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2024 VROOM VROOM
  • Nancy Webb...Pat Bonetar
  • Nancy Webb...Pat Bonetar

2024 VROOM VROOM

This year's goals are:
- To complete the Grand Tour of Texas, PNW Grand Tour & H-D's 10 Rides for 2024;
- To win the H-D Dealership Challenge!
- Do well on Tour of Honor and Ride To Eat; and
- To finish H-D's 50 Rides, 1 Nation.
Wish me luck! ✌️ En savoir plus
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  • Nancy Webb...Pat Bonetar2024 VROOM VROOMNancy Webb...Pat Bonetar

    Three Days & Three Great Lakes

    29 juin 2024, États Unis ⋅ 🌬 63 °F

    Well, if you weren't already informed, camping in a storm sucks. First, setting up got the inside of the tent wet, so anything touching the floor (everything) was wet this morning. Second, although the sound of the rain on the tent is soothing, the gusts of wind would have blown me away if it wasn't for my weight and all the stuff in the tent. And last, when the rain finally stopped, the quiet woke me up...at 0400. But a quick look at the radar showed a break between storms, so I got up, broke camp (still raining so more wet inside the tent), and was rolling before 0500. Sucky suck suck. Now you know.

    With less than 4 hours of restless sleep, my first stop was for coffee. I had a nice chat with a gentleman who dillydaddles with Austin-Healy cars. Cool. He got my brain going. Even though the rain was fairly pouring out of the sky and I was soaked through my rain jacket, vest, coat, and two T-shirts, I still had a pretty good morning. And I missed all the deer in the road 😁.

    Once I got further west in Da Yoop, the weather cleared, and just before dropping into Wisconsin, I was finally confident enough to take off and stow my rain gear. Besides, it jumped from 62 to 82°F, so I was getting pretty hot.

    By 1400, I was über tired, so I went to my gym, Anytime Fitness which gives you access to every gym in the country, and took a shower then a nap. By 1600 I was clean, awake, and rolling 😁.

    Another day with several pictures and beautiful views of Lake Superior that I don't have pictures of.

    Tonight I'm camped at Harbor Town HD in Manitowoc (shhh, don't tell them). There's no rain the forecast, so hopefully everything will be dry in the morning 🤞.

    Miles: 795.9    En savoir plus

    Voir la traduction
  • Nancy Webb...Pat Bonetar2024 VROOM VROOMNancy Webb...Pat Bonetar

    Day 4: Another successful day

    30 juin 2024, États Unis ⋅ 🌙 59 °F

    I left Harbor Town HD just before 0600, but in daylight and crystal clear skies 😁. Finally! After a quick breakfast at McDonald's (🤢 but cheap and hot), I started rolling. And kept rolling all day. I had a 30-minute break at Wendy's for a Biggie Bag (another 🤢 but cheap and hot). No dinner tonight because of those stops.

    I would complain about all the bad drivers, but what's the point? You already know about them, and they're not going to read this and suddenly say, "OMG! She's right! I need to get out of the left lane."

    The Mississippi River was very high at the crossing from Wisconsin into Iowa, but it was still beautiful. I only had a couple of stops in Iowa before tearing into Minnesota, where I'll probably be for a couple of days.

    This is the fourth year I've done HOG's Dealership Check-In Challenge. As I revisit dealerships, I'm reminded of a rally that happened there or a night I slept behind the shop. Tonight I get to add another HD to my freecamp locations, Great River HD in Onalaska, WI. Wait. What? Am I back in Wisconsin?

    I need to sleep and figure it out tomorrow. ✌️

    Miles: 837.8    En savoir plus

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  • Nancy Webb...Pat Bonetar2024 VROOM VROOMNancy Webb...Pat Bonetar

    Day 5: NSTR

    1 juillet 2024, États Unis ⋅ ☁️ 68 °F

    NSTR = Nothing significant to report.

    Slept great at HD, but one of my tent poles came apart during tear down. I think I can restring it with some fishing line tomorrow 🤞. If not, Cabela's might have replacement poles.

    I used some points to book a hotel near Twin Cities HD because they're doing my 55,000-mile service in the morning (thanks, Alec!). I had hoped to get that done in Duluth so I could stay in the round Radisson next to the bowling alley, but HD couldn't fit me in. Oh well. Their loss. And Steve wasn't very helpful 😞.

    Very short day today, but still productive. I actually had a great run on I-35 from Duluth to Minneapolis, only coming out of cruise a few times over the 125 miles. Best run so far (and probably ever 🤣🤣).

    My Tour of Honor total visits has risen to 403, and on this run I've completed Michigan and Wisconsin 😋. Only 7 Doughboys, 5 veteran cemeteries, and 4 Gold Star memorials left to reach 50 stops in those categories 😁.

    So happy to sleep in a bed tonight and soak in the shower. I'm not doing laundry here though because I have my clothes set to a number of days (barring emergency changes and that's never good 🤣).

    Later✌️

    Miles: 487.1    En savoir plus

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  • Nancy Webb...Pat Bonetar2024 VROOM VROOMNancy Webb...Pat Bonetar

    Day 6: Service in MN

    2 juillet 2024, États Unis ⋅ 🌙 66 °F

    It was nice to sleep in this morning. Well, my alarm was set for 0900, but I was awake at 0500 😞. I goofed around the hotel room and finally left at 0900. I had to hit Walmart before my service appointment to get fishing line and sinkers.

    After HD took the bike to the back for her 55,000-mile service, I took out my new supplies and began working on my tent pole. Five minutes later, success! Tent pole back in one piece and fully operational! Yay!

    Then I had nothing to do the rest of the 2 hours and 55 minutes but goof on my phone 🤣.

    The service at Twin Cities North went well, and I was able to redeem $250 from my Harley app points 😁. From there, I got going on my circuit of Minneapolis - St Paul to get the rest of the HDs.

    After the second one, I stopped at a KFC for a hot meal. I saw that the dealer had called me, but I didn't realize why until I went to pay for my lunch. No wallet 😭. It was back at the HD in Blaine on the north side of Minneapolis. I was on the far south side 😭.

