Day 21: Saturday June 30, 2012

After 13 days of R&R it was time to saddle up and continue the ride. Destination Fort Wayne Indiana to attend the annual GoldWing motorcycle rally known as Wing Ding. We wanted to get a jump on the heat so we got off to an early start. The temperature in Abilene at 0645 was 77 degrees when we hit the road. We arrived in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma (OKC) at 12:30pm and checked into our hotel. The temperature was 99 degrees. We freshened up and cooled off in the room before heading out for lunch and some errands. Keeping with Dave and my tradition, Myrna and I dined at "the best BBQ place in OKC" known as Big Earls BBQ. Myrn got a salad with grilled chicken (a bit different from what Dave would have ordered) and I got a chopped brisket & pulled pork sandwich with coleslaw...very tasty!! After a quick stop at Walmart we needed to find a place to fix my iPhone (the thing stopped holding a charge) After a stop at an AT&T store they sent me to one of only two Apple stores in all of Oklahoma. Thank you God for having an Apple store in the mall in OKC. Long story short there was a software issue with my phone that was keeping the phone from charging the battery. Anyway after an hour in the store all is well. We finally made it back to our room after riding around OKC in 100 degree weather to shower and go out for dinner. We ate at the ever popular comfort food restaurant Cracker Barrel which was next door to the hotel. We shared a meal and dessert, walked back to our hotel and called it a day! It was fun having Myrna along for this next phase of the ride, we weren't sure she was going to be able to make the ride as she has been sick for the past week. But we took her to the urgent care in Abilene yesterday and she got a couple shots and some antibiotics and she is doing much better today. We hope to hit the road earlier tomorrow as the heat is sticking around the plains! Total miles ridden today 322 total for the trip 5677.

Oh, by the way, gas was under $3.00 per gallon in OKC.

1Chronicles 16:34 Give thanks to the Lord for He is good; His love endures forever.

Friday June 29, 2012

Well today marked the end of one journey and tomorrow begins another. After a month to the day when Dave and I began "the ride" our hanging out together was coming to a close! For tomorrow Myrna and I take off on part two of "My Big Ride". But today's blog is about Dave and Laura! I cannot thank Dave enough for sharing my desire to take off on our 5000+ mile ride (over 6000 miles for him, if you recall he rode out to California from Texas). Over 3 years ago while sitting in my backyard and enjoying a bottle of Fat Boy from Tobin James I suggested to Dave that when we retire we should get Goldwings and take off and see America. Dave was game; but since Dave retired about 18 months before I did he had to wait for me. Dave is an amazing friend and I love him more than a brother!! The 20 days on the road with him and the 10 days on his "farm" in Texas were some of the most relaxing days of my life! The hospitality that both Dave and Laura display is second to none. There is no way I can express my gratitude to them so I am asking God to do it for me! Dave and Laura you two are the best! We love you, Steve and Myrna! The following pictures are of the D&L Six Acre Farm

Proverbs 17:17 A brother loves at all times...

Day 20: Sunday June 17, 2012

Today was the final day for Dave and I. We left Childress TX at 0750 hours determined to make it to Abilene to celebrate Fathers Day and Myrna's and my 34th anniversary. The air temperature was 74 degrees when we pulled out of the parking lot. When we passed the area that we turned around yesterday we realized how fortunate we were that we did not try to make it thru the storm. There was so much standing water in the fields and streets that it was evident that the storm was intense and could have been a challenge for us to cross through. We stopped for gas and a local told us that the thunderstorm pounded the area for 4 hours. As we got closer to Abilene the weather got warmer, it hit 89 degrees at 10am. We rolled into Dave and Laura's Texas ranch at 10:30 the girls greeted us and the celebration began! After taking a shower and settling in we shared stories. Later in the afternoon a thunderstorm was moving in so we sat on the patio under the deck and enjoyed some Tobin James wine! Just the way the ride started!! We travelled 170 miles today for a grand total of 5355.

This marked the end of the ride for Dave and I. But I still need to get back to California. The next phase of the blog will be my ride with Myrna. That journey will begin on June 29th. So please check back and pick up the rest of the trip!

I am so thankful to all of you who were praying for safe travels for Dave and I. Prayer works and He is good!

