2004 Road Trip
As you can see, I didn't really start taking pictures of my trip until Sunday, the 4th of July, while in Boondocks, Iowa.This was the first decent day to even dare to get my digital Camera out, since I ran into rain the whole way north. I left Dallas at about 6am Thursday July 1st, 2004 and made it to DesMoines, 770 miles, in about 11 hours. This was with consistant rain and stopping approximately every 100 miles for gas. I stopped in Des Moines for a couple of days for my High School reunion. That was strange.
PIC 1: Striker and his beautiful family. I'm not a family man yet, but seeing his family makes me want to be.
PIC #2: Strikers dual pin Aero and my single pin loaded down.
PIC #3: A little country humor
PIC#4:A little more Boondocks country Humor
A very big thanks for breakfast, Striker and Family
PIC #5: This was the scene just north of Minneapolis, Minnesota on the 4th. I had been riding through rain most of the way since Minneapolis and dried up briefly. I saw this storm as I was riding into it and thought I migh get off and take a picture. It was about 3pm.
PIC #6: I got into Duluth, Minnesota at about 6:30pm or so and it was about 45 degrees, rainy and foggy. Usually this is a very pretty scene, that day it didn't look so pretty. There was a lot of tourist in Duluth that evening for the fireworks show they were supposed to have and they got cancelled due to the fog.
PIC #7: This is the Hotel I stayed in on the 4th it was technically in Hermantown, MN, which is like a suburb just north of Duluth. There was a bar within walking distance,, which I made some new friends. Well, after a few drinks and a pitcher, most everyone in the bar was my friend. On the 5th, it was raining again. So, after a breakfast value meal #1 at Mc D's, I left for Virginia, MN at about 9:30am.
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PIC #8: My buddy Andy and his girlfriend Debra at the Chinese Buffet in Virginia, MN. This was OK eating, probably the best Chinese food for about 100 miles. I wouldn't go there if I had other options.
PIC #9: I woke up Monday morning and looked outside my tent. Across the street was an Albino squirrel. As soon as I started moving to get out of my tiny tent, the mystical red-eyed creature ran up a tree. As I got closer he went further up the tree. This is the best picture I could get.
PIC #10: You can see my tent off to the right side of this small house. With two dogs and no X-tra rooms, I opted to sleep outside.
PIC #11: The backside of Andys house. We built the little concrete patio using old sidewalk slabs. I had no other place that was secure to park my bike as there was no driveway. During my visit, we also put the wood along the bottom of the patio for the dogs.
PIC #12: This is Harold. He is a cross eyed, blue eyed, white short haired German Shepard. Nice dog, btalks a lot.
PIC #13: This pups name is Henry. Mixed mut, but a very sweet dog.
PIC #14: My buddy Andy and Henry. They were both rather tired after a day of work outside.
PIC #15: A nice picture of some gay animal loving. Henry apears to be the bitch in this picture, but the previous day, Harold was the reciever. This was a non-stop gay love fest between two dogs. Theres nothing wrong with that,....right?
PIC #16: Well, after riding 2800 miles in a matter of day's on the cruiser, I learned that riding is more fun with my wife, and a cruiser just wont cut it for two up touring. I got back on a Friday night. The very next morning I changed the oil on the Aero, my wife and I went to Pizzaghetti for lunch and to the Honda dealer with the intentions of looking at an older GL1500 Wing to get in addition to the cruiser.. My wife sat on the new Wing and liked it, I rode it and loved it. I came to the conclusion that I would probably never ride the Aero if I got the new Wing. The power, agility and creature comforts of the Wing make this an ideal daily commuter and interstate bike. Its the fastest car you can get for under $20k. ;)
UPDATE: 3 weeks after my purchase, I have right at 1000miles on it. I wish I didn't have to work so dang much, I would ride much more.
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