A visit with Richard and Jodie Wells

Tuesday 5/25 - After having mopped up the mess from the storm, we lounged in the rec room at the park for a bit commiserating with the other campers while our laundry churned. Watching the weather channel, we learned that as much as 7 inches of rain had fallen in Del Rio. Several of the locals came to inquire as to how we fared. I guess idiots from California in the tents were all the buzz around the park. Finally packed and ready, we rolled out at about noon headed for the outskirts of San Antonio. Richard and Jodie had graciously invited us to spend a couple of days of R&R at "The Ranch". We arrived about 7 PM. Richard prepared us a wonderful meal, we chatted for a quite some time reminiscing old times, then we were shown the gusest house, the pool, the hot tub and encouraged to treat our road-weary bones to a soak, a swim and a good night's sleep in real beds.

Wednesday 5/26 - Richard gave us the 5.5 cent tour of the ranch. The place is quite marvelous as you can see from the photos. Richard and Jodie put this place together from the ground up over. They are amazing people. After the tour, we took the opportunity to open up the trailers and air them out for the day. Jay removed the other storage tube from his trailer, fearing it might come loose as the first one had. We spent the remainder of the day relaxing and napping, interspersed with wonderful meals and entertainment.

Thursday 5/27 - After another wonderful breakfast prepared by our hosts, we mounted up and headed east, our destination for the night being Beaumont, Texas, where we are no set up on a beautuful RV park. The back roads through the hill country were absolutely perfect for motorcycle cruising. As is our habit, we avoided the interstates and got to absorb some of the east Texan small town ambiance. Real Americana. Friendly folk and tidy, well manicured communities. As we moved closer to the coast and Lousiana, we could feel the humidity increasing. Here in the park it is quite characteristally southern with raucous cicada like insects serenading from the trees while the lightning bugs entertain us from the air.

Big Bend National Park - Truly Awesome

Friday 5/21 Decided to blow off Carlsbad (we have both been there before) and head directly to Big Bend National Park. After the Garmin got confused with some new freeeways around El Paso that were not in the map database, we finally started making progress. Not too far past Las Cruces (maybe near El Paso) we encountered a massive dairy farm and/or feed lot, from which emanated a cloying stench so acrid as to irritate every mucus membrane in my nose, throat and mouth. Honest to God, it was terrible. I do not know how local folks tolerate it. We spent the night in a very friendly rural RV park in the little town of Alpine TX.

Saturday 5/22 The ride from Alpine to Big Bend was a little stressful for us, since we got separted and basically spent the day chasing each other. In the morning Jay and i were getting geared up and I told Jay I was going up to the Shell station to get some ice and gas. I assumed Jay would follow shortly since he was putting his helmet on as I pulled out. After I had been at the station for awhile and Jay did not appear, I assumed that he had misheard me and had headed for Marfa for gas, which was on the route to Big Bend. So I started in that direction but did not encounter him in Marfa either. Well, he may have gone on I'm thinking, so I headed on down the road towards Presidio. Arriving in Presidio, I decided to call Joy Lindholm who looked at Jay's SPOT page and said he was in Shafter heading south toward Presidio. Relieved to know his location, but confused as to how I got ahead of him, I pulled into the first gas station and waited for him to arrive. After 55 minutes and no Jay, I called again and this time was informed that he was now PAST Presidio, almost to Big Bend! Jay had not taken the same road into Presidio as I , and had slipped by me. We finally caught up with each other just inside the park. We spent the night in Chisos Basin Campground at around 5000 feet elevation ( what, you didn't know Texas has Mountains?) in a strikingly beautiful craggy amphitheater, with peaks and towers jutting up another 2000 feet around us.

Sunday 5/23 - We were so impressed with the experience in Big Bend Park we decided to extend our stay in the park another day. Jay was having a near-religious experience with his binoculars doing his birding. The variety of the bird population here is world re-known. We packed up and moved the camp to the Rio Grande Village, since we were desirous of a shower, and we needed to do some laundry. After dropping off the trailers in the Rio Grand campground, we re-mounted and spent the better part of the day on a ride back through the park and up the Ross Maxwell Scenic Drive to the Elena Canyon overlook. We now know that we can survive 106 degrees, with enough water. The drive, the canyons, the mountains.... all truly awesome.

