HOME!!!!!

I am home. I am still tired. Got in yesterday morning, and after checking mail, and paying bills, and putting together a puzzle (don't ask) I went promptly to bed. I slept a good 6 hours or so. I will be posting one last entry to this blog in the next day or so. It will be an accounting of sorts. I will thank people then as well.

Ketchup

Ketchup
Originally uploaded by mpyre9.

fine, here is the world's largest ketchup bottle heidi. happy now?

Ohio

So my plan was to meet Rusty at his place and hang out, but he told me Sin City was hashing that day. I decided to detour a little south to hash. Forgetting about the time change, I was an hour behind, and had to make a mad dash to Cincinatti. It was ok because like most hashes, they run late. I met many nice people in Sin City, and ran a very fine hash. Lots of hills, a nice combination of trail and road, and did I mention HILLS?

At circle I was asked to sing a song, and at Rusty's suggestion, I sang Old McHasher... I then volunteered the mailman song, and please tell me why. Folowing that, Rusty, Son of a Nun, and I went back to Dayton for the night. We got some pizza and a few beers. Ear showed up, and spent some time, but since she's "training" for a M, didn't partake of the festivities. We'll get her after she finishes this thing.

My plan was to leave bright and early the next day and head towards Ashville. That plan, like many others this trip failed, and I found myself going on a geocache (http://www.geocaching.com/) with Ear and Son of a Nun. It was a nice find, and we treated ourselves to real Dayton Ice Cream afterwards. Getting home, Ear and I looked at the maps to figure my best route to Ashville, and then I was off.

Traveling on highways all day really takes it out of you. Once I got past Cincy, The road was pretty scenic. I had to pass through Kentucky, and back into Tennessee. Little did I know, (actually I had been warned) that there was a 12 mile backup just before Knoxville. It was getting late, and I was ready to be closer to home, so I did the only thing I could think of. I rode the left shoulder all the way to the front. I mean, there was no movement. People were out of their cars, engines off. There was a small football game going on, so there was no danger. Now most people were ok with it, as I stopped often to see if anyone knew what was happening. I did get a few ugly comments though. Honestly, I've been called worse things by better people. I pressed on, and got to my last hotel around 12:30 AM just West of Ashville. The Desk Clerk said he would watch my bike so I didn't have to unpack the whole thing. I slept well for 5 hours, and then it was time to finish this adventure.

Indiana

So I stopped in Indiana in a small town named Rockville at a really cute motel. It was kind of like staying in a friend's house for the night. Now Rockville, is in Parke County which is home to 32 covered bridges, about one third of all the covered bridges in Indiana. So I got to Rockville after a nice day of touring. I saw the world's largest ketchup bottle (see above), and took some time to see Lincoln's house and Tomb. I checked into my motel, and had a nice dinner with the locals at a dive bar with good food and drink. I really enjoyed walking to this place through the small town.

Waking up the next morning, i took a beautiful beautiful ride through many quaint towns to see some of the bridges. Some you can ride through, some you have to walk. This county strives to maintain their bridges while other places let them disappear. It was a splendid ride over about 30 miles of cornfields, amall towns and country. I stopped for breakfast in Bridgeton, and was then on my way to Ohio to meet with the DECOC folks. Now one of the things I was disappointed with on this ride was that Indiana was full of these small towns I have been mentioning. The first hundred miles or so I saw so many beautiful and quiet communities, and then almost immediately, it all changed. From small towns, to strip malls. It was very unpleasant to look at, and could have been anytown USA. I'm not a big fan of urban growth and sprawl.

Honest

So I left St. Louis this morning after a hearty breakfast. I had told myself I would do some silly things this trip, so I found myself headed for Collinsville Illinois, home of the world's largest ketchup bottle. It's really a water tower shaped like a bottle to recognize one of the main industries of a bygone time. Yep, Collinsville, horseradish capital of the world.

Moving on, I decided to slow down and smell the roses. I took old route 66 through small town after small town.
.Mount Olive, an old coal mining town, and Litchfield, a totally old route 66 town. Small restaurants, billboards, and small places to stay for the night. I have never seen so much corn at one time. The roads were simply lined with it. Illinois is on the forefront of alternative fuel research.

Continuing on, I found myself in Springfield, the home of Abraham Lincoln. I took a short tour of Abe's house. It was the only house that Lincoln ever owned. Most of the furniture was reproduction as the Lincolns sold most of it when they left Springfield. Two miles South of the house, I rode to the Oak Ridge Cemetery to see Lincoln's Tomb. It was huge, and a very solemn experience.

