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USA 4 Corners
  • Chris McGowan
  • Chris McGowan

USA 4 Corners

Leaving from Eugene OR to touch all 4 corners of the US within 30 days Read more
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  • Chris McGowanUSA 4 CornersTraveler

    Downpour to Riptide

    June 22, 2024 in the United States ⋅ 🌙 79 °F

    Today I got what I would call a true soaking. It poured on me for about 45 minutes. Included a picture to show the intensity of the storm. You ever see a motorcyclist in this kind of weather just give them a little extra space. I had my hazards on doing 50 miles an hour because if you go any slower the rain doesn’t blow over for you.

    After arriving to Naples, I pulled up my map and wouldn’t you know, there’s a brewpub right around the corner. If you are from Eugene, it was a lot like going to Viking Braggot in the Industrial district. Super fun. Met several people and a dog named Zeke. The guy next to me and his wife talked for an hour. He was some kind of upper class on a US submarine, retired. Food truck outside served smash burgers, fabulous. And their beers were outstanding. Check out that list and decide what you want to drink off of it.

    I was so tired when I got back I just collapsed. I decided not to go python hunting. Maybe I’ll get lucky and see one today. With any luck, today I will complete the second leg of my journey.    Read more

  • Chris McGowanUSA 4 CornersTraveler

    Stop for Kay

    June 23, 2024 in the United States ⋅ ⛅ 82 °F

    So my mother-in-law is the ultimate key lime aficionado. So I just thought when I saw this, I had to stop and give it a whirl. I have to say it was one of the smoothest Keylime pies I ever had. Nice and tart. They were the Florida 2022 and '23 voted most popular Keylime pie. I’m sorry Kay, they don’t ship.

    He also had a beautiful garden outback, full of Elkhorn and bromeliads growing in the trees. Truly tropical. (Goes with the humidity)    Read more

  • Chris McGowanUSA 4 CornersTraveler
    4

    The Everglades

    June 23, 2024 in the United States ⋅ ⛅ 84 °F

    What a great ride today. Left early out of Naples and saw the sun come up over the Everglades. Really enjoyed looking for animals on my trip. I saw three alligators on this ride on Highway 41. One was sitting in front of a house in a pond (pic). The sign says “do not feed the 🐊”. I couldn’t find his bowl or his alligator chow so I did not.

    The second one I drove by at 60 miles an hour about a 10 footer. He actually turned on me and opened his mouth like he thought he could bite me. It was awesome. I turned around to get a pic, but he was already gone.

    Saw lots of animals, dead. Snakes, turtles, birds, alligators, and more. I did have the opportunity to save a turtle.(vid). Many more met their fate on the white line.

    https://youtu.be/JH9dPJSfzpU?feature=shared    Read more

  • Chris McGowanUSA 4 CornersTraveler
    11

    Key West

    June 23, 2024 in the United States ⋅ ⛅ 82 °F

    This place is crazy. This is like going to Cabo or Mazatlan or some other Caribbean destination only in the United States.
    I ended up staying at a hotel called the ibis Bay. I Highly recommend for its quirkiness, good drinks, and shark feeding. They have a small dock and underneath it there are at least 10 ,4’ nurse sharks and several 2 foot groupers. They have a free shuttle that takes you to the downtown party district. Every hour on the hour.

    In the downtown district, there were at least six bar/restaurants that had live music. It was pretty alive for a Sunday night. Lots of people. Felt like your usual cruise town. Lots of T-shirts, jewelry, and another knickknacks. Several good art galleries that I went to. Had a couple of beers and headed back on the bus.

    Back at the hotel, I went to the restaurant called the stoned crab (it’s the hotel's). Ordered a Manhattan and a lobster bake. It came with muscles, shrimp, clams, calamari, and potatoes, and corn. I’ve never had anything like this and it was amazing. I’m setting it up to be the sample against the Bar Harbor bake when I get up there.
    All in all, I really enjoyed Key West. It’s quite a drive to get down here on a two-lane highway at 40 miles an hour. But, well worth a trip.

