23 July

The latest news about the bike is that when the shipper tried to take the bike across the boarder the US Customs folks refused to let the bike cross. They did not like the quality of copy of my passport. I sent a new copy via email to the shipping agent. Let's hope that does the trick. I have to wonder what else can go wrong!

8 July

Mark and David are going to fill in the blanks on the blog so you, the reader, will hear all about their fantastic trip. We can live vicariously through them. Just to bring everyone up to date on my Ducati here's what has happened since I got home....not much. Well, I did get a contract to have the bike shipped home. The shipping company picked up a red Ducati and took it to a marshaling warehouse in Canada awaiting more bikes for a full load back into the USA. A week later the dealership in Edmonton called the shipper wanting the bike back. It turns out they loaded the wrong bike. The bike in the warehouse is a brand new 1198R, a very expensive race ready bike worth $22K in the US and probably $35K in Canada. My well worn Multistrada was still sitting in Edmonton. The dealer and shipper say they are working this out and the shipping company says they will send another truck to get my bike. I'll see it someday...I think. This gives me more time to decide exactly what to do about the Ducati, fix it or part it out. The real issue is what would I get to replace this bike and nothing else seems to ring my bell. Oh well, it's too hot to ride now so not having a bike removes all temptation.

27 June

Message from Mark, they are still in MN but the weather has been crappy so I'm not sure they got to any fishing at the fishing camp. Bummer. Tomorrow they plan to head south and get into KY to tour the whiskey trail...evidently they can go to a bunch of whiskey makers. That sounds interesting...and then get back on the bikes??? They might get back to Roanoke by Wednesday.

24 June

Mark called to check in from Grand Rapids, MN. He and David rode 560 miles today, including a 21 mile detour (each way) to see the headwaters of the Mississippi River. Mark got to stand in the headwater wearing his waterproof Sidi boots. OK, rub it in, your boots don't leak! Oddly enough they were staying in the same motel we used on the trip west. This is the motel where we celebrated my birthday at the bar across the street. The odd part is that today is David's birthday and they are going to the same bar to celebrate. I'm sure the bartender will have a raised eyebrow when she sees the same guys once again celebrating a birthday, never to be seen again. It will look like we are only after free drinks...well, guilty as charged. Tomorrow the guys plan to go to Mark's niece's fish camp and relax for a few days before heading home.

23 June

Mark just called. He and David finally rode out of the rain and saw the sun for what seems like the first time in months. They celebrated by stopping to buy some ice cream. Now they are in Williamson, ND and staying in a decent motel where they got the last room in the place. That's not a bad way to end a 575 mile day on the bike. David says that 500 miles per day simply seems normal after doing it for so many days. They are losing an hour every day now due to the time changes so it seems that they are starting later every day. Tomorrow they could push to get to Mark's cousin's place in MN but that's a bad part of the country to be riding near dark. He said that he will make it a conservative day and not try to push for those last 100 miles if it is late in the day. They are taking US 2 across the country and basically retracing their steps in MT, ND, and MN.

22 June

Mark called today to tell me that he and David were in Whitefish, Montana. They rode in the rain all day, about 475 miles. That's significant when you consider that they have been on the road for almost three weeks and have put in so many 500 mile days that it's now the standard. To do 475 in the rain is true Iron Butt stuff. After three adult beverages they were ready to go to bed...at 8PM. Yes, these are real night owls!

17 & 18 Jun

Well, the good news is that Mark and David got to Fairbanks, did some sightseeing, bought $1000 worth of tires, and are now headed south. Last night (17th) they were trying to get a plane ride to see Denali but the cloud cover was a problem. Maybe today (Thursday) if the weather breaks they will see the 29,000 ft peak. At any rate they plan to get back on the road around noon today and try to make it as far as Tok, Alaska.
On the home front, more shipping issues so now I have changed shipping companies. The low bidder would not give the assurance that he could do this job without damage to the bike. He did not have the capability to put the bike on a pallet so it would have to be strapped to the deck of a semi. Even the agent did not feel good about that situation so now I am contacting a company that specializes in motorcycle shipping. It's more $$$ but more security. As cheap as I am it's hard not to go with the low bidder.

Here in Virginia it's getting hotter by the day and my garden is exploding. That gives me something take my mind off you know what. Tomorrow Sara and I leave for CT to pick up our grandchildren for an extended stay. Sara was going to have this experience all by herself so she is relieved to have company. Eight hours in the car with two young girls can be a challenge even with the best of children. We will be back on the 23rd.