Motorcycle Trip 2009 "Go West"

Motorcycle Trip Blog Accounts

Blogging is still somewhat new to me, trying to figure out what format to use, how to get things so it makes for easy reading, and get the photo layout looking half way decent. Now that I started this Michael has started a blog also. I will link his blog site from my page when his is published. Eva said to me that I have just created a monster. Come on Steve your next what are you waiting for. This is my second blog and my hopes are on my 2010 motorcycle trip that I will try and sit down every night or two and make an entry of the day’s activities so everyone back home can log in and see our daily adventures RIDE ON.

After all the planning and hoping that the routes that I planned were going to be good, the day finally arrived. I’d spent the last few days trying to figure out what to bring, and what to leave behind, with the very limited storage space available to me. Though time would show that I often guess wrong in that regard, I was comfortable with my selections. My Wing was finally loaded up and ready to go, with a fresh set of tires, brakes, oil and filter change. I had all of my electronics: Cell Phone, IPod, Digital Camera, Video setup and a GPS. All my clothes crammed into my trunk mounted luggage bag, one saddle bag stored my rain gear, visor, tools, and maps. The other saddle bag stored my riding gear, leather jacket, chaps, hood, and gloves. On the back seat I stored my tent, sleeping bag, and air mattress. The night before our departure, my brother Michael arrived from Tennessee to my house. We got together for some pizza and cold beverages that evening. We were all on adrenalin rushes and excited to get going. We got up on Saturday morning and departed from my house.

6/19/09 Friday

Michael departed Tennessee to meet Steve and me at my house in Illinois for the start of our 2nd Annual Motorcycle Trip. Eva got home from work and Eva, Samantha, Michael, and I got together for some pizza and cold beverages that evening at Papa’s Pizza in Woodridge, Illinois. The food and service was wonderful like always. Thank you Sandy, Andrew, and the entire Papa’s staff.

6/20/09 Saturday

We all departed from my house in Lockport, Illinois around 6:30 A.M and arrived at Sioux Falls, South Dakota KOA that evening. We set up camp and then went to dinner. We asked the KOA caretaker where there was a decent place to sit down for a good dinner. He gave us directions to place in town and we went to locate it. Finally after a little riding we found it. We walked into to the restaurant and knew that we were out of place and under dressed to say the least. We looked at the menu, and decided that we did not think that this was a place for us to eat. Just as we were getting ready to walk out a man came up and said come on in I will give you a free appetizer. We still decided not to eat there. So we checked with GPS Jill for another place to eat, followed her directions to a Ruby Tuesday only to find that it was no longer there. So once again we moved onto another place and finally were able to find a place and we got to sit down and eat. We got back to camp and was sitting around talking, when a lady from the motor home across the road from us came strolling over. She said that her and her husband made some Jiffy pop, and they would never be able to eat it all and wondered if we would like some. Michael said to her in a kidding way, sure you said to your husband that those bikers will probably eat anything. We thanked her and she went back to her motor home. We talked with the people in the camp on the one side of us some, but the people camping on the opposite side of us was not very friendly, I don’t recall them saying a word to us at all.

6/21/09 Sunday

Got up, departed Sioux Falls, South Dakota KOA and continued on our journey. We stopped in Wall, South Dakota just like probably every other traveler to see the "Worlds Famous" one and only Wall Drugs. We found a parking place and walked around there for a while. We then departed

Wall Drug, fueled up and got back on our journey. We decided to stop at Rapid City, South Dakota KAO for the night. This was the first time we decided to see if there was a cabin available. We got a cabin instead of a tent site. A monster had just been created. We unpacked the motorcycles, put up the tents to dry out from the previous night’s rain. I happened to check my phone and saw that I had a few voice mails. Come to find out Larry from work wife Sara had passed away from a long battle with cancer. My thoughts and prayers to Larry and his family also two other guys from work were injured in separate off duty accidents. Bob fell off of his roof and busted up his leg and Terry landed wrong when he went sky diving for his birthday and busted up both legs and ankles. My thoughts and prayers go out to them also for a speedy recovery.