    Bridge drive vid

    https://youtu.be/8GHmagrDMj4?feature=shared    Read more

  • Chris McGowanUSA 4 CornersTraveler
    1

    Biscayne NP

    June 24, 2024 in the United States ⋅ ☁️ 88 °F

    So I stopped at the Biscayne national Park visitor center. This is a very hard park to visit as 95% of it is water. They have boat tours but the next one didn’t leave for at least two hours. If you have Disney+, there’s some really good national park episodes and one of them is on Biscayne. Did a boardwalk and jetty and saw lots of fish, lizards, and mangroves.Read more

  • Chris McGowanUSA 4 CornersTraveler
    1

    Daytona Beach

    June 24, 2024 in the United States ⋅ ☁️ 86 °F

    No I am not on a beach vacation. It was just 450 miles out and cheap off season. I’m sure I am at the wrong end of the strip . It really is a strip of land just covered in hotels. The sand is white and fine. The water, yes I got in the ocean, was warm. Very windy with a side rip tide. Just towed me down the beach one hotel on the swim in. I met a couple from Chicago who left unusual heat and humidity to find…. the same here. But they said they were having a good time.

    Drove past Lake Okeechobee. It really felt like a crater with a raised brim full of water. I included one picture from the dock area. So big you can’t see the far side . They have dug a canal all the way from the ocean to this lake and there’s a lock to raise boats up and down. I have no idea if it is still in use or something from the past.

    More importantly today is my 10th day of the trip. Which means everything I own is dirty and it’s laundry time. 👍. So I am doing laundry while I’m swimming in the pool and ocean. Fair trade.

    After laundry, I went across the street to the dunes brewery. Very few people here because it’s a Monday night but what a great crew. Their IPA is outstanding West Coast fashion. Talked to the brewmaster for a while. The waitress recommended I get food from Jimmy Hula’s. A local chain taco shop. Check out the menu it’s wild. I had the surfin’ Cali burrito but the John Utah taco is interesting. So they locked the doors at 8:30 and I continue to hang out with the staff until close just after nine. We were having a great argument about brussels sprouts recipes and grits and who makes the best. They said they’re going to have a contest and the loser has to wear a shirt that says “my grits suck” for a week.

    And my four-legged friend is Ralphie (a Christmas story)    Read more

  • Chris McGowanUSA 4 CornersTraveler

    Congaree NP

    June 25, 2024 in the United States ⋅ ☀️ 86 °F

    Today was a long day of riding. Left out a Daytona Beach early at 5 o’clock knowing I was going to pull a lot of miles today. Clocked 550, longest day yet. Went to Congaree national Park. Interesting park that it is one of the last hardwood floodplain forests in the United States. There used to be more but they all got logged. This forest floods annually 10 times or more to a depth of 1 to 10 feet. The boardwalk I’m on is 10 feet off the ground. And there are pictures of it underwater.

    For those of you watching my route, I am off track. Tomorrow I am going to grab Smoky Mountain national Park in the morning and then continue on to New River Gorge national Park. Then the Blue Ridge Parkway, which I am super excited about. That drive will end with me going through Shenandoah national Park.

    Stayed at a cheap red roof hotel for $60 a night but in front of it there was an outback steakhouse. I haven’t been to one in years. Enjoyed lobster mac & cheese, and a sirloin with a 25 ounce beer.    Read more

  • Chris McGowanUSA 4 CornersTraveler
    2

    Smoky Mountain and $&%# Garmin

    June 26, 2024 in the United States ⋅ ☀️ 68 °F

    So Garman took me 50 miles off route today. I pushed the button that said
    Smoky Mountain national Park and took me all the way to Tennessee for some reason. Well, at least I get to claim I went to Tennessee. I didn’t realize what a big deal it was to ride through Smoky Mountain national Park. As I get closer to the park, there are lots of strip motels and there are hundreds of bikes waiting to do this ride today. I realize that this is the start of the Blue Ridge Parkway. I am stopped for breakfast at the moment and then I will continue on.

    So far the best way to describe this is like driving on Highway 1 on the coast. The turns are between 25 and 35 miles an hour and there are a lot of them.    Read more

  • Chris McGowanUSA 4 CornersTraveler

    New River Gorge NP

    June 26, 2024 in the United States ⋅ 🌩️ 81 °F

    After a couple hundred miles and riding through Smoky Mountain national Park, I pulled into a Starbucks. I met a nice guy named Dave from Toronto, who came all the way down to ride this park. He was leaving today to go home and was planning on doing it in two days. It’s about 800 miles. Five hours later I pulled up to a stop sign hundreds of miles down the road and he pulls out in front of me. Kind of amazing as we were not riding together. He is now following penguins.

