Final Thoughts

How do you recap traveling the 50 states of the greatest country on earth, on the greatest motorcycle on earth? What an experience!

First of all, I love those lists that they do on sports shows or in the news paper “by the numbers” or “top ten”, so here’s my trip of the 50 states BY THE NUMBERS:

June 25 to July 25, 2010
25 actual days of riding
All 50 states and the District of Columbia
11,820 total miles
3 “Iron Butt” accomplishments:
2 – over 1500 miles in 36 hours
1 – over 1000 miles in 24 hours

Major bodies of water visited – 4 (more I think, but this will do):
Atlantic – at Mystic Bay
Pacific – at Northern California coast
Gulf of Mexico – at Pensacola Bay
Lake Michigan

Highest elevation ridden: 10,000 feet, Haleakala Crater, Maui, HI
Lowest elevation ridden: Sea level, both coast and Pensacola, FL

Ferry boats missed - 2
Rivers crossed – ya right! I know I crossed the Mississippi 4 times
Mountain ranges crossed, same as above…too many to count (but I really like the Adirondak Mountains).
Greatest display of pure power – my Harley…not really – Niagara Falls
Most majestic sight – of course…the Grand Canyon
Favorite river - Columbia
Favorite lake - Coeur d'Alene
Favorite biker bar was a tie:
The Elbow Inn, Missouri
Sultana Bar, Williams, AZ

Favorite hotel:
The Lodge, Williams, AZ
Runner up – Precious Moments Best Western, Carthage, MO

Least miles in a state – Utah (I think 4 miles), Kansas was second with about 20
Most miles in a state:
Texas, about 1145
California was about 1000

State I spent too much time in – West Virginia
Favorite roads: (in no particular order)
Highway 30, Maui, HI
Highway 14, South Washington (along Columbia Gorge)
Highway 97, Coeur d’Alene, ID (around the lake)
Highway 101, West Coast of California (Redwood Forest)
Highways 9N, 73, Lake Placid, NY
Too many others to mention

Favorite Interstate – Interstate 90 across Idaho and Montana
Best meal was a tie:
Ray’s, Seward, Alaska
The Lobster Pot, Bangor, Maine
Gallagher’s, Las Vegas, Nevada

Best state sign: New Hampshire "Live free or die"
Worst state sign: Washington DC - there isn't one.
Most dangerous state sign - a tie"
New Jersey and Washington, why would they put them in the center median...off the fast lane???

Most elusive state sign - a tie:
Pennsylvania and New York. I crossed both state boarders 4 times before I found a welcome sign...I guess we're not too welcome!

Area that surprised me the most (in a good way):
Wisconsin, Minnesota and Iowa, upper Mississippi

Biggest blessings:
New and Old riding partners
Great weather
A great running Harley (no mechanical issues)
Supportive family and friends

Ok, enough with the stats. This was a world wind trip through our amazingly beautiful country. I missed so much great stuff I can’t even begin to list it all. The “favorites” listed above are from this trip only. There are some really great biker roads around the country, like the Dragons Tail in North Carolina or 783 between Fredricksburg and Kerrville, TX . There are too many National Parks that I missed on this trip to even think about, but two of my favorites on a Harley are, Zion and Yellowstone. My favorite mountain range is the Tetons and everyone should spend a few nights in Jackson Hole, WY. Check out the statue in the square, it was sculpted by my Dad’s Uncle Bud.

This journey was a blessing to me in so many ways. It came during a time when I needed to get away, or maybe I just wanted to run from life. But regardless of the motivation, it gave me time to think…and pray a lot about my future and that of my family. It also gave me the opportunity to see so much of our country in a way that most people never do. I would also like to say what a privilege it was to be able to see some friends along the way, and how sorry I am that I had to miss so many people that I love all across the country. Also, what a true joy it was to be able to ride with my son, Tommy, in Hawaii and Alaska. It was so great to ride with my new friends from London. And of course, my brother in law Robert is one of the greatest friends and mentors any person could ever ask for, I'm so glad to have been able to ride with him and DeeDee on this trip. I can not encourage you enough…get out there and ride. You will see, smell, feel and experience things you would otherwise never have the chance to. Experience the wonder of our country, drive the back roads and explore the out of the way places. Spend time alone. Wonder what’s around the next corner, over the next hill or how the guy in that little run down house out in the corn field makes a living. Heck, try to figure out how you can buy 6 ears of corn for $2 at your local grocery store! Take in the beauty and all that our amazing country has to offer.

Most of all, I would like to encourage you to get out and do something. Everyone has dreams, successful people act on those dreams but so many people just dream…and never act. Don’t wait, there will never be a better time than right now to live life.

I’m sure I could go on writing this blog for a really long time, but now I think I’m just being indulgent. One of the biggest blessings of this trip has been sharing it with you, so thank you for reading my blog and for the notes of encouragement along the way. May God bless your life…and travels.