Day 7 July 6, 2014

I left my campground and entered Teddy Roosevelt National Park, finally purchasing my Golden Age lifetime National Park pass from Alicia, the park ranger for $10.

I cruised through the park for about an hour enjoying the interesting rock formations and topography, before leaving for another stint on Interstate 94 westbound.  The hungry man breakfast at a café in Glendive, Montana was just the ticket to fuel me up for the 600-mile ride in front of me.  After gassing up in Glendive, I headed west towards Circle, Montana on desolate two-lane route number 200 S.  Realizing the long distance ahead of me to reach Glacier National Park, I was traveling at a steady pace of 90 miles per hour when I was stunned as a small bird flew up and bonked the top of my helmet, luckily just above the visor!  Quite a wake up call, and very unsettling- hope the bird survived.

I reached the town of Wolf Point, Montana and headed west on Route 2, which traverses the entire width of the state of Montana.  I was happily humming along in the vast grasslands of this part of the state when for no apparent reason after only 136 miles since my last gas fill up, the bike sputtered and died and would not restart.  I could not understand why I ran out of gas- I had traveled earlier 176 miles on a fill up and still had approximately a half a gallon of gas left in the tank. 

My analysis came up with three reasons for the sudden terrible fuel mileage – 1) excessive speed 2) head winds 3) lousy packing job allowing the two blue dry bags strapped on top of my  hard saddlebags to stick out further and catch the wind.

As I rolled to a stop I looked around and amazingly found myself opposite an ice cream shop in the middle of nowhere.  I rolled my bike down a short grassy hill to the shop and parked it.    I asked for the manager to see if perhaps they had some gas for their lawn mower that I could buy but he told me the closest gas available was in a town about a half a mile away.  He said if I could get the motorcycle there, the gas station in town was closed, but I could use my credit card to buy gas at the station.  I decided to take a table, have some ice cream, and determine my next course of action, when a friendly older man named Larry approached me before I could even sit down.  He overheard my conversation with the manager and volunteered to drive into town, purchase a couple of gallons of gas and bring it back for me.  Overwhelmed,  I pulled out my wallet and offered him money for the purchase but he refused, asking if regular grade gas was okay for my motorcycle.  He left the ice cream shop and I sat down and ordered a root beer float.  As I was finishing the root beer float, Larry returned with a full 2-gallon gas can. We filled up my tank I paid him $10 with many, many, many, many, many, thanks.  He handed me the receipt for the 2 gallons and offered to give me change back but I refused. I gratefully shook his hand and the bike fired up immediately and I was back on my way west.  Wow!

This is where I ran out of gas....

Beautiful, but empty.

Amazingly lucky place to run out of gas, opposite an ice cream shop,

with Larry to the rescue!  

Thanks, Larry!

I arrived at Glacier National Park perhaps 30 minutes before total darkness and was able to secure a camp spot in St. Mary's campground on the east side of Glacier National Park.  I had just enough light to set up my tent and ensure that everything was secured from the weather before darkness fell. 



Day 6 July 5, 2014

Oh darn – another great day of blue sky weather!

As I had arranged, I met with a fellow BMW biker named Mike Malinowski at a swanky restaurant called Kipps just west of Minneapolis for 7:30 AM breakfast.  I had never met Mike before but sold him a saddle bag last year over the Internet and thought it would be fun to get together in person while I was in his neighborhood.  We talked bikes, and travel.  He too is well-traveled and showed me some very interesting pictures of a trip that he talk with his wife to Rome, where they were re-married, restating their wedding vows in the Vatican with all proper pomp and circumstance.  We fought over the check but Mike won, so it was a lovely way to start the long, long journey to western North Dakota.

The ride across North Dakota was spent on Interstate 94 at sustained speeds between 80 and 100 miles an hour.  I did not see even one policeman the entire time in North Dakota. I goofed up and did not get off at the correct exit for Fargo, which I had planned to visit.   I did exit for a brief visit in Bismarck where I saw the state capital and took a short visit to the North Dakota heritage Center where I learned about the dinosaurs that roamed North Dakota eons ago.

I rolled into Medora, in western North Dakota about an hour and a half before sunset and camped out in a lovely campground with views of the badlands of North Dakota. 

