The Don Puccio's Excellent Adventures

2009-07-20T22:49:00.000-07:00

All,

My boots were worn out so i bought a new pair at Cowboy Boots, a discount boot place in Scottsdale I always wanted to buy boots from when in college but couldn't afford it. I bought Ostrich. My old boots were lizard I bought on a business trip in Mexico.

Then i toured the ASU campus and rode out to the Superstition mountains today, east of Phoenix.

The Superstition Mountains

These mountains were my favorite place to ride my Honda 250 street/dirt bike in the dessert in college. I love these mountains. Look them up, they are interesting. Dave Butts, Randy Storm, Cecilia Smith and I made a "silent" movie out here in college. That was fun!

When i was up there the storm hit suddenly with dust and rain and i had to get down the hill fast. The rain soaked me immediately but I didn't care it was the lightning i was concerned about.

I am planning to ride to Las Vegas again tomorrow but I'm not sure i can make it in this heat and these storms. I blogged the pic of the dust storm rolling into Phoenix a couple days ago. Here's the kind of warning they put on TV for these things, some pictures and a video of the storm and lightning.

Arizona State University

2009-07-18T10:52:00.000-07:00

All,

I rode from the Grand Canyon to Phoenix yesterday.

The Arizona mountains are so different from the northwest's. Its amazing how the smells of the dessert take me back ... have you ever smelled the dessert after a rain? Just like music can take you back, smells can do the same.

All the way i was watching the clouds and the rain and dark clouds surrounding my path. I was thinking about the old Navajo woman who told me, "go where yo want those clouds don't cool." I had decided to ride into the rain as is, no rain gear, no coat, skull helmet, just ride in and take it. Now i lived in Arizona for 8 years so i know the rain is like here. It is NOT like Seattle rain. It pounds you and drenches you in seconds. The whole point was being soaked does not matter here because the rain is warm. I used to love running in the rain in college at ASU. I was only worried about visibility. I traipsed through the mountains between cloud bursts and never got rained on.

So, next adventure; as i was nearing Phoenix, in construction with concrete blockades on both sides of the freeway lane i was in, a car came by and told me my headlight was out. It was dusk, i had just spent half an our watching the sunset. Also there was a dessert dust storm blowing into Phoenix. (see pic) You can see it? Moving left to right on the ground sorta pinkish in the sunset. I have seen these before and they are deadly dangerous in a car. On a Harley I was not planning on riding into it. It was dark. Riding a Harley at night with no headlight was not in my plans so I got off at the next exit and found a hotel and got a room. For those of you who know Phoenix, I am near Pinnacle Peak road. That used to be this place way out in the dessert where they had a cowboy steak place that would cut your tie off and nail it to the wall if you wore one. We'd always get an old tie and let them cut it off just for fun. Anyways, now its on the edge of the city. Amazing!

So today i must get my headlight fixed first, then the Superstition Mountains if i can fit it in.

Oh yes, its 114 today in Phoenix. I need to be laying by the pool.

Here are some pics of the Arizona Sunset.

2009-07-17T12:18:00.000-07:00

Hello everybody ... how are you this fine day ...

I wanted t go back to the Grand Canyon so ... i DID go back to the grand Canyon. After all i am in charge here amn't I?

If you come here and plan ahead stay in the Village. Bright Angel lodge or one of the ones right on the rim. You can see into the canyon from your room. And there are restaurants with canyon views and a bar, no view but 20 yards from the rim. And a long walkway with a zillion perfect spots to see the canyon. Many places if you fall you're dead so its right on the edge. There is one cabin hanging over the rim, that i saw, may be more. This is the way to see it.

I sat in one of these places a little away from the crowds and watched the sun set over the Canyon, and waited for the stars. Like Monument Valley they soon overtook the canyon view. Especially since after dark you cannot see a thing down in the canyon. At monument valley I could see the silhouettes of the monuments against the star lite sky. Here, at the Grand Canyon, after dark the canyon is completely dark and you cannot see a thing.

Some songs fit this o perfectly. The greatest and the song of the day (Sander's called it) is "Compfortably Numb", Pink Floyd. Also great were; Rodrigo y Gabriella - "Diablo Rojo (Red Devil), "Guitar Town" - Once Upon A Time In Mexico sound track, Mark Knoffler - "Back To Tupelo"

Not sure where I'm going today?, towards Phoenix through Sedona, I'd like to make the Superstition Mountains but we'll see.

