Epilogue

Following are some summary facts:

11,708 - total miles logged
10,992 - total miles for all legs

267 - total hours riding all legs

31 days of riding, 60 days of travel. Left May 5th, 2014, returned July 4th, 2014.

Average riding day, 355 miles, 8 1/2 hours.

Visited 29 states and 5 Canadian Provinces.

Following are some anecdotes:

I thought about carrying a gun on this trip. I learned that a friendly smile was enough.

Everyone I met, I interacted with or came in contact with was a nice person. Not one person was unkind the entire two months. I didn't meet one person I felt threatened by, not even close.

There are no wimps living in Canada.

Hand soap is as good as shaving cream.

I didn't need anything I left at home.

I didn't miss anything I left at home.

Staying in touch with family and friends is important, vital to survival.

This country is HUGE!!!!

Leg 31 - Rio Dell, CA to Novato, CA (Final Leg)

I left the motel at Rio Dell at 5:30 am for the final leg of this tour. I will be posting an epilogue with a summary of the trip, mileage, etc.

The motel was at the northern end of the Avenue of The Giants, a grove of redwoods surrounded by the Humboldt Redwoods State Park. The ride through the redwood forest was spectacular although it did get a bit chilly. When I left the motel it was 56 degrees, but dropped to 46 when I got into the thick of the redwoods.

I took Hwy 101 until I got to the Hwy 1 cutoff and then took Hwy 1 to the coast. I have ridden Hwy 1 along the entire west coast of the US and that stretch of Hwy 1 is the most twisty I have encountered. I had to slow to almost a crawl on one turn.

The coast was blanketed in heavy fog. I stopped in Fort Bragg for breakfast and put on my rain jacket the fog was so thick.

The ride down the coast was nice. There is something about the Northern California Coast that has always been a heart tug for me. It is rugged with sheer cliffs and huge rocks.

I took Hwy 1 to just south of Mendocino where I picked up Hwy 128, my favorite local ride. I had never ridden it was west to east. I usually take it from east to west, eat breakfast in Mendocino and then take Hwy 1 all the way back to where I can connect with back roads into Novato.

Hwy 128 did not disappoint. Once a few miles inland, the fog cleared and the sun dappled through the redwoods. A beautiful site when riding.

Hwy 128 connects back with Hwy 101 at Cloverdale, CA. There I took Hwy 101 back to Novato. It was congested with the early 4th of July traffic.

I arrived back at my home in Novato, CA around 11:30.

Overall, 258 miles and right at 6 hours.

Leg 31 - Rio Dell, CA to Novato, CA (Final Leg)

I sure am glad we are a free nation. Happy Fourth of July to all!!!!

Leg 30 - Eugene, OR to Rio Dell, CA

Left Eugene, OR at 5:40 am after spending two days with a long time friend, Vickie.

Vickie offered to show me a little of the Eugene, OR area. We drove East out of Eugene on Hwy 126 with the plan of connecting with the Old McKenzie Highway. Along Hwy 126 I saw my first covered bridge in person, the Goodpasture Covered Bridge.

Goodpasture Covered Bridge, OR

We took a couple of short hikes, one to a beautiful waterfall just off of the Old McKenzie Highway.

Waterfall off of Old McKenzie Hwy

I took Interstate 5 from Eugene, OR to Grants Pass, OR. It was some of the most beautiful Interstate riding I have made on this trip. However, I decided to take secondary roads the rest of the trip back to Novato, CA. I took Hwy 199 from Grants Pass, OR to Crescent City, CA. Hwy 199 was absolutely gorgeous and a great motorcycle road. It has lots of tight twisties posted at a maximum of 35mph.

I reached Crescent City, CA and took the following photo when reaching the Pacific Ocean to document the event.

Crescent City, CA

My plan was to ride to Eureka, CA and find a motel. I arrived in Eureka, CA around 1pm, ate lunch and decided to push on. I didn't make it very far.

I simply ran out of energy around 3:15 and began looking for the closest motel. I checked into the Humboldt Gabels Motel in Rio Dell, CA and immediately took a 2 hour nap.

Overall, 345 miles and 9 1/2 hours.

Leg 30 - Eugene, OR to Rio Dell, CA

Tomorrow is the last leg of the trip. I am a short 250 miles from Novato, CA.

Leg 29 - Seattle, WA to Eugene, OR

Left Seattle at 6:40 am, Tuesday July 1st after spending five great days visiting with my elder daughter Katie and site seeing the Seattle, WA area. It was 62 degrees with the predicted weather clear, sunny and hot.

Katie threw a 'USA Four Corners' celebration party. She invited her 'peeps' to come over for a Sunday BBQ. We cooked burgers, sausages and fresh salmon, drank a few beers and had a fun time. One of her friends had a 1958 Harley Davidson Panhead chopper. A beautiful bike shown in the photo below:

1958 HD Panhead

Katie loves to ride and we went out on a local excursion. We took a ferry from Edmonds, WA to Kingston, rode to Bainbridge Island where we had lunch and then took a ferry into Seattle, WA.

