Thursday July 5, 2012

Today was very eventful! I signed up for a GoldWing Road Riders Association (GWRRA) certified course on Trailering. It was 4 hours classroom and 4 hours range. They keep the classes to 10 bikes and we had 9 in my class. The range time was a bit toasty. Fort Wayne is experiencing record heat, in fact today it was over 100 degrees for the second day in a row. The last time they had two consecutive days of 100 degrees was in 1988. Figures we would be here during this record heat. Speaking of heat it was 102+ on the range with the reflective heat off the asphalt. As hot as it was doing the trailering course was a blast! You know the worst day of riding is better than the best day working!!! Well about 5:15pm I rolled off the range and back to the hotel to shower and get over to the Coliseum for a dinner and entertainment sponsored by J&M Motorcycle Audio. Myrna got a ride from the hotel shuttle as I was running late so she met me there. As I was pulling into the parking lot there was a huge thunderstorm heading towards Fort Wayne. I put my cover on my bike and headed into the coliseum for dinner. A few minutes later someone mentioned that it was storming outside and they were not letting anyone leave the building! After about a half hour a person made an announcement that a huge storm moved thru and several bikes were toppled. I left the dinner along with several others to check on the bikes. As I walked outside things immediately did not look good. Several branches had been torn from the trees and debris was everywhere. As I walked toward the parking lot my stomach dropped. I saw bikes laying on their side, windshields torn off, helmets rolling around and the worst thing I couldn't find my bike for the longest time! When I finally located it all was good. The cover was blown off, but oddly enough rolled up into a ball and crammed in the corner of the windshield and the instrument panel. God showed mercy on me and my Wing! I was so thankful that no damage happened to my bike. The winds were so strong that they completely pushed over several 932 pound GoldWings, tore the awning off the Bridgestone Tire trailer and the Roadsmith Trike conversion trailer. After I reattached the cover I went back into the dinner and entertainment. The entertainment was provided by Vocal Trash. They were very entertaining and had a unique sound using recycled things as instruments (such as bottles, buckets, trash cans) their vocals were amazing and their energy off the charts! Very entertaining and most enjoyable!

Psalm 28:2 Hear my cry for mercy as I call to you for help, as I lift my hands toward your Most Holy Place.

Wednesday July 4, 2012

Today was not a travel day except for riding over to the Allen County War Memorial Coliseum to attend the Wing Ding and pick up my trailer and have the hitch installed on my bike. Since we didn't have to ride anywhere and beat the heat, we slept in for the first time in a few days and it felt glorious. My appointment with Bushtec wasn't until 10:00am. We dropped off the bike and walked into the coliseum to check out the activities. After 6 hours of walking around and checking out the vendors our feet were sore so we decided it was time to get the bike and head back to the hotel. The crazy thing is we didn't even see the entire event and all the vendors. Since I have an 8 hour riding course tomorrow we will have to check out the rest of the vendors on Friday. We did however, visit the Scorpion vendor and I was able to replace my winter riding jacket that was stolen in Kansas. I eventually walked over to Bushtec and was given an overview of the trailer then drove off to pick up Myrna who was waiting in the air conditioned coliseum. We rode back to the hotel and enjoyed a quiet Independence Day.

1Peter 2:16. Live as free people, but do not use your freedom as a cover-up for evil; live as God's slaves.