Here's one good picture ... you've seen eough by now ...

2009-07-16T10:05:00.000-07:00

All y'all,

My Louisiana friend said y'all when speaking directly to me alone one day about 25 years ago and i stopped him. "If I alone, one person, am "y'all. Then how do you address a group of people", i asked? "All y'all" he smiled and replied. That's for free ...

Monument Valley is wonderful. You have to go here. I hiked up the side of one of those giant 'monuments' and watched the sun set. Then i sat outside on the deck of the hotel for two hours and watched the stars overtake the valley below. Unbelievable. Total relaxation. Out on the deck, in the dark after the sun set, which i watched from the side of the mountain, bats buzzing around, Navajo whistle music playing in the background, moonless night but the stars and the Milky Way Galaxy are so bright you can still see the valley and the shadows of the monuments, just sweet. The lights from the hotel attracted bugs, lots of bugs, which brought the bats. At first they made me nervous a bit but after a while they were cool. Swooping through blind as a bat, eating bugs, i appreciated the excellence with which these blind creatures can swoop through the sky and eat a bug right out of the air just like that? Amazing. It was a feast for the bats, a massacre for the bugs. Then i remembered that there are no mosquito's in the dessert. It was so sweet watching them and the sky and the stars and the valley. Monument Valley was so captivating all day just amazing but after the sun set and the stars came they were brilliant! I've never seen so many. It was a moonless night so the sky was dark. Unbelievable.

Early, just after sunset the deck was full. Then people left. Then people would come and go. Most of the night i was alone out there. I sat there until about 1. Loved it. That's when i decided i was relaxed. I'd see some people come out and sit down and look and then go after about 5 minutes. I thought, amazing sight you may never see again, wonderful place set up for looking at it once in a lifetime opportunity and you only have 5 minutes for it? Then i thought, i must be relaxed, this must be what its like.

Here are pics of the hike up the side of this 'monument' next to he hotel.

I sat behind this little wall and smoked a cigar and watched the sun set. These are pics from the top. You can see the hotel down below in one of them.

Here are some pictures of Monument Valley.

2009-07-15T14:42:00.000-07:00

All,

The sunset picture was taken when i rode into the Grnd Canyon late Monday night. The daytime picture was taken the next day from almost the same spot. I knew when i was taking the sunset picture that the Grand Canyon was below in the dark ... i just could not see ...

2009-07-15T10:55:00.000-07:00

Hello from the glorious road my friends ...

I am sitting in a restaurant that has wireless in Kayenta, Arizona a few miles out of Monument Valley eating Indian Fry Bread. This was always the big treat in Arizona at the county fair. I can't tell you what its like its not like anything. So good.

I was trying to figure out which way to go by weather.com and it said northwest (Monument Valley my plan) was clear and sunny but south Phoenix was isolated thunderstorms. Now looking south was clear blue sky and looking where i planned to go was dark clouds and rain. You can see the whole horizon from the grand Canyon. I stopped at one of those Indian turquoise stands and asked an old Indian lady (not kidding) which way she would go. She kicked her son sleeping beneath the plywood counter and told him to tell me which way was best. He laughed a bit annoyed and pointed towards the clear blue sky. Then the old Indian lady said, "it doesn't matter, go which ever way you want, that rain doesn't cool, its by in 5 minutes and then you're hot again." So i went as planned to Monument Valley which I am about to see and did not get rained on at all. Today its clear and sunny.

I wanted to camp at the Grand Canyon and watch the sun set and moon set over the canyon. But rain and lightning are not appealing to camping so i left. I may go back to day and camp tonight if its clear? or not?

Here are some shots of the road to Monument Valley ...

Yesterday at the Grad Canyon was what you may expect. You can't take enough pictures but you take far too many. There are not words or pictures that work. I will upload them all to facebook later. Here are a few ...

2009-07-14T12:21:00.000-07:00

Hello all,

Dennis Peacock said it takes three weeks to relax. I am out three weeks and 3 days now. I'm still in need of much more practice. Much much more.

Song of the day: "Tuesday's Gone" by Lynyrd Skynyrd

I wonder, can you have the same song twice? (Who is asking?)