    Eventually, I got to new River Gorge and the sun was shining. Took some great photos, walked the boardwalk and took pictures of the bridge. This is the newest park in the national Park system and was opened in 2020. And then it started pouring. Check out the video to see how hard it is raining and my bike is sitting in the parking lot.

    https://youtube.com/shorts/VZm5pQmK0pk?feature=…

    I had to ride 15 minutes in that to get to the hotel I booked. The laundry facility is broken here, but the nice owner operator took my stuff to dry in his personal apartment. As soon as it stops raining, I’m going over to Buffalo wild wings to console myself with a beer.😃    Read more

  • Chris McGowanUSA 4 CornersTraveler
    1

    All things die

    June 27, 2024 in the United States ⋅ ☀️ 70 °F

    So I’ve woken up to 2 fatalities this morning. One is the Garmin due to the amount of rain that got dumped on it yesterday. Even though it is no big loss cause it got me lost, it does need to be replaced.

    The second is a little more tragic. It’s my tour master jacket. This was the first real jacket I purchased to ride probably 25 years ago. It has given up the ghost - the entire seem is ripped out of it today. Main reason for this type of jacket is not Weather but protection. I’m sure if I was to fall with this jacket, I would be wearing rags when I came to a stop. It will definitely need to be replaced, and soon.

    Stopped in Covington at the Kanawha coffee shop had a nice blueberry crumb cake and a cup of coffee to get me going as I prepare for the Appalachian mountains today

    The bridge is called humpback bridge. Roadside attraction number ? (A lot). And I love somebody’s outside art in the front of that picture.    Read more

  • Chris McGowanUSA 4 CornersTraveler
    12

    Blue Ridge Parkway to Shenandoah NP

    June 27, 2024 in the United States ⋅ ☀️ 81 °F

    While I did some of the Blue Ridge Parkway in Smoky national Park, I broke off to go see new River Gorge. I will get to do about 150 miles of the Blue Ridge/skyline Dr. road. There are guys out here who have done all 460 miles of it.

    This road has lived up to every expectation I have. This is a beautiful two-lane curvy road, nobody on it. As I got into the park, the number of people started to pick up, but usually I never had someone in front or behind me.

    2 short vids together in 1

    https://youtu.be/z9T_AAliSjY?feature=shared

    Had to slow down quite a bit going through Shenandoah national Park. But still wasn’t quite doing the speed limit. Beautiful park. The whole park takes place on skyline Drive. It runs right along the ridge with pull outs on either side to observe the valley below. Saw groundhog, deer, Eastern box turtles, and lots of squirrels. I included a couple shots from pull outs, but to be honest, they all look the same after a while. Rolling hills covered with trees.

    Afterwards, I went to Fort Royal to get gas and cool down. Went into honey and hops brew works. They specialize in mead. Had some really good barrel aged mead. Isaac, one of 3 brother owners, was helping me and talking about the town.

    Went across the street to jackrabbit Moto. This is the smallest motorcycle apparel shop I have ever seen and maybe in the world. You can’t even stick your arms out straight. Aaron is the owner and he was a great guy. He has a dream of opening up a shop here in town like “bike shed Moto company” in London and LA.    Read more

  • Chris McGowanUSA 4 CornersTraveler

    Time to run

    June 28, 2024 in the United States ⋅ ☁️ 59 °F

    Now is the time to make up some ground on my way to Madawaska. Starting out in Pennsylvania this morning and the most funny sensation, cold. I am actually cold. I’m at a Starbucks getting ready to go out and put on some more gear so I can warm up. It’s a positive change from sweating to death

    As I continue on, I’m gonna start getting more toll roads in Pennsylvania, Jersey, New York and so forth. Best news I’ve got so far is my Sun Pass pro that I purchased in Florida can be used in all these states. Least I don’t have to carry a bucket of quarters    Read more

  • Chris McGowanUSA 4 CornersTraveler
    1

    Spacious skies

    June 28, 2024 in the United States ⋅ ☁️ 61 °F

    So I’ve been riding all day and I have ended up at spacious skies campground. Kind of a crazy campground that has everything you could want if you have kids. Ice cream bar, movies, putt putt golf course, pool table, train around the park……. it doesn’t end. Including a bouncy bubble thing in the middle. Crazy. I said I would camp and here I am. That said it was $80 to camp here.

