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