Day 2: Lexington to Maggie Valley

Today was absolutely a perfect fall day to ride. We left Lexington at 11:00 and arrived in Maggie Valley around 5:00 pm. We stopped in London, KY for lunch. The day was sunny low of seventy. No clouds. We took I-75 south. Very little traffic. Therefor we could set our cruise and just go. The very best part of the ride was after we got through Knoxville on 640 and split off on 40 east. The stretch became more winding with mountains as we got closer to North Carolina. When we crossed into North Carolina we were surrounded by beautiful green mountains dotted with some yellowing trees. the road became more curved as we progressed. The series of curves were scuttle and made the ride absolutely amazing. As we exited 40 toward Maggie Valley the road flatted, but we were surrounded by mountains, clearly in a valley. We arrived at the Holiday Hotel, where we met a number of other riders to share the stories of our days.

Day 1: Toledo to Lexington

Today we set out on a trip to Maggie Valley, NC to meet several friends we have met on a Harley forum. September is a rare opportunity for us to get away. We are hoping to eke out every last once of riding weather we can. While I had to work until noon, we still had plenty of day light left to log 320 miles down I-75 from Toledo to Lexington, KY. Our first dilemma was the route to Maggie Valley. Because we wanted to avoid Cincinnati because of our accident in 2011, we picked a route through Columbus to Marietta. The night before it became clear that Tuesday was going to be rainy and we needed a back up plan. That plan included using a more westward route rather than crossing Ohio to the east. By this morning it was clear that the best way around the tai. Line was to head down I-75. So we either had to confront our Cincinnati memories or cut toward Indianapolis on I-70. We decided to face Cincinnati, but by going around the accident site by taking I275. The route was perfect. We made great time. We road the first 220 miles without stopping. We stopped for gas south of Dayton to ensure we had enough gas to take 175 around Cincinnati. It was clear to us that 275 had recently been rebuilt. The road was smooth and far fewer cars than heading straight through Cincinnati on 75. The day was mostly cloudy, but more sun appeared as we road on. After 5.5 hours on the road we found a great hotel south of Lexington. We completed 320 miles and we believe we have another 330 miles to Maggie Valley tomorrow. Day one in the books. Beautiful day, great ride. More to come.

Day 1: Back in the Saddle on to Branson

Our first trip a little over a year after our accident. Nervous anticipation. Not sure how relaxed I will be. Worried that my nerves will get the best of me. I have ridden the motorcycle to work a few times and found that i have flashbacks when stopped in traffic. I keep thinking that if I ride enough those flashbacks and nerves will go away. I guess this trip is the true test. Leaving for Branson, Mo today by way of Louisville, Ky after following the east side of Indiana south as a means of avoiding Cincinnati. The weather has been unusually hot, and today is no exception. We left early in the morning and took our time along US 24 into Fort Wayne where we headed south along 69. We found that our travel decisions were based upon avoiding big city traffic. Consequently our first day took so much longer than it should have. We made it safely to Louisville were we spent the night, hoping to get an early start to put the miles behind us before the heat reached the anticipated 100 degrees. Off to Paducah, KY where we will meet up with our friend who will join us on our visit to Branson.

Vacation Preparation

Heading home from a professional conference with anticipation for our next motorcycle trip. Trip preparation is systematic and calculated. First there are months of trip planning. We examine what roads, what routes, what cities, what adventures we hope to have while on the road. We know that you can really only have a beginning date and an ending date as so much in between depends upon,well, so many factors. So as I sit in the airport awaiting my flight home I am making my list and checking it twice so that once I arrive home I can begin the systematic, detailed activity of readying myself and my bike for the trip. That does not even account for all the things I have to do to ready the house for the house sitter. But that is for another blog. In June weather should be warm in the Carolina, our destination, but the mountains make weather a bit more unpredictable. Consequently, one must pack for all types of weather. The heavy leather jacket and chaps for the cooler mornings. The leather vest for warmer days. The rain gear because one just never knows and we are already anticipating leaving in the rain and driving the majority of our first day in the rain. Besides clothes one needs to have tools just in case. Then one needs the cleaning items, especially to clean the windshield at various stops and prior to getting back on the road after a night of rest. We pack a light dust cover to keep the rain off the bike, but really it is to keep the rain of the seat so that at least at the start of the day the seat is dry. You have to have rags. One just never knows what a rag is good for. I pack two types of cloves, one for warm weather and warm pair for cool weather. Of course, there is the road atlas and motorcycle manuals. Now, if there is any room left, I can pack my clothes. This is where minimalism is a good thing. Jeans and t-shirts are the standard. One needs clothes for the evening when the day ride is over. I pack my IPAD so I can have all the tech tools I need - books, blogging tools, MLB TV, and games to keep me entertained in case we have a rain day. So, as I await my fight home, my mind continues to make lists and checks them twice so when I get back on the ground I hit the ground running so when tomorrow comes we can be off, confidently knowing we are prepared for everything we can encounter on the road.

