Summer on the Harley

A 198-day adventure by Nancy Webb...Pat Bonetar Read more

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Summer on the Harley Nancy Webb...Pat Bonetar
B2B Day 9 Glacier National Park
July 30, 2021 in the United States ⋅ ☀️ 73 °F
This morning, Lumpy, Ben, and I picked up Bob at his hotel, then went back to Bozeman to meet Denny. The five of us are riding with Bill, the Rally Coordinator, and Chris, the Regional Manager, just in case Ben, Lumpy, and Bob can't get through the Going to the Sun checkpoint. They weren't able to get a Timed Entry ticket. If some of us get in and some don't, then no one has to ride alone today. I think it's a great plan.

First, we stopped at the state capitol in Helena, which was quite pretty. Then it was onto the park via US Highway 89, a lonely, almost desolate stretch of road.

When we got to the checkpoint, Bill and Chris went ahead of us five. I then pulled up to present my ticket. When the attendant asked if the others also had tickets, I said, "Yes, we're on a Harley rally together along with the two guys just ahead of us." He said okay and we were all allowed in 😁. Yay!!

Off we all went, squiggling up steep, twisty turns and switchbacks to reach the Visitors Center at Logan Pass. Although not very high in elevation, it marks one spot along the western Continental Divide. The sign is Montana's 50 Rides 1 Nation location, and we're getting lots of photos for each other now. Another epic day!!!

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

Day 132 mileage: 282.1 (total 31845.0)Read more
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Summer on the Harley Nancy Webb...Pat Bonetar
B2B Day 10 Hello, Canada!
July 31, 2021 in the United States ⋅ ☀️ 88 °F
After Logan Pass, the seven of us made our way into West Glacier, where Bill and Chris split off to continue while we stopped for a quick bite of huckleberry ice cream, huckleberry pie, and huckleberry flavored coffee. I miss huckleberries.

The five of us eventually turned up I Kalispell for the night. There was a Mexican restaurant next door to our hotel, so Ben and I met Lumpy for dinner, then took a short walk to stretch our legs before crashing.

This morning is the big day! The five of us have ridden north from Kalispell to wave at the Canadian border, completing our Border to Border Posse Ride! We're not completely done with the rally however.

We picked up a couple of solo riders somewhere along the way, and we're now stopped in Thompson Falls for fuel. We're so close to the fires that we can see flames on the mountain side 😳, but the roads are open so we're pressing on to Missoula.

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

Day 133 mileage: Oops (total 31845.0 +)Read more
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Summer on the Harley Nancy Webb...Pat Bonetar
End of the Rally But Not the Ride
August 1, 2021 in the United States ⋅ ⛅ 79 °F
The last leg of the rally ended in Missoula, but we stopped for a late lunch at The Butcher's Nook in Plains. So delicious!!

We lost our two additional riders when we stopped, but the five of us rolled into Missoula like the badasses we felt we were. We rode nearly 3,000 miles over 9 days from the Mexican border with Texas through 5 states to the Canadian border with Montana. Whew!!

We ended the rally at Grizzly HD with a nice meal, a really nice finisher's t-shirt, and door prizes. It was truly and epic adventure with four terrific people. Thanks so very much for a great ride, Ben, Bob, Denny, and Lumpy!!! Remember, NO WHINING!!

Today, Ben, Lumpy, and I have ridden to the Lolo Pass Visitors Center to get Idaho's 50 Rides 1 Nation photo. It is really smokey here and there are fires everywhere. We can see the pinpoints of smoke coming out of the trees. A firefighter covered in soot even took our photo!

My final rally mileage: 2979.4 😱 😁

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

Day 133-134 mileage: 757.3 (total 32602.3)Read more
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Summer on the Harley Nancy Webb...Pat Bonetar
Dano's
August 2, 2021 in the United States ⋅ ⛅ 79 °F
I haven't posted since the Border to Border HOG Rally began. I will eventually go back and post daily synopses and photos, but for now, I'll just start here.

