I learned to drive on a land rocket, a ’63 Viking Blue Ford Galaxie 500, with a high compression V8. My own first car: a ’64 Ford Falcon Futura, looked sporty but the slant 6 was a dog. Then came two Ford vans, and ’78 Volvo 242 arrived, slow and unreliable, but safe. My fastest, an ’87 turbo Chrysler LeBaron GTS that cornered like it was on rails…when out of the shop. Two Mustang ragtops brought a lot of fun.
With each, knowing their strengths and weaknesses allowed me to trust them. Meaning…
Read MoreAs Jerry and I headed east on our 2022 East Coast trek in May, I had low expectations for the Kansas section of I-80. My wife grew up east of Dodge City, and my midsummer or winter visits birthed memories of dry and barren, with no real hills. But our third day was Sunday and I wanted to worship, so I popped on Mercy Me, and I focused God while riding. Gentle hills emerged and in May, the fields…
Read MoreWhen surrounded by works of mankind, we can easily impress ourselves—with ourselves. Back in 2019, shortly before COVID hit, Sheila and I make an east coast trek, and the skyscrapers of New York City astounded me. Towering buildings based on solid bedrock. Every square inch seeming used. Honestly, I felt pretty proud to be part of the human race that could craft such a place. But pride…
Read MoreTastes can vary between long term friends. In our Gray Hogs group, Mick and I kept eagle eyes out for Dairy Queens to enjoy Blizzards. But whenever Jerry spotted a Long John Silvers, that would be our lunch or dinner spot. He loves their fish, and even asks for the deep-fried crumbs.That’s why Jerry’s hopes got so high on our 2022 East Coast ride. Not many…
Read More…a passenger van appear out of nowhere, and I struck him….My yellow Wing bled green coolant and black oil; the forks got twisted terribly. I merely had a scrape on my elbow.
And so the audacious ride ended, one bike crapped out, one totaled. Jerry, unable to trust his, sold it the next day to a bike shop, took the train to his daughter in Maryland and flew home. I rented a car and drove home, stopping to see my sis in Kentucky.
But was God behind it? Did we ignore his earlier hints in our ambition to achieve the states? Only he knows, but…
Read MoreWhat we choose to immerse ourselves in will impact our actions, slowly change our values, and soon will drive our lives. So think with me, what surrounds our daily lives? What does that say about our values? Our overall life? Our desired destinations?…
Read MoreFor our audacious 2022 East Coast trip of 8,500 miles to add states to our tally, Jerry and I planned to meet on a Sunday in Green River, Utah. From Temecula, Green River lay 690 miles distant, I left Saturday AM for a stop in Salida, Utah. He left his home in the Salem area, spent one night in Idaho, arriving in Green River Saturday afternoon.
I had an hour and half ride to meet him and was eager, so I geared up for a cold morning and hit the road on my Goldwing, maybe exceeding what I recall as an 80 mph speed limit. The Wing just loafed along through the countryside route featuring all green dots, with majestic scenery overlooking Capitol and San Rafael Reefs, where Butch Cassidy and his gang spent some time. I just had to stop and take a few pics. That slowed me down a bit, so…
Read MoreBack in 2022, Jerry and I audaciously attempted an 8,500 mile East Coast ride, to finish all 48 states on a bike for him, and my last 3 for 50. It fell apart in Connecticut, but we decided to try again in May 2023. That blew up on the first day, but Jerry suggested day rides from his place in Oregon, which included a longer multi-day trip: backroads to Estacada and catch 224 that paralleled the Clackamas River, then take 46 to Detroit, then we’d figure it out…
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