    And then I left and went over to Paradox brewery. Once again, another great local brewery that I met good people at. I met Chet who I took a picture with. He drives for a local gas company that hauls fuel out of Ontario and brings it into the United States. he rides a beautiful gold Harley. I also met Tom whose bike was broken in the parking lot 😂 but he’s kind of a local. Actually, they both live within 10 miles at this place. Beer was outstanding and so was the food. If you travel around the United States, just stop at local brewpub and you will meet all the nicest people and learn all the local gossip. picked up more followers at this brewery.

    Now I’m back at the campground with the fire started and I got some ice cream. Cherry and s’more ice cream.
    I then watched a bit of a movie with a kid named Darien, who was four. The only one watching the movie. 😂 fun. Tomorrow I will pull out early and try to find a jacket in the next town at 9 o’clock. After that, it is all the way to Acadia and Bar Harbor where I already have a room waiting for me. Only $75. 👍    Read more

  • Chris McGowanUSA 4 CornersTraveler

    Oneonta NY

    June 28, 2024 in the United States ⋅ ☁️ 72 °F

    It looks like I’m lost, but I wasn’t. I just got done with the best hour and a half riding. All two lane curvy roads to the countryside. Just beautiful. I turned on the avoid highways feature on the Garmin. Mind you I can’t do this all the time. If I did, I wouldn’t get anywhere. 60 miles an hour and a half. But it was beautiful.Read more

  • Chris McGowanUSA 4 CornersTraveler
    3

    Vermont, New Hampshire, Maine

    June 29, 2024 in the United States ⋅ ☁️ 70 °F

    Well, ended up leaving the campground at 4 o’clock in the morning, partially due to not feeling safe in the campground. It’s only quirky until the lights go out and it started to rain on me. I’m gonna let that experience go.

    I was supposed to stop and get a jacket in Burlington, but I was already three hours past that store when It opened. So I just kept running. Had a great breakfast in Danville at this little old house hotel. The proprietor has been there for 45 years. Great pancakes with real Vermont syrup. Was it wrong that I drank some of the syrup from the cup? Everyone in there, all 10, are locals. The guy that walked in after me was greeted “ Dr. Jim come sit with us”. it couldn’t have been anymore like the Andy Griffith show.

    Drove briefly through Montpelier. I took a picture of the river and capital building. Then in Rumford, I took a picture of the waterfall.

    Continuing onto Acadia national Park. Probably checking into my hotel first and unload my equipment. Then I’m going to get ready for a lobster bake tonight. 🤤    Read more

  • Chris McGowanUSA 4 CornersTraveler
    1
    2

    Bar Harbor and Acadia

    June 29, 2024 in the United States ⋅ ☁️ 57 °F

    After coming across three states today, I ended up in Bar Harbor. I am getting really close to my next corner.

    First, I tried to check in at my hotel. It had been sprinkling on and off all day on me and I wanted to get my bags out of the rain. I knew I had to drive around Acadia for at least an hour or two and then park my bike downtown and have some lobster. Nobody was in the lobby, but the door was open. Asked one of the cleaners and they said nobody shows up there till three o’clock 😂

     I’m running out of adjectives to talk about national parks. They’re all gorgeous. Stopped by the pond, a freshwater lake in the middle. Went to the Sands beach. Went to otter point, no otters. Then I went to unicorn bay, and….

    So after driving/walking around the park, I went downtown. I parked in what can only be a motorcycle spot, and went into some of the shops. This place is really just a tourist trap. All the shops sold candy, T-shirts, souvenirs., etc.. I finally settled on going to The Reading Room for dinner.

    This is a very upscale restaurant and a big splurge. I knew I had to have lobster. I actually had a hard time just getting past the maître d’, I wasn’t wearing a collared shirt. I had to explain what I was doing riding around the United States and why I didn’t have a collared shirt . 😂 but he sat me. They didn’t just have lobster. I had to get the “down east easy lobster”. Which meant it came fully cracked and served with potatoes and carrots. The meal started with homemade sourdough served with blueberry honey butter. After that, I was brought a small scoop of sorbet as a palate cleanser that was blueberry and hibiscus. Then my meal was served. There was so much lobster. Over a pound. Too much really. But I ate it all. It was fabulous. Not like any lobster I ever had before. I didn’t realize there were so much texture difference between the claw and the tail. The claws just melted in your mouth where the tail is the chewy part. Who knew?? After that, I finished it with a great cup of coffee and came back to check into my hotel and make up for the sleep I missed last night.    Read more

  • Chris McGowanUSA 4 CornersTraveler

    Into every life….

