4 Weeks + 8 States + Canada = FUN

Glenn and I started out on our motorcycle trip on May 22, 2010; originally we were going to be gone 2 1/2 to 3 weeks; it ended up a four week trip. Our intent was to camp 2 to 3 nights and then stay at a hotel the next day. Ended up only camping 2 days because of the rain! Following is a day-by-day account of our West Coast Tour:

Day 1 - 277 miles

Thousand Oaks to Big Sur

Great riding except windy from Santa Barbara to Big Sur. Passed Elephant Seal Beach at San Simeon. Camped at Fernwood Campground.

Day 2 - 399 miles

Big Sur to Ft. Bragg, CA

Highway 101 and Highway 1 - today was so windy I wanted to stop riding; Bodega Bay was especially windy. We saw deer and wild turkeys today. Camped at Pomo Campground.

Glenn and I at the Golden Gate Bridge.

Day 3 - 258 miles

Ft. Bragg, CA to Weaverville, CA

Highway 1 and 101 to 36 east to 3 north to 299 west

Redwood trees in Northern California; drove through the Chandelier Tree in Leggett, CA - so cool! Climbed to 4000 feet - still snow in places. It was a cold ride today. Saw deer and turkey vultures. Stayed the night in Weaverville at the Red Hill Cabins.

Day 4 - 231 miles

Weaverville, CA to Gold Beach, OR

Highway 299 to Highway 101

We were going to stay in Crescent City at Redwood Campground, but it was raining and we decided to go to Gold Beach in Oregon and stayed at the Sand Dollar Inn - cheap winter rates and it was really a nice place!

When we left Weaverville, we rode along the Trinity River and about an hour into the ride, we saw a bald eagle flying along the river! It was so beautiful to see and it was something Glenn was hoping he would see at some point of the trip. I wish I was able to take a picture.

Day 5 - 166 miles

Gold Beach to Shady Cove, OR

We had to backtrack to Crescent City to take Highway 199 to Grants Pass - the road we were going to take out of Gold Beach possibly had snow and/or ice because of the rain and cold. Today was a very beautiful ride. We arrived at Patricia's around 11:30am. Glenn's brother, Morgan, will be flying in around 8:00pm. The plan is to scatter their Dad's ashes tomorrow, which would have been his birthday.

Days 6-8

Shady Cove, OR

Scattered Pop's ashes into the Rogue River on May 27th.

Emily, Erika, Glenn, Patricia, Morgan, Tim, and Kie.

Bar-b-q at Tim and Kie's - Patricia, Morgan, Glenn and Kie.

Day 9 - 203 miles

Shady Cove, OR to Florence, OR

Highway 227 to the 5 to the 42 to the 101 (making our way back to the coast to continue North).

Very nice ride today - cloudy but did not start raining until around 3:3opm.

Florence was a really cute town. Ate dinner at the Waterfront Depot - great food and wine. We really liked J Scott wine, a Syrah. It's an Oregon wine; we also tried Bogle Petit Syrah, California wine.

Day 10 - 261 miles

Florence, OR to Willapa, WA

Highway 101

Rained on and off all day, but it was a beautiful ride; everything is so green and lush.

Day 11 - 285 miles

Willapa, WA to Port Angeles, WA

Highway 101 to the 113 to the 112 back to the 101

We rode around the outskirts of Olympic National Park; went to Cape Flattery which is the most Northwest point on the Peninsula and hiked the Cape Trail - beautiful! We saw another bald eagle - it was sitting on a rock overlooking the Straight of Juan de Fuca - awesome! Saw some deer today as well.

Day 12 - 292 miles

Port Angeles, WA to Marblemount, WA via Canada

We took the 101 to Port Townsend and caught the ferry to Keystone on Whidby Island; it was a 30 minute ride; took the 20 East to Interstate 5 - crossed into Canada for two reasons: one was to get my passport stamped, and two was to go to the Vancouver Harley Davidson. Didn't get my passport stamped - they said they don't do that any more because it takes too much time and there are so many people crossing daily:( We did make it to the HD dealer, but it rained the entire time we were in Canada. Crossed back over to the good old USA and stayed the night in Marblemount, WA. Beautiful place and wouldn't mind going back one of these days. The hotel we stayed in was at a big curve with an old bridge leading off in another another direction; we walked to the bridge that night and saw ANOTHER bald eagle flying along the Skagit River. Wow!