Mohawk Dam Ride

September is one of my favorite months for motorcycle riding. Today was no exception. I awoke to a beautiful, blue, sunny sky at 7:00 a.m. I quickly prepared for a 300 plus mile motorcycle ride through central Ohio to Mohawk Dam. Mohawk Dam is approximately 15 miles west of Coshocton, Ohio and 25 miles east of Mount Vernon, Ohio. Access to the dam is via State Route 36, which connects Mount Vernon and Coshocton. We begin our route by take state route 199 to Fostoria. Just east of Fostoria we traveled along US 224 until we turned south on state route 61. Our journey along SR 61 took us through Amish country. The rolling hills and beautiful farm land, lush in fall splendor, made for beautiful scenery, enjoyed more because the route is lightly traveled. We joined state route 39 and road until we entered the Mohawk reserve area. We found our way to Pleasant Hill Damn where we stopped for an hour to enjoy the beautiful of the water, foothills and lush forest. After an opportunity to explore some of the footpaths we made our way to the Mohawk lodge for a light lunch. After lunch we returned north, retracing our journey along SR 39 until we came to Mansfield. At Mansfield we pick us US route 30 and traveled along 30 until it merged with 23 where we continued along 23 until it ended at Interstate 75. At Interstate 75 we headed back north on the heavily travel freeway. What a wonderful way to enjoy a fall day while exploring north Central Ohio.

My New Ride!

Today was a very windy day. Yet, I was itching to get out on the road and give my new motorcycle a real test. Today was the first opportunity I had to ride more than 5 miles (from Harley dealer to my garage) since trading in my Softale Heritage on an 09 Ultra Classic. It is truly "old school". I so love my first bike that I couldn't ever image selling it or trading it. But early in February it happened. I walked into the deal to buy someone a birthday present and there it sat. I had seen the teal and cream ultra in the catalogs, but it didn't catch my eye there as it did in the dealership. If left the dealer, gift in bag, and found myself thinking about the 09 Ultra the entire evening. After talking it over, thinking about it, dreaming about, and calculating; I made a decision. I returned the next day to the dealership hoping the bike was still there - I had heard they didn't make many and they couldn't keep them on the floor. There it was! I met my salesman at the dealer. I had worked with him when I purchased my first bike. An hour later, I had traded by Heritage for the Ultra. I was excited to ride. Well, here it, two months later, and weather and schedule have finally permitted me to get on the bike and take it for a ride. Destination: Indiana, the Das Essenhaus. The bike was all I was promised and then more. The balance is amazing. The comfort tremendously improved from my Heritage. The worry I had about the bike's size quickly went away. It handle as well as my Heritage. I couldn't contain my smile. I road the back roads and the turnpike. Didn't matter the ride was amazing. And, I finally had tunes for the ride. The radio was just an added bonus that enhanced the experience. I didn't ever think I would want music on a ride, but I was wrong. With my first long ride behind, the summer awaits. I sure hope the summer weather is better than the very cool, windy spring has been to date.

