BamaJohn
Active member
Holy Cow Batman! Glad you made it unscathed....physically!
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48 States in 27 Days at Age 84
- Thread starter Calimusjohn
- Start date
Holy Cow Batman! Glad you made it unscathed....physically!
blacklightning
Well-known member
Day number 9 seems to be the most exciting so far. Glad you made it out unharmed. This is awesome! Keep it coming.
PS, if this entire trip is a prank and you are making it all up, please don't tell us, just write a novel and we will buy it. Lol!
PS, if this entire trip is a prank and you are making it all up, please don't tell us, just write a novel and we will buy it. Lol!
Calimusjohn
Member
I assure you that this ride report is as close to the truth as I am capable of. The traffic incident is the closest I've ever come to being killed. Car parts literally flew over my head. I would have gone down on a two-wheeler - wet pavement - hard braking - swerving - ABS and stability systems help but there is a point where physics take over. Okay, enough of the "what-ifs" and concentrating on one single incident. Here is another installment.
SPYDER TOUR
Day 10
I began the day in St. Cloud, Minnesota. The thermometer read 64 degrees. Dry. Breezy.
Western Minnesota looks like the eastern part. Rolling hills with huge shorn fields have lines of trees acting as windbreaks.
North Dakota struck me as being flat. I know there are hills and valleys, but it’s mostly flat. The air was restless and moved rapidly from one location to another―at right angles to my path westward. I ate lunch in Fargo.
I turned southbound and discovered South Dakota. It looks like North Dakota but has more hills. Sunflowers filled fields larger than huge. The fields stretch from horizon to horizon. Gas stations are not found on every corner. Stretches of highway without cell coverage, no houses, and no people abound.
The wind in Minnesota was stiff. It grew from irritating and mean to downright brutal in the Dakotas. A crosswind of 25 - 30 mph gusting to 50 mph requires constant adjustment to the handlebars. When an 18-wheeler passes in the other direction, the bike shudders and bounces sideways. At day’s end, in Mobridge, South Dakota, my arms are noodles.
Expenses:
Breakfast: $ 0.00 Motel waffle and yogurt
Lunch: $ 11.50 Apple pie, ice cream, coffee
Dinner: $ 25.00 Chicken fried steak.
Misc: $ 0.00
Gas: $ 57.55
Motel: $ 81.75
Day’s Cost: $175.80 Trip Total: $1,716.97
Day’s miles: 457 Trip Total: 3,372
SPYDER TOUR
Day 10
I began the day in St. Cloud, Minnesota. The thermometer read 64 degrees. Dry. Breezy.
Western Minnesota looks like the eastern part. Rolling hills with huge shorn fields have lines of trees acting as windbreaks.
North Dakota struck me as being flat. I know there are hills and valleys, but it’s mostly flat. The air was restless and moved rapidly from one location to another―at right angles to my path westward. I ate lunch in Fargo.
I turned southbound and discovered South Dakota. It looks like North Dakota but has more hills. Sunflowers filled fields larger than huge. The fields stretch from horizon to horizon. Gas stations are not found on every corner. Stretches of highway without cell coverage, no houses, and no people abound.
The wind in Minnesota was stiff. It grew from irritating and mean to downright brutal in the Dakotas. A crosswind of 25 - 30 mph gusting to 50 mph requires constant adjustment to the handlebars. When an 18-wheeler passes in the other direction, the bike shudders and bounces sideways. At day’s end, in Mobridge, South Dakota, my arms are noodles.
Expenses:
Breakfast: $ 0.00 Motel waffle and yogurt
Lunch: $ 11.50 Apple pie, ice cream, coffee
Dinner: $ 25.00 Chicken fried steak.
Misc: $ 0.00
Gas: $ 57.55
Motel: $ 81.75
Day’s Cost: $175.80 Trip Total: $1,716.97
Day’s miles: 457 Trip Total: 3,372
Calimusjohn
Member
SPYDER TOUR
Day 11
The motel in Mobridge, South Dakota, had the greatest shower. It pulsed hot water at about 50 psi. The water massage eased aching muscles.