I continued my trip to Rockville Indiana, home to 32 covered bridges. The bridges range in age from 1856 to 1920. I'm going to ride them tomorrow. I'm in for the night in a small quiet hotel. I'm getting a bit road weary, so am treating myself.

Good Night
Sent via BlackBerry courtesy of CTC Wireless.

The Twain shall never meet

So I rode to Hannibal Missouri today. Hannibal is home to Mark Twain. I don't know why but I picture towns of literary noteriety differently. Not saying the town was bad, just different. This town is not shy about promoting its native son. There have to be over a dozen places named either for Twain, Clemens, Injun Joe, and the like. I decided to avoid these places and fell upon The Other Place where I had a nice meal and a cool drink. I met some nice people and was told to go back the next day for the first biker dayz. Seems like I was a day early. Maybe I'll head up there tomorrow on my way to Illinois (I think I'm going to Illinois). Tonight I got to St. Louis. I tried to hook up with some hashers, but couldn't swing it. Pampering myself with a hotel for the night. Time for a beer or four, some grub and sleep. Thanks for reading. Keep those comments coming, they're making me smile.

On Out
M
Sent via BlackBerry courtesy of CTC Wireless.

Kansas...

Has nothing I would go back for. I spent all day riding just to get through. Stopped for the night in Topeka. While I was riding I wrote three Haikus...

Kansas riding to the end
Nothing here but fields
Boring people with bad hair

Zen and the art of Sushi
Too much Wasabi
May I have some more Green Tea

Sent via BlackBerry courtesy of CTC Wireless.

you wanna fight?

So I'll fight anyone who says I don't have the most beautiful new neice in the world. Colorado was the best part of my trip so far. I got to see my sister Gwenn, my brother in law Jeff, and my brand new neice Amber. She is nothing but cuddles, smiles, and love. No wonder I left Colorado 2 hours late.

Yesterday I rode all day through some of the scariest weather. The winds were so strong, and the rain so gusty, I was being pushed off the road. I made it to Topeka around 11, and crashed for the night

Bryce sunset

Bryce sunset
Originally uploaded by mpyre9.

this is Sunset Point at Bryce Canyon. Really cool Hoodoos.

Vegas to Utah

Vegas to Utah
Originally uploaded by mpyre9.

I never in my wildest dreams would have thought that Southern Utah waould be so beautiful. I rode to Zion National Park and was mesmerized by what I saw. I don't even think I can put it into words. I know, rocks are rocks, but they're not. I took an hour and a half tour via shuttle to see some of this park. The picture shows two of the three patriarchs, Isaac and Jacob. I will come back here for a more extended stay.

I continued on to Bryce Canyon and Red Rock Canyon. Stunning views were everywhere, and my eyes couldn't take it all in. Bryce has these rock formations called Hoodoos. They are formed by erosion of course, but look like no other. Unfortunately, my camera battery died so I wasn't able to get any pics. I decided to camp at Bryce for the night, and not head towards Canyonlands. It was completely worth it. I was graced with Alex and Ellen from Pennsylvania who were hiking Bryce. They joined me at my fire, and it was very nice to talk with these two and get to know them a little. One of the greatest things about this trip is the number of folks I have met.

The following morning, I caught a sunrise at Sunset Point, It was the most unique place I've ever been. Colors, light, all playing a part in this spectacular park. You simply must see it in person.

I left shortly after for a very very very long ride (12 hours) to Colorado to see my sister, brother in law, and new neice Amber. Dinner, a couple of beers, and I was down for the night.

illegal

illegal
Originally uploaded by mpyre9.

This was probably illegal, but this old man and his wife told me to ride my bike off the road to get a great picture. It is a great picture too. Look at that stunning scenery... and the mountains aren't bad either

they named a town

they named a town
Originally uploaded by mpyre9.

So I'm riding through New Mexico, and found a town named after me. I simply had to get the picture.

chunder

chunder
Originally uploaded by mpyre9.

so, which one of us doesn't belong? you guessed it, the one on the right.

Vegas part Deaux

Ok Ok, so I forgot to tell you about the Thunder from Down Under http://www.thunderfromdownunder.com/

Lee, Stacey, the kids and I went to a local casino so Stacey could see some of the cast of Days of our Lives. It was a Girls Day Out, and we tagged along. Unbenownst to us, the Thunder From Down Under was there. As soon as we walked in, Lee said in his best "gay" voice FABULOUS! he wasn't shy about it, so I just followed his lead. We met the boys, I got a poster signed by some of them, and even got a picture. It was simply devine. One of the guys said that they always get one or two of us at a show, wankers that is.

on out