Katie and I on Seattle Ferry

One thing of interest is when taking a motorcycle on the Washington Ferries, motorcycles go to the front of the passenger cars. When we arrived at the ferry terminal we bought a ticket and were told to ride around the cars to the head of the line where we were the first to board. We were also the first to exit. Nice. Thank you Washington!

Edmonds Ferry

The ride to Eugene, OR was uneventful. I rode Interstate 5 until I was south of Portland, OR. There I decided I had enough of the freeway and rode the backroads to Hwy 99 and Hwy 99 into Eugene. The predicted weather had a high of mid 90's the entire route.

I stopped frequently to drink water and pour some on my neck to keep cool. I stopped in Monroe, OR to eat lunch at a local place named the Longbranch Bar and Grill. It was 'Taco Tuesday' and they served up huge soft tacos for $1.50 each. I could only manage to eat two they were so big. The World Cup game between USA and Belgium was on the TV. I left at halftime.

I arrived in Eugene around 2:45. I will be staying at a friends house for two nights and leaving on Thursday, July 3rd.

Overall, 326 miles and just over 8 hours.

Leg 29 - Seattle, WA to Eugene, OR

I can feel myself getting close to home. I have visited Eugene, OR many times in the last 40 years. It is an easy one day drive by car.

Leg 28 - Kamloops, BC to Blaine, WA (Fourth Corner) to Seattle, WA

Left the motel in Kamloops, BC at 5:25 am with the air temperature at 61 degrees.

I stayed at a motel named Scott's Inn and Restaurant in Kamloops. Right next to the motel is Scott's Restaurant, a favorite of local senior citizens. They usually have a special home made dinner on the menu. Last night I had their lasagna special which came with a starter cup of chicken noodle soup, a caesar's salad, garlic bread and a berry cake dessert. All delicious and for $13.95 Canadian, a good value. Gotta love places senior's frrequent.

Scott's Inn and Restaurant, Kamloops, BC

The ride out of Kamloops, BC, 347 meters (1140 feet) goes right up in elevation. In less than a half hour I found myself at 1445 meters (4740 feet) with the air temperature at 45 degrees. I stopped and put on an extra layer of clothing.

The ride from Kamloops, BC to Hope, BC was some of the most spectacular scenery I have seen, rivaling the ride through Banff National Park and Glacier National Park. The high mountain road took long sweeping turns through pine filled and snow capped peaks. There were two mountain passes, both around 1400 meters.

Coming out of the first pass, I came down into the Nicola Valley. The wide expanse of the valley outstretched ahead while coming down out of the mountain was spectacular. Just after riding through the valley, the climb into the high mountains began again.

Riding through the second pass, I came around a wide sweeping turn to have Nak Peak come into view on the right side. At first site I gasped at it's incredible beauty. 

Coming down the mountain into Hope, BC was a thrill. The steep decline of the road with the wide sweeping turns gave quite an adrenaline rush. I would ride another 10k miles just to do the stretch from Kamloops, BC to Hope, BC again.

I stopped for breakfast in Hope, BC at a little diner. There a smiling waitress served up a canadian bacon and poached eggs breakfast that put warmth right back into me. 

I crossed back into the US at Aldergrove, BC, a small border crossing at around 10:00. It took about 30 minutes, but once I presented my passport I was quickly sent on my way.

From there it was a short ride into Blaine, WA, the fourth and final corner of this tour. I stopped at the Blaine, WA post office to document my stop.

Blaine, WA (Fourth Corner)

I then rode to a local Chevron gas station to get the requisite gas receipt to further document the trip. The receipt dispensed by the pump did not have the name of the town so I went in to ask the attendant for one. When I asked for a receipt with the name Blaine, WA on it, he asked if I was doing the Four Corners. I answered that I was and then he asked how many corners I had done. He gave a big smile when I told him it was my fourth.

As I was putting on my helmet and gloves getting ready to leave, the music piped out to the gas pumps began playing Frank Sinatra's 'Young At Heart'. Honest, I am not making this up. I rode out with a bit of sadness with this being the final corner.

I rode on to Seattle, WA arriving around 1:00 pm. I will be staying with my elder daughter for a couple of days. I plan on getting back on the road July 1st.

Overall, 335 miles and 7 1/2 hours.

Leg 28 - Kamloops, BC to Blaine, WA (Fourth Corner) to Seattle, WA

Officially, I have completed the Four Corners motorcycle tour. However, I still have over 800 miles of riding before I return to my home in Novato, CA. I will be blogging the remaining legs of the trip, one of which will include my all-time favorite local ride, Hwy 128 from Mendocino, CA to Cloverdale, CA.

Leg 27 - Strathmore, AB to Kamloops, BC

Left the motel in Strathmore at 6:30 with the air temperature at 54 degrees. The predicted weather was sunshine the entire leg with little or no winds. Warning, the internet weather websites are not 100% accurate.

The winds leaving Strathmore for Calgary were slightly less than what I had turned around from the previous night. In addition, there were dark gray ominous clouds coming in from the north. My direction of travel was west and the winds and storm clouds were coming from the same direction, directly opposite from the southern winds from the day prior.

I stopped and repacked my bike with the rain fly on my clothing bag and put on my rain jacket. I rode for the next 50 miles in strong cross winds and periodic heavy rain. Sheesh, I thought this was going to be an easy day.