Day 5: Arriving in North Carolina

We awoke early this morning to begin our day. Next to our hotel was a Waffle House. I so remember Waffle House restaurants when I was a kid traveling to Florida to visit my aunt. We'd live Michigan at some early hour in the morning, ride all night and stop for breakfast in Macon, GA at a Waffle House. We headed over and each loaded up on a great breakfast. The waitress was so friendly. The whole experience was wonderful. The morning dawned cloudy. The rain of the past evening had moved east. The weather channel seemed to show that we would ride out of any threat of rain if we continued south to NC as planned. After gassing up we headed for the Blue Ridge for another day. Upon mounting the Blue Ridge we saw numerous deer and wild turkey. They seemed to see us to and dart back into the woods. This portion of the trail was far more woody with fewer overlooks. The view was no less beautiful. The overcast made the ride enjoyable as the storm seemed to have pulled the heat from the air. After a little more than an hour ride we came to a stop - the music house. Here we stretched our legs and was treated to wonderful Blue Mountain music from two wonderful local musicians. One of our riders plays in a band, so he clearly enjoyed this stop. We took our time, enjoying music and the beauty of the Blue Ridge. After about an hour break we headed south down the Blue Ridge. As we got closer to the NC state line we found another stop. Here we stopped at the Old Mill. This mill was once a working mill in the area. As one of our riders made arrangements for our stay in the evening, I explored the wonderfully restored old mill and learned a bit about the history of the area. Clearly the Blue Ridge was full of wonderful discoveries. Upon arriving back to the rest area we discovered we were able to find a set of cabins south into NC about 30 miles. The cabins were rustic, devoid of TV, and set in a meadow with wonderful mountain views. One thing about this trip, the days ended with as wonderful of a view as during the entire ride. After another couple of hours we arrived at our cabins. After unpacking we quickly mounted back on our bikes to head a short distance back up the road to this wonderful restaurant we learned about. Upon entering the restaurant, we quickly discovered home cooked meals. From home made corn bread, the pull pork, the bean soup and hot biscuits; we were in heaven. After loading up on the best home cooked meal in years, we headed back to the cabin to watch the sun set over the meadow and mountains. The peace and tranquillity of the evening was unmatched by any other setting we experienced to date on the trip. As the dusk descended, the deer came out. They peppered the hill north of the meadow grazing in the lush golden grass. Totally beautiful. As the sun set lower in the sky, the hues of orange, pink, purple and blue were beyond description. They mountains began to take on another personality. After sunset the valley came to life with dots of twinkling lights. The view was outdone by the wonderful sky show. The dark of the sky was contrasted by the bright, clear stars. Without light pollution from a city, the stars and sky were even more prominent. We all hung out on the huge deck, taking in the warmth of flickering light of an evening fire in the fire place, gazing at the sky, sharing more stories and enjoying each others company. Soon sleep began to creep in and one by one we headed back to our cabins, knowing that tomorrow some of us were heading home while another was continuing south to finish the Blue Ridge. 

Day 4: South down the Parkway

Morning dawned bright and hazy. It was still hot. One by one we slowly emerged from bed and began to gather on the back deck. Coffee in hand we started contemplating our day. After a brief conversation around a map we quickly agreed upon Roanoke, VA.  We packed up and headed out onto the Blue Ridge Highway. Today we truly experienced the Blue Ridge. The road is often covered with a canopy of trees that touch above and shadow the road. No commercial vehicles are allowed on the road, so truly it is all about the journey. So many motorcycles passed up along the way. I am still amazing, as I was from the first day I learned to ridge in April of 2005, at the camaraderie of motorcyclists. We all signal "hello" as we pass each other by. After about 60 miles down the road we headed down an "off-road" leading into a small town. That road was crazy, cool. The windy, twist road made me feel like my head was pointing down and my back tire was pointing upward. The slope was like no other I experiences. You rolled out of one curve and linked into the next. It reminded me of a moguls run down a ski slope. The small town was just that, small. No restaurants so to speak. Because of its proximity to the interstate we were able to find a McDonalds. After a leisurely breakfast it was back to the Blue Ridge. We road along the country side looking for an "on-road". Once found, we were back on the beautiful Blue Ridge. One stop along the way took us near a creek and dam. We pulled off just to stretch, but so many opportunities for pictures. The area look "untouched" by civilization. The beauty of nature brought me awe and pleasure. If I had not already done so, today I forgot about all of my professional life and was just living in the moment. So this is what it means to "live in the moment"! I want so many more of these moments in life. During our stop we made hotel arrangements in Roanoke. Another 80 plus miles later we pulled into a Harley Dealer in Roanoke, Va. It was there, for the first time that day, I noticed just how hot it was. It felt like 140 degrees; and perhaps with my oil pan just under my seat, it might have been. One goal at the Harley Dealer was for Wayne to check his brakes. Apparently on the down hill earlier in the day he felt his back brake catch and hold from time to time. Having the dealer check it would just bring a peace of mind. It also allowed up about an hour to kill in the store. When I first learned to ride I couldn't understand why Harley riders always stopped at Harley stores. While, I'm slowing learning. Besides buying the area specific T-shirt, there is a camaraderie among Harley riders and workers that is like no other customer-business relationship I know. We enjoyed the rest bit, talked about the current bikes and new bikes, until Wayne's bike was finally "fixed". Thankfully it was just a good grease job that freed the back brake to catch and release more easily. We were finally off to our hotel. Our hotel was across from a Red Lobster. After a great meal at Red Lobster, we checked in and unpacked. Unpacking is a combination of efficiency and effort. As a rider you can only take a small amount of clothing. It needs to efficiently fit into a small space. So unloading my bike was easy. However, rearranging the saddle bags that I don't unpack each day is a bit more work. Now I needed to pack my coat back into the saddle bag. That required me to pull out the chaps I wore the night before and roll them tighter so they could go back in first so I could put my coat on top so that it was most readily available if I needed it in the morning. Of course, once you pull one item out you disturb all the items so they need to be pulled out, re-rolled, and repacked. It truly is an art. After unloading the bike, it was a race to the shower. A cool shower felt so good. From there we all congregated by the pool so what we hoped would be a relaxing evening of story telling. Shortly upon arriving we heard it thunder and saw the lightening. We moved out "party" to the sidewalk outside our rooms. There we congregated for a few hours, listening to the distant thunder, enjoying the music of the wind, appreciated the lightening show and told our stories. Finally, as we each reached the point where we wilted in our chairs, we headed off to bed, knowing tomorrow our destination was some place in North Carolina. 