Day 13 - 291 miles

Marblemount, WA to Davenport, WA

Highway 20 to the 153 to the 2 east.

Believe it or not - we saw a bald eagle this morning before leaving Marblemount. We walked back to the bridge for one more look and there was the same, or another eagle gliding along the river. Crazy! Today was a gorgeous ride through the Cascade Mountains. Snow at 5277 feet; an then farmland all along Highway 2. Awesome day! Watched the Laker/Celtic game at the bowling ally across from our hotel.

Day 14 - 401 miles

Davenport, WA to Nampa, ID

395 to the 84

We changed our route drastically today. Originally we were going to ride to Yellowstone National Park; we kept checking the weather channel and all we see is rain in the direction we want to go; so we decided we've had enough rain to last us a while and headed south hopefully to find some sun and warmth!

Left Davenport in the rain and it rained all through Washington and Oregon; almost out of Oregon and into Idaho when we got caught in a hail storm! Boy was that crazy! We pulled under a bridge overpass until it cleared. Stayed the night in Nampa at a Super 8 Motel.

Day 15 - 406 miles

Nampa, ID to Park City, UT

We are staying at Michele's apartment.

Day 16

Me, Glenn and Michele went to the Great Salt Lake - it's HOT and SUNNY!!!

Day 17 - 561 miles!

Park City, UT to Aurora, CO

Highway 40 to the 64 to the 139 to the 70

Finally we got to ride without our jackets and 5 layers of clothes! Beautiful day through the canyons and mountains.

We are at Glenn's brother's - Glenn wanted to surprise Nate.

Day 18

In Aurora for another day - played putt putt with Nate and Morgan; bar-b-q that night - yum!

(Can't believe I forgot to take pictures while we were there - I think I was still recouping from the 561 miles it took to get there!)

Day 19 - 286 miles

Aurora, CO to Craig, CO

225 to the 25 north to the 34 to the 40 west

We rode through Rocky Mountain National Park - finally saw an elk and moose, and a herd of deer! However, there was major road construction inside the park - dirt and gravel roads, and some were muddy - very nerve wracking. Weather was nice though.

Day 20 - 269 miles

Craig, CO to Park City, UT

Highway 40

We are back at Michele's for a few days.

Days 21-23 - Park City, UT

This is Paxie and Michele; Michele worked for Paxie's mom and dad.

Day 24 - 380 miles

Park City, UT to St. George, UT

Highway 40 to the 189 to the 89 to the 15

The coolest thing happened today on highway 89 - we were in the middle of a cattle drive! And then 2 miles down the road in the middle of a sheep herd drive! So cool - I was laughing the whole time and waving to the cowboys! Unfortunately I couldn't get to my camera to take pictures, but it was a hoot!

Also went through Zion National Park. Beautiful!

Day 25 - 135 miles

St. George, UT to Las Vegas, NV

Highway 15

Went to the Harley dealer where we bought my bike to find out if they knew where the company was located that painted my bike; I've got a couple of dings to repair:( But they did not know - located a website but it showed no phone number or address . . .

Decided that we will finally go to Hoover Dam - we've said we would go every time we are in Las Vegas but never have. I'm glad we went - it was very cool. I rode on the back with Glenn there because it was very windy. Rode into Lake Mead and then to the Dam.

Day 26

Hoover Dam

Day 27 - 309 miles

Las Vegas, NV to Thousand Oaks, CA

Highway 15 to Pearblossom Hwy to the 14 to the 5 to the 118

HOME! Tyler did a good job of keeping the house together!

Total Miles on Margie's bike: 5,353

Total Miles on Glenn's bike: a little over 5,500

Say it ain't so . . . 50????

