Old memories; God Sends Cloud and Glod Winged Angels

We had a very long day. We went 350 miles which is twice what we normally go. We started by going from OK City to Lawton-Ft. Sill, where David spent almost two years of his life and where Kristie, the eldest, was born. The pictures you see are the hospital she was born in and the first house she lived in, as well as the barracks David stayed in (well, that is what they looked like, but they have been properly renovated after 30 years). Then we went from Lawton to Amarillo TX, where we will spend the night. Because of the time spent in Ft. Sill we were running very late. So, during the hottest part of the day in one of the hottest parts of the country we were riding. It was 100 degrees plus on the pavement according to the bike gage. But, God was so, so good to us. He sent huge puffy and fluffy clouds to cover us most of the 250 miles we had to go to get to the pan handle of Texas. If that wasn't enough we ran into three other bikers (riding Honda Goldwings) who showed us a 40 mile short cut through the back rodes of Oklahoma and Texas. We haven't run into any bikers to date. But, the day we are running late and in extreme heat God sends three angels to help us. Oh, and one of them is the president of the Oklahoma Christian Motorcycle Association and one of the others was the Association's Chaplin. Coincidence? We think not. Another great day ... But, Dan, don't read this. You need to read the blog below this one. All others, this is for you. God is really caring for us.

Strictly for the son-in-law

We have heard that our son-in-law was up to his elbows in a mess and that he was saying it might be better to be on a cross-country trip on the Harley rather than the boring stuff he had to do. So, we thought we would let him know that it isn't always easy, fun and without problems when you go through 15 states and travel 6,000 miles. We are 1/4 through the trip and have had several bad things happen. For instance, we have discovered that there is not a Starbucks in every town we travel through. How is that for a problem, Dan? Also, when we got to the hotel today and went the pool there was a fly floating on top, so we actually had to walk to their second pool. What a pain. We had a limo ride to the steak house we ate at tonight and the limo wasn't new - can you believe it? It was a classic 1979. We were hoping for a 2008 limo but a 30 year old model would have to do. Also, when we go through all these time changes we have to change two phones, one GPS, one iPod, one Bike clock and one computer. Takes an entire hour out of our day. So, you see Dan, sometimes vacation can have its challenges, too. Hope you have fun with the sewer cleaning job. David wishes he was there to help you, but he thinks he already did put a deposit in that job.

The good and the bad of mankind ...

This may be a little philosophical for a vacation blog but consider the following. When we were in Springfield, IL (Tuesday if your keeping track) we were in a Harley dealership (so what's new) and a fellow Harley driver heard David telling the manager that we were on the way to the West coast, he was writing in the afternoon, blah blah-blah, blah blah-blah. In telling them what we were doing David mentioned that he liked to write listening to music. So, this guy goes to the repair shop and asked them to lower his bike off the lift and he gets out three CDs of the best blues and jazz music. He gives them to David to listen to while writing. Don't know his name and will never see him again but enjoy his music every time we write or to go to sleep. That is the good we have seen. Today, however, is the example of the bad. Today we went to the Memorial Museum for the Murry Building that was blown apart on April 19, 1995 at 9:02 a.m. It may be one of the most sobering moments of our lives walking through this interactive memorial. From the time you walk off the elevator on the third floor of the museum to the field of chairs just south of the reflecting pool, it was a gut wrenching tour. On that day the evilness of man was on full display. But, right behind it, the spirit and good will of all men came to the rescue. You could not attend such a moving place without tears. But you could not leave the place without seeing the goodness of man overcome his lessor evil counterpart. Let Freedom Ring ... but, it rings at a high price. (We are enjoying our day. Today was just for the above visit and completing a new chapter in the book. Another one down and 8 to go. The good news is the publisher we stopped to see yesterday sent an email back and had finished the latest manuscript asking when David was ready to accept an offer on publishing the book!! What a great vacation.)

Robin's Helmet blows off ...

