Day 3

Day three was incredible. We started out headed to the Grand Tetons. I can't begin to explain hoe awesome that sight was. After breakfast at a restaurant called bubbas, we turned left on main street and headed right into the Tetons. I was almost like riding into a painting done by Bob Ross. It was just too perfect. Just look at the photo! It was incredible. You have to see it to believe it.

After we left the Tetons, we headed towards Yellowstone. And I thought the Tetons were awesome. Let me tell you, God took a little extra time when he created this part of the world. It was pretty cold there though but the ride was worth it. We made a couple of stops along the ride. We were actually at one of the Continental Divides. The elevation was 8391 feet. It was COLD! It was also an experience I will never forget.

We eventually got to Old Faithful. This was something I have wanted to see my whole life. Let me tell you, it was everything I expected. We waited 45 minutes but it was worth the wait. Bear had to give it a little Pepto Bismal to get it going. LOL

When we left Yellowstone, we headed out the East Gate. THe next day we found out that they closed the East Gate due to snow. I told you it was cold! On the way home we stopped at Cody Dam named after Wild Bill Cody. BEAUTIFUL!!!!

We stayed the night in Cody Wy. Next Day headed to Spearfish SD.

See you then!!!!

Day 2

Well let me tell you, day 2 was a lot more exciting. We started out by going to the Bonneville Speedway. We spent a lot of time there. The Salt Flats are quite and amazing site. The salt always looks so pristine. Joe couldn't get over how flat it was.

After we left the Salt Flats we headed east towards Salt Lake City. We turned left and headed towards Brigiham City. At that point we got lost and turned of the freeway to get a look at the map. We weren't off the bike for a second when a Utah Highway Patrol stopped and asked us if we were OK. We told him we were lost and he showed us how to get to where we were needing to go. We invited him along but he said he had a meeting and couldn't make it. We said our thank yous and went on our way.

We arrived at Jackson Hole about 7:30pm. We all had to laugh. On the way there, there was some construction going on and we had to travel on a dirt for about two miles. When we got off the bikes we all thought of Ferd's road. We had a good laugh. To get to Ferd's house, you have to travel on a 9 mile dirt road. We do this every year when we go to Street Vibrations.

Jackson Hole was a cool place. We got to the motel and headed into town for Dinner. We ate at the Million Dollar Cowboy Bar. It was good but very expensive. I really liked the bar there, all the bar stools were saddles.

Well, day three's blog will be much better. The three of us are going to the Grand Tetons and Yellowstone.

See you later.

Day 1

Well the ride finally started. It started like most of the rides I take with Joe. First stop was the Black Bear Diner or as we call it,the BBD. As you can see in one of the picture, Joe and Bear had too much to eat. I guess they do make the best chicken fried steak I have ever eaten.

We Traveled the first day to Wendover NV. The trip was over 500 miles. Wendover was just like I left it 12 years ago. We got our hotel room and crashed really fast. Other than that not much happened.

Although I really enjoyed the ride.

The Plan for The Longest Ride I Have Ever Been On.

Well, there is so much to say about this ride, so I am going to start by tell whoever cares, how it all got started......

Last August, my son Bear bought his first bike. It's a Honda 750 Shadow. He is pretty proud of his bike. I must admit, he to took riding a motorcycle like he had been doing it his whole life. He and I accompanied Joe, my neighbor across the street, and I to Reno Nevada, for "Street Vibrations" last year. We had an awesome time.

During that time, Joe was talking about a trip he wanted to take which we would travel through California, Nevada, Utah, Idaho, Wyoming, Montana, South Dakota, Nebraska & Colorado. Wow, just typing that made my rear end hurt.

Well to say the least, The trip is two weeks away. So if you are interested......

"SIT BACK AND ENJOY THE READ"

P.S. The photo in this picture is Bear, we said he had to wear the helmet since it was his first ride with Joe and I. We didn't tell him that we just made it up. hahahahahahahahahah

Bodega Bay with Ray

Well let me start by saying, this ride was a long time coming but well worth the wait. I consider Ray my riding brother. We hadn't ridden for a long time together due to reasons I won't mention in this blog, but it was worth the wait. I will tell you about the ride tho.

I got to Ray's house about 9:30am. Ray was already to go. As usual, we sounded like a couple out laws on really loud motorcycles when we left. I hope no one was sleeping in at the time.

We got on to Highway 80 heading south and traffic was heavy. I think the reason for that is because everyone who works in San Francisco was heading back there for the work week. It was heavy until we got to the 12 cutoff and headed into Napa.

As usual, the wine country was beautiful. All the vines were covered with green leaves. We saw quite a few bikes on the road. Both bicycle and motorcycle. Personally, I prefer the ones with a motor.

We got to Petaluma and took D street to hit the back road to Bodega Bay. It is a beautiful ride. There is a lot of scenery and activity along the road. And as in just about every ride I have taken....a broken down Harley.

We got to the town of Bodega first and Ray and I had to stop at the church where Alfred Hitchcock filmed the movie "The Birds". That is where the photos for this blog were taken.

