Chris and I are taking this trip with our good friends, Mel and Trisha. Our good friends, Bill and Jamie, were to go also but they had to cancel due to health issues. We will miss them!
Mel was able to get out of work sooner than expected and the weather was good (cloudy, 76 degrees). Chris and I left home at 2:30 PM and rode to I-435 & Leavenworth Rd to meet Mel and Trisha. We departed on our trip at approximately 3:00 PM northbound on I-435 to Hwy 152 eastbound to I-35 north to Hwy 69 north.
In the area of Excelsior Springs we picked up Hwy 10 eastbound which we rod all the way to Carrollton where we had a butt break and gas stop at the Caseys. From Carrollton we rode east on Hwy 24 to Paris, MO where we turned onto Hwy 154 eastbound and then Hwy 107 northbound into the Mark Twain State Park.
We arrived at the Mark Twain Memorial Shrine just before 7:00 PM and were surprised to see an “OPEN” sign in the window. There was also a vehicle parked outside so we thought maybe it was still open. NOPE – closer inspection revealed that they closed at 5:00 PM. We had a picnic dinner and checked out the Mark Twain Lake.
After our picnic we departed north on Hwy 107 to Hwy 24 east to Monroe City. After gassing up we rode east on Hwy 36 into Hannibal, Missouri. We arrived at about 9:00 PM and spent the night in a Travelodge. It was AAA approved, James, but the Achmed family runs it. We rode approximately 240 miles today. The weather looks wet around here for tomorrow.
Thursday, June 11, 2009
Our plan was to leave at 8:00 AM. We checked the weather, however, and found that rain was moving into the Hannibal area. So we “hurried” and departed Hannibal at 7:45 AM. It was 68 degrees and mostly cloudy. We rode east on Hwy 36 and crossed the Mississippi River into Illinois. We got on I-172 and headed toward Quincy. Before we reached the Quincy exits it had started to rain lightly. We would see a lot of water today – in fields, ditches, rivers, lakes, on the road and falling from the sky. With the rain came a drop in the temperature to 64 degrees.
North of the Quincy exits we took Hwy 24 east through several small towns, including Clayton – reminded me of Homer. Just east of Ripley we turned east on a lesser and more rural Hwy 103 to Hwy 100 north. As we rode on Hwy 103 and 100 the rain stopped and the temperature jumped to 66. It was very pretty along this route but, then again, the lack of rain may have affected my evaluation of the scenery.
At Hwy 136 we turned back east and rode to Havana, IL for a gas break and a butt break. With full tanks and rested booties we back tracked west on Hwy 136, crossing the Illinois River again, to Hwy 78/97 north to Hwy 24 east.
Hwy 24 took us through scenic Peoria, IL where, on the north end of the city, we crossed the Illinios River. Just over the river we rode north on Hwy 116 and then north on Hwy 26. The rain started again and the temperature dipped as low as 61.
At Hwy 17 we turned east and continued to ride in the rain. It was never hard rain but it was very persistent and cool (some of us called it cold). When we reached the intersection of Hwy 17 and I-39 it was past lunch time. We were cool (cold?) and hungry. No acceptable eating establishments were to be found. A convenience store recommended a restaurant in Streator, IL called the Rose Garden Restaurant. We made the ride there and had an excellent hot lunch. We were ready for the road and rain again.
After lunch in Streator we discussed our gas situation – should we gas in Streator or down the road in Kankakee? Mel was pretty sure he could make Kankakee. Close but no cigar. He gambled and lost. I’m sure glad I would never run out of gas.
After gassing up in Kankakee we continued east on Hwy 17 to Indiana where it turned into Hwy 2. Our plan was to ride Hwy 2 into Valparaiso, IN where we would spend the night. Hwy 2 was closed east of I-65, however, so we rode north on I-65. It got quite nipply and the wind from the north blew harder. Even my brights were on. It got down to 55 with light rain. We called it a night at Merrillville, IN at the junction of I-65 and Hwy 30. Our home for the night was the Merrillville Inn. We took advantage of their indoor heated pool before retiring to our rooms.
