Our Lucie

Today we gave our Lucie the greatest gift - peace.

For the last 5 months Lucie has been suffering with renal failure. She was actually doing quite well until yesterday. It seems she knew when the time was right.

She will have a very special place in many people's hearts!

Daren Visits

We had the pleasure of Daren and Kristie's company for lunch. A rare treat for us! Kristie's new car is VERY nice!

Loren Visits

Loren's new career as a truck driver has kept him out of California, so yesterday when he was able to stop in Lake County for breakfast it was a real treat. We enjoyed the visit!

We have been busy driving to and from Sacramento. Last week we had to go down for Larry's follow up CT Scan. This week we went down for the follow up appointment with the neurosurgeon. Happy to say Larry has no recurring meningioma. Next appointment in 2 years.

We continue to be amazed at how busy we are in retirement!

Larry had the bright idea to have a Halloween outfit for Lucie so she can go to the Doggie Fest today - with the help of a free pattern from the internet I sewed a vest with a Jack-O-Lantern design on the back. She also gets to wear a hat!

My friend and I took advantage of a wreath making class at one of the senior centers, so I've been having fun creating!

Patriot Guard Rider Mission

We rose at 5 a.m. to get ready to ride to Novato, CA for a Patriot Guard Rider mission.

After a chilly ride into Lakeport we met Steve Biggs and rode over to Highway 101 via the Hopland Grade. Just a tad bit foggy - to the point that we stopped at the top and wiped the condensation off our windshields.

On arriving at the high school in Novato we joined around 20 other Patriot Guard Riders in a flag line leading to the memorial service for Cpl. Nicholas Paul Olson. Cpl. Olson lost his life while serving in Iraq.

I have been signed up as a member of PGR for a couple of years, but there has only been one other occasion that has been in our area. As it happens Cpl. Olson is the son of one of our friends here in Lake County.

The whole event took a couple of hours. One poignant moment came when a lady with a toddler came out of the memorial and as the toddler walked around the mother said, "Look at all the flags. Daddy would have liked the flags." The lady and toddler were the wife and daughter of Cpl. Olson.

Many people thanked the PGR members who made up the flag line. As far as I could tell, not one participant felt the need for a thank you, more like it was the least they could do for someone who had given their all for their country.

October

<-Joel at RFK; RFK Ride; Larry at RFK (early) and the bottom two photos are of the Clear Lake Road Riders.




In the few weeks we have returned from our motorcycle trip we have traveled to Sacramento twice - once to attend Larry's retirement dinner (a lovely evening at the Sheraton) and this past weekend to participate in the Ride for Kids event in Woodland, CA.

The group we belong to had the 4th highest club donations and our local dealer came in as top dealer with over $27k attributed to his business.

We are Home!

We waited to leave Fernley, NV until almost 10:30 a.m. - any earlier and we would have been wet before got out of town.

As we headed west of I-80 we saw many motorcyclists leaving the Reno area. Street Vibrations lost quite a few participants before the final day began.

Once we were beyond Reno the weather got wetter. On the way up to Donner Pass traffic picked up and the rain became less spotty. One group of Hell's Angels from Oakland roared by just as the rain really started coming down.

As we headed down from Donner Pass there were so many motorcyclists being cautious that they were keeping the car traffic to a SENSIBLE speed. It was the most sane trip along I-80 from Reno I have ever been on and the worst weather!

We turned off of I-80 on to Hwy 20 and encountered fog as well as rain. By the time we got to Marysville the weather had improved dramatically.

A nice lunch at Granzella's and we hurried home in time to pick up Lucie at the kennel.

Over 7,000 miles. What an awesome country. What awesome people we rode with and met along the way. Good to be home....until Wednesday! The map is of the route we took this September.

On our way home

We left on Friday. Rather chilly ride to Pocatello, Idaho. Wind was bad around Twin Bridges, but became less of an issue as we continued to ride.

This morning we left to warmer temps - but not that warm! At Twin Falls we headed for Nevada. From Wells it was a fast ride to Fernley, Nevada.

