It's a wrap!

What a great trip. This is a delayed blog entry as the thing called work got in the way yet again.

We enjoyed lunch with Arthena, Barbara, and Howard on our last leg of the trip. Great company, good conversation.

We also met Rosie, Arthena's cute as a button poodle. She is so friendly but camera shy -- will not let anyone take a picture. Even a treat didn't help. I managed this picture with Bax holding Rosie.

I hope you enjoyed reading this blog and following our trip. I was pleasantly surprised how many actually read it!

There were many highlights from the train ride to the great people we met. Next trip will hopefully be on the Diavel!

Wow...it has been a week!

The last leg of the trip starts! We are only about 240 miles away from home. We have another treat along the way...having lunch with Arthena (Bax's)!

Let's roll...

Last night...Rocky Mount, NC

We made great time totaling 350 miles today!

We stopped in Four Oaks, NC to gas up before our last leg to Rocky Mount. While checking the GPS and making hotel reservations on the iPad...yea..we really rough it on these trips...we observed four people dumpster diving! They successfully acquired an open bag of Funyuns and shared as if they were in a commune. Google it if you don't know about Funyuns, but trust me...they have a half life longer than a Volkswagen at a junk yard. A few minutes later a brave Funyun diver walked over and asked us if we had any change so they can go to the McDonalds next door.

Heartless me of course said "no" but Bax rose to the occasion. It reminded me of a comic book I read many moons ago when Dr. Strange (Google him too while you are at it or wait for a Marvel movie...it won't be long) was accosted by a homeless man asking for a dime. Dr. Strange used his magic powers to make a feast table flooded with food. He walked away saying how can this can be in America. While Bax was not quite as cool, he gave a hand full of coins to Funyun diver. We all wondered how can this be in America. But thinking about it some more...these characters clearly have not been applying themselves industriously. Oh well. Hopefully the dollar menu at McDonalds will suffice for the night...

Welcome to Tackyville, USA

Redirected to I-95 to make time and that got us to South of the Border in South Carolina just shy of the North Carolina border.

We spent an hour or so getting a new phone for Kal due to his second IT casualty of the trip. He lost his iPhone at the race track. We had hope in mankind in that someone would turn it in...but alas it is not a Droid. iPhone's are too popular I suppose -- they probably had a stack of Droids to give away. Just a bit of ribbin' given that he is ditching the iPhone for the Droid Bionic.

Greasin' up at Pedro's Diner...

Beautiful Summersville, SC!

Church bells tolling, flowers in bloom, and beautiful 75 degree weather -- priceless. Stopped to smell the bouquets and enjoy a quick conversation with a nice man that commutes 130 miles from here to work. We can clearly see why.

Riding along route 17 and seeing the wonderful South Carolina country side.

One little hiccup...checking why my bike to bike communications gear is not 100%.

One day closer to home! Checked in for the night in Yemassee, SC

Not much here...Denny's for dinner and breakfast...yum. We clocked about 290 miles today...a bit short of the average we need over three days. But tomorrow will be a long riding day.

No pictures for this entry...trust me...there ain't nuthin' interesting.

Had to make quick stop for a picture moment

Quaint, picturesque Darien Waterfront...continuing Kal's luck on this trip...he got pooped on my a bird after he took off his jacket!

Brunswick, GA!

Bikes are thirsty...refuel stop. Making good time on 2 lane highways. Walked into gas station with change jingling sounding much like stirrups on cowboy boots. Appropriate given the iron horses we ride.

Going just short of Mach speed. Next stop Savannah, GA.

Northward bound! I wish I was...northward bound

Oh we are...made it to Jacksonville, FL to my parents place. Had a combination of Indian and American breakfast and Bax favored the Indian. Cup of chai too! First cup of tea in a week. Ahhh. Now we ride to Savannah, GA or maybe further to Walterboro.

Daytona with a wild finish!

Two 19 year old kids from California were fighting 1st and 2nd for most of the race but DiSalvo split them in the last lap. He came back from 11th place and covered about a 6 second gap in the last 6 laps.   Simply amazing. Here are the top three:

1. (52) Joey Pascarella, Yamaha
2. (9) Jason DiSalvo, Triumph
3. (6) Cameron Beaubier, Yamaha

Very exciting! That wraps up the key event of the trip and we get ready for the return trek.  

Race 2 was amazing - photo finish

Blake Young took the checkered flag by 0.002 seconds. Josh Hayes tried to draft and pass him across the finish line but he made his move a wee bit late. Roger Lee Hayden took third. Always good to see a Hayden in the top three.

Race 1 - Super Sports winner is Elena Myers

Came back for second or third place in the last few laps!

http://elenamyers.com/

Race Day!

Ahh...early morning stroll to the beach to watch a beautiful sunrise. A short yoga routine amongst the waves re-aligned me better than the Bionic Bracelet...although both together had the protons humming in one with the earth.

Bax said the water was warm and I took his word for it...can't do the beach thing. Sand in toes...yuck.

Off to the track after the usual breakfast. No Linda today so odds of a waitress fight is lower than me buying a Ducati Diavel.

[update]

Linda just showed up. She is chipper this morning and asked us to come back next year.

After 13 years, thoughts of infidelity circle my mind...

The Diavel is just plain awesome. The ride convinced me I can do better. Ssshh...the VFR may be listening. I made nice with her...after all she has to bring me back safely.

BTW, model not included.

Day 4 - Where is the Advil?

