On the road to Sturgis:

Packed the Low Rider and left Santa Fe under cloudy skies.  In and out of rain all morning.  First gas stop was Russells Truck Stop north of Springer, NM on I 25.

Greeted by Elvis at Russell's.  It's always good to take a break from the road and meet up with old friends.  Amazing how this guy just does not seem to age.  I wonder what his secret is?

Off the interstate slab and onto the blue highways at Trinidad, NM.  Following the original Santa Fe Trail across Colorado.  Braked to a stop in Model, CO.  Almost missed the entire town.  Once was a thriving community.  Almost a ghost town now.

Onto the High Plains Highway (HWY 385) at Lamar, CO.  Down the road at Cheyenne Wells, CO the highway was blocked with police cars.  It was the annual city fair parade.  As of the 2000 census Cheyenne Wells has a listed population of 1,010 fair folks.  They were all at the parade.  Because of the limited population, the parade circles the court house twice.  It was a short stop.  About five minutes.

At Julesburg, CO the Ford Dealer had a select collection of unique models with real "fixer up" potential.

Crossing into Nebraska the wind on my back, sun on my face.  State Patrol behind every tree.  Constantly rolling off the throttle to maintain the speed limit.

South of Bridgeport, NE clouds quickly formed into a storm filled with lightning and wind.  Dust filled the highway.  Debris blowing across the road.  No place to stop.  Head down.  Hit the throttle.  Seemed as I was in the heart of it forever.  Passing out of the storm noticed there was grass and small branches wrapped around my handlebars.

Kickstand down in Bridgeport, NE tonight.  Blue HIghways across America.  Nothing better.

be strong, be safe, Carlan

HOG INSIDER - Roughing It

In addition to the print version of the HWY 395 story in HOG 031, "Wet & Wicked", HOG INSIDER online has published an extended "back story" about the "Who Needs a Windshield" Project Wide Glide ride.  If you are a HOG member check it out.  It was quite a ride!

be strong, be safe, Carlan

TGIF

Home just a week since finishing the HWY 395 ride.  Needed to catchup.  From wind in my face to staring at a computer screen.  What a change.

Editing, processing, reviewing notes, writing, editing, editing, editing.  We were on a very short turn around time for HOG.  Finished the story, but not without the incredible help from Nancy.  She rocks!  Uploaded the photos.  Sent the word doc.  The creative team at HOG took it from there.   Just received the final layout which will be on the press Monday.  What a Friday.  It is beautiful!

Waiting for my flight at the Spokane airport I called Nancy and asked her what should I call the story.  “Wet and Wicked” she said.  She’s from Boston and when she’s says something is wicked it means awesome, and that’s exactly what the ride was. 

Kickstand down Santa Fe...not for long!

be strong, be safe, Carlan

Headin' for the border

No wi-fi last night.  Catching up this morning.  Left Ritzville  yesterday morning heading toward Spokane.  Ten miles down the road ran into heavy rain.  Stopped at a rest area to suit up.  Hot coffee was being provided by the "Combat Vet Riders".

Met  Lowbow, Precious, and Andy.    Lowbrow is 79 and Andy 75.  Still riding strong for all their brothers.  The Combat Vet Riders Harley motorcycle club holds fund raisers to provide services for Vets.  Services not provided when they should be.  Like providing over 200 pairs of socks for Vets whose feet were cold.  Real honor to meet these guys.  They are the real deal.  Brothers helping brothers and sisters.

North of Spokane HWY 395 opens up reaching into the forests.  It was a day or rain, sun, rain, sun.  Enough rain  to wash all the cobwebs out of my head.  That is what this black ribbon of road can do for you if you let it.

North of Kettle Falls crossed the Kettle River.  The Kettle River is a 175 mile long tributary of the Columbia River.  Stopped along the river to see it, smell it, and feel it.  I don't think we do this enough in our everyday busy lives.  Reconnects us to the important things. 

1528 miles north on HWY 395 from Los Angeles, along a quiet two lane road, I stopped on the line drawn on a map separating the US from Canada.  End of HWY 395...the Forgotten Highway.  How lines drawn on maps can create such boundaries.  Boundaries between individuals, states, countries, nations.  Sometimes breaking us apart when it would be so easy to be one.

Kickstand down in Colville last night.  At McDonads this morning with coffee and wifi.  The American way...?

Ride back down to Spokane today.  Drop off the bike in the morning and fly home to Santa Fe.  Working to sort out all my thoughts from the road.  It was wet, cold, with a life time of experiences all wrapped together along the black ribbon with the white line called freedom of the road.  Rolling on the throttle...wind on my face...

be strong, be safe Carlan