Day 5 July 4, 2014

Up at 5 AM for a quick shower and the 2-hour process of totally repacking the motorcycle. Judy and Chuck Lerner also got up to say goodbye and to make sure that I was well fed with a scrambled egg and fruit breakfast. My stay with them and traveling around Milwaukee together could not have been more pleasant, loving, and congenial. They shared many wonderful stories of their family history with heirlooms, photos and love in abundance in their warm and happy home during my stay with them. I made certain to take several photos of their home and grounds before leaving at 8 AM for the 340-mile ride to Minneapolis. Chuck and Judy will be coming east in August and I hope to visit again with them and broaden and deepen our relationship. Thanks guys! As I rode North West from Milwaukee to Wisconsin I came across an area of Wisconsin tourism that I had heard about- the Dells. I saw a sign for a casino ahead and needing to answer the call of nature, I thought why not class it up and pee with some lucky people. I confidently found my way to the roulette wheel placed two 5-dollar chips that I purchased on red, and won $10! I pulled my 4 chips, cashed them in, and walked out immediately, a super-big winner! I arrived in Minneapolis just before 4 PM and immediately got off at the wrong exit and ended up in a heavily Muslim area which seem to be populated by the Somalis that I had heard about, who have formed a large community in the Minneapolis region. I cannot recall ever being in an area with such a high density of Muslim individuals. I was able to reconnect with Interstate 94, and get to the correct address- a very swanky Hyatt Regency hotel on a beautiful boulevard called Nicolette Mall for only $79 per night. After a short rest I decided to get out and see the town. Armed with a map of downtown Minneapolis and my advanced research on the city's "Nice Ride" the super easy bike share program, I swiped my credit card at a nearby Nice Ride station and bicycled south on Nicolette Avenue, nicknamed "Eat Street" because of its proliferation of many and wonderful ethnic restaurants about a mile south of my hotel. I selected a Thai restaurant and enjoyed a meal of pad thai. After dinner, I rode east on the Midtown Greenway which took me to the Mississippi River. I continued along the Mississippi River northeast towards my goal – Hennepin Park for the July 4th fireworks display. I arrived about a half hour before dark amid thousands and thousands of people streaming into the fashionable area on either side of the river to also enjoy the fireworks. There were so many happy and expectant people on the Stone Arch Bridge that I needed to walk the bicycle across the bridge over the Mississippi River to Father Hennepin Bluffs Park. I left the bike at another Nice Ride station and walked one block to the bandstand in the park to enjoy a pre-fireworks concert of excellent rock 'n roll with hundreds of other patriotic folks. I set up my folding chair and rocked with the others. After the fireworks the traffic and congestion were monumental, but I had the right tool for the job. My newly acquired Nice Ride bicycle was just the ticket to weave through the pedestrians and jammed cars and I was able to negotiate my way back to the Hyatt Regency without much trouble. A truly great night and I was very happening and impressive city.

Day 4 July 3, 2014

Day 4 July 3, 2014

After a glorious night of restful sleep, I awoke to a killer bagel, lox, and fruit breakfast with Chuck and Judy Lerner.  After some computer fiddling, I was able to get connected to the Internet and figure out how to get blog entries published and posted.

We poured over maps, schedules, and brochures together and hammered out a plan to see some of the best places to visit in Milwaukee, beginning with the Harley Davidson Museum.  Judy and I checked out the oldest known Harley Davidson motorcycle with "Serial Number One" stamped on its part to proclaim its uniqueness in the world-

 Other historic cycles were on parade.

More evidence that it's nice to be important, but it's more important to be nice....

Harleys in the military.

 Vivian Bales pictured on her Harley in a solo tour around the United States in 1929 and again on a Harley motorcycle in 1992.

Third floor home of dozens of lovingly stockpiled Harleys with some lucky machines slated for detailed restoration.

An impressive collection.

 You want big?                                                                                                      You got big.

Cage =  car.  Motorcycle only parking.

After the Harley Museum, we drove to visit the unusual, urban-based Clock Shadow Creamery cheese factory where we learned about cheese-making, Wisconsin cheese, how Swiss cheese holes are basically enzyme-based farts causing air voids in the cheese, and squeaky cheese curds, a local treat.  We split a $6 per pint chocolate pint of Purple Door ice cream (to die for).

Our next stop was as unique a restaurant experience as I have ever experienced- Mader's German Restaurant at 1041 North Old World 3rd Street.  Behold!

Our meal was prepared to perfection; Mary's superb service, the pretzel bread, local beer, weiner schnitzel and spaetzel couldn't be topped anywhere and the furnishings, decor, carvings, beer steins, stained glass windows, and testimonial photo gallery of famous visitors to Mader's Restaurant made the visit unforgettable.  A super wow restaurant experience!

Our next stop was a brewery tour of the Lakefront Brewery, in a building on the Riverwalk of the Milwaukee River that the owners purchased from the City of Milwaukee for exactly $1.00, and then renovated it to become a popular tour location, restaurant, beer garden, and beer producer for 37 U.S. states and 7 foreign countries (including Israel!).

Our Grand Tour of Milwaukee was complete- back to Chuck and Judy's home to pack up clothes and memories and to prepare for tomorrow's 340-mile ride on to Minneapolis, Minnesota.

Day 3 July 2, 2014

Day 3  July 2, 2014

Headed east from Lake Bluff, Illinois to get my first glimpse of nearby Lake Michigan's shoreline.  Instead, ended up in the expert hands of barber Corey in a friendly all-black barbershop for some overdue necessary physical alterations to my ragged appearance.  Corey explained to me that this was a momentous day for me as it was the first time anyone would have ever applied Afro Sheen to my rapidly receding follicle count.  After a generous tip, he wished me well on my journey to Alaska, and we marked the occasion by photographing each other. 