A police officer at a gas station told me where to get the best breakfast. He was correct.
The road west rolled past fields of sunflowers, hay, and thousands of cattle. Mother Nature had a bag of wind left over from yesterday. She loosened the drawstring, and the angry contents came out fighting. Trucks, autos, and my motorcycle weaved in our traffic lanes as we battled the blustery wind.
At the Wyoming state line, the wind gave up the battle. Calm prevailed. I-90 allows speeds of eighty mph. At 80, I skirted the town of Sundance. The terrain has the appearance of a golf course for giants. Sand bunkers and water ponds as hazards nestle in verdant valleys abutted by miniature mountains covered by fir trees. Dogleg canyons might lead to hidden greens.
A few miles later, the trees thinned, and antelopes pranced across grass-covered hillsides. Oil well arms saluted as I passed. Hills became foothills as snow-capped mountains came into view.
A side note about yesterday: My dad always watched The Lawrence Welk Show on TV. In his honor, I uttered, “A one anna two.” as I passed Larry’s birthplace.
A note about Iowa: It’s no wonder that Iowans love politicians and their rhetoric. Most of the time they are surrounded by corn, corn, and more corn. Listening to the corn grow gets boring.
Expenses:
Breakfast: $ 15.00 Ham, eggs, hash browns, toast, coffee
Lunch: $ 0.00 Skipped it
Dinner: $ 22.00 Cod & French fries - - - again
Misc: $ 0.00
Gas: $ 68.25
Motel: $101.00
Day’s Cost: $206.25 Trip Total: $1,923.22
Day’s miles: 420 Trip Total: 3,792
Day 11
The motel in Mobridge, South Dakota, had the greatest shower. It pulsed hot water at about 50 psi. The water massage eased aching muscles.
A police officer at a gas station told me where to get the best breakfast. He was correct.
The road west rolled past fields of sunflowers, hay, and thousands of cattle. Mother Nature had a bag of wind left over from yesterday. She loosened the drawstring, and the angry contents came out fighting. Trucks, autos, and my motorcycle weaved in our traffic lanes as we battled the blustery wind.
At the Wyoming state line, the wind gave up the battle. Calm prevailed. I-90 allows speeds of eighty mph. At 80, I skirted the town of Sundance. The terrain has the appearance of a golf course for giants. Sand bunkers and water ponds as hazards nestle in verdant valleys abutted by miniature mountains covered by fir trees. Dogleg canyons might lead to hidden greens.
A few miles later, the trees thinned, and antelopes pranced across grass-covered hillsides. Oil well arms saluted as I passed. Hills became foothills as snow-capped mountains came into view.
A side note about yesterday: My dad always watched The Lawrence Welk Show on TV. In his honor, I uttered, “A one anna two.” as I passed Larry’s birthplace.
A note about Iowa: It’s no wonder that Iowans love politicians and their rhetoric. Most of the time they are surrounded by corn, corn, and more corn. Listening to the corn grow gets boring.
Expenses:
Breakfast: $ 15.00 Ham, eggs, hash browns, toast, coffee
Lunch: $ 0.00 Skipped it
Dinner: $ 22.00 Cod & French fries - - - again
Misc: $ 0.00
Gas: $ 68.25
Motel: $101.00
Day’s Cost: $206.25 Trip Total: $1,923.22
Day’s miles: 420 Trip Total: 3,792
opcorn:
blacklightning
Well-known member
Wonderful write up! Keep it coming. I do have one question (I might have missed the comment earlier). For the hotels, did you have reservations in advance, or did you just make a seat of the pants decision on where to stop and found a hotel in that town? That is the one things I would be concerned about.
In all my bike travels and you can tell by my traveled state maps, I did not have reservations but when I rode to Northern Canada, Alaska, and Newfoundland due to little lodging availability. One can find a suitable place to stay especially if you get in by early evening. Gets a little hairy when certain events are going on in the area that you are traveling and in a remote area than a larger city.