Monday 5/24 - OK then... we have given Big Bend a fair bit of attention. Time to move on towards San Antonio for a pit-stop with my old friend Richard Wells. However the distance at 425 miles is a bit much so we are currently overnighting in Del Rio in a nice RV park (with great WI-FI). As I type this I am sitting inside the Kwiw-Kamp while a typical Texas thunderstorm rages upon and around us. This is the real deal complete with wind gusts, cracking thunder, blazing lightning and downpours of biblical proportions. Jay is in his tent as well, probably typing emails while we wait out the storm. Oh yeah, I must mention Jay's "issue" with his trailer today. While cruising along about 60 MPH, the rear strap that holds the storage tube under his unit broke and the tube dragged the ground. We removed the tube completely and bungeed it to the top of my trailer until we can get to Richard's and fix it.

>>>>Next morning update<<<<<>

The storm turned into a tempest, raging on until about 3 AM. Blasted the tents with fire-hose rain and severe wind gusts. The thunder and lightning defy description - you had to be there. We stayed mostly dry, but both Jay and I had to stand up in the Kwik-Kamps and brace against the wind. We are mopping up, drying out, and doing laundry.

Welcome to New Mexico

The Land of Enchantment so they say. I certainly am enchanted to finally have wireless! We have been traveling through the the wonderful high desert and mountains of central Arizona since leaving California and have not been able to get in from the rural campgrounds. Here in Las Cruces NM it is working great, so here is a brief synopsis of the journey thus far.

Monday we toured Calico Ghost Town outside of Barstow, then did most of the paved roads in Joshua Tree National park, ending the day at Ole Johansen's place (Jay's uncle) who lives in Desert Hot Springs. Ole and Jan treated us to a wonderful mexican dinner.

Tuesday we left Desert Hot Springs about noon, and bucked the winds through the valley. ponting the wings towards Arizona by way of 29 Palms. The ride across the desert was fantastic. This is definately the time of year to see this country.. the wildflowers, cactus and succulents are in full bloom. Spent the night in Aguila, in a little RV park run by a gun-totin' (really) cowboy who rides a Shadow. Name of Doyle. Cool dude.

Wednesday we headed up into the mountains of Central and Eastern Arizona. Neither Jay nor I had any preconeptions about this area. I had plotted a course (roughly) while in Desert Hot Springs to thwart the interstate route through the state and traverse as many national forests as possible while still maintaining a generally easterly line of progress. We were amazed. This is some of the most wonderful desert/mountain riding we have ever encountered. The saquaro forest was spectacular. As dusk was approaching we crusied into the hamlet of Alpine. 8,400 feet ASL, replete with roaming elk and knotty-pine paneled cafe filled with friendly folk. Well maybe one not so friendly. As dusk was approaching we were hell-bent to find a RV park with electric, as we knew it would be a very chilly night at this elevation. We motored around the sleepy town and could not find any RV park. As we contemplated back-tracking to a state campground and toughing out the cold we happened to spot a few 5th wheel trailers in what looked like a small mobile park. We wheeled in and was able to raise the wizened and chain-smoking proprietress of the park, who, in response to our inquiry, said we could set up in a vacant space. "Fifteen dollars", says she - then, "oh you need electric?... then 25." Handing her a twenty and a ten, she handed me back the ten saying she didn't have change so the hell with it and closed the trailer door. Shortly thereafter Jay raised her again to inquire as to the possibility of there being a restroom for us to use. "Pee behind yer tent!", says she. We did.

Thursday 5/20. Leaving Alpine, heading for Las Cruces, I am resigned to the necessity of a spate of interstate once we descend from the mountains. Oh well, we have done really well so far staying off the super-slab. More beautiful vistas and sweeping curves through cedar-scented woods along the way though. We take a 9 mile diversion on a whim to a ghost town (can't resist 'em) and climb, climb, climb up and switch-back over a ridge to step back in time. Silver mines. Had to stop about a half mile to the top and let our steeds cool off some. Once back on the main road we meandered down to the New Mexico plateau at the continental divide and settled into the monotony of Interstate 10 for about 50 miles to Las Cruces KOA and INTERNET! Tomorrow we will be off towards Big Bend National Park... or maybe Carlsbad? We'll talk about it in the morning over one-eyed jacks and bacon.

