Day Twenty Eight, Williams, AZ to Santa Clarita, CA - 432 Miles

Friday, September 3, 2010

Greetings Faithful Followers to the End of the Journey,

Last day on the road, we departed the cool pine of Williams, AZ, at 7:00 AM headed for breakfast at the Cracker Barrel restaurant on Stockton-Hill Road some 115 miles away in Kingman, AZ. The temperatures steadily increased from about 65 degrees in Williams to 85 degrees as we descended the mountainous terrain and approached Kingman, AZ. We spent about 45 minutes in Kingman and using great restraint we entered westbound I-40 avoiding Kingman Harley-Davidson only minutes off our path. Passing Seligman, AZ, (home of the Snow Cap Drive-In, if you haven't been, you really need to go) we resisted the temptation to get off I-40 and ride one of the few remaining sections of old Route 66, "The Mother Road," in Arizona, to Kingman, AZ.

Leaving Kingman, one could almost see the temperature gauge on the dash of the Electra Glide slowly winding up toward the 90 degree mark, and then inching toward the 100 degree mark and beyond within the hour. We stopped for gas and more hydration at the Arizona/California border and prepared to enter the oven that is the Needles, CA, valley and the Colorado River basin. I always thought they spelled Needles incorrectly. It should have one more "S" on the end thereby proclaiming itself "Needless," which it truly is in my opinion.

With the 109 degree heat beating down on us we opted for a fuel and hydration stop in a wide spot in the Southern California desert known as Ludlow, CA. The Union 76 station/Dairy Queen was packed with travelers seeking relief from the noonday inferno. The next leg of the journey took us to Victorville, CA, for a brief stop at Victorville Harley-Davidson where I consumed two of their complimentary water bottles and we said adios to Bill, who would depart solo for Ontario, Ca, while Steve, Lane and I trekked the final leg to Santa Clarita, CA, and home.

We arrived home to the same sweltering heat we had been subjected to all afternoon about 3:30 PM, glad to be home safe and sound, but lamenting the end of a wonderful journey.

In all, we traveled some 9,400 miles, through two countries in 28 days, which gave me cause to briefly think about changing the name of our ride from the 2010 New England Ride to the Twenty Eight Day Menstrual-Cycle Ride, because guys get moody too.

I have have one post-incident to report that I thought I'd save until we returned as not to worry anyone needlessly. On Day Twenty Five, August 31, 2010, while seeking out the "World's Largest Rocking Chair," in Cuba, MO, Steve was following Lane down a section of Route 66 when all of a sudden it appeared on the right shoulder. Lane slowed to turn into the parking lot and Steve braked hard to avoid hitting Lane's bike. In doing so, Steve locked up his brakes and the rear tire decided that it wanted to be in front for a change, and attempted to swap ends, unceremoniously depositing Steve onto the pavement as the two slid together the last 25 feet to the driveway. In the course of the accident, Steve deposited several layers of skin on the roadway from his arm and hip and rendered his long sleeve T shirt and blue jeans totally unserviceable for any further Horck Adventures.

Although helmets are not required in Missouri, Steve was wearing his when his head bounced off the pavement once leaving proof of the strike on the helmet. The bike suffered a bent engine guard and one ground down freeway foot peg. His right saddle bag and two nylon luggage bags suffered the same fate as Steve's arm and hip. Fortunately, Steve's worst injury was to his pride. It could have been much worse. Many thanks to the good folks at the Route 66 Outpost in front of which the accident occurred. They supplied Steve with immediate first aid, something to drink, and a place to rest while we tended to the motorcycle. At the next Harley dealer we were able to secure the necessary replacement parts and repaired it in their parking lot the same day.


As always, I feel compelled to tell a story on myself before we end this adventure. Late one afternoon, we pulled into a gas station and before I could even remove my helmet a lady using the opposite side of the gas pump began to question me as to where we were from, where we were going, how long we had been on the road, etc., all the while I was trying to insert my credit card and select a grade of gas. I grabbed the fuel nozzle and shoved it into my gas tank as I continued to answer a barrage of questions from the inquisitive lady and noticed that I wasn't getting any gas. The stupid machine just kept beeping at me and telling me to select a grade of gasoline. I kept responding to the lady and punching the premium button while answering twenty questions. The pump just kept beeping at me. Did I mention it was late in the afternoon and we had already ridden nearly 400 miles? Finally, the driver of a dump truck behind me tapped me on the shoulder and said," I don't think you really want to put diesel fuel in your motorcycle," pointing to the green diesel fuel nozzle I had shoved into my gas tank. For just a second I contemplated telling him that this was Harley's new experimental diesel motor, but thought better of it and sheepishly thanked him for his help. After each gas stop I was reminded by my "friends" to avoid the green nozzle. I did mention that I was tired and easily distracted, didn't I?