Little Blue
SpyderLovers Ambassador
...I have enjoyed reading all your posts. Looking forward to read the next 15 days of the 'Great Adventure'. Definitely need to turn this story into a book or something.
I am glad you got it done and safely back home.
Stay Healthy and Enjoy Life. ....:thumbup:
Calimusjohn
Member
I do not make reservations. My travel day depends on the existing and forecasted weather, traffic conditions, detours, distractions, my physical limitations. and availability of motels. In Alaska, I'd stop in the early afternoon to ensure I had a place to bed down. In Tok, I slept in a rented ambulance. Just north of Denali Park, I spent two days in a pickup truck slide-in camper. In the West, towns may be far apart and require the same approach. On the east coast, towns seem to overlap and I found motel rooms as late as 8:00 p.m. In Mexico, I never had a problem finding a place to stay. Facilities ranged from 5-star to O.M.G! primitive. Traveling is an adventure. Too much planning reduces the fun.
SPYDER TOUR
Day 12
A clear sky greeted me this morning in Sheridan, Wyoming. The thermometer read 48 degrees. The traffic on I-90 consisted of―me. I saw no other vehicles for the first 50 miles. I enjoyed the solitude. An agoraphobic would not enjoy Wyoming, or Montana. Hmm, on second thought, or most of the west!
The terrain slowly changed from rolling grass covered hills to occasional rock outcroppings and steeper gradients. Hills grew and became foothills which graduated into real live mountains. The temperature initially rose as the sun did its thing. The increase in altitude lowered it. Drat! I chilled.
For the past several days I’ve breathed invisible air. Billings, Montana, provided visible air with the added attraction of a petroleum-based stench. I traveled miles from the source before the hairs in my nose stopped quivering.
I’m now in Butte, Montana, on the western side of the Continental Divide following the waters flowing to the Pacific.
The weather forecasters report that tomorrow’s temperature will start at 40 and barely rise. Oy vey! It’s time to head south and warmer climes.
Note: IMHO a trip to see The Little Bighorn Battlefield National Monument would alone, justify a visit to Montana. Native Americans and Custer’s soldiers are shown equal respect. It’s . . . inspiring . . . humbling . . . sobering.
Expenses:
Breakfast: $ 0.00 Motel fare at Best Western – omelet, fresh fruit!
Lunch: $ 7.75 Greasy taco - yucky
Dinner: $ 12.00 KFC
Misc: $
Gas: $ 58.27
Motel: $130.00 Super 8
Day’s Cost: $208.02 Trip Total: $2,131.24
Day’s miles: 358 Trip Total: 4,150
SPYDER TOUR
Day 12
A clear sky greeted me this morning in Sheridan, Wyoming. The thermometer read 48 degrees. The traffic on I-90 consisted of―me. I saw no other vehicles for the first 50 miles. I enjoyed the solitude. An agoraphobic would not enjoy Wyoming, or Montana. Hmm, on second thought, or most of the west!
The terrain slowly changed from rolling grass covered hills to occasional rock outcroppings and steeper gradients. Hills grew and became foothills which graduated into real live mountains. The temperature initially rose as the sun did its thing. The increase in altitude lowered it. Drat! I chilled.
For the past several days I’ve breathed invisible air. Billings, Montana, provided visible air with the added attraction of a petroleum-based stench. I traveled miles from the source before the hairs in my nose stopped quivering.
I’m now in Butte, Montana, on the western side of the Continental Divide following the waters flowing to the Pacific.
The weather forecasters report that tomorrow’s temperature will start at 40 and barely rise. Oy vey! It’s time to head south and warmer climes.
Note: IMHO a trip to see The Little Bighorn Battlefield National Monument would alone, justify a visit to Montana. Native Americans and Custer’s soldiers are shown equal respect. It’s . . . inspiring . . . humbling . . . sobering.
Expenses:
Breakfast: $ 0.00 Motel fare at Best Western – omelet, fresh fruit!
