Moses Lake, Wa. to Blaine, Wa. and return 616 miles
It was a beautiful morning, clear skies and bright sunlight. Hard to get going though. Interstate all the way because we wanted to get the ride finished. It was a nice ride, heavy traffic heading east and heavier than I expected going west. Harvest of potatoes in the basin is in full swing and the apple harvest has started. Some fog in the Ellensburg area and going up the east side of the pass. Once on top the sun was out and blue skies which were to remain for the rest of the day. We found out too late to make alternative roads that at Everett, I-5 was cut down to one lane and so that caused about an hour delay. Once in Blaine, got fuel filled out the ride forms and ate at Big Dan,s diner an official tour stop. We also spent some time at the arch and peace park. Then home, arriving a little bit after dark to a nice meal and companionship of our spouses.
This will not be my last blog as I will write some on my thoughts and overall impressions of the trip.
There will be pictures, I had problems getting them off the card into the computer, but I think that the problem has been solved.
Saturday, September 25, 2010
Friday, September 24, 2010
day 21
Alturas, Ca. to Moses Lake, Wa. 548 miles
Home at last, but tomorrow we need to go up to Blaine, another 270 miles and back home to complete the final checkpoint. A very cool morning as the temperature was 34 when we first got up. But as the sun came up, it rapidly warmed up, but we did wear our jackets all day, the first time that was done since the first part of the ride. We saw more animals today than any other day, 10 deer on and on both sides of the road when we went to breakfast. Two more deer along the roadside, a field of about 25 sandhill cranes, a number of hawke, and a small herd of antelope. 395 through Oregon has a lot of contrasts, from desert to mountain to pasture and wheat country. We enjoyed the scenery very much. No metropolitan areas to slow us down, but the speed limits in Oregon must be the lowest in the west. We still made good time, getting home about 6:30. It was great to see our wives for the first time in 3 weeks, Francie and Kris had prepared a nice dinner for us and then a shower and off to bed to get ready for tomorrows ride.
Home at last, but tomorrow we need to go up to Blaine, another 270 miles and back home to complete the final checkpoint. A very cool morning as the temperature was 34 when we first got up. But as the sun came up, it rapidly warmed up, but we did wear our jackets all day, the first time that was done since the first part of the ride. We saw more animals today than any other day, 10 deer on and on both sides of the road when we went to breakfast. Two more deer along the roadside, a field of about 25 sandhill cranes, a number of hawke, and a small herd of antelope. 395 through Oregon has a lot of contrasts, from desert to mountain to pasture and wheat country. We enjoyed the scenery very much. No metropolitan areas to slow us down, but the speed limits in Oregon must be the lowest in the west. We still made good time, getting home about 6:30. It was great to see our wives for the first time in 3 weeks, Francie and Kris had prepared a nice dinner for us and then a shower and off to bed to get ready for tomorrows ride.
day 20
Relands, Ca to Alturas, Ca. 663 miles
Out of Redlands and out of the valley, to highway 395 and heading North towards home. The ride through the Mojave was its usual visual ride with many of rock formations, lava flows, and desert vegetation with Joshua trees and various types of cactus. A lot of traffic at times and a lot of motorcycles as people were going to Street Vibrations in Reno, the 4th largest motorcycling gathering in the world. We had lunch at Whiskey Jacks in Bishop, always a worthwhile stop. The area around Mono Lake and beyond, spectacular as usual. We hit Carson City and Reno at rush hour which put us begind, and we were traveling after dark from Susanville to Alturas, so did not get to see that part of the country well, but the full moon did help. We arrived tired, but with reservations that had been set up by Francie, and then a meal at a Basque restaraunt, were ready for our last nights sleep on the road. We awoke to frost on the bikes, and all the bugs from last night frozen to the windshields. Ah, the northwest.