    June 30, 2024 in the United States ⋅ ☁️ 73 °F

    All morning I’ve been singing the queen song “ into every life a little rain must fall”.

    So it finally happened I dropped my bike. This is the equivalent of falling over in a lift line skiing. I was putting on the left saddlebag and must’ve lifted up. The bike is pretty well balanced with maybe 10 pounds of pressure. I pushed it over. Nothing you can do but watch it fall at 850 pounds.

    So as it fell, it scratched the side of this Dodge caravan. Not very much you can see it. Actually most wiped off with my thumb. So I go knock on the door in front of the caravan to tell the owner. I want to start by saying I am not stereotyping. 6 foot Jamaican man open the door in his boxers and wife beater, smoking a joint and said. “Ya Mon” . He said “no big deal Mon” and that he was a motorcycle rider. He talked about living and riding in Jamaica for a while as I got my stuff together. Really nice guy. He said he had to leave in five minutes to go to his painting job.

    Damage report:
    Scratched the windshield, but I don’t use it except to deflect wind. It flexed almost in half but didn’t break. No big deal. Got lucky that the mirror bent 90° towards the bike but didn’t break. Which is amazing because I just replaced the left one after hitting it with a ladder in the garage. broke the bracket that holds on the rear saddlebag. Able to fix with a bungee cord to a swing arm stabilizer. Looks good and should hold. Real problem is the foot peg bracket completely broke off. A little plumber strapping and baling wire and I think this will hold. Shout out to Don of Hancock construction for helping a little with a drill in the parking lot. The other problem is it is half an inch higher than the other side and I’m sure my hips are going to tell me about it. Also makes it feel like the bikes leaning to the left as you go down the road. I have done 45 miles on it and it feels good. I often will stand up on my foot pegs to stretch my legs or cool down. Won’t be doing that anymore. Made the appropriate blood sacrifice. I think if you don’t bleed at least once fixing something it won’t hold. Bike is running great. Party on.

    All of this is why I signed up CHAPEA 2 mission but NASA hasn’t called yet.

    Let’s get to that third corner today so I can turn towards home 😃. Thanks to all my followers, it makes me feel like I’m not alone out here. 👍    Read more

  • Chris McGowanUSA 4 CornersTraveler

    Madawaska 3rd corner

    June 30, 2024 in the United States ⋅ ☀️ 75 °F

    So I have made it to Madawaska. This is my third corner. I’m about 7300 miles into this trip.

    This is a very small town about 4000 people. I’ve noticed in the scenery that the trees and landscape all feel very stunted and open. They get a lot of snow here. They hold an annual snowmobile contest every year but last year it was canceled because they only had two days of snow. I am right across from the border. I can look out my window and see Canada on the other side of the river. Tomorrow I get to cross a new bridge and border crossing that was put in only three months ago.

    https://youtube.com/shorts/WKTUIyY2T4c?feature=…

    I have included here a short video of the rain I am encountering today. That video is from the third such rain cycle I saw. It comes out of nowhere like a wall with gusting winds and I’m afraid it’s going to blow up my bike. This happened at the four corners park in Madawaska.

    That’s right. There is a park here celebrating the four corners. Was put together by motorcycle enthusiast back in the late 90s. All the stone pavers are dedications to people who have made the journey to all four corners . I would be eligible for a Redstone as those are the people who have ridden the tour. Gray stones are for anybody else. It is quite a busy place. I guess there is another tour called the four corners of Maine. And a lot of locals come in for that T-shirt. I saw three cars pull up, buy something, and leave in the 10 minutes I was here.