Despite the weather it was a good day. We rode approximately 340 miles and saw some pretty scenery. We are encouraged by predictions of no rain and highs in the low 70’s for tomorrow.
Friday, June 12, 2009
When we woke up today it was foggy but before we left the hotel at 8:15 AM most of the fog had burned off and it was mostly sunny with a temperature of 59. We rode east on Hwy 30 to Hwy 49 north towards Lake Michigan and the Indiana Dunes State Park and National Lakeshore. We stopped about 7 miles south of the park for gas.
We were some of the first to arrive at the park for the day. It was beautiful, sunny, and cool. The water of Lake Michigan was cold but I had to stroll in the water anyway. Trisha and Chris did some rock collecting on the beach. After leaving the park we rode to the National Lakeshore and, again, frolicked on the beach. I’m always impressed with the sight of Lake Michigan and the other Great Lakes.
Riding east from the Indiana Dunes area on Hwy 12 was slow going. The speed limit was lower than expected plus there was quite a bit of traffic and traffic signals. We stopped in Niles Township, Michigan (just north of South Bend, IN) for a picnic lunch at the Madeline Bertrand County Park.
We rode east from Niles Township on Hwy 12 and then Hwy 60. Since time was slipping by we took advantage of I-69 (north) and I-94 (east) to get to Detroit. We stopped once for gas along I-94 west of Ann Arbor, MI.
As we were going into Detroit we exited the interstate on Hwy 12 east through a rough part of Detroit. We eventually ended up on the bridge into Canada but I could not tell you how. The area was under construction and it was confusing but quick. Almost before I knew it we were in line for customs on the Canadian side. We had to stop and dig our passports out of the luggage in our trailers. It was uneventful and quick getting into Canada. They even let Mel in.
After dinner in Windsor, Ontario we checked into the Travelodge across the street from a Harley Davidson dealership. Mel wants to pick up a shirt in the morning. The day was GREAT. It was sunny with a high of 75 and we really enjoyed the Indiana Dunes area. We rode approximately 300 miles. It should be a shorter day into Niagara Falls tomorrow.Saturday, June 13, 2009
Mel took his rig to a car wash the night before and I was up at the butt crack of dawn to give my rig a spit bath . . . . so it rained before we left. Mel got his shirt at the Windsor HD dealership and we took off at 9:30 AM riding east on Hwy 3. It was cloudy, 59 degrees and the streets were wet.
Before long, however, it dried up and became partly cloudy. We took a brief pit stop at Leamington, Ontario to check directions and again at Blenheim, Ontario to get gas. Chris had a chat with a local man on a bicycle. He was camera shy so when I started to take a picture he left.
At Blenheim we developed a game plan to stop at Rondeau Provincial Park on Lake Erie for a picnic lunch. Upon arrival we discovered it would cost us a total of $15 to get into the park to have a picnic. We left. Further east on 3 we stopped at the Port Glasgow Marina for our picnic lunch.
Just east of Shedden, Ontario Mel was having electrical problems with is HD. We stopped in Shedden where Mel checked a book to find there was a HD dealership in London, Ontario which was a relatively short distance north of Shedden. We rode to London where Mel had his bike checked out. He was told the charging system was working properly. Mel was not pleased when I took his picture, as you can tell from one of the photos. We left London east on 401 to 19 south and back to 3 east.
We had seen Tim Horton Restaurants all over Ontario so we decided to try one for dinner in Dunnville, Ontario. It was good, with really good donuts. What was unusual was that the sandwich combo was a sandwich with a donut. You could get a sandwich and soup, which Chris and I did. But then I had a donut for desert! We continued east on Hwy 3 to Port Colburne where we called it a day at the Seaway Motel. In Port Colburne Mel started having starter problems with his HD. At close of day the electric start would not start his bike. We may need to roll start his HD in the morning.