By the 75 mile mark the winds subsided and the rain was a lot less heavy. I began the climb into the Canadian Rockies, Banff National Park and Glacier National Park.

By all accounts the next 365 miles were absolutely spectacular. The tallest peaks in Banff were obscured by clouds, but once in awhile were revealed. I took the following photo of one of the dozens of waterfalls in Banff.

Banff National Park waterfall

The following photo was taken just before entering Glacier National Park. Note the rain clouds are now gone.

Glacier National Park

By the time I got to Revelstroke, BC the weather was gorgeous. I stopped to take the following photo.

Revelstroke, BC

Four events happened on this leg:

1. Crossed the continental divide.
2. Crossed into BC.
3. Crossed into the Pacific Time Zone (last time zone change of this trip).
4. Crossed the 10,000 mile mark (while entering Banff).

Just out of curiosity I checked the weather in Calgary to see if I would have left later that it would have made a difference in the weather I experienced. You bet it would have! The weather report was still stormy and the winds had picked up to a steady 22 mph with 35 mph cross winds, 50% more than when I had traveled through the same area!

I got into Kamloops right around 3:30 local time. The temperature was 81 degrees. While crossing through Banff the temperature dropped to 46 degrees for a total of 35 degrees difference. Layered clothing and foul weather gear are an absolute must.

Overall, 440 miles and 10 1/2 hours. Getting rid of that stomach bug brought back my riding energy.

Leg 27 - Strathmore, AB to Kamloops, BC

Tomorrow I have a short 200 miles to the fourth and last corner, Blaine, WA. The plan is to ride to Blaine, get the required documentation and then ride on to Seattle, WA to visit my elder daughter Katie. Yahoo!!!!

Leg 26 - Moose Jaw, SK to Strathmore, AB

Left the motel in Moose Jaw at 6:20 am with overcast skies and 54 degrees. There was no rain in the forecast and the overcast skies turning to sunshine by the time I would reach midway between Swift Current and Medicine Hat. Gotta love the names of these Canadian towns.

I put my over pants on and the turtle fur ear warmer around my neck to keep warm. Part of the experience of this trip is the exposure to different climates. In Florida I was worried about heat stroke, a worry I don't have in Canada.

I stopped for breakfast in Swift Current, SK where I met two guys from Minnesota making their way to Fairbanks, AK. Larry and Gene had left three days ago and had spent the night in Moose Jaw. Larry is 65 and Gene a little younger. Their plan was to ride to Fairbanks and then ride down to Anchorage and then back to Minnesota. Good luck guys and safe riding.

Larry and Gene from Minnesota

I left Gene and Larry in the restaurant as they arrived 45 minutes after I did and I wanted to get back on the road while my energy was still high.

I found out why my energy was low the last couple of days. I spent a long while in the motel bathroom last night. I must have picked up a little bug somewhere west of Minneapolis. I am all better today.

I stopped at a rest stop just before crossing into Alberta. There I saw a trucker that I had passed a couple of times after leaving Moose Jaw. Just outside of Moose Jaw there was an 18 wheeler and its trailer lying on its side partly obstructing the right lane. There was a single RCMP truck with its lights flashing warning traffic. I asked the trucker if he had seen it and if he knew what had happened. His response was that the two truckers must have simply lost control.

I asked one of the folks at the rest stop to snap a photo. 

Crossing into Alberta, Canada

The winds picked up pretty good about 100 miles east of Calgary, AB. I checked the weather forecast again at a lunch stop in Medicine Hat, AB. There were 17 mph winds with gusts to 25 forecasted, right at the upper limit of my comfort level. Calgary was also forecast with ISO thunder storms at 4pm, right around the time I would be arriving in Calgary.

I arrived in Strathmore, AB around 3:30 and decided to continue on to Calgary. I rode out of town about 10 miles and saw the ominous dark clouds just a few miles ahead. I decided to backtrack to Strathmore and get a motel for the night. Strathmore is just 20 miles east of Calgary which won't add much to my travel plans for tomorrow. Heck, why force the issue?

Overal, 435 miles and just over 9 hours.

Leg 26 - Moose Jaw, SK to Strathmore, AB

Tomorrow the weather is predicted sunshine and light winds for the trek to Kamloops, BC.

Leg 25 - Harvey, ND to Moose Jaw, SK

Left the motel in Harvey at 7:05 am. The plan was to log another 400+ mile day leaving a short leg to Calgary, AB. Funny how plans can change by simple things, like weather and energy.

The predicted weather was ISO Thunder storms. I dressed accordingly and packed the bike with the rain fly on my clothing bag strapped in the passenger seat. I stopped for breakfast in Minot, ND at a Panera. I stayed clear of any rain although with the flat terrain I could see lots of dark clouds along the horizon.

Harvey, ND is about 200 miles from the Canadian border. About 18 miles across the border is Estevan, SK where I stopped for for lunch. The clock on my bike showed 12:30, but when I walked into the restaurant their clock showed 11:30. I had just crossed into the Mountain Time Zone and gained one of the hours I lost while heading east.

