Archive for Cross Country Trip

Day 15

Miles Rode = 322 Staying in my own bed.

Rain that is about all I can say. It rained all the way to King of Prussia.

Trip is over. Back to work on Monday.

 

We traveled 6,522 miles for this trip.

Day 14

Miles Rode = 509 Staying in Cranberry Township, PA.

Not much to see today except clouds and rain and some more rain.

Tom H. says his rain gear failed but I am not sure that is what happened.

Day 13

Miles Rode = 525 Staying in Peru, Illinois

It was another day riding with rain gear on. There was not much to see in Nebraska, Iowa, or Illinois. We did pass the birth place of John Wayne and Ronald Reagan.

The only picture today was of the Iowa Speedway. Not sure what if any races are held there.

Had dinner at a local bar / restaurant, Called the Cabin Fever  Bar and Grill 

The weather for tomorrow looks like rain at least in the morning.

 

Day 12

Miles Rode = 501 Spending the night in Grand Island, NE

We left Wyoming and there was actually sun, it was a nice change. It was around 45 degrees and started to warm up after lunch finally getting to the low 70’s.

We got to see the Cabela’s world headquarters, the store was smaller then the one in Hamburg PA. But so was the town it was in.

Nothing against Nebraska but there is not much to see here, it is flat and straight.

Day 11

Miles Rode = 522 Staying in Rawlins, WY

Another fine day of rain, we rolled out of Elko with the temp in the low 40’s. Got up to low 60’s a few times but was mostly in the high 40’s and low 50”s.

Got to drive through the Bonneville Salt Flats.

Wyoming is another awesome state, there is so much to see and not enough time. I finally understand what they mean when they say big sky country. Between breaks in the clouds as far as you can see is just open land and blue sky,

The town of Rawlins is full. The gold companies are opening new mines and all the hotels are full, We went to 4 hotels before we found a room. The hotel restaurant / lounge is kind of scary. Think the bar in road house before they got bouncers. I am sure it is fun but I was not going to eat dinner there. So the only think in walking distance was a KFC.

Day 10

Miles Rode = 504 Spending the night in Elko, NV

Left San Fran and made it on to I80 before it started to rain, it did not really stop all day. It was off and on most of the trip.

When we left San Fran it was 65 by the time we hit Donner Pass it was 33. The temp varied between the mid 30’s at the top of the peaks and the low 70’s in the desert.

We ended up in Elko, I have never heard of it before but it is a really cool little town. It is where a lot of the gold mines in the US are. The hotel recommended  a local resturant that was really good called the Star Hotel they server family style. So you order your protein and it comes with soup, salad, fries, beans, green beans, and spaghetti. You site at large tables with other people it was kind of cool.

 

starhotelElkoNV

Day 9

Took the day off so no riding.

Miles from home to San Francisco = 3640

We just hung around San Francisco and relaxed. Starting the trip home tomorrow,

Day 8

Miles Rode = 251 Staying in San Francisco, CA.

After a short ride over to the Pacific Coast Highway, through some beautiful mountain country we rode it all the way to San Francisco.

It was kind of cold most of the trip with the fog not burning off until after 12. Some great twisties before getting to the lower altitudes and then traffic started about 60 miles before San Fran.

Once in San Fran we took the scenic route to get to the hotel. The hills are as big as they look in the pictures maybe bigger. I think both bikes now need new clutches.

We are staying walking distance from Pier 39 & Fisherman’s Wharf.

Tomorrow is our day off so no riding the bikes are parked in a underground garage and staying there. It will be a nice break before we start the ride home.

Day 7

Miles Rode = 406 Spending the night in Paso Robies, CA

We took it easy today, we are about 10 miles from our goal of the Pacific Ocean. we will get to see and touch it tomorrow.

Weather was nice today, in the late afternoon it was in the mid 90’s.

About a mile from the hotel on we saw a crazy accident that closed the highway for hours. We saw the truck flip on its side slide down the highway and up the embankment. For a second we though it was going to come through the guard rail. It is after 8 PM and the traffic is still gridlocked.

 

Day 6

Miles Rode = 282 Spent the night in Las Vegas NV

It was a light riding day. Tom had to be at the Harley dealer at 8 AM to get a new tire and oil change.

The weather was a brisk 35 degrees in Flagstaff when we got up. With very strong winds.

I  left Tom to the dealer and I headed to Las Vegas which was the closest BMW dealer. BMW Motorcycle of Las Vegas They were great I got there around 11:30 and they were able to get me right in for an oil change. They were also nice enough to wash and wax my bike. It was a little dirty, they ask if I took it off road.

They ride to Vegas was awesome, cold but awesome. The wind on US 40 was unlike anything I have ever rode though, it actually pushed you into the next lane. The views were unreal, I wish I could  take pictures that would show the scale and beauty of the mountains.

We got a room at Caesars Palace and had the buffet at the Wynn for dinner.