We rode into the town of Bodega Bay and had a great lunch at the Sandpiper restaurant. Great food and Ray really liked the coffee. When I get back there I will have to try it. I have to admit, I like a beer with my fish and chips......LOL

Well we headed back thru Sebastopol. We both were a bit tired when we got back, but I bet we will both be ready to do it again. Ray.......I loved the ride.

........Booger

A Retro Blog.....

This will be the only entry that I will make that is referring to the past. The reason for this is because it was the first ride I took after my father passed away. So hear I go.....

May father passed away May 18, 2005. At the time everything was happening really fast and I seemed to be in another dimension. It was like I was watching what was going on rather than living it. My Dad had a wonderful service. he was buried with full Military honors. He served his Country for 31 years. He served in World War II, Korea and Viet Nam.

After everything had settled down around here, reality started to set in. I realized that when I went to see my Mom, Dad was not going to come out to say hello or "BS" with me. He will never again ask me, "did you ride the bike over?" I even remember when he had his stroke and I went to see him in the hospital the first thing he said to me was, "did you ride the bike over?" Well any to say the very least reality hit me like a freight train at full speed.

I became very hard to live with. I took just about everything personal. I would loose my temper over the littlest things. Alaina and I would go on rides and she was very uncomfortable riding with me. She said I was everywhere but on the motorcycle.

Trivial things would not go right and I would make them into major things. You know the old saying, making mountains out of molehills. Well I made a damn mountain range. I even remember going to PK and telling him " I was done " with church I mean. Thank GOD he is not one to white wash anything. He let me have it. The one thing he said to me was, " you need to get a thicker skin, take a break and rethink what you said" And that is how this ride began.

It started in late September when I had already had a trip planned with my neighbor Joe to go to Street Vibrations in Reno and the Silver Run Virginia City. We stated out early morning and headed for Reno. We made a stop on the way for breaks and a beer. It was a great ride to Ferds ranch on the outskirts of Reno. And of course we had our yearly stop at the Nugget for our Bloody Mary and a bit of gambling. After that, off to Ferds ranch.

Once we got settled in, it was off to Reno. I saw some of the most incredible bikes I have ever seen. We did Reno for two days and then it was off to Virginia City. Let me tell you, that place rocks. We spent a few hours there and then it was time to leave. From there I said my good byes to Joe and Bob. They headed north to home and I headed south to Las Vegas.

The ride to Vegas was a beautiful ride. The ride down the center of Nevada is an incredible one. Walker lake was beautiful at sunset. When it got dark, that's when it got spooky. I got around the Indian Springs area and I was the only one on the road. I would see an occasional truck driver. That was kind of interesting especially around Indian Springs. As most of you know, that is where Area 51 is. Let me tell you, a lit up truck looks like a UFO that late at night. Pretty scary huh?

Well I rolled int Las Vegas around 9:00pm. At night Vegas looks like you are riding into a giant pin ball machine. I really didn't like the place. Too busy for me. I searched for a hotel to stay in for the night but all of them were booked up because NASCAR was there that weekend. I ended up in the middle of the "red light" district in a very cheesy motel. I realized this when the clerk in the window was behind bullet proof glass and when I asked him if he had a room, he responded to me, "for how long?" I quickly responded "ALL NIGHT"!!!!

I didn't sleep too well that night!!! And YES I WAS ALONE!!!!!!

I headed out the next day t my sister's house in Hurricane, Utah. I was happy to get there and be with family. But I have to admit, being alone on the bike gave me a lot of time to think.

I didn't know how to get to my sister's house so I stopped to call her for direction. I felt a bit at home because the place I stopped at was Zion Harley Davidson. I got directions from my brother-in-law Greg and arrived there about noon.

My sister Gail and I spent a lot of time together. She took me through Zion National Park. I think it was one of the greatest experiences of my life. I think when God created that part of the world he really took his time. It is beautiful. She also took me to an outdoor theater called Toucan. We had someone take our picture there. It is a great picture. We did quite a few other things too, but that is my two favorite.

Gail, Greg and I said our goodbyes a couple of days later. It was about 6:00am. I never told Gail but I was running a temp when I was leaving. I never told her because she would have never let me leave. My first gas stop in Cedar City, I bought some DayQuil and went on my way.

I stopped in Ely Nevada for gas. I could not believe the sights. I saw some Elk hunters on the way. About five miles ahead of them I saw an Elk. Its horns were as long as my bike. As I got closer too him, the pipes on my bike scared it off. It was beautiful.

My ride went on and I was the only one on the road again. I saw mountains that I looked at for three hours and they got no closer. God can really cook. I found myself hitting the sleeping bag with my elbow thinking I was hitting Alaina's leg so I could make sure she saw what I saw. I really missed her and the boys.

I was supposed to make that trip home in a couple of days. I couldn't wait to get back home. I really missed home. Next thing I knew I was in Tahoe. Two hours later I was home. I drove 862 miles in one day.

I saw sights that I never saw before and got a lot of junk cleared out of my head. I had a combination of drugs. Well actually two, motorcycle and asphalt.

The healing power of the road.

Well I promise my blogs to come will not be as long. I just really loved this trip

......BOOGER