Today I'm catching up on adulting at my great friend's home in Montana. I met Dano in Germany, then we were in Ohio together. Its really great to see him again.

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

Day 135 mileage: x (total 32910.5)Read more
TravelerGood to c u again, we r in lockdown!
8/4/21Reply
Nancy Webb...Pat BonetarOh no! So sorry to hear that. Hope you stay safe and well. Hugs to you both.
8/6/21Reply
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Summer on the Harley Nancy Webb...Pat Bonetar
Little Bighorn Battlefield Natl Monument
August 3, 2021 in the United States ⋅ ⛅ 77 °F
Yesterday, Dano, Ben, and I rode towards Bozeman for a late lunch before heading into a canyon Dano wanted to show us. Unfortunately, by the time we finished lunch, a massive storm was rolling in on us, so we beelined back to Dano's house. We made it just before the pelting rain broke.

We spent the rest of the evening chatting and watching some TV. Ben and I enjoyed comparing the 1988 movie "Young Guns" to the museum we went through in Lincoln, NM, where the Lincoln County War took place. The movie is fairly accurate for a Hollywood production.

Ben and I left at 06:30 this morning ready for a very long day. We have already taken our photo at the Billings, MT, Harley dealership, and are now stopped at the Little Bighorn Battlefield National Monument. What an incredible place.

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

Day 136 mileage: 7.4 (total 32917.9)
[I have completely lost track of my dealership count. I'll pick it up again when I figure it out.]Read more
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Summer on the Harley Nancy Webb...Pat Bonetar
50,000-Mile Service
August 4, 2021 in the United States ⋅ ☀️ 79 °F
After Little Bighorn, Ben and I continued to Theodore Roosevelt National Park for North Dakota's 50 Rides 1 Nation photo. We stopped briefly in the Painted Canyon, which was beautiful but would have been stunning if the sun had been out. We then turned south to spend the night in Bowman, ND. It was a very long day with lots of very boring interstate miles.

We left the hotel at 06:30 again still heading south. The weather held for us as we.crossed into South Dakota, but the paved roads did not. We decided to take the dirt anyway, which stayed decent for the most part. The best part about the dirt, though, was seeing so many animals so close to the road. Pronghorns, mule deer, whitetail deer, turkeys, and hawks. Amazing.

After about 20 miles and crossing into Montana, we finally popped out on pavement before I ran out of gas. I had to fill up with 87 octane, but that's better than the alternative.

Once in Wyoming, we beelined for Devils Tower National Monument to take a photo for the 10 Rides for 2021. Then we beelined to Gillette, WY, where we're now stopped for service at Deluxe HD. Because of the Sturgis Rally, they can't do my full 50,000-mile service, but they'll get most of it done. I'll get the rest caught up on the next service.

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

Day 137 mileage: 581.4 (total 33499.3)
10 Rides for 2021: 1 (total 6)
50 Rides, 1 Nation: 1 (total 29)Read more
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Summer on the Harley Nancy Webb...Pat Bonetar
Sturgis 81st Anniversary
August 5, 2021 in the United States ⋅ ☀️ 86 °F
We made it to Sturgis!

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

Day 138 mileage: 373.9 (total 33873.2)
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Summer on the Harley Nancy Webb...Pat Bonetar
Badlands & Wall Drug
August 6, 2021 in the United States ⋅ ⛅ 81 °F
Yesterday we didn't do anything but watch some movies, which was a welcome day off.

This morning Ben and I are doing the Badlands Loop from Interior, SD, to Wall, SD. Although he's been to Sturgis before, he hasn't been out here, so it's been a nice morning watching his eyes pop and mouth drop when he sees the natural magnificence of the Badlands. We also saw a huge herd of Buffalo.

We're at Wall Drug now for lunch. Great day so far.

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

Day 139 mileage: 0 (total still 33873.2)
50 Rides, 1 Nation: 1 (total 30)Read more
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Summer on the Harley Nancy Webb...Pat Bonetar
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Iron Mountain Road
August 7, 2021 in the United States ⋅ ⛅ 77 °F
After Wall Drug yesterday, Ben and I met Dano at his campground and we rode down to Deadwood and up Spearfish Canyon. We stopped for a bite at Latchstring Restaurant in Savoy. Yummy food and great views.

