Day One - June 20, 2007:

Dad is leaving today for a major bike trip. He is going to ride the outside edge of the entire US. This should take about one to two months to complete. Check this site daily to see photos and updates on his progress.
The photo here is him and the bike all ready to go. He stopped buy PTL to say good bye!

Please keep him in your prayers!

Jake III

Day one second photo;
Here he is rolling out on SR 163 in OH. He is planning on "two lanin'" and he is going to try not to take any interstate highways. He is planning at least 3 ferry rides and a whole lot of camping. If you know any great spots he should visit along the way let me know and I will pass it on.

The first night: He traveled about 360 miles to a small town outside of Nigigera falls NY. He "camped" on the beach.  Today he is looking for a cheap blow up mattress to cushion the hard ground. Not sure where he will end up today.

Day Two: One of the benefits of a trip like this is the scenery. To the left is a photo of the Lock in Oswego NY.  Dad is in VT today and so far has logged 847 total miles.  Today he is leaving late as the rain combined with the winding roads is keeping him inside. 

June 23, 2007

Dad had a baloney dinner in the North East most corner of the US - Madawaska, ME then went to Bar Harbor ME for a lobster tail dinner and a hotel. He likes it out there and is going to ride around today (Sunday) to do some local site seeing.

June 24, 2007 dad made it to Unlce Tom's in Boston. Uncle Tom is his bother in law.

June 25, 2007 He left there early Monday Morning and rode to CT where he took a ferry ride to Long Island NY. I don't think wine tasting and bike riding go good together. He is staying in Atlantic City NJ tonight.

June 26, 2007 This morning he left his cheesy hotel heading south toward Cape May NJ. The photo to the right is in Cape May, just before boarding the ferry.

Still the same day, he meet
another biker who is going to FL so they both jumped on a ferry for Delaware and
plan on riding together today to North Carolina. They spent the evening at the Ebb Tide Motel in the outer banks of NC.

June 27, 2007  They left the hotel early and his new Harley Riding friend Doug caught something in his eye.  So they both stopped to get that taking care of.  Dad then paid a visit to the Harley Dealer but left the dealership with his Honda Gold Wing.  They are spending Wednesday evening in Charleston SC at the Land Inn. They hospitality was GREAT! Thank you Swantelle. To Date he has traveled 3121 miles.

Thursday 6-28-07.
Dad and Doug made it to Jacksonville Florida where dad put two new tires on the Honda. They left there and went to Daytona Beach. I just hung up the phone with him as he was trying to find a hotel.

6-29-07

Friday morning he left Daytona and tried to hook up with John Hubbard. Hubbard is an old friend who has relocated to FL. (he forgot to take me with him) Dad spent most of Friday parked under the overpasses as it rained most of the day. He spent the night at the Travel Lodge in Homestead Florida. He is heading into the Keys Saturday. Keep him in your prayers as he is will begin heading north out of FL and on to CA.

6-30-07

Dad made it to the "southern most point" (Key West) in time to have lunch at Sloppy Joes. Then he spent Saturday night in Marathon Key, FL. He said there has been way to much rain on this trip.

7-1-07

Here is a photo of the beach down in the Keys. Why am I still living in OHIO???? Today dad is hoping to make it to the Pan Handle of FL and then he will finally be rolling west. He fixed his computer virsus and just sent me some photos from the Starbucks in Ft. Meyers.

Well, Sunday night he made it to Crystal River, FL and is heading towards TX Monday morning.  The rain is really slowing him down.

7-2-07

Rain, rain go away, come again another day. Another day of rain in the forecast for Monday and even into about mid week. As you can see by the photo, he is trying to keep him and the bike dry. Watch out for those bears!

Monday evening he finally made it out of FL. It took 5 days! I hope he doesn't run hauls for "Haul My Toys" that slow! (www.haulmytoys.com) He stayed in a hotel in Spanish Fort, AL. NO MORE RAIN PLEASE!

7-3-07

Well dad is tired of all the rain and is in New Orleans.  What a great place to be stranded. He is looking at staying for the holiday fireworks and has a great price on a hotel with a pool.  Can you swim when it is raining?

July 4, 2004 Happy 4th,
He spent the night at the same hotel and walked down to the New Orleans fireworks. He said they put on a GREAT show. He can not say enough about the great southern hospitality he is getting. 
He should be in TX later today and is hoping to hook up with "Big Howie" in Vegas next week.

July 5, 2007

Dad crossed the TX line today and as you can see, if you take Interstate 10 straight across it is 880 miles wide.  Of course this trip does have room for any short cuts. So he is going down to the southern most tip of TX to Brownsville and then up the western boarder of TX.  He is still planning hitting Vegas for a day or two.