    Without eating of course, I kept going to the next HD since it was sort of on the way back to Blaine. The extra trip only cost me about 30 miles, which is remarkable considering normally I would have been about 150 miles away before stopping to look at my phone messages during the next gas stop. Lucky me.

    After I got out of the city, the ride got better. The last HD I hit, Apol's in the teeny tiny town of Raymond, wasn't a place I could sleep at, so I kept going to my next destination. Unfortunately, my next two stops were both Tour of Honor locations, so I looked at my GPS to see if there was anywhere to stay nearby. Lo and behold, one of my freecamp sites from the Hoka Hey Motorcycle Challenge in 2022 was very close. So, here I am in the even tinier town of Russell at the abandoned gas station next to the railroad tracks, again 😁. This time I'm in my newly repaired tent. A winning day overall!

    ✌️

    Miles: 498.2    En savoir plus

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  • Nancy Webb...Pat Bonetar2024 VROOM VROOMNancy Webb...Pat Bonetar
    Minnesota has a lot of bugs

    Day 7: #5 of 10 Rides for 2024

    3 juillet 2024, États Unis ⋅ ☁️ 72 °F

    Today began at 0500 after I shut off my 0415 alarm 🤣. By 0530 I was packed and just about to roll when a woman pulled up in her car. She smiled and asked if I was traveling far. I answered, then she said, "But do you have gas?" Considering I needed to use the bathroom terribly, it was all I could do to answer honestly with a straight face. "Yes, I have about 100 miles left." She asked because the little town doesn't have a gas station. I guess she had a means to get me some if I was desperate. It was so very nice of her to check on me, and I started my ride with a smile 😊. It didn't last long, though, because I was still in Minnesota 🤦.

    My first stop was in Walnut Grove near the Laura Ingalls Wilder Museum, you know, Little House on the Prairie. I really wish I had time to go in because I read all the books and watched all the shows. 💜💜💜

    My next significant stop was the Dignity statue on the Missouri River in South Dakota. It's one of HOG's 10 Rides for 2024 and my fifth one to get. Wait maybe fourth. Oh, I don't remember any more.

    When I get to Sioux City, I had J&L HD adjust my clutch. I was a bit nervous because the last time I was here--I was towed here in 2022 after Sturgis--they replaced my flat rear tire without talking to me first. Because the tire they took off only had 1000 miles on it, I had to carry a rear tire wrapped in a tarp for the next 14,000 miles 🤦. But they did great and only charged me $23! Yay!!

    There was something else that happened today, and I told myself to remember it so I could tell you, but of course now I can't. Maybe it will come to me tomorrow.

    Tonight I'm camping at Glacial Lakes HD (🤫). I've stayed here before, but keep your fingers crossed it doesn't rain on me 🤞.

    Ok, gotta set up the tent and get my beauty sleep 😉.

    ✌️.

    Miles: 703.3    En savoir plus

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  • Nancy Webb...Pat Bonetar2024 VROOM VROOMNancy Webb...Pat Bonetar
    Ipswich, ND
    The shoulder was dirt aka mud, so I stopped in the driving lane. No one was there anyway 🤣.Jamestown

    Day 8: Squeaks Are Bad

    4 juillet 2024, États Unis ⋅ ☁️ 73 °F

    I was fortunate that it didn't rain on me last night, but I didn't sleep well because of the fireworks that went on until well after I stopped looking at my phone (0100). I was not so fortunate this morning, however, because the rain started right as I was leaving Watertown at 0530, and, of course, I didn't have on my gear 😭.

    None of the gas stations were open yet, so I dashed under an overhang at a closed business to avoid a soaking. I organized my stuff, got my bags covered and my rain gear out, then crossed the street to McDonalds at 0600 when the lobby opened.

    I really dislike starting out in the rain. Really. Really. Dislike 🤬. So it took an hour for me to leave the shelter of Mickey D's. About 30 minutes later, even my t-shirt was wet. Have I told you that HD rain gear sucks?

    Anyway, I made it about 130 miles to only two stops and wanted to get gas before I got any more remote. I found a little gas station / grocery store / casino in the little town of Ipswich [just like England!] that had a place to sit and drink coffee and eat North Dakota crack. You know, Dots Pretzels 🤣. So that's what I did for about another hour. Again, it was very hard to get moving again, but I finally did.

    I continued on towards Bismarck, ND, but just a few minutes later I pulled over. One HD and one Tour of Honor stop was not worth 150 miles, so I did a u-turn and headed back East before turning almost due North in Aberdeen [just like Scotland!] to Jamestown [just like...um...!].

    Torrential storms the whole way. Dark, cold, and wet. Deer grazing by the road. Roads still covered in sand and grit from the winter. In fact, I almost lost my front wheel on a turn when I hit a patch of grit I didn't see because of the rain on the inside of my face shield. It was enough to make me squeak. When something goes wrong, I start with a squeak . If it progresses into something terribly wrong, I yell. If it progresses further and it hurts, I scream. Not a wimpy, girly scream, but a high pitched gutteral scream of anger usually in the shape of "Fuck". That's me. Anyway, the little slip was only squeak worthy. But the whole morning was fucking exhausting.

    By the time I got 120 miles to Jamestown, right at 1200, I was ready to quit for the day. Instead, I decided to push another 100 to Fargo.

    I-94, 75 mph speed limit, downpours I could barely see through, semis blowing by me at 80, cars blowing by me at 90, and little ol' me going 60 with my little ol' hazards furiously blinking their little ol' hearts out.

    By the time I got to Fargo, I was shivering and half asleep, so I called it quits. I cashed in some hotel points because it's supposed to rain all night and, after today, I just couldn't deal with camping in the rain. I'm not whining, just expressing my feelings 🤣.

    Now I'm at Buffalo Wild Wings having a beer and trying not to fall asleep until I get back to my room.