Honorable mention song: "Tuxedo Junction" Manhatten Transfer (the boop Bop song Gina)

Thought of the day: The old Boy Scout Motto; "Be Prepared" isn't hoaky at all ... do it!

This ride ... from Bryce Canyon in Utah to the Grand Canyon in Arizona is stunning.

It was not as hot as the low dessert around La Vegas, instead of 110 it was probably 95, which felt hot but not bad out on the road. When i dunk my shirt to cool off it stayed wet longer.

But the scenery was awesome.

The route takes you from directly north of the canyon to the south rim entrance, so i road around the Grand Canyon. You can see hillsides and canyons that you know are what the canyon is like all along the way from afar.

The ground is red and the rocks are red and the dirt is red its amazing. Then you come around a comer and everything is black, or grey or sand. Its a barren wasteland that looks like Star Wars was filmed there.

All along the way there are these shelters the Indians use to sell jewelry in. Shacks that have been there forever.

This blogger interface is so pathetic ... but this pass you see here ... its next to this as i am writing but who knows where the pic will be when posted?

This was so fun to ride through. Deep red walls of rock towering above your head ... the ride through there was intense ... the sight of the horizon ahead ... the heat blowing in your face, you can feel the hot air from the valley below hit you as you go through this.

What a great ride.

These next two pictures are just on the other side of the pass. The first is looking back at the exit and then down along the road. You travel through the v-shaped pass and then along a red ridge of rocks like this for about 100 miles. All along the bottom Indians live. I can't imagine living there? Neither can you.

Then after a while you start seeing these little beginnings of the Grand Canyon.

I wanted to stop every 5 minutes and take pictures but you can't.

Finally, i arrive at sunset over the Grad Canyon.

Now the "funny" story ...

I miss-judged the distance to my hotel inside the canyon park from the turn off hwy 89, which is easy to do. I arrived at sunset so i was then riding along the canyon rim. It was so beautiful at sunset, you can see into it around every other bend. But its dusk and every rider knows that is dangerous because of deer jumping in front of you. I went forever and ever and started thinking i was lost. Trying to remember how far the road was from he turn off to the lodges? Its hard to judge distance on winding curving roads through mountains and i was basically lost. But there is only one road so i just kept going thinking i must run into the lodges soon. I probably saw 10 elk cross the road. None were dangerous they were all well ahead of me. But the next thing i saw was one of those warning signs that you see for deer jumping. Only this one had a mountain lion on it. I thought o great, lost in the middle of no-where. I decided to check and make sure i was good on gas. That's when the horror hit ... i was on my reserve tanks. Then i tried to remember turning on the reserve tank and exactly where i did? Running out of gas on the lonely road of the south rim late at night in mountain lion country was not my idea of a good time. I started thinking abut how i would fight a lion? What strategy? UFC knee to head? Could i get inside a mountain lion's arms to grab the heck and pull the head down to my knee? Yes i thought but i'd have to take claws on my shoulders and pain. Or the Master Chief eye gouge? And hope it runs off? Or how fast could i get to my knife? I figured that would take too long.

Anyway, I saw the reflection of a park ranger jeep on the side of the road and follow him to the gas station. I did not make it. Had he not been there i would have ran out of gas. The ranger gave me a ride and loaned me a gas can and i was back on the road. He also told me directions to my hotel, which i was about 15 miles short of.

So then i just had to ride through elk and mountain lions infested mountains to get to civilization. The ranger told me there had only been one sighting of a lion in the last 9 months. So i had tat going for me, which is nice.

The Dessert

2009-07-12T13:32:00.000-07:00

Hi all, tryig to keep up on the blog ... i can only capture probably 1% of what i see and think on this trip ... i wish you could experience it all ... its amazing ... pics at bottom ...
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I'm using less pictures in the blog because they are such a pain to add in. To see all of them go to my facebook photo albums. I am "Peter Joseph Puccio III" ... there are a lot of us ...
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Rosie and i were reminiscing one day via text and she asked me where "cold and ice" came from. Every night the girls would ask for a drink, like all children seeking a few more moments awake! I would always make a big deal out of it and say do you want cold water or hot? They'd laugh and say cold daddy. And I'd say with ice in it? And they would laugh and say yes cold and ice. This became a ritual and the final proof of the day that i love them.

Thought of the day for my Rosie Flower: "Make a big deal out of things, it makes life better."

