Operation Big Blue Thunder Complete!

I arrived home on Friday at about 11:00am, just needed to catch up on my sleep before I wrote the final chapter on this particular journey. Thursday I traveled through Utah which was also beautiful just a different kind of beauty. More of a desert beauty than was Colorado. Here are a couple of pictures I pulled over and took while heading through.

Nice although I do prefer the green trees and rivers of Colorado. 

I got into Nevada later Thursday and the heat as not good. Although for Nevada it was cool for August, 94 was too hot. I got the opportunity to use my cooling vest which worked well and I found a hotel as soon as I could in Nevada. 

In an effort to avoid the heat the next day, did I mention I do not like the heat ... I left the hotel at 3am. Stopped for gas in Victorville and brought her on in. 

It was a great trip and I am so glad I did it, glad it's over but glad I did it. I would definitely take another cross country trip but not alone. I will say that it was an empowering experience and Everything went fine but just not something I need to do alone. Safety and the joy of sharing the experience. 

Saturday I washed Thunder and removed a few states worth of bugs, she is a beauty! The title for it arrived at the house before I did so we are good to go on the registration.

Thanks to everyone that had a part in making this trip a success, Tom and his wife for making all the logistics happen, all the folks at Riders Harley Alabama for getting it done. Pam for putting me up in Kansas and to Traci, Mom, Allan, Paula and John for rooting me on every step of the way- even though some of them which I will not call out, thought I was nuts!

So for now BBT out!

Rocky Mountain High

Well I have to say that it is good to be back on the side of the USA that I am familiar with. The ride today was amazing there is no way to describe how beautiful the trip through the Colorado Rockies was. All kinds of weather - started kind of cool and then once I got to Vail it was downright cold. I contemplated putting on my rain pants but decided against it. So about half and hour later when I was soaking wet from the rain I had no one to blame but myself. It wasn't too bad but there are not a lot of places to stop while you are doing 70 through the mountains. I also knew that I would be getting into Utah where it would be really warm so I figured everything would dry eventually - which it did!
I have to say that I love it when bike riders going past wave at you - it is like we are all friends and it makes me smile, even though I am traveling alone it makes me feel part of something and not alone. Everyone has been nice throughout the trip (except for some idiot at Arby's - he was some old dude giving me the stink eye) whatever...It did not keep me from thoroughly enjoying my apple turnover.
Back to the ride, I cannot think of a time that I have seen more beautiful country - the hills were spectacular and the river running through it all was just breathtaking.
So then I get into Utah and the first sign I see says "caution eagles on the road" - I am thinking "REALLY??" doesn't seem too smart to me. I did not see them anyway.
10 miles before I got into Green River there was road construction and there was 8 miles of "loose gravel" so I was doing the self talk - "take it easy, just go slow, no quick movements" - I was really glad when that was over - I could loosen my death grip on the ....grips.
Gotta love that Kansas and Colorado have 75 mile an hour speed limits too - which means 80 really - talk about ride it like you stole it!
So I am waiting for my laundry to be done - yes you heard right - laundry (I hope it does not turn out all pink like the last time I did laundry) - it was time. I did not have to separate lights from dark's I had to separate clothes that could walk by themselves and those that could not.
Hears hoping for normal colored clothes. I just put them in and hit "warm" - seems good....
Off to Nevada tomorrow so I better get some rest. I am starting to get excited about getting home and seeing my wifey and my friends not to mention my doggies.
That's all for now - BBT out!

Kansas to Denver

What a beautiful countryside. It was a really nice ride today, green rolling hills and fresh cut fields. Little towns along the way that were very cute and reminded me how happy I am not to live in them.

Here is a picture of "main street USA"

This was still in Kansas. There are also these giant grain silos everywhere- I had to be told what they were, figured it was something like that. My friend Pam that I stayed with last night works at a dairy and she took me over there to check it out. I guess I never really thought about how it gets to Vons, it is just there.

Well tomorrow is my ride through the Rockies and I am really looking forward to it, I am heading for green river Utah and it looks to be around a 5 1/2 hour day. Which with stops ends up being all day but fun. I am just really tired at the end of the day but really glad I am getting to see what some folks refer to as "G-d's country" - I can see that. 

Also for those of you who are aware that I have to have 7500 miles on the bike to register it is Cali, it is officially at 7500.

Time for Pizza and rest, BBT out!

Full day on the road

Am I close to home yet :)

Sort of fun when you see the "now entering ______ state" - I give a little woo-hoo when I see it. Gave another one when I got to O'Fallon Missouri and I saw a Starbucks. Woo-hoo.

Also found a massage luxe which is just like our massage Envy, man did I need that.

Thanks Dave or David (whatever your name was) my therapist.

So time for some food, I may just walk over to someplace close. The weather has been good, knock on wood. It is muggy but muggy with wind at 70ish is cool air.

Hoping to make it to Hutchinson Kansas tomorrow where a friend lives but I need to check the weather, I would really like to avoid the rain if possible. 

Oh and my hotel has a hot tub that sounds like the plan "post dinner soak". That's all for now. BBT- out!

Grits dummy

A favorite expression of my Dad who I would like to think is traveling with me. I am listening to grand ole opry songs through Tennessee.

For those of you who are either not from the south or have not had the pleasure , the bowl of white stuff in my breakfast picture - grits. That's what you get at the hotel breakfast in Tennessee. Not to mention the biscuits and gravy sausage delight that I skipped, called me crazy.

Hoping to get out of here by 7:30. All packed upstairs, just getting my "hearty breakfast" After a good nights sleep. The plan today is to get to O'Fallon Missouri. Heading north to avoid a weather incident. 

It is muggy muggy muggy. But I am excited for another day on the road.