Dano cut out when we got back to Sturgis, while Ben and I met up with four friends--Lumpy, George, Chris, and Tammy--at the karaoke place Oasis then One Eyed Jacks. We had a great time, so I left Willie parked in town and rode back with Ben.

Today, the six of us are making a loop and are now stopped in the middle of Iron Mountain Road. I love riding here!!

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

Day 140 mileage: 277.9 (total 34151.1)Read more
Traveler Great Pic, .....I miss Iron Mountain
8/9/21Reply
Traveler YAY ❗
8/13/21Reply
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Summer on the Harley Nancy Webb...Pat Bonetar
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Great Ride / Willie Towed! / Where Am I?
August 8, 2021 in the United States ⋅ ☀️ 91 °F
Yesterday was a fantastic ride! We finished Iron Mountain Road, then cut through Custer State Park. Then we turned up Needles Highway, which is just incredibly beautiful. George hasn't been here before, so it was a blast seeing his face when we stopped at the overlook just before threading the Eye of the Needle. We also stopped at Hole in the Wall, a small campsite and hiking area with an interesting cave. I thought it had something to do with Jesse James, and it does, just not this Hole in the Wall. That one is in Kaycee, WY. (More info: https://www.atlasobscura.com/places/hole-in-the…)

After those twisty roads and seeing some big horn sheep on the road, we stopped in Hill City for a late lunch. Then it was back north to Sturgis by way of Nemo and Vanocker Canyon Road, my favorite!! Broad, sweeping turns between vertical rock walls with pungent evergreens carpeting the canyon floor. It's the best.

We got into Sturgis and took George down Main Street where all the bikes park. With all the traffic, it's a pain on your clutch hand, but you have to do it at least once per rally 😉. I was planning to wave at Willie as we passed him--remember, I left my bike parked in town night before last--but when we got there, he was gone! As it turns out, I unknowingly parked in a zone that is no parking between 02:00 and 06:00, so he was towed 😳. I found him while the others took George to get his picture in front of the town sign. Ben took me to get Willie and helped me come up with the cash. Thank you!!!!

Anyway, crisis resolved fairly quickly, so Ben and I met the gang back in town for a surprise Sturgis Virgin ceremony for George consisting of a little spanking by scantily clad young women. He was a great sport 🤣🤣!! Ben and I had to cut out after that to pack and figure out our routes for today, so we said our goodbyes there.

We left the hotel at 10:00 this morning with Ben heading southwest back to California while Im heading due east towards Minnesota. I'm stopped somewhere in South Dakota hoping I can find gas stations every 100 miles.

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

Day 141 mileage: 30.0 (total 34181.1)Read more
Traveler Keeping you on the straight & narrow haha.
8/9/21Reply
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Summer on the Harley Nancy Webb...Pat Bonetar
Cows, Corn, Soy, and Sunflowers
August 9, 2021 in the United States ⋅ ⛅ 79 °F
So, South Dakota is pretty boring once you get away from the Black Hills and Badlands. It's just a lot of cows, corn, soy, and sunflowers with a tiny town by the side of the road every 50 miles or so. Same for Minnesota, at least so far.

Yesterday, I made it to Montevideo, MN, around 19:00. Not a long day, just a boring one.

I left this morning at 06:00 in very dense fog that didn't clear until 08:30 when I neared Minneapolis. I've just been hitting dealerships, but I saw a beautiful bald eagle soaring over me and an old covered bridge slowing collapsing by the side of the road.

Now I'm getting gas. Luckily, the Minnesota stations seem to all have 91 octane, unlike South Dakota's with only 87 at many. I had two fills with 87, but Willie chugged through it.

