Nancy Webb...Pat Bonetar

Nancy Webb...Pat Bonetar

World traveler, Hash House Harrier, and Harley enthusiast...not necessarily in that order. Read more🇺🇸Cincinnati popl.co/card/qD4Qce0c/1/txt

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The 2022 Motorcycle Adventure Nancy Webb...Pat Bonetar
Vegas Wouldn't Let Me Leave
May 29, 2022 in the United States ⋅ ☀️ 73 °F
With only 300 miles to ride today, I didn't have to leave early, so I didn't pack last night. I had parked the bike in the parking garage area so it would be in the shade and less likely for a homeless guy to pee on it. When I went to bring it across the street to load it, the battery was sluggish to get going. Well, he's been sitting for almost three days. No problem. I rolled him right up on the sidewalk, got loaded, and pulled back into the parking garage to check out at 09:00.

When I got back to the bike, he wouldn't start. Dead battery 😭. So I unloaded everything, took off all of my gear, dumped everything with the bellhop, and took the bus to Las Vegas HD. I got there right at 10:00 when they opened, and they could fix it, but didn't have anyone to tow. So, I got back on the bus, called Harley Roadside Assistance, and got back to hotel about 15 minutes before the truck showed up. The two guys (one training) were great and let me ride with them back to LVHD.

They knew I was trying to get out of town, so they replaced the battery pretty quick. I was back to Circus Circus, loaded up, and ready to roll at 14:30. The only good thing about it was had I left at 09:30, I would've hit a really bad traffic jam on I-15 through the mountains. As it happened, traffic was smooth sailing all the way.

Vegas tried to keep me from leaving, but Cali didn't seem to want me there because by the time I got to Barstow, the winds were an average or 40 mph with gusts up to 50 😱. Plus, I was in the Mojave Desert, which made the wind like sandpaper at times. I made it 35 miles past Barstow and pulled down an exit ramp shoulder, where I was going to put the bike on the jiffy stand to check my phone for a place to rest/shelter. But the wind was blowing so hard that although I got stopped, I didn't dare take my hands off the bars or my feet off the ground, not even to put down the stand.

So I took off, got back on CA-58, put my hazards on, and tried to keep it between the lines. Only a few miles later, there was a sign for a Pilot, so I exited, but couldn't see which way to turn because of the sand. I guessed left and got lucky.

By now it was about 17:30, so I ate a sandwich in the attached Subway while I checked the weather. The winds weren't going to let up significantly until 22:00, and I wasn't about to wait that long to go just another 100 miles. At 18:00, I was nodding bye to another biker I chatted with briefly and getting back on 58.

Sixty miles later, I was getting really tired and now really cold. I hit Tehachapi, climbing to around 4,000 feet and the temperature dropped quickly. My crappy GPS weather app said it was 59°F, but it felt a lot colder. I considered stopping to put on more layers when I realized I wasn't leaning sideways any more. The cold distracted me from the wind, which began to diminish as I continued through the pass. By the time I had dropped down into the green, lush valley, the wind was gone and I was warm again.

I just made it to the Bakersfield hotel and am beat. Early night tonight.

Oh yeah, I rolled over 100,000 miles on Willie yesterday, but didn't get a picture until later 😭. Stupid wind.

So long [for now], and thanks for all the fish! ✌️

Day 79 mileage: 317.4 (total 19146.0)
HD Dealerships: 0 (total 186)
National Parks: 0 (total 35 in 18 states)
10 Rides for 2022: 0 (total 5 of 10)
MCGTTX Stops: 0 (total 23 of 50)Read more
Traveler100K Willie!
6/10/22Reply
1 like
The 2022 Motorcycle Adventure Nancy Webb...Pat Bonetar
1 1
Hoover Dam & LA Comedy Club
May 28, 2022 in the United States ⋅ 🌙 77 °F
I was super excited when I jumped out of bed this morning. Hoover Dam, here I come!

I took the Comedy On Deck bus tour (comedybustours.com) so I could listen to some dam jokes on the dam bus. The guide Harrison--also an open mic comedian--was extremely knowledgeable about the dam Dam, with lots of stories during the dam ride about things we were seeing on the Dam ride.

We stopped at the Welcome to Vegas sign first, and unbelievably there was no one there. Well, it was 07:45 on a Saturday morning. In Vegas. Our next stop was the Mike O'Callaghan–Pat Tillman Memorial Bridge to enjoy a dam beautiful Dam overlook while straddling the border of Nevada and Arizona. Cool. If you're driving a car on the bridge, you can't see anything, so park here if you go: https://maps.app.goo.gl/gQAZg5Y8kNafaQiPA

We finally made it to the dam Dam, and part of the cost was a Power Plant tour, which was cool but a bit underwhelming. Afterwards, I had a few minutes to walk across the Dam and was surprised by the emotions that came over me. I remembered when a young reporter was on the Dam taking photos when a huge earthquake hit 😱. The Dam began to collapse and the Jimmy was just about to fall to his death 🫣 when, just in the nick of time, Superman came to the rescue! Hooray👏👏👏! We won't talk about how spinning the earth backwards would do a lot of things, but not reverse time 😉.

Superman (1978) clip: https://youtu.be/3y_yFw3ZJSI
RIP, Christopher Reeve.

After the Dam visit, we had a quick lunch in Henderson, then I was back to my hotel around 14:30.

After a cool down in the a/c, I walked up the Strip to the Strat while trying to avoid stepping on or making eye contact with any of the homeless people. They're everywhere and usually talking to themselves or trying to sell grimy bottles of water to tourists.

I had a tremendous time at the LA Comedy Club after getting in for the price of a drink with the ticket the Dam tour company gave out. The host was James Michael and his magic comedy schtick was very unexpected and totally hilarious. He had two other comedians with him, Alex Kool-aid and Stoner Rob. Kool-aid was okay, but Stoner was really funny. Neither could top Cowboy though. Great show!

