DAY 15 & HOME AGAIN

Day 15 and I'm now finally at home. (I guess I shouldn't have stayed away so long, eh?) The Odometer reading when I left was 21799 and when I returned it is 26221, which means I traveled a total of 4422 round trip miles, to Seattle (Bremerton), WA & back.



After I left Valentine, I rode to Moorland, IA, amid the threat of rain. I did put my Toggs on. But, I guess with my Toggs on, the rain never came, which is good! I arrived at the Vass' about 2:30p. We had another good visit. I tried to help Elsa with her NEW Laptop, but fail. It appeared that the computer was missing some required programs for email and such. I left the next morning, heading for home, with some homemade Pickels & fresh cukes!

Just before I turned on the highway at 9a (US20), I gave Pat a call, or did he call me?. Anyhow, he was just about to pull out of his drive. He was due to leave 8am, but weather happened. We were to meet in Waterloo, but that changed too. So we met near Cedar Rapids on Interstate 380 and rode home on US64, after a couple stops, for food and a beer! We Turned into the driveway at about 7:30p. And so ended my adventure to & from the west coast. But...

I was met by a very enthusiastic Kellogg and a loving Gretchen. Who could ask for more, eh?

DAY 13 Con't

This is the end of DAY 13. I'm camping out in the Trade Winds Motel in Valentine, NE. Yup... the same one we stayed in Pat. I got here about 7:30p CST. As soon as I unpacked the bike, I went to supper. I ate quickly and returned to the motel, posthaste! The pictures tell the story. The 1st pic looks Southeast & the 2d , West . We are under a Tornado and Severe Storm Warnings!!!!
This pic is about 80 miles west from Valentine. I just took the pic when you called Pat. An interesting pic, no?

HD finally got my bike in the shop about 11a, 2 hours after opening. I was told that the man that would do the Dynometer work was tied up elsewhere. So... wait! At 1:30p, when I paid the bill, I was told that the people in CA, who put in the "power commander", failed to put the proper air filter in. Also, they keyed in the wrong codes, which pumped the oil & gas through the engine without burning it. Well, after all that, on the road here, I think I picked up aa few more MPG, despite the head winds and my speed. I rode 250 miles to here in 4 1/2 hours.

Tomorrow, NE is under the threat of rain, so maybe it's a Togg Day. I should be in time for supper at the Vass' Household in Moreland, IA. I'M COMING GEORGE & ELSA!!!!

DAY 13

WOW!!! I missed several days (5 to be exact). I will get back to those last 5 days, but for now...

Today is the 14th September and I'm sitting in the Harley shop (HD) in Rapid City, SD. When I was here on the 4th, I had stopped in to buy a new jacket and did. Also, at the time I asked about my low gas mileage. Told them that I had a new "power commander" installed in California and they could not put it on a Dynometer to calibrate it. HD said that they could not do it at the current time and I told them that I would be back. I'm back, so HD is doing it. Also, on my new jacket, on the ride to the West Coast, the button snap ripped off. Today, I showed them (HD) and got a new jacket, no questions asked.

Day 8, was the 9th. That day was day 2 and I should have had my new Frogg Toggs. To make a long story short, on the 10th The Company I ordered from, sent an email saying that they couldn't ship, because of the short time frame (I paid for Express Shipping). My thought is, the order got lost or something. I found a place is Seattle that sold Frogg Toggs, went Saturday and picked them up for half the price that online sold them.

On the 9th, the Higbee crew went on a tour & dinner cruise, then the 10th they went on a museum tour and on the 11th, Saturday, starting at 6p, we had our dinner / dance with a live band (I might add). A nice time was had by all at the dinner. The following morning (Sunday), I was on the road by 745a, heading for Missoula MT, about 500 miles away. I made it and spent the night in a motel, it was sundown when I arrived. Had a shower & a scotch and hit the hay. On day 12, 13 September Monday, I was on the road by 0730a, road 700+ miles to Rapid City, again arriving late, this time in the dark, 730p. I did the scotch & shower routine again.

