Homeward bound!  Does that sound sweet!  We knew we only had a little over 400 miles to ride today, so were taking our time getting ready, when….

We hear on the morning news there are tornados on the leading edge of a storm cell in Missouri, and of course it’s heading our way!  Time to pack and run!  Can we stay ahead of the storm?  Just to be sure, we put on our rain gear before we even hit the road.  Again.  Rain gear.  We got spoiled with all that hot dry air in the southwest.  Rain?  Would we be lucky again and stay dry?  Yes!  Fate smiled upon us once more as we barely got hit with a drizzle all day. 

Traffic was heavy pretty much all day, but we just stayed with the fast movers and kept an escape route.  This is the second day in a row, and the only times the whole trip, we had lane changers not see us and had to brake to avoid them.  I make a practice of not riding in someone’s blind spot, and moving through it quickly when I pass, but sometime’s they still don’t see us.  Twice in three weeks and 6000 miles isn’t bad, though.

Stopping for lunch and gas just south of Dayton; we thought it was going to have to be chain food (oh no!).  But as we turned into Perkins, there it was!  The Dark Horse Tavern!  Yes, cold beer!  Very nice decor and excellent food & service.  Then back on the road home.

We got into Belleville at 5:30, and breathed big sighs of relief.  As much as we enjoyed the journey and adventure, it’s always nice to be home.

A few statistics: 405 miles ridden today; 37.5 mpg; 45.3 mpg; and 44 mpg.  21 days away from home, 16 of those on the road.  6,164 total miles ridden, average of 385 per travel day.  Tomorrow I’ll do a little bit on what I learned, what I’d do differently, and what I wouldn’t change.  I’ll also share details on expenses for anyone planning their next adventure.

We’d again like to thank Martin for allowing us to use his website for the blog, and Ryan for all the hard work setting everything up and making it look great!  We’d also like to thank each and every one of you who followed our journey - it was great having you “ride” along with us!  Frank and Sharon

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We woke up to overcast skies this morning.  Over breakfast we decided to play it safe and wear our rain gear right from the get go.  I guess that gave us good mojo, because we hardly got any rain at all.  We left Memphis at 9:00 sharp, looking to have lunch in Nashville at Mad Donna’s (www.maddonnasnashville.com).   Unbeknownst to us, they changed their hours and don’t open until 5:00 for dinner.  So we headed down the street and had lunch at a local sports bar called The Edgefield.  Very good cajun burger!

After stuffing our faces, we gassed up the bike and headed north.  At Park City, we turned off and toured the Diamond Caverns.  It was shorter and easier to get in than Mammoth Cave, and after all, a cave is a cave, right?  We enjoyed the tour and got back on the road.  We decided to stay over in Elizabethtown again since we had a good stay there the first night.  Our favorite desk clerk Stephanie hooked us up with a room that has a jacuzzi.  I hope this computer doesn’t fall in!  Ahhhhhhhh…..

Tomorrow we’ll be back in Belleville barring any untoward events.  Saturday night whoever has time is welcome to drop by and listen to our stories and see the rest of the pictures.  Say around 7:00? 

The numbers: 346 miles ridden; 40 mpg; 44 mpg.

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After filling our bellies and fueling the bike, we headed out of Lafayette, LA at 10:00.  Not far out of town, we hit the causeway.  It goes across a huge swamp, 2 lakes, and a river.  How they know which is which, I can’t imagine, as they all looked like one endless body of water with trees everywhere.  An hour later, we had Baton Rouge in our rear view mirror.  We went up US 61 to Natchez, MS, where we caught the Natchez Trace Parkway.  It follows the historic Natchez Trace trail the Indians and early traders used.  It’s a National Park, only two lanes, with a 50 mph speed limit.  The pavement is in great condition and no commercial traffic is allowed.  At times it seemed we were the only ones on the road.  It reminded me a little of cruising Hines Drive back home,  except the trees are closer to the road, and it wasn’t flooding.  The cruising was easy and relaxing, after the rain stopped, which didn’t take long.  We were very lucky with the weather; it stayed dry till Natchez, and didn’t rain on us long.  It must have been just ahead of us, as the road was wet almost all day.  We got about an hour of sun around 3:00, then the clouds rolled back in. 