My energy level was zero. I was totally expended and looking for a motel. Yet I had only ridden a scant 200 miles, not even close to the 400+ I was hoping for. Last night I had a restless nights sleep. The only thing I could attribute it to was the couple of sips I took of 5 Hour Energy and possibly not having dinner.

I ate from the 'Senior Menu' the Homemade Pork Cutlet and felt some of my energy return. I asked the waitress what the next major town was on the way to Calgary. My AT&T service in Canada switches to the Roger's network which doesn't have 4G or even 3G, only E which doesn't seem to allow much in the way of data.

She said Moose Jaw was a sizable town with lots of motels, 148 miles from Estevan. I resolved to at least make it to Moose Jaw. With a small sip on the 5 Hour Energy I set off.

No sooner had I left Estevan, dark clouds loomed everywhere. Two or three miles out I hit my first shower and for the next 145 miles would hit them every 20 miles or so. I stopped to take the following photo heading into one of the thunder showers:

Saskatchewan

The winds also picked up. Between the rain and the wind I was grateful to make it into Moose Jaw around 3pm local time to spend the night.

Overall, 345 miles and 9 hours (with the time zone change). This leaves me with 430 mile leg tomorrow to get to Calgary.

Leg 25 - Harvey, ND to Moose Jaw, SK

The motel stood all by itself with no restaurants and no local place to buy beer. One of the hotel clerks directed me to the only liquor store in Moose Jaw located in the city center. Sheesh, I thought Canada was a liberal country. While I was out I stopped at a pizza parlor and brought back a Hawaiian pizza and a can of beer. It rained again while out foraging for food and drink but by then I was a seasoned rider of rain and it didn't phase me. :-)

Leg 24 - Saint Cloud, MN to Harvey, ND

Left the motel in Saint Cloud, MN at 7:05 am. The predicted weather was thunder storms and the morning clouds were an ominous dark gray. I could see a clear horizon in the north west, my direction of travel.

I rode Hwy 10 west out of Saint Cloud and only got into a small sprinkle. The further west and north I got, the more the north west horizon was clear. About 80 miles west I was clear of the storm clouds and into sunshine.

I stopped in a tiny town called New York Mills at a local cafe for breakfast about 110 miles west of Saint Cloud around 9 am. It felt good to be clear of the weather.

When I got to Jamestown, ND I had to make a decision. Should I continue my travel to Blaine, WA in the US or go through Canada as originally planned? Turns out that the mileage from Jamestown, ND to Blaine, WA is the same if I went through Montana and eastern Washington or if I went through Calgary, AB. I checked the weather going north and found it favorable. Nice, because I wanted to go through the Canadian Rockies and Banff National Park.

I took Hwy 52 out of Jamestown heading northwest. The winds picked up a bit, but they were within my comfort level. I stopped along Hwy 52 to take the following photo. The sky was filled with low hanging white billowy clouds. It seemed a surreal scene as I rode the near vacant highway.

Hwy 52 in North Dakota

I stopped for lunch at a Country Gardens Restaurant and had roast turkey and mashed potatoes. The waitress asked what other side dish I wanted and was surprised to see baked apples as a choice. I opted for the apples and was pleasantly surprised. Comfort food sure does wonders for a wandering spirit.

The distance from Saint Cloud, MN to Calgary, AB is a little less than 1200 miles. Riding 400 miles a day would take 3 days. After lunch I took a sip from a bottle of 5 Hour Energy. I didn't want to get sleepy from the big lunch and have to stop before I got in the required mileage.

I stopped in Harvey, ND and checked into the Comfort Inn around 5:15.

Overall, 405 miles and a little over 10 hours.

Leg 24 - Saint Cloud, MN to Harvey, ND

This leaves just a little over 760 miles to Calgary, AB, a very doable two day ride for this 67 year old with a little help from 5 Hour Energy. :-) Harvey, ND is around 175 miles south of the Canadian Saskatchewan province where I will cross the border into Canada for the second time on this trip.

Leg 23 - Friendship, WI to Saint Cloud, MN

Left Castle Rock Campground, Friendship, WI at 6:10 am. I set my alarm for 5:00 am and woke up just before the alarm went off. It took just over an hour to break camp and repack the bike even without making a cup of tea.

AT&T cell service is hit and miss in the remote areas of Wisconsin so Google Maps was not available. Luckily I had purchased a satellite GPS app for my iPhone, NAVGON, a couple of years ago. It doesn't require an internet connection to provide turn-by-turn directions.

I set the options on NAVGON to 'scenic route' to Minneapolis, MN from Friendship, WI. It also had an option for vehicle, 'motorcycle'. I must admit, I got what I asked for. I rode through some spectacular scenery. The app took me through some rural farmlands, two lane roads less than well maintained and on US Hwy 61 along the Mississippi River. The following photo is a glimpse of the scenery, Lake Pepin a huge bulge in the Mississippi River.

Lake Pepin, MN

The route also took me through Red Wing, MN, home of the well known Red Wing Shoes. However, as I got close to Minneapolis the app got a little absurd. I found myself meandering through side streets and looping around the Interstate 94. I decided I could navigate using Google Maps through the city and beyond to Saint Cloud. I will use NAVGON again, just not around major metropolitan areas.