Cowboy James Michael Redneck Comedy
https://www.facebook.com/thebadboyofmagic

Alex Kool-aid Ansel
https://m.facebook.com/ComedianAlexAnsel/

The Stoner Rob
https://www.facebook.com/TheStonerRob

I'm pretty stoked after another great day and can't get to sleep, but I'm trying. I check out in the morning...which is a good thing because I'm broke and didn't even gamble 😱. It's really expensive here. The only thing you can do free is walk and park. Okay, and breathe, yes, that too. Totally with it, though. What a great time I've had on the Las Vegas Strip. No place like it in the world.

So long [for now], and thanks for all the fish! ✌️

Day 78 mileage: 0 (total 18828.6)
HD Dealerships: 0 (total 186)
National Parks: 0 (total 35 in 18 states)
10 Rides for 2022: 0 (total 5 of 10)
MCGTTX Stops: 0 (total 23 of 50)

-----

My notes from the Dam tour:

180 feet below (2 bodies found so far) full pool of 1229 feet
1042 current
895 dead pool

537 ft down in elevator at 5 mph-ish

1. Penstock upstream viewing platform: 30-ft diameter, carries water to lower plant, then 13-ft pipes to speed up before hitting plant

4000 long, 56-ft diam diversion tunnel
Towers 395 ft tall, pluggeds areas on map

Up 32 feet in 5 sec

2. 5th floor Nevada side
300 ton each crane, need both cranes to lift 1 rotor over 500 tons (statue of liberty = 225 tons)
Pelton water wheel 1 each side brown sideways
2.4 mw each used for plantRead more
Nancy Webb...Pat Bonetar 180-feet below full pool of 1,229 feet!
5/30/22Reply
Nancy Webb...Pat Bonetar Electrical towers lean purposely to keep the wires away from the iron-rich canyon walls.
5/30/22Reply
1 like
The 2022 Motorcycle Adventure Nancy Webb...Pat Bonetar
Golden Tiki & The Buffet
May 27, 2022 in the United States ⋅ ⛅ 88 °F
I had a nice day doing pretty much nothing excepting eating 🤣.

I met a friend at Golden Tiki for Happy Hour. What a cool place. Located in a very not-so-special strip mall, this little place was decorated to the hilt with all things tiki. They even had a Hawaiian band playing and dancing. We had a great time catching up. We even got leied 🤣🤣!

I was really hungry afterwards, so I hit the buffet in Circus Circus before going back to my room. It's Vegas. I mean, I had to eat at a buffet once, right? Never again though. It wasn't worth the money or the heartburn 🤣.

So long [for now], and thanks for all the fish! ✌️

Day 77 mileage: 0 (total 18828.6)
HD Dealerships: 0 (total 186)
National Parks: 0 (total 35 in 18 states)
10 Rides for 2022: 0 (total 5 of 10)
MCGTTX Stops: 0 (total 23 of 50)Read more
1 like
The 2022 Motorcycle Adventure Nancy Webb...Pat Bonetar
The Beatles LOVE by Cirque de Soleil
May 26, 2022 in the United States ⋅ 🌙 84 °F
All I did today was pick up the bike from the dealership. They did the fluid service, checked the front brake and wheel bearing (both good), and pulled a nail out of my rear tire 🤦. It didn't puncture the tube, and they don't have a tire, so nothing else to do about it.

This evening was another absolutely incredible show, The Beatles LOVE by Cirque de Soleil. It was my first time seeing a Cirque show and man oh man it was awesome!

So long [for now], and thanks for all the fish! ✌️

Day 76 mileage: 5-ish (total 18828.6)
HD Dealerships: 0 (total 186)
National Parks: 0 (total 35 in 18 states)
10 Rides for 2022: 0 (total 5 of 10)
MCGTTX Stops: 0 (total 23 of 50)Read more
2 likes
The 2022 Motorcycle Adventure Nancy Webb...Pat Bonetar
The Doobie Brothers!
May 26, 2022 in the United States ⋅ ⛅ 82 °F
I spent the day at the hotel pool, and the evening at the Doobie Brothers concert! Oh man was it great! Plus, I got to see the volcano performance while walking back to the hotel. They're tearing it down soon (next year, I think), so I really wanted to see it. Mission accomplished. Now I'm having a very late dinner at Denny's. Great day!

So long [for now], and thanks for all the fish! ✌️

Day 75 mileage: 0 (total 18823.6)
HD Dealerships: 0 (total 186)
National Parks: 0 (total 35 in 18 states)
10 Rides for 2022: 0 (total 5 of 10)
MCGTTX Stops: 0 (total 23 of 50)Read more
2 likes
The 2022 Motorcycle Adventure Nancy Webb...Pat Bonetar
Vegas, Baby!
May 25, 2022 in the United States ⋅ ☀️ 88 °F
This morning I left the Skyline Casino & Hotel in Henderson and moved into Circus Circus Casino & Hotel on the Strip! Finally! After four times through Vegas, I'm finally on the Strip! Yippee!

I spent the rest of the day dropping off the bike for service, taking the Big Bus tour, finding my most favorite beer in the world (Kilkenny) at the New York, New York Irish Pub, taking pics at the Hard Rock, cruising Fremont Street, watching girls dance on the bar at a biker hangout, and getting into an Uber that wasn't an Uber but got me back to my hotel for free after I demanded to get out. Lucky on that last one. I had a wonderful, wonderful day!!!

So long [for now], and thanks for all the fish! ✌️

Day 74 mileage: 10-ish (total 18823.6)
HD Dealerships: 0 (total 186)
National Parks: 0 (total 35 in 18 states)
10 Rides for 2022: 0 (total 5 of 10)
MCGTTX Stops: 0 (total 23 of 50)Read more
0 likes
The 2022 Motorcycle Adventure Nancy Webb...Pat Bonetar
Grand Canyon Skywalk
May 23, 2022 in the United States ⋅ ☀️ 88 °F
Leann and I did the Grand Canyon Skywalk today, a semicircle, glass-floored catwalk over the Canyon. You can't take pictures because.you have to buy them from the photographers, but what would've been a great shot was standing above the shadow of the walk as it cast against the cliff perhaps a 1,000 feet below. Wow!

This evening, I went down to the casino to watch Danny Boyle perform his solo act. Great voice and excellent classic songs. Here's his website: https://dannyboylelasvegas.com.