The Parkway runs 445 miles from Natchez to Nashville.  We originally planned to drive it all, but after a close look at the maps and seeing how infrequent gas stations and rest spots are, had second thoughts.  After riding 100 miles of it to Jackson, MS, we decided the interstate was better for the rest of this leg.  So we took I 55 up to Memphis, and got settled in around 6:45.  By 7:05, we were in the hot tub!  Ahhhhhhhh…….

We did stop at two historic sites on the trace: Emerald Mound indian ceremonial ground, and the “sunken trace” a section of the original trail that is worn deep in the soft loess soil.

The ride north on the interstate was pretty relaxing.  We had a tail wind and light traffic making things nice.  It was looking like the skies would bust loose again as we got into Memphis, and as we pulled into the motel, here it came.  Do we lead charmed lives, or what?

By the numbers: 479 miles ridden; 41.6 mpg; 40.6 mpg; and 42.9 mpg.  We have now ridden 5413 miles since leaving Belleville.

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We got on the road bright and early today (if 9:30 is bright and early to you!).  It was kind of bittersweet leaving San Antonio and Jason behind.  Our visit was nice but short.  Do Texans love their state?  Even the waffle irons come in the state shape.  Remember the sink in Amarillo?  Yowza!

The wind gods turned on us again today, with a strong and stiff cross wind and gusts all day.  The landscape in east Texas reminds me a little of back home…rolling hills, trees, farms, etc.  We saw no wildlife, but lots of farm animals.  There was one ranch with bison and ostriches, an odd combination indeed.

We stopped for lunch near Beaumont, at a little mexican place called Tortugas; they also had some Caribbean cuisine as well.  Their food was quite good; it turned out to be a good choice.

Back on the road, we hit a brief traffic jam from an accident in a construction zone, between a semi and a car.  Not pretty.  Coming into Lake Charles, LA, we went over a very high bridge, which on approach concerned me due to the high winds, the openness, and not knowing if it would be one of those bridges with steel grating.  Fortunately, it was concrete all the way.

We motored into Lafayette around 5:30  and got checked into our motel.  Then off to WalMart for a few supplies.  While there, I inquired about where there might be a restaurant with local cuisine.  The man suggested Prejean’s with no hesitation.  So off we went, and hit paydirt!  There was more crawfish and shrimp and cajun seasons on the menu than anyone ever seen ‘afore!  Sharon had the Louisiana Zydeco shrimp, and I had the blackened catfish.  Then we topped it off with Creme Brulee and bourbon pecan pie.  Quite the meal, indeed.

By the numbers: 462 miles, including about 30 around town yesterday; 40.7 mpg, 34.6 mpg and 38.3 mpg.[gallery]

We slept in a little today, not sure if we were that tired from yesterday’s ride, or if the time zone change threw us off.  Not that it matters why.  It was in the 90’s yesterday and my oil pressure was getting scary low, so I decided to watch it closely today.  There is a Harley dealer just east of where we spent the night, so I figured if it acted up at all in the morning, I’d pull in and get some fresh oil.   Temps were in the high 70’s when we pulled out, and the pressure ran low from the start (yes, I checked the level and looked for signs of leakage), so I wheeled into Barnett’s (the world’s largest they say) Harley Davidson.  They recommended straight 60 weight for the heat down this way, so I had them dump the 20 - 50 and go with the heavy stuff.  My bike likes me for that!  So we didn’t really get on the road till noon.

The wind was out of the southwest, so we pretty much had a tail wind all day again today.  From El Paso to Fort Stockton the scenery was pretty much like yesterday, wide, sparse, arid valleys surrounded by mountain scenes in the distance.  The only break in the monotony was when you got to a small mountain range and cut through the pass to the next valley.  Riding through the barren terrain makes one wonder what hardships the settlers must have faced passing through and learning the land.  East of Fort Stockton, we moved into higher ground, so it cooled off a bit and things were much greener and more pleasing to the eye.  We fell in with a group of bikers and rode with them for about 20 miles till it was time for a gas stop.  It was nice riding with a group for a while.  It looks like Texas is taking the lead on wind energy.  We saw a gazillion giant windmills in several huge farms.  We also were right next to a couple blades on a semi in a rest area.  Those puppies are ginormous when right next to you.  We’d have gotten a pic, but he was pulling out right when we got off the bike.  The 80 mph speed limit?  Looks good, but I didn’t want the engine exposed to the extra heat of necessary revs with the oil pressure situation.  Even with the 60 weight, the heat stressed the oil and kept the pressure lower than I liked.