We rode approximately 270 miles today in great weather. It was partly sunny with a high of 72. It would have been a perfect day had it not been for poor ole Mel’s HD problems. We plan to hit Niagara Falls tomorrow.
Sunday, June 14, 2009
The day started with the Goldwing connected to the HD to charge the HD battery. Jumper cables were provided by the motel owner. After a drive north to Welland (on unknown roads) so Mel could purchase jumper cables at Wal-Mart, we departed for Niagara Falls. It was sunny in the low to mid 60’s.
We rode Hwy 20 into Niagara Falls, Canada in a matter of 30 minutes. We had a great day around Niagara Falls. Besides seeing the horseshoe or Canadian falls and the American falls further down the Niagara River, we did the Journey Behind the Falls, rode the Maid of the Mist up close to the falls, walked along the class 6 rapids of the Niagara River on the White Water Walk, and viewed (experienced) the Niagara’s Fury presentation. We had lunch on the river, rode the motorcycles north along Niagara Parkway to a scenic view of the whirlpool rapids, and saw the floral clock. It was a full and enjoyable day.
The only downer was that gulls pooped on our motorcycles in the Niagara Falls parking lot. I can’t say for sure what the high temperature was but it felt like the mid 70’s – a beautiful day! We spent the night in Michael’s Inn by the Falls. We got balcony rooms with a view of the Niagara River. If you leaned out from the balcony you could see Rainbow Bridge (connects Canada to the USA) and the American Falls. Tomorrow we return to the good ole US of A. Mel plans to buy a voltage regulator at a HD dealer tomorrow and install it tomorrow evening and we all hope it cures his electrical problems.Monday, June 15, 2009
We departed Michael’s Inn at 8:00 AM under mostly sun and 64 degree temperature. It was a beautiful day! Made more beautiful, perhaps, because this was the second anniversary of my retirement. Life is GOOD! We rode south on the Niagara Parkway for a final peek at the falls. They are definitely impressive sites.
Niagara Parkway took us all the way to it’s southern terminus at Fort Erie, where we crossed from Canada into Buffalo, NY, USA riding over the Peace Bridge. Customs was quick and easy. Mel and Trisha told us that the customs officer asked Mel the usual questions like where do you live, where were you in Canada, and how long were you in Canada and Mel started getting nervous thinking he was being targeted for a body cavity search. Fortunately, for Mel, Trisha was there and she could correct his incorrect stuttering answers.
First on the agenda in the USA was the HD dealership in Buffalo. Mel bought a voltage regulator, which we were hoping would fix his electrical problems. His plan was to install the new part at the motel where we stopped for the day.
From Buffalo we rode south and east on Hwy 400 (the Aurora Expressway), which turned into Hwy 16 south, a nice scenic two-lane road. At Yorkshire we turned east on Hwy 39 for a very short distance before we turned south on Hwy 243 at Arcade, NY. We made a stop for groceries in Arcade. We rode 243 to Hwy 19 south into Pennsylvania, which became Hwy 449. At Hwy 6 we rode east through Galeton to the Leonard Harrison State Park where we viewed the Grand Canyon of Pennsylvania. It was no match for the real Grand Canyon, but it was beautiful nonetheless. The riding and scenery in Pennsylvania was very nice.
While riding to and around the park we noticed many trees that appeared to be either budding out or starting to die. Chris asked a worker at the park what was going on with the trees. He said they were dying because of an infestation of caterpillars. The flies at the park were gigantic, which were so big (we were told) because they eat the caterpillars. You learn something new every day.
We departed the park on Hwy 660 east into Wellsboro, PA where we picked up Hwy 287 south. 287 took us to Hwy 220 east into Williamsport, PA. 287 was not marked as a scenic route on my map, but I thought it was beautiful. Rolling hills through lush forests and farm land with a few curves thrown in made for some great riding.
In Williamsport we called it a night at the Best Value Inn on Hwy 15. Chris and I stayed in the honeymoon suite, which had mirrors all over the place, including on the ceiling above our bed. We slept with all our clothes on so we wouldn’t get sick.