I had a nice meal of salmon, carrots, rice, and a salad, and now I'm sitting in a freezing room with a hot cup decaf coffee. Beddie-bye soon. Great day!

So long [for now], and thanks for all the fish! ✌️

Day 73 mileage: 0 (total 18813.6)
HD Dealerships: 0 (total 186)
National Parks: 0 (total 35 in 18 states)
10 Rides for 2022: 0 (total 5 of 10)
MCGTTX Stops: 0 (total 23 of 50)Read more
2 likes
The 2022 Motorcycle Adventure Nancy Webb...Pat Bonetar
Mission Complete
May 22, 2022 in the United States ⋅ ☀️ 90 °F
My mission today was to get from Richfield, Utah, to Henderson (Las Vegas), Nevada, with only two fuel stops. Success!

Because it was 35°F 🥶 in Richfield at 06:00, I didn't leave until 09:00 in maybe 50°F. Going over the pass on I-70W took me above 7,000 feet, and there was quite a bit of snow on the peaks around me. But at 6,000 feet, it was warm enough to turn off my heated gear, and by my second fuel stop at about 5,000 feet, I had to take it all off. My heated gear, that is. I didn't do any stripping until I got to Vegas 😉.

I wound up on Fremont Street by accidentally programming my GPS with the wrong dealership. The one on Fremont is just a t-shirt shop, but, luckily, I could get the bike close enough to take a pic. Yippee!

I kept going down the Strip--do they call driving the Strip "Stripping"?--until I got to the real Las Vegas HD, where I immediately stripped off my leathers. It's 90°F here, although I shouldn't be surprised. I also shouldn't be surprised that I'm getting or already have a cold, probably because of all the altitude and temperature changes.

I stopped at LVHD to schedule service. Almost exactly a year ago, 15 May 2021, I had my 30,000-mile service at LVHD, and they were superb. I need them to look at a weird rubbing sound in Willie's front end, and I'll go ahead and let them do the 100,000-mile service 😱. Yep, my 2018 Street Bob officially has more miles on it than my 2012 FJ Cruiser 🤣.

Leann and I are staying at Skyline Hotel and Casino in Henderson for the next two nights.

My first Vegas show! This little hotel/casino and they have this incredible band playing on a Sunday afternoon. Wow! I was sitting next to a guy they invited up to sub for the drummer. He was very hesitant, but they got him up there. Turns out, he was the drummer for The Round Robin Monopoly. Ollie has been playing drums in Vegas for longer than I've been alive 🤣.

https://www.discogs.com/master/1177043-The-Roun…

The band played at my uncle's night club Bob Lilly's Other Place. Small world.

So long [for now], and thanks for all the fish! ✌️

Day 72 mileage: 319.9 (total 18813.6)
HD Dealerships: 1 [surprise!] (total 186)
National Parks: 0 (total 35 in 18 states)
10 Rides for 2022: 0 (total 5 of 10)
MCGTTX Stops: 0 (total 23 of 50)Read more
1 like
The 2022 Motorcycle Adventure Nancy Webb...Pat Bonetar
Utah is Absolutely Gorgeous
May 21, 2022 in the United States ⋅ ⛅ 61 °F
Leann and I left our decent hotel with a great view after breakfast and a chat with a couple driving an FJ Cruiser. We headed back past Mexican Hat and turned north on Hwy 261.

What a ride! This tiny road turns into hard-packed dirt and gravel for three miles as it twists and winds its way up the side of a cliff. But the views! You overlook Valley of the Gods and Monument Valley. Completely worth the effort to get up there. Also, once you're at the top, there is another unpaved road on your left that takes you to Muley Point. Even more majestic views!

Google Maps links:
- View of The Valley of the Gods
https://maps.app.goo.gl/2J8ckXiJ2esqTuBz5
- Moki Dugway
https://maps.app.goo.gl/HbBYTkh8Zoh64rnDA
- Muley Point East
https://maps.app.goo.gl/PXc75hF8fxtD1jkU9
- Muley Point
https://maps.app.goo.gl/RPQoxDNCcwML1xtGA

Getting back on the paved Hwy 261 to head north, I started slowing down because of all the poop on the road. Open range cows were in the area, and with all the fresh patties, I figured we'd see them sooner or later. We did. Unfortunately, Leann and I have polar opposite driving techniques when a road hazard presents itself, so when we reached Hwy 95, she took off on her own.

I made my way to Natural Bridges National Monument and did the scenic drive loop. I was cutting it close on gas--I was 50 miles into my tank with at least 95 to go before the next gas station--but I decided that taking 10-mile loop would be worth running out of gas later. Luckily, I reached Hanksville with a little to spare.

The drive up Hwy 95 takes you through the stunning Fry Canyon, then crosses the Colorado on a beautiful bridge. Just after the bridge, there's an overlook that will make your jaw drop. Just incredible.

- Hite Crossing Bridge
https://maps.app.goo.gl/tAG2kz5E6QNc2Tvp8
- Hite Overlook
https://maps.app.goo.gl/DYYp8MMra5hkAs6v5

Before reaching Hanksville, you also come through part of the Glen Canyon National Recreation Area, which is also magnificent and has many places to pull over, park, and walk around.

Rolling into Hanksville around 13:00, after a much needed fill-up, I had a late lunch at Duke's Slickrock Grill (https://maps.app.goo.gl/LYDvp7vCGKsPT2Cf8), which I found last year. Really good food in a John Wayne theme restaurant, you know, The Duke.

From Hanksville, I took Hwy 24 west to Capitol Reef National Park. This drive is even more spectacular than Hwy 95! And better yet, the scenic drive from the Visitor Center is even better than both of those. This year, however, I didn't take the scenic drive, opting instead to head to Richfield and our hotel.

Unfortunately, if had taken the drive, I would've met back up with Leann, so I made it to Richfield about an hour and a half before her. But with an Arby's next door, I was able to grab dinner while I waited for her.

It was a beautiful day in a gorgeous part of the US.