Lunch: $ 7.75 Greasy taco - yucky
Dinner: $ 12.00 KFC
Misc: $
Gas: $ 58.27
Motel: $130.00 Super 8
Day’s Cost: $208.02 Trip Total: $2,131.24
Day’s miles: 358 Trip Total: 4,150
Dasmoetorhead
Active member
Your definitely an inspiration to all of us young rider's ( me 66). Enjoy reading about your travels. You Da Man!
Calimusjohn
Member
I started trip planning on a Rand McNalley Atlas map. I drew a line that touched the corners of each state, then refined it by following actual roads. On the bike, I have a Garmin Zumo mounted on the handlebars. Bluetooth connects it to my helmet for verbal directions. The Zumo locates gas stations, motels, and off-road cafes. It occasionally suggests weird turns to take me off-track. I check paper maps at the start of each day to prevent confusion. When all else fails, I ask people, "Where the hell am I?" I haven't figured out how to retune the BRP radio as I travel. So, I listen to music previously downloaded on my iPhone. The bike's speakers are better than my helmet's.
I started today’s ride in Butte, Montana. The temperature was 40 degrees in pouring rain. Visibility sucked. It rained for the next 300 miles. The temperature soared to 45. I was less than thrilled with the conditions.
Occasionally, I caught glimpses of the magnificent mountain terrain I remembered from past rides through this area. It’s no wonder that the Appalachian Mountains are green with envy.
The rain stopped within five miles of the Washington state border. The sun shone. The temperature reached 67 degrees. Amazing.
I stopped and visited my longtime friend, Bette in Spokane. I wish I could spend more time.
I’m bedded down for the night in Ritzville, Washington.
Expenses:
Breakfast: $ 0.00
Lunch: $ 20.00 IHOP 2 eggs, 2 bacon strips, 2pancakes, coffee
Dinner: $ 28.00 Mi Jalisco Restaurant. Steak, rice, beans, iced tea
Misc: $
Gas: $ 75.00 Prices going up. $5.79/gallon
Motel: $ 70.40
Day’s Cost: $193.40 Trip Total: $2,324.64
Day’s miles: 375 Trip Total: 4,525
I started today’s ride in Butte, Montana. The temperature was 40 degrees in pouring rain. Visibility sucked. It rained for the next 300 miles. The temperature soared to 45. I was less than thrilled with the conditions.
Occasionally, I caught glimpses of the magnificent mountain terrain I remembered from past rides through this area. It’s no wonder that the Appalachian Mountains are green with envy.
The rain stopped within five miles of the Washington state border. The sun shone. The temperature reached 67 degrees. Amazing.
I stopped and visited my longtime friend, Bette in Spokane. I wish I could spend more time.
I’m bedded down for the night in Ritzville, Washington.
Expenses:
Breakfast: $ 0.00
Lunch: $ 20.00 IHOP 2 eggs, 2 bacon strips, 2pancakes, coffee
Dinner: $ 28.00 Mi Jalisco Restaurant. Steak, rice, beans, iced tea
Misc: $
Gas: $ 75.00 Prices going up. $5.79/gallon
Motel: $ 70.40
Day’s Cost: $193.40 Trip Total: $2,324.64
Day’s miles: 375 Trip Total: 4,525
Last edited by a moderator:
Poppie65
Active member
I too am very much engrossed in your trip journal. Thank you so much for sharing your humor and insight, it's a very welcome breathe of fresh air and some of the best reading I've done in ages.
Btw, fwiw, I too share your sentiment about the battlefield at Little Big Horn.
Btw, fwiw, I too share your sentiment about the battlefield at Little Big Horn.
Calimusjohn
Member
SPYDER TOUR
Day 14
I awoke bright-eyed, took a morning shower, put on all my warmest clothes, packed the gear on the motorcycle, and finally, looked at the clock. 0530! The black sky smirked! Good grief! I headed down the highway. Restaurants, cafes, and most gas stations were still closed.
The 39-degree air temperature added to my enjoyment. A hundred miles later, I found a Starbucks employing six busy workers. Starvation was foiled again.
