Just want to share our "Ride of a Lifetime"

st1\:*{behavior:url(#ieooui) } <!-- /* Style Definitions */ p.MsoNormal, li.MsoNormal, div.MsoNormal {mso-style-parent:""; margin:0in; margin-bottom:.0001pt; mso-pagination:widow-orphan; font-size:10.0pt; font-family:"Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman";} @page Section1 {size:8.5in 11.0in; margin:1.0in 1.25in 1.0in 1.25in; mso-header-margin:.5in; mso-footer-margin:.5in; mso-paper-source:0;} div.Section1 {page:Section1;} --> /* Style Definitions */ table.MsoNormalTable {mso-style-name:"Table Normal"; mso-tstyle-rowband-size:0; mso-tstyle-colband-size:0; mso-style-noshow:yes; mso-style-parent:""; mso-padding-alt:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; mso-para-margin:0in; mso-para-margin-bottom:.0001pt; mso-pagination:widow-orphan; font-size:10.0pt; font-family:"Times New Roman"; mso-ansi-language:#0400; mso-fareast-language:#0400; mso-bidi-language:#0400;}

 Good to be home…………  We (my Brother and I) have had the most awesome vacation ever. We left Porterville, California on October 14, 2009 on our motorcycles. The day we left God decided to see how tough we were and dumped rain on us. Not to be discouraged we pushed on. Once we got out of California the sun decided to shine on us. We took Interstate 40 across the US heading for Arkansas. Several stops along the way to do the “Tourist thing” and to ride part of historic Route 66. Camped the first night out and realized it costs almost as much to camp in an RV park anymore (if you can find one that takes tents) as it does to stay at Motel 6. So……. Needless to say we only did that one night. Made it into Little Rock on Saturday the 17^th.  about half frozen!!! Man it gets cold in the south when the sun goes down!!!!  Was so GREAT to finally get to see my kids!! I got to meet my new Grandson, Caleb for the very first time and yes, he immediately wrapped Grandpa around his little finger!!!! Sunday we took my son and daughter (along with some friends of theirs) on a ride around Little Rock. It was my daughters FIRST motorcycle ride so I was pumped!!! Had an awesome ride. Monday we went to the Clinton Presidential Center and was surprised to see my brothers name on the credit board. We lived in Arkansas when the center was built and my brother was a part of the very first planning meeting for the center. Needless to say he was blown away. To think, he is a part of history now!!! I think he told everybody we talked to on the rest of the trip!!!!

   Spent the next few days seeing the sites around Central Arkansas. I have only been gone (from living in Arkansas) for about 4 years and was amazed at how much it has grown in such a short time. The slow economy hasn’t hurt Arkansas very much!!!

 Saturday, October 24^th. We loaded up and headed for Memphis (with my daughter riding with me). Spent Saturday evening partying on Beale Street with my son, Chris, his beautiful wife, Allison, Jenny, my youngest daughter, my brother and I AND my little riding partner “Zuki” (my 4 month old Min-Pin mix). Yes, she rode with me all the way from California. Needless to say, she was a hit on Beale Street. She even got to dance on the bar at Coyote Ugly!!!!!!!!!!!! We closed down Beale Street about 3:00 Sunday morning!!!

 Sunday we HAD to go to Graceland and pay our respects to “The King”. Then a quick ride into Mississippi and then back to Little Rock.

 Had rain off and on the rest of the week but still managed to get out some. Got to spend some time with one of my dearest friends, Becky Bowman. She and her husband Buddy are two of the best friends I have ever had the honor to know. Sadly, we lost Buddy just a few short weeks ago but I know he was there in spirit.

 All good things have to come to an end and so was it with our visit to Arkansas…… We left Little Rock Thursday morning the same way we left California……….  In the rain!!!! Let me tell you, when it rains in the south, IT RAINS!!!! We were in a regular downpour all the way to Van Buren, Arkansas. I can ride in the rain even pulling my little trailer but when the lightening started hitting close by, it was time to get off the road!!! Got a motel in Van Buren and decided it was time for a cold beer! For those of you not from the south, there are areas that are called “Dry Counties”. That means no alcohol sales….. Guess where we were…. That’s right……… a dry county! The rain had almost stopped so my brother decided to ride into the next town that sold beer. He hadn’t been gone 5 minutes and down it came!!!! BUT…. He prevailed and came back with an 18 pack!!! God bless him!!! Hot shower, a couple of cold ones and some dinner in our bellies and we were happy again!

 The rest of the ride home was beautiful! Had sunshine all the way to California. Did a lot of the “Tourist Thing” again on the way home and just took our time. We saw some beautiful country along the way and at almost every stop met some really nice people. I learned that when traveling with a little dog on a motorcycle, you get a lot of attention!!! She made lots of new friends along the way, both two legged as well as four legged.

 Our last night of our trip put us in Laughlin, Nevada (I know, it’s a little bit out of the way but……). We had a ball and the slots were VERY kind to me!!!!

 We had planned to go to New Orleans and then ride the Southern route home but really bad weather changed those plans. Guess we will have to start planning ANOTHER road trip!!!!!

 I can’t tell this story without taking time to thank my beautiful wife. Without her love, support and understanding this trip would have never happened. Thank you Cindy…….. you are one of a kind!! And to my brother Glen………………….. Bro, this trip was with out a doubt the most awesome vacation I have ever had. Can’t think of ANYONE I would rather have made the trip with. Thank you for being a part of it. I love you Dude…………………………….

Fantastic adventure ! Thanks for sharing !

Sounds like a fantastic trip. You have to have rain to help make it a little more adventurous.

Cheers

Well done.  I'm jealous as all heck.  Good write up too.  The wife is a very important part of trips like this.  Without their understanding the joy can be a little less.  The more I think about it the more jealous I am.