Now i am ready to be corrected. Have at it girls.
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I was sitting in the sun the other day overlooking San Diego Harbor in the sun just thoroughly enjoying life and i thought this must be some kind of a sin. Enjoying life this much has to be a sin? It must be at least selfish?

I think the proper question is how can i enjoy life this much every day? Its an all attitude. Or better yet; when in my life was life this great and exciting and fulfilling? Get me back Mr Wizard. Who can recite that? Trizzle trazzle trizzzle trone time for this one to go home?
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I gave Dan Rutherford the honor of calling a song of the day: "Leaving Las Vegas by Cheryl Crow.
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Oh i must re-tell about the hotel in Blithe California called the "Ocean View". After spending two weeks riding along the Pacific Ocean and having actual ocean views. I stayed up late more than once at a fire pit watching first the sun then the moon drop into the sea. This just cracked me up. I can imagine a person complaining that they can't see the ocean from their room when they are hundreds of miles from the sea in a god forsaken dessert heat valley of 113.
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For my Boat Riojas family ... imagine riding through the f-ing dessert, the cities report 113 but in the middle of that dessert its a lot hotter than that. I soak my shirt in the sink at rest stops and gas stations to be cool for a while and in 5 or 10 minutes its dry as a bone. This is the hottest place in the country and the hottest time of the year and its hot. I ride along imagining the boat, the cold water of lake Washington, standing on the back and when my cigar is finally gone in i go. How i would love that today. I really cannot wait to get back on the boat.

I'm in St. George Utah. Going around the northwest corner of the grand canyon up through Zion Ntl park and Bryce Canyon.
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I was stopped at the side of the road taking pictures and this car stopped an out came a man from India. I worked with so many from India at Microsoft and went to India a couple years ago and it was so nice talking to them. The man was like, yes i said like Gina, he was like, "we want go grand Canyon.". I asked him his name and repeated it rather well for an American thank you. He had a map and pointed. I explained, summed up for Mrs. Sones., he looked depressed. I said listen, i am on the same route as you, you should go where i am going and i described Zion and Bryce and my plans. He was very happy and excited as he drove off. Now today and tomorrow whatever i see and however great it is i will imagine these two when they went through. These little encounters are so fun on the road.

Song of another day: "I Just Want to Celibrate" I think its Sly and the Family Stone (Dayton!? I always knew you Stones were great musicians!!!
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Imagine riding through this dessert and heat. The edge of the Grand Canyon. There are sooooo many times i wish i could stop and get a picture and can't, its so amazing. Today i rode up out of the Las Vegas dessert into the high dessert above the Grand Canyon. There was a spot where there were so many colors, like in the Painted Dessert. Unbelievable canyon i rode through just gorgeous. But one spot on came Robin Trower "Bridge of Sighs." This is one of the songs of my past stoner days. Go listen to that and imagine the scene and the heat, so hot probably 110 in the dessert. was surreal. Its the song of today.

There's something about doing things most would not or could not do that I love. Like walking home barefoot 10 miles 2 years ago at seafair. Not many would ride through the heat of this dessert in the hottest time of the year and the hottest part of the country and the hottest time of the day, has to be 110! I am actually amazed, I knew i could take it when iwas young in college cause i had only a motorcycle in college and i did it many days. But I'm old now and wondered. And i wondered about the Harley. Its a Sportster 1200, only the 2nd smallest Harley. I did have it serviced just before the dessert, which was smart, but the bike is fine. This is fun.

Did i mention the easiest thing to ignore is not cold? Early in the year on Jesse's boat in May, opening day, I started jumping in the lake. (Hint: suffering cold in May makes June so much nicer.) People would cringe and aks if i am crazy? I'd say, "cold is the easiest thing to ignore." I was thinking pain, much harder to ignore than cold. I've ignored extreme pain you would not believe if i told you. But anyway, I was wrong. Heat is easier to ignore than cold i believe. This is certainly the test. You cannot find hotter in the US.
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Its really amazing to ride the whole Pacific west coast of the US, then head into the heat of the dessert, then up into the mountains of southern Utah, and then (this is future) the Grand Canyon and Monument Valley, then Phoenix, my old home college city, then ???. Amazing what this does to you. I really thought i' be able to capture it and blog it and write it. I can't. You need to do it.

