That's a Wrap

A Mr Chris J. from San Antonio writes us to ask, "Are you riding back to Seattle?"

Great question, Chris! Thanks for listening to the show and sending in your question. Before I provide that answer, I want to remind our listeners of Confucius' ancient saying: "The journey of 10,000 miles begins with a single step."

Not as well-known as his ancient wisdom was an earlier draft, written by the philosopher in a depressed state when he realized his supposed antique vases were just rip-offs. Ming vases, indeed. So Confucius' earlier draft goes like this: "The journey of 10,000 miles begins with the realization that 10,000 miles is a hell of a long trip."

It was with the realization of the potential total mileage, and with the blessing of my wife, that I am ending the ride in Nashville, Tennessee. Now. I mean, I'm sitting in the hotel room now. The Tiger is being shipped back to Seattle and I am flying home tomorrow. The tire, she was dipped in the Potomac a week ago. 

Coupled with the decision to not ride back to Seattle are these factors:

 - The ride is called the "Puget to Potomac," not the "Puget to Potomac to Puget"

 - The upper- and western plains put me through the wringer, what with the rains, winds, snow, gusty winds, heavy rains, and high gusty winds.

And, as if to punctuate the soundness of the decision, today in eastern Tennessee I rode through several stormfronts; some violent with lightning.

There's no guarantee that the weather will be rough on the way back, but there's no guarantee that it won't. Plus, there are the headwinds, which are a given.

I hope this answered your question. And now, our list of Top Eastern States:

1) Virginia

2) North Carolina

3) Maryland

4) West Virginia

5) Pennsylvania

6) Tennessee

Pop's Cycles

If there's one thing I would change on this ride it would be to travel with my own group of people, my own entourage, my own... gang. 

As it is, I may have a starter group in Purcellville...

Zhanna, aka, Soul Child

Daisy, aka, Risky Rider

Max, aka, Mad Max

Carleigh, aka, The Wrangler

Of course, they need to get permission from mom and dad first. That should happen in 30 or 40 years. 

Cherokee Nation

Cherokee tribe. 

C'mon, you didn't sing along?

That's the most clarity I've had the past couple hours. Am I on the Cherokee Indian Reservation? The Smokey Mountains? The Blue Ridge Mountains? All of them?

Let's go with all of them.

Not much surprising or eventful today in the way of the ride other than starting out in Raleigh with the family...

(The reason I'm holding Wes's shoulders is to make sure he doesn't appear taller than me). 

And a short ride through Ashville. Ashville, a city that is waaay more funky than I remember.

For tonight, I'm camped out at the Cherokee KOA.

Tomorrow, I tackle the Dragon.

Shout out to Keith, Marti, and Samuel, who I met at the campground this evening. Thanks for the recommendation to ride the Skyway and to visit the Opryland Hotel when I get to Nashville.

When Life Gives You A Massage Chair...

Here Comes the Rain Again

Oh good, rain's ahead. 

Reminds me of home...

...and Idaho...

...and Montana...

...and Wyoming...

...and South Dakota...

...and Iowa...

George from Scottsville, Virginia

Scottsville is a favorite little town of mine. Only been through once before, but the downtown business strip just feels homey down to the American flags and touches of historical preservation. 

It's also where George struck up a conversation with me. 

He asked about my ride and I asked about a great place for breakfast. Sure enough, it was the restaurant I just rode by 2 minutes ago. The one with the giant chicken out front. 

I should have figured that one out. Maybe it's time for a new road rule: always eat at restaurants with giant chickens out front. 

OK, can't talk anymore--the food's here. 

Times Like These

In order to write about times like these...

You need to have times like these...

Dave from Sebring, FL

I met Dave outside the Big Meadows Visitor Center in Shenandoah National Park. He was sitting at a bench and working on postcards. 

"That your bike?" I asked. 

"Sure is," he said. And then we were off talking motorcycles and rides and adventures. 

Dave has been riding his Honda VTX around the country for 11 years. He's logged 216,000 miles in that time. That's the equivalent of the Puget-to-Potomac-to-Puget... 32 times. 

I liked his setup. He's got all the bags like my Tiger, as well as the fold-up camping chair. He also has something else: a fishing rod. Now if you're going to go out on the road and relax along the way, fishing is a great solution. 

Dave and I went our separate ways; him to pitch his tent for the night and me down to Waynesboro. Along the way, 

at RipRap Overlook, Evan Reed and his family got to talking with me about the Ride and their trip. He and Janna, Jack, and Evan 2 were driving from outside Tennessee to Northern Virginia for a wedding. 

Just for the record, when you have a 15 minute conversation with them and they offer to pray for your safe travels, you're dealing with good people. Travel safe, Reed family. 

Sweet Virginia Breeze

You know you are in Virginia if...

...the wall around your property was once used in a American Revolution or Civil War battle. 

...if the current humidity matches or exceeds the temperature. 

...when talking about horsepower, it's not about a car but an actual horse. 

...for a weekend getaway you have trouble deciding between the mountains or water but do neither because of traffic. 

What else?

Morning Walk Through Old Town

Like a Raisin in the Sun

It's not everyday I reference Lorraine Hansberry's seminal drama, but sitting at this street-facing counter in Old Town, everybody who walks by looks like they are either wilting or shriveling. 

That was yesterday. Today... It's pretty much the same. I lasted for a few hours without too much discomfort, but man. H-and-H. Hot and humid. 

Today was a house-tour kind of day for the short time out. I stopped by the first house Cece and I bought...

The second...

