Valley of Fire

I was dead to the world all night and we both slept late. We did another walk way down the strip searching for some breakfast and coffee but alas, the hotels have all the food places inside, so we found a Starbucks and used the old "I just want a simple coffee" thing. I have never understood ordering coffee at Starbucks. Back to the room and checked out. This town never sleeps as it seems as busy in the casino early in the morning as it is at night and you have to go through the casino to go anywhere in a Vegas hotel.
We tore all out stuff apart and got it all down to both saddlebags full and one small LL Bean bag on the rack on the back. It was raining east and south of us so we decided to go north and do a loop through Valley of Fire State Park, which was beautiful. We went up Rt15 to get out of Las Vegas(yuck) and on the way got passed by dozens of Harleys all, as it turned out, also going to Valley of Fire. But being Harley riders, they stopped at the exit to fill the peanut sized gas tanks and we kept going (with our macadamia nut sized tank) and managed to stay ahead of them all day. The temperature was 70-80 so perfect. Not a drop of rain all day, perfect. The Harley ran perfectly, even though it sounds like a sap bucket full of gutter cleaner parts most of the time. The range is supposed to be 200 miles but the gauge said empty after 150 miles and it only took 3.3 gals to refill so I gotta Google this to see how far this will really go. These roads are pretty desolate and I do not want to run out of gas.
We stopped at Boulder City near Hoover Dam and had lunch. This is a nice little town with a nice community feel to it, and we went through some others as well.
The Beavertown cactus (Hannah says) are blooming bright pink and the Creosote bushes are flowering small yellow flowers so there is some beauty mixed with desert on both sides of the road. We passed some huge solar projects so these guys are doing the right thing out here.
We went south on 95 to cross the river at Bullhead City, AZ which is just across the river from Laughlin NV. The difference is there are big casinos on the Nevada side and none on the AZ side.  But I must say, these town seem to have a nice feel to them, with or without gambling. We had a little daylight left and it was warm so we decided to do one more push and end the day in Kingman AZ.
The sun dropped fast behind us and we were rewarded with a spectacular mountain / cloud combo, sunset. Awesome, even with power lines blocking the view. We got a motel (whose name shall not be revealed for continued marital bliss) and walked into another nice little town for a couple cold beers. Kingman has a Yoga studio next to a wine bar next to the Redneck BBQ place (with real rednecks) across the street from a local brewery (where we stopped) and a couple nice restaurants. It is a railroad town so trains seem to moving through continuously. We skipped dinner since we ate lunch so late in Boulder City. Nice walk back to the hotel and bed.
Nice first day for Hannah on the back. She did good..

Viva Las Elvis

Me, and a few others that got the same extra days re-route through San Fran did make it to Las Vegas and on time. I think the nice guy does ok as one couple that was hollering at those folks in New York about their cancelled flight, ended up on the exact same flight as me, the difference being, they stood in that line for over 2 hours yelling and threatening. I read a book instead, and we both got here late.
My daughter somehow got more gorgeous since the last time I saw her, blonder and healthier from all the outdoor stuff she has been doing (as apposed to grayer and pastier her old man has gotten from working behind a desk in the arctic all winter.
And I would like to remind everyone back home that IT IS WARM HERE!! Sorry, couldn't help myself. I was pretty wiped out and I had to figure out how to get the bike, where to stay tonight and how to get the the wireless show. Hannah had her car and took me to the bike shop. On the way I called Seth, an engineer who was in Vegas at a wireless trade show, and he and his family got a smoking deal at the West Gate so I called West Gate and got a less smoking deal, but not bad in the scheme of things.
Big confusion at the bike shop as they had no record of me reserving a bike, but did have a record of me renting one back in Feb, which they agreed did not actually happen. They had told me all was good last Sunday when I checked that all was ok. They had a bike so we got lunch at their favorite taco place a couple blocks away, and when we got back I had a shiny Heritage Softail waiting. Got Hannah a helmet and kevlar jacket, put some earbuds in and the iPhone talked me through Las Vegas traffic to the hotel. Easy-peasy.
We had a couple long walks to catch up, people watch and get a feel for Vegas. It is a party town for sure. I can't wait to leave.
It got too late for the show, which turned out ok as Seth says the classes and seminars (nerdy stuff, even nerdier than me if thats possible) were good, but the vendor exhibits were not that great. Instead I took a luxurious shower and changed my lived in clothes. We  met Seth and Allare and his 2 great kids and went to a secret hole in the wall Thai place that had great food. At this point I wanted nothing but bed and sleep so called it a day.
And yes, Elvis and Marilyn Monroe are still here, everywhere!

