Portland Maine - Rest and Relaxation

Log Entry #12

Riding up from Connecticut to Maine on Saturday morning was beautiful.

Traffic was light and the fog lifted by 8:00 am.

Katherine and I arrived at are brunch date restaurant within 10 minutes of each other. Great coordination...

After 17 consecutive days of riding it was great to take a little break and do some sightseeing with Katherine!

Portland is a great town, abundant in great restaurants and awesome sight seeing opportunities!

Monday morning Katherine made her trek back to California and I continued Northeast into Canada heading for New Brunswick.

Tomorrow I head up to the Cabot Trail and explore Nova Scotia!

Great place for brunch in Portland Maine!

Katherine orders her usual corned beef hash and I ordered the french toast.

Great company - Great food!

We stayed here in Brunswick, about 20 miles North of Portland.

Sea Dog Brewing located in Brunswick!

Bridge at the Brunswick Dam.

We got a great tip for a local lobster restaurant from the friendly staff at the Patagonia  store in Portland!

Food was awesome!

Lobster is big business here in Main.

Fish is great as well!

The Portland Observatory has a cool story and played an important part of maritime logistics in the 1800's.

The Standard Baking Company is another well Known local spot in Portland.

The ferry fleet plays a big part in shuttling people, supplies and vehicles between the many islands in the region.

We took the Diamond Line Tour on Sunday afternoon.

The views from the boat were beautiful!

To your left, the smallest light house in Maine!

I reluctantly say goodbye to Katherine on Monday morning.

And hello to the Canadian highway!

Nine States in Two Days - Radar Love

Log Entry # 11

I feel like I am living the Golden Earing tune "Radar Love".

Last car to pass here I go!

Thought I'd have a better handle on time management now that I am retired but it seems I got into a schedule snafu that only throttle management will recover!

Put the hammer down and cover 9 states in two days!

That's what I'm talkin bout!

Met some cool people in the last two days and covered two awesome motorcycle museums.

Weathers been great, a little cool but no rain.

Meeting Katherine for breakfast tomorrow in Portland Maine!

AMA Hall of Fame Ohio - Museum #1

Let's try and find a place to park!

Three of my all time heroes!

You meet the nicest people on really fast Honda's!

I like this bike!

You meet the craziest people on Harley's!

Nuff said!

Nice lighting, could've used this setup the other night!

You meet the nicest people from Ohio!

John riding a BMW GS water boxer, Bill riding a 750 Honda Nighthawk and Richard the Brit on the Bonnie!

They are on a motorcycle/aircraft museum tour of which Ohio has two of the best!

Have fun guys!

Motorcycle Pedia New York- Museum #2

There is a complete collection of Indians here starting at 1901 through 1947!

They are beautiful!

I need one of these!

There are over 500 bikes here so plan on spending some time shopping around!

Sweet Sidehack Vespa!

Awesome color scheme.

I need on of these too!

Got to go now, but...

I'll be back!

Sturgis to Watertown SD - Minnesota, Wisconsin, Illinois and Indiana - "Expedite"

Log Entry #10

Monday morning the 24th I pulled up to Sturgis Motorsport for a tire repair right at the opening bell but was already late to the party.

Turns out another BMW rider was first in line for a new back tire as well.

Everything worked out great and I was able to meet some other travelers while waiting for the new tire.

I left Sturgis at around 11:00am and headed across SD to Watertown. 

Tuesday morning I was off to track my beginnings in the small South Dakota city I was born in and the tiny rural community I spent my first 4 and half years of life in.

I met two life long residents of the area who helped me piece things together enough to accomplish most of what I set out to do that morning.

Heritage research complete I booked out of SD through Minnesota and into Wisconsin were I stayed the night in West Salem just outside La Cross.

Wednesday morning I jetted across Wisconsin, Illinois and then into Indiana just shy of Indianapolis.

Tomorrow morning I ride into Pinkerton, OH to visit the AMA Hall of Fame Museum then head to Portland Maine to meet my better half, Katherine  on Saturday for a few days of R&R!

The other motorcycle shop in Sturgis!

Michael, Mr. Hitchcock and Wooly Bear are from Maine. 

They left there home in December and have been on an extended tour of the Western States since then!

They trail this sidecar rig behind their motor home.

The pooches are styling!

Harold and Lewis from Arlington Heights Illinois are rapping up there tour which went as far west as Idaho!