The sun arrived at the crossing into Oregon. The route from Kennewick, Washington, to Pendleton, Oregon, went swiftly across an area of huge grain fields and pasturelands. It’s not dog-friendly. There are no trees to pee on.
Highway 395 from Pendleton to John Day is 120 miles of arcing around curve after curve after curve. The Tail of The Dragon in Tennessee is a popular road for motorcyclists. It boasts 318 curves in eleven miles. The Oregon road offered over 3,000 twisties. I shared the road with 58 vehicles going the other way. Yes, I counted them. Besides the curves, the road soared over mountains with passes over 5,000 feet above sea level. Steep-sided canyons sported swiftly moving streams of white water bordered by birch, pines, and aspen trees with dancing leaves.
Seeing thousands of faces adorning the wind and water-sculptured rock walls held boredom at bay.
Highway 395 was a magnificent scenic route.
In Burns, Oregon, at 1:30 p.m. the Best Western Motel manager refused my request to check in before 3:00. The America’s Best Value Inn personnel had no problem accepting my money. I turned the room’s thermostat to 80 degrees and slowly thawed. The ride’s high temperature of the day was 46. I froze my butt.
I went to five restaurants in Burns. They were all closed. One had a sign saying, “Help Wanted.” Another was “For Sale.” Subway charged me for a foot-long sandwich. The bag when opened back at the motel held a six-incher. Ta Da!
Expenses:
Breakfast: $ 8.02 A Starbuck’s sandwich and coffee
Lunch: $ 15.00 Cooked-to-order cheeseburger in John Day, Oregon. Superb!
Dinner: $ 13.28 Subway sandwich. All other restaurants closed!
Misc: $ 0.00
Gas: $ 64.28
Motel: $127.08 Americas Best Value INN. Nice accommodations.
Day’s Cost: $227.66 Trip Total: $2,552.30
Day’s miles: 365 Trip Total: 4,885
Day 14
I awoke bright-eyed, took a morning shower, put on all my warmest clothes, packed the gear on the motorcycle, and finally, looked at the clock. 0530! The black sky smirked! Good grief! I headed down the highway. Restaurants, cafes, and most gas stations were still closed.
The 39-degree air temperature added to my enjoyment. A hundred miles later, I found a Starbucks employing six busy workers. Starvation was foiled again.
The sun arrived at the crossing into Oregon. The route from Kennewick, Washington, to Pendleton, Oregon, went swiftly across an area of huge grain fields and pasturelands. It’s not dog-friendly. There are no trees to pee on.
Highway 395 from Pendleton to John Day is 120 miles of arcing around curve after curve after curve. The Tail of The Dragon in Tennessee is a popular road for motorcyclists. It boasts 318 curves in eleven miles. The Oregon road offered over 3,000 twisties. I shared the road with 58 vehicles going the other way. Yes, I counted them. Besides the curves, the road soared over mountains with passes over 5,000 feet above sea level. Steep-sided canyons sported swiftly moving streams of white water bordered by birch, pines, and aspen trees with dancing leaves.
Seeing thousands of faces adorning the wind and water-sculptured rock walls held boredom at bay.
Highway 395 was a magnificent scenic route.
In Burns, Oregon, at 1:30 p.m. the Best Western Motel manager refused my request to check in before 3:00. The America’s Best Value Inn personnel had no problem accepting my money. I turned the room’s thermostat to 80 degrees and slowly thawed. The ride’s high temperature of the day was 46. I froze my butt.
I went to five restaurants in Burns. They were all closed. One had a sign saying, “Help Wanted.” Another was “For Sale.” Subway charged me for a foot-long sandwich. The bag when opened back at the motel held a six-incher. Ta Da!
Expenses:
Breakfast: $ 8.02 A Starbuck’s sandwich and coffee
Lunch: $ 15.00 Cooked-to-order cheeseburger in John Day, Oregon. Superb!
Dinner: $ 13.28 Subway sandwich. All other restaurants closed!
Misc: $ 0.00
Gas: $ 64.28
Motel: $127.08 Americas Best Value INN. Nice accommodations.