I did get to chat with a fellow in Minneapolis while riding a side street that was traffic congested. He pulled up next to me on his Suzuki Boulevard, a cruiser style motorcycle. He asked where I was going and when I told him I was touring the Four Corners of the US, he showed his enthusiasm. Motorcycle riders all over the US have the same affliction, they love to ride.

I must have lost a bit of my riding stamina during my extended stay in Illinois. I felt myself getting tired around 1pm and starting thinking of where I was going to stay the night. Maybe it was the camping the night before or more likely the naps I got used to taking in the mid afternoon while at Rick and Linda's. :-)

My original plan to ride to Fargo, ND went by the wayside and I pushed on to Saint Cloud, MN and checked into a Holiday Inn Express just off the freeway at 2:30 pm.

Overall, 332 miles and 8 1/2 hours.

Leg 23 - Friendship, WI to Saint Cloud, MN

My plan is to get to Calgary in the next three days and then take a layover day visiting the Royal Tyrell Museum suggested by a friend.

Leg 22 - Villa Park, IL to Friendship, WI

Left Villa Park, IL at 7:10 am, June 20th after a two week stay with my younger brother Rick and his wife Linda. Rick, Linda and I rode over 500 miles together during my stay.

We rode to Pleasant Prairie, WI to visit our cousins Spring and April and their families. I had not seen my cousin April in close to 40 years. Spring surprised me with an impromptu belated birthday celebration complete with a cake with candles accompanied by ice cream. Thank you Spring.

We rode to Abraham Lincoln National Cemetery with a caravan of cars and two other riders for a one year memorial of Rick's long time friend, Bob, who had died in a car accident. He was an avid rider and a member of the Patriot Guard, as is Rick.

We rode to Starved Rock State Park for a Father's Day brunch. This was the first time I can remember being at Starved Rock even having grown up in Illinois. It was a beautiful ride.

This was also the first time I had spent more than a couple of days with my brother Rick since I moved to California in 1975. It was nice to spend the time together after all these years. What is remarkable is even though we both have been life long motorcycle riders, we had never ridden together.

I rode to Fox Lake, IL to have lunch with a few high school classmates that found time in their schedules. I had not seen several of them since graduating high school in 1965. Laura, one of the attendees, grew up in the same neighborhood. Thank you for the great conversation and wonderful company.

Terry Meyers, one of my classmates, is a life long rider and decided to ride with me to Friendship, WI. His family used to live in Friendship and he took the opportunity to visit the area. Terry lives in Rockford and we decided to meet in Harvard, IL. Terry has a 2001 Goldwing that he has customized to his liking:

We met in Harvard, IL around 8:45 at a local Harvard restaurant. His directions were to take a left at the cow statue in the center of town, ride two blocks and look for his bike. I arrived before Terry, went in and ordered breakfast at the only restaurant open. When I walked in the door I was warmly greeted by a couple of patrons. Everyone who walked in the door was greeted with a welcome similar to the one Norm got on Cheers. Got to love small towns.

Terry showed up about 20 minutes later dressed in similar rain gear to what I was wearing. The weather was predicted as 'ISO thunder storms' and we both got caught in the same passing rain.

We were on the rode again at 10:00 am. The weather was 'iffy' until we got to Columbus. Terry decided to get comfortable and took off his helmet and rain gear and rode in shorts and a cowboy hat. :-)

The plan was to ride to Friendship, WI to visit the family patriarch, Elden Carlson whom the family refers to as Sonny. He is the oldest surviving relative of the Lomax / Carlson families. Sonny and his wife Valerie had disconnected their telephone land line and I did not have a phone number to let them know I was coming.

We arrived at Sonny's house around 2:30 in the afternoon. I knocked on the door and when he answered the door he didn't recognize me. To be fair, we had not seen each other since I was a boy, over 50 years ago. Sonny is now 83.

Terry took the opportunity to bid farewell and left me to reminisce with Sonny and Val. We had great conversation over a nice dinner that Val cooked up and I left around 7pm after exchanging phone numbers, email addresses and a couple of photos.

I decided to camp in the Castle Rock County Campground on Castle Lake. I took the photo from inside my tent just before I called it a day:

Overall, 218 miles and 7 1/2 hours. The ride up Hwy 89 took us through some gorgeous Wisconsin farmland. A great two week layover.

Leg 21 - Mississagua, ON to Villa Park, IL

Left the motel in Mississagua at 6:00 am, June 5th. I have been on the rode now for a month. It was 54 degrees and the predicted weather was sunny and cool. The plan was to ride to Kalamazoo, MI and then spend the night, leaving a short ride to Villa Park, IL the next day.

I crossed the border back into the USA at Sarnia, Ontario. Contrasted to the Madawaska, ME border crossing, the Sarnia border was crowded with many lanes of traffic. I snapped the below photo while waiting in line to present my ID. The biker in front of me was from Manitoba, Canada. Even with the traffic it only took 25 minutes to get through the border.