We finally rode into Ozona, TX about 7:00 local time.  It’s a quiet little town and welcome to our eyes.  It’s just a short little 210 mile jaunt from here into San Antonio tomorrow.  We ate dinner at the Cafe Next Door.  Yes, I capitalized that as it’s the name of the joint.  A cozy little diner in a cozy little town. 

Today’s numbers:  365 miles ridden; 51 mpg; and 45 mpg.[gallery]

We rolled into El Paso tonight at 7:00 local time.  The ride from Scottsdale was marked with cloudy skies and warm temps.  It never got really hot and we had a nice tailwind all day, so it was a comfortable ride.  So comfortable, in fact, that Sharon could’nt stay awake, what with the endless flatness of the southern plains combining with the warm temps.  I had to wrap her arms around me and tie her wrists together so she couldn’t fall off!  OK, it wasn’t quite that bad, but she did nap a lot today!

We didn’t see much of note today.  One high spot was the trike we  saw.  It looks home made, and sports a V-8 engine, and steering set up like a tractor.  Then we hit the foothills at Las Cruces, and things were greener and more hilly.

One of the great things about motorcycling is that you are out in the weather and sense everything right away.  No isolation in the litttle cocoon of a car’s cabin with A/C or heat.  You know right away if the temp dips or jumps, if it starts to rain, or if you pass a stockyard (yuck!).  There were several of those between Las Cruces and El Paso.  Nice.  Still, a bad day riding beats a good day working!  Today was a good day riding.

Dinner was at Leo’s Mexican Restaurant, a local (exit 11 off I-10) joint here in El Paso.  It was very good; I had some of the best nachos I have ever eaten.  Yes,  Tim, better than Mexican Fiesta, and sorry Susan, but I think it beats Tony’s, too.

Today by the numbers:  455 miles ridden, 42.5 mpg, 42.3 mpg, and 44.6 mpg.   Love that tailwind!  We were cruising 75 mph much of the day.  Tomorrow we’ll break 4000 miles since Belleville![gallery]

Another great day in the southwest! Woke up to sunshine and temps in the 70’s. Who runs their chainsaw at 6:00 a.m.? And why do you need a chainsaw to trim a cactus?

Craig had to work, but Teddy took us up to Cave Creek where every bar is a saloon and every saloon is a bar. We toured the shops and checked out The Town Dump (an eclectic artsy antique sort of place). Then we had lunch at the biker friendly Hideaway Grill ( http://www.hideaway-usa.com/ ). Our friendly barmaid Dawn took our pictures for their website, so then we got a picture of her with us. The food was great, the beer was cold, and we walked out happy.

When Craig finished work, we met him at the Desert Botanical Gardens to check out the work of Dale Chihuly, a talented custom glass blower. They had his art mixed in with the flora around the garden. As the sun set, the changing light gave much of it an ethereal look. We left there for a late dinner at Bandera’s in downtown Scottsdale. Very nice place. We are now very tired and very full!

No riding today.[gallery]

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We left Solana Beach around 9:45 under cloudy skies and temps in the low 60’s. Headed down the Old Highway 101 toward Del Mar, taking the scenic route. Down in San Diego we hit I - 8 and headed east into the mountains. Up in the pass at 4180 feet elevation it was a tad nippy. That little detail wouldn’t be a problem for long. It took about an hour to get through the mountains, which were very rocky (big ‘uns, too) and barren. The long downgrade into the desert was not quite as steep as the one into San Bernardino the other day, but was enjoyable. We had a nice tailwind all day, making it a very relaxing ride. Once down on the desert floor, we promptly made a pit stop to remove our warm gear. By the time we got to Phoenix (Scottsdale, actually) it was 84 degrees and we were cookin’!