Mel installed the new voltage regulator and . . . . . it did not correct the problem. What a pisser. Another HD dealership tomorrow!
It was a great day, only 260 miles riding, but great roads and scenery. The high temperature registered was 75 and it was partly sunny all day long.
Tuesday, June 16, 2009
It was a little cooler this morning – 62 degrees, cloudy, and some fog when we departed at 8:15 AM. We rode south on Hwy 15. At Lewisburg, PA we rode east on 405 crossing the Susquehanna River to Montandon, PA where we took a break. Mel called a couple HD dealerships in the Harrisburg, PA area. The first one refused to work on his bike. The second accepted him with open arms.
We rode south on Hwy 147, which had spectacular scenery with hills and turns through densely forested areas along the Susquehanna River. The ride was diminished, however, due to road maintenance. Twice we followed very slow vehicles that were painting new road edge lines. Due to the terrain the opportunities to pass were few and far between.
Hwy 147 turned into Hwy 22 south, which took us to I-81 east. We took exit 72A and found the Susquehanna Valley HD shop. Mel dropped off his machine and I rode Chris and Trisha (separately) to a nearby laundromat, where they cleaned our dirty shorts. Mel showed up a short time later riding a brand new HD Electra Glide that he was test-riding. He is now aching for a much newer HD.
The good news is that Mel got his electrical problem fixed (they replaced the stator) and he can ride again with his lights on. The bad news is that he found out he has a cracked exhaust manifold. Later in the day it was cracked all the way around. He’s a little louder now. Says he’ll worry about it when he gets home.
We left Susquehanna Valley HD around 2:30 PM and rode 22 east and 39 south to Hershey, Pennsylvania. We had a good time doing the simulated factory ride/tour and visiting the museum. The ladies then had to do some shopping at the gift shop. We then rode through downtown Hershey and had dinner at Fennici’s where we had a larrapin good Italian meal.
We holed up for the night at the Milton Motel in Hershey. It was very good lodging for a small older motel. We logged only 125 miles today. We had a great time and did some very enjoyable riding. It was cloudy all day but we were dry. I don’t think it ever exceeded 70 degrees.
I have to go now – need to plan our route for tomorrow.Wednesday, June 17, 2009
We drove away from the Milton Motel into downtown Hershey at 8:45 AM. It was cloudy and 60 degrees. We drove past the homestead where Milton Hershey was raised and then found a mailbox to mail a father’s day card to my Dad.
Hwy 322 took us west out of Hershey to I-83 south to Hwy 581 west to Hwy 11 south. I took a wrong turn in there, which required a couple miles of backtracking (or roundabouting as Jamie would say). Hwy 11 took us through Carlisle and Shippensburg to Chambersburg where we caught Hwy 30 west. I took another wrong turn in there, which required another several miles of backtracking. Then, in Chambersburg, Mel and Trisha got caught at a traffic light and I did not notice. I noticed a pickup truck behind me and just assumed they were behind the pickup. I went quite a distance before I became concerned, pulled off, and realized they were nowhere to be found. I backtracked many miles to find them stopped beside the road trying to figure out how to hook up with us again. We stopped for lunch in St. Thomas for a break and to get out of the rain.
This route turned out to be a very poor choice. There was a lot of traffic, numerous traffic lights, and slow speed limits. Time was going fast and we were going slow. Top this off with rain and fog and it all adds up to a piss poor route. The rain started just west of Carlisle, PA (where we stopped for gas) and continued all day until we got close to Shanksville, PA. The temperatures varied from a high of 61 to a low of 55.
The route began to improve on Hwy 30 past Fort Loudon. Traffic decreased and things appeared more rural. Hills, curves, and forests returned. I think it would have been beautiful were it not for the rain and periodically HEAVY fog. We gassed up again in Breezewood, PA and continued west on 30. Just back Buckstown we turned south towards Shanksville to see the temporary memorial to United Airlines Flight 93 which crashed here on September 11, 2001. It was a sobering experience. Work on a permanent memorial will begin later this year (www.nps.gov/flni).