Now let me add a few choice pictures ... you will have to imagine the ones i couldn't stop and take!

2009-07-05T12:54:00.000-07:00

Hello all,

Fireworks over San Diego Harbor and and view in the sunlight ... i have more and some great video but they are too large to upload here, maybe later?

I decided to stay another day in San Diego ... it is the day of rest; i think i will actually rest on the day of rest for once ... we'll see about tomorrow.

I totally forgot about song of the day and thought of the day ... oh well ...

2009-07-04T20:51:00.000-07:00

Hello all,

I did laundry today in Redondo Beech and yes i stripped down to wash the clothes i was waring. I think there's a commercial like that? Look at this lady ... she was like this when i went int he Laundromat and she had not moved when i left?! I was worried about her ... poor thing ...

More gorgeous ocean views. I went back today and looked at the water in the Oregn pics compared to the water in southern California.

Here is the view from my hotel room in San Diego. I figured there would be a great foreworks show in San Diego because its a military base. So iwent right down on Front street and to the best looking viewing hotel. They had no rooms but the desk clerk went out of his way to set me up in a half suite. Someone hads rented just half a suit. So i could have the other room, with npobed jujst a couch for half the rate. I jumpedon it. Also it was harbor side so icould view the fireworks in the best seat in San Diego. I must have some serious good storedf up to eap such a great deal!

Ok, bring on the show! I fear i will not be able o take pictures of the show ... i'll enjoy it for all of you ...

2009-07-04T09:40:00.000-07:00

Hello everyone,

Its been days since i blogged. I have had too much fun and too much to do and see to blog. I'm starting to hate blogging but i promised ...

I stayed in Monterey at the Intercontinental Hotel right on Fisherman's Warf. It was so nice.

Here is a pic of the waterfront street in Monterey.

From there i went south to Santa Rosa and had lunch at Santa Lucia Cafe. This was a great place I highly recommend it.

I stayed the night here. This place was in the middle of nowhere. I think its called the Ragged Inn. This vie is from my balcony. I sat here smoked a cigar and watched the sun set into the sea. This is somewhere along the coast between San Fran and LA near the Hearst Castle.

The Hearst Castle. This was amazing.

I uploaded all my photos into an album on Facebook. Here: http://www.facebook.com/home.php?#/photo.php?pid=2625517&id=725642141&ref=mf you have t check them out!

This place was amazing. I only went because Bill Sanders told me i had to. And to take pictures because Bill forgot his camera when he went.

Outside as i was leaving i met this lady from Texas, currently, really she's a Cajun from Louisiana i think? Anyway she is an art teacher and we talked for almost 2 hours sitting there. it was nice. There are a lot of these conversations on the road. They are nice. Her name is Shara.

More pics of the ocean. I bet you are sick of them. I am starting to really love being next to the sea. Makes me want to live in California. Too bad all the politics have made it a less than desirable place to live.

Too bad you can't see this very well. These guys were amazing. I've never seen this before. They wind surf out to the waves ride them in an then the wind takes them back out again. I bet my hair dresser has done this.

This is a neighborhood street in Ventura. I always loved palm trees since my days in Phoenix and Arizona State University.

The famous Malibu Beech. I looked but couldn't find Pamela Anderson ...

Back from the boondocks

2009-06-29T12:51:00.000-07:00

Hello all again,

I have been on the Pacific Coast camping by the sea near San Francisco for the last three days with no connectivity at all. It’s been very very nice. I remember someone asking me on Saturday what time it was. I sorta looked at them and said, slowly, i have no idea and i don't really care. I haven't checked the time in days. Its just not important out here. More important is the sun, and specifically when will it go down. Before it slips away i must have a campsite and be settled for the night. Last Friday i let it get too late and then could not find a campground available.

Anyways ... here are some notes i've been taking.

The place where i stayed for two days on the ocean was called "Ocean Cove. It is a private owned and run by a dad and his two sons. They went the extra mile for me toget me firewood when i rolled in about 10:30 at night. They made my first night enjoyable by the fire by the sea.