So long [for now], and thanks for all the fish! ✌️

Day 71 mileage: 282.4 (total 18493.7)
HD Dealerships: 0 (total 185)
National Parks: 2 (total 35 in 18 states)
10 Rides for 2022: 0 (total 5 of 10)
MCGTTX Stops: 0 (total 23 of 50)Read more
2 likes
The 2022 Motorcycle Adventure Nancy Webb...Pat Bonetar
Four Corners & Monument Valley
May 20, 2022 in the United States ⋅ ☀️ 68 °F
I am so happy that Leann decided to join me on the road today!

The morning started out with a bang. Literally. While I was waiting for Leann in the hotel parking lot, a lady driving a camper van thought she could fit under the hotel portico. She couldn't. Her rooftop air conditioner hit the rooftop overhang and was dragging along when she stopped. She looked around inside her van, then kept going. Now she's halfway through. She stops, looks around again, then keeps going until she hits the opposite edge of the roof. She stops and finally gets out to see what the noise is. She looks at the top of her van then gets back in and drives off dropping pieces of her air conditioner and the roof on the street as she drives away. I'm glad I wasn't behind her.

Leann met me right after and off we went. We stopped briefly to take some photos of Ship Rock (https://maps.app.goo.gl/6m7YV8AijRgPR8py7). But our first real stop was Four Corners Monument! Yay! I rode by here last year, but it was still closed from COVID. Now I can check it off my list.

Then we took a break at Bluff Fort, which was much more elaborate than I expected and definitely worth a stop if you're in that area.
(https://maps.app.goo.gl/hxzsWUL2hFCaWw488)

A tour guide at the fort told us about a cool place just out of town, so we stopped briefly at the Sand Island Petroglyph Panel (https://maps.app.goo.gl/6ZRKBrHNWsWgTwuL6). Really amazing!

Our next stops, well, I'll just list them:
- Mexican Hat Rock https://maps.app.goo.gl/4g9DSqtJ5ww2ikyd7
- Monument Valley https://maps.app.goo.gl/bA4CV3H8d68YqkBY7
- Monument Valley Tribal Park Visitor Center https://maps.google.com/?cid=113083947877316669…
- Goulding's Stagecoach Dining Room https://maps.app.goo.gl/Vby6MBQ4ZjhKXbPM7

We back tracked about 25 miles to Mexican Hat (the town), where we were lucky to find a hotel room. We were just about resigned to sleeping in the car (Leann) and tent (me) for the night. Bonus: we wound up right next to the river. Wonderful!

So long [for now], and thanks for all the fish! ✌️

Day 70 mileage: 198.3 (total 18211.3)
HD Dealerships: 0 (total 185)
National Parks: 0 (total 33 in 18 states)
10 Rides for 2022: 0 (total 5 of 10)
MCGTTX Stops: 0 (total 23 of 50)Read more
3 likes
The 2022 Motorcycle Adventure Nancy Webb...Pat Bonetar
Another Good Day
May 19, 2022 in the United States ⋅ 🌙 72 °F
I was really looking forward to today's ride, running some of the same routes I ran last year. And I wasn't disappointed!

I left Colorado Springs at 07:00 in 47°F wearing all of my heated gear. Is it not at least Spring here yet? As I was heading south on I-25, I suddenly smelled a Number 2 pencil being sharpened. It wasn't a paper mill or a pine logging operation. It was the shavings from a Number 2 pencil. Weird.

Even weirder, after I stopped at the Pueblo Harley dealership, I smelled burnt buttermilk biscuits . Not burnt toast, cornbread, or tortillas. Burnt buttermilk biscuits. Weird. Did I have a stroke?

Anyway, I pressed on down I-25 until 09:00 when I had to take off all of my heated gear. A couple of miles later, I hit the turn off for Highway 64 and Taos. This was the first time I had taken this route to Taos, and it was beautiful. The first 5 miles were covered in pronghorn antelope, one of which decided he'd like to share my lane for a few seconds. Then I hit Cimarron and squiggled through the canyon, where I crossed paths with a small herd of elk. Man, are they big! Although neither pronghorn nor the elk made me come to a complete stop, the prairie dog running in front of me did. I got all of their pictures 😁.

I finally popped out in Taos, had lunch at the best Mexican food place in Taos "Toribios", then crossed over the Rio Grande--the same river that makes the border of Texas and Mexico--before stopping at Earthship Biotexture (https://earthshipbiotecture.com/). I saw this community three times last year but never stopped. What an amazing concept in practice. The starter units (2 bed/2 bath) go for about $200,000, but some can reach almost half a million with up to 4 bedrooms and all the extra features. Imagine if standard architecture made use of some of these concepts, particularly water capture and recycling. Incredible capabilities.

I continued on US64 through Carson National Forest. Thankfully the road was open despite several large patches of snow at about 9,500 feet. This road has wonderful sweeping, broad, fast turns and is just a glorious place to ride. I was, however, wishing for my heated gear for about 25 miles until I dropped back down in elevation as I reached Chama. Then it was west to Farmington where Leann and I are staying tonight.

After settling into our room and feeding the dog, we walked across the street to a Mexican food restaurant where she relayed how she lost one of her Airmen to suicide just before she retired as a First Sergeant. We talked for quite some time then asked for the bill. Someone had already paid it and had already left.

First Stormchaser Jay saves me from the hail and now a stranger buys us dinner. Perhaps there is a little human left in humanity. We were both humbled, astounded, and, frankly, embarrassed because they had probably heard our tearful conversation. We left quietly, silently thanking our evening benefactor(s). It was another very good day.

So long [for now], and thanks for all the fish! ✌️

Day 69 mileage: 477.5 (total 18013.0)
HD Dealerships: 2 (total 185)
National Parks: 0 (total 33 in 18 states)
10 Rides for 2022: 0 (total 5 of 10)
MCGTTX Stops: 0 (total 23 of 50)Read more
1 like
The 2022 Motorcycle Adventure Nancy Webb...Pat Bonetar
I Couldn't Outrun Mother Nature
May 18, 2022 in the United States ⋅ ⛅ 61 °F
And the day started out so nice, too.

At 07:00 I rolled out of the hotel wearing an extra long-sleeve shirt to stave off the 62°F and lower wind chill. A couple of hundred miles later, I pulled off I-70 to take that shirt off and found myself surrounded by little birds. They were nesting under the overpass. Hundreds of parents taking food to their chicks in the nest. Watching them was like seeing in super fast motion. They were everywhere.