We drove back roads south to Hwy 31 and then west into Somerset, PA where we found a Budget Host Motel to spend the night. This was a perfect motel for Mel. A HD dealership was across the street and a Mexican restaurant and a DQ were a block down the road. We had dinner at the Mexican restaurant (Rey Azteca) and retired for the evening. I think Mel and Trisha walked down to the DQ later.
We rode a whopping 200 miles today (not counting the backtracking) in rain, fog, wind, and cold temperatures. I hope tomorrow is better (as in dry).
Thursday, June 18, 2009
We left Somerset, PA at 8:10 AM. It was cloudy and 64 degrees. Some of the streets were still wet from the storms during the night.
Hwy 281 took us south and west out of Somerset. At Hwy 653 we turned west and slightly north to Hwy 381 where we turned south and slightly west. All three routes are shown in my atlas to be scenic routes. I concur. They were anywhere from rolling hills and farms to densely wooded areas with curves and elevation changes in the highways. We ran into a little fog along 653 and saw a covered bridge. On 381 we rode the Laurel Highlands Scenic Byway and stopped at the Ohiopyle State Park were the Youghiogheny River was raging due to the recent rains. It was beautiful riding despite the lack of sunshine.
At Hwy 40 we turned west and slightly north and rode around Uniontown, PA. We caught Hwy 21 west into West Virginia. 21 was a pretty ride, also. Chris was amazed by the number of homes in Pennsylvania with stars on them. She had seen them in Texas previously. She took a photo of a “starred” house for the blog.
In West Virginia we rode north on Hwy 250 to Moundsville. There were many twisties and elevation changes on 250 with beautiful scenery but the road was very rough. At Moundsville we crossed the Ohio River into Ohio. The sun started to come out and the temperature started to rise.
We rode Hwy 7 south along the Ohio River, a scenic byway. We stopped for a picnic lunch at the Hannibal (Ohio) Locks and Dam.
Hwy 7 took us to Gallipolis where we had a DQ break (Chris’ idea) and caught Hwy 141 west and south into the Wayne National Forest. 141 was a beautiful ride with twisties and hills but I’d never have known it was a forest if not for the atlas. There was just a much farm land as there was forest.
I was sure we’d get a motel at Ironton, OH at the end of 141 but there were none. After some searching we ended up in a Knights Inn motel in Ashland, KY.
Today was a great ride on great roads. We logged 330 miles. The high temperature was 82 with high humidity.
Tomorrow we continue heading west towards home.Friday; June 19, 2009
The morning today was different than all previous mornings on this trip. We could tell summer was here. It was cloudy, 72 degrees, and humid when we drove away from Ashland, KY westbound on I-64. Today was also different in that Mel and Trisha planned the route and led the way.
We exited I-64 and drove north and west on Hwy 9. It was a very pretty route – would be designated a scenic route if I made an atlas. Chris took several moving pictures.
Near Maysville we turned south and west on Hwy 68, which the atlas indicated was a scenic route. It was OK but not nearly as scenic as 9. Later I got a whiff of why this may be designated as scenic. We drove past a boat load of Kentucky thoroughbred farms. Some of them were quite impressive. After 115 miles in the saddle we stopped for gas in Millersburg, KY.
We turned west on Hwy 460 at Paris, KY and drove past more horse farms on a road that was very narrow in places. In Frankfort we stopped at a Shoney’s for lunch. Trisha ordered a burger and fries while the rest of us loaded up at the hog trough. It was larrapin good.
From Frankfort we rode south on Hwy 127 to I-24 west stopping in Elizabethtown, KY for gas and a much needed butt break. The sun was blazing down, the temperature was up to 93 and it was humid. We loaded up on liquids and rested in the shade.
