Thursday Morning and my last day on the road. Leaving San Simeon headed south down Highway 1, the Pacific Ocean on my right, waves rolling into the beach. A light morning fog covering the coast. I rode down Hwy 1 to Morro Bay then inland to San Luis Obispo. Picking up 101 again and my trek homeward. My head was swimming with images of where I had been and what I had accomplished. I kept hearing my friends voice in my head "You know it will be hard" and he was right. Yeah the first 8 weeks were a breeze with fair weather and following winds making the trip a delight. The last 2 weeks though had their hurdles. Rain, Heat and Cold all usually combined with Wind or Humidity. Those days tested my metal so to speak. Was I really up for the challenge of the elements coming back west. Those days filled with long miles and lonely spaces, but also filled with magnificent views of the Rocky Mountains and Cascades. I can only imagine what the pioneers felt when they saw these mountain ranges as I did from 100 miles away with there snow capped peaks in the middle of June. I topped of my tank in Simi California and rode the last 80 miles home. Pulling into my driveway with both relief and regret that the adventure was complete. I thought about all the people I had met along the way. Ed Skvor my riding buddy who rode to Blythe the first day and told me "You Know It Will Be Hard" and I could tell it was killing him that he couldn't go along. My friend Bob Kendall who rode parts of the route with me and showed me a great time in South Carolina who made me laugh more than once,and also kicked me in the ass when the rain started falling in North Carolina and got me to overcome my fears of weather and stop being a fair weather rider. Johnny Compton and his wife Sharon in Hammond La. The last time I saw Johnny was when I left Vietnam and it was nice to reconnect. Gary Sanders in Alabama who rode down to Dauphin Island to camp with us and showed me the gulf coast and provided me with much needed info on riding the South. Mike Marrion in Richmond who drove in the rain to Fredericksburg just to meet up with me. Mike was getting ready to start out on his own adventure. Bill Jones who took me on some roads in New Jersey and New York along the Delaware River where we got caught in a rain storm. Jeff Prince who showed me around Massachusetts, including buying me dinner, then rode up to Maine with me. Ken Gansel who took me on a tour through the Canadian side of Niagara Falls and the surrounding area. Sites I could have never found on my own. All my co-workers in Brecksville Oh, Indianapolis In, Hoffman Estates, Il , St Louis, Mo and San Ramon Ca, that I had talked to for years on the phone but never met face to face. Jeramy Foltz and Robin Lively, Joe Mrotzek who provided a soft bed to sleep in. My N-Laws who put up with me for 10 days in New Jersey where the rain and heat and humidity almost drove me crazy. The Cousins I met on the road David, Cyndie, Dennis. My friend Ed Aguilar who I dedicated this ride to. All the people that sent me email with encouragement and offers of places to stop and ride that I never got to or had to miss because of weather. To those strangers I met along the road at Attractions, Gas Stations, Rest Stops, Campgrounds, Hotels and Restaurants who provided an insight to the area I was in and people in general. The Weather Channel that was my constant evening companion as I check on the conditions ahead. To all those people that I passed, most of whom didn't even know I was there, who let me see a little bit of what life was like in the West, South, SouthEast, NorthEast, Midwest and NorthWest. All those friends on Facebook that gave me encouragement and moral support. Especially my wife Nancy who understood what this trip was about and supported me, though she wasn't with me. I know I've missed someone somewhere, there was so many but to all of you that crossed my path and helped me laugh and cry and helped me realize just how great a life I've had and the adventures I am looking forward to having.... THANK YOU
7 Comments
Jeff Prince
6/28/2012 04:44:16 pm
Well done!
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Richard Carpenter
7/1/2012 11:10:06 am
Congratulations on your trip. I'm glad to see you made it home safely. I hope it was all you hoped it would be, just sorry that we couldn't hook up while you were enjoying the Maine Monsoons. Maybe next time,,,,,,,,,,Happy Trails.........Dick
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dgmunn
7/1/2012 04:05:35 pm
Thanks for sharing your trip. I'm told these solo rides reveal to you much about yourself.
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7/18/2012 05:37:40 am
Hmm, I never thought about it that way. I do see your point but I believe several will disagree
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Jerre Baynes
11/20/2012 09:12:08 pm
Well? How are you going to top this off in 2013????
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3/30/2013 02:06:35 am
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3/31/2013 02:07:52 am
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AuthorTim Stubbe AKA Archives
June 2013
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