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

Day 142 mileage: 446.1 (total 34627.2)Read more
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Summer on the Harley Nancy Webb...Pat Bonetar
New States: Minnesota and Wisconsin
August 10, 2021 in the United States ⋅ ⛅ 75 °F
Yesterday was my longest day so far at 727.9 miles. I rode through Superior National Forest, which was a very lonely stretch of road. I hit Minnesota's 50 Rides 1 Nation stop at a lighthouse on Lake Superior. I also hit numerous dealerships; I've completely lost count.

I got to the hotel around 20:00 (14 hours on the bike 😳) and spent the night in Wisconsin to the east of St. Paul. I was rolling at a few minutes after 06:00 again this morning with another long day planned. Unfortunately, I've been in and out of rain gear already, and it looks like I'm going to hit some worse weather this afternoon, so I might cut the day short. Maybe 😉.

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

Day 143 mileage: 727.9 (total 35355.1)
50 Rides, 1 Nation: 1 (total 31)Read more
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Summer on the Harley Nancy Webb...Pat Bonetar
Iowa = More Corn
August 11, 2021 in the United States ⋅ 🌧 77 °F
Yesterday at 14:00 I stopped at a dealership hoping for a sofa. It was such a small place that they didn't have anything for tired riders. No chairs, coffee, or water. Just a toilet and 4 of those terrible wood chairs outside. So, I laid down on the sidewalk and promptly fell asleep. At 15:00 I got up, used their toilet, and went on my way. No one even acknowledged I was there 🤣.

I hit nasty weather all day, lightning and rain, so I was pretty beat by the time I rolled into Des Moines at 20:00. 13 hours on the bike, if you take off the hour I napped 😉. I hit 13 dealerships yesterday 😳, which is probably the most in one day so far. I really don't know any more.

I left Des Moines at 06:01 this morning. The Quality Inn actually had a hot breakfast of eggs and sausage. Not a sandwich to microwave, but real scrambled eggs and patty sausage. Nice start to the morning for a change.

Not long after I got going, I pulled over on the side of the road to watch a magnificent red orb begin to rise over the corn fields. I really don't like waking up before the sun, but getting to see the sunrise makes it tolerable. Sort of 😉. I couldn't help but think about my friend who suddenly passed away a few days ago from COVID 😢.

Iowa looks pretty much like Minnesota and Wisconsin, corn and soy fields with a few cows here and there. I saw a couple of pig farms--more like smelled them--but really it's just more corn.

Did you know there is a National Balloon Museum, as in hot air balloons? It's in Indianola, IA. Near Albia, IA, I stumbled upon the Welcome Home Soldier Monument and did a u-turn to take some pictures. Very peaceful. I also hit Iowa's 50 Rides 1 Nation location, the state's oldest courthouse (1840).

Now, I'm stopped at Sonic for a chicken sandwich, tater tots, and limeade. I hope that made you think of Ron White, but if not, then watch this: https://youtu.be/neUaSTSKFZc.

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

Day 144 mileage: 712.2 (total 36067.3)
50 Rides, 1 Nation: 1 (total 32)Read more
Traveler700 mile days! no need to kill yourself young lady...
8/13/21Reply
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Summer on the Harley Nancy Webb...Pat Bonetar
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No One Was Looking 🤫
August 12, 2021 in the United States ⋅ ☀️ 91 °F
Like yesterday's post, at 14:00 I had to take a nap, but this time it was on the carpet in the air conditioning at Clinton HD in an office converted into a waiting area with a couple of chairs and free coffee and water. They know how to take care of HOG riders in Clinton!

I crossed the Mississippi a couple of times between Iowa and Illinois. One time the train trestle running parallel to the highway was turned 90 degrees so a huge barge could pass underneath. Really cool. I also passed signs for the American Gothic House (https://americangothichouse.org/) and President Reagan's birthplace.

I kept rolling and got to the hotel in Decatur, IL, around 21:00. I didn't quite make Springfield, but it was definitely another very long day. I decided to have a nice lie in this morning and didn't leave until 08:00...which turned out for the best because I just missed a huge storm front that blew right up the highway from Springfield to Decatur. That one would have been bad.