Day 3: Skyline Highway

After a wonderfully restful night at our chalet, morning dawned bright. We all seemed a bit sluggish after two straight days of 300 plus mile rides to finally arrive at our destination. Couple that with an eventful arrival and we didn't get on the road until about 10:00 a.m. The eventful arrival you ask? The owner of the chalet had contracted for a wedding a week ago. As part of the payment he had the family spread rocks in his drive way. Rocks and motorcycles do not mix well. Lets just say that a couple of us needed help getting our bikes up the hill.  One rider started up the hill and when the back tire fishtailed, they cut power, only to find the bike rolling backward. Gently laying the bike down prevent an event worse situation. I got to watch the whole thing and decided to ask one of they guys to ride the bike up the hill. All things considered it ended well. The owner was horrified and found us all another way out through a neighboring church yard and drive way. Relieved we decided to stay another night. As a result we decided to ride the 109 mile Skyline Highway north. Prior to embarking on that adventure we headed to Waynesboro for breakfast at Shoney's. Along the way we saw a billboard for "Wayne's Cycle World". With Wayne accompanying us on our ride, it was too good of a store to pass up. After breakfast we set out searching Waynesboro for Wayne's Cycle Shop. After asking directions we found it. Not a Harley Dealer, but very accommodating. We explained that our friend Wayne wanted to buy a T-shirt with Wayne's Cycle Shop on it. They didn't have any. So they gave him one of their store baseball caps instead. We were all pleased. Back on our bikes were headed to the Skyline Highway. The Skyline is a national park. I was surprised at the need to pay a park fee. After riding down the road a while I could see the benefits of a national park. The Skyline runs through the Shenandoah Valley - just beautiful! As we made our way along the highway we