I love the smell of jet fuel early in the morning.. We didn't leave JFK until just before midnight due to immovable travel object #14 which was a flat tire on the plane (I swear I saw cans of "Fix-A-Flat" out there..) and it'a a 7 hr flight to San Francisco. I actually slept fairly well back in cattle class at the Airbus B&B. Lots of movies, but I slept instead. Got here at SFO around 4am (7am back home) and next flight (hopefully it will be pleasantly uneventful) is at 9 to Vegas. Hannah ended up taking the hotel I reserved so I expect her to be sparkly clean and rested. The wireless trade show starts today and I should pick the Harley up this afternoon so should be a busy day and not sure how it is put together yet. The picture is the lovely office they had waiting for me when I got off the plane in SFO. As you can see, not a lot of people here this time of day. The nice policeman cruising the airport on his Segway (they actually sold some of those?) said coffee place opens soon. WiFi is everywhere and it is free. They had free "Beta" WiFi on the plane but I chose sleep (or it chose me I suppose) instead.
I was thinking as we landed with all the lights below of inviting one of my Vermont ancestors to come on the trip and all the questions he or she might have. Working on old diaries and stories from the 1800's this past year helps give me some perspective and appreciation for what we do have (comfort, wealth (relative to the 1800's)) and also what we maybe wandered the wrong way on (self control of our food & energy supply (I got no root cellar or wood shed). But what we have is pretty amazing. OK, off to find that elusive pre-dawn cup of Joe.

Happy St Patrty's Day (NOT!!)

Bret from work very nicely gave me a ride to the airport and the Jet Blue folks are really nice. I got one of the TSA Pre-approved which at first I was humbled by, but it actually means you don't have to take your shoes off. (Nobody wants to see old people take their shoes off!). Very windy taking off and really exciting landing in JFK. Sorta like a stunt plane ride, but bigger plane (believe me, I know). So it was suppose to be a boring flight and then I looked at "the big board" when I got off the plane The words "Cancelled" had taken over the column normally reserved for the happy "On Time" column and scanning the list, sure enough, my flight from JFK to Las Vegas was "Cancelled". Cool! An adventure (in my twisted little mind). So I queue up at the "Just Ask" counter with my angry fellow travelers, or not travelers as it may be. So us Vermonters, or this one at least, are pretty non-plussed by these kinds of things, being beaten senseless by winter, taxes and aging hippies all these years, knowing that the sun will come up tomorrow and we will have another interesting life story to tell the grandchildren someday. My fellow travelers were on the other hand, extremely plussed. Better than a Starksboro dog fight by far!! I could sell tickets. The 5 Jet Blue folks behind the counter were up to the task with skin as thick as iron. It took me 30-40 minutes of standing in line (or defending my position in line) before "Julia" asked how she could help. The Jet Blue computers were, as we spoke, trying to re-route me, or do something for me, as her screen was changing as we spoke. So I told her I would get coffee and come back. I think she thought I was some kind of weirdo for not yelling at her like the rest. An hour later, Jet Blue had called my house (robo call) and told the answering machine and Julia confirmed I was being re-routed to San Francisco late tonight and then flying in the morning to Las Vegas. So it's going to be a looong night, but they do serve beer and meals and there is great people watching for this country bumpkin. Oh yea, and free wifi, so  it will be a long night of working on some interesting code later in San Fransciso (if they also have free wifi). Gotta go re-fill on Starbucks, where they laugh when I ask for "wimpy coffee and not that black tar they usual serve". Good night!! Oh and Happy St Patrick's Day!!

Heading to Vegas, Gonna See My Girl

I almost forgot how to sign into this blog it's been so long. I am doing a "3-fer" on this trip. There is a trade show I wanted to go to in Las Vegas (If I told you what it was, you would go to sleep, but think nerds with pocket protectors) and we couldn't justify 2 of us going, so I decided to take in a day of it on my vacation (nerd..). And if that place just happens to be warm, I might as well rent a motorcycle, and if I have a motorcycle, I might as well ride it around the southwest a bit and see some sites. And guess what, my lovely daughter Hannah just happens to be in Arizona and seems tickled to ride on the back. And her brother Jacob just happens to be just about the right distance away in Albuquerque NM to make for a nice round trip that should take about a week. My plane leaves this afternoon, (BTV to JFK to Vegas) and I am ready to see the sun again and thaw out. The driveway is plowed and it doesn't look like there is much snow-wise coming this week so Deb should be able to get up the hill.
I have my usual pile of stuff on the kitchen table ready to stuff into a bag. It's been a long snowy, cold winter and I am ready for a break. I'll keep you posted..