Day 24: Tuesday July 3, 2012

Today was kinda emotional for me as it represented a completed goal. But before that, I need to tell you about our evening in Terre Haute. The hotel was a bit seasoned but the personnel were genuine and very hospitable. For example, the manager allowed me to park my bike in front of the hotel under the carport. Later in the evening a thunderstorm was brewing and I went out to check on my bike. I noticed the desk clerk trying to reattach my bike cover as the wind caused one of the hooks to come loose. What other hotel clerk would do that? I thanked him and told him to call me if it came off again. The thunderstorm winds picked up again and I got a call from the front desk. The cover was fine but the clerk wanted to let me know he let a Harley park behind me so the Harley would be out of the elements too! Then about 30 minutes later he called me again and said he was allowing another Wing to park next to me!?? I don't know why he felt like he needed to let me know about this but I obviously have a new friend! Well we got up early and were on the road at 0610. We took country roads and highways to Fort Wayne. We were both tired of the interstate and wanted to see the countryside and we did. The farmland and small towns were all so charming and peaceful. We took highway 41 to highway 25 thru Lafayette (near Purdue University) to highway 114 into Fort Wayne. Myrna took some great pictures from the back of the bike while traveling down the highway! I mentioned earlier it was kinda emotional for me, well when we made it to Fort Wayne and over a 6000 mile journey I was proud and thrilled that I made it to my destination! After checking into the hotel we went to the Allen County War Memorial Coliseum to take advantage of the early registration. While there we briefly stopped in at the Bushtec Trailer display (while they were unloading their trailers and getting set up) and saw my trailer that was custom built for me! I get it tomorrow after they install the hitch on my bike. I will post pictures of it tomorrow. This evening we went to the Amish town of Grabill for a pre-conference dinner and festivities. There are so many Wings with so much chrome and custom paint that my bike looks naked! The dinner lines were too long so we opted to just get some Amish homemade raspberry ice cream instead! I loved it! We rode 277 miles today for a total of 6654.

2 Chronicles 15: But as for you, be strong and do not give up, for your work will be rewarded.

Day 23: Monday July 2, 2012

After dealing with the heat yesterday we decided to get an early start and we did! We were pulling out of the hotel parking lot at 0545! Myrn is great about being ready when I ask! We left just as the sun was rising and the temperature was a pleasant 77 degrees. We continued our trip eastbound on interstate 44 toward St. Louis. Not wanting to get caught in the commuter traffic we bypassed the city on highway 270 and 250 eventually merging with interstate 70 toward Indiana. One of the irritants of today was the state welcome signs in Illinois and Indiana were not easily placed for a "Kodak moment". For example, as we were crossing the Mississippi river we also crossed the state line into Illinois, kinda hard to stop on a bridge and take a photo. Myrna was able to catch the signs, although not with the bike in the picture! The same happened when we crossed over into Indiana, fortunately they did have a Welcome Center that we stopped at for a photo. Today's ride was very peaceful after we got through the St. Louis area and came upon all the farmlands; did not know Illinois was such a corn growing state! By 10:00am the temperature was in the 90's. We passed the 198 foot cross near Effingham Illinois (check out crossusa.org) We made it to Terre Haute around noon and were able to check into our room. We lost an hour by crossing into the Eastern Time Zone. Tomorrow we plan on getting another early start as we reach our destination of Fort Wayne Indiana for the Wing Ding. Today's trip covered 283 miles for a total of 6377 travelled so far.

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

Day 22: Sunday July 1, 2012

Today was interesting! We got a jump on the heat by leaving the hotel at 0630. The temperature was 77 degrees and it didn't take long for the mercury to rise as we headed east on Interstate 44 through Oklahoma on our way to Missouri. The ride through the countryside was nice but nondescript. Yesterday I neglected to mention that Interstate 44 happens to have a toll. Yesterday our toll at two separate toll booths totaled $3.25; today's tolls at two toll booths totaled $8.00 and the last several miles before crossing into Missouri one may wonder where the toll fees are going!? Not a good road. Anyway, the ride got real boring not much to see and the heat reached 100 degrees. The Wing just hums on the interstate but I prefer the two lane highways that go through small town America. Because of the heat our fuel stops were extended. We had our fill of "smartwater" (Dave introduced it to me, no calories like Gatorade but with the electro lights) never felt fatigued! At one of our stops we needed to get out of the heat so we popped into an air conditioned antique mall. Myrna really knows how to beat the heat! We walked around for 20-30 minutes (without buying anything) then concluded our ride into Rolla, Missouri. You know those 46 degree days we had riding a few weeks ago sure would be refreshing now! I made reservations on line at a Quality Inn in Rolla and when we pulled up the place looked vacant. I called the front desk from my bike and someone answered!! They were actually open, so we checked into our room. The hotel looks new and the clerk said he had a lot of travelers checking in later tonight. So I don't think it is a "Bates Motel", however I am glad I brought my gun! We took a picture of the vacant hotel lot with only my bike parked near the entrance. We rode 417 miles today passing thru Tulsa OK, Joplin and Springfield MO. Grand total of miles so far 6094.

Remember to enlarge a photo all you have to do is click on it.

Revelation 7:16 Never again will they hunger, never again will they thirst. The sun will not beat down on them, nor any scorching heat.