Hi,
I arrived home on Thursday at about 3:30 pm after a 645 mile ride from Twin Falls. I was going to stop in Sparks, NV. but things worked out and I was on a riding roll so I came straight home.
Bill also rode straight home from Twin Falls, a 570 mile ride and arrived safely at about 4:00 pm the same day.
So both grayriders are currently home and safe.
This will be the beginning of a long string of updates and detailing of the 9500 mile journey on the Goldwing.
There will be a lot more pictures and comments in these updates.
So don't lose the address to this site just yet.
Mike
28 July 2007
20 July 2007
Quick Update
I know some people have been starting to worry... he's OK. From Allentown Dad headed to Delta, PA for Miss Laura's birthday party and to spend some time with Justin, Terri and the gang. He left early really early in the morning, more because he already happened to be awake and had mentioned that he would be leaving early anyhow.
Dad then motored to Illinois to catch up with a long-time family friend. Wink has now had a couple visits in relatively quick succession. Wish I could visit too. It was a fairly quick visit, arrive one day and leave the next, but such is how things go sometimes. From there he headed north to Wisconsin and has probably met up with Bill and Fisken by now. I tried to call this evening and was barely able to get through, as he's in a bad cell area right now. Anyhow, I was able to get enough that he was safe and in Wisconsin, so rest assured the old man is still with us. I too await an update and more pictures.
TTFN
Dad then motored to Illinois to catch up with a long-time family friend. Wink has now had a couple visits in relatively quick succession. Wish I could visit too. It was a fairly quick visit, arrive one day and leave the next, but such is how things go sometimes. From there he headed north to Wisconsin and has probably met up with Bill and Fisken by now. I tried to call this evening and was barely able to get through, as he's in a bad cell area right now. Anyhow, I was able to get enough that he was safe and in Wisconsin, so rest assured the old man is still with us. I too await an update and more pictures.
TTFN
12 July 2007
Allentown visit
Hi,
This is the catch up email that was mentioned just a few hours ago.
It seemed that Ike didn’t have any internet access in the bungalow that he let us use while
Bill and I were staying in Allentown. Also, being tired and not thinking to technically, I didn’t have the wireless or some other email setting correctly set, I could receive email but could not send. Now that all the excuses for the lack of email for almost a week are in place, on to continue the journey.
We left North Carolina, on our way to see Billy Higgins in Buena Vista, VA. (it is a sister city to Lexington, VA.) it seems that Billy had not seen any of his war buddies since the war and Bill and I were the first to visit him in 40 years. The three of us had dinner together and talked about what has happened over the last 40 years (readers digest version) and enjoyed each others company. Just like any of us Billy has gotten older and is on the verge of retirement, although it seems that he enjoys what he does for work.
The next morning we headed out for Allentown, PA., and spent the next three full days with “Ike” and his wife Diane. They allowed us the use of the Bungalow in the hills of Macungie, PA. Ike made sure that we got to see all of the sites of his home town and where he retired from (30 years with Mack Truck).
This morning Bill headed for Gettysburg, PA., to visit the battlefield and I headed towards Delta, PA. to spend some time with my grandson and family. I will be in Delta until Monday morning when I will head out for New Lenox, Ill., to visit a long time family friend of my grandsons. I will then go to Shawano, WI., where Bill will be with John Fisken and be waiting for me to link up again for our push west towards home. 
This is the catch up email that was mentioned just a few hours ago.
It seemed that Ike didn’t have any internet access in the bungalow that he let us use while
Bill and I were staying in Allentown. Also, being tired and not thinking to technically, I didn’t have the wireless or some other email setting correctly set, I could receive email but could not send. Now that all the excuses for the lack of email for almost a week are in place, on to continue the journey.
We left North Carolina, on our way to see Billy Higgins in Buena Vista, VA. (it is a sister city to Lexington, VA.) it seems that Billy had not seen any of his war buddies since the war and Bill and I were the first to visit him in 40 years. The three of us had dinner together and talked about what has happened over the last 40 years (readers digest version) and enjoyed each others company. Just like any of us Billy has gotten older and is on the verge of retirement, although it seems that he enjoys what he does for work.
The next morning we headed out for Allentown, PA., and spent the next three full days with “Ike” and his wife Diane. They allowed us the use of the Bungalow in the hills of Macungie, PA. Ike made sure that we got to see all of the sites of his home town and where he retired from (30 years with Mack Truck).
This morning Bill headed for Gettysburg, PA., to visit the battlefield and I headed towards Delta, PA. to spend some time with my grandson and family. I will be in Delta until Monday morning when I will head out for New Lenox, Ill., to visit a long time family friend of my grandsons. I will then go to Shawano, WI., where Bill will be with John Fisken and be waiting for me to link up again for our push west towards home. 
To view the pictures associated with this email, please visit http://www.vvetriders.blogspot.com/ . there this email will be posted in it’s entirety along with pictures. I find it much easier to post the photos in one place rather than send everyone five emails just to send photos.
Mike
Mike
Travel clip on the wing
Hi,
Thought you might enjoy this little movie clip I accidentally took while trying to take just a picture of my dashboard while moving. Also included is the picture I first tried to take.
The movie clip would not upload to this site, so only the picture is here. If you want to see the clip, email me at mjvsr1@gmail.com and I will email you the clip.
Mike
p.s. more to follow (have to catch up a lot of things)
Thought you might enjoy this little movie clip I accidentally took while trying to take just a picture of my dashboard while moving. Also included is the picture I first tried to take.
