs ago. Makes you think.

Within minutes of driving into the park I saw an bald Eagles nest in a tree only a matter of yards off the road, there was a no stopping policy within 1/4 mile of the tree but I pulled up before the zone and managed to take a few photo's and video, actually caught the parents doing a swop over. Then rode a further couple of mile and was stopped by a traffic jam with everyone out of the cars. I stopped and there were about half a dozed Elk just eating quietly right next to the road, including a cute little bambi.

Next thing were Bison, again right next to the road. These huge beasts cause more injury to people than any other animal in the parks. They are huge but can still run at 30 mph, how do you think Jed got that one through the wall.

Rode from Yellowstone to Cody today, and on the advice of a ranger in the park I took a slightly different route. This route took me up and over a pass on some of the best biking rides I have ever been on, 20 mph switchbacks, one after the other to the pass at 8000 feet, then a look back to see the road. Brilliant.

Am off to see the Rodeo tonight just out of town, a 2 hour show for, you've guessed, $15.00.

Shipping the bike back

I know it early to think of shipping the bike back but arrangements have to be made.

Have had to contact a shipping agent to book the bikes passage back and when I said I wanted to book back via Newark there was a sharp intake of breath. It was pointed out to me that customs at Newark are being awkward at the moment (don't I know it!!) and she suggested that if I could make it, it would be easier to sail back from Baltimore.

After consulting the maps I see that Baltimore is a little further south than New York and just north of Washington, so change of plan, I will be making towards Baltimore at the end of the trip. I will then have to travel by plane or train up to JFK as that is where my flight leaves from. Will have to look into this - will give me something to do during my lonely evenings!

Plains again, and fast roads

Left Boise yesterday to travel to Arco, the first town in the world to be lit by nuclear power, theres a fact for you. (the power supplied was enough to light 4 light bulbs!!!!!) Don't know why this town was chosen, its in the middle of nowhere and has about 300 occupants. Motel was dirt cheap as well, only $43 for the night - cheapest yet.

Anyway, I am crossing the plains once again, but in the opposite direction. The roads are great and straight, where else can I sit at 95mph for 1 hour solid and only pass a car every 10 minutes or so?

Stopped at a coffee shop in the middle of nowhere yesterday and met a lovely couple from a town just across from Seattle, Arnold and Sharon Fairchild. Chatted for about an hour, the coffee shop owner even locked up around us. Talked about quite a few things, UK, Isle of Man, the States, books and family, and of course my trip. Arnold even took a photo of myself and Jed, so our fame is spreading. Thanks once again to Arnold for the drink and the cake, it was very kind of you, and Sharon, when I get home I will bundle some Isle of Man stuff together and mail it across. You never know, on your next UK vacation you may squeeze a couple of days on the island into your itinerary. It was great to meet you (hope you read the blog now) and I hope you reunion goes well.

Stopped of at The Craters of the Moon national park in the afternoon and spent about 4 hours there (the visitor loop road is only 7 miles long as well) This park consists of part of the lava fields left over after consecutive volcanic activity. The reckon there is a weak spot in the earth crust and about every 2000 years the lava beneath the crust pressures up and it is enough for the lave to flow to the surface. Believe it or not the last eruption was just about 2000 yrs ago so they are monitoring the situation as they reckon it could all start flowing at any point in the coming centuries. It is a great place though, at one point I followed a path up an ash cone about 450 ft high, there were fantastic views across the expansive lava fields to the distant mountains, and as the temperature was about 100 degrees again the cooling breeze was very nice.

Even did a walk with a ranger to look at some caves that have been left by the lava flow.

Today I am in Idaho Falls (writing this in the library) and then I am off to Yellowstone for a few days. I am about 100 miles short so should be there in a couple of hours - hoping for wildlife!!!

Bought some "Anti Monkey Butt" powder the other day, supposed to prevent soreness from biking or sitting all day, its like a talc with added ingredients, will let you know how it goes (I'm sure you will be interested - not) Great name for a product, eh.

The Eagle has (nearly) landed.

Going so fast that I have left my bottom half behind!!

Jed rode this buffalo straight through the brick wall, a mean trick.

Had a great riding day yesterday, Monday, up through the woods and mountains and through the sage bush and juniper of near desert. What a mixture of scenery and what great biking roads, from fast flowing bends to long straights to tight and twisty mountain roads. Ended up at the John Day Fossil beds in Oregan. The visitor centre was a mine of information with thousands of fossils on display.

This area is unique in that the beds are so well preserved and are in distinct layers covering millions of years. It is from the year of the mammal so no dinosaurs and is one of a kind in that the mammals and the plant life have all been preserved and can be clearly dated. So far they have discorved 2000 new species of animal and plantlife. Went for a short walk into the fossil beds, but it was far too hot for me, approaching 104 degrees. Drank a litre of water and only walked 1 1/2 miles.