6/22/09 Monday

Got up, broke camp, donned our rain gear, departed Rapid City, South Dakota KOA and continued on our journey. Along the way we ran into construction traffic on the Interstate, the lanes merged into one lane each way in the east bound lanes. We were riding along, it was cold and damp and I was getting rain up my sleeve. So I was messing with my glove cuff trying to get it over my jacket sleeve. The next thing I knew was that my motorcycle died, I was trying to figure out what was wrong as I started to pull off on the side of the road where there was really no shoulder, Steve says you can’t stop here I replied that I have to because my motorcycle died. I ended up stopping on the muddy shoulder. Stupid me, I didn’t realize that I accidentally hit the kill switch with my thumb DA! Boy my bike is pretty muddy now from stopping in that mud. I guess you would have to of been there. We got back on the road and shortly after that the construction zone ended. We then stopped at the entrance ramp of the next exit to doff our rain gear. While getting out of our rain gear an SUV pulled up in front of us. Four occupants of the vehicle exited and hurried back to us, we did not know what was going on, the next thing we knew they were taking pictures of us like we were celebrities or someone of importance. One of them asked Michael if he would stand still so they could get a picture of the back of his shirt. We then talked for a couple of minutes and they explained that they were from Italy and came to the United States for a coast to coast vacation. They started in Florida and were on their way to Yellowstone before ending in San Francisco, California where they will depart to go back to Italy. We did not think to give them our contact information so we could see if we could possibility get copies of their photos. We then saddled up and continued our journey.

We spotted this pickup truck on a frontage road pulling a cattle trailer. He had a dog in that back of his truck and the dog was walking from side to side. We were on the interstate and could barely keep up with this pickup. I was amazed that the dog was able to stay on the toolbox without falling off. Soon we would be getting off the Interstate and heading over to Red Lodge, Montana via Big Horn Canyon. What an awesome road just like many others. We arrived at Red Lodge, Montana KOA that evening. Here is that monster again, we decided to get a cabin once again. Boy are we spoiling ourselves. We unpacked the motorcycles and went into Red Lodge for dinner. We ate at a neat little bar in town, the food and service was good. We then went back to camp. sat around the picnic table eating some nuts and had a couple of cold beverages while we chatted.




























6/23/09 Tuesday

Got up, departed Red Lodge, Montana KOA and continued on our journey to "Bear Tooth Pass and Chief Joseph Highway". Wow Bear Tooth Pass and Chief Joseph Highway was another Awesome ride you would have to experience it yourself to really appreciate it.





I don’t think one really realizes how many wonderful roads there are. We continued on our journey through Cody, Wyoming and onto Gillette, Wyoming where we decided to get a hotel for the night. We checked into a hotel and went to dinner at Pokey’s Smoke House in Gillette. We left the restaurant and were sitting at the stop light in the turn lane, behind a police car, wondering if I was going to get stopped because I had a headlight out. We were probably about four cars back from the intersection and the light had just turned yellow; the next thing I heard was a loud exhaust, It was coming from a pickup truck speeding upon my right and went right through the traffic light probably not realizing that there was a squad car sitting in the turn lane. The next thing I knew was here goes the squad after that pickup truck. I guess that solves my problem wondering if I am going to get stopped.


6/24/09 Wednesday

Got up, departed from Gillette, Wyoming and continued on our journey. We rode to Devils Tower, Spearfish, Spearfish Canyon, Deadwood, Sturgis, the Honda dealer for a head light bulb, and then onto Rapid City, South Dakota KOA. We stopped at Devils Tower and walked around.