Out of Redlands and out of the valley, to highway 395 and heading North towards home. The ride through the Mojave was its usual visual ride with many of rock formations, lava flows, and desert vegetation with Joshua trees and various types of cactus. A lot of traffic at times and a lot of motorcycles as people were going to Street Vibrations in Reno, the 4th largest motorcycling gathering in the world. We had lunch at Whiskey Jacks in Bishop, always a worthwhile stop. The area around Mono Lake and beyond, spectacular as usual. We hit Carson City and Reno at rush hour which put us begind, and we were traveling after dark from Susanville to Alturas, so did not get to see that part of the country well, but the full moon did help. We arrived tired, but with reservations that had been set up by Francie, and then a meal at a Basque restaraunt, were ready for our last nights sleep on the road. We awoke to frost on the bikes, and all the bugs from last night frozen to the windshields. Ah, the northwest.
day 19
Tuscon, Arizona to San Yisidro to Redlands, California 604 miles
We got up early to get through Tuscon before the rush hour then had breakfast, then freeway all the way to San Yisidro. We went through a lot of desert, a big sand dune area, and saw lots of desert vegetation and then the irrigated farm lands. We went through a large Suguaro cactus area. They are interesting and we really wonder how some of them are still standing. The weather was milder, no rain , and we actually had to wear our jackets some. It is good to be back in the west. San Yisidro was interesting, but we got our third checkpoint and only one more to go. We had to fight the traffic up to Redlands and missed one of our turns, but with Francie's help were able to get back on track and arrived in fairly decent time to see the Couperous family. It was good to see them again, a friendship that has lasted since active duty time in the Navy. We had a very relaxing evening and then a good sleep.
We got up early to get through Tuscon before the rush hour then had breakfast, then freeway all the way to San Yisidro. We went through a lot of desert, a big sand dune area, and saw lots of desert vegetation and then the irrigated farm lands. We went through a large Suguaro cactus area. They are interesting and we really wonder how some of them are still standing. The weather was milder, no rain , and we actually had to wear our jackets some. It is good to be back in the west. San Yisidro was interesting, but we got our third checkpoint and only one more to go. We had to fight the traffic up to Redlands and missed one of our turns, but with Francie's help were able to get back on track and arrived in fairly decent time to see the Couperous family. It was good to see them again, a friendship that has lasted since active duty time in the Navy. We had a very relaxing evening and then a good sleep.
Tuesday, September 21, 2010
day 18
Ozona, Texas to Tuscon Arizona 691 miles
We gained an hour by going into the mountain time zone. Still a long, hard, hot day. The speed limits helped us make time, and the weather was not quite as hot until mid-afternoon, but drier. We moved from ranch and farm area to frank desert. A lot of foliage is beginning to look familiar to us desert dwellers. A lot of fantastic rock formations, and I had forgotten how many old volcanic cones were in this area. At a stop for fuel in Kent, Texas, we saw a pickup pulling a stock trailer with a bull, steer, and horse in the trailer. The two cowboys talking were both wearing spurs, not a common sight for us. We had some drizzle in the morning, but hardly had the pavement wet. In the afternoon, it was fun to watch the thunderheads gather, move, and disperse. A shower really felt good at the end of the day.
We gained an hour by going into the mountain time zone. Still a long, hard, hot day. The speed limits helped us make time, and the weather was not quite as hot until mid-afternoon, but drier. We moved from ranch and farm area to frank desert. A lot of foliage is beginning to look familiar to us desert dwellers. A lot of fantastic rock formations, and I had forgotten how many old volcanic cones were in this area. At a stop for fuel in Kent, Texas, we saw a pickup pulling a stock trailer with a bull, steer, and horse in the trailer. The two cowboys talking were both wearing spurs, not a common sight for us. We had some drizzle in the morning, but hardly had the pavement wet. In the afternoon, it was fun to watch the thunderheads gather, move, and disperse. A shower really felt good at the end of the day.