Was riding the bike through the area of the beds and came out from the shelter of a rock bluff on my nearside when a Eagle came from the cover of the bluff flying straight at me. This bird was massive, at least a 5ft wingspan. I ducked and he lifted and swerved and rose out of my way. I reckon we missed a collision by no more that 10ft. What an experience, reckon one of us needed clean underwear!!!

Beautiful sunny day again today with temepature up in 90's. Made my way back into Idaho today, again through sage bush and juniper, and have stopped for the night outside Boise, at least I can my laundery done today as I think I will be camping for the next 4 nights at least, I will also be out of phone contact again.

Tommorow I start heading towards Yellowstone Park and should be there Thursday. The upshot being I don't when I will be able to update the blog again.

If any of you speak to Rob Leyland, tell him I have heard the church bell sound and have watched the tumbleweed blow through a couple of little places today, places with a population measured in the 10's. Bet no one answers here either!!!!!!

On the move again

Well, July 4th was spent doing the tourist stuff in Seattle, went up the Space Needle to get some great views over the city - look it up on the net, its pretty good although I don't suppose everyone would like the outside lifts.

Last night I went to the baseball game here in Everett. The game was pretty good although it would have helped if I knew the rules! And those "fly balls" really shoot off in all directions. At least 3 balls were clipped skyward and landed in the stand where I was behind home base. People in the crowd actually watch the game wearing catchers gloves as any ball that goes into the crowd is for keeps.

The atmosphere was great, as you would expect from the Americans, and very patriotic. The whole event seems to revolve around the kids with free give aways throughout the game and between each innings there were small competitions with pretty fair prizes. A great family outing. The fireworks were also very good and would rival the TT fireworks for display and duration - and when you consider that this is a small baseball team and they have fireworks at every game this week (6) its a pretty good deal.

The only thing I still cannot get over is how much these people eat, it was constant grazing, Glen, you would love it here!

Today I am back on the bike and heading just a little further west to reach the true Pacific coast before I turn back and start heading East. I am heading for a small place named "Seaside" which is fairly apt I think. The GPS system shows the distance from here to be 239 miles so I had better crack on.

And for all of you that are interested in the state of my backside, here is a brief update. It seems OK for about 80 miles then the pain starts right up, it does not seem to be getting any better but seems to recover a little quicker when I get off the bike. Trying to keep it to 60 mile stints but that does not always work as I get carried away and end up doing 100 miles at a time, the last 20 in some discomfort - this is supposed to be a pleasure I believe.

Seattle - that must be the half way point.

Well, I have now covered 3300 miles and I have reached the outskirts of Seattle - well I'm in Everett actually, the home of Boeing.

Last night I camped out about 6 miles outside Coulee Dam town and rode into town for tea and the evening laser show which was at about 10pm. Whilst having tea it poured down with rain which was actually quite nice as it took the edge of the 103 degree temperature a little. At 10pm I made my way to the dam where they project lasers onto the dam wall face after upping the water rate a little to create the screen. The show last 35 mins and tells the tale of the creation of the dam, it was all pretty good and I'm glad I made the slight detour of route US2.

After the show I rode back to the campground to find that for some reason my tent had leaked, and as I was on a slight slope, I had nearly an inch of water near the front of the tent. I knew a dirty T shirt would come into use for something - a rain water mop! Luckily my kit had all remained dry, so after about 10 mins mopping out I could get into a dry sleeping bag.

Woke early, AGAIN today, and on the road at 7.30am. Started off riding in shirt sleeves as once again it was red hot even at this unearthly hour.

The ride today was great, some of the best scenery that I have seen on this trip. It started in the almost desert conditions near the Coulee Dam, progressed across wide plains where wheat was growing then dropped down off the plain into a valley down some beautiful biking roads, with eagles as company. After dropping down the valley it was into an area of orchards where apples, pears, plums, nectarines and cherries were growing. I then came to the alpine village at Leavenworth, which is styled on a Bavarian village, and is an absolute treat with its German style shops and shop keepers dressed in Bavarian costume. The backdrop to the village is also stunning as its backed by high mountains topped with snow. I then followed a cracking rapid filled river before climbing through the Cascade mountains before dropping down towards Seattle. Thrilling riding.

I also stopped at the "town" of Douglas, and guess what, it was closed! It consists of about 6 houses and one shop, which was shut. There was also an old decrepit fire engine - not really like Douglas on the island!