Have you ever heard the term stop and smell the flowers, Michael took in one step further, he stopped and smelled the tree?
Look a Moose - obviously that guy was from the city and does not know what Bullwinkle looks like. We made it to the KOA campground but this time we had to pitch tents since there were no cabins available. I attempted to change my highlight bulb with the assistance of Michael and believe me it was a PAIN. We then went to dinner at the Golden Corral and we saw the Geico Caveman having dinner there also. We finished our dinner and then went to Wal-Mart to get some water and fruit for the next day’s ride and happen to see Elvis at Wal-Mart. This must be the trip for celebrities being on vacation too. Finally we got back to the KOA campground, started some laundry, and had some cold beverages while sitting in the hot tub until it was lights out.




6/25/09 Thursday

Got up, had breakfast at the campground and departed for a day trip to Badlands National Park,







Continued on to Keystone, South Dakota stopped for lunch at an Old Fashion Soda Shop and scene a group of ladies from the Red Hat Society.We then continued on to Custard State Park,


Needles Highway, and Iron Mountain Highway, and then back to the KOA campground. We went out to dinner at T.G.I. Friday’s in Rapid City. We then returned to the KOA campground for the evening, we enjoyed the pool and hot tub while having a cold beverage.

6/26/09 Friday

Got up, packed the motorcycles and departed Rapid City, South Dakota KOA and continued on our journey. We arrived in Albert Lea, Minnesota KOA for the evening. We unpacked the motorcycles and Steve and I was sitting there waiting on Michael so we could go to dinner. The next thing I knew was my cell phone was ringing, I looked at it and it was Michael calling, I thought for a minute and could not figure out what he was doing. So I answer it and he said to me hey, I am in the bathroom and there is no toilet paper. Can you go to the front office and get some. I laughed and said I would so when I went to the office and told the girl that we need paper in the men's room she said that she would get someone to take care of it. I said you don’t understand my brother is in there and needs it now. She handed me a roll that was the size of a spare tire. I walked into the bathroom and said loudly is someone in need of toilet paper. Michael finally showed up at the cabin, we saddled up and went into town for dinner at the Green Mill Restaurant and Brewery. The food and service was very good. We returned to the KOA campground and had some cold beverages and chatted before calling it a night. There was a storm that rolled in that night. We would not stay at this KOA again.

6/27/09 Saturday

Got up, packed the motorcycles and departed Albert Lea, Minnesota KOA in between storms and continued on our journey. We were fortunate enough to have the storm to our backs for the remainder of our trip. We arrived at my house in Lockport that afternoon. Michael wanted to stop and get an Italian beef sandwich so we stopped at Fat Ricky’s in Romeoville. We got to my house unpacked the motorcycles and later that evening we went out to Papa’s Pizza in Woodridge for dinner and some cold beverages.

6/28/09 Sunday

Got up, Michael packed his motorcycle and departed for Calhoun, Tennessee. He got to Champagne, Illinois and his motorcycle started making noise he thought that he blew a rod. He pulled over and then realized what had happened. He then continued now on his LOUD journey. He arrived home that evening.

This AWESOME trip has now come to an end. Now we can only reminisce and start planning for 2010.

Ride Safe

Motorcycle Trip 2008 " West Coast"

Motorcycle Trip Blog Accounts

I have never blogged before but in my original trip plans I was going to try and sit down every night and write a journal of the day’s activities. That didn’t work so well because, most everyday was a long day, Ride sun up to sun down, get to camp, setup camp, eat dinner, shower, go to bed, and up early the next morning to brake camp and get back on our journey. Don’t get me wrong, it was a totally awesome trip, it was most of ours first big trip. I definitely learned some things; I definitely know at times that the weather kicked my butt from hot to cold. I knew going across Nevada was going to be hot and I was somewhat ready for it. The coast I expected to be warm and clear. I figured its California how it can’t it be nice, wrong. But all said ask me to do it again and I will be right there, but just change a few minor things and RIDE ON.

