Tuesday, July 13, 2010
July 11th
July 11th
440 miles
Deadwood/Lead South Dakota-Cody, Wyoming
Again I can’t overstate the amazing back roads America has to offer. When one travels, and you find yourself in no particular hurry- take the time and discover what people and animals do outside of your own neighborhood.
Deadwood is extremely touristy and everything is based around Wild Bill Hicock and Calamity Jane. However, getting there from the crazy Badlands of South Dakota was quite adventurous.
Next stop: Cody, Wyoming
To travel here I again only used the I 90 sparingly.
Got off on rt.14/16 and drove through Roadrunner and Wile E. Coyote type surroundings. I also took Ruby to the test as well as myself in regards to just how much gas she can hold. The reserve light went on and there was noting in site…I mean NOTHING. On top of all that, it’s Sunday so nothing at all is open. However, as luck would have it and the remaining fumes held out just a tad longer than expected, I came across a man-less gas pump that only operates on credit cards. It also offers three different types of diesel fuel.
Hi-lights: When arriving in Cody, Wy. I checked into a super cheesey/awesome motor lodge called the Uptown Motel. Pulled my bike up to two other bikes and it was there I met Kevin and John from Canada. We drank beer, talked bikes, politics, hockey, and decided to go on an amazing journey the following morning. They had just spent the last two weeks riding down from Calagery and Vancover to New Mexico. Plus the owners of the motel gave us a six pack of Sam Adams that another guest had left behind. We never even left the front porch area of our motel all night.
440 miles
Deadwood/Lead South Dakota-Cody, Wyoming
Again I can’t overstate the amazing back roads America has to offer. When one travels, and you find yourself in no particular hurry- take the time and discover what people and animals do outside of your own neighborhood.
Deadwood is extremely touristy and everything is based around Wild Bill Hicock and Calamity Jane. However, getting there from the crazy Badlands of South Dakota was quite adventurous.
Next stop: Cody, Wyoming
To travel here I again only used the I 90 sparingly.
Got off on rt.14/16 and drove through Roadrunner and Wile E. Coyote type surroundings. I also took Ruby to the test as well as myself in regards to just how much gas she can hold. The reserve light went on and there was noting in site…I mean NOTHING. On top of all that, it’s Sunday so nothing at all is open. However, as luck would have it and the remaining fumes held out just a tad longer than expected, I came across a man-less gas pump that only operates on credit cards. It also offers three different types of diesel fuel.
Hi-lights: When arriving in Cody, Wy. I checked into a super cheesey/awesome motor lodge called the Uptown Motel. Pulled my bike up to two other bikes and it was there I met Kevin and John from Canada. We drank beer, talked bikes, politics, hockey, and decided to go on an amazing journey the following morning. They had just spent the last two weeks riding down from Calagery and Vancover to New Mexico. Plus the owners of the motel gave us a six pack of Sam Adams that another guest had left behind. We never even left the front porch area of our motel all night.
Saturday, July 10, 2010
July 7th-10th
The miles keep racking up. I keep telling myself the first 1,000 miles to be inducted into the Iron Butt membership, really ain't all that.
July 7th
Total Miles- 715
Michigan-Minnesota
-Rode through Michigan and thought it would never end. I mean come on it's a peninsula state. However, it kept on going and going, as did I. This was the first real break in the heat wave of 2010. So, in celebration I treated myself to the mystery spot http://www.mysteryspotstignace.com/ Have you ever been? What are your thoughts? let's compare notes.
-Got a righteous call from Derek T. who is currently residing in Minneapolis, Minnesota. It was then that I pointed Ruby south and heading across some amazing rolling hills of Wisconsin and Minnesota for the most part and then hopped on the Interstate to make up some time.
-Meet up with Derek and his crew and had some rather decent sushi and a frosty cold one. God knows I needed it after that run.
High Light- Derek and his wife Steph were going to the movies and as much as I would have liked to have joined them, I had to decline. Upon finding Derek's house I rode in the driveway and noticed Nick (Steph's son) in the window. Unfazed Nick never took his eyes off the computer monitor. I knocked on the door, and introduced myself. He never uttered a word. I found the room Derek described to me, laid down and feel into a deep slumber.
July 8th
Total Miles- 0
-Spent the whole day chilling with Sir D.
-Mickey's Diner in St. Paul for breakfast. The greatest omelets on this Earth. The line cook uses something from the deepest parts of the ocean where the fish have built in head lamps and windmill to communicate love and affection. It's an old school diner the way they were and always should be. The waitress Mary and I became good friends rather quickly, as she gave me shit within the first 15 seconds of my ordering. So, I had to go Brockton on her. Needles to say we clicked.
-Indian food for dinner at Gandhi's. Amazing Saag Paneer-8.5 out of 10
-Cocktails at Town Talk. This place make-up most if not all of their own cocktails. Some were super-cool tasty. Others not so much. Would I go back there again....Hell yeah!
High Light- I got hammered and not so hung over.
July 9th
Total Miles- 490
Minnesota-South Dakota
I mentioned not so hung over. That in itself still leaves room for somewhat hung over. Needless to say, I had a late start. Hit the road at about 11ish in the morning, and dragging.
-Stopped for lunch and had a fish sandwich and banana cream pie.
Rode through out the day and stopped when the moment felt right and took some pics. Went through the Little House on the Prairie town. Looked for bitchy Nelly, as she was the one I always had a little secret crush on when i was a kid. No where to be found.
-South Dakota's back road are amazingly beautiful. Every one works and they work hard. Wheat fields and grain mills abound.