There were no points of interest to stop at today, so we just stayed on the road. You don’t even want to know where we had lunch. Scenery wise, the mountains were interesting, the desert was pretty boring, but there are a lot of farms green from irrigation. I did see a snake on Arizona Hwy 85. I thought there was a board in the road ahead and swerved to avoid it, but it slithered in front of me and I ran it over! Whoops. Not a board. I couldn’t tell you what kind it was , as I was tooling along at 70 mph.

By the way, we did get a face shield for Sharon, but that was a little too late - - the sun had already cooked her good. Then she decided she didn’t want to wear it as it impeded her vision and was difficult to take pics of the scenery and such. Just an FYI so those who care know that we tried! Also, when riding through states that do not require helmets, the face shield is a rather moot point. Thanks for caring, though!

By the numbers: Miles traveled today: 412; 3 gas stops (for the bike not us!): 42.5 mpg; 45.6 mpg and 41 mpg. Miles traveled total so far: 3,422 (whew!)

Today has been an absolutely delightful, sunny, laid back, gorgeous day!  We slept in, had a nice homemade breakfast, relaxed over coffee, and took the pups for a walk through town.  After a tour of town, we hit the beach for a photo op, and watched the surfers ride the waves.  What a gorgeous little community.  Then we got a few needed tasks accomplished.  We started with getting some laundry going, then proceeded to wash the dirty, filthy, bug encrusted bike.  It actually looks good again! 

While walking through town, we dropped in to Moreland Choppers (www.morelandchoppers.com) and looked over the bikes they had for sale and projects in progress.  They are doing some really nice work over there!  I chatted with Ben about getting ready to cross the lower southwest and whether or not to go to a higher viscosity oil.  He said with the springtime temps, I would be all right with the 20 - 50 I am using.  So seeing as I had 3000 miles on this oil already, I bought some fresh juice and a filter and proceeded to give the old girl some fresh fluid.  (The bike, not Sharon!) 

My sister is an awesome hostess!  For dinner, she rustled up some rockin’ good porterhouse steaks and salmon!  MMMMM!  Dessert…chocolate decadence…mmmmmmmmm!!!!!!!!!  Ya’ll come visit, now, ya hear?  She spoils the heck out of us.  We’re lovin’ it!  Too bad time constraints demand that we hit the road again tomorrow.  This time tomorrow we will be in Scottsdale with Teddy and Craig, barring any problems.

By the numbers:  nuttin’, honey, we stayed put!

P.S. We love all of your comments…please keep them coming!  Thanks for being with us.

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Here we are in our 2nd full day in California.  Today saw us leaving Debbie in Pasadena around noon and heading south down the coast to Solana Beach and sister Susan.  Temps were in the 60’s with overcast skies and barely a hint of wind.  Heading south through LA to the coast, we hit the carpool lane (2 or more people per vehicle!) and cruised nicely to the Pacific Coast Highway (at 80 mph of course).  It was great to get on the PCH and run slower and experience the local flavor.  There are still offshore oil rigs from pre-ban days in view from the LA area.  Who knew?  Running down the coastal highway with the ocean on our right and the homes on our left, seeing all the local shops and sights, was very enjoyable.

The houses on the bluffs and hills overlooking the ocean are amazing.  Some areas are reminiscent of photos of Tuscany, Italy, with all the tile roofs and stucco walls.  It was probably the most pleasant day of riding so far on the entire journey.  The clouds burned off around 1:30 or so, but the temps never got too hot, so it was simply a glorious day for riding.

We hit Solana Beach around 3:30, kicked back and visited with Susan and the dogs.  We had dinner at her and Roy’s favorite local Mexican joint, Tony’s Jacal.  We were joined by her friends Peggy and Walter.  Walter used to ride Harleys, so we had plenty of good biker conversation.  Then back to Susan’s for dessert.

By the numbers:

Yesterday:  55 miles, 1 fill up 35.11 mpg

Today:  117 miles, didn’t buy gas yet!

3010 miles since leaving Belleville.[gallery]