We rode west from Elizabethtown on 62 then west on 86 then west on 60. We stopped at 4:30 PM at a Best Western Hancock Inn, Lewisport, KY. After doing battle with the Patel’s (General Manager Sumit Patel) and/or their minions and switching rooms twice Chris and I were finally able to join Mel and Trisha in the nice outdoor pool. The pool was very refreshing and relaxing. We then had dinner out of our coolers.
It was a good day.
Mel and his navigator, Trisha, did a great job of getting us across Kentucky today. We rode a total of 325 miles. We transitioned from cloudy and 72 to sunny and 93. While swimming in the pool we were told it was 94 with a comfort index of 104.
Saturday, June 20, 2000
This was a sad morning. We parted ways with Mel and Trisha. They were headed for home and we were headed for Deb and Tim’s in Montrose, IA. Deb is Chris’ cousin. When Chris and I left at 7:30 Mel and Trisha were already gone. We said our goodbyes the night before. I found out later that Mel and Trisha left at 6:30 AM.
It was 79 degrees, mostly cloudy, and very humid when we left Lewisport, KY. We rode west on Hwy 60 to Hwy 231 where we crossed a bridge into Indiana. It was an interesting looking bridge. A short distance into Indiana the temperature dropped to 77.
Hwy 231 took us north to Hutingburg, IN, where we caught Hwy 64 west. We took a few pictures at the square in Princeton, IN. The courthouse and monument were very interesting. We continued westbound over the Wabash River into Illinois. At Mt. Carmel we rode Hwy 15 west to Albion, IL, where we stopped for gas and a butt break.
We rode north out of Albion on Hwy 130. There was a lot of standing water along Hwy 130 due to the recent rains. We stopped at a Hallmark store in Olney, IL to pick up a gift for Chris’ cousin, Deb. KFC in Effingham, IL provided us with lunch. Their new grilled chicken was good.
Hwy 33 took us north and west out of Effingham to Hwy 128 north and Hwy 16 west. Along 16 we saw flooded Robinson Creek and stopped for a few pictures. At Hwy 29 we rode north and west into Springfield, MO where we picked up Hwy 97 north and west and then Hwy 125 north and west to Beardstown, IL. Along that route we stopped in Pleasant Plains for gas at Casey’s and a drink under the shade of a big tree. We rode Hwy 67 north to Rushville, IL where we stopped at DQ for a cold treat (Chris’ idea – again).
We continued north on 67 to Macomb, IL where we picked up Hwy 136 that took us west across the Mississippi River into Keokuk, IA. From there we rode Hwy 61 north to just north of Montrose, IA where we stopped at Tim and Deb’s. Later in the evening we cooled off with a dip in their pool.
We rode 425 miles today. It became mostly sunny as we rode north and west with a high of 88. The humidity decreased as we rode north making it a good day for riding.
I called Mel and found out they made it all the way home today, a total of 530 miles for them. Mel said it was cloudy all day for them and the high temperature was around 88 to 90. They were ready to get off the saddle.
Sunday, June 21, 2009 & Monday, June 22, 2009
No riding - idle at Deb and Tim’s.Tuesday, June 23, 2009
Today was forcast as a HOT and humid day so we left Deb & Tim's at 6:00 AM. It was already 79 and very humid. Our route was west on Lee County, IA road J62 to 27 south to 136 west to 65 south at Princeton, MO to 10 west at Carrollton, MO to 210 west to I-35 south to Shawnee and home. We stopped for gas at the junction of Hwy's 27 and 136 and again at Carrollton, MO. We had a butt break along 136 and a stop for some food at Trenton, MO.
At times along 210 and again along I-35 in Kansas City the temperature reached 100. When we arrived in Shawnee the temperature dropped to 95 proving, once again, that Shawnee is cooler than the surrounding metro area. It was good arriving home to our air conditioned home.
Our route today covered 310 miles. No new pictures were taken.
Our trip covered 3,175 miles through Kansas, Missouri, Iowa, Illinois, Indiana, Michigan, Ontario, New York, Pennsylvania, West Virginia, Ohio, and Kentucky. It was a great trip.
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