I kept rolling towards my day's halfway destination outside of Lebanon, Kansas, but absolutely had to stop in Cawker City for the World's Largest Ball of Sisal Twine. How could I not stop? Then it was off to the middle of nowhere. Actually, I suppose it's the middle of everywhere since it's the Geographic Center of the Continental United States. It's also one of Harley's 10 Rides for 2022, which gives me 5 so far. Woohoo!

After a quick snack, I headed towards Colorado. Just after I passed under a cropduster plane and considered (😉) passing under a huge piece of farm equipment, I made it into Colorado, and the Centennial State greeted me with a monster of a storm. My weather app showed it moving due east straight down I-70, so I figured I could skirt it.

My weather app sucks. 40 miles south and 10 miles west, I found myself on a crappy two-lane road surrounded by cows and passing stormchasers parked on the sides of the road with their cameras on tripods. As I was looking in vain for any type of shelter, the rain began. As I'm slowing down, I'm thinking if a tornado drops out of the sky, I can run the bike down the embankment and dive into a drainage culvert. Before I could plan any further...or think about why I was stupid enough to get myself into this situation...did I say my weather app sucks?...the hail began.

Slower, slower, slower I went, all the way down to first gear and about 10 mph. Ouch, ouch, ouch. Still not a single dwelling or structure anywhere to be seen. Finally, I see two SUVs stopped right next to the road. I stop, leave Willie at the edge of the lane with his hazards on, and run to jump in the backseat of one of the trucks. The guy's name is Jay and he's a freelance storm chaser. The guy in the other car is Tony Laubach, who appeared in the TV show Storm Chasers (https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tony_Laubach).

I couldn't stay in the car for long though; Jay was working and Tony had already left. So I was on my own again just as the hail was ending. Man, even though it was a mix of pea size and small marble size--there are official names for sizes of hail (https://www.weather.gov/lwx/skywarn_hail)--it all really hurts going any speed at all. One piece smashed my finger so hard I lost feeling in it for a while, and I have a couple of welts on my arms that will stay with me for a while. At least I wear a fullface helmet.

But the hail passed, as did the rain. The road was less and less wet and, as I began to dry out, I was less and less cold (so thankful for my heated grips, again). I could even see sunlight where the clouds ended. The proverbial light at the end of the tunnel...that turned into a train. I came over a rise and almost cried. Another huge storm was dead ahead.

I kept going; there weren't any other roads and still nothing to hide under except cows. Fortunately, the storm passed south of the highway before I got there. I just had to deal with a horribly bumpy and now wet road. Behind a semi truck that had passed me on said road. But I did it.

After I left Jay's truck, it took me about two hours to go the final 70 miles to the hotel near the Colorado Springs airport. I counted out increments on the five as I reached them. Actually, I think I yelled them out loud with glee. "65 miles to go! Yippee! 60 miles to go! Yeehaw!" You get the picture 🤣.

Right now, while my clothes and leathers are hanging up to dry, I'm lying in my warm bed with the air conditioning on full blast enjoying my full belly from the Thai place next door and being thankful that the shower was extremely hot.

Actually, the day ended pretty well, too.

So long [for now], and thanks for all the fish! ✌️

Day 68 mileage: 639.3 (total 17535.5)
HD Dealerships: 1 (total 183)
National Parks: 0 (total 33 in 18 states)
10 Rides for 2022: 1 (total 5 of 10)
MCGTTX Stops: 0 (total 23 of 50)Read more
Travelerwhen your nomadic days subside, I volunteer to help you compile all these short stories into a proper book. I'd buy it!
5/19/22Reply
Nancy Webb...Pat Bonetar🤣🤣
5/19/22Reply
1 like
The 2022 Motorcycle Adventure Nancy Webb...Pat Bonetar
Evel Knievel Museum!
May 17, 2022 in the United States ⋅ ⛅ 82 °F
Knowing I had over 200 miles of I-70 to get under my tires before hitting my first stop, I rolled out of St. Louis at 07:00 this morning. Smooth going all the way through to Kansas City. I swung south to hit three dealerships, which turned into a ride ride through the countryside as I avoided the I-70 tollway. I still don't understand how states can make a federal interstate a toll road.

Anyway, I rolled into Topeka around 13:00. I stopped briefly at the State Capitol for a pic, then went to the Brown vs. Board of Education National Historical Park located in the Monroe School Building. Because they let me leave the bike right in front under the trees, I only grabbed my passport stamp and a couple of pamphlets.

Then I went to what I had been looking forward to...and it did not disappoint. The Evel Knievel Museum housed in Historic Harley-Davidson. Wow! So very well done with so many pieces of memorabilia and excellent chronological displays. Absolutely superb. There is even a 4D feature where you "jump" 13 or so police motorcycles in front of the Capitol. This is a must-see for everyone and anyone. I wish I could post more pictures for you. You'll just have to go there yourself.

Tearing myself away from the museum, I made my way to the nearest laundromat to wash pretty much all of my clothes before heading to the hotel to meet back up with Leann. I walked to a Red Robin restaurant and tried the Incredible Burger, which wasn't incredible, but it was good and stopped the rumbling in my tummy. Now, it's time for some shut-eye.

So long [for now], and thanks for all the fish! ✌️

Day 67 mileage: 343.7 (total 16896.2)
HD Dealerships: 4 (total 182)
National Parks: 1 (total 33 in 18 states)
10 Rides for 2022: 0 (total 4 of 10)
MCGTTX Stops: 0 (total 23 of 50)Read more
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The 2022 Motorcycle Adventure Nancy Webb...Pat Bonetar
Nowhere In Particular
May 16, 2022 in the United States ⋅ ☀️ 82 °F
Apparently Mondays are a bad day to see anything in Kansas. We had planned to head west from St. Louis and stop at the Brown vs. Board of Education National Historical Park and the Evel Knievel Museum, but both are closed today. So we're staying another night on the west side of St. Louis.