    Tomorrow I turn towards home and I will no longer be driving into the sunrise. I will now set about figuring out the fastest maps back to Washington.    Read more

  • Chris McGowanUSA 4 CornersTraveler

    Tim Hortons

    July 1, 2024 in Canada ⋅ ☀️ 55 °F

    Welcome to Canada. I plan on spending 2 days driving through. Tonight I think I will be in Ottawa. I’ve already found my favorite reason to come to Canada. Tim Hortons. I know it’s just a Dunkin’ Donuts, but I think it’s so much better. 😀. Anybody else have Tim Horton experience? I am in the very French-speaking side of Canada. I ordered what I thought was a bacon croissant but really it was a roast beef egg croissant. Different but good.Read more

  • Chris McGowanUSA 4 CornersTraveler
    1

    Canada Day 🇨🇦

    July 1, 2024 in Canada ⋅ ☀️ 79 °F

    So I did 600 miles today. I was fueled by Tim Hortons. I am in a small town called Pembroke and all I met was a cardigan (Corgi jokes). So I’ve been passing motorcycles all day for the first time in a long time and then somebody wished me a happy Canada Day. So everyone’s off and nothing’s open. Everybody went riding. Also limits my food options for the night.

    I was driving down and there was this taco truck or better yet a poutine truck. I have never had poutine in Canada so I thought I’d give it a try. I ordered the poutine with barbecued pork on top of it. As you can see by the pics. It was fabulous, I’ve already had heartburn medicine. In about an hour, I’m going to walk down to the riverfront park and I will add pictures of the park and firework display.

    I went to the Canada Day celebration at River front park. Super festive. Exactly what you would expect from a Fourth of July gathering. There were only three kiosks selling stuff. One was mini donuts (Canadians and their donuts, love em) coffee, and Domino’s Pizza by the box. There is a live band playing hey Jude. Grabbed a cup of coffee and some grass (not that kind, although plenty in the air) and waited for the fireworks. The fireworks were launched straight up over the crowd and I have never been closer to them. There was almost no delay between the explosion and the light. And soooo loud. Some were so big you had to turn your head to see them all.

    I did not wear enough deet for this 🦟    Read more

  • Chris McGowanUSA 4 CornersTraveler

    Munising, MI

    July 2, 2024 in the United States ⋅ ☁️ 63 °F

    First off, I want to say that the name of the city sounds like a community choir.

    So did just about 520 miles today to get here. I’m still 2 1/2 hour short of the Isle Royale visitor center so I will have to leave early tomorrow. I plan on going there and then to Voyageurs national park.

    This is a small town of about 4000 people that swells all summer as a tourist location. Which means the hotels are full and expensive. Look it up online and see all the things you can do here out on Lake superior. Today is not a tourist day as it is 60° with 20 mile an hour winds and 35 mile an hour gusts. Annual visitors to this location in 2019 were over 800,000.

    I went to a local restaurant recommended by the hotel called dog patch. Talked to a very nice kid who worked behind the bar and goes to school here at Michigan State. it was a good talk about the season and what goes on in town. The food was just a common burger and beer was from a can, but from a brewery around the corner that was closed today.

    I threw in the pictures of the trees to see if you could see how hard the wind is blowing    Read more

  • Chris McGowanUSA 4 CornersTraveler

    Orr, International Falls

    July 3, 2024 in the United States ⋅ ☀️ 64 °F

    Long day today with a lot happening. Left out of Pembroke, Michigan and did 555 miles today covering Isle Royale visitor center. Pretty sure I can’t claim I’ve been to that park. Then I continued on and stopped in a small town called Orr. Orr is a town of about 500 people and they were having a 3rd of July party today. They had covered booths with food and beer , lots of people walking around. A very small kind of redneck car show that was a lot of fun. I love seeing their creations. It was nice because they weren’t all polished and perfect. And everyone was proud of their car. I have attached a small video of a game that all the children got together to play. Can you guess what they’re doing?

    https://youtube.com/shorts/9HmlzCQSKD8?feature=…

    Met a nice couple, Chuck and Liz, they had lived here their whole lives. They talked about how the lake freezes over 2 feet thick and you need a much bigger saw than most lakes to go ice fishing. They own two snowmobiles. It’s the only way to get around during winter up here. Laughed about how this place only gets three beautiful days a year and this wasn’t one of them. 😂

    Went on to Voyageur national Park and tour their visitor center and then took a small walk through a garden of natural plants and out to the boat ramp and the pier to talk to some people fishing. The guy fishing had three walleye on their stringer and had only been out there for about an hour. One was from Florida, and one was a local. They also had their 14-year-old boy with him. He was very excited to hear that I taught automotive in high school. He loved all things mechanical. This is definitely another park that you have to do by water, although it was very beautiful to sit on a bench and watch it for 20 minutes.