OK, that brings us to the present. Now I'm sitting, waiting!

DAY 8

Got up again at 730a, made coffee, showered, then went down to the Higbee Hospitality Room. I met most everyone over the course of the next hour, BS'd, then went to breakfast at 1030a.

At 1200, most all went on a tour to the museum and for a dinner cruise. They will return tonight about midnight. No desire for the cruise, instead I went on line to order a dry bag (like yours Pat) & did, only in black. I also went for a quick ride. Felt good!

Most of the afternoon I have spent in the Hospitality Room updating the website. There were a lot of changes. The folks REALLY enjoy the website and all the info that is on it. Also, that when changes need to be made, they are. I'm pleased with the everyone's reactions.

I guess the next Higbee Reunion is going to be in Springfield, IL, at least there is strong leanings that way. There are 2 other couples that are volunteering to check out hotels ...etc. Maybe we can get a good working Reunion Committee

DAY 7

I can't say "On the road...", because I'm not. Today, I got up at 730a after a good night sleep. It was raining when I looked out this a.m..

I have been registering folks in for the Higbee Reunion all day. We have about 30 shipmates that sign in. There were 7-8 couples that showed up that were not on the list.

I am not having time to write, too much is happening. I will continue tomorrow.

DAY 6

It's day 6, your "on the road again with JHawk" and I'm here. I arrived in Bremerton about 330p. Was a tough ride today. I rode 320 miles with 2200 miles from Oregon,IL and I have a total of 23999 on the odometer. The bike has run superb! I left this morning with another threat of rain. So I put the Togg pants on & off I went. I was about 60 miles out when I put the Togg top on and it was about 2 minutes later when it started raining, but not hard. I had rain on & off for the rest of the way. Because of the rain, I didn't get to see much of the scenery. When I arrived in Seattle, I got lost. I found myself in Bellevue, 10 miles from the port. Well the weather cleared, I asked directions and here I am. Neat, huh? (who says that real men don't ask directions?) Anyhow, I got to the ferry, which goes to Bremerton, about 25 minutes early. It cost $6.50 and it was an hour ride. NICE! I found the hotel was an easy find. And the hotel, WOW!!! Pat, it's more than we ever have stayed in (so's the price). I am looking over Dyes Inlet to the south from the top floor (3rd floor).

So far, I have met 3 men that have been on the Higbee. Sure hope that more come. Tomorreow is registration day. We 'll see what happens.

Day 5

Today is day 5 and you’re “on the road with JHawk”. Today was a good day, no rain or wind! Went 429 miles, with a running total of 1880 miles. With only about 260 miles to go (Seattle), I should be there by 2p. I am staying again in a hotel, Hotel 6, because it was late and I was tired. Also, I had to go another 30-40 miles down the road for a campground. I was already 6p (PST) when I got here.
I left this morning about 730a, Hotel 8, and it was COLD! (The pic was what the sky looked like as I left Livingston). When I arrived the night before, it was raining and the mountains were green. Well, this morning they, the mountains tops, were WHITE!!! I think the temp was in the high 30s. I got 30 minutes down the road, my hands were already cold. I had to stop. So into a Wal-Mart I went, bought a pair of Lemont Leather, xlarge, gloves. Stuffed my other gloves into them, and rode in comfort the rest of the way. I was under a threat of rain when I started, so I dressed with the pants of the Frogg Toggs and stuffed the jacket where I could quickly grab it. But good luck happened.
I stopped in Missoula to see a friend / shipmate, Clint Kammerer and his wife Robyn. I stayed about an hour before moving on. I will see them again in Bremerton, at the reunion.
The ride to Missoula was good. The scenery was ok, but from Missoula to Spokane, wow! Pat, you would have loved to ride the road up to LOOKOUT PASS (that is just inside the Idaho state line) and down to Post Falls, ID. It was like riding the “Tail of the Dragon” only with speed. Great ride! Also, the scenery was outstanding!!! There was hardly any traffic on the road. One would think that it was a normal day, rather than Labor Day.