Day Two: Arriving at the Blue Ridge Parkway

Morning dawned sunny and most importantly, dry, in Morgantown, WV.  After some sprucing up of the bikes and cleaning of the windshields we headed back down the road on US 250. Destination Waynesboro, VA and the head of the Blue Ridge Parkway.  Judy took no end of teasing. She keeps a meticulous bike. I doubt there was a bug left on it from day one. I'm not so inclined to keep a perfect bike, but an almost perfect bike. The guys were happy to save the cleaning until we returned home. It made for some wonderful "ribbing" throughout the day. Judy didn't miss any opportunity to pull out her rag and wipe the bike and the guys missed no opportunity to point out missed spots and bug guts. We began out day with a stop in Philippi, WV. We needed fuel and this seemed like a fine enough stop. "Good enough" was a gem. To enter town we had to cross a two lane covered bridge. It was a beautifully, built structure that was well kept and still functional. This would be my first of many "glimpses into the past". We were in the heart of the American Civil War territory. The ride alone allowed my opportunities to review Civil War history in my mind. I was just glad I had been teaching an American History class this summer that gave me an excuse earlier to review the chronology of the war. I had also completed reading Goodwin-Kearns book, Team of Rivals, about Abe Lincoln and his Cabinet.  The ride today would give me a good sense of the terrain that the Union and Confederate armies marched through and fought on. I was also acutely aware of the heat of the day - another scorcher. The soldiers, in wool uniforms, marched and fought in this same heat. Amazing! At Blue-Grey park in Philippi we shot some pictures, chatted with fellow bikers, and plotted out the next phase of the day.  The road from here was amazing. The assents, descents and curves took on a whole new look. The gentle curves from yesterday became more severe and challenging. At times I was sure I was horizontal to the road entering one curve and would slingshot out of it and into the next one. It reminded me of downhill skiing on the moguls runs. I am sure it was a thing of beauty to watch four bikes moving along, well spaced, in harmony through the curves. If motorcycling has its pellaton, we were one today. After the first stretch I was thinking I was done for the day. But the next set of curves became even more intense. Just as I was beginning to think that this was the most awesome ride I had done, it got even more challenging. Now the curves were banked. Through a one mile stretch I counted six curves! Just when I wondered if they would end we pulled off into the Confederate Breastworks. We joined a dozen other motorcycles for a break. The Confederate Breastworks was a former fort and overlook for Confederate troops during the Civil War. The view was breath taking. What I didn't know was this was only the beginning of many amazing sites. After our brief but needed rest, we jumped back on US 250 and continued on to Waynesboro. During our stop we had arranged to stay at a cabin just 16 miles south on the Blue Ridge Parkway. The cabin had three rooms and wonderful mountain views. We were warned that the driveway leading to the cabin might be challenging as the owner had just put down rocks. When we finally arrived in Waynesboro we found the trail head to the Blue Ridge Parkway. This was our destination! We stopped at the first overlook for pictures. We then continued down another 12 miles to our cabin turn off.  The drive way was more challenging then we imaged. Ray and Wayne were the first riders up. It was clear their back wheels were working to find traction through the rocks. I sat on the road waiting for my turn trying to figure out in my mind the best way to cross the rocks and get to the grass along the side of the drive way so I could make it. Judy began to ascent. Quickly it was clear that her bake tire wasn't able to find the traction Wayne and Ray had. Judy and her bike didn't have the weight needed to push through the rocks. To Judy's credit she battled and battled and then finally, "set her bike down". Laying down a bike is not a positive thing for a biker; but in this case it was best. Wayne and Ray came down to help us get Judy's bike and my bike up. Once at the top of the drive way the owner was waiting for us. He was clearly concerned. I'm sure he knew the newly laid rocks were not bike friendly. After checking in he showed us another way in and out of his property through a neighboring church. That was a much better route through grass and on finely ground, hard packed rock.  Once parked for the night we unloaded. The cabin came with a grill. The camp store gave us an opportunity to pick up hamburger and all the fixings for a great picnic meal. We all pitched in and contributed to dinner. Our evening was a delight as we watch the moon rise over the mountains that appeared before us. We decided to stay here another night and spend tomorrow riding the Skyline Road through Shenandoah National Park. While I laid on my bed reviewing my day and feeling good about riding the curves, I couldn't help but anticipate another wonderful ride tomorrow. With so many wonderful experiences behind and ahead, how does one live in the moment? 