Here are some brief statistics for the ride:

Six Riders
Six Harley-Davidson motorcycles, 4 Ultras, 2 Street Glides and 1 Heritage Deluxe
9,400 Miles
28 Days
Two Countries, USA & Canada
Apx. 84 Meals Out, and One Home-Cooked Meal (Thanks Candy & Glenn)
27 Stays in Hotels
Apx. 1,300 Gallons of Gas @ $2.95 per Gal. Avg. X 6 Riders = Apx. $3,850
One Oil Change Each in Boston, MA, and One Rear Tire (John)
In Excess of 200 Cups of Coffee and a "few" Maple Donuts
At least 10 Parfaits (Lane)

In conclusion, I hope you blog fans enjoyed our ride and our little antics and that you will tune in for the next Horck Adventure!

And, to my riding companions, thank you all for you camaraderie, companionship, guidance, friendship, participation, and especially for watching out for one another.

Sincerely,

John "The Horck" Vander Horck
www. jevander@sbcglobal.net

Day Twenty Seven, Amarillo, TX to Williams, AZ, 662 Miles

Thursday, September 2, 2010

Greetings from the cool pines of Williams, AZ.

Today, we departed Amarillo, TX, before the local Harley dealer opened so we saved both time and money. We were bound for Gallup, NM. No sightseeing today. Our goal was put in miles on the Interstate, and miles we did at nearly 80 MPH all day long. Hey, come on, it's only five miles over the 75 MPH speed limit and we were still getting passed.

We stopped in Tucumacri, NM, for gas and hydration; it was warm in the low nineties, but not unbearable. Arriving in Albuquerque (I'll never learn to spell Albuquerque as long as I live) we stopped at Thunderbird Harley-Davidson, where I once again refrained from shopping. Can't say the same for some of the others. Fortuitously, there was a Buffalo Hot Wings sports bar right across the parking lot where we feasted on hot wings for lunch.

About 80 miles west of Albuquerque we stopped at Grants, NM, for gas and more Gatoraid, Monster drinks, and Red Bulls. Something about the afternoon sun, a long straight road with scant scenery, the constant drone of the motor, and a full tummy that just wants to put one to sleep. Napping is not recommended riding solo on the Interstate.

Arriving in Grants, NM, at 2:00 PM, and only being 50 miles from our planned evening destination set us to rethinking our plan for the day. We still had a lot of daylight to burn and it didn't make much sense to do it sitting in a hotel room or looking for the world famous sights of Gallup, NM. So, out came the Western States map and the pink felt pen. We set a course for Flagstaff, or maybe even Williams, AZ, for the night. That would get us home one day earlier than planned. We took a vote, and the decision was unanimous. We were off to Arizona.

We were back on the Interstate by 2:40 PM headed for Flagstaff some 300 plus miles away. Our route took us past the Petrified Forest National Park, an opportunity to be "standing on a corner in Winslow Arizona," and the Winslow Meteor Crater, none of which we took the time to see.

Heading west the air was so clear we could see Mount Humphries in Flagstaff more than 75 miles away. As the sun began to get lower on the horizon, we began climbing in elevation to 7,000 feet and we entered the pine tree forest that surrounds Flagstaff. The temperature began dropping to a very comfortable 70 degrees, a welcome relief from the afternoon heat. As Williams, AZ, and the Holiday Inn, was only 30 minutes away, we motored on enjoying the cool air and clear sky (and blinding setting sun). Fortunately, Grand Canyon Harley-Davidson between Flagstaff and Williams was closed for the day, once again saving us both time and money.

We rolled into Williams, AZ, at 7:30 local time (we had two time changes today; that messes with a mind and body) and checked into the hotel. Thirty minutes later we were in the pool and jacuzzi. Later, we walked into town and had supper at our favorite restaurant, Rod's Steak House. Tomorrow we will be home after 28 days and some 9,400 miles on the road.

Day Twenty Six, Joplin, MO to Amarillo, TX - 481 Miles

Wednesday, September 1, 2010

Greetings Pardners from Amarillo, Texas, the Lone Star State,

Not much to report today friends. We're just trying to put some miles behind us to get home and see our loved ones and resume our "normal" lives. We awoke to warm cloudy skies and departed Joplin, MO, this morning. Within 30 minutes we were suiting up in rain gear and heading into our first thunderstorm of the day. Today, our trek took us through Tulsa, OK, Oklahoma City, OK, and on to Amarillo, TX, for the evening, some 481 miles.