The movie clip would not upload to this site, so only the picture is here. If you want to see the clip, email me at mjvsr1@gmail.com and I will email you the clip.
Mike
p.s. more to follow (have to catch up a lot of things)
06 July 2007
Clyde_NC
Hi,
Today was spent with Myrl and Linda Brown. We were in Clyde, NC; Myrl met us about 9AM and we followed him to his home. We met his wife Linda and his two grown sons. Linda was already preparing breakfast for everyone and her first priority was to feed all of us. Linda Brown is another wonderful hostess of southern hospitality along with Kay Parker. Linda made sure that everyone had enough to eat and drink while Myrl, Bill, and I talked about everything from farming, retirement, children, Viet Nam, lost friends, lost family and so much more.
Bill and I stayed with the Brown family the entire day. We were offered a place to stay and except for the fact that Bill and I had a room already paid for, we would have stayed.
Tomorrow we are off to Buena Vista, VA to see Billy Higgins and possibly spend the next day with Billy Higgins.
We will see what happens on Sunday,
Mike
Today was spent with Myrl and Linda Brown. We were in Clyde, NC; Myrl met us about 9AM and we followed him to his home. We met his wife Linda and his two grown sons. Linda was already preparing breakfast for everyone and her first priority was to feed all of us. Linda Brown is another wonderful hostess of southern hospitality along with Kay Parker. Linda made sure that everyone had enough to eat and drink while Myrl, Bill, and I talked about everything from farming, retirement, children, Viet Nam, lost friends, lost family and so much more.
Bill and I stayed with the Brown family the entire day. We were offered a place to stay and except for the fact that Bill and I had a room already paid for, we would have stayed.
Tomorrow we are off to Buena Vista, VA to see Billy Higgins and possibly spend the next day with Billy Higgins.
We will see what happens on Sunday,
Mike
Dragon's Tail
Hi,
We are at the Best Western in Cherokee, NC. We took our time getting started this morning, we left Sevierville about 7AM (10AM) for the west coast and aimed towards Maryville, TN on our way to the Dragon’s Tail. It is beautiful green farm country in this area and quite enjoyable to ride through.
The Dragon’s Tail is a ride you have to pay attention to while negotiating it, but, the hype was more dramatic than the ride. Like any stretch of tight, twisting, narrow road, there are always idiots who make it dangerous for everyone else. Fortunately for Bill and I we went through the Dragon early enough to miss the clowns on crotch rockets, and the semi truck drivers who haven’t ever been in this part of the country. We rode it slow, safe, and sanely because of not being familiar with the road and being packed heavy. We made it to Deal’s Gap and promptly rewarded ourselves with pins and patches of the Dragon’s Tail road. The tree of shame does not have any parts of Bill’s or my bike nailed to it. 
Tomorrow we will be in Maggie Valley (near Clyde, NC) to spend the day and visit with Myrl Brown.
From Maggie Valley, we will go highway 40 north to get to highway 81 and go the Buena Vista, VA and see if we can visit with Billy Higgins. Don’t know how much time we will spend in Buena Vista, then we aim for Allentown, PA to visit with Ike.
So we will see how the time runs and we will be in Delta, PA on the 13th so we can attend a birthday party on the 14th.
Tonight’s photos were taken in Deal’s Gap, TN, upon completion of the Dragon’s Tail.
Will write soon, don’t know if I will have internet access tomorrow, will see.
Mike
We are at the Best Western in Cherokee, NC. We took our time getting started this morning, we left Sevierville about 7AM (10AM) for the west coast and aimed towards Maryville, TN on our way to the Dragon’s Tail. It is beautiful green farm country in this area and quite enjoyable to ride through.
The Dragon’s Tail is a ride you have to pay attention to while negotiating it, but, the hype was more dramatic than the ride. Like any stretch of tight, twisting, narrow road, there are always idiots who make it dangerous for everyone else. Fortunately for Bill and I we went through the Dragon early enough to miss the clowns on crotch rockets, and the semi truck drivers who haven’t ever been in this part of the country. We rode it slow, safe, and sanely because of not being familiar with the road and being packed heavy. We made it to Deal’s Gap and promptly rewarded ourselves with pins and patches of the Dragon’s Tail road. The tree of shame does not have any parts of Bill’s or my bike nailed to it. 
Tomorrow we will be in Maggie Valley (near Clyde, NC) to spend the day and visit with Myrl Brown.From Maggie Valley, we will go highway 40 north to get to highway 81 and go the Buena Vista, VA and see if we can visit with Billy Higgins. Don’t know how much time we will spend in Buena Vista, then we aim for Allentown, PA to visit with Ike.
So we will see how the time runs and we will be in Delta, PA on the 13th so we can attend a birthday party on the 14th.
Tonight’s photos were taken in Deal’s Gap, TN, upon completion of the Dragon’s Tail.
Will write soon, don’t know if I will have internet access tomorrow, will see.
Mike
04 July 2007
Smokey Mountains
"Hi,
We left
We are now in 
Tomorrow we are going to go to
So now we have seen the knifeworks and tomorrow the Dragon’s Tail, and there is still more to come.
This is so cool.
My daughter has set up a website chronicling this ride across the country that I want to share it with everyone. The site is: http://vvetride.blogspot.com. When I find more time to better monitor the site I will directly author the site, until then, Thanks Bear.
I will include one picture with this email and four others in their own email without text.
Write soon,
Mike"
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)