Leaving for the Mountains

Today our great adventure begins. Judy and I are taking our first, long, cross-country motorcycle trip. After months of contemplation and planning, the day to leave has finally arrived. We began packing the night before so that we could be ready to leave by 7:30 a.m. this morning. By 1:00 a.m. this morning the final leather garment was "stuffed" into saddle bags and we declared "victory" over packing. You can't image how much you can fit into such a little space. Nor can you image how little you can take on your motorcycle. This was going to be a "test" in living with less. For six days we both managed taking three pairs of jean (wear one pack two); five t-shirts (wear one pack four, plan on buying one souvenir); 6 days worth of underwear and socks; a pair of shorts; sandals, pj's, minimum toiletries and every possible leather wear for every type of weather you can plan for. After a brief "nap" we awoke and began to "saddle up" on the bikes when....the rain hit. For the next two hours we waited out a passing rain shower and hoped that this was not a foreshadowing of things to come. Had we known we could have slept in. While Judy napping I kept an eye on the weather channel and waiting for what was an obvious break in the front. By 9:00 a.m. the rain had subsided and we decided to start down the road toward picking up Ray and his wife, Cathy after meeting Wayne at his house. It was to be the five of us on four motorcycles at the start. One of Wayne's friends, John (Doc) would join us on Monday.  After meeting up we starting on down Highway 20 in Ohio toward Fremont, Ohio. Our first stop was to be Billy's Restaurant in Fremont, where Wayne promised us we would have an awesome breakfast with the best hash browns in Northwest, Ohio. He was not wrong! After fueling up, we enjoyed a bright sunny mornings ride along highway 20 until it merged into US 250. As the morning progressed the heat increased. I can't say I was "surprised" at how hot my oil tank, located just under my seat on my Softail, gets, but I was surprised that the heat of the day felt worse than the heat of my oil tank!  An ice cream stop was just the fresher needed to liven up our group. Our goal for the day was Wheeling, WV. A reasonable goal of about 320 miles. For Judy and I that would be a new personal "best" for mileage in a day. My best ride prior to this day was a 227 mile trek from Toledo to Mt. Pleasant the first fall I had my bike.  As we snaked south along US 250 through Ohio we began enjoying a more hilly ride. It was evident we were entering the foothills of the Appalachian Mountain range. A destination we were all looking forward to. Along the journey we began to encounter more and more hills with twists and turns. I have not yet come to appreciate riding the curves like Judy. She was so looking forward to the winding, twisting, climbing and descending. I'm still a novice and find curves challenging. At this point I was just worried about keeping up and keeping safe. Passing a billboard along the way I was reminded of the verse in Philippians 4:13, "I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me". For this ride, I needed mental strength: concentration and confidence. The billboard afforded me a wonderful opportunity to reflect upon that verse and its applications to this trip and my personal and professional station in life. Amazing how "little nuggets" of grace find their way into ones life. As the sun slowly fell in the sky we crossed the Ohio River into Wheeling, WV. Clearly my first impressions of Wheeling were sad. It was clear this was once a vibrant town in a wonderful location that provided transportation and economic opportunity. Now the town was clearly struggling for a future. The area was depressed and run down. We scoured down for a hotel. None available as all rooms were occupied by concert goers. Reba was in the area and people were flocking to the concert that evening. We fueled up the bikes and moved on down the road optimistic of finding a hotel in the near future. The near future was two hours later in Morganstown, WV. Home of the West Virginia Mountaineers. We found a Best Western and eased off our bikes. Motorcycle seats are more comfortable than bicycle seats, but not by much. Some unpacking and "freshening up" was a delight. We then made our way to the local Texas Roadhouse restaurant within walking distance of the hotel. Somehow getting back on the motorcycle didn't seem desirable. A wonderful meal, great stories and many laughs later we returned to our hotel for a good nights sleep. Day one in the books. Looking forward to the wonderful adventure (and curves) ahead. 

The Blue Ridge Highway

Shortly I will be leaving for a week long motorcycle road trip. My first. My destination: The Blue Ridge Parkway.  The Blue Ridge Parkway is a 469 mile long route that begins in Virginia's Shenandoah National Park and continues along through the Great Smoky Mountains until it end in the state of North Carolina. The highway includes a number of mountain ranges of the great Appalachian chair. It extended through four national forests and crosses six major rivers. I am so looking forward to getting away. I am looking forward to experiencing a motorcycle road trip. Our initial plans call for approximately 1500 miles round trip. Our tentative plans calls for us to arrive in Waynesboro, Va the first night; then traveling along the Blue Ridge Highway beginning the second day. We will follow the Blue Ridge all the way through taking any side adventures we find. Once arriving in NC, we will decide where we go from there. Our only commitment is our leaving time and arriving time. The rest is up to us and the weather.   So, soon, I'm off for a road trip. 

Back on the Mortorcycle

Today I was able to jump back on my other cycle......my motorcycle. I began the day with 525 miles on the motorcycle and over 1000 miles on my bicycle. Who would have thought? Reved the engine in the driveway and steadily pulled out. Destination? A favorite sporting goods store in southern Michigan. Twenty-five miles of wonderful highway along a wooded stretch of road. As we passed the campground the smell of fall campfires waffed in the air. A beautiful fall day, but one far more like mid-July than early October. Ninty degrees.....a third day of near record temperatures. One thing that my motorcycle and bicycle have in common.....it isn't the destination, but the journey that is important. Wish I could live my daily life focused more on the journey than what I need to check off my "to do" list.