I couldn't sit still this morning, so I took off for three dealerships and made the day of it. I thought I would ride over Bagwell Dam again, but the road was closed. Even better, the detour led me to an overlook with information about the dam. Cool. On my way back to the hotel, I went through Jefferson City and swung by the Capitol for a quick pic. I was back to the hotel by 15:30 and am now having dinner next door at Texas Roadhouse. Great day considering I didn't go anywhere particular.

So long [for now], and thanks for all the fish! ✌️

Day 66 mileage: 432.2 (total 16552.5)
HD Dealerships: 4 (total 178)
National Parks: 0 (total 32 in 17 states)
10 Rides for 2022: 0 (total 4 of 10)
MCGTTX Stops: 0 (total 23 of 50)Read more
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The 2022 Motorcycle Adventure Nancy Webb...Pat Bonetar
The Top of the Arch
May 15, 2022 in the United States ⋅ ⛅ 73 °F
Our time in Memphis went quickly, but today we moved on. Leann was still sleeping when I left the hotel just after 07:00. My 5 mph over the limit pace is waaaaay too slow for her, and I don't want to go as fast as she does all day on the interstates, so we're making our individual ways to tonight's hotel in St. Louis, Missouri.

I hit six dealerships in Arkansas, Missouri, and Illinois, then met her at Gateway Arch National Park this afternoon. We've both been here before, but neither of us has taken the tram to the top, so up we went! When we were boarding the tram car, I felt like Mork from Ork getting into his egg 🤣. "Nanu nanu" 😎🌈🥚! Four minutes later, we were 630 feet off the ground. They only allow you to stay up there for 10 minutes, but that was plenty. Thankfully, the thunderclouds rolled out before we got up there. What a beautiful view!

I hit two more HDs on the way to the hotel. Now, we're at the hotel, which has great air conditioning. A good night's sleep is on its way 🥱😴.

So long [for now], and thanks for all the fish! ✌️

Day 65 mileage: 500.8 (total 16120.3)
HD Dealerships: 8 (total 174)
National Parks: 1 (total 32 in 17 states)
10 Rides for 2022: 0 (total 4 of 10)
MCGTTX Stops: 0 (total 23 of 50)Read more
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The 2022 Motorcycle Adventure Nancy Webb...Pat Bonetar
Graceland Yeah-ah
May 15, 2022 in the United States ⋅ ⛅ 66 °F
Today, Leann and I spent the morning at Graceland. I went once before in 1987-ish on a choir trip to Nashville. The house is the same, but there is a huge complex across the road that I don't remember at all. Also, Elvis's grandson is now interred on the grounds. If you haven't been, it's definitely worth going. His birthplace in Tupelo is not that far away, too. I took so many pictures, but these are a few I hope you'll enjoy.

So long [for now], and thanks for all the fish! ✌️

Day 64 mileage: 0 (total 15619.5)
HD Dealerships: 0 (total 166)
National Parks: 0 (total 31 in 16 states)
10 Rides for 2022: 0 (total 4 of 10)
MCGTTX Stops: 0 (total 23 of 50)Read more
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The 2022 Motorcycle Adventure Nancy Webb...Pat Bonetar
Beale Street Blues
May 13, 2022 in the United States ⋅ ☁️ 72 °F
Leann and I had a great day in downtown Memphis. We started at the National Civil Rights Museum housed in the Lorraine Motel where Dr. Rev. Martin Luther King, Jr., was assassinated in 1968. We also popped in the Blues Foundation Hall of Fame (https://blues.org/). Then we walked down to Beale Street, grabbed a couple of pins at the Hard Rock Cafe, and had lunch at B.B. King's Blues Club, where we listened to a wonderful blues group, The Jason Foree Band (http://jasonforee.com/). We quick timed it back to the car and narrowly escaped the hail storm.

After a couple of hours resting at the hotel, we Ubered back to Beale and had BBQ at The Pig on Beale (http://pigonbeale.com/). I ate here the last and first time I was on Beale Street, and it didn't disappoint either time 😋. We finished the evening at The Peabody hotel chatting with a pianist playing in the Corner Bar, Curtis "Big Papa" Jones, who helped record Bishop Bullwinkle's internet sensation song "Hell to the Naw Naw" (https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hell_to_the_Naw…). A quick Uber back to the hotel wrapped up another long but wonderful day.

So long [for now], and thanks for all the fish! ✌️

Day 63 mileage: 0 (total 15619.5)
HD Dealerships: 0 (total 166)
National Parks: 0 (total 31 in 16 states)
10 Rides for 2022: 0 (total 4 of 10)
MCGTTX Stops: 0 (total 23 of 50)Read more
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The 2022 Motorcycle Adventure Nancy Webb...Pat Bonetar
Very Tiring Day, But We're In Memphis!
May 12, 2022 in the United States ⋅ ⛅ 81 °F
All good things must come to an end. We had a great time in Gulfport, but today was time to roll. After a quick, light breakfast and lengthy check out process, I met Leann at her hotel at 08:30 and we hit the road at 09:00, me on the bike and her and the dog in her car.

We made our way north to Jackson, Mississippi, then we going through Vicksburg to take I-20 over the River, but there must have been a wreck because my traffic app said there was an 80-minute delay 😱. So, we turned north again and spent most of the day on back roads through the fertile farm fields of the Mississippi Delta, which was great but so very slow.

We stumbled upon and visited the Rohwer Japanese American Relocation Center (https://rohwer.astate.edu/). It was a lovely and honorable site. Then we went to what we thought was Arkansas Post National Memorial. Turns out, we were at the state park and museum, which was interesting, but doesn't count for my challenge.

By the time we got to Dumas, Arkansas, around 16:00, I was soaked with sweat and had to take a break. We had a little food at Subway while I enjoyed the air conditioning for about an hour. Leann convinced me to go another 150+ miles all the way to Memphis 🤦, and we split up to head in. I hit two dealerships on the way and got to the hotel at 21:25 🥱🥱🥱. It was a very long 13-hour ride in 90+°F heat and humidity 🥵. But we're settled into the hotel now, and I'm ready to drop.

So long [for now], and thanks for all the fish! ✌️

Day 62 mileage: 575.3 (total 15619.5)
HD Dealerships: 2 (total 166)
National Parks: 0 (total 31 in 16 states)
10 Rides for 2022: 0 (total 4 of 10)
MCGTTX Stops: 0 (total 23 of 50)Read more
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The 2022 Motorcycle Adventure Nancy Webb...Pat Bonetar
1
Mimosas...Cabana...Pool...Dinner For 3
May 11, 2022 in the United States ⋅ 🌙 75 °F
Monday was zebras. Tuesday was dolphins. I thought Wednesday (today) might be daiquiris, but it turned out to be mimosas in the cabana by the pool 😁. What a great day Melissa and I had hanging out poolside. And to make the day even better, Leann made it to town for dinner. These gals are amazing women whom I am so fortunate to know. That they call me their friend is an absolute honor. Love you both dearly!

So long [for now], and thanks for all the fish! ✌️

Day 61 mileage: 0 (total 15044.2)
HD Dealerships: 0 (total 164)
National Parks: 0 (total 31 in 16 states)
10 Rides for 2022: 0 (total 4 of 10)
MCGTTX Stops: 0 (total 23 of 50)Read more
Traveler nice. love your hair
5/13/22Reply
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The 2022 Motorcycle Adventure Nancy Webb...Pat Bonetar
1 1
Galveston to Gulfport
May 10, 2022 in the United States ⋅ ☀️ 79 °F
Another great day! I left the hotel at 06:00 to catch the free ferry from Galveston to Port Bolivar. I enjoyed watching the dolphins and birds trailing a fishing boat, then the clouds broke and the sun appeared gloriously. By 08:00, I was off the boat and at my first stop, the lighthouse. It was a beautiful morning.

Not long after turning inland from the water, I was at my second stop, a huge fire hydrant in downtown Beaumont, TX. From there, after a quick photo at Cowboy H-D, it was I-10/I-12/I-10 straight to Gulfport. Most of the interstate is under construction and it seems.thete are even more trucks on -10 than on -20. But I made it to the hotel around 13:45. Not bad when I was aiming for 14:00 👍.

While the valet driver that doesn't drive was helping me unload the bike in the parking lot--he was standing with a luggage cart while I handed him stuff--my friend Melissa arrived from Pensacola. Yay!

For the past three hours, we have checked in, made ourselves familiar with the casino, partook of the free daiquiri bar, played a couple of slots, walked on the beach, found the pool that's under renovation, ate a small plate at the unlimited buffet, and partook of the free daiquiri bar again. Now, were tired and taking a nap.

So long [for now], and thanks for all the fish! ✌️

Day 60 mileage: 422.0 (total 15044.2)
HD Dealerships: 1 (total 164)
National Parks: 0 (total 31 in 16 states)
10 Rides for 2022: 0 (total 4 of 10)
MCGTTX Stops: 2 (total 23 of 50)Read more
Traveler wowza
5/13/22Reply
Traveler cool
5/13/22Reply
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The 2022 Motorcycle Adventure Nancy Webb...Pat Bonetar
On The Road Again, Part 2
May 9, 2022 in the United States ⋅ ⛅ 79 °F
I'm back!, and on the road again for the second part of this year's Harley trip. Willie and I had a big and long day. With 18 stops not including gas, it was dark by the time we reached the hotel in Galveston, but it was great being back on the bike.

With mostly cloudy skies, we left Emory, TX, at 08:30 in already warm weather. Later in the day, my app told me it was 92°F. I didn't look again 🥵, but I never took off the chaps or vest. The clouds burned away almost too fast, and it was sunshine most of the day.

I hadn't gone far when I had to make a u-turn...to look at the zebras! Wait, what? I know right?! Yes, zebras! They're near Overton, TX, at Bowles Creek Store. I love Texas 🇨🇱 (imagine the blue goes all the way down).
(Google Maps link: https://maps.app.goo.gl/arkBeC23Ec3S11NV7)

I also saw several herds of Longhorn, some with calves. The little ones are so dang cute. The rest of the day was stopping for photos at dealerships and the MCGTTX stops, and with 9 each, I knocked out a bunch. Yippee!

But it took a long time, plus I hit Houston at rush hour, so I didn't get to the hotel until just after 21:00. Luckily, there is a gas station next door with Gatorade (rehydrate), fruit (breakfast), and a can of Beanie Wienies (dinner but I didn't eat the wienies; I'm off red meat for a while...although I'm not sure I would call them red meat...or meat even 😉).

So long [for now], and thanks for all the fish! ✌️

Day 59* mileage: 653.1 (total 14622.2)
* This website says it's Day 85, but I'm not counting the 26 days of 13 April to 8 May since I wasn't on the bike full time. I only rode 184.7 miles 😱🤣.
HD Dealerships: 9 (total 163)
National Parks: 0 (total 31 in 16 states)
10 Rides for 2022: 0 (total 4 of 10)
MCGTTX Stops: 9 (total 21 of 50)Read more
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The 2022 Motorcycle Adventure Nancy Webb...Pat Bonetar
It's Boring Being At Home
April 24, 2022 in the United States ⋅ ⛅ 82 °F
Hello, again! Before I get started, I have added pictures from my real camera to all of my posts since Spring Heat in AZ Day 1, Day 48, April 2, and it's worth a scroll down to see them, particularly those from Zion and Grand Canyon National Parks.

Since I last posted, I've only been on the bike a couple of times, mainly to get a service and to go back to The Barn where I have my tiny RV home. The service was a doozy: the normal 95,000-mile service and rear brake pads that I knew about, plus leaky rocker boxes and clutch cable that I didn't. They also installed my US Fleet Tracker thingy for the Hoka Hay, which is one more step closer to the event. 💲2500 at the end of the day. Ouch.

After a few days at mom's, I rode back to East Texas to get my RV air conditioning serviced for the third time. Have I ever said don't use the Camping World in Tyler--don't!.... I got really bored though, so I took my house to Lake Texoma for a couple of days and am now near Texarkana for another few. Wait for it.... I didn't bring the bike 😱😱.

I won't post again until I'm back on the bike, which should be May 9.