    Onward. Next I went to International Falls, Minnesota. Here I stayed in a really old motel. I was the only person staying in the whole hotel and the person behind the counter was very nice and said it was very safe. They said tomorrow would be full for the Fourth of July. For dinner, I ended up at a fairly hoity-toity distillery called cantilever. I’ve included the menu and a couple drinks. It was a very good restaurant. Made a great Manhattan. The guy sitting next to me is an architect and he was in town working on Affordable homes by repurposing an old brick high school into about 10, 3 bedroom family units. Keeping the old skeleton and reworking the inside. Keeping old chalkboards and built-in cabinetry and installing new modern stuff around it. It was really cool.

    Next to me was a great family, mother, father and son. They were in town from Fargo just on vacation and were headed home today. They had been out fishing with a guy and showed me pictures of 25 inch walleye that the kid had a hard time holding up. They had a great time in this little town.

    Tomorrow. Tomorrow I’m going to try to make it to Theodore Roosevelt national Park in North Dakota. Also puts me on a direct path West heading towards home. My foot peg is still holding on with the repairs I made initially. Still treating it with kid gloves. Otherwise the bike is running. My odometer says I have over 9000 miles on this trip.    Read more

  • Chris McGowanUSA 4 CornersTraveler

    Rain rain go away

    July 4, 2024 in the United States ⋅ ☁️ 66 °F

    Hit and miss all day with rain. Probably over an hour and a half riding in it. Also lots of hiding, but I still did 450 miles. I did not get to Theodore Roosevelt national Park. I’ll have to do that tomorrow morning. Estimating the remainder of my route and I don’t wanna jinx it but I’m getting close. I estimate I have three more days to hit Blaine, Washington. And then one more day to get home.

    Tonight I find myself in Bismarck, North Dakota- the capital. I’m surprised by how many capitals I’ve been to. Tonight there is a “ symphony spectacular”. This will be opened by a message from the governor and then followed by fireworks.

    Nice festival, but not a lot of people to talk to. It just seemed distant. Turned out to be about 2500 people here. I would’ve called their symphony a community orchestra. They had two singers one was good and the other needed pitch lessons. And their fireworks were very disorganized. They were fine, but there was long gaps between and then there was no finale. Just kind of stopped. Everybody was like, is that it?    Read more

  • Chris McGowanUSA 4 CornersTraveler

    Bison in the road

    July 5, 2024 in the United States ⋅ 🌙 59 °F

    I’m close now. My estimation is two days to finish this and one day to drive home. Bike is still holding together.

    I’m tired 😴. it’s starting to wear on me finally. I get to my destination and just crash. I’ve had a cold now for two days and my throat is killing me. I’ve also got a pretty good cough, party on.

    🦬

    https://youtu.be/ZkEvdxhuDEQ?feature=shared

    All the excitement was this morning. I went to Theodore Roosevelt national Park. Did some of the drive through the park. I was really wanting to see bison, just not this close. So for the video, I’m stopped on the side of the road and they’re kind of marching past me. About 30 to 40 feet away. After that, I turned around and went back across a two-lane bridge to find a bison stopped on the other side, blocking traffic. They were marching along the side of the guard rail outside on the dirt. I sat waiting for that car and bison for about five minutes and then two bison started coming directly behind me down the road. Big boys with big furry heads. I either had to move or try to hope they pass by quietly and I wasn’t thinking that was a great idea. So I fired up my bike and edged up behind that car and started to go around behind the bison in the middle of the road. As soon as I got by the car, the bison started moving off to the side of the road. I passed by within about 10 feet of that guy. But thankfully, he just kept moving. I’m sure it felt different inside a car than on the growling motorcycle.

    Bison Dodging

    https://youtu.be/OriKM7FVgAY?feature=shared

    The only other excitement was the down pour later in the afternoon. I could see a wall of water coming, so I found the first carport I could see and just pulled into it. As I was pulling in a guy named Travis came walking out to have a cigarette smoke. I asked him if I could park in his carport for a few minutes and he said yeah. We hung out for about a half an hour and talked about the neighborhood and this area of the country. He moved here from Florida to get away from, and this is a quote “Florida man and the heat”. 😂 He had been there for three months and he had paid $60,000 for the house and land.    Read more

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