Day 32 the end

The trip is over. I rode 525 uneventful miles today under mostly clear skies. It did rain a little around Flagstaff but that's to be expected this time of year. 

I had a great time on the whole trip and I'm kind of sad that it's over except the part where I get to see Janet. 

I put almost 7,400 miles on the bike over the past 32 days. Not a great amount but still a nice little putt. 

Thanks to those that followed along and I'll see you all later. 

Jim

    Good bye Rockies sniff, sniff 

    Hello Arizona

    I've driven by these dozens of times and never took a picture. 

Day 29, 30, 31

Had a nice visit with Bonnie and Jeff then took off Friday morning and rode to Paonia for another BMW rally. I bought a new tent at this rally, one that's tall so I don't have to get down and crawl in and out which is nice for these aging legs and knees. 

I'm hanging around the rally grounds visiting with folks I've met before and meeting new ones. I'll ride home Sunday. 

    On Guanella Pass

    

Day 28

I rode 660 miles today to arrive at my cousin's house in Bailey, CO at 3:00 pm. The weather was clear for a change with high temps of 94 F which was better than the predicted 100 F. It did sprinkle a little the last 20 miles but then that's to be expected in the mountains at that time of day.

Bonnie fixed a great evening dinner and we looked at old family photos while Jeff and I talked about everything from politics to fishing.

    Selfie while riding across Kansas

Day 27

Just visiting with Steve and Lisa today and going to Walmart to restock a few supplies. I planned out the last leg of this trip and will be leaving bright and early in the morning with a plan to ride 650 miles to my cousin's in Bailey, Colorado by day's end. It's suppose to be 100 F through Kansas, whew.

Day 26

Steve and I got up this morning and were greeted by 100% humidity i.e.: rain. So we suited up and rode out of it after an hour. It then turned into a 80-90 deg humid ride to Kansas City where I will hang out for at least a day before heading to Colorado and next weekend's rally in Paonia.

Days 23, 24, 25

We spent most of the weekend visiting with K1600 forum members, searching out "stuff" at the vendors, sitting in on informational seminars, eating and a side trip or two. Sunday we all headed home  with Steve and I spending tonight west of Indianapolis, IN.

    A short trip to Niagra Falls.

    Breakfast at a Canadian IHOP with some of the K1600 forum members.

Day 22

We had a strong wind storm last night and several tents, vendor displays and canopies were damaged. My bike blew over and one of the saddle bags got scratched when it hit a tent stake.

Today was mostly walking around all the vendor areas looking for things we couldn't leave without. I only bought some T shirts and tie down straps. Many of the folks who are on the K1600 forum gathered again this evening to visit. The weather is suppose to be clear and cool the rest of the weekend.

    Ouch

    A coffin trailer the owner sleeps in. The lady in the picture is not the owner. 

Day 21

We made it to the MOA rally in Hamburg, NY at around noon today. Some of the guys got here a day or so ago and marked off an area for K1600 motorcycle  tent camping. It should be a fun weekend. 

    The shower trailer across the street 

    Some of the K1600 forum members gathering already. 

   

    My camp

Day 20

Took off this morning at 5:30 in the rain that stayed with me to Peoria, IL. Then off and on all the way to Columbus, OH where I arrived at the motel at 5:00 pm after 625 miles. Steve got there a half hour earlier. We had a burger and a couple beers and are now getting ready for showers and bed so we can be back on the road by 6:00 am. It looks like tomorrow is just a little over 300 miles. 

Our view all day long. 

Day 19

I did nothing except visit with the folks and Mike and Debby Conley

Day 17

The beginning of another leisure day. 

    The quaint motel we are "camping" in near the family gathering. 

Day 18

We drove back to Cedar Falls mostly in rain today. Had a nice visit at tha family camp out. I got to see and visit with some family members that I hadn't seen in several years along with their kids that are growing up way too fast.

Day 16

I Drove Mom and Dad to Wisconsin for our annual family camp out. This has been going on for close to 40 years. I've only attended twice since moving to Arizona. It's amazing how everyone has aged except me 😬.

    Small road side park we stopped at for quick pit stop. 

    Crossing the mighty Mississippi River

Day 15

Had a nice visit in town with friends from High School and ones I worked with at John Deere many years ago. It's always fun to catch up and reminisce about the old days and things we did together back then. It's also sad to hear about those that have passed away. 

Day 14

I thought I would do a quick post just so that my dedicated followers wouldn't think that I ran off the road somewhere. I washed my filthy bike this morning and then helped my Dad purchase a new printer for his computer. He told me what features he wanted and then when I got it hooked up he asked if it could do such and such. Of course it couldn't so now I'm in the process of showing him how to do that task with a work around plan. It would be easier if he would wear his hearing aids but then why would he do that. 

Thanks for reading the blog. 

Day 13

Rode up to my folks in Cedar Falls, Iowa today. It was kind of like being in a sauna. 90 F and probably 90% humidity. For those that have never been to Iowa here are photos of typical things to see. 

    

Co-op grain silos

    Small town water tower

    Classic farm

    Cornfield 

    John Deere tractors for sale

    The house I grew up in and where my folks still live.

Day 12

 It was a quick 300 mile ride to Steve's in Kansas City. I installed the modified shift linkage I bought last Friday when I made a detour into the Denver metro area. I need to ride for a day or two to see how it works. Steve is installing a new tire on his bike. The Avon he had on it got almost 10,000 miles which is pretty good for these high torque BMWs so he is putting another one on. 

    Fireworks in K. C. 

Day 11

Frank and Jerry made it back to Arizona today with no problems. Steve and I took off for his house in Kansas City. 

No rain today so the ride was nice with temperatures between 77-80 across Kansas under partly cloudy skies.  We rode 550 miles today in 10 hours. Tomorrow we only have 300 more to Steve's. 

    The last of the mountains for now. 

    Flat Kansas

Day 10

ITurn out the lights to party is over.

We had lots of rain today but it was still a nice ride. We rode South out of Buena Vista to South Fork where we turned back North up Hwy 149 over Slumgulion Pass to the Blue Mesa Reservoir. From there we rode West to our cabin in Montrose. 

This our last night of the Rocky Mountain section of my trip. Jerry and Frank will head back to Arizona in the morning and Steve and I to Kansas City.

    Steve airing up his rear tire.

    Old clay mine

    Steve found the leak and plugged it

    Watching the air pump doing its thing

    Blue Mesa Reservoir

    Our cabin in Montrose

    The final four

     Steve.  Jerry.      Jim.      Frank 

    Look who Jerry ran into