We stopped at an interesting McDonald's on the toll road in Oklahoma. The restaurant extended across Interstate 40 and featured a statue of Will Rogers out front. Just outside of Oklahoma City, OK, we stopped at Harley World Harley-Davidson and escaped without buying any T shirts, that was a first for us. We then walked across the parking lot and enjoyed lunch at Buffalo Hot Wings. I wish we had one at home. They feature more than 20 different flavors of wings. Yummy!

Travelling westbound toward Amarillo, we weaved in and out of the passing thunderstorms, watching the massive power of nature with winds nearly blowing us off the road at times and lightening flashing from black clouds overhead. Finally, there was no avoiding a major thunderstorm cell and we got hammered for a few minutes as the cell crossed the highway in front of us. It was so hot, we just opted to forgo rain suits and get soaked as we knew we would dry out shortly in the late afternoon heat. And, the temperatures which were hovering in the high nineties would fall to a more comfortable eighty degrees when we entered the thunderstorm cells. It was a welcome relief from the hot, humid afternoon.

We rolled into Amarillo, TX about 6:00 PM and checked into our hotel. After a quick dip in the unheated pool, Lane and I opted for Japanese dinner while Bill and Steve chose to do laundry. Tomorrow, were off to Gallup, MN. Then, its on to Kingman, AZ, on Friday and back home to Santa Clarita, CA, on Saturday.

Day Twenty Five, Terre Haute, IN to Joplin, MO - 466 Miles

Greetings from the "Show Me' state, Missouri.

We left Terre Haute, IN, at 0730 this morning and hadn't ridden but a few miles before we crossed into Illinois, the Land of Lincoln, and set our watches back one hour. I guess you could say we got an early start this morning through no effort on our part. We motored across Illinois on Interstate 70 headed for St. Louis, MO crossing the state boundary around 12:30 PM. Entering St. Louis we crossed the Mississippi River with its gambling riverboats tied up along the west shore and tried to grab a few quick grab shots of the famous St. Louis Arch as we transitioned from I-70 to I-44 toward Springfield, MO, with the help of the GPS to get us through the maze of Interstate interchanges.

Having successfully negotiated the St. Louis inner city maze of freeways, we set course for our end destination today, Joplin, MO, where we were to meet up with Lane's step-daughter Amanda and her husband Will for supper. Around one o'clock in the afternoon hungries began to creep up on us and we simultaneously spied a billboard advertising Missouri Hicks BBQ just up ahead in Cuba, MO, on the old US Route 66. How cool is that? We get to ride the old Mother Road and have Missouri BBQ too.

We pulled into Missouri Hicks BBQ and carefully negotiated the gravel parking lot. One could smell the BBQ before even walking in the door, and what a great smell it was. We were greeted by the friendly staff and shown to a table in the back room. Perhaps our reputation had preceded us. We had fun chatting with our sassy young server, Cambria, who made recommendations on what to order. She was a lot a fun and a good resource. Our biggest challenge was deciding which of the eight BBQ sauces to put on our meals. I eventually put three different sauces on my pulled pork sandwich. My only disappointment was that I was three months shy of being able to order off the "Old Hicks" menu.

Departing Hicks, we continued into the town of Cuba, MO, where some of the boys once again elected stop at the post office to mail more clothes home, mostly T shirts. Did I mention that we stopped at two more Harley-Davidson dealers today? While the boys (Steve) were harassing the poor post mistress and trying to convince her that ten pounds of T shirts would in fact fit in a five pound box, I went for a stroll about town photographing the great wall murals for which he town is known. Upon my return to the post office, the post mistress wished us a good day and a safe journey, and asked us to drown Steve in the first mud puddle we come to. What can I say, she's a federal officer? We're looking for a mud puddle.

Now the highlight of the day, absent meeting Amanda and her husband, was just a few miles down Route 66. We came across the "World's Biggest Rocking Chair;" we had to stop! I hope you folks appreciate these sights we bring you. One would normally have to drive thousands of miles to see the sights we routinely bring to you free of charge right to your home computer. No need to thank us, it's our duty and obligation. Please enjoy!

Getting back on the road we battled a 15 knot headwind, 95 degree temperatures, and high humidity the remainder of the way to Joplin, arriving about 6:30 PM. A dip in the pool at the Hampton Hotel never felt so good, I just wish we were staying there. Just kidding, we are. We ended our evening with supper at the adjacent Outback Steakhouse with Amanda and her husband courtesy of Lane.