The sights of the stars, the crescent moon, the ocean, the camp fire were unbelievable. I lay back and look up at the stars and there are a zillion with the Milky Way galaxy clearly visible. I look at the moon shining bright across the ocean and then my campfire below that. These words are pathetic to describe these scenes. The night in the Ocean Cove campsite a little north of Jenner was unbelievable. I asked for a shooting star like I ask the clouds to part for us or the Bald Eagles to fly over Jesse’s boat on Lake Washington and within a couple minutes the stars obliged. I saw three shooting stars that night. The moon shining on the ocean was awesome. The whole night was just unbelievable.

A lady drove by in campground head out the window yelling and you have you computer too!? you have everything!

I met Doug and Tony. They made me Abalone and Rock fish for dinner. Doug, has a road bike, comes here to dive for Abalone. A nice abalone dinner would cost around $75. And that is raised abalone that is about half legal limit of 7 inches. Abalone is a mussel. It doesn't take or smell like fish. It is smooth and tender and soooo good. Doug made me a dinner with Abalone, rock fish, fried potatoes and green beans cooked in bacon. So here I am camping roughing it with no hot food in the campsite and then I get served an expensive gourmet meal caught that morning and cooked by Doug who loves the food and does it right. He demanded i sit in his chair next to the table thing they packed and eat with a napkin and cold beer. It was a wonderful meal absolutely delicious. Now this will cost me in the long run because I'll always be looking to have abalone and that will be expensive.

On Saturday i sat at the top of a little cliff overlooking this little cove by the sea and thought about Jesse and my friends on the boat on Lake Washington. I imagined myself standing on the back of the boat as i had planned. I couldn’t stand on the rock but i sat on the edge dangling my feet over the cliffs and listened to my "boat" music. My fav was Sly and the Family Stone Medley … I love the guy at the beginning that “sings” or yells, “Dance to the music, dance to the fucking music!!!” Here is a pic and a video ...

Oh yes, I did write a book. The one I’ve been talking about writing all my life, my kids will know. It’s about 70% complete. I will tinker with it and think about it and fine tune it the rest of the trip.

Here are the Songs and Thoughts of the day for the last three days …

Sunday June 28th

Song: “Orion” by Rodrigo Y Gabriella

Thought: The most important things in my life are my children.

Saturday June 27th

Song: Sly and the Family Stone - Medley

Thought: “Best way to finish something is to start.”

Friday June 26th

Song: Jack Johnson “Wasting Time

Thought: It’s so easy to waste a day. (so the next day I used to write a book)

Some of the best pics over the last three days …

2009-06-26T13:14:00.000-07:00

June 25th

Song: “I’m a thousand miles from nowhere” Dwight Yokum

Thought: “You can still be Marlon Brando and the King of Rock and Roll.” Lyrics from “Back To Tupelo” on Shangrila by Mark Knoffler

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I'm still learning this Blogger photo upload thing. Not intuitive. so this blog reads chronologically from bottom to top as the day goes on ... sorry ... Blogger is not that great.
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Now i came out of the Hwy 1 Dragon's Tail finally and rode up to this sight; sunset. I had been begging for the coast and the turning to stop for sooooooo long and then this. I stopped got off and snapped these sunset pics.

I'd been waiting for this sign. Here is were 1 splits off from 101. Now after this Hwy 1 takes so many twisty turns through the mountains it should be called the "Dragon's Tail" like the famous dragon's tail in teh Blue Ridge mountains in Tennessee. Bill and I had planned on riding that this summer but life took over our plans, as it can do whenever. I tried to add a pic showing the turns but again, pics are so limited in what the can convey ... it was intense 2 hours of focused turning and leaning and signs that actually read the coming turn must be taken at 10 miles per hour! get that 10! go 10 and see how slow that is. And it was accurate! This was not the funnest part of the trip and i am now very nappy we did not do the Dragon's Tail.

I stopped here again for another cigar. This is in the Redwood forest. I sat in the sun on my Harley. I learned it can a nice lawn chair (see phone self pic). The rock wall and trees at the top were so cool. The pic is pretty good but doesn't do it justice, which is the way it usually is.

I stopped here in this secluded spot (pic above and below) and smoked a cigar and sat in the sun for a while.

As a kid we went there and i remember it vividly. I remember begging Charlie to stop at all these things, the snake pit, the monster this and that etc. Dad hated it and stopped at very few of them. Now i can stop at any i wish and i stop at none. I stopped here just to take this pic.