    Miles: 401.4 and only 4 stops 😭    En savoir plus

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  • Nancy Webb...Pat Bonetar2024 VROOM VROOMNancy Webb...Pat Bonetar
    #7 of 9!

    Day 9: Racing a Hell's Angel

    5 juillet 2024, États Unis ⋅ ☁️ 64 °F

    It was his idea. I was going through the town of Devils Lake, ND, when 4 HAs passed me. I slowed down, of course, and let them get well in front of me leaving town. A few miles later, the tail gunner fell back from the others but stayed in the left lane. I slowed even more, but he gave me the sign to come on, so I did. Once I got even with him, he gave me an ok sign and pointed at my bike. Then he made signs to race. Then he did a 3-2-1 countdown on his fingers. So, what do I do? I down shifted and nailed it 🤣🤣. His Road Glide stayed right there, and we were well over 100 and catching his mates. So, I rolled off, waved, and dropped back well behind them. Pretty cool.

    The rest of the day was just doing what I do. My most significant stops were the 7th of 9 pics for Lap of the 48 and the Geographic Center of North America in Rugby, ND.

    I also stopped on I-29 south of Fargo, but that was only because the cop made me 😉. 83 in a 75. He only gave me a warning, but he put HONDA as the make of the bike. WTF, dude?! 🤣

    I just finished setting up my tent at the HD in Minot--Why not Minot? Freezin's the reason!--and it has just begun to sprinkle. Whew! It's a doozy of a storm front coming, and I was worried I wouldn't get set up in time, but I did. Yay!

    I forgot how much of nothing there is in ND. With very few stops, I made a lot of miles. I hope to do the same tomorrow. Maybe I'll do a Saddlesore 1000? Maybe.

    Out. ✌️

    Miles: 910.4 😁    En savoir plus

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  • Nancy Webb...Pat Bonetar2024 VROOM VROOMNancy Webb...Pat Bonetar

    Day 10: Making Miles in Montana

    6 juillet 2024, États Unis ⋅ ⛅ 61 °F

    I survived last night's storm, barely. I thought I or the bike was going to be struck by lightning. The thunder was so close that it shook my internal organs. It was pretty scary and earned a few squeaks out of me 🤣.

    My last stop in North Dakota was Williston, where I was grabbing a dealership and a Doughboy before tearing into Montana. No HD anymore. Black Magic is gone 😞. They were great. But I did get to stop outside of Doc Holliday's Roadhouse. I ate there last time 😋. Yum!

    I'm finally done with Minnesota and North Dakota. Now that I'm in Montana, the speed limits are higher and the cops will give you at least 8 over--as I proved three times today--so I'm making much better time.

    On the 300-mile stretch across the top of the state, I just managed to skirt a major storm cell. It was black sky and popping lightning, and I would guess there was hail in it. I forgot about the speed limit and pushed hard to get past it. I still got a bit wet, but just missed the deluge. I've had enough lightning for a while.

    Everything up here has babies. A few days ago I dodged a duck hen waddling her ducklings across the four-lane highway. I hope they made it. Another time there were pheasant chicks at the edge of the road. The teeny tiny cow calves are so cute, all curled up in the grass together under the watchful eye of whichever cow is charged with babysitting that day. But the absolute most adorable babies I've seen were the pronghorn antelope. A small herd of does and calves were just off the road. No pics, but OMG so cute!

    I'm beat. Out. ✌️

    Miles: 939.5    En savoir plus

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  • Nancy Webb...Pat Bonetar2024 VROOM VROOMNancy Webb...Pat Bonetar

    Day 11: Broken Down in Bozeman

    7 juillet 2024, États Unis ⋅ ☀️ 72 °F

    Well, I began today at 0630 with great weather, a bit chilly but not a cloud in the sky 🌞.

    I left Billings headed east on I-90 to Little Bighorn Battlefield National Monument where I grabbed my fifth of HOG's 10 Rides for 2024. 🖐️😁

    Then I backtracked past Billings to Yellowstone HD in Belgrade, just west of Bozeman. As I was exiting the interstate, my warning light came on and I lost power to my GPS mount. I went to the dealership, took my photo, and did my check-in. Then I turned off the bike to see which diagnostic codes were showing. I had one BCM code that was for high voltage. I made note of it with the mileage thinking I'd get it looked at Tuesday when I expected to get my next service. Then I got ready to go and turned the bike back on. Silence 😳.

    The instruments lit up, but nothing else happened 😞. I couldn't get her to even think about starting 😭. Did I mention it's Sunday today? The dealership doesn't open until Tuesday 😡. Trying not to get 🤬, I unloaded her, pushed her into a parking spot by the service entrance, and called a friend from Ohio who I thought might be in the area. He was, and 30 minutes later he was taking me to lunch.

    I still made 300 miles today, but only got two picture stops knocked out. Two steps forward, one step back 😞. I am super thankful for my friend, though, and very lucky to breakdown in perhaps the very best place you can: the parking lot of a Harley dealership.

    I'm happy to be in a hotel, but frustrated to be at a standstill for at least two days. Fingers crossed they can get me fixed up first thing Tuesday morning ✌️.

    Miles: 300.5 😞    En savoir plus

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  • Nancy Webb...Pat Bonetar2024 VROOM VROOMNancy Webb...Pat Bonetar

    Day 12: Make The Most Of It

    8 juillet 2024, États Unis ⋅ ☀️ 82 °F

    With the bike waiting for HD to open tomorrow, my friend Friend Rob from Ohio picked me up at my hotel around 0700. He was supposed to leave this morning on his own bike ride out to the Oregon coast, but stayed in town to keep me company 😊. We drove the 90 miles or so down to Yellowstone National Park where I saw, for the first time, Old Faithful 😁. He also stopped so I could walk to the overlook of the Grand Prismatic Spring 😲. How magical, like out of Middle Earth! I was very lucky to have broken down here. What a great day!!

    ✌️

    Miles: 0 😭    En savoir plus

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  • Nancy Webb...Pat Bonetar2024 VROOM VROOMNancy Webb...Pat Bonetar

    Day 13: Rolling Again!

