New adventures on 2 wheels.

The weekend after I returned from the trip west I took a motorcycle training course which lasted two and a half days.  This was a beginner course and taught me all the basics of riding.  I did say basics.  The one thing I walked away with from the course is that you have to be hyper aware at all times.  In fact it left me wondering how anyone could enjoy the ride if they had to concentrate on all these riding factors perpetually.

Not being swayed I calculate that although you do have to be much more aware than when in a car, many of these factors must become second nature over time.  Practice along with a positive, safe attitude will go a long way to making the ride an enjoyable event.

I have been looking for a bike since I got my motorcycle license (automatic endorsement from the DMV upon completing the state approved course).  As big as I am it was not easy finding a bike I was comfortable on that allowed for comfortable use of the foot controls.  In the end I did find one and the price is amazing.  The picture above is the bike I plan to get next week.  It is a 2009 Yamaha V-Star 1300 in pearl white.  here is still a lot of practice to be done but I think I will have fun doing it.

AAnother little tid-bit.

Just before the parents picked me up they reported that western Texas had a new speed limit.  Thoughts?

Back home - I had to do it.

Well, this was just too cool not to do.  I am coming to you live from the C&J Trailways bus.  This is the bus that I take when I need to go from Dover/Portsmouth to Boston Logan airport.  Taking the bus savews an enormous amount of money in parking.  A round-trip on the bus costs about $42 as opposed to the $24 per DAY you would spend parking at Logan.

I had seen that the bus offers free wi-fi but I had never tried it until now.  As this blog is partially about blogging from strange and interesting locations, what better way to begin a blogging tour than to do so from the bus its self.  Very cool!

Goodnight Seattle!

Well folks, it's the end of the road.  Tonight I am coming to you live from SEA-TAC airport, terminal S (free WI-FI by the way - sweet!).

It has been fun.  I have managed to see some of the best areas the western US has to offer; and, of course, at break-neck speed.  The journey started in a desert and ended in a patch of fog.  I squeezed off just a shade over 2000 pictures; a best of CD will be coming soon to those who want one.  It was great to see the parents again and we made the journey without any serious injury (incidental or to each other).

The remaining question is...what's next?  Feel free to post suggestions; all ideas are good ones and nothing is taboo.

I hope everyone following the blog enjoyed the journey as much as I did.  Let me know what you thought.

Though this journey is over I will attempt to keep up the blog by posting from new and interesting sites.  See you there.

Day 10 & 11 - Glacier N.P.

Nearly 3000 feet straight down and only one mistake away from the bottom of Glacier National Park.  This is the going to the sun highway which was fun but a little nerve-racking.  The ride was beautiful but the light was not the best for picture-taking.  We did see a bear inside the park yesterday (see recent picture at the top of the blog).

Day 8 & 9 - Grand Teton & Yellowstone

Well, the weather was great this morning leaving Grand Teton but it rained when we hit Yellowstone.  We did get to see Old Faithful erupt but several roads were under construction and we did not get to see any other areas.  We did see many bison and elk.  I ate elk night before last; not bad.  I crossed over the border into Montana this evening thus completing my mission to visit all 50 states.  Tomorrow we are off to Glacier NP.

Day 7 - Salt Lake City.

Today we took it easy.  We began our trek to the north and will stay over in Salt Lake City.  We checked into the hotel early and took a walk around town.  Our hotel is right on Temple Square downtown.  The architecture is astounding inside Temple Square.  The rest of Salt Lake City is equally nice and...clean!

On our way in, on the approach to Provo, we saw a huge windmill farm.  It is nice to see clean energy at work.

Day 6 - Arches National Park

Great fun today!  This park was amazing!!!  Each arch required some level of hiking to get to it.  This worked out well considering the amount of time we have spent in the car.  We spent so much time in Arches N.P. that we did not get a chance to go into Canyon-lands N.P.  I highly recommend this site to anyone who has some time in the area.

Day 5 - Bryce Canyon & Natural Bridges

Well, I will not drone on about how beautiful the parks are, this goes without saying.  I will say that the formations of all these rocks are simply amazing.  Further, you can go from red rock in Hoodoo formation to wavy white sandstone in just a few miles.  There was a stretch of rocks just east of Capitol Reef  that had formations I had never seen before, even in picture-books; formations that looked like aliens had left behind some ruins (see FB pictures).  We saw wild turkeys today along with antelope and deer.  We finished the day in Natural Bridges NP.  This small park featured 3 natural bridges all in close proximity.  I did take a small hike down to get a better shot of the one above.

We had tio drive through the mountains today.  We passed through a 2.5 mile stretch of road known as "Hell's Backbone".  Try to imagine a road, on top of a mountain with a shear drop off on either side for  2.5 miles at 9600 feet.  Well, this sucked!  I am not much afraid of heights but I have to admit this one had me a little tense.  Much of the car ride today did consist of winding, high altitude mountain driving with up to 10 degree grades.  Fun!

Day 4 - Zion National Park

With Las Vegas a distant memory we made tracks for lower Utah and Zion National Park.  We had to trek up winding mountain roads with few guardrails.  Beautiful scenery goes without saying.  We drove through a series of tunnels.  Each area of the park was as beautiful as the last with colorful flowing rock formations.  This breaks out onto a plateau at an elevation of 7770 feet.  We photographed bison grazing in a field to the south.

Day 3 - Hoover Dam / Las Vegas

We crossed the Hoover dam today.  The bridge is almost complete.  When it is there will be no traffic allowed on the dam.  It is kind of cool witnessing history; being amongst the last to drive across the Hoover Dam.  We walked across the dam taking pictures in 108 degree heat

By the time we made Las Vegas it had hit 111 degrees (but it is a dry heat).  Dad and I took the monorail up to the north end to see the Stratosphere.  Atop the 109 floor structure there are several things you can engage in.  One is a free-fall while attached to a cable harness (I saw this with my own eyes and am proud enough to tell the story having taken no part in it).  Another is an amusement ride that effectively holds you over the edge of the building and spins you face down (shown above).  Fun watching what this does to people.

Day 2 - Grand Canyon National Park

We arrived mid day and got to see a good part of the park.  Pictures really do not do it justice.  I had a chance to hike down Bright Angel Trail.  I did not hike down the entire 7 miles you understand, but far enough to get some good pictures from inside the canyon.  All kinds of good scenery.  I will post some more pictures on FB.

Day 1 - End Report.

Well, at the end of day one I have been awake for 22 hours and have had a lot of fun.  I met up with the parents right on the money.  After 2100 miles of travel they were pulling into the Albuquerque airport loop just as I was walking out of Baggage claim.  We ate lunch then hit the road driving through towns like Gallup, Shiprock then landing at the 4-corners.  Although we are in the middle of a desert the scenery is absolutely beautiful.  Tonight we will spend in Kayenta, Arazona located on the Navajo Reservation.

We sampled the local cuisine and are ready to crash hard.  I am too tired to be funny.  I can't even come up with a crack about the local cuisine.

Off to the Grand Canyon tomorrow and some real good pictures.