Some pics ... I am loading all my pictures on one of my Facebook photo albums ...

http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=96028&id=725642141

2009-06-26T10:42:00.000-07:00

June24th

Song: “Summer time” Janis Joplin

Thought: Our Current functioning federal government is unconstitutional. It’s too big, way! Founders would be disgusted. They wanted it small and limited, which is why they make the Bill of Rights (1st 10 amendments for you public school products). I thought about this as i crossed the Oregon California border. There was such a difference! I thought, right, they are supposed to be different. They are different states and they should be free to live as the people there see fit. But today the states are almost irrelevant because the federal government is way too large and has usurped way to much power. It is no and has been for decades unconstitutional. But it doesn't matter because the US is peopled with idiots who know nothing and won't fight for freedom. So they, republicans and democrats alike, do as they see fit and we just take ion the ...

Anyway ... back to the relaxing fun ride ...

Day started at the Always Christmas Cafe in Reedsport Oregon, funny but great strawberry waffles and hot coffee for $5.

I see so much can't possibly take pics of it all ... i love noticing the little things. I see a zillion things that i can't stop and take pictures of. Like a house along the ocean in the middle of nowhere where they planted these amazing deep dark orange flowers I've never seen before for the passers by. They were not up by their house but out by the road for us. I saw these funny looking sort of crooked trees by the ocean that covered the road so low and so completely that it was like riding into a Hobbit tunnel and i entered the tunnel just as Led Zeppelin, "Dazed and Confused" came on. Unbelievable! It was quite cool. But these are the sights i couldn't get pictures of so i can't show you and you see how worthless words are; I'd need a thousand words. There are at least a 100 to 1 sights i wish i could have stopped and taken pics of but can't.

Got stuck in traffic behind a multiple car accident on a bridge over Coos Bay Oregon.

Here are some pics of the Oregon coast. Go to my facebook photo album for all my pics.

Here is the link: http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=725642141&ref=profile#/album.php?aid=96028&id=725642141

2009-06-24T17:01:00.001-07:00

Tuesday the 23rd ...

Song of the day: “China Grove” Doobie Brothers

Thought of the day: Random thoughts are so random?!

Had lunch at Nature’s Corner Café Market in Florence Oregon. So good, has the best soup, Brazilian Chard mmmm.

Here are some pics of the beautiful Oregon coast ...

Stopped near Florence, OR by the famous sand dunes, giant sand dunes. One of my followers sad that thy filmed part of Star Wars in those dunes.

I camped next to Gary and Kevin. Kevin is in month 5 of an 8 month ride and Gary joined him a week back. They don’t know where they’re going except north on the west coast. Since we are all heading where the other is headed and spent a great deal of time giving advice what to see and where to stay. Gary rode a Honda Gold wing with reverse and a tent trailer pulling behind. We had a grand time talking about riding and being over 50. Drank their beer and they smoked my smoke.

2009-06-24T16:40:00.000-07:00

When I camp i don't have WiFi usually so I can't blog. So Now i will load the last two days ...

Monday the 22nd ...

Had a great ride through middle Oregon, beautiful mountains and scenery. I did not get to see Jenovich as her plans changed and she was not going to be home when I rolled through sooo … sob sob. Camping was great I had everything I needed for a first class camp except electricity and wireless. Sat up by the fire smoking and listening to tunes. Slept in till 8, which is good for camping.

Song of the day: Guess from these lyrics, “she’s well acquainted with the touch of a velvet hand like a lizard on a window pane” winner will get a special prize. Joelle; I know you will get this but let the mere mortals try for a while before you tell them.

Thought of the day: You have nowhere to go or be why are you speeding? STFD

Ate lunch at the Rainbow Tavern. I am trying to eat at out of the way local places and not large chains like Quiznos and McDonalds. They had a picture of Ted on the wall which made me laugh (inside joke with Gina)

Here is a beautiful sight …

Mt. Washington in Oregon

My campsite …

This Does Not Suck!!!

2009-06-22T08:35:00.001-07:00

I spent Father’s day with the Master Chief and his family in Walla Walla Washington. BBQ’d some dead cow and told stories, great stories. Day started sunny in Kennewick but them clouded up and by Walla Walla I was getting rained on. Around 3 the clouds remembered who I am and broke up. The web showed clear sky south so I hit the road and outran the clouds. Bill and I once outran not just clouds but the 1st Winter storm that hit Wyoming and had to fly past a state and a half to get back in the sun. Writing this the next morning and its cloudy here but sunny south, again, so, again, I will follow the sun and head south according to the master plan.

