Me on the bike after covering most of the US with 12,000 miles and a tired butt. The bike a Harley "93" Heritage Soft Tail Classic.

Grand Tetons in Winter

Three seasons, Early, Mid and Late Winter

I retired from the Park Service on April 15 but ended up breaking my leg on about March 1st. I was in a fiberglass cast until about the 1st of April. I bought a pair of clodhoppers that would give me a little protection. I had to wear three heavy socks on my left foot. The other foot is snug with one sock,but I'll survive. As soon as the doctor said I could go, I cruised out of the mountains and headed for Casper.

Grand Tetons in Early Spring

It was rough going but I got out of the park and arrived in Casper on Saturday afternoon. It started snowing that evening but, finally let up at about 8:00 AM Sunday. At 10:00 AM Monday morning I decided to get the show on the road. I dressed as warm as I could and headed for Laramie. I stopped at the Anthropology Department at the University to say so long to a few friends and then I hurried down I 80 toward Cheyenne. I slipped onto I 25 and headed South. It was cold but the road was clear . I finally got into New Mexico and it was at least a little moderate weather.

Four Corners Area

Arizona, Colorado, New Mexico & Utah

I have a bad habit of not looking at a map for a week or so. I got down to Las Vegas, NM and headed west. I went through a couple of ranges of mountains and arrived at Farmington. I got over into Arizona, not realizing I was in the NE corner. I headed South and finally arrived in Tuscon. From there I went to Tempe, Phoenix and Flagstaff. I visit the Grand Canyon and it snowed. I went south again and snuck into New Mexico a lot further south this time. I went on to El Paso to visit friends. I headed on to Big Springs then back to Guadalope.

Lonely saquaro near Phoenix

I enjoyed the area around Phoenix but is it crowded. You bet it is. I liked the Saquaro Cactus. They are pretty unique. Lots of dead ones around but there still pretty neat.

More sequaro cacti

This area is crowded, but as long as the weather is miserable, not to many people are venturing outside.

Saquaro at sunset standing quard

So with the setting of the sun I head east. I am still having problems with my foot but I'm getting by. By the time I quit riding for the day my foot is really swelled up.

Grand Canyon with a sprinkling of snow.

I spent a few days in Cloudcroft, NM renewing acquaintences with people I had served with in the military. When I left there I was once again meandering all over the area. I went up to Dallas, then down to Houston. I spent a week there visiting places like Galveston I even made a trip up to Tyler to look the country over. I have friends of mine that retired up there and they were trying to talk me in to buying a place around there. Lots of lakes in that area for fishing and boating.

Louisiana Boyou Country

I planned to leave on a Monday morning but during the night it started raining and storming so bad I held off until the next day. I headed out with my nephew Ronny riding along on his bike for a while, then he had to head back to Houston. I tooled right along on the back roads into Louisiana and that boyou country is nice. That is to look at but when I think of swimming I remember all of the time I spent in the swamps up to my neck in brackish water and I lost all hankering to get in that water to play.

Full circle and just under 12,000 miles. It was a long trip but lots of fun. It's not over though as I told my sister in Elmira I'd help remodel her house, so I'll be heading east in short order.

Everglades looking over the Gulf

I spent a few weeks in Florida exploring the Keys and Datona Beach Area. I made many side trips and it was really nice and warm and I got a great tan. When I finally left I meandered to Fort Knox, Smokey Mountains, Blue Ridge Parkway and the Shenadoah Valley. What a pretty place even without flowers and people.

Road off the Blue Ridge Parkway in Virginia

When I finally headed back west I went by the Northern Route and came in Yellowstone Northeast corner at Silver Gate. Beautiful mountains and lots of animals to get in the way. Another couple of hundred miles will see me back to the starting piont. This trip solo is not for everyone but I loved the solitude and the sound of the wind much better than a companion. It was the trip of a lifetime for me. I road the trip alone except for the distance from Katy Texas to the East Houston. A total of about thirty miles.

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This is me leaving on my Harley from Fort Knox early one beautiful morning in May 1996. I had stopped in to see my Grandson Sam who was stationed here with an Armored Calvary Unit. I took him to town for supper and then spent the night at the barracks.