Sarnia, ON border crossing into Michigan

I got to Kalamazoo, MI around 2:30 pm after a beautiful sunny ride. The time in Villa Park, IL was 1:30 pm with the time zone change to Central time. Since I was just 165 miles from Villa Park, I called my brother Rick and asked if it was ok to come into town a day early. He gave the thumbs up and I pushed on.

I got to my brother's home just before 5:00 pm. Rick and Linda had planned to attend a local concert in the park and asked if I would like to join them. Rick and Linda have a beautiful Classic Harley Davidson and we opted to take the bikes. I unpacked the bike and by 6:30 was back on headed for the concert.

Rick and Linda

There were lots of bikers attending the concert, a tribute to the popular band 'The Eagles'. We parked the bikes and got a bite to eat. By the time we got back from dinner, the line of bikes had grown. I snapped the following photo of the 'Onion in the Petunia patch'. ;-))

Goldwing among the Harleys

There was one bike that got everyone's attention when it rolled in, "The BOSS Hog." This bike was fitted with a V8 car engine souped up with a blower. A painted scroll on the rear fender stated the horse power was '1265 and then some.' Holy cow, the Goldwing has 118 horse.

The BOSS Hog

Overall, 545 miles and right at 12 hours of riding. This was the longest leg of the trip.

I plan on staying in Villa Park, IL for the next couple of weeks visiting the many family members I have in the area and friends and classmates from where I graduated high school in Fox Lake, IL

I called Des Plaines Honda to see if they could get me in to service my bike. Doug, the service manager, was very helpful. When I told him I had a 2005 Goldwing with 10,000 miles that had never been serviced but had changed all of the fluids and replaced the tires, he told me I did not need a service.

Doug told me to bring the bike by on Saturday and he would personally inspect the bike. On Saturday, Doug checked the fluids, found the same small leak on the right front fork, inspected the brakes and tires. One of the passenger handles was loose and he tightened it up. I strap my bags to the passenger handles so it was a good catch.

After 15 minutes of inspection, Doug gave me his 'good to go' blessing. All for NO CHARGE.

In the 45 minutes I was at the dealership, two brand new Goldwings were sold and prepped. Wow, this is a class dealership.

Leg 20 - Montreal, QC to Mississauga, ON

Left Montreal at 5:45 am. I was taken aback when I went out this morning to pack my bike. I was blocked in on every side and unable to get out. I starting taking the cover off of my bike when a man appeared from one of the hotel doors. He asked me what I was doing. When I told him I was packing my bike to leave he looked relieved. He said he saw me on the hotel monitor camera and came out to investigate. I showed him that I was blocked in and he said he would call the hotel guest and have him move his car. Whew!

I was on the road by 5:45. My new rain pants are doing double duty. I put them on when it is cool in the morning. They add an extra layer of insulation and can be easily removed. Much better than long johns which require a private space to take off.

The predicted weather was lower to mid 60's the entire day with a 13 mph head wind. I don't mind the head wind as far as riding goes, but it does take a hit on gas mileage. If I am going 70 mph, I am eating gas as if I am going over 80. A big difference. The Goldwing handles the winds very well.

At one of the rest stops along the highway I met a couple of riders from Naples, FL, Warren and Kathy. They are Canadian citizens with a summer home in Naples. They were riding a couple of customized Harley Davidson Super Glides. Two very beautiful motorcycles.

They started their trip north a couple of weeks ago and were taking in the sights along the way. Their routine was to ride two days and then take a 'down' day.

They were also riding with their mascot, Nick, shown below in the photo.

Kathy and Warren (and Nick)

Nick was a Kris Krinkle present and they came up with the idea to bring it along on their ride, taking photos of sights along the way with Nick in the picture. Next Christmas they are going to present Nick to one of their riding friends along with a photo album of where Nick had traveled. The idea is to leave blank photo spots so the next riders could carry on the tradition.

We rode together for a short 60 miles when Kathy and Warren peeled off on their exit continuing their trip north to their home. Safe riding to Kathy and Warren (and Nick).

I arrived in Mississauga, ON around 3:15 hungry and ready for a nap. I checked into a motel and promptly got some pot roast and mash potatoes at a nearby restaurant. Comfort food was just what I needed.

Overall, 365 miles and 9 1/2 hours. I am just a short 500 miles from my brother's house in Villa Park, IL. I plan on splitting up the remaining miles into two days with the lion's share tomorrow. That way I can sleep in on Friday, miss the rush hour traffic and glide into Villa Park in the early afternoon.

Leg 19 - Madawaska, ME to Montreal, QC

Left the motel in Madawaska, ME at 5:50 am and 58 degrees. Madawaska is less then a mile from the Canadian border.

I followed the waitress's advice from last night's dinner and crossed the border using the Madawaska border crossing. I got inspected. I had to unpack the bike and all of my bags were gone through. To be fair, it was a cursory look through my bags. It could have been much worse. The officer was serious but very polite. I took the following photo of the event:

Inspected at the Canadian Border Crossing Madawaska, ME

The ride from Madawaska to Quebec was absolutely gorgeous. I looked for moose in the forest that lined both sides of the highway. I didn't get to see any, but they are definitely in the area. Moose are frequently struck on the highways in Canada and the US. Weighing in at up to 1000 pounds, it would be unfortunate to hit one on a motorcycle. 