And the house in which I grew up...

Also I was lucky enough to catch my sister and work and we had lunch today. I'll be seeing her and the family tomorrow, which will be fun. More photos to come. 

In the meantime, the Hotel Monaco has a free wine happy hour. Who am I to deny their generosity?

In Memory Of...

Beat the Heat

It's 79 degrees and a few thousand of us have been sitting in the Pentagon parking lot for upwards of 3 hours waiting for the Rolling  Thunder parade to start. 

Technically the parade started 90 minutes ago but we're in the last lot to load. They'll get to us. Eventually. 

In the meantime, the name of the game is stay cool. It's amazing how many riders around me are so ill prepared for this. Dressed in cotton; black tshirts and jeans. Leathers and heavy black boots. Black helmets. No obvious sun protection and most seem like they've arrived here without food or water. 

Heck I used to live here in Virginia and understand what black feels like in the summer. Most of these people live here now. I've got a fresh layer of sweat just thinking about it. 

Still it's not like relief isn't around. There are crews walking the parking lot offering free ice water. But some of these folks are just sitting there in the sun and bypassing that. 

You know en enterprising sort of person could turn a profit off this. 

But that's not the purpose of the Ride. Rolling Thunder honors the soldiers who are still missing in combat. Riders here are often veterans. 

For me, I'm here for the men in my family who served our country through military service. My grandfather, William Howland, was an Army colonel who served in WWI and the Mexican border when Pershing was chasing after Pancho Villa. 

I'm also here for my dad. He was a West Point graduate, served in Korea, and was in intelligence. 

It can be difficult to remember the debt we owe men and women like these, but we need to. 

Even in this heat. 

Gathering for Rolling Thunder

The Pentagon parking lot is filling up this morning. 

Goodbye, Columbus

3,159 miles! I made it to 3,159 miles! No matter where I actually was, my plan was always to stop at 3,159 miles and celebrate. 

No, not really, but here I am anyway at 3,159 miles and enjoying lunch at Green Ridge State Forest in Maryland. Or "Murlind" for you locals. 

Lunch is a 15 year old bag of spicy chicken fajitas. Freeze-dried technology is what separates us from anarchy. 

Definitely a lot more motorcyclists on the road. From Seattle to Pennsylvania, and not including my riding buddy, David Carson, there were 10 total eastbound riders for the entire week. Now there are too many to count (just wait until tomorrow). 

The scariest part of the ride and probably of Ohio is the small collection of gas stations 14 miles west of Wheeling, WV, at the intersection of  I-70 and highways 331 and 40. The people who seem to flock to this watering hole seem a bit angry, a bit aggressive. May e it's the lack of mufflers on their vehicles. Maybe it's the influence of the nearby Belmont Jail, but I didn't bother waiting to fill up the tank--just enough gas to reach Wheeling. 

Seriously, avoid this exit. 

Google Maps made the ride through West Virginia and Pennsyvania a lot more complicated than when I used to drive between DC and Columbus. Rather than 70 East or the PA Turnpike, Google Maps chose highway 40 east--the old National Pike. It's a two-lane twisty country road that cuts through beautiful rolling hills. I doubt many folks know about it anymore since it parallels the Turnpike. It's worth the ride. 

Speaking of the Turnpike, there's a relic of 20th century transportation. I pulled up to the toll booth--no signs until then with the cost--the booths are unmanned and only take change, ones and fives. The attendants don't show up when you call for them. I owe a big "Thank You" to the man driving the maroon Honda Pilot, who donated $1.70 for my passage through. 

Speaking of kindness, I met a family on this break. Cindy and her kids stopped to hear about the. Trip and then invited me to join them for dinner. Wonderful peeps. 

Your Midwestern vowel states ranked:

1) Ohio. High in the middle, round on both ends. No one else can say that. 

2) Illinois. I-74 was just the ride I needed. 

3) Indiana. Perhaps you'll try harder. 

4) Iowa. Day #5 with storms and high winds. 

THE...

Ohio State University. 

Yeah I know it drives you non-Buckeyes crazy. I see the eye rolls. Heck, I can practically feel them from here. 

Ohio State was an important experience for me and it's a lot of fun to be here for a stopover on the ride. Even if my timing might be a little off. 😀

I can't believe the Wexner Center for the Arts is 25 years old. It opened the year I earned my Master's Degree.

If you've ever seen Jodi Foster's "Little Man Tate," this will look familiar.

Took a walk across the Quad...

...and checked in with Ox...

...before taking a look a the renovated Main Library...

...which is different from what I remember. Even the Stacks were upgraded...

...but the view is still gold.

One of things I was looking forward to on this trip was meeting people along the way. Today I had the great pleasure of meeting and spending time with Fr Kevin Lutz of St Mary's Church in Columbus's German Village. 

Fr Lutz is pastor of this historic church and shared a bit about the parish history. We found a common love of writing; he's working on two biographies, but his cat is the published author. 

Fr Lutz also manages the Soup Kitchen and Jubilee Museum. We toured the museum and he showed some of the relics, like this 1582 Bible...

...and relics of the Apostles.

No really. In that pendant: Relics of the 12 Apostles.

There's also this sculpture, as part of a traveling exhibit, by Alfred Tibor, a survivor of the Holocaust. It seemed especially appropriate to include with Memorial Day this weekend. It's called "Solider of Humanity" and is dedicated to the soliders of WWI who liberated the survivors of the concentration camps.

The Jubilee Museum is tucked away off Broad and near downtown. Definitely worth the visit. Let them know you're coming.