After all the worrying, planning and wondering what my first long motorcycle trip is going to be like, the day finally arrived. I’d spent the last few days trying to figure out what to bring, and what to leave behind, with the very limited storage space available to me. Though time would show that I often guess wrong in that regard, I was comfortable with my selections. My Wing was finally loaded up and ready to go, with a fresh set of tires, brakes, oil and filter change. I had all of my electronics: Cell Phone, IPod, Digital Camera, Video setup and a GPS. All my clothes crammed into my trunk mounted luggage bag, one saddle bag stored my rain gear, visor, tools, and maps. The other saddle bag stored my riding gear, leather jacket, chaps, hood, and gloves. On the back seat I stored my tent, sleeping bag, and air mattress. The night before our departure, my brother Michael and his friend Wally arrived from Tennessee to my house.

8/8/08 Friday

Michael and Wally departed Tennessee to meet Steve and me at my house in Illinois for the start of our 1st Annual Motorcycle Trip. Eva got home from work and Eva, Samantha, Michael, and I got together for some pizza and cold beverages that evening at Papa’s Pizza in Woodridge, Illinois. The food and service was wonderful like always. Thank you Sandy, Andrew, and the entire Papa’s staff.

8/9/08 Saturday

We all departed from my house in Lockport,Illinois around 6:30 A.M and arrived in Grand Island, Nebraska that evening. When we left that morning it was cloudy. We then hit rain about ninety minutes after leaving the house. It seemed like we spent the better part of the day donning and doffing our rain gear. After several hours on the road my C.B radio stopped working. I was pretty aggravated because this was the first trip where we would have been able to communicate with each other. Two of us had a C.B and the other two did not. Since I could hear Steve but he could not hear me talking just that someone keyed up I figured that it was a microphone problem. So after a while when we stopped for fuel I happen to locate a dealer. I decided to purchase another head set thinking that was the problem. Then I noticed that the video camera stopped working too. I was not a very happy camper in the least. So we continued on till we arrived at the Grand Island, Nebraska KOA. We set up camp and then went to dinner.

8/10/08 Sunday

We noticed a sulfur smell coming from his bike when we pulled into camp the night before. He figured that maybe the newly installed driving lights were causing a problem with the battery. While they did that I decided to try the new headset that I purchased. That did not solve my problem. Oh D**N I said. Steve said that he could see on my face how disgusted I was. We then departed Grand Island, Nebraska KOA and were headed to Lyman, Wyoming KOA but did not make it there. We decided to try and locate a battery for Michael’s motorcycle. We know in another day we would be near Highway 50 "The Loneliest Road in American" and if we had a problem then we really would be in trouble. We hunted all over for a replacement battery, from parts stores to Wal-Mart no one had a replacement and being Sunday didn’t help either. After trying the video camera a few times and still not working I decided to just shut the power converter off completely. I happened to try the CB radio at one point after disconnecting the power inverter and the CB worked. That just made my day and once again Steve commented on the look of relief on my face. Just prior to arriving in Cheyenne, Wyoming we encounter a heavy storm with high winds, it was late afternoon happened to find a dealer so we decided to get a hotel there for the night and go to the dealer first thing in the morning. We checked into a hotel and then went to dinner.



8/11/08 Monday

Got up, Michael ran to the motorcycle dealer got a replacement battery and we then departed Cheyenne, Wyoming and continued on our journey. We arrived in Provo, Utah KOA that evening. We set up camp and then went to Ponderosa Steak house for dinner. It was very good, plenty to eat and the service was wonderful.