Day’s Cost: $227.66 Trip Total: $2,552.30
Day’s miles: 365 Trip Total: 4,885
Calimusjohn
Member
My shape = bent. Problems? I've broken my back in four places. Can't lift more than 30 pounds. I must stop and let my hip joints cool after walking 100 yards. But I'm semi-upright and can still dress and feed myself. I concentrate on can, rather than can't. Most of my friends are looking at the wrong side of lawns. Advice = Do it while you still can!
The Route 66 ride is great. Check out the motels and diners still operating as they did in the 50s. Motels have great prices, and the diners feature comfort food. There are some good videos on Utube referencing the Route 66 ride.
SPYDER TOUR
Day 15
I awakened after a good night’s sleep in Burns, Oregon, to find the weather improved. The temperature at 50 degrees was great. A huge Denver omelet for breakfast at a truck stop contained enough energy for a full day.
Highway 395 ran south from Burns toward Lakeview. The open range covered by sagebrush bordered the rough-surfaced asphalt. A sign warned that 113 miles lay between gas stations. I counted twenty-three vehicles going in the opposite direction, five houses, twelve trees, and no cell service for ninety of the 113.
Oregon is often described as being green. Eastern Oregon is basically a high-altitude desert. The sagebrush was brown. Wind-blown sand dunes invaded the roadway. Abert Lake covered sixty-four square miles with hypersaline water. Only the alkali fly and brine shrimp can survive the salinity. A 1,000-foot vertical escarpment lies to the east of the highway. Hang glider pilots love it. Eastern Oregon contrasts sharply with the “green” found west of the Cascades.
The road straightened south of Lakeview and allowed quick passage to Reno, Nevada, and beyond.
Expenses:
Breakfast: $ 17.00 Truckstop. huge Denver omelet, coffee
Lunch: $ 0.75 Potato chips, an exceedingly small bag
Dinner: $ 17.00 Spaghetti & Meatballs, iced tea
Misc: $ 0.00
Gas: $ 75.66 $6.00 plus per gallon!
Motel: $ 75.00 Village Motel Gardnerville, Nevada (35 miles south of Reno)
Day’s Cost: $184.64 Trip Total: $2,736.94
Day’s miles: 423 Trip Total: 5,313
The Route 66 ride is great. Check out the motels and diners still operating as they did in the 50s. Motels have great prices, and the diners feature comfort food. There are some good videos on Utube referencing the Route 66 ride.
SPYDER TOUR
Day 15
I awakened after a good night’s sleep in Burns, Oregon, to find the weather improved. The temperature at 50 degrees was great. A huge Denver omelet for breakfast at a truck stop contained enough energy for a full day.
Highway 395 ran south from Burns toward Lakeview. The open range covered by sagebrush bordered the rough-surfaced asphalt. A sign warned that 113 miles lay between gas stations. I counted twenty-three vehicles going in the opposite direction, five houses, twelve trees, and no cell service for ninety of the 113.
Oregon is often described as being green. Eastern Oregon is basically a high-altitude desert. The sagebrush was brown. Wind-blown sand dunes invaded the roadway. Abert Lake covered sixty-four square miles with hypersaline water. Only the alkali fly and brine shrimp can survive the salinity. A 1,000-foot vertical escarpment lies to the east of the highway. Hang glider pilots love it. Eastern Oregon contrasts sharply with the “green” found west of the Cascades.
The road straightened south of Lakeview and allowed quick passage to Reno, Nevada, and beyond.
Expenses:
Breakfast: $ 17.00 Truckstop. huge Denver omelet, coffee
Lunch: $ 0.75 Potato chips, an exceedingly small bag
Dinner: $ 17.00 Spaghetti & Meatballs, iced tea
Misc: $ 0.00
Gas: $ 75.66 $6.00 plus per gallon!
Motel: $ 75.00 Village Motel Gardnerville, Nevada (35 miles south of Reno)
Day’s Cost: $184.64 Trip Total: $2,736.94
Day’s miles: 423 Trip Total: 5,313
Last edited by a moderator: