After Thoughts

Wednesday, August 3rd

I've been home for just over a week now and have had some time to think about the trip, and have had a few thoughts.

Trip Totals:  Miles- 14,588.  Days- 82.  States- 35.  Countries- 1 (thanks to Canada not allowing me in...still a little bitter).  Hotels- 26 (this is not 100% accurate, but close.)  Number of times I seriously considered quitting- 3.  Dollars spent-  I'm not going to say the actual dollar amount, but will say I spent more than twice what I thought I would.  "When packing for vacation, take half as much clothing and twice as much money."  I don't know who said it, but it's true.  I sent clothes home twice.  Oil Changes- 3. Double Quarter Pounders with cheese-  I'm glad I didn't keep track, because it would probably make me sick thinking of how many I had.  Speaking of which, Pounds gained- 12.  Number of times I used a hotel pool or exercise room- 0.  Pages read of the book I brought with me- 14.  I thought I would read a lot more than I did.  Number of tow trucks- 2.  Once for my bike when I left the battery on and once when my friend's car in Miami died.  Number of times I was told I look like Zach Galifianakis- 5.

Mini Goals:  I wanted do a 500 mile day on the trip.  I did that riding from Seattle to Boise.  So cheers to myself for that.  Another was not to trim my beard the entire time I was on my journey.  I did not, still haven't, and don't want to.

                                             Day 1                                                    

                                         Day 84 - not combed

                                            Day 84 - combed

Favorite rides:  Driving the west coast, especially Oregon.  I was unable to ride the entire coast of California because the road was closed.  Badlands National Park in South Dakota.  Utah, a state I had not planned on riding through, turned out to be one of my favorite rides from essentially the northwest to southeast corner.  70 west from Denver into Utah.  A little corner of Arizona on I-15 between Utah and Nevada.  Riding the south rim of the Grand Canyon.  The coastal road in Maine.  US 1 to Key West.  Route 550 in New Mexico.  Riding with Brian Head in Chicago, Ryan Parle in Boulder, my Uncles Ray and Jack (Jack and I rode for about 5 minutes together on the way to his boat) in Florida, and my Uncle Dan in New Hampshire.  

Least Favorite Place to Ride:  The panhandle of Texas.  

Activity I Did for the First Time:  Surfing.  Love it!

Disappointing:  I did not go to Yellowstone or Glacier National Park, Montana, or Vancouver as planned.    There are some friends I missed along the way that I would have liked to have seen, but timing, etc., didn't allow it.  

America truly is beautiful.  Not only the landscape, but the people.  Are there places I'd rather not go, and people I'd rather not run into?  Yes.  But nothing's perfect.  Most people I encountered were friendly and a pleasure to talk to.  There are people out there that truly enjoy what they do.  Maybe it's not their dream job, but they make the most of it, and that positivity has an effect on the people around them.  I truly believe there is more good than bad.  People underestimate the power of a smile, or a wave, or just saying "hi."  GPS is helpful, but getting lost is more fun.  People don't get enough vacation time.  Spend more time making your dreams come true than thinking of reasons you can't.  The biggest obstacle in your way of doing what you want to do is you.  Nike has it right.  Just do it.  You don't need all the stuff you think you do.  I touched 35 states, and barely scratched the surface of what there is to see and do in the USA.  I can't wait to explore more.  

A big thanks to everyone I met along the way.  I am very lucky to have such fantastic friends and family, and that they live all over the country.  ;)  Thank you for your generosity, time, and opening your homes to me.

Harley Davidson makes a great product.  I did not have any mechanical issues with my 2007 Street Glide, and faithful companion, Clyde.  Best Westerns are great hotels.  A lot of them have are designed in a style representative of their location.  Their clean, and reasonably priced.  And no, Harley nor Best Western paid me for my endorsement.  

Would I do it again?  Yes, in a heartbeat.  Would I have said that during the trip?  No.

What am I gonna do next?  Maybe I'll keep blogging and keep those interested updated.