High light- It got dark and the deer were coming out for the evening. Looking for a place to camp, or check into for the night I stopped into a gas station/casino/restaurant/bar, I purchased an apple and asked the young sales girl/cashier/bar tender if she may know of a place to camp. Her response was low, as she didn't want any of the other's at the bar to hear. She said, "It's illegal, but you can set up you tent in the town park. No one will bother you. Plus they have a public restroom." So, I did.
July 10th
Total Miles-360 (I think...forgot to check at the end of the day)
Still in South Dakota
-Badlands National Park
-Wall's 103rd anniversary parade
-Sturgis
-Deadwood
High Light- The Black Hills of SD= Crazy-ass twisties.
I'll add more later. What shall tomorrow bring?
Spending the night in the Deadwood area
Tuesday, July 6, 2010
July 5th and the 6th...
July
Brockton, Ma - Vineland, Ontario
Total miles- 556
Temp. Fuckin' too hot!
Left the house at 6:20AM and started the adventure of Summer 2010.
The day went rather well until the temp sored through the gosh darn roof. Rode out on I 90 until I got out of Mass/NY. It's not going to be my general rule to stay on highways all the time, however I really needed to get away from the familiar.
Leave it to the kid to start his cross country odyssey during a full all encompassing HEAT WAVE. The mornings are best to ride, as well as the evening hours. Area's have been reporting record breaking temperatures...
Well, once I landed on Ontario I made a contractual visit to those famouse falls- you know the ones. Designed for ladies and lovers. So, I looked on the Canadian side from afar. Felt safer that way.
Hi-light moment of the day: Having myself a cold beverage of choice at the hotel lounge. Start talking to some super friendly Canadians (which is like shooting fish in a barrel) and we're talking motorcycles, music, and yes of course....hockey. Well, long story short; Doug and Randy brought me to Lakeside Park. Know it? anyone...hmmmm? http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SZ8QouXaPDU
Super rad time. Those guys are super cool and true RUSH fans!!! Randy use to watch Neil practice playing drums so back in the day. TRUE STORY, Canadians don't lie!
July 6th
Vineland, Ontario - Gaylord, Michigan
Total miles- 460
Temp. Still too fuckin' hot!
The days have already started melding into one super long-ass day. Today, I sometimes had to stop and recalculate. It's hard to believe that it's only day number two! There are parts in the day all one can really do is sit in one of the Great Lakes....so I did.
Hi-light of the day: sat, swam, and submerged for several hours today in Lake Huron
Brockton, Ma - Vineland, Ontario
Total miles- 556
Temp. Fuckin' too hot!
Left the house at 6:20AM and started the adventure of Summer 2010.
The day went rather well until the temp sored through the gosh darn roof. Rode out on I 90 until I got out of Mass/NY. It's not going to be my general rule to stay on highways all the time, however I really needed to get away from the familiar.
Leave it to the kid to start his cross country odyssey during a full all encompassing HEAT WAVE. The mornings are best to ride, as well as the evening hours. Area's have been reporting record breaking temperatures...
Well, once I landed on Ontario I made a contractual visit to those famouse falls- you know the ones. Designed for ladies and lovers. So, I looked on the Canadian side from afar. Felt safer that way.
Hi-light moment of the day: Having myself a cold beverage of choice at the hotel lounge. Start talking to some super friendly Canadians (which is like shooting fish in a barrel) and we're talking motorcycles, music, and yes of course....hockey. Well, long story short; Doug and Randy brought me to Lakeside Park. Know it? anyone...hmmmm? http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SZ8QouXaPDU
Super rad time. Those guys are super cool and true RUSH fans!!! Randy use to watch Neil practice playing drums so back in the day. TRUE STORY, Canadians don't lie!
July 6th
Vineland, Ontario - Gaylord, Michigan
Total miles- 460
Temp. Still too fuckin' hot!
The days have already started melding into one super long-ass day. Today, I sometimes had to stop and recalculate. It's hard to believe that it's only day number two! There are parts in the day all one can really do is sit in one of the Great Lakes....so I did.
Hi-light of the day: sat, swam, and submerged for several hours today in Lake Huron
Sunday, July 4, 2010
Tomorrow is the Day.
Very nice 4th of July today.
Went in to Medford, Ma and spent the day with John Shayeb and his cast of characters.
Bike is all packed and ready to go.
Heading off to bed soon.
Crazy ass heat, not looking forward to it.
However, I believe I shall be riding out of it.
First stop Buffalo, NY.
I may even try and get a little beyond into the Canadian territory if possible.
Stay tuned.
Went in to Medford, Ma and spent the day with John Shayeb and his cast of characters.
Bike is all packed and ready to go.
Heading off to bed soon.
Crazy ass heat, not looking forward to it.
However, I believe I shall be riding out of it.
First stop Buffalo, NY.
I may even try and get a little beyond into the Canadian territory if possible.
Stay tuned.
Thursday, July 1, 2010
Monday the 5th the journey shall unfold
Ok, today is only the 1st of July, 2010 and I have been trying to tie up every and all lose ends prior to the start of my cross country expedition. The bike just got an oil change and a once over to inspect all gages, fluid levels, and tire pressure. According to my friend Scott in Whitman, Ruby is more than ready.
The feeling that encompasses my thoughts and body now could be compared to that of a child five days before Christmas. Several days before school gets out for the summer, and the wonderment of what explorations and new discoveries wait to be found around the corner. Oh snap! That already came about, as my last day of school was the June 18th.
More to come kids.
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