Robin's helmet blows off ... Two trucks squash us in the center lane at 75 mph in downtown Tulsa ... We walk out without paying for breakfast ... To read just the headlines you would think we had a terrible day and were thieves and fools. But we had a great day!! You see, the headlines seldom tell the whole story. Take the walking out on breakfast. We did! But, the cook messed our order up so bad the manager gave us what we did get free. Great day! And the truck sandwich? Well, one truck was in the left lane moving to the center and one truck was in the right lane moving to the center and David was passing them both ... in the center. But, no one was behind us and we saw the turn signals and avoided a real problem rather easily. Great day! But, the helmet blowing off is the best. We stopped at a Starbucks in Oklahoma City (we went 200 miles today from Joplin, MO to OK City). When we bought our Frappaccinos we spotted a Harley dealership 1/4 mile away on the service road. So, David told Robin not to strap on her helmet and hold both Frappys as we made our way up the service drive. But, who knew that at 25 miles an hour Robin's helmet would blow off. So, in the middle of the two lane road, right in front of the Harley dealership Robin's helmet lay on the ground with cars coming. So, David turned around but couldn't get the Harley in neutral so he could take the Frappys and Robin could retrieve her helmet. Someone else actually picked the helmet up. When they saw that Robin couldn't get off the bike because she was holding Starbucks coffee needless to say the other drivers weren't pleased. But, David was ... Robin never spilled the Frappaccinos. What a great day! (On top of this great stuff David was able to stop by a publisher in OK City that is reading his manuscript and was able to meet the owner. And, we were able to eat dinner at a restaurant owned by Toby Kieth and visit the famous OK City Brickyard. ) Tomorrow is day to rest and write. Then Saturday on to Lawton-Ft. Sill where Kristie was born. What a great vacation.

Thank goodness for the GPS

(Robin is going to wish she never showed me how to do this blog stuff.) When you live on a boat you learn to live in small spaces. In fact, some who visit our boat would insist that we live in cramped quarters. We are actually staying in hotel rooms bigger than our entire boat. Take last night. We just woke up on a huge king size bed. To us it is as big as two states. But, thank goodness I was able to find Robin this morning using the GPS. (P.S. It is raining today but we are leaving anyhow. We are supposed to run out of it soon.)

Your not in Kansas anymore Dorothy ...

First, we are not supposed to be in Kansas. It's one state we aren't even going to visit. Second, I am not with Dorothy, I'm with Robin, but you get the point. We are not in Michigan anymore. So, here are our top ten reasons we know we are not in Michigan. #10. Rather than the roads going over or around a mountain you just go through it. #9. You can drive 180 miles and never see a police officer on the highway. #8. Potholes on the highway refers only to where people hide marijuana in their cars for the sake of smuggling it. #7 When you see a cow they have long, long pointed horns. #6. A cowboy hat is worn for functionality not a fashion statement. #5. You actually pass a exit that says, "Country Road #100" and its a real exit with a real road. #4. When you hear it is a "good day for a motorcycle ride" and that means almost every day. #3. You wear shorts and a tank top on the Harley and you look like any other Harley rider. #2. Someone says it is going to cool off tonight and that means the temperature will still be ten degrees higher than the average high in Michigan. And, the top reason you know you are not in Michigan anymore: You can't give your kids and grandkids a lick on the forehead or a kiss on the cheek unless it is via a webcam broadcast. (800 miles down, 5,200 to go; 3 states down and 13 to go; 1 chapter written on the manuscript and 9 to go). (The picture is of a Route 66 dinner outside Ft. Leonard Wood, MO(

Straight Shot ... Right up the Nose

If you ride a motorcycle long enough you will see a lot of stuff. You will experience a lot of things. David has ridden a motorcycle since before drivers training (actually rode a Yamaha to driver's training). But, today we experienced something never before yet felt, known or enjoyed. No, it wasn't the straight shot down the Illinois freeway (it was on cruise control for almost 70 miles ... not like going east, Dan). No, it wasn't the accident that held us up right after I was boasting that I hadn't touched the brake for 70 miles. No, it wasn't the great tour of the Arch of St. Louis (you can see Robin in front of the covered wagon and David pulling the tail of a steer). No, it wasn't seeing the flooding of the mighty Mississippit River. No, it wasn't a great dinner at Zeno's Restaurant. No, it wasn't a great time finally talking on the Webcam with the grandkids (Ely, did you like that tongue lick on the forehead?). No, it wasn't a nice evening with the person we love. The thing that David experienced today was a big fly, bee or some flying type of insect that flew right up his nose. Yes! Right up the left nostril (it is bigger than the right one if you ever noticed). In panic David almost lost control of the bike. The thing was still alive and if it wasn't for cruise control he wouldn't have been able to use his right hand (best hand for picking your nose) to get it out. Thank God for cruise control. The nose bled for 15 miles. Robin thought it was the bug's blood but we decided bugs don't have blood. Do they?