I arrived at Everett at 4pm today, and got talking to a local, I happened to mention that my bike needed an oil change, and he pointed me to a Honda dealer not 5 minutes away. I called in and spoke to the receptionist, and she took the bike right off me and the oil was changed within 30 minutes, together with a brake and chain check, and all for $65.00. Now that is what I call service, they even washed the bike as well. Tommy Leonard was never like this!!

Have now booked into the Best Western Hotel for a 3 night stay. My rooms get better, this one has even got its own private kitchenette, and the biggest, softest bed I have been in. The only downside is that I still cannot download my photos, so will have to try to find an internet cafe.

Tomorrow I intend to visit the Boeing factory for a tour and on Friday 4th July, I will be trying to take in a ball game in Everett.

I will keep you all posted.

Glacier National Park

Well, its Saturday 29th June and after being out of contact for a few days I finally found an Internet access point. In all places it is in a very small shop in the Glacier Park, Montana. Believe me its the last place on this earth I would have looked. I just wish I could now get phone reception but that is still a few days away.

I have blasted my way across the great plains and they are now behind me. The plains lasted a full 1200 miles, miles of absolute flatness, and three states!

Yesterday I started from Glasgow and rode to Chester - not that far then - in fact about 220 miles, not much different from England I would not have thought. We started the day at a local museum which was pretty good, even if I was the only visitor for 3 days. Jed made a further push for world domination when he put in a bid for a ex USAF jet fighter - well he had his photo taken with it! He also had his photo taken with John Wayne, he says he was one of his hero's whilst he was growing up - I think he makes these things up just to impress. I will post the photo when I can link my camera to a computer, probably tomorrow when I get to a hotel.

Weather wise yesterday was blue sky horizon to horizon but very blowy with a strong crosswind from the North which kept things interesting. I camped last night on a grassed play area on the edge of Chester - warning sign up to the effect that automatic watering commenced at 9am, so made sure I was off by then.

Today rode to Glacier National Park - one of the highlights of this trip for me. I stopped in a small town just before the park and was chatting to a bloke who asked what I was doing. I told him I wanted to ride the Road to the Sun within the park which climbs up over the Rockies, only for him to say that the road was still closed after heavy spring snowfall!! Bummer. They were hoping to get 29 of the 54 miles open by lunch today so will have to manage with the lower roads. HOWEVER, whilst on one of those lower roads within the park I SAW A MOOSE.

I saw a tour bus in lay by and a man looking up onto a small hill about 200ft away, I looked up and saw a moose's head dropping behind some trees in a hollow. Stop the bike, jump of and make my way back a little to see if I could see more of the hollow. After a 5 mins wait, out she comes into full view..........trailing behind her 2 small calfs.......wow!!!!! That alone has made the trip worthwhile. After watching her for a few minutes she wondered off behind a bank of trees, so onward.

Drive about 3 miles and crest a brow and there is mommy bears backside disappearing into the trees on the side of the road, but............2 cubs still on the road, again brake to a stop, but by the time I had grabbed the camera they had all gone into the woods.

I will be camping in the park tonight on the western side and will tomorrow try to do the part of the Road to the Sun that I am allowed, although there is apparently a 3 mile stretch of gravel!! I will see how I get on, I don't want to drop my bike otherwise I can't get home.

Will be stopping in a hotel tomorrow night so I hope I can get one with an Internet point so that I can add more.

Thanks to you all for reading, and the comments that you are posting, I enjoy reading them, and for your information, I think by backside would have fitted perfectly in the turtle shell!

I think the way I am going and the fact I will be taking tomorrow off the road as such I will be Seattle later this week, certainly by 4th July.

Lovely Weather

Awoke today to a lovely sunny day with temperatures expected to hit the high 70's, very nice indeed.

Clocks went back an hour as I crossed a time zone yesterday so in consequence I was awake at 6am instead of 7am. I don't know what it is but since I came over here I have not slept after 7am yet at home its usually about 9am unless I am on days. Can't be jet lag or anything like that, but I appear now to be stuck in a rut. I'm on holiday for Christ sake - I am in no rush to be out but consistently find myself on the road well before 9am - what is happening to me.

The idea today was to take a detour up the west coast of Lake Superior in order to see some wildlife but I'm afraid the roadworks over here had there own idea of a detour. I needed to cross a huge bridge across an inlet of Superior in order to get on the right road, however when I got there the bridge was closed for repairs - typical. The roadwork detour meant a 50mile ride west and then across another bridge and a further 50 mile ride back to a point opposite the start of the bridge, as the detour would add about 100 mile anyway it meant a further 200 miles with no real gain to my journey, so I thought - Sod it. So the top and tail is that I am still heading west on good "ole US2.