Weds Sep 10 - Marion PA to Vernon VT

A big storm is headed east so we decided to get to Vermont before it overtook us in a day or so. The Iowa folks had no options but to ride west until it started raining and then stop and hole up. Weird thing with these retired folks, is they don't really mind. This trip seeing all these relaxed, laid back retired folks has been a bad influence on me. So far everyone thinks I am the older brother, which tells me the stress of work is aging me fast, or the laid back retired life is making my brother younger.
  So a couple more "nowhere to nowhere" roads that were empty and smooth until we clip the lower end of Cayuga Lake. Some vineyards, and a bit better heeled folks. We stopped in Cortland at the Little Guy trailer dealer. These are the trailers we saw being built by the Amish a couple days ago. They are small enough to pull behind a high mileage car (think Prius or diesel Jetta), but are really high quality, sleep 2, stove, sink, TV radio, air conditioning if you want. Nice birch wood interior. Real class rig. They had a ton there so it was a good place to check out all the models. Would be perfect for Dave and Irene's next big adventure.
Then north until we hit Rt 20 which goes east. We quickly realized that this is the Rt 20 that was build in the early 1900's and it goes from Boston to Oregon. It is a federal highway and pokes along beside Rt 90. SSo there is not much traffic on it because the interstate is next to it. And no trucks to mix it up with. And the added bonus of lots of old store fronts, refurbished diners, old gas stations, etc. This would be a real interesting way to go coast to coast. My beemer is ready!!

Speaking of my beemer, it proudly rolled over 80,000 miles (woo hoo!). Still runs like new, my old friend of 17 years. So how do I get to 100,000? Hmmmm. I think I have some ideas.
So we rolled into Dave's garage at 8pm after another lovely day. I did 2694 miles from my house to my house on this trip. Can't wait for the next one.

Tues Sep 9 - Winchester VA to Mansfield PA

This is what happens when you wait a couple days to write this stuff. Bad enough I have to ask Dave where we stayed last night, say nothing of 2 nights ago.
Today was a long haul up route 522. This goes due north through that part of the east where glaciers scored long valleys and ridges. The roads just gotta go up the valley until they can't stand it anymore and then they hop over the top of one of the ridges. So we start in Virginia and then into West "by God" Virginia (for at least the 4th time!) and then across Maryland. Maryland is so skinny here, you could hold your breath at the southern border and not have to breath again until you hit the norther border. Seriously, it's about 3 miles. And like I said, West Virginia must be star shaped because it just keep sucking us back in.
So the Pennsylvania where the Amish hide out. They seem to pick areas big enough and flat enough and fertile enough to create stand alone communities. This after all is one of the goals, to create a community. I can't image a lone Amish family living without like-minded neighbors. You know you are not in touristy areas when the Amish scramble in the buggy to wave at motorcycles.
Something I think we have to be careful of is trusting the state map, or any map for that matter, when they call a route "scenic". Sometimes it is, but many times these get loaded with other tourists taking the scenic route and hence the route filling with shops to sell stuff to the tourists, then billboards, then.. So your best bet is take the route that doesn't connect anything with anything, or set Daves GPS to "no highways", "shortest route", and "no gravel roads with grass growing in the middle". If only that last one existed.
End of the day, Dave punches up a hotel and it leads us to Mansfield PA. Damned if this isn't the same town with the same hotel we stayed in last spring, and Dave and his wife Irene stayed in last year on their cross country trip. Must be magnetic. Bad enough we have traveled every road in Vermont umty ump times, but now PA and WV (Ohio is next) are giving us repeats. Gotta get further west..
The Comfort Inn was full of gas drillers (because they have a lounge, we are sure) so we found another place across the valley. Chatted up 4 folks from Iowa (on 3 Harleys) who were heading home (west). They had gone to Delaware and Rhode Island to complete the lower 48 states. Those Iowa folks sure are friendly. They looked like normal retired folks in the restaurant the night before, but were downright bad-ass the next morning in their leathers and dew-rags. If only BMW made dew-rags. Here is my brother with and without a dew-rag. OK ladies, which one would you ride into the sunset with?