Despite wet roads and road spray soaking my chaps, I made it to Springfield and beyond without any weather. I hit all the dealerships in the greater St. Louis area and am now at the top of the Arch viewing platform across the river. It's meant for people, but no one is here, so why not? 🤣🤣 Shhh, don't tell 🤫. BTW, this is one of the 10 Rides for 2021 😁. Only 3 to go!

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

Day 145 mileage: 643.9 (total 36711.2)
10 Rides for 2021: 1 (total 7)Read more
Traveler way to go
8/13/21Reply
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Summer on the Harley Nancy Webb...Pat Bonetar
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Willie is a Dirty Boy
August 13, 2021 in the United States ⋅ ⛅ 91 °F
Riding in 98°F in full leathers and a full-face helmet is horrible. Around 14:00 yesterday, instead of a nap, I took my daily 5-Hour Energy shot, ate a sandwich in the gas station's Beer Cave with a couple of bikers headed to Florida, and soaked my cool vest in water. (Thanks, Ben!) I didn't even wring out the vest much when I put it on, yet it was so hot that my soaked clothes barely held back the heat. Ugh. The vest and all of my clothes were completely dry by the time I got to my hotel.

The highlight of yesterday afternoon was my stop in Metropolis. Yes, Metropolis, Illinois. The town has a Superman statue in the center square, which is the photo stop for Illinois's 50 Rides 1 Nation. Bonus: It was a really nice back roads ride to get there.

Out of Metropolis, I took more back roads to cross the Mississippi River again into Cape Girardeau, Missouri. During a gas stop, Willie's check engine light came. I thought he was just got hot, but when I got to the Jonesboro HD around 20:00, I checked the error codes and found they were the same old false ones. So, we hit US 167 to get to Little Rock for the evening.

I didn't make it that far though before I started yawning. At 21:30 I stopped for gas in Searcy, Arkansas, and got a room across the street. Stopping in Searcy left just under 400 miles to get into Dallas, which would get me into the city traffic during lunchtime instead of the Friday evening rush hours. Once in the hotel, I used a wet washcloth to loosen up the coating of dead bugs on Willie's windscreen. What a mess! 🤣 Then I covered him up, took a shower, and instantly fell asleep.

My alarm went off at 05:00, but I must've hit off instead of snooze because I woke up at 06:00 🤣. No problem though. I uncovered Willie, cleaned off the remaining bug residue, and was on the road at 06:45. US 167 to I-30 and I got to my mother's home just a few minutes ago.

I off-loaded the bike and went straight to Texas HD across the highway, where they're going to service the neck bearings and forks--the two items from my 50,000-mile service that I couldn't get done in Gillette--and replace the rear tire (10,000) and front brake pads (25,000). This will be expensive. But it keeps Willie and I healthy and whole, so worth it.

I didn't realize how filthy he was until I parked him next to a bike that is literally the same color Wicked Red. Both the customers and staff were looking at me like I was crazy. 🤣🤣🤣

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

Day 146 mileage: 688.8 (total 37400.0)Read more
Traveler Willie has more stories ....... for sure
8/27/21Reply
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Summer on the Harley Nancy Webb...Pat Bonetar
Waiting For Willie
August 14, 2021 in the United States ⋅ ⛅ 90 °F
After I dropped off Willie at HD, I walked back to my mother's home. I was so tired that I ate, made the bed, and fell asleep around 19:00. I didn't wake up until 03:00 🤣🤣. But I didn't roll out of bed until 10:00, which was really nice.

Now, I'm just waiting for Harley to call to say Willie's ready to be picked up. Thankfully, the weather front has already moved through, so just a little road spray. I should take a picture of him before he gets dirty again just to prove that he does get cleaned every once in a while 🤣.

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

Day 147 mileage: 423.3 (total 37823.3)Read more
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Making Brownies
August 15, 2021 in the United States ⋅ ⛅ 81 °F
When I picked up Willie yesterday, I realized why the Service Technician asked if I was paying for this. Ugh. Over $2100 for everything.