We had a bit of the local color. Speaking of color, I thought I went through a time warp when I saw a sign that said "No Colors". Then I realized it wasn't about skin color but jacket color. Translation...no gangs. We proceeded in without issue.

We went in search of the one question or comment you can ask to learn the true nature of a person. The theory comes from the Eragon stories where it is mentioned that everyone has a true name in an ancient language. Once you learn the true name, you have access to the soul. Despite our patronage at these fine establishments the questions remain elusive:

- Froggys
- Dirty Harry's
- Main Street Station
- Iron Gate
- Dog House

We listened to a few good bands and enjoyed the company of Rob, Tiffany, Danny, and Carey. Rob and Tiffany work at Bax's company.

One of the bands was a group named Aunt Stella's Ashes and it turns out Aunt Stella is alive and well. So it is not named after burial ashes but rather ashes resulting from smoking illegal substances. They sucked at marketing and I got a free t shirt so they are improving.

We begin today by signing up for demonstration rides on the Ducati Diavel. That is the bike I mentioned yesterday that I really, really want. This ride could be bad news but hey, Elena and Kelsey are technically sophomores and we may not need the last year of college money.

Back at the same breakfast place and the waitresses don't seem to be arguing.

I wonder if tattoos can rub off and how did the tiger get in the room?

I really really want it....

Here is Mike...friendly chap...

Continuing animal theme...Budweiser Clydesdale

His name is Sammy...

Caught our dinner for tonight...

Five year old alligator - Mr Babs...

More pics....

Choppers!

Shailesh Patel

Day 3 - Shopping at the track

The goal today is to share interesting bike pictures. We have seen some awesome and strange ones so far. The winner yesterday was a guy with a Mohawk style helmet and he had a tiny dog riding on the tank. The dog had a matching Mohawk hat/helmet!

Having breakfast at a nice hole in the wall. Semi aggressive waitress but like-able...been doing this for 30 years. She might get in a fight with a fellow waitress. Stay tuned.

[update]

Waitress fight didn't happen but a few words were exchanged.

Also we ate near a 1%-er in motorcycle land - A Pagans gang member. One tough looking person. Won't push things...paying the check.

People watching sitting at sidewalk table eating seafood

Some people should wear more and perhaps others should wear less.

Bike week begins! Windshield tour...

Arrived at the beach!

First and hopefully only casualty of the trip.

Kal's netting snapped on the way to Daytona Beach and his laptop bagged was dragged aside the rear wheel fora bit. Ouch.

Melted part of the laptop.

[update]

The laptop is dead. RIP. Also melted the power cord, burned papers, and generally made everything unusable. Again....ouch.

De-trained! Yes, that is apparently a word.

The bikes survived the trip. We arrived Sanford, FL around 10 am and unloaded within about one hour. Beautiful 80 degree weather and nothing but motorcycles around.
Passed by Ellen's Wine Bar and saw a sign "Wine is cheaper than therapy". Judging from the neighborhood and the number of check cashing places around there, it seems many are in therapy.
On the way to Daytona Beach.

Breakfast NOT for champions

Wow the dumb blonde old woman joined us for breakfast. No Haitian Olympian in sight to save us.

Ugh...should have gotten a sleeper car...

While compared to airplanes, our seats are luxurious. As you can tell from the picture, we had plenty of leg room, the seats recline, and there are foot rests. But no joy.

We did our best and tried to sleep but it wasn't easy. I should be clear, by we I mean Bax and I. Kal, my brother, is still asleep and belting out notes. Speaking of notes, Guitar guy Fred is also still sleeping and did not play Quiet Riot at midnight so it wasn't him that kept us awake.

Post poker feedback...

Ok we have two winners...Bax and I. We wound up playing poker with people from Philadelphia and Orlando. Neatest people. Eileen the cancer survivor played mom but she was the aunt. Go figure that out.

Ashley rolls her own cigarettes and is a trainer for Miller's Ale House. She lost.

Stephanie is a tall 4' 10" and all heart.

John, the cousin, is taller than Bax and short in everything else. He is a junior in marketing at West Chester.

We have bluetooth and lots of music. Rock on....

Dinner with Haitian Olympian in Judo

The interesting people you meet on a train...

- Had dinner with an Olympian that represented Haiti in Judo. Vic has been all over the world including Japan where he worked out in sheer cold. The idea was to keep sparring otherwise you freeze. His mother lost her life long dream of a home during the earthquake. Now they live in Brooklyn.

- Met a Chinese looking girl that was born in Russia and clearly should not be drinking as much as she had.

- Ashley from Florida who has never seen snow even though she just spent a month a New Jersey. Clearly we are talking about the weather variety of snow.

- a dumb blonde old woman who still is dumb and spared us her company during dinner. We spent it with Vic instead. A true blessing as we overheard her yap during the entire dinner.

James River crossing.

Ah, the James River. Close to my old stomping grounds. Named after King James I, it defined commerce during the pre-revolution period.

Listening to guitar strumming while going 67 miles per hour.

So the guy behind us pulls out a guitar and starts strumming. Sounding a bit like The Eagles and will hopefully stay in that genre. Would hate to wake up to Quiet Riot at midnight.

He was all cool until he borrowed my brother's cell phone to make a call and inadvertently answers a client call saying "Hey Honey". Nice.

Check out our speed below. Not the speed of Europe's magnetic levitation trains but it will do.

Room with a view!

It is a bear waiting for the train!