So long [for now], and thanks for all the fish! ✌️

[stats later]Read more
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The 2022 Motorcycle Adventure Nancy Webb...Pat Bonetar
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Winds, Dirt, Tumbleweeds & Traffic
April 12, 2022 in the United States ⋅ ⛅ 68 °F
What a mess today was. It started off great with some free coffee at the Alamogordo KOA, and I rolled out a little after 08:00. I spent the first part of the morning squiggling up into chilly Ruidoso, which made me remember my friend Lumpy. But once I got down to the flats, the wind was terrible. I was all over the road and riding well under the speed limit with my hazards on. For hours.

I made it through Roswell and the Harley dealership, then it started to get really bad. By the time I made it to the three MCGTTX Stops around the border of NM and TX, the wind was 35 mph with gusts of I don't know how much. I tried to dodge the tumbleweeds as best I could, but every time I stopped I was pulling twigs out of the bike.

The worst part was in the farmland south of Lubbock. The winds stripped the topsoil off the fields and swirled it all around. At times I could barely see. Riding on a slant during a dust storm while smashing tumbleweeds is not a fun day.

The winds finally subsided--well, not completely but at least I wasn't riding sideways anymore--after I passed Abilene, but 30 miles west of Fort Worth, I hit a massive traffic jam. There must have been a fatality because I-20 was closed for about five miles. That mess slowed me down another hour while the sun went down, so the last hour of my ride was in the dark.

After battling the elements and traffic for over 12 hours, I finally made it to my mom's house at 21:30 covered in red dirt 🤣. I'm tired but still on Pacific time, so a little goofing on my phone should put me to sleep soon, I hope.

So long [for now], and thanks for all the fish! ✌️

Day 58 mileage: 651.6 (total 13784.4)
HD Dealerships: 1 (total 146*) When I checked my HOG Dealership Challenge stats last night, I saw that 20 of my photos had been rejected, so this new 146 is the official count 😢.
National Parks: 0 (total 31 in 16 states* Updated: I forgot Lake Mead NRA, Nevada.)
10 Rides for 2022: 0 (total 4 of 10
MCGTTX Stops: 3 (total 10 of 50)Read more
Traveler wicked!!!!!
4/25/22Reply
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The 2022 Motorcycle Adventure Nancy Webb...Pat Bonetar
White Sands National Monument
April 11, 2022 in the United States ⋅ ☀️ 79 °F
Today was a very short ride from Silver City to Alamogordo, where I had a nonrefundable reservation at the KOA. I took time to ride into White Sands NM. It's gorgeous, but I don't want to ride on sand again. That's worse than gravel 👎.

I got my "kabin" around 14:00 and spent the afternoon working on photos, downloading my GPS tracks, and watching movies. It was a great day.

So long [for now], and thanks for all the fish! ✌️

Day 57 mileage: 209.2 (total 13132.9)
HD Dealerships: 0 (total 165)
National Parks: 1 (total 30 in 15 states)
10 Rides for 2022: 0 (total 4 of 10
MCGTTX Stops: 0 (total 7 of 50)Read more
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The 2022 Motorcycle Adventure Nancy Webb...Pat Bonetar
1
So Long, Arizona
April 10, 2022 in the United States ⋅ 🌙 57 °F
After an awesome night rockin' with Lynyrd Skynyrd, I slept in a bit until it got too hot to stay in the tent (around 07:00 🤣). I climbed out, sat in the shade, and goofed around on my phone until 11:00, when I went for food. There was a great band playing, Jaded Jukebox, with a tremendous female singer. Heart, Journey, Evanescence, Pat Benatar, Judas Priest, Ozzy, GNR.... I stayed to listen to them until 12:30 when I decided I was bored. So, I went back to my tent, broke camp, and left Scottsdale at 14:00.

I rode and rode and rode. No gas anywhere. I thought I found a store when my light came on, but it was closed. The GPS finally picked up on one 25 miles away, and my "remaining" indicator said I had 55 miles left. I started pulling in the clutch on the downhills and drifted into the gas station in Silver City with only a few miles left in the tank, if that many. I knew I had gone a long way, but 196.8 on one tank, one 3.5-gallon tank, is just crazy. I can't cut it that close again.

With a full tank under me, I'm stopped for the night at a hotel. I had a quick meal at McDonald's--the only food around but I'm thinking I should've just skipped it 🤢--then a hot bath to knock off some of the campground funk, and I am now looking forward to a comfortable rest tonight and lie in tomorrow.

So long [for now], and thanks for all the fish! ✌️

Day 56 mileage: 297.0 (total 12923.7)
HD Dealerships: 0 (total 165)
National Parks: 0 (total 29 in 15 states)
10 Rides for 2022: 0 (total 4 of 10
MCGTTX Stops: 0 (total 7 of 50)Read more
Traveler + vapors ...🤔
4/25/22Reply
3 likes
The 2022 Motorcycle Adventure Nancy Webb...Pat Bonetar
Lynyrd F*ckyng Skynyrd 🤘 !!!
April 9, 2022 in the United States ⋅ 🌙 70 °F
This morning was a bit of a bummer. Sergio and I met up with Gary and Tom, and we squiggled down the mountain for breakfast. AZ-89 between Prescott and Congress is incredible!

Anyway, after a great meal, we pulled over at the Granite Mountain Hotshots Memorial Trailhead for a moment, and that's where I had to say goodbye. I had so much fun with these guys, but they're back to Cali and I'm back to Bike Week.

Just in time, too! The band tonight was Lynyrd Skynyrd!!!!! I didn't stay for the whole show because of the crush of people. I can't do large crowds any longer. But it was amazing hearing and seeing one of my favorite bands. I also got to hug a couple of friends, Chris and Tammy, before I ducked out. How I found them I'll never know, but cool.

It was a great week+ with some great new and old friends, great riding, and great music. I'll be back!

So long [for now], and thanks for all the fish! ✌️

Day 55 mileage: 157.9 (total 12626.7)
HD Dealerships: 0 (total 165)
National Parks: 0 (total 29 in 15 states)
10 Rides for 2022: 0 (total 4 of 10
MCGTTX Stops: 0 (total 7 of 50)Read more
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