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Showing posts from November, 2020
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  11/30/20 A belated Happy Thanksgiving to everyone.   Sandy and I were fortunate to spend TG with Sandy’s parents, Courtney & Cam and our host Shannon & Bradley.   It was Shannon’s first Thanksgiving and she pulled off a good one.   With Covid and all the issues with the pandemic it will be hard for many families to find thanks this year.   For us there is lots to be thankful for…      Sandy being health is on the top of the list, no more cancer, Bradly & Shannon got engaged, Courtney has a nice boy friend in Cam and will be getting her MBA in just a few weeks and I got to spend a week with my parents in my home town.    We arrived at Bradley’s on Monday night (11/23), the next day we were on the bikes doing a gravel ride.   While it is flat compared to CA it is not easy.    On Wednesday we went to work in the yard doing Dad type stuff.   I know Shannon appreciated it, but I am not sure Bradley wanted...

Fun in Allentown, Recap of our Trip

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  11/21/20 Sandy and I have been at my parent’s house for few days and enjoying the time.   More on this in a bit but I can say there is no shortage of conversation and laughs over old stories.   First is a recap of our journey.   I am doing this more for me to remember but some of you that like to see the numbers you will relate.   Leave San Jose:    31-October Arrive Allentown:   16-November Total of 16 days Total Miles Driven:   3,935 averaging 246 miles per day.   If we went direct as Google Maps would suggest the drive would have been 2,876 miles.   I guess we add +1000 miles of fun. Long Driving Days:  Death Valley to Sedona, Sedona to Amarillo TX, Amarillo to OK, 2 days from TN to Allentown.  5 long days of driving (6+ hours).  In between we had several days of 2~3 hour drives. Logging:   11 days of camping, 5 nights in a hotel We spent the first two nights in a hotel.   At that point we...

Allentown PA, made it home

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  11/17/20 We made it to Allentown, what a great joy to see my parents and visit their place.   It has been 15 years since I was in the area.   Since my last post we pretty much spent 2 days driving from Kentucky to Allentown PA, arriving yesterday afternoon.   Parents House When we arrived, we got the tour of their house and I was excited to show my Dad how we set up Bessy.   After show and tell we spent a few hours talking over beer and had a Mom home cooked meal, yummy! Today was a business day getting Bessy taken care of.   Early on we had an issue with the front head lights and ordered a replacement.   Ends up the replacement the wrong part and needs to be sent back.   My Dad and I did take apart the field repair and did a much nicer tape job – should last for years.    After that we had the oil and air filter changed.   Bessy is ready for the next 5K miles.   The highlight of the day was visiting the Clothes Clos...

Good by Tennessee, Hello Kentucky

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 11/14/20 11/14/20 Time fly’s by…   it has been 3 days since I last posted something.   Let’s recap for you.   We had our 1st camp fire.   Sandy and I spent the last 6 nights camping.   We were lucky and showered on day 2 but have been without since.   That means 5 days without a shower.   We spent 3 nights at the 101 Marina, what stood out is each night was colder than the one before, but the days would warm up to be nice.    We spent more time inside the car/tent than normal.   After 101 Marina we headed east about 5 hours to Fort Pillow State Park in Tennessee.     On the way I we crossed the Mississippi River, what a treat.   There were several very large barges just under the bridge, the river was huge.    The Tennessee state line must be in the middle of the Mississippi. We arrived at Fort Pillow on Friday night, so the place was packed with weekend campers.   It reminded me a lot...

101 Marina, the house of God

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  11/11/20 So, where are we?   I am asking myself that question.   We headed N/E yesterday with the intent on staying at a camp site new Mountain Home, AR.   Along the way we notice that Bessy was sick and in need of medical attention.  Her front driving lite was falling off and in need of some duct tape to hold her in place.  We did the surgery  and got on our way, Sandy ordered the replacement parts for arrival in Allentown when we get there.   Bessy Repair, Ouch... After a relatively short 3-hour drive we found the only restaurant place that served food in the area with the idea we would pull into the camp site a few miles away.   We had pizza and wings.   We asked about having a beer and the lady at the counter said just watch for the owner and beverage control.   We took this as a hint and sat outside and had a beer in coffee cups from the counter.   After a quick lunch we drove the few miles and it ended up t...

Siloam Spirngs AR

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  11/9/20 Wow…   were has the time gone.   We have been on the road for 9 days.   I am writing from Siloam Springs AR a small town on the boarder of Arkansas and Oklahoma.   To be totally correct we are in West Siloam Springs which is in Oklahoma.    Yesterday we drove the 6.5 hrs from Amarillo and arrived mid-afternoon.   We set up camp and headed to old-town Siloam.   We stopped in the local bike shop to ask about the local ride seen.   Thanks to Will at the shop he gave me a good path for todays morning ride.    The town is in the middle of the bible belt.   According to Will, who is now our local expert there are 50 churches for the 3500 residence of Siloam.   With this nothing is open on Sunday.   He gave us a few choices for restaurants, and all were closed.   We ended up at the local Rib Crib which looks to be a local chain restaurant.   Sandy and I shared the combo platter that had just the ri...

Good Bye Sedona, Hello Amarillo TX

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 11/7/20 We said goodbye to Sedona this morning after a very windy night's sleep.  20+ mph winds kicked up throughout the night with some rain.  Cool and interesting to experience the weather - it would be dead calm, then light rain, then 20 mph winds.   This would last for 5 min and stop.  Sometime later is would go again.  This went for most of the night.   Our home for 3 nights Before we left Sedona, Sandy and I had a chance for one last hike.  We picked up a trail on the West side of town that was spectacular. And I like the cactus... Today was another haul-ass day, we drove about 10.5 hours and made it to Amarillo TX.   Most of the trip was on Route 40 which was the original Route 66.   You saw signs all along the way trying to sell the drive.  I did buy a Route 66 sticker that will go on my cooler a year from now when it comes out of storage.   This was Sandy and my first drive in the area, have t...