They were lucky and missed the smoke from the fires.

Harold was first in line for a new P-4 on his RT this morning.

Lewis rides a K-16 GTL.

New Rubber!

This bar in Sturgis is deserted now but two weeks ago it was jumping!

Not sure what the chain saw represents here in this fine metal art sculpture?

Born here May 7 1955.

Lived near here till 1959.

Then we headed West!

Grandparents laid to rest here in Bryant SD.

John and Maude McLain, my grandparents.

Very peaceful setting surrounded by corn and soybean fields.

There were many McLains here.

Airplane art is very popular around here!

Found this one as I entered Indiana.

Bye Bye Montana - Smoke to Rain

Log Entry #9

Saturday morning was overcast with strong wind but I was hoping to get into North Dakota without too much drama.

Plugged in the City of Spearfish South Dakota into my devil GPS machine and I was off.

Turns out my little magic box wanted to add some adventure to my journey!

Leaving Glascow heading south on the 24 instead of east on HWY 2 ran me along The Fort Peck Project, a mighty reservoir with the eastern arm that parallels the highway for about 80 miles.

Wind blowing west to east with gust to 35 mph mixed with steady rain made for some tough riding.

Add roadside tire repair in North Dakota with the wind howling and hail coming in sideways definitely rates as adventure!

Luckily I found a good spot to ride out the storm in Belfield ND.

Sunday was clear but cold. I'll take those conditions in a heart beat after yesterday.

South Dakota bound air in my tires, fuel in both me and my machine!

Had a great ride into Spearfish then onto Mount Rushmore NP.

This is an awesome place with scenery, engineering marvels and great riding!

Finished my day riding through Rapid City to Sturgis and up the canyon to Deadwood.

Came back into Sturges and found a hotel next door to the BMW shop were I hope to get my tire properly repaired Monday  morning.

Drying out under an overpass.

Definitely stepped in one of those today!

Great place to ride out the storm.

This is a true Dakota breakfast!

Black Hills rock climbers.

A must have!

Always wanted to see this park!

This is how you turn 270 degrees!

Missoula to Glacier National Park - On to Canada

Log Entry #8

The ride from Missoula to Glacier NP on Wednesday the 19th was beautiful with no indication I was headed into a smoky nightmare.

Once I got into the park the smoke from the surrounding fires and the car traffic affected the Impact of this beautiful park for me.

I was fortunate to ride all the way through the park as the road had been closed earlier for fire fighter access.

Heading into Canada I mistakenly took Hwy 89 instead of 17 and crossed into Canada about 15 miles east of were I originally planned which brought me into Cardston Alberta.

I found a great camping spot there and headed back over to Waterton Lakes NP on Thursday the 20th.

Waterton Lakes is the Canadian side off Glacier NP.

I didn't enter the park after seeing the limited visibility from the fires.

Instead I proceeded up through Pincher Creek, to Crowsnest Pass, on to Cranbrook to Moyie Lake and back to the USA on the 95 into Idaho!

Canada is a great place to ride and people are very nice!

The smoke was very thick in Idaho and got progressively thicker as I headed back to Montana. 

Stayed in Bigfork MT next to Flathead lake for the night, then on Friday the 21st I headed south on 83 past Seely Lake and on to Great Falls trying to out run the smoke.

Beautiful place to ride and the lakes are gorgeous!

The rest of the day was spent hammering out miles trying to get to clean air.

Found a motor lodge in Glasgow MT were the air is much cleaner and you actually see the sun!

Saturday morning I head to the Black Hills of South Dakota my home state!

Found this crazy museum in Polson, MT.

There is a little bit of everything there!

Ranging from motorcycles to aliens!

They are a big Evel fans at the museum.

Did I mention Aliens?

Yep they have those too!

Nice Bus!

This guy was scoping out the K-16!

Andrew on the left and Harry on the right had there bikes flown into Anchorage from Holland 7 days ago.

There on a 4.5 month tour to Chile.

Good luck on your "Epic Ride"!

Andrew was kind enough to snap this water fall shot of me.

On the Going to the Sun Road!

Great camping in Canada "eh"!

Ordered the Old School Special at this place in Pincher Creek, Alberta.

The toast was great!

This baby has the ultimate lift kit!

Yes that is a real person standing by the back tire!

Worlds largest truck located in Sparwood, BC.

This little bridge is in Canada.

This big bridge is in Idaho USA!

Finally out ran the smoke!