The ride from Quebec to Montreal was congested and full of 18 wheeler traffic. There were many sections of the Trans Canadian Highway that are under construction.

I arrived in Montreal around 2:30 in the afternoon. The temperature was in the low 80's. At gas stops and rest stops along the way I peeled off layers of clothing I put on in the morning. 

I immediately set my Google Maps to a 'duck deli' that I had seen featured on Andrew Zimmern's Bizarre Foods, Canard du Lac Brome. A friendly salesperson, Pauline, helped me select a few items I could snack on in my hotel room. I am a big fan of duck.

I checked into a 'bare bones' hotel, Plateau Royale' on Ave du Parc in Montreal. My plan was to spend two nights in Montreal. The day I arrived was just before my birthday and I wanted to celebrate it with a day of site seeing in Montreal.

I went to the Notre Dame Basilica of Montreal, a spectacular site. I took the following photo in the main part of the Basilica:

Notre Dame Basilica of Montreal

I also went to the Montreal Museum of Fine Arts. The museum is huge, spanning four buildings connected through underground passageways. Each building has four floors of exhibits. They have old masters as well as modern art. The following caught my eye in the modern art section:

Montreal Museum of Fine Arts

One thing that I found interesting about Montreal is that it is a French speaking city. The first words spoken no matter where I was, was in French. When I returned English, the person immediately switched to perfect English. Grocery store, restaurant, people on the street, all speaking French. But everyone I met also spoke perfect English. I read a fact about Montreal that it is the second largest French speaking population in the world.

Overall, 369 miles and 8 1/2 hours of riding.

Leg 18 - Chelmsford, MA to Madawaska, ME (Third Corner)

Left Chelmsford, MA at 6:05 am. Not a cloud in the sky, an absolutely gorgeous day. I set the alarm for 4:30 am as the sun rise this far north was at 5:10 am. I laid in bed skipping the early rise and rolled out at 5:15. By the time I left at 6:05 the sun was way up past the horizon.

It was 48 degrees, so I put on my new rain pants for extra warmth and wrapped a turtle fur ear warmer around my neck to keep the cold air from drafting on my neck. Wow, 50 degrees cooler than the warmest temperature I encountered in Florida.

Stopped for breakfast at Govenor's Restaurant and Bakery in Waterville, ME. Ordered fresh lobster eggs benedict and hot tea. It was 63 degrees by then so I took off my rain pants and neck wrap.

I took Interstate 95 the entire way to Houlton, ME where I 95 crossed into Canada. The rest of the way to Madawaska I was on Hwy 1.

I took the following photo at a scenic lookout along I 95. The scenery along the entire leg was beautiful. I really didn't mind being on the Interstate as the highway did not have a lot of travelers and very few 18 wheelers.

Scenic stop on I 95 in northern Maine

The ride on Hwy 1 from Houlton, ME to Madawaska, ME had more motorcycles then I had seen in one day on the entire trip. I asked one rider in Madawaska when the riding season started in the area. Her reply was 'last week'. Her and her husband had two beautiful Harley Davidsons, a shame they couldn't ride more.

I got into Madawaska, ME around 3:30 and shot the following photo in front of the post office. I also gassed up and got a receipt that had Madawaska, ME printed on it.

Madawaska, ME Post Office

There is also a small park dedicated to this corner. It is aptly named, 'Four Corner's Park'. One of the visitor's kindly took the following photo.

Four Corners Park, Madawaska, ME

The bike is sitting on some stone tiles, etched with the names, dates, etc of those who have completed the four corners. There are red stones and white stones. The red stones are for those who have completed the tour in 21 days or less and are etched free of charge. The white stones are for those who have completed the tour in more than 21 days and are available for purchase. Notice the Harley Davidson logo on the monument (behind my Goldwing.) ;))

I checked into a local motel named Martin's Motel on 93 Main Street. $57.24 got me a room for the night. I also ate dinner at a local restaurant named Dolly's Restaurant in Frenchville, the town bordering Madawaska. The waitress, Danielle, warned me to cross over into Canada in Madawaska and not the border crossing on Hwy 1. There was some trouble in the Hwy 1 crossing and they closed the border temporarily.

Overall, 479 miles and 9 1/2 hours. What a difference a day makes. The wind was calm and the Interstate had little traffic. Both high winds and congested traffic contribute to using more energy while riding. A good night's sleep also helps.

Leg 18 - Chelmsford, MA to Madawaska, ME (Third Corner)

Tomorrow I cross into Canada and begin making my way west to the fourth corner, Blaine, WA. I will lay over in Villa Park, IL for an extended stay with my younger brother, sister-in-law and visit with the many family members I have in the greater Chicago area.

Leg 17 - Montclair, NJ to Chelmsford, MA

Left Montclair May 31st at 7:10 am after staying two nights in Montclair.

I dressed for the predicted weather of 56 degrees and not rising above 62 degrees the entire day. One of the amazing things about this trip is the varied weather conditions. Just a few days ago I dressed for the mid 90's. Today I dressed for the upper 50's. I put on long johns, an UnderArmor cold gear top and snapped in my jacket liner. I was comfortable.