Another chilly day, but not much precipitation. We either had awful side winds, or awful head winds. The trike got 20 mpg for the last 100 miles. We also had to deal with a dust storm east of Lovelock.

Can't really complain though, because we got here safely. We ate at the El Guadalajara Mexican restrauant - not too shabby.

When we arrived at the motel there were other motorcyclists who had attended Street Vibrations - glad we didn't try to get a room in Reno.

Tomorrow will be our ride home. We won't be riding out any too early - the weather in the Sierras is supposed to be wet and cold tonight.

Billings

We are having a lovely visit in Billings. Can't say enough about how nice it is to be with Jack & Barbara.

Jack took us out to the old homestead properties. All I can say - those people were far more hearty then we are!

The house photo is of Larry's Aunt Mary's (Jack's mom) former home. The neighborhood has changed quite a bit - there are some very nice "disadvantaged people" homes going in across the street.

Yesterday it was a tad cool, but Larry & Jack braved the cool weather to change the oil in the bikes.

Later on Larry & I cleaned our filthy bikes - I don't think they were this dirty last year!

For dinner we headed to Famous Dave's with Jack, Barbara and Larry's Aunt Ida. Another WOW meal of ribs. (We have GOT to get one of these restaurants closer to home!)

Today we are having breakfast with Aunt Ida and in the p.m. I believe we will do a little sightseeing. Tomorrow we will be headed home.

Minnesota to Billings, Montana

We left Park Rapids, Minnesota at 7:30 a.m. We had 84 miles of two-lane roads before making it to Fargo, North Dakota and Interstate 94.

The weather was pleasant - actually made it into the mesh jackets.

So - what is there to say about North Dakota along I-94 ----it is a great road to ride at 75 miles per hour because THERE IS NOTHING.

The original intent was to stay in Glendive but Larry heard it was going to be raining and cool in the a.m. so the decision was made to ride on to Billings.

Thankfully, Larry's Uncle Jack and Aunt Barbara were kind enough to have us stay a day earlier than we had planned. So 685 miles later we are nice and cozy.

It IS a little rainy today - hoping to have a great visit and head out on Thursday.

Michigan and Minnesota

Last evening we stayed at a Budget Host Motel in Marquette, Michigan. Weather was cool leaving Sudbury, but improved somewhat. The scenery is awesome and it would be nice to spend time in the area sometime in the future.

The motel was rated by AAA as one of the lesser accomodations in the area - can't say enough nice things about Brentwood Inn. Very comfortable and clean. Couldn't ask for much more - except a coffeemaker and hair dryer in the room! For $50, it was SUPERB!

We left Marquette at 9 a.m. - in temps under 50 degrees (Larry tried to tell me it was 54, but no way). We were wearing every possible layer and managed quite well. We rode through Michigan, Wisconsin, and Minnesota via Hwy 2 --- speed limit 55 and every one drove 65. Again - wow to the scenery. By this afternoon the temperatures were up over 70 degrees, so riding was comfy. So many motorcycles out enjoying the beautiful weather.

Tomorrow's ride should be far better as the low is only supposed to be 59 here in Park Rapid, Minnesota tonight.

Sudbury, Canada

We didn't make it far...left Mississauga around 10:30 a.m.

My fearless leader didn't believe the GPS - so it took us nearly an hour to get OUT of Toronto using alternate roads.

Once we got on the road it was nice...the temps were around 75 degrees. Then the further we went the cooler it became. Stopped to put on some jackets and just the other side of Parry Sound we hit some really hard rain. The trike hydroplaned, but I managed to keep it on my side of the road. When the semi going in the opposite direction threw and wave of water over the top of me, I knew I had to stop. Had to back track to a gas station and eatery and wait out as much as we could.

Back on the road with all the rain gear and it never rained again.

Once we arrived in Sudbury it became obvious that IT WAS COLD and WINDY! Staying the night at a Super 8 - not a bad place, just more bucks than the last one and no pool!

Tomorrow we will be riding back to the USA - headed for Wisconsin via Michigan. Not leaving very early because the temperatures aren't supposed to be very high.

Toronto

Perhaps not the most attractive photo! This was taken at the Blue Jays game last evening. A pitcher's game - ended up being 2-1 Blue Jays. We left at the bottom on the sixth.

It was a chilly game, but as soon as we got on the bikes to ride to the motel we felt warmer. Go figure!

Yesterday was a leisurely day. After getting up late we went to a couple of shopping malls so Dennis could pick up some stuff. He lost a saddle bag in PA as well as having no rain gear.

We lunched at the Pickle Barrel - nice place to eat, just that service was slower than a pedestrian with a walker in a crosswalk during rush hour!

You know how you travel into big cities and the air always smells like traffic? Not so Toronto - we kept smelling COOKIES or PASTRIES. The city is also very clean. The people aren't exactly the smiley kind, but we did get some of them to perk up!

We are heading out this a.m. - not in a major hurry and not sure which direction we will be going, aside from west.

Mississauga, Canada

We are staying just outside Toronto.

A rather chilly ride today. We mirrored the ride we took up to Canada last year - just no rain and we made it all the way in one day.

We are at a Super 8 that wasn't rated very good by AAA, but the price was right so we booked. Not sure what the other motels are like but this is very nice - and $89 for the 3 of us (Dennis is with us).

Tomorrow we checkout Toronto and go to an evening Blue Jays game - they are playing the Yankees!

Daily American Newspaper Article

I HOPE THIS IS NOT A COPYWRITE INFRINGEMENT...

Motorcyclists mark anniversary By DAN DiPAOLO Daily American 30 North ChiefTuesday, September 11, 2007 12:48 AM EDTSOMERSET — The sixth anniversary of Sept. 11, 2007, is being remembered at Shanksville today by thousands of people. For more than two dozen, the tolling of the bells will mark the end of a 10 day cross-country journey.The Torches Across America motorcycle ride started in Oceanside, Calif., on Sept. 1 and ended here today with the goal of memorializing those who died, those who served and to recognize all of the country’s first responders.
“This country was in a total state of shock,” said organizer Gary Covert of the ride. Responders came out, helped keep the country together, he said.The Branson, Mo., native, has seen 16 communities respond to the ride and declare a recognition day. Additionally, the Pennsylvania House of Representatives passed a resolution naming Sept. 12, “Emergency Responder Day.”“That’s why we ride. We don’t raise money, we’re not a foundation. They go because it is in their heart,” he said.For Covert, the inspiration for the ride came after he and his wife, Marge, explored the World Trade Center in late August 2001 on their way to see a terminally ill friend in Maine.“Eleven days after we left, it happened, so we all wanted to know what we could do,” he said.They chose a motorcycle ride because, according to Covert, there are no more patriotic people than bikers.Bar Porter, 41, of San Diego, is one of those making the trip with Covert. A recently retired Marine gunnery sergeant, he wears a tattoo with the dates Feb. 11, 1986, and June 30, 2007, on the underside of his right forearm. His date in, and then out, of the service.He said that he extended his service for a full year in order to deploy to Iraq with his military police unit. Once he arrived there in early 2006, he was stationed in the northern province Al Anbar and trained local police forces in the city of Rawah.The training had highs and lows, he said. Originally, there were 50 local trainees, and after a local insurgent leader had one of the men brutally beheaded, that number dropped to four, he said. But by the time he left, their numbers had climbed back to 175.“You’re trying to instill in them the idea that it’s about coming together as a country,” he said.This will be Porter’s first visit to Shanksville.(Dan DiPaolo may be contacted at dand@dailyamerican.com.)

Sept 11 Evening

After resting for a few hours we joined Gary & Marge, Barry & Connien(PA) and Paul (PA) for dinner at Hoss's (a Sizzler like place). Steak wasn't very good, but the salad bar made up for it.



A lovely evening!

TAA Riders

Dennis, Barr & Mark; Barr, Joe and Steve; Joe and Bruce; Ed.

TAA Riders

Dennis; Barr, Mark, Clark & Kathy; Roger & his wife (American Legion Somerset) Joel and Nancy; Bruce and Dennis; Mike.

TAA Rider photos

The Frank & Lil; Suzanne, Marge & Gary; Mark, Clark, Larry and Kathy; Joel and Gary