Exodus 23:20 See, I am sending an angel ahead of you to guard you along the way

Day 19: Saturday June 16, 2012

After a stormy night we woke to light showers and the realization that someone had stolen my motorcycle jacket. Too irritating to get into it on the blog, I can only hope the thief needed it more than me and he will be dealt with later. Needless to say, Kansas has left a bad taste in my mouth! We left the hotel continuing south on highway 83. As we crossed Kansas we passed several feed lots and with the recent rains the air was rich with the aroma of cattle manure. We left Kansas and entered Oklahoma and after 30 minutes we were in Texas. We crossed Oklahoma at the skinny part :-) one of the things that Dave and I both noted was how dry southern Kansas and the brief section of Oklahoma that we crossed. Texas too was dry and the border towns were very blighted. The scenery was so different from when we were getting rained on in the pacific northwest. When we stopped for gas we felt good and decided to not stop for the evening and head on the Dave's house in Abilene where Myrna and Laura await us. The girls were expecting us on Sunday the 17th (fathers day and my 34th wedding anniversary) but we wanted to surprise them by coming in early. When we passed thru Childress Texas we could see off to the south thunder heads building. It was too hard to determine exactly where the storm was. We continued on about 35 miles and could see lightening bolts crossing the sky and huge red dust clouds with sheets of rain following them. That ominous whether was right where we were headed. Knowing that riding a motorcycle in the rain is a challenge, dodging lightening strikes and possible hail is too risky! So we stopped and turned around 120 miles from Abilene! We drove back to the last town we passed (Paducah) and found out they did not have any adequate lodging, so we had to drive back to Childress for a hotel room, all the while watching in our rearview mirrors the lightening strikes. We were both really disappointed to being so close to holding our wives, yet so far away! We hope to get a good nights rest and knock out these last few miles first thing in the morning, some of which we have already travelled. It's gonna be like "déjà vu all over again". Total miles today 458 total for the trip 5185.

Psalm 86:5 You, Lord, are forgiving and good, abounding in love to all who call you.

Day 18: Friday June 15, 2012

Because of the heat, winds and potential thunderstorms we decided to get an early start today. We left Pierre South Dakota at 7:45am to a pleasant 64 degrees and clear skies. We continued on highway 83 south. The drive was wide open farmland and pastures with cattle. We crossed over into Nebraska and continued on the 83 south. The highway was horrible. It felt as if we were riding on railroad tracks! That lasted off and on for about 200 miles. We stopped for lunch in North Platte Nebraska at guess what? Yep a BBQ joint! And It was really good! We got back on the road and before we knew it we had passed thru Nebraska and were in Kansas! We stopped for a picture at the "welcome" sign and noticed to the west lightening and heard the thunder and it was coming right at us! We hightailed it out of there and hoped the road continued going south and did not turn west. We got a few sprinkles but nothing serious...thank God! Visions of the Wizard of Oz flashed thru my head as we were running away! We got out of harms way and concluded the days ride at Colby, Kansas. Tonight we are having a crazy thunderstorm with heavy rains, thunder and lightening so often the sky seems like a strobe light. I have never seen anything like it! Total miles travelled today 416, grand total so far 4727.

Psalm 77:17 The clouds poured down water, the heavens resounded with thunder...

Day 17: Thursday June 14, 2012

We woke this morning to the smell of cinnamon, how awesome is that?? My cousin Lori made homemade cinnamon rolls to go along with the egg casserole she made for us! What a hostess! After visiting over breakfast Dave and I loaded up the bikes and headed out to the farm which is only about 5 miles from town. My cousin Sonia was working in the quonset hut when we arrived. The quonset houses many tractors and the workshop that my grandpa Ernst and uncle Morris used to repair the equipment. We walked around the farmyard and the smells of the oats and grains triggered memories of my youth when we would visit the farm. So too did the smells of the barn and the garage and the fresh cut grasses. I was 12 years old again! Sonia then took us out into the pasture on the Kubota to check on the cows and new calves. I also got a history lesson and shown where the original homestead sod house was built, which is depicted by the rock patterns. We got back from touring several pastures and aunt Dorothy had made a hearty lunch for us. We then got on the road about 2:00 pm and after riding only 2 1/2 hours in the hot wind we were tired and called it a day. We stopped in Pierre for the night. We only travelled 126 miles today for a total of 4311.

Hebrews 6:7 Land that drinks in the rain often falling on it and produces a crop useful to those for whom it is farmed receives the blessing of God.

Day 16: Wednesday June 13, 2012

Today was to mark the goal for the ride. We packed up the bikes and said goodbye to our new friends Robert and Brian from Wisconsin and headed to main street Sturgis to have breakfast at a local favorite- Weimers Bakery and Diner. We left the restaurant under sunny skies and 75 degree temperature. Our first stop on interstate 90 was the town of Wall, home to Wall Drug. Wall also happens to be the gateway to The Badlands of South Dakota. We briefly shopped Wall Drug and then rode thru the Badlands. I was somewhat nervous about the weather in the Badlands as previous visits the temperature was in the high 90's if not 100. But not today, we had an 84 degree ride on the 35 mile loop. The landscape, canyons and colors were amazing and the photos do not do the experience justice. (remember you can click on the photos to enlarge them). After leaving the Badlands our next stop was the Ernst family farm. My great grandfather homesteaded the property many years ago and my cousin Sonia still farms the land today with the seasonal help from her twin sister Sandra (who is a full-time teacher). We got to the farm about 7:30pm (we lost an hour changing to central time) but all was good as they had made 8:00pm dinner reservations at the diner in town. My aunt Dorothy and cousins Lori, Kari, Sandra and Sonia who all live near the Roscoe, South Dakota area showed up with available family. There were 11 of us for dinner and we had a great time catching up. We figured it had been about 17 years since I last was on the farm or in Roscoe. Lori and Dale were gracious to open up their home to Dave and I for the night. I had a wonderful time reconnecting and look forward to spending time on the farm tomorrow. Total miles rode today 371 total for the trip 4185.

Psalm 18:1 I love you, Lord, my strength.