day 17
Lafayette, Louisiana to Ozona, Texas
644 miles, all of it freeway. It is sort of discouraging to spend most of a day in a state at freeway speeds and still only be at mile post 385. The Texas welcome center was a very nice one. It was at Blue Elbow swamp and there was a walkway built out over the swamp that you could use to see more or the swamp. As we went into the area, there was a road kill Armadillo, the only one that we have seen. On the road we were finally able to go 75 miles an hour legally. Houston and San Antonio were both interesting to get through, we almost had to come to a complete stop in Houston because of a car breakdown and then the wrecker that picked it up was being towed by a pickup to get it off of the freeway. In San Antonio, one interchange would have been very easy to get off on the wrong freeway. East Texas was hills, swamp, and trees. The hill country west of San Antonio was interesting and fun to watch go by, closer to our destination we then got into cattle country with scrub oaks and grass. It was easy to imagine collecting cattle in that area and chasing rustlers and Indians amongst all of the trees. Ozuna is in oil and cattle country. The first well was drilled there in 1924 and is still in production. We ate supper at a small restaurant there and they had KC steak on the menu. We couldn't pass that up. The motel was roomy with good beds and we both got a good nights sleep.
644 miles, all of it freeway. It is sort of discouraging to spend most of a day in a state at freeway speeds and still only be at mile post 385. The Texas welcome center was a very nice one. It was at Blue Elbow swamp and there was a walkway built out over the swamp that you could use to see more or the swamp. As we went into the area, there was a road kill Armadillo, the only one that we have seen. On the road we were finally able to go 75 miles an hour legally. Houston and San Antonio were both interesting to get through, we almost had to come to a complete stop in Houston because of a car breakdown and then the wrecker that picked it up was being towed by a pickup to get it off of the freeway. In San Antonio, one interchange would have been very easy to get off on the wrong freeway. East Texas was hills, swamp, and trees. The hill country west of San Antonio was interesting and fun to watch go by, closer to our destination we then got into cattle country with scrub oaks and grass. It was easy to imagine collecting cattle in that area and chasing rustlers and Indians amongst all of the trees. Ozuna is in oil and cattle country. The first well was drilled there in 1924 and is still in production. We ate supper at a small restaurant there and they had KC steak on the menu. We couldn't pass that up. The motel was roomy with good beds and we both got a good nights sleep.
Sunday, September 19, 2010
day 16
Live Oak , Florida to Layfette, Louisiana
616 miles, sore bottoms,and weariness from the long ride and heat. We were all interstate except for a foray into Long Beach and area to see what had been done since Katrina. The church looks good, were unable to go inside, but the outside has been well taken care of. There is a lot of land for sale in the 4 blocks next to the beach. A lot of people have not been able to rebuild, a combination of funds, or being unable to meet new building codes. The trees appear to have pretty much recovered, particularly the oak trees. Not many businesses have returned to that area either. Traffic was heavy but not too bad. Terrain appeared to be either slighly rolling small hills or timber of swamp. When we crossed the Mississippi, it was a little wider that it was in Minnesota when we were near the headwaters. Layfayette appears to be an oasis in the midst of swamp. We have an adequate motel room at a Red Roof Inn, should be able to get a good sleep tonight.
616 miles, sore bottoms,and weariness from the long ride and heat. We were all interstate except for a foray into Long Beach and area to see what had been done since Katrina. The church looks good, were unable to go inside, but the outside has been well taken care of. There is a lot of land for sale in the 4 blocks next to the beach. A lot of people have not been able to rebuild, a combination of funds, or being unable to meet new building codes. The trees appear to have pretty much recovered, particularly the oak trees. Not many businesses have returned to that area either. Traffic was heavy but not too bad. Terrain appeared to be either slighly rolling small hills or timber of swamp. When we crossed the Mississippi, it was a little wider that it was in Minnesota when we were near the headwaters. Layfayette appears to be an oasis in the midst of swamp. We have an adequate motel room at a Red Roof Inn, should be able to get a good sleep tonight.
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