After that I ran to the store for mom. You know, the staples: cookies, ice cream, butter, bananas.... 🤣 Now I'm making her brownies while she naps. Yes, I can cook. With instructions 😉.

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

Day 148 mileage: too few to count (total still 37823.3)Read more
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On The Road Again
August 16, 2021 in the United States ⋅ ☀️ 86 °F
The brownies were delicious!! Before I left mom's yesterday, I told her she couldn't eat the whole pan that day 🤣. The whole house.smelled like chocolate 😋.

I spent the night in Emory and left this morning for Durango, Colorado, and the Rocky Mountain HOG Rally. So far the day has been clear of rain, but the forecasts for Abilene, Lubbock, and Amarillo are calling for heavy rain. Fingers crossed I miss it 🤞.

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

Day 149 mileage: 122.1 (total 37945.4)Read more
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Lunch Stop
August 17, 2021 in the United States ⋅ ☀️ 79 °F
Well, I didn't miss the rain. It was terrible! I hit three significant waves of storm fronts yesterday afternoon: one north of Abilene, one east of Lubbock, and one north of Lubbock on my way to Amarillo.

The first one hit hard, so I slowed down to only 55-60 with my hazards on and promptly got blown across my grooved pavement lane by a semi going 80 mph. I hydroplaned, lost the rear tire traction, and felt the front begin to big-time wobble. I rolled off and pushed hard with both arms to keep the front wheel straight. I don't know what I did with the clutch, but the rear tire smoothly reconnected after what seemed like a very long time and I stayed upright. I really thought I was going down. That one was very scary. The second one was just some fat raindrops and road spray, but the last one was so heavy that by 19:30 it was pitch dark, so I stopped at a hotel in Plainview, TX, for the night.

I didn't go straight from Abilene to Amarillo because I was collecting four more stops on the Motorcycle Grand Tour of Texas: a giant arrow, a museum, a motorcycle gear store, and veterans memorial 😁.

The cotton is beginning to bloom now. Seeing the solid white fields just before they're harvested is quite interesting. And after the harvest there will be drifts of cotton like snow on the sides of the road where it has blown out of the trucks. If you've never seen it, add Lubbock, Texas, to your list. I believe the harvest is usually in September/October.

I left the hotel right at 06:00 this morning and it stayed dark until 07:30 because of the cloud cover. I only had one deer startle across the road, and it was close enough to engage the ABS. A beautiful and big 6- or possibly 8-point whitetail buck. Wow.

After my fifth and final photo stop for MCGTTX, I hit the road for a straight shot to Durango. I'm stopped for lunch just outside of Albuquerque now. Perfectly dry and cool day so far. Yay!

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

Day 150 mileage: 625.0 (total 38570.4)Read more
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55,000-Mile Service
August 18, 2021 in the United States ⋅ ⛅ 77 °F
Yesterday, I got to Durango without any significant issue and in great weather. I swung by the dealership to ask about doing my 55,000-mile service. They said to come back this morning.

After getting checked into my hotel--I got 5 nights for less than the price of 2 nights!--I plugged in my Chromecast and watched a movie while eating DoorDash Chinese. Winning!

This morning, I was up early and at the dealership at 08:15; they opened at 09:00. They rolled me in at 08:45 and by 10:45 they were done! Winning again!

Now, I'm back in my room eating leftovers and working on my routes. A nap may be in order at 14:00 😁.

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

Day 151 mileage: 635.0 (total 39205.4)Read more
Traveler He'll make it.
8/27/21Reply
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Summer on the Harley Nancy Webb...Pat Bonetar
Rocky Mountain HOG Rally
August 19, 2021 in the United States ⋅ ⛅ 68 °F
All I did yesterday was work on my remaining GPS routes. I had leftovers for dinner and went to bed at a sensible time.

I was up this morning around 08:00, which was silly since I didn't have to go anywhere. But my brain started up, so I began working on my photos from the Border to Border rally, uploading them into albums so the guys can download what they want. I'm also adding to this feed the daily posts I missed from 21-31 July.