The weather today had predicted brisk 15 - 20 mph head winds the entire leg. The cold air coming down from the north took it's toll on my energy. I stopped frequently to recoup.

The plan was to travel into New Hampshire. My energy waned and I stopped in Chelmsford, Massachusetts. Still I was in five different states, NJ, NY, CT, RI and MA. Google Maps didn't have Rhode Island on the route, but I made a short detour just to visit the state.

I ate lunch at a place named Cherri's State Line Diner on Route 6 in Rhode Island. The sign in the parking lot said 'Bikers Welcome'. Hmmm, were there places where bikers weren't welcome?

There I had a cup of home made chicken noodle soup and a mushroom swiss cheese burger. Not the lunch my urologist would recommend, but delicious just the same.

I took the Interstate's the entire way. The population is dense between NYC and Boston. The best route is to simply pass the miles quickly which the interstate does.

Between the Interstate's traffic and the winds my energy was sapped by 3pm.

Overall, 278 miles and a little over 8 hours of riding. The third corner, Madawaska, ME is within reach, weather and energy permitting.

Leg 16 - New Hope, PA to Montclair, NJ

Left New Hope, PA at 11:30 am. This leg would be very short, just 72 miles, and I took the opportunity to sleep in. I arrived in Montclair shortly after 1 pm. I would be meeting a long time friend, Huwaida whom I had worked with in San Francisco and who recently moved to NJ.

Huwaida would not be getting home from work until after 5 pm so I had a few hours to kill. I found a Honda dealership 15 minutes away called Motorcycle Mall in Belleville, NJ www.motorcyclemall.com. The service department squeezed me into their service schedule to change the oil and filter when I told them I was on a 'road trip'.  I had ridden over 3000 miles since the last oil change in Houston.

Everyone I interacted with at the dealership was friendly. I even exchanged blog addresses with Monica in the apparel department where I bought a new pair of rain pants. Mine I had discovered in the previous leg had two big tears. Monica's blog address is www.storiesworthtellin.com, writing of a young person with compassionate eyes to modern issues.

Enjoyed the evening with Huwaida and her boyfriend Gregory. Both Huwaida and Gregory had to work the next day and I took the opportunity to visit New York City, one of only two major cities in the US I had never visited.

I took the train from Montclair to NYC, a short 30 minute ride. I visited the Empire State Building where I took the following photo from the 82nd floor observation deck.

From the Empire State Building 82nd floor

New York City is HUGE!

I then took the subway to downtown, shown in the above photo. On the subway three musicians played and sang 'My Girl' and exited two stops after I got on. A nice unexpected concert. They were very good.

I then visited 'Ground Zero', a sobering site. Like everyone I was glued to the TV coverage during 9/11. It raised the hair on my arms being in the same area where I had viewed the devastation over 12 years ago.

Ground Zero

The following photo of the One World Trade Center from Ground Zero. It is an awesome building. Love to New Yorkers for a gracious recovery.

One World Trade Center

I then walked down to the habor and saw the grand ole lady proudly hoisting her torch. There were street performers break dancing, doing athletic feats of strength and flips in the harbor park entertaining the visitors. They are not allowed to panhandle, but most gave something for the outstanding performance.

I took the subway back to Penn Station, the train back to Montclair to meet Huwaida coming home from work. We walked to an Italian restaurant in her neighborhood and chatted each other up over an outstanding dinner of rack of lamb and a nice Chianti.

Overall, 72 miles and 1 1/2 hours of riding.

Leg 15 - Salisbury, MD to New Hope, PA

Left Salisbury, MD at 6:15 am. The plan for this leg was to ride to a high school classmate, Marlene's house in New Hope, PA by 2pm. This would be a short leg of less than 200 miles.

I made a brief stop at an ATM for cash as there would be tolls along the route. I was down to my last three dollars of cash and wanted to make sure I had plenty of cash.

I stopped for breakfast in Conshohocken, PA at a place called Andy's Diner just after 10 am. There I was served up a great breakfast by a smiling waitress named Kathy O. Eggs, toast, Canadian bacon and hash browns, $6.10. They also had senior specials for as little as $1.99.

From Conshohocken, PA to New Hope, PA was a short 28 miles and it was around 10:45 when I was back on the road. I would be arriving sooner than expected. I hit a rain shower just 10 miles from my destination, the first rain I had this entire trip so far. I arrived at 11:30 am.

Marlene showed me some of the local sites which included where George Washington crossed the Delaware River. The town is appropriately named Washington's Crossing. Shown below is a replica boat and the rapidly flowing river.

Washington's boat

Delaware River

Marlene and I had dinner at Martine's Riverhouse in New Hope, PA. We chatted up old times, filled in one another of childhood stories and found we had a remarkably similar life path. The restaurant served up a great menu and overlooked the Delaware River. Marlene has a well received blog www.wife2widow2single.blogspot.com. The blog has been published into a book that can be found on Amazon, http://www.amazon.com/Wife-Widow-Single-journey-widowhood/dp/1490993797/ref=sr_1_fkmr2_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1401453085&sr=1-1-fkmr2&keywords=marlene+brown+widow

Overall 178 miles and a little over 5 hours.