8/12/08 Tuesday

Got up, departed Provo, Utah KOA and continued on our journey towards San Francisco, California as we headed to "The Loneliest Road in American" the wonderful US Hwy 50. I was in the lead since I had the route on my GPS. We were riding in no man’s land, very desolate, very little traffic and a two lane road. I came upon a pickup truck on my side of the road not completely on the shoulder with its drivers door open in my lane of travel. I radio back to Steve that was taking up the rear as a warning to be aware, and the next thing I noticed was someone on a bicycle lying in the middle of the road. My first thought was that this elderly man in the pickup truck hit this bicyclist. We all stopped, Steve grabbed his first aid kit, and tossed me some medical gloves and I attended to the bicyclist. Come to find out this bicyclist was a man that rides his bicycle into town every day to get the mail and he has a history of seizures. He had a seizure and fell off his bicycle into the road. The elderly man in the pickup truck was his father and went looking for him when he didn’t return home and he was unable to get a hold of him on his walkie talkie. The man became somewhat alert; we helped get him into his dad’s pickup truck and loaded his bicycle into the back of the truck. The County Sheriff showed up and handled it from there. We then continued on our way. We stopped for fuel and a break at the Utah / Nevada Stateline. As we continued across Highway 50 a very scenic two lane desolate road we ran across a construction zone.

The construction zone took the road down to one lane for repaving. About every 30 minutes an escort vehicle would come and escort the waiting traffic back and forth. We happen to be the first in line and were talking with the construction girl.

We were busting on each other she was dishing it out as fast as we could give it to her. We were holding the sign and just giving her a hard time. It was a fun time, better than sitting in traffic like everyone else was. Then here comes the escort vehicle, time to saddle up and continue on towards Austin, Nevada. We stopped in Austin, Nevada for fuel and was hoping to spend the night there but that was not happening. The town is very small so we grabbed a burger at the one and only diner and had to continue on to the next town which was Fallon, Nevada where we ended up getting a hotel for the night. We got settle in and went and enjoyed the pool for awhile, did some laundry and off to bed.

8/13/08 Wednesday

Got up, departed from Fallon, Nevada and continued on our journey towards San Francisco, California. We arrived in San Francisco California.

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We found a parking garage so we could go and walk around Fishermen’s Wharf. When we were entering the parking garage Michael spotted a very attractive girl and commented to Wally about her. Wally replied did you see that Adams apple on that it was no Girl that was a dude. We went to Pier 39 at Fishermen’s Wharf, had lunch at Bubba Gump’s, the food and service was very good. Our waiter happened to look just like Forest Gump. I only wish that I would have thought to take a picture of him. Of course it was an afterthought when I was no longer there. We continued on to the lookout and then to the ever famous Lombard Street. We were leaving San Francisco during evening rush hour. Proceeded across the Golden Gate Bridge but could not catch up with Wally in time to tell him to pull over at the scenic overlook. Oh well that just means we will have t do this trip again sometime. We started up the coast, getting later and later and trying to find a camp ground for the night and not looking good. Wally wanted to just pitch a tent at the side of the road. I said maybe in Tennessee you can do that but I didn’t think California would take kindly to that. We came across a small supper club and Michael and Wally walked in to ask the where there might be any campgrounds. They said it was like in the movie The Blues Brothers when they Joliet Jake and Elwood Blues walked into the club and all of the eyes went right to them. Finally we found a campground but the office was closed. We figured great what are we going to do. But then noticed a note and a map on the window of the office that stated what camp sites were available and to pay at the office in the morning when leaving. Then the next thing I knew I put my kick stand down and go to get off my motorcycle and it started tipping over to the left. I did everything I could to try and hold it up. The ground happened to be very sandy and my kickstand was sinking into the ground. I am yelling to Michael to come help me and he just stood there looking at me. Finally it clicked and he realized what was happening. He got off his motorcycle and ran over to help me. I thought for sure that my motorcycle was going to be on its side. We were so lucky I really was starting to get worried.

8/14/08 Thursday

Got up, broke camp, went and paid for the site and departed the Campground to continue on our journey up the coast towards Washington.


The weather was cold and damp as we was headed north up the coast. We got to Eureka, California KOA and set up camp for the night. Went to dinner, after dinner Steve went to Emergency Room to get something for his cold before it got worse. I went to target to get another sleeping bag besides the one I had. The store only had one full size bag left on the shelf. I of course grab that one. The temps were unbelievably cold and damp.