Stopped for a leg stretch at side of road and got chatting to a Harley rider, turns out that he was also a retired police officer with 30yrs service and he was travelling to his lakeside cabin in Minnesota - all right for some eh.

Forgot to tell you, yesterday I entered Wisconsin, and today I left it and entered Minnesota. I will have to give you the facts on these two states in my next blog as I do not have my map with me at the moment - bet you can't wait can you. Now don't get too excited, but I expect to cross into North Dakota tomorrow - so that will be three state facts to come. Who says life is boring?

The land today is as flat as a witches t*t but the roads remain pretty good, nice and wide and straight but the speed limit is still 60mph and no one seems to speed. The ex police man says the Police are strict with speeders with heavy fines as penalty, but having said that I have only seen one police car in 3 days, so there must be a better reason they don't speed - mind set perhaps!

I have stopped for lunch at the moment in Grand Rapids , a small town on US2. Pretty plain but it does have an internet cafe. Its a pity I did not have a small laptop as everywhere seems to have gone wi-fi, but can't have everything can we.

I have done about 140 miles today so will probally get in another 100 or so and then stop and try to find somewhere to camp. Mozzie free I hope, have just had to call at the drug store in town to get some cream for the ones I got during my bathroom break the other night!!

Ok, that's it for now, hopefully I can find a computer tomorrow.

Hope all is well across the pond and that you are not working too hard - daughters excepted as they are on holiday in Kos - enjoy.

P.S. the bike is running trouble free at the moment and fingers crossed - it stays that way!

Still Monday.

You would not believe the rain and thunder we are having here. Its now 2040hrs and the heavens have opened after another very warm day.

Just been watching the news and they are having tremendous problems with flooding across the great plains. The Mississippi, Cedar and Minnesota rivers have all burst there banks and river levels are at record heights. Something like 39ft above normal. Towns and cities in the area are under water with numerous roads closed. And guess what - it is all on my outward route. Will anything go smooth?

Been checking my map and have decided on detour. Will head to Detroit and head north through Michigan to a point where the Michigan and Huron Lakes meet, and will then turn west onto US2. In other words, I will do the homeward leg as the outward leg and come back across the great plains in a few weeks, hopefully the flooding will have receded a little by then and the ground will be drier for camping.

Its great to see your comments and I will try to move on a little now.

Thanks also for the birthday wishes, getting the bike back is probably the best present I could have had this year, and Lou, Loz, Jo and Glenn, the money is going on a steak tomorrow to celebrate.

Things Move On!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

At last its Monday 16th June and I have my bike. Yipppppeeeeee!!!! I can get going.

Spent yesterday (Sunday) at a local shopping mall, boy the clothes are real cheap over here, same price in dollars as in pounds back home, however the Mall did not have a book shop or a Dunkin Donuts (yet to get in one). I was hoping to waste time by looking around and reading in a book store but no such joy. So after about 3 hours at the mall it was back to the hotel in order to chill and watch TV. American TV is very strange, take the Simpsons for instance - the play the opening credits then break for an add break, there are a further 3 add breaks during the show and immediatly after then they go back just for the closing credits. We slag off our tv but at least we have a limited number of ads or none at all on the beeb.

Anyway, got up Monday and phone the shipping company but they had heard nothing from the inspection team, so I decided to take a bus ride back into Newark to re-visit the customs people I called on Thursday. Walked in and the customs man says "What you still doing here, you should have been away on Friday"

Explained that there was still a block on the bike and he grabbed my papers and went to speak to his supervisor, leaving me at the counter.

Some 3/4 hrs later he comes back and tells me he has been busy firing e mails all over the shop and that at last he has gotton the release sorted out. (sometimes it does help being ex police - I think) So........Hightail back to the hotel and grab motorcyle kit and grab a taxi to the port and sort the papers out.

Storage costs at the port due to customs messing about was only $23 so that was not too bad. Paid up and at last I can get to the bike.............only to find..............some bar steward has had it away with the registration plate!!!!! Can't trust anyone.

So, back to the hotel and fretting about where I can get a plate made. Spoke to the hotel janitor and explained the situation and he comes out with two pieces of clear perspex, reg number printed out on computer (Black on White I'm afraid officer) and slipped between the two pieces of perspex and drilled and screwed to the bike and I'm set. It will do till I can get one made up during the trip.

Anyhow, it is now 4pm on Monday so have decided to hit the road at about 8am tomorrow. Decided to modify the route and head straight to Chicago and do Niagara on the return leg, by doing that I calculate that I will only be about 2 days behind.

Next problem will be getting across the Mississipii river as it has burst its banks due to heavy rain over the last week although the weather is forecast better so I hope the roads will be passable by the time I get in the area. As they say, I will cross that river when I get to it - or not as the case may be.