I headed north and stopped at the Wisconsin border to obtain maps and tourist information and arrived after a drenching rainstorm at the home of Chuck and Judy Lerner just north of Milwaukee, dear friends from Temple Sholom for many many years.

They provided me with a wonderful comfortable room in the loft of their Milwaukee bungalow home and a delicious brunch of fresh fruit, bagels, cream cheese lox, tomato and onion.  Poifect!

After a lively chat session catching up with each other I was thrilled to receive a visit from their beautiful daughter Sharon, and meet her two handsome children, Ezra and Shira before checking out their synagogue to marvel at its treasures and beautiful sanctuary.

I learned that there is a gigantic music festival in Milwaukee each year called Summerfest.  This very night, The Dave Matthews band was to appear!  We went through all kinds of gyrations to travel to and walk the Lakefront area near the Summerfest and for me to try to get the ticket to see the concert.  The $86 indoor seating ticket price was too steep and outdoor seating was sold out so the evening plan did not go as hoped. Rain and heavy drizzle made the outdoor event less appealing, so I took a pass on the seemingly good concert-going opportunity.  Instead, we went out for a delightful Italian meal and I enjoyed learning about pizza cut Milwaukee style into squares instead of triangles. 

Upon return back to the Lerner home, fell asleep in nano seconds.

Day 2  July 1,2014

Showered and shaved I left the campground about 8:30 AM to find no one still on duty to accept my camping fee for last nights lodgings, so I left the campground with many thanks to the state of Ohio for a free night of camping.

First stop was in Newark Ohio home of the Longaberger Basket Company.  Their headquarters building just outside of Newark, Ohio is famous.  It's an office building that is seven stories high and fashioned to look like the world's largest basket. Photos were in order.

Ten hours of hard, but good riding to get to Chicago for the 7:10 P.M. White Sox baseball game.

Funny story about that weather "situation":

I arrived in Chicago and found my way to the White Sox stadium after an exhausting 500 mile + day of travel.   I was able to locate free motorcycle parking right on the sidewalk/apron next to the stadium, park and cover the bike.   The game with the Los Angeles Angels was scheduled to begin at 7:10 PM and I entered the stadium at 7:50 PM, 40 minutes late.  I purchased a hot dog and a soda and went to my seat, sat down, and began to watch the game in progress.  I was astonished to see that the game was in the ninth inning, with two outs and the home team batting!  I could not understand how they could have possibly played nine innings and scored 11 runs in 40 minutes!  I asked a fellow fan to fill me in on what time this game had started and why I was about to see exactly one out before the game's conclusion.  He then explained the mystery – the drenching that Chicago received the previous night cancelled the Monday night game-the game that I was watching was the first of a rescheduled doubleheader, so I had not missed the Tuesday night game that I came to see at all.  Go figure.

Anyway, the second game went off a bit later and the weather was completely perfect and the game against Mike Trout and the Los Angeles Angels was quite enjoyable.

The Angels won the game 7 to 5 and I left the stadium and headed north towards Milwaukee.  I found a cheap hotel for the night in Lake Bluff, Illinois for $50.  Fair enough. 

Day 1 June 30, 2014

Day 1 June 30, 2014

The day of days has finally arrived!

After a year of planning the weather dawned warm and sunny and was the perfect day to begin the great adventure.

The bike and then completely packed for an entire week and was ready to go except for a few last minute items into the tank bag.

The red 1991 BMW K 75S had a total of seven bags packed for this month-long trip – one hydration pack bag, one tank bag, two hard saddlebags, three, 40-litre waterproof roll- up type bags, and a set of new tires bungee corded to the top of the load.

Beverly got up early for farewell pictures and videos as I left the garage at 12 Castle Rock Rd. in Newtown Square, Pennsylvania.   

  

I rode exactly 2 miles and realized that I had managed to forget my hydration backpack and promptly turned right around and came home to retrieve it.  I re-headed out to my place of business, Pennoni Associates in King of Prussia to put in a half day of work from 7:15 AM to 11:00 AM.  My good friends at work Don Spitzer, Curt Shugars, and Tom Larney made me feel important by taking pictures as I left the parking lot at 11 o'clock for the beginning of the trip west. Hopefully, they'll use the photos as a nice memory and an entry into this blog site instead of an entry for an obituary page!

I headed west on the Pennsylvania Turnpike and I-70 and managed to get to my first scheduled site after 369 miles of riding, about 20 miles west of Wheeling,West Virginia in a camp ground within the Ohio State Park system called Barkcamp State Park by about 6:20 PM.  Both the park office and general store were closed and there was no one to accept my camp fee so I picked a lovely grassy camp site, set up my tent, pumped up the air mattress, and enjoyed a hot and tasty freeze-dried dinner.  I quickly fell asleep by 9 o'clock, most likely with a big smile on my puss.