    9 juillet 2024, États Unis ⋅ 🌙 82 °F

    Yellowstone replaced my voltage regulator under warranty and had me rolling in 2 hours!

    I left the hotel at 1100 and had a great day on some great roads despite the 100°F temperature 🥵🥵🥵.

    I made my first stops at the Pacific Northwest Grand Tour, collecting all 3 Montana stops and 2 more near Lake Coeur d'Alene. 😁

    I used to live in Spokane, and I always enjoy coming back to this area. I'm camping at Lone Wolf HD tonight 🤫. Thankfully the temperature has settled down to 77, which is very nice because the humidity is so low here.

    I'm so happy to be rolling again, but now it's time for bed.

    ✌️

    Miles: 663.0    En savoir plus

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  • Nancy Webb...Pat Bonetar2024 VROOM VROOMNancy Webb...Pat Bonetar

    Day 14: 🎶Doe, a deer, a female deer 🎶

    10 juillet 2024, États Unis ⋅ 🌙 77 °F

    Another great day except for the animals and the heat.

    Twice today a doe and spotted fawn(s) were in my lane as I came around a bend. One even had two fawns and was nursing in the road! A third fawn got a scare when I used my horn to get it off the road. I really hope mama was nearby.

    There were several fawns hit by cars 😭, but luckily I only hit a bird 😞. I felt it hit my left foot, and when I looked down, it was caught on my shifter. A robin, I think. Poor guy.

    The weather got really hot really fast. It was over 100°F most of the day 🥵, which seemed appropriate for a run in Hell's Canyon when I got my sixth of the 10 Rides for 2024 😁.

    At 1845 in Walla Walla it was still 101, and an hour later it was 104! I ditched my leathers this morning. Each gas stop I would go to the bathroom and soak my shirt in the sink. Wearing it under my jacket makes it like a swamp cooler. It dries very quickly, but it works for me.

    I have service in the morning, so I'm camped here at Apple State HD. Well, I'm camped outside their fence by the dumpsters actually 🤣. Fingers crossed no bears or, even worse, a pack of dogs comes to visit 🤞.

    Out. ✌️

    Miles: 706.3    En savoir plus

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  • Nancy Webb...Pat Bonetar2024 VROOM VROOMNancy Webb...Pat Bonetar

    Day 15: Service Again

    11 juillet 2024, États Unis ⋅ 🌙 79 °F

    Good news! No bears or dogs visited me last night 😉. So I was rested and up at 0500. I wanted to get one of my pictures before my service appointment at 0900, so by 0545 I was rolling west towards Mount Rainier.

    60 miles later, I was taking the photo with half frozen hands. I was still dressed for 100°F weather, not 50° with lower wind chill 🥶. Anyway, I survived the cold and made it back to Apple State HD around 0815.

    One thing I didn't mention yesterday, and it happened again this morning. You know you're in some crazy weather when it's 100°F and you pass a snow plow 🤯.

    This morning was also a good day to see animals, living ones. The first was a herd of big horn sheep crossing the road. Then I went though about 30 elk about 3 miles from the photo stop...which meant I had to go back through them on the way out 🤣. They pretty much just looked at me.

    HD finished up my service around 1130, so the rest of the day was a physical and mental fight against heat, dehydration, twisty roads, and exhaustion. I had a really rough time starting about 1500, having to stop a lot, chew caffeinated gum, and drink Gatorade and water. I never got enough liquid in me, and by 1900 I was done for the day.

    My last photo stop was in the town of Okanogan, and my next one is at the other side of North Cascades National Park. No way was I going through those twisty roads this tired and in the dusk/dark. So I set up camp at the American Legion Park in town. There's not much breeze, but at least it's cooled off some. And there are toilets here! 😁!

    Out ✌️

    Miles: 506.3    En savoir plus

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  • Nancy Webb...Pat Bonetar2024 VROOM VROOMNancy Webb...Pat Bonetar

    Day 16: Broken Down Again

    12 juillet 2024, États Unis ⋅ ☀️ 91 °F

    Everything was going so well this morning. I left Okanagon before 0600, heading west on WA20 down the North Cascades Scenic Highway. A beautiful, cool, clear morning with only a couple of skittery deer and a few suicidal chipmunks.

    13 miles after passing through the lovely little tourist trap town on Winthrop, my bright lights suddenly came on of their own accord and wouldn't turn off. 2 miles later they turned off, then the entire bike turned off. I drifted over onto the shoulder (paved, luckily) and brought her to a stop. No one was around, so no problem. But no power when I switched her back on, and no cell service. I waited a few minutes, but still nothing. So I called 9-1-1, my only option. After a transfer to the State Patrol, and just as the dispatcher was about to send me a tow truck, the bike came back on. And even better, started up.

    I jumped on her and made my way 15 miles back to Winthrop. I parked, called my roadside assistance, got a coffee, and waited. I honestly wish I could say it went that smoothly, but if any of you have ever dealt with Agero, with their stranglehold monopoly on roadside assistance, knows it Absolutely. Did. Not.

    After several hours and numerous transfers back and forth between Agero and Progressive, I finally got an answer that they could not find me a service provider, and they said I could find my own. I said 🖕--pronounced Thank You--and did.

    So, in the morning I'll get a $1700 lift on a rollback [I remembered the name 😉] to the closest Harley dealership, which is 150 miles and 3 hours away in Marysville, WA near Seattle. In the meantime, I found a bed in a hostel for the night. A really nice, very new place with great aircon! Better yet: $35 a night and reimbursable! Winning while I'm losing 🤣😭.

    Now, I'm sitting in Three Fingered Jacks drinking my first of probably several beers 🍺. Have one with me 🍻 and wish me luck 🤞! (I seem to be asking you for that a lot lately, sorry and thanks.)

    Out ✌️.

    Miles: Ugh probably 60, but 30 of that was down and back 😭. I didn't even make it to a photo stop.

    P.S.: I was working on the laptop at the hostel While I waited for my bunk to be readied. While uploading my completed stops, I realized I missed one of the Idaho Tour of Honor locations 😭😭😭. The heat was frying my GPS. I had to go into the gas station and put it in the freezer for a while to get it to work again, but it affected my routes more than I thought. I would insert the poop emoji here, but they only have one with a smiley face, and I'm not smiling. Poopy pooping poop.    En savoir plus

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  • Nancy Webb...Pat Bonetar2024 VROOM VROOMNancy Webb...Pat Bonetar

    Day 17: Rolling Again!

    13 juillet 2024, États Unis ⋅ 🌙 66 °F

    The rollback tow truck picked me up at 0630. Jose was awesome and we had a nice chat during the 3.5-hour, 150-miles drive to Sound HD on the other side of the Cascades.

    Once at HD, Zack the service manager started on my bike. He updated me as he went, but the only electrical anything he could find wrong was something loose or or around the battery, like the post or something. So, I am very pleased to announce that Luci is back to 100% and we're on the road again 😁.

    Best of all, despite it having had four services (which are supposed to include inspections) and three clutch adjustments (you'd think they would have looked at the cable), it turns out that the clutch cable connector, the little silver screw part that connected it to the top of the extension piece, was BROKEN. Zack replaced the cable and extension with a cable from a Heritage, which is a little too long, but now I don't have the extension.

    An overall win (provided I get reimbursed for the $1900 tow 😳).

    I rolled out at 1530 and headed north to Mt Baker for a PNW Grand Tour pic, then up to Blaine in the very northwest corner for a Tour of Honor pic. After those stops, I decided to come back to the Sound HD area to get a hotel room.

    My insurance roadside assistance covers trip interruption, which includes lodging and food. So, after checking in, I uploaded all my receipts and am hoping I'll get at least most of it reimbursed, if not all of it. Again, fingers crossed for me 🤞🤞🤞.

    Tomorrow we hit the road hard again, so out for now ✌️.

    Miles: 252.5    En savoir plus

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  • Nancy Webb...Pat Bonetar2024 VROOM VROOMNancy Webb...Pat Bonetar

    Day 18: Big Day

    14 juillet 2024, États Unis ⋅ 🌙 68 °F

    Today was terrific!!

    First, I finished all of my Doughboys and Gold Star Family Tour of Honor stops, 50 each! I only need 2 veterans cemeteries and the remaining Madonnas of the Trail to be completely finished! Yay!

    Second, I got my 8th of 9 stops for Iron Butt Association's Lap of the 48!!! I made it all the way out to Neah Bay, Washington 😳. One way in, same way out, on a terribly misshapen road. The pavement was in great condition, no potholes or many road snakes (tar strips), but the slides and slips have lifted, twisted, and bent it all out of whack. Exhausting.

    My other stops were mostly for the PNW Grand Tour. I've already been to enough of the 30 stops to qualify as a finisher, but I'm trying to get them all to be a grand finisher or something like that. Go big or go home 🤣.

    I'm in my tent again tonight, this time at Paradise HD in Portland (Tigard) 🤫. I should be in NorCal big trees tomorrow, which I adore 😁.

    Out. ✌️

    Miles: 769.7

    P.S.: Luci is doing great 👍.    En savoir plus

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  • Nancy Webb...Pat Bonetar2024 VROOM VROOMNancy Webb...Pat Bonetar

    Day 19: Cold and Hot and Cold Again

    15 juillet 2024, États Unis ⋅ ⛅ 54 °F

    This morning began like usual with me breaking camp as fast as I can after my 0500 alarm goes off. I'm usually rolling before 0545, but this morning took a bit longer because it was only 50°F when I woke up shivering 🥶. After semi-donning all my heated gear including the insoles, I finally hit the road to the nearest gas station. I say semi-donning because I only put everything on enough to get me to the nearest bathroom (gas station) where I then have to take everything off 🤣.

    No other issues today except around 1100, it hit over 90°F, so all my heated gear came off. But by 1730, I was back on the coast and it had dropped to the low 50s again. With the mist and the cold, I opted for a hotel in Eureka. By sheer luck it just happens to be one of my favorite hotels anywhere: Best Western Plus Humboldt Bay Inn 😁.

    I just got out of the giant Jacuzzi with a waterfall. It's cold out and I'm barefoot because I'm not unpacking my flipflops. Oh, and I didn't bring my swimsuit, so everyone got a good look at my bike shorts and sports bra 🤣. I just hope they dry before morning . Dang, if I had worn my socks it could have been a laundry day 🤣. Well, maybe not. I really don't want to get barred from this awesome place.

    Okay, I'm out so I don't get sick (maybe sicker?). ✌️

    Miles: 638.7

    P.S.: Oh! I finished my Doughboys today and only need one more cemetery!! 💪    En savoir plus

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  • Nancy Webb...Pat Bonetar2024 VROOM VROOMNancy Webb...Pat Bonetar

    Day 20: Back In Oregon

    16 juillet 2024, États Unis ⋅ ☁️ 77 °F

    I slept sooooo well last night in Eureka at my favorite hotel. I was gone before 0630--breakfast wasn't until 0600--and at my first stop in Ferndale by 0700.

    Ferndale, California, is a quirky little place noted for its antiques and gorgeous gingerbread homes made from the giant sequoias in the now protected Redwood Forest. Many of the homes still have the original wood because the redwood withstands the moisture. The town is definitely worth a visit if you're in the Redwoods.
    (https://maps.app.goo.gl/1MVLS8DQpJrikrqt6)

    By the time I got to Ferndale, I was very cold again. My heated gear jacket and gloves stopped working late yesterday, but I think the problem is really with the jack that connects to the battery. Maybe it came loose during those other issues.

    I'm trying to get to a Cycle Gear that has the wall plug so I can test the gear out. My jacket is still under warranty. I got to a store today, but he didn't have the wall plug. He did have the waterproof backpack I keep my camping gear in. I just bought it in March and in April the zipper busted on the front. Again, it's under warranty, so now I have a brand new waterproof bag.

    Back to being cold. And damp from the misty fog. I was tired enough of the weather on the coast to cut out three Harley dealerships. I would have had to ride an hour further south down the coast to get to the first one, and I was ready to go inland. So I headed back through Eureka and then East towards Redding.

    After the Cycle Gear and HD in Redding, I headed even further East to the North end of Lassen Volcanic National Park, but just to the sign for the photo. It's a beautiful ride through the park, but I was headed North on California 89.

    That popped me out on I-5 just south of Weed, California. Yes, they do all the puns and there is a dispensary every 50 feet 🤣. I filled up there and had some lunch, then rolled out about 1530. What a crazy rest of the day it turned out to be.

    I only made maybe 15 miles north on I-5 before I hit twisty roads forever and ever. I am exhausted. Very slow going on steep, switchback, no guard rails, partially gravel, desolate roads for hours.

    In fact, I rode 4.5 hours and 215 miles from Weed, CA to Grants Pass, OR, before my low fuel light came on, which meant I still had 1 gallon left in a 5-gallon tank 😳. Other than 3 photo stops and one hop off to ask if the road was paved (most of it was 🤣), I was in the seat the whole time. It may be iron, but my butt actually hurts 🤣.

    Did I say I was exhausted? I'm camped at D&S HD 🤫. Out. ✌️.

    Miles: 624.7    En savoir plus

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  • Nancy Webb...Pat Bonetar2024 VROOM VROOMNancy Webb...Pat Bonetar

    Day 21: Three Weeks In

    17 juillet 2024, États Unis ⋅ 🌙 72 °F

    Well, Day 21 has passed. Right now I'm camped at Cutsforth Campground near Heppner, OR. Yes, I'm still in Oregon 🤦. I've had a shower, changed most of my clothes (only the one pair of jeans), and set two alarms just in case I sleep too well.

    Today was the closest I've come to quitting these challenges and just going straight to Texas. Here's a very short summary because I'm too exhausted to elaborate. Plus, I've complained so much lately that I feel like I'm starting to whine. And we all know that there is NO WHINING allowed in motorcycling. Here goes:

    1. A semi pulled straight into me forcing me into the shoulder to avoid him and he didn't even move back over when he saw me.

    2. Another 100°F+ day in Oregon 🥵, which put me almost to sleep until I hit a turn way too fast. I had gone about 10 miles with no recollection of it 😳. I stopped in the next town to take a nap in the shade.

    3. A river rafting guy backed his trailer into the bike while I was parked 🤬🤬🤬. I didn't get my nap 😭. It crunched the fairing, but I'm pretty sure it's purely cosmetic, so there's that at least.

    4. I hit an 8.7-mile stretch of gravel road this evening, which exhausted me even more 😔.

    All of this is why, after dodging a few deer and at 2000 in the middle of nowhere Oregon (did I mention that I'm still in Oregon? 🤦), I did a u-turn when I saw this campground.

    But I did finish my veteran cemeteries photos today 💪, I had a lovely view of the Columbia River 📸, and I met Don and Kathy the campground hosts. This is really a nice place and they were über helpful with making sure I wasn't going to ride through any active forest fires tomorrow.

    As I lay here, I'm not sure if it was a bad day or a good day. Maybe it was just one of MY days. I do know, though, that things could be much worse, and I'm very glad they aren't.

    Thanks for your 🤞 and keep them coming, please! I'm using them up! 🤣

    Out .✌️

    Miles: 559.5    En savoir plus

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  • Nancy Webb...Pat Bonetar2024 VROOM VROOMNancy Webb...Pat Bonetar

    The End (For Now)

    18 juillet 2024, États Unis ⋅ ☀️ 95 °F

    I am very sad to say that my whirlwind tour of the Pacific Northwest has come to an end. After having more electrical issues this morning in the middle of nowhere Oregon (bike started and runs fine), I have made it back to civilization (I-84) and have reluctantly decided to head to Texas for extensive service.

    These 21 days have been very successful despite some setbacks. I am very happy that I completed all of my goals except the last 5 stops for the PNW Grand Tour. A summary of my trip stats is below, and I expect to get a few more HDs and maybe a TOH state stop or two on the way back to Texas.

    Out for now.

    Trip: 12,453.5 miles total
    - Daily average: 566 miles (goal was 550)
    - Two break downs with one tow
    - Two scheduled services

    Lodging: 20 nights
    - 12 nights freecamping
    - 8 nights paid lodging for total cost of $851.17

    PNW Grand Tour 83%: Total 25 of 30 (8 WA, 7 OR, 4 ID, 3 MT, 3 CA)

    Lap of the 48 100%: Sault St Marie MI, Warroad MN, and Neah Bay WA

    Harley Dealerships 100%: 90

    HOG's 10 Rides for 2024 100%: SD, WY, and OR

    Tour of Honor 100%:
    - States Completed: Michigan, Minnesota, Montana, Oregon, Washington, and Wisconsin
    - Other State Stops: SD 3; ND 4; IN 4; ID 3; IA 2
    - Additional Rides:
    1) Searching for the Lost Generation (Doughboys): 14 for a total of 50
    2) Gold Star Family Memorials: 6 for a total of 50
    3) Veterans Cemeteries: 10 for a total of 50    En savoir plus

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  • Nancy Webb...Pat Bonetar2024 VROOM VROOMNancy Webb...Pat Bonetar

    IYKYK...On The Road With Michael

    19 août 2024, États Unis ⋅ ☁️ 75 °F

    Sorry I've been away for so long, but here's a quick recap of the past month.

    I rode Luci the El Diablo back to Texas and put her in the shop to figure out the electrical issues. Then I bought a 2020 Road Glide Limited FLTRK and named him Michael the Archangel to balance out my little devil.

    I left her in Texas and rode Michael back to Kentucky. I'm really loving the tour pack.

    On 10 August, I left Kentucky headed for Maine to get my final Lap Of The 48 picture, then meet up with 250 other HOG riders in New Hampshire for the East Meets West Posse Ride. Our final destination is San Diego on Labor Day 😁.

    Michael has been great and I'm really loving the tour pack (did I say that before?) 🤣.

    ✌️    En savoir plus

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  • Nancy Webb...Pat Bonetar2024 VROOM VROOMNancy Webb...Pat Bonetar

    My Ride is Almost Over

    2 octobre 2024, États Unis ⋅ 🌙 63 °F

    Although I haven't quite finished my riding season, I have already accomplished a couple of my goals and am quite close to wrapping up the rest of them.

    One very important goal was to complete the Iron Butt Lap of the 48 (https://www.ironbutt.com/themerides/rat48/). I did, but it took two Harleys and 5 months to make it to all nine stops 🤣. My certificate says I am the first person to accomplish this ride. I guess everyone else does the RAT48.

    Another goal was to complete the Pacific Northwest Grand Tour. I ended as a Finisher with 25 of the 30 stops (8 WA, 7 OR, 4 ID, 3 MT, 3 CA) (https://pnwgrandtour.com/). That 21-day trip covered 12,500 miles and cost me two scheduled services, two break-downs (not the nervous type although it was touch-and-go for a few days), and one tow before I had to give up on the El Diablo and head back to Texas. Still, mission accomplished.

    In June, I flew to Alaska and completed Harley's 50 Rides, 1 Nation Challenge, albeit in a car, and grabbed one of the 10 Rides for 2024. I only have 9 of the 10 so far, but will pick up the last one during HOG's upcoming Texas Independence Rally in a couple of weeks. This will be my fourth year in a row to complete the 10 Rides annual challenge 😁.

    When I get that last 10 Rides photo, I will also be finished or very nearly so with the Motorcycle Grand Tour of Texas's 50 stops for the year (https://motorcyclegrandtouroftexas.com/). 🤞 This will make my fourth year in a row for that challenge as well . As of today, I am already a Finisher with 30 stops, but I want all 50, naturally.

    My next goal was to "do well" on the Tour of Honor (https://www.tourofhonor.com/index.html). This was my first year and I wasn't quite sure what to expect, but I met my two personal challenges of:
    1) Make at least 50 stops in the 6 Additional Rides as well as visit all 12 Madonnas (https://www.tourofhonor.com/pages/extremerides.…) [I finished the Madonnas during HOG's East Meets West Posse Ride]; and
    2) Visit as many 2024 State Memorials as possible [I have one more in Texas I want to get to finish the state]. I'm no longer in first place, but am still hanging on to third right now (https://www.tourofhonor.com/pages/totalvisits20…). I truly enjoyed this event/challenge because of the out of the way locations it took me to and the respect I could pay along the way. Here are my personal achievements:
    https://www.tourofhonor.com/pages/ridersummary2…

    And finally, there's my goal to win Harley's Dealership Check-In Challenge. I have placed second in the nation for three years running and really, really want to break that streak with a big fat First Place 🤣. As of today, I have 380 total dealership visits. I still have a few more up my sleeve, but I'm hoping this will be enough . Wish me luck🤞!

    And with that, my friends, I wish you a wonderful Fall and a bloody awful Halloween 😉.

    Until next time ✌️!

    Spotwalla:
    Part 1: https://spotwalla.com/trip/f0bc-3a6d752-34a2/view
    Part 2: https://spotwalla.com/trip/728b-3d6b152-794e/view
    Part 3: https://spotwalla.com/trip/c6af-260ca92-a7fd/view    En savoir plus

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  • Nancy Webb...Pat Bonetar2024 VROOM VROOMNancy Webb...Pat Bonetar
    1

    One Last Loop...

    11 octobre 2024, États Unis ⋅ ⛅ 88 °F

    Yesterday morning about 05:00 I left on a 1200-mile loop in Texas to pick up more Motorcycle Grand Tour of Texas stops, Harley dealerships, and one last Tour of Honor stop.

    My final Tour of Honor stop was definitely honorable as it was the Buffalo Soldier Memorial in San Angelo. My final stats for the TOH are:

    - State Memorials: 151 in 37 states (completed AL, AR, FL, LA, MI, MN, MS, MT, OR, TX, WA, and WI)
    - 9/11 Memorials: 69 (goal 50)
    - K9 Memorials: 51 (goal 50)
    - Doughboy Memorials: 50 (goal 50)
    - Gold Star Family Memorials: 50 (goal 50)
    - Hueys: 51 (goal 50)
    - Madonnas of the Trail: 12 (goal all 12)
    - Veteran Cemeteries: 51 (goal 50)

    Additionally, I unintentionally completed their Four Corners ride by making at least one stop in CA, WA, ME, and FL. Sweet as!!

    The MCGTTX stops took me to a fantastic Davey Crockett mural, the Geographic Center of Texas, an old Sinclair gas station, a newly built courthouse (the old one burned down), the Presidio de San Saba, and one of my favorites: the San Jacinto Battleground memorial. Too bad the park was closed, but I was trying (unsuccessfully) to beat Houston's rush hour traffic.

    Houston never fails to live up to my expectations. The hotel shower water came out brown and never got even close to warm. Meth head drivers are everywhere in every lane (mostly straddling the lines actually), and the road surfaces are total 💩 (but not with a smiley face 🤬). I'm hoping I won't have to go there again for a very long time. Oh, and the HD of Kingwood is permanently closed, BTW.

    Despite him being huge and me running his brights 24/7, Michael and I had a lot of near misses, but only one play on a contact sport today. One of those meth heads in a beat to shit, bright yellow Mustang convertible with a shattered windshield tore out of a gas station and crossed 5 lanes of traffic to get into my lane...which I was using. Her front left touched my right highway peg, but only enough to bend it up as it would normally bend. I didn't even realize she had actually hit me until later. I didn't feel any impact, but I remember my right leg trying to get on the left side of the bike 🤣. With a tall curb on my left I had nowhere to escape. So I'm glad she heard my horn (maybe?) or saw me (maybe?) before coming any farther over. The prison-tatted, bone-thin bitch wouldn't even look at me when she had to stop right by me at the next light. She was too busy writing in a spiral notebook. Probably trying to calculate when she would come down so she'd be ready with another hit. She was SO busy writing, in fact, that when her protected left turned green, she didn't go despite being in such a hurry. Fucking idiot.

    If it's not paranoia when everyone really is out to get you, then it's not road rage if everyone driving around you is trying to kill you, right? Right. 🤣

    Anyway, Michael and I are safely back. He's cooling down in the garage while I've already showered off the 95°F "fall weather" and opened an adult beverage 😁. 

    One more HOH rally and that will be a wrap on my 2024 VROOM VROOM. I'll post again in about a week or so. Until then ✌️.    En savoir plus

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  • Nancy Webb...Pat Bonetar2024 VROOM VROOMNancy Webb...Pat Bonetar
    Only 6 people earned this award 😲

    That's All, Folks

    1 décembre 2024, États Unis ⋅ ☀️ 30 °F

    My riding season has officially come to a close. The bikes, Luci and Michael, are already safely tucked away out of the weather and appreciative of a long recuperation. Meanwhile, I'm settling into the Northern Kentucky area for winter...although since today is the second straight day of below freezing temperatures, I am questioning my decision to live here 🤣.

    If you just want my stats, scroll to the bottom. What follows next is a recap of my season. Brief for me; probably not so brief for you 🤣.

    I had an incredible adventure this year. I left Cincinnati on 26 February bound for the San Francisco area. After getting snowed in both in Amarillo and north of Las Vegas, it was wonderful to arrive in sunny Cali, where I made my first Babes' Ride Out, then tootled around for about a month.

    On 29 March I attended the Spring Heat in Arizona HOG Touring Rally, which wasn't hot but did end in Phoenix. I didn't stay for Arizona Bike Week, though, because I high-tailed it to Austin for the eclipse weekend. What a party!

    I left Austin on 8 April, making a 3,700-mile loop of Texas and Louisiana to get to Oklahoma on 4/20 day and Small Mountain Street Tacos's Annual Taco Run and Hoka Hey meetup. Yeehaw!

    By 26 April, I was in Key West for the Conch Republic Independence Celebration. Thanks to my awesome friends who saved me a seat on the boat, I got to participate in the Great Sea Battle reenactment in the harbor and the surrender ceremony at the bar. Hell yeah!

    I arrived in Pensacola on 15 May, where I met up with old friends for the 9-day Tour of Valor HOG Touring Rally that finished in DC. How freakin' cool that was! Here's a video about it: https://youtu.be/qZqNLcDMILg?si=EBK8G_m_sY-Qgbr2

    The day after the rally ended, I was headed further northeast, but I lost the belt on the bike and had to UHaul her back to Cincinnati. Once back, I decided to rent an apartment there and hung out until my partner and I flew to Anchorage for the Last Frontier HOG Regional Rally. We both picked up our Alaska 50 Rides, One Nation photo, which was #50 for me 👍. We also grabbed one of the 10 Rides for 2024 photos...which meant I had better get off my butt and get the other nine down in the Lower 48.

    On 27 June, just three days after we got back from the Great White North, I picked up the bike and took off an aggressive run to complete the Pacific Northwest Grand Tour. Planned for 18,000 miles over 40 days at most, I made it 12,000 miles in 22 days until the bike became too unreliable to continue.

    By 20 July, I was back in Dallas with Luci the El Diablo in the shop. Less than a week later, I was riding my first Road Glide, a 2020 Limited I named Michael (an angel to balance my devil). And by the beginning of August I had ridden him back in Cincinnati, leaving Luci in good hands at Texas HD.

    A little rest and laundry, then on 10 August my partner and I hit hit the road together bound for New Hampshire for the East Meets West HOG Touring Rally a.k.a. Posse Ride. We took a week to get there and enjoyed most of the ride. [My partner will never ride in NYC again 🤣.]

    The Posse Ride began on 19 August and took us through (in order) NH, VT, MA, CT, NY, PA, MD, WV, KY, IL, MO, KS, CO, TX, NM, and AZ before we arrived in San Diego for Labor Day. 2,200 miles to get to the start and 5,100 miles to get to the end. Then 3,000 more miles to get us back to Cincinnati. "Epic" just doesn't do it justice.

    We left SoCal on 4 September, stopping at Tombstone, El Paso, Big Bend National Park, San Antonio, Dallas, and Memphis before making it back. I took the next month off the bike to just not be on the bike 🤣. But I still had one bike in the shop in Dallas, so I had to keep going.

    Because I wasn't sure if Luci would be up for it, I towed Michael to Texas so I would have at least one bike to ride for the Texas Independence HOG Touring Rally. So on 10 October, Michael and I began our final stretch. Over the next nine days, I wrapped up my entire riding season, then towed both bikes back to Cincinnati.

    By the time I got home, I was exhausted, elated, appreciative, surprised, and proud to have accomplished almost all of my riding goals for the year.

    Here are the stats:

    - Total miles on the bikes: 54,149 (Wyoming and Nebraska were the only two Lower 48 states I didn't touch.)

    - Motorcycle Grand Tour of Texas: 50-Stop Finisher [50 of 50] (4th year in a row)
    - Pacific Northwest Grand Tour: Finisher [25 of 30 stops] (1st year)
    - HOG's 10 Rides for 2024: 10 of 10 (4th year in a row)
    - HOG's 50 Rides, One Nation: 50 of 50 (completed 2021-2024)
    - HD Dealership Check-In Challenge: 394 (Top 3 finishers will be announced next year 🤞)
    - Tour of Honor: Finished 2nd overall in total visits with 485, 10th overall in annual sites with 151, and Four Corners Ride Finisher (see pics and previous footprint)
    - Iron Butt Association Rides: Lap of the 48
    - Ride To Eat: Abandoned challenge after the first month or so

    Not too shabby. Not too shabby at all there, chica.

    So long, and thanks for all the fish! ✌️    En savoir plus

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    Fin du voyage
    1 décembre 2024