Thank you Lane.

Day Twenty Four, St. Clairsville, OH to Terre Haute, IN - 397 miles

Monday, August 30, 2010

Greetings from the Hosier State, Indiana.

Not much to report today my friends, we're just headed west on Interstate 70, and that pretty much ensures that you don't see anything of interest. We departed St. Clairsville, OH, at 7:00 AM headed for Columbus, OH, in a damp low fog with cool temperatures. However, it didn't take long for the rising sun to burn off the fog and raise the temperature to the mid-nineties for the remainder of the day.

I find the mornings the best time to ride; and, if I may wax poetic for a moment, and I may because it is my blog. I find that my companions like to listen to music while riding either via XM radio, MP3 players, the radio or even CD's. I on the other hand prefer to listen to the sound of the open road, the low rumble of the exhaust note, the wind rustling my shirt sleeves and past my helmet, the Harley V-twin motor making 2,800 turns (RPM) and effortlessly propelling us down the highway chasing, but never catching, our shadow laid out before us by rising sun at our back. My I-Pod player has been stowed in my saddle bag since I left California. It's just an experience that you have to live, and as Harley riders are prone to say, "If I have to explain, you wouldn't understand."

We did make one interesting observation today, nearing Pinkeringville, OH, Lane saw a sign for the American Motorcycle Association (AMA) Motorcycle Hall of Fame. Hey, if we stopped to see the Spam Museum and the Corn Palace we certainly were not going to miss the Motorcycle Hall of Fame. And, we're glad we did. It's small, but very well done with several interesting displays and early motorcycles. Furthermore, I found an interesting quote from John Wayne displayed on the wall of the men's room stating, "There's a difference between female menopause and male menopause. Females get heavy and have hot flashes, while men date younger women and get to drive motorcycles." I don't make these things up folks, I'm just your faithful reporter.

We also managed to find two Harley dealers that were open on Monday, so of course we had to stop and shop. Honestly, I don't know where were putting these new purchases, and at the rate Steve is buying T shirts I suspect that he's wearing them in multiple layers. We also managed to fulfill one of Lane's wishes today, we ate lunch at a White Castle hamburger stand. White Castle claims responsibility for creating the slider hamburger that all the trendy restaurants are now serving. I was not impressed by the tiny $.62 hamburger!

After nearly 400 miles today we decided to quit early for a change and sought refuge in Terere Haute, IN, for the night. Lane sought out a massage while Bill and Steve and I went across the street to the Lone Star Steakhouse and Saloon for supper. Not many photos today, sorry. We're starting to get like stable horses headed for the barn at the end of the day. I think everyone is ready to go home.

Day Twenty Three, Niagara Falls, NY to St. Clairsville, OH - 332 Miles

Sunday, August 29, 2010

Greetings Enlightened Ones,

Today was basically a one-event day. We departed our hotel, rode a 100 yards and stopped at the nearby pancake House for breakfast. No, that's not the event I'm referring to. After breakfast we rode ten miles to Niagara Falls. Approaching the American side of the falls, one could see the mist rising hundreds of feet in the air. We found parking near the entrance to the Niagara Falls State Park and walked directly to the Maid of the Mist (tour boat) ticket booth, which gave us access to a tremendous elevated viewing area. We then descended to the river and dock some 300 feet below where we were issued plastic rain coats with hoods and boarded one of the Maid of the Mist tour boats. Within minutes we were motoring up river toward the massive American Falls where we were immediately drenched in cascading water. Motoring farther up river we approached the massive and thunderous Horseshoe Falls on the Canadian side of the Niagara River. The sight, sound and experience is absolutely awesome, and wet! We were all so glad that took the extra time to visit the falls. I hope you enjoy our pictures.

Departing Niagara falls at 1:30 PM we rode southwest to Erie, PA, on I-90 and turned south toward Pittsburgh, PA, on I-79 and on to Wheeling, WV, via I-70. Intending to stop for the evening in Wheeling we found ourselves having to press on westward as I-70 was closed at Wheeling. We ended up in St. Clairsville, OH, for the night. After a quick dip in the Holiday Inn Express pool we showered and headed down the street for supper at Wild Buffalo Wings where we sampled a half a dozen different flavors of wings. We're going to try to get and early start tomorrow and get 500 miles under our belts.

Until tomorrow, I wish you all well and thanks for visiting our blog.