The last two days didn’t seem like the Harley adventure I have been waiting for, since I was going to family reunions and visiting like always. But when I rode away from The Master Chief and Marie, well now it’s on.

Song of the day: “Sun King” – Beatles
Thought of the day: This does not suck!

Today, Monday, June 22nd the plan is to go through the back roads of Oregon around Mt. Hood and over towards the coast through Corvallis Oregon. I hope to get to see Jenovich, which would be the highlight of the trip for me. She is a gymnast friend of my daughters and like my own. Of course plans are subject to change at any moment on this trip.

I was thinking, you have a lot of time to think on a ride, about how great this is and how I could make a living riding the country on my Harley? Then I thought that the difference between living an adventure and living our “normal” lives is all in our minds and we could by practice and focus live like this every day. Then the day unfolds and the scenery, even in the “ugly” desert of southeast WA, which I love, amazes me and I have to keep stopping to take pictures. I decided nope, you have to do this. And it will never be normal. But …

Leaving Walla Walla around the big bend in the Columbia river. Look at those telephone poles, they are covered with those antique real glass insulators ...

Now this is a great picture. You will probably get tired of me blogging about cloud, sunshine and weather, at least until i get to Arizona where the sun shines every single day. You have to understand that riding in the rain sucks it just ruins a great thing.

So when i see a sight like this i have to take a picture. You can't see it very good in the pic but there were these beautiful lines through the sky.However the main point is blue sky in the direction i am heading.

This picture will send shivers of fear traipsing up the spines of my good friends at Microsoft! ... you have to know Jack.

I love hill sides like this. I know many will think the are not that great but this is what the countryside is like around where i was born and grew up so i will always love it. When i was young i used to want to pull over and run up one of these hills. They're my hills, Ya, that's right, they're mine.

This picture is for Teri and Doug (funnyman), my sister and her husband. While packing up to leave their house yesterday i had trouble getting my hat to stay on, the strap broke and Doug gave me this caribeaner thingy to hook around the head strap. That didn't work so this is the final solution i came up with.

In high school coming home from HS Nationals in Colorado on a Greyhound with Greg Williams and Dave Butts Greg taught me the true value of a hat, to cover ugly hair. Helmets ruin hair.

This is a contest. who can tell me who the extremely bow legged noodle armed cowboy on the left is. Winner will get a special prize.

Haysta La Vista ...

Bill and Pete's Excellent Adventure III

2009-06-20T23:21:00.000-07:00

Day started cold and rainy in Seattle. Over Snoqualmie pass the sky cleared and the sun was hot. Stopped a few times for a RockyPatel Jr. cigar and some more practice relaxing.

Song of the Day: "Tuesday's Gone" Lynyrd Skynyrd

Thought of the day: People are the most important thing.

Went to Kennewick for a family reunion. It was the first since my mom passed. Was nice to see everyone. Got to talk to my farmer cousin about tractors. Played with my sister's grandson, Aden. Ate Barb's potato salad and excellent strawberry jello with real strawberries.

Then to my Teri and Doug's for the night. Got to see Lane and Jocelyn and their new bedrooms. Look at Lane's Cougar Central room. (sorry its a bit blurry)

Eat your heart out Matt Mira. I didn't see any Jimmy Buffet though so you are still the man.

Lane showed me a zillion cools tricks on his new TouchPod, which i have but had no idea it could do so much. And Jocelyn showed me her art work city. I told Jocelyn my daughters were soooooo jealous that i got to see her. She hugged me many many times. Eat your hart of Rosie and Annette and Gina.

Since i was to be gone on father's day my kids spent the day with me yesterday. Here as a good group shot.

I didn't see Bill in my rear view mirror? Guess he'll show up a bit later? I remember Bill lamenting how long it takes to Blog. Hopefully I'll continue to find reasons to blog. And this one i had complete ad lost it all so i wrote this twice. I think the other one was better. Dang!!!

Tommorw; Walla Walla for some time with Master Chief Taylor and family. Then south to whereever the maps say its sunny.

2009-05-13T18:02:00.001-07:00

This is a test blog ...

Here is a picture of my Harley which i am about to ride down the west coast and over into Arizona and then back up through ...