Staying safe. BBT- out!

Athens Alabama

Stopped here in Athens Alabama, about 100 miles into my trip. I stopped and got some gas and now am having some lunch. It does look like some weather is coming in so I am in no hurry, the system looks fast moving so I am hoping it will be here and gone in an hour. Nothing behind it so I am good with waiting. There is also a Marriott across the street so if it stalls I will call it a day. I would like to at least get out of Alabama the first day but whatever, safety first.

So here is the gang at Riders giving me the awesome send off. 

BBT out for now, back to weather watch 2013.

Happy Birthday to me

Another great day. Got up late after waking my Mom at 5:30am - oops sorry Mom I forgot I was AHEAD 2 hours. Spent a few hours over at Harley Looking at shiny goodies, hanging out with the guys and getting a full tour of all the controls and security features of the new bike.

Arthur and his staff continue to amaze me with their kindness, when Arthur found out it was my birthday he had me go pick out a harley blouse on him. Ended getting this cool jacket.

Cool Harley Jacket, thanks Arthur

Tom and Lonny came by the hotel and we went out to a BBQ place that was fantastic.

The seat kit is complete as well as the jiffy stand extension, they want to keep it overnight so they can send it off all washed and buttoned up. Looks like I will be heading out about 11:00.

Here it is all ready to go. Thanks guys!

Love at first sight

Sitting in my hotel in trussville Alabama, next door to the Harley Dealer where Thunder is getting all set up with a drop seat. I arrived in Alabama at 3:00 local time and Tom and his wife picked me up from the airport and brought me to see the bike at the Harley Dealer. They have been fantastic folks to deal with. After we visited Harley they took me to eat and back to their home. I spent some time visiting with  them and looking at their motorcycle travel pictures. It was a great day and they went above and beyond on this transaction. We looked for a UPS store later in the afternoon to ship back some items and we could not find one open so they are sending them out later for me. Seriously nice folks.

Here is Arthur and I at the dealership, Arthur is the service manager and has been great with getting this thing done for me. He has his best mechanics on the job.

Arthur and I

The plan is still to have me on the road Saturday morning first thing.

My ace mechanic on the job

Here is Thunder getting all fitted with the required parts. Even though she is not at her best in this photo, it was love at first sight. The guys at Riders are taking very good care of Thunder and I have no doubt that we will be ready to roll on Saturday first thing. BBT- out!

Drop seat install in progress

All Systems Go

Well I have packed, I have my plane tickets and my hotel reservation and I just heard from Tom (the seller) that the check has cleared and the bike is mine! Mine, mine, all mine - sorry, lost my head there for a minute.

Anyway - here is a picture of Tom and his grandson Eli, they will be my ride from the airport to Riders to get the bike.

Tom and Eli
 

Weather is looking ok for the return trip - maybe some rain showers in the afternoons so the plan is to ride mostly in the am. I have songs on the Phone, Google maps is set to lead the way and I have all my riding gear packed. If I forget something, I will get it when I get to Alabama.

Thanks to John D for giving me a list of things to prepare for, Allan and Paula for my great send off tonight. See you all soon.

BBT - out!

Lynyrd Skynrd - Sweet Home Alabama (From "Sweet Home Alabama" DVD)

Ready ......Set..........Wait (Hmmmmph)

I case I have not posted enough pictures of the Bike - here it is. So lonely looking, I better hurry.



Thunder in it's soon to be former home

All systems are a go at this point, I leave Santa Barbara at 5:30am on Thursday morning. I know I know 5:30am. The things we do - I leave for the longest flight of my life I am guessing. I feel a game of twiddling my thumbs coming on. I will try to focus on music, books, movies but my guess is that it will be all dreaming about the bike and the adventure to come.
Below you can click and see the route on Google maps but don't hold me to it at this point, it is one of the rules of this adventure, minimal planning. Be safe but not tied to any timetables.

Although if anyone wants to meet me on their Harley's (You know who guys are) - I will make an exception.

Open Route in Google Maps

Financing is happening and the shipping of the parts to the Harley Dealer in Alabama happened yesterday.   

                                              BBT - Out!                                                                  

Operation Big Blue Thunder

    August 2nd is my 46th birthday and on my 46th birthday I will be picking up a new Harley Davidson Street glide from a seller in Alabama and riding it home. I can hear my mother now "what they don't have those in California"? Actually, they do but....they do not have one with low miles with all the things I want on it in......here is the kicker Big Blue Pearl. Now if you are particular about color then you get it, there is an enormous different between getting a black bike vs. a red one vs. a blue one and it all depends on what you like. I was told by someone that when you buy a harley, you now have a starter kit and it is time to use all possible disposable income on customizing it (some of the income not so disposable).
So with the help of lots of people , Traci for giving me permission, my Mom for not actually calling the police to get me committed (although she still has time). Allan my friend and ace mechanical bike guru, Arthur the service manager at Rider's in Alabama who has taken me on as a special project , he has vowed to make this a special trip and take good care of the bike. Chad the sales guy at Fat Baggers who found me a seat for a drop kit that Arthur is doing even though Sturgis is next week and they were all on a truck.... I am flying out on Thursday.
In the meantime...Tom the seller of Thunder has been terrific and has gotten the bike to Harley today so they can get started as soon as the parts arrive. He has also investigated a hotel next to Riders so I can be close and pop in while they work on the new baby. The previously mentioned Chad will be sending the drop seat narrow kit to Rider's on Monday for installation. They are at Fat Baggers Inc. in case you are interested, the drop seat kit will bring me 3" lower without messing with the suspension. Which for a short girl is like a mile.
Stay tuned as I check out map routes and try to figure out how to get home from Alabama.