Launch Was On Schedule, Now in the Barstow KOA

OK WE ARE AWAY!

Saturday - A wonderful springtime ride throught the Feather River Canyon on CA-70. Always impressed with thte engineering that are the bridges on this route, we paused to walk down a trail to get below one of the bridges to get photos from an unusual aspect. Then 89 to Truckee. Skirted the East Shore of Lake Tahoe. We were planning to take 50 to Carson City, but as per usual we modified that route and headed down to South Lake to show Jay Kingsbury grade. Boy they have really improved that route since the last time that I drove over it. A stunning drive down to 395, then south down the east slope of the Sierras to Lee Vining. We set up camp there in a very nice RV park and enjoyed a great dinner of roast pork chops in a local cafe.

Sunday (today) - pulled out of Lee Vining around 8:30 AM and continued south on 395. Jay had not ridden the June Lake Loop... so off track we went. The snowmelt was cascading of the face of the granite in magnificent sheets.. I had not been there in the spring before and was impressed with the grandeur. Once back on 395, the wind blew like hell all the way to Barstow, where we are currently enjoying a warm evening at a very nice KOA. Tomorrow we will head to Joshua Tree National Park, then on the Desert Hot Springs to visit Jay's uncle.

We will discuss further itinery/route options then.

Jay Has Arrived From Arcata

Jay pulled in about 4:30. He obviously has spent many hours buffing up Ol' Yeller... glows in the dark! So looks like we will be pulling out on schedule tomorrow, just have to buy a few groceries and some ice and away we go. We have a plan (subject to change in an instant) to head up 70 to Quincy, then south on 89 to Truckee / Lake Tahoe / Carson City then down 395 to maybe Lee Vining or thereabouts.

About the Masthead Photo . . .

Several Folks have made inquiry regarding the photo. I shot this at sunset in Monument Valley last September during our "Wild West" ride. Jay convinced me that it would be a great idea to ride the Wings down a sand and dirt road from the viewpoint to the valley floor to look for John Wayne's grave. No luck finding The Duke, but his spirit is certainly there. We discovered the Wings make great dual-sports if you stand on the pegs and go like hell.

Jay's journal/travelogue of this wonderful 2.5 week, 3500 mile adventure is immortalized in two subsequent issues of the UMCI newsletter. If you are interested, here are the links:

• UMCI Newsletter Nov 09
• UMCI Newsletter Dec 09

7 Days and Counting

Well, here we go with the first post. Countdown is 7 days to launch (May 15). Spoke to Jay yesterday and he says he is on schedule to leave Arcata and head over to my place in Oroville on Friday the 14th. I have completed all the maintenance on both the Goldwing and the Kwik-Kamp that I felt was necessary prior to the trip.

Several people have asked about our intended route and itinerary. We don't have one. Really. There is a mid-trip destination in North Kingstown RI, where my brother Jerry lives. I plan to spend a week or so visiting Jerry while Jay motors around New England on his own. Then we will regroup for the trip back to California.

We will initially point the Wings towards southern California and stop in Palm Desert to visit Jay's uncle, then head east taking the most southern roads the Garmin can find. I hate interstates. Big Bend National Park is a goal, since jay is an avid birder and the park is noted for its avian diversity. Neither of us have ever traveled the deep south, so we will probably traverse the gulf states into Florida. We have every intention of cruising all the scenic byways we can find along the way, and plan to camp whenever possible throughout the trip.

From Florida we will wander north possibly via the Blue Ridge Parkway or other secondary roads to Lynchburg VA where we will visit my old friend Bob May (aka "Bad Bob") for a day or so. He lives near the D-Day Memorial which Jay has not seen so I am sure we will take that in while there. Washington DC..? Possibly. If we can find a secure RV park in Manassas or thereabouts, we may take the Metro into the City and take in a museum or two.

I will be updating this blog and posting photos as often as possible to journalize what I expect to be the ride of my life. Check in periodically if you are so inclined, or use the "follow" widget on the left if you want to get notified via email of new posts and updates.

So you get the idea, no schedule, no route map. Ahhh its great to be retired!

CLICK HERE FOR OUR GEO-LOCATION MAP

(I will restart this when we head out. Right now it shows my last trip)