Yes . . . it is so! I have lived 50 years of my life. On some days, that's hard to believe!
We celebrated at Cisco's with the Adams Family - yes, they sang happy birthday and made me wear that HUGE sombrero! I didn't let them put whip cream on my nose though.
On my birthday, Glenn and I ate breakfast with Michele, Tyler, and Kyle at Eggs 'n Things; then Glenn took me to Las Vegas (aka Lost Wages). I did lose some wages, but we had a good time. We stayed at Ceasars Palace - the room was really nice. But . . . their table minimums are a little too high for me. I had to go to O'Shea's and downtown Freemont Street to the old joints!
We witnessed a funeral procession while in Vegas - it was for the Police Officer that was killed at the Federal Building in Las Vegas the week before. They had the streets blocked off and the procession was just amazing - State Police, City Police, U.S. Marshalls, Sheriff Department . . . it was just amazing the respect that was paid to the individual who passed.
Overall, turning 50 was pretty painless. I want to embrace this whole new age and just have fun with it. I have several personal goals that I'd like to reach this year - wish me good luck!


This is the funeral procession - everyone on the streets stopped their cars and some stood outside with their hands over their hearts. It was very touching.

Riding in So Cal in Winter

The great thing about living in Southern California is that the weather is great 85% of the time - even in the winter months. January 2, 2010 was a perfect day. 75 degrees, sunny, beautiful . . . can't ask for better riding weather. We rode with Jim and Cindy Van Dyke, and Bob Lopez and his girlfriend Sandra. We took the 150 to Ojai to the 33 and ate lunch at the Deer Lodge. After lunch we took the 33 around Lake Casitas to the 101. We stopped at Grants Park in Ventura and took some great photos. Great ride with some good friends.

NEW DAY; NEW YEAR; NEW DECADE

I have high hopes for 2010. I always try to make some new year resolutions, but I never stick with any of them. I'm only making a couple of them this year . . . which I'll keep to myself, just in case . . .
I haven't been keeping up with the blog since middle of last year. Lots of things were going on, but nothing I want to talk about any more. Letting go of the past nastiness and depression and moving forward.
Family is doing good. Glenn worked a lot of overtime at the end of 2009 - he's due for a few days of rest. He's missing being on the motorcycle.
Michele graduated college in December!!! We are so proud of her. She's been stressed out about classes; now she's stressed out about finding a job!
Tyler has been working full time, but has decided to go back to college (we are very proud of him too); he's in Vegas for the new year . . . party boy!
Hope everyone has an amazing 2010 - many happy memories, lots of love and happiness, and always help your fellow man.

Keith Urban Experiment Continues

Remember when I flew to Nashville to see Keith Urban's rehearsal and it didn't work out? Well, John totally hooked me up with 2 backstage meet & greet passes and 3rd row tickets to his concert last night at Staples Center in Los Angeles!! I took my cousin Kim because we had been planning since February to go to the concert. The meet & greet started at 6:15pm - we were escorted into a room where they set up a Bar-b-q; I was hungry but I couldn't eat because I was so excited and nervous! There was 120 fans and after we ate, we were escorted in groups of 6 to another room to meet Keith Urban and have a group photo with him. *We weren't able to take photos with our own cameras* Keith HUGGED the ladies as we entered the room! He asked each of us our name and then we had our group photo taken. After this, we went back into the big room and he came out and sang 2 songs - Kim and I were sitting in the first row - we were 2 feet away from him. OMG is he handsome and I LOVE the accent. He was very personable and cracked some jokes. By the time we got to our seats (3rd row!!!) his opening act, Lady Antebellum, was about halfway through their set. I really like them - they harmonize so well together. Keith and band came out around 8:45pm and sang for 2 1/2 hours - it was such a great show. There were people of all ages at the concert. We saw Nichole Kidman. What a great, great evening! I can't thank John enough for the awesome tickets and backstage passes - Chaos Visual Productions rocks!!!






Lady Antebellum














Keith Urban - up close and personal!













"Who Wouldn't Want to be Me?"














Check out these video panels - that's the work of Chaos Video Productions - awesome!

























A little guitar action.









I'm not sure if I'll ever be able to top that concert experience. It was a little surreal watching him perform - he is one talented guy!