Around 11:00, I rode to the nearby Holiday Inn to pick up my registration packet for the Rocky Mountain HOG Rally. I ran into Paul, one of three regional managers whom I met at the Kentucky rally. It's not his region, but he's filling in for Chris. It's nice to see him again.

After that I parked in downtown, grabbed some historical info from the Visitors Center, and am now having lunch at Seasons while I peruse. As I type this, I am looking outside. It is absolutely pouring. But a local couple is laughing about it and saying it will be sunny in 10 minutes 🤣.

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

Day 152 mileage: 12.1 🤣 (total 39217.5)Read more
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Steam Train to Silverton
August 20, 2021 in the United States ⋅ ☀️ 54 °F
Remember how it was pouring at lunch yesterday? Well, the couple was correct. Ten minutes later the sun was shining with fury. And me without my sunglasses.

I walked around Main Street for a while, checking out the bullet hole in the Diamond Belle Saloon from a gunfight way back when. Or so the story goes 😉. I also scoped out some other buildings from one of the handouts I picked up, then hopped on the bike to go back to the hotel. I was absolutely stuffed from lunch--calamari to start, a main course of pork loin with duck fat-fried potatoes and calabacitas, and creme brulee to finish--so by the time I got back to the hotel, I crashed hard. I woke up an hour or so later, goofed on my phone a while, then got up to go to the street party for the start of the rally.

For the rally of about 400 people, the city closed off 10th Street between Main and Narrow Gauge Avenue. There was a decent band, food, beverages, and a bike show. We also had a "Drunk Tricycle Race," which was pretty much a fustercluck but really funny (video attached). The goggles you must wear simulate a blood alcohol level of 0.15%, then teams of 4 ride the adult sized tricycle relay-style. Fustercluck 🤣.

I was chatting with people as they drifted around and ran into Wes whom I met at the Texas rally in April. We rode together for two days from Texas to Arkansas for the Ozarks rally, stopping at Oklahoma's 50 Rides 1 Nation location along the way. Great to see him again.

Perhaps the best part of the evening, though, was the brilliant rainbow and its distinct reflection directly over town, then the sunset behind the clouds in the opposite direction. Magnificent.

The mile-long walk back to the hotel was good for me, and I was ready to go to sleep so I could get up at 06:00 this morning.

When the alarm went off, I jumped up wide awake and got ready to walk back into town. First to eat breakfast at the best place, Durango Diner. Second to make my way to the train depot for my steam train ride to Silverton!

The train is so much fun and I'm having a great time chatting with my neighbors while gaping over the scenery. These pics don't do it justice. Tomorrow's post will have better pics from my real camera.

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

Day 153 mileage: 5.2 🤣 (total 39222.7)Read more
Traveler sun beams..... are nice.
8/27/21Reply
Traveler .....yea,... that's an Iron horse.....
8/27/21Reply
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Summer on the Harley Nancy Webb...Pat Bonetar
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Photos, Photos, Photos
August 21, 2021 in the United States ⋅ ☀️ 72 °F
Oh, I had soooo much fun yesterday! The steam engine dropped us off in Silverton, where I had a simple lunch of a grilled cheese sandwich and a cup of chili at Natalie's 1912 Restaurant. Then a quick stop at the Harley shop for poker chips since they didn't have them the last two times I was here. I also popped down to the Silverton Hardware store to get a roll of electrical tape, but I really just wanted to let the dog I saw in an advertisement. I got the tape, but very sadly the dog died a couple of weeks ago 😢.

Anyway, back to the train for the ride back to Durango, which was almost as awesome as the ride up to Silverton. We got back at 18:15, so I hightailed it from the depot at 5th and Main all the way up to 12th and 2nd. I grabbed a sandwich at a coffee shop on the way and got to the stoop of the old high school building at about 18:40. I had just enough time to scarf the sandwich before the Ghost Tour began at 19:00.