He spent the night in Odem TX with a huge spider and some red bug.  Both of witch are dead now!

Total miles to date: 5,670

July 6, 2007

Today is Friday! Have you every looked at the US map and seen how big the state of Texas is? Well look down at the very bottom of Texas and you will see a town called Brownsville.  That is where he was today and then headed up along the Rio Grande River for lunch at "Pepe's on the river". 

He was telling me about several road checks and how tight the boarder patrol has become along this river. As you may know dad is very tan!  Be care out there!  He spent the night in Eagle Pass, TX.

Here is the Rio Grande River

July 7, 2007 or 777

Today dad's front forks sprang a leak and now oil has leaked all over him and his bike. He spent Saturday night in Van Horn, TX and will be going to Tucson, AZ either Sunday or Monday to have the new fork seals installed and some other basic service performed. While that is happening he will ride in a truck to Las Vegas with his friend Clay. They will stay there for a few days with "Big Howie" Have fun but stay safe!

This photo was taken near Van Horn, TX. What happen to the rain? He told me Van Horn was one of his favorite spots so far.
7-8-07 to 7-13-07 (mini break from riding)
He made it to Tuscon AZ as planned on Sunday. Monday he  had lunch Jerry Keller an old friend from OH who now lives in AZ.  Then Monday night he dropped off his bike for some service work and rode to Vegas with Clay in the Beamer. He spent the week off the bike and with Clay and Howie in Vegas. I hope he had fun, God bless! 

June 13, 2007 

The fun of Vegas is over. Dad and Clay drove the car back to Tucson AZ Friday night and picked up the bike from the repair shop. All is well so back to the trip on Saturday. 

June 14, 2007 

Dad left Tucson AZ late Saturday am with tempatures over 100 degrees. Not good on a bike with no AC. He made it to Imperial Beach CA. (see photo) This is the southwestern most point of the US. So that is three corners of the US out of four. Do you know anyone else who has done this trip? He went to several camp sites to do some tent camping. NO VACANCY! He wants to buy some land out in southern CA an make a camp site.  Sounds fun!

June 15, 2007  Eva's birthday (his oldest daughter)

Sunday night he made it just north of Los Angles and is planning on meeting Pattie (the wife) in San Frisco later this week.  Stay safe and send some more photos!

July 16, 2007

Dad found gas for $4.96 per gallon and actually had to buy some, now that hurts! He spent Monday night in Monterey CA and is only about 50 miles from the San Francisco Airport. Pattie will fly in Tuesday night and they will do some riding around the area for a few days. I would imagine they will try and find some wine tasting!

To date he has traveled 8069 miles.

Dad is in San Francisco killing time while he waits for Pattie to fly in. I told him to go see the famous "Lombard Street" Check it out on line, neat street! Pattie made it to San Francisco but with out the bike helmet or any other luggage.

July 18, 2007

I spoke to Dad in the morning and still no luggage. So they took a subway (not the restaurant) to look for a helment and some new clothes. I am sure Pattie wants any new clothes!! Since there is no helmet for Pattie they are using all the San Francisco public transport. They like the subway!

July 19, 2007

More site seeing around town!  Check out the Lombard street photo!

July 20, 2007

Dad found a job he is going to try when he gets home! (see photo) Pattie flew home Friday night, Big Howie picked her up in Detroit and all is well. I still have not heard about the luggage!

July 21, 2007

Dad left Frisco at 8 am Saturday AM. After review of the trip budget, he will be doing some tent camping this week! Stay safe.... See you soon.

He made it to Eureka CA and spent the night in a KOA. They were over crowed and the lines were to long for a shower in the morning. $27 to sleep on the ground and wait in line for a show sounds a little high to me!

July 22, 2007

He spent the night in Aberdeen WA near a casino. He left there with a few extra bucks in his pocket.

July 23, 2007

He stayed at the Rivera Inn in Port Angeles, WA but not before going to the Makah Indian Reservation to see the most northwestern point in the 48 states. Now he has all four corners. He did say the Indians do know how to make some Chili!

He headed out this morning and jumped on a ferry on SR 20 and is looking to get on Route two and start heading East. He made it to a little town in WA called Kettle Falls. Keep safe and we will see you soon!

Totoosh Island from the Indian Reservation. It looks very very nice!

July 24, 2007 - Tuesday

July 25, 2007

Dad made it to Shelby MT last night. He has a running total of 10239 miles with an estimated 2500 to go. They just found Patties luggage! It has been to LA and San Francisco and is coming now to Detroit.