8/15/08 Friday

We all decided since it was going to be a late start day that no better time than now to get our oil changed. I went to the local Honda dealer, Steve went to the local Harley dealer, Michael and Wally decided that they was not going to pay the dealer price so they went to a local Jiffy Lube and asked if they change motorcycle oil. The guys in the shop all owned motorcycles and said sure. So they had it changed there. Come to find out it was not any cheaper there then going to a Kawasaki dealer. Of course I had to laugh and rub it in some. I guess we learn from our experiences. Got Steve’s prescriptions from the pharmacy and continued on our journey. We got to Waldport, Oregon KOA only to find it full. So we starting looking for a hotel, we finally found one, we heard the clerk tell the people in front of us that it was like $ 250.00 dollars for the night. We all looked at each other and agreed that one room would do and some of us could sleep on the floor. Now it was our turn to be helped and they asked if we had reservation and we said no. The clerk told us that they where full and had no rooms available. We asked what’s with everything being booked up and we were told it’s the last weekend before school starts and with the triple digits temperatures inland everyone is coming to the coast. They told us that our best chance to get a room somewhere would be to go inland and the closest sizeable town inland was Corvallis, Oregon which was about another ninety miles. It was late and we were all tired so we left the Coast and went inland to Corvallis, Oregon. I was even contenplating stopping at a fire house and introducing myself and seeing if we could throw four sleeping bags on their floor for the night. We finally found a Super 8 hotel and stayed there for the night. It was the worst place that we stayed during the whole trip. Got in the room, the air was stale, turned on the air, left to find some place for dinner, drove around for awhile finally Steve said let’s stop at the police station and ask for some place decent to sit down and eat. He went in and told them that he was an Officer from out of state and was looking for a restaurant. They directed us to a Ruby Tuesday’s. It was a good dinner and good service. We got back to our room only to find out that the air did not work. We ended up sleeping with the window open for the night. We expressed our dissatisfaction when we checked out and were basically told oh well we will look into it. But I know one thing I would never stay at another Super 8 again. I’m sure there all not the same but not going to find out either.

8/16/08 Saturday

Got up, packed the motorcycles and departed Corvallis, Oregon Super 8 and continued on our journey. We were looking for a grocery store to buy some water and fruit for the cooler. Asked a cab driver where there was a store and he said follow him and he would show us. He took us right to the store, my hats off to that cabby. We stopped for fuel and a brake at a small gas station around Packwood, Washington. We were taking a break at the picnic table at the gas station. Michael went inside to see if they had a pair of scissors to borrow. He wanted to cut off the sleeves to his shirt. So they gave him a pair and he took off his shirt to cut the sleeves. One of the ladies inside sees that he had a nipple ring and commented to the other lady. The one lady came out and said something to Michael about it and the other lady was embarrassed. He said then to go ask her if she wants to see his other piercings she started laughing and went back inside. We were able to see Mt. Rainer from that location also. We continued on till we arrived at Otis Orchards, Washington KOA for the evening. We set up camp and went to dinner.

8/17/08 Sunday

Got up, broke camp and departed Otis Orchards, Washington KOA and continued on our journey. Onto Bozeman, Montana and checked into a hotel for the evening. We went to dinner at Famous Dave’s. We came back to the room, did some laundry and went down to the pool for a little while. It was an uneventful day of wonderful riding.

8/18/08 Monday

Got up, took pictures of us outside with our “I survived Highway 50” Shirts and departed

Bozeman, Montana and continued on our journey onto Rapid City, South Dakota KOA for that evening. We set up camp, went to dinner, and Steve went back to camp and Michael, Wally, and myself took a night ride up to Mt. Rushmore.

8/19/08 Tuesday

Got up, broke camp and departed Rapid City, South Dakota KOA and stopped in Sioux Falls S.D. where Steve and I said our goodbyes to Michael and Wally. Steve and I continued on towards Illinois while Michael and Wally continued on to Tennessee. The AWESOME trip is coming to an end. Now we can only reminisce and start planning for 2009.

Ride Safe