It was a nice, informational walk mostly down 3rd Street with the old homes. Neat stories. My favorite was Judge Turner's old house. There was a single jail cell on the lower level and the Judge's wife would make dinner for anyone who happened to be spending the night. Three hooligans were in residence one night, and she took them their meals, leaving them after tossing an additional log into the stove. Unfortunately, the log blocked the stove's flue and the three men suffocated in the cell. Over the past century, many people have reported seeing three shady characters hanging about the residence 👻👻👻.

John Wayne even saw one of the ghosts, a lady in a white nightgown sitting on the end of his bed in the now Rochester Hotel Room 204.

We finished at 20:30, and I walked back to my hotel. By the time I got back, my feet and left ankle were very sore. I estimate I walked well over 5 miles today, much further than I've done since breaking my foot and spraining my ankle in early May. Ouch. But I had a great time.

Today I'm working on my photos. I've caught up on my 21-31 July posts here, but I still need to add some photos to them. I need to get my routes finished and somewhat packed before the rally's closing ceremonies start at 16:00.

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

Day 154 mileage: 0 finally (total still 39222.7)Read more
Traveler How cool, glad you got to video it.
8/27/21Reply
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Summer on the Harley Nancy Webb...Pat Bonetar
Eastward-Bound
August 22, 2021 in the United States ⋅ ☀️ 93 °F
The rally ended yesterday evening at Durango Harley. There were some off-bike games, like tossing cheese puffs onto your partner's shaving cream covered shower cap, and I had a Texas Taco from the BBQ place next door. I took off back to the hotel around 19:00 to pack for today.

I left the hotel at 05:45 in the 52°F chill and took CO 160 east. After a glimpse of the huge moon setting behind the mountains, the sunrise began to come up in front of me. Like the Japanese Rising Sun, the brilliant orange was serrated by the mountain peaks causing it streak in the clear blue sky. Incredible.

It took four hours to reach Interstate 25, where I turned north to Pueblo and the last Colorado dealership 😁. Then I took US 50. Ugh. A straight flat line through eastern Colorado and Kansas. Nothing but crops and beef cattle. Boring. By 11:00 I was downing a 5-Hour Energy.

Now I'm stopped for gas. I believe it's 97°F, an increase of 45° since this morning. Ugh.

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

Day 155 mileage: 7.2 (total 39229.9)Read more
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Summer on the Harley Nancy Webb...Pat Bonetar
1 1
Still Heading East
August 23, 2021 in the United States ⋅ ☀️ 88 °F
Well, US 50 didn't get any better. It stayed flat and boring the whole way to Wichita, KS. I spent about 13 hours on the bike yesterday and may have done my highest mileage yet. I've lost track. This morning, however, I rolled 40,000 miles on my trip 😱😁.

I left the hotel at about 05:45, but forgot to change my GPS to Avoid Tolls. Since Kansas charges tolls on most of the interstates--how is it legal for a state to enforce tolls on a federal road?!--I wound up back-tracking several miles to go around I-35 🤬.

I planned the route to take KS 177 north to the Tallgrass Prairie National Preserve sign for Kansas' 50 Rides 1 Nation photo. They must have had a difficult time choosing this state's scenic ride. The only reason KS 177 is not the most boring road in the US is because it's the most interesting road in Kansas. It actually has a couple of turns in it and a few hills...um, a couple of bumps in the road that you can't quite see over. I can't wait to get out of this borrrrrring place.

Yay, now I'm in Missouri! Um, wait, that didn't come out right. Yay, I'm not in Kansas anymore!

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

Day 156 mileage: 753.0 (total 39982.9)
50 Rides, 1 Nation: 1 (total 34)

P.S.: During yesterday's borrrrrring ride across Kansas, I passed a wind farm that had no less than 300 huge turbines. The wind was about 20 mph straight out of the south, giving me a terrible crosswind, but the turbines should've been trying to lift Kansas off the ground. Instead, only about 30 were turning. What a horrible waste.Read more
Traveler Traveling by Full Moon I see ..... or it appears this way.
8/27/21Reply
Traveler 40 K ahead of the dawn. ......Nice.
8/27/21Reply
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