Halfway to LA!

Yesterday we passed though Adrian, Texas - the official halfway point on Route 66.

We stopped for pie at a small cafe there - it was great!

The weather has been damp and mostly overcast, but has not been a problem. We've managed to avoid any heavy rain.

We decided that we were carrying too much stuff so we wanted to ship some of it home. We asked the hotel clerk here in Santa Rosa, New Mexico how far it was from the Hampton Inn to the Post Office. She said "not too far, about 3/4's of a mile". As it was drizzling, and I had already washed and covered the motorcycle we decided to walk. It was uphill, then downhill and when we finally got there (40 minutes at a good pace) we concluded that it was probably closer to 2 or 3 miles one way. We'll check the distance today when we ride by on the Goldwing.

But we needed the exercise and we are now 13 pounds lighter with unused gear and I hope at least 5 pounds lighter due to the strenuous exercise!

Today we are taking the Santa Fe loop north and then down to Albuquerque, New Mexico for the night. Weather is forecasted to be partly cloudy and 50% chance of rain (again). But no worries - we are having a great time!

More pictures at http://www.picasaweb.google.com/stephen.hamstra

Steve & Melinda

We're doing great!

It seems like there is very little time to spend keeping you all updated - sorry!

Yesterday was very windy as we drove from Oklahoma City to Amarillo, Texas.

We had a great dinner at the Big Texan - the steak was great!

Two days worth of pictures at http://www.picasaweb.google.com/stephen.hamstra

'Sorry that we have not had time to clean them up - some might not be so good! But we are getting feedback that many family members of our riders are checking our website to keep track of our progress so we thought we should get these posted.

Rodger Fox, our leader was laid up yesterday in OK City with a back problem - he hopes to rejoin us today. Please keep him (and the whole group) in your prayers.

Weather forecast says we might be in some rain today - we'll see!

Thanks!

Steve & Melinda

Update

Everything is going great! Not much time to update the Blog, but here is a nice article from the Zeeland Record (local newspaper) that ran after we left. Alison - thanks for emailing this to us!

Just click on the images to see them bigger (you can do this to any of the pictures on the Blog).

There are lots of new pictures at:

http://www.picasaweb.google.com/stephen.hamstra

Today we leave Joplin, Missouria and head to Oklahoma City. We will drive through a small portion of Kansas.

Last night the Joplin Chamber of Commerce hosted us at a BBQ - very nice and excellent ribs!

We are adjusting to the physical exercise - but it's tough! We both look a little tired this morning, but life is great!

The people we are traveling with are wonderful too!

September 6, 2008 - Day One on the Road!

Steve was up at 5:30 AM, Melinda shortly after. We went with some new friends (Buzz and Marinan from Alabama) to a Denny's for breakfast and made our way to Navy Pier to meet with the group.

About half of the motorcycles were there - the rest will join us as we travel. Escaping Chicago was an adventure, but we survived.

We had lunch in Wilmington at the Launch Pad Drive-in, home of the "Gemini Giant" in the picture at the left.
We stopped at a restored gas station in Odell and met a motorcycle tour from Norway that will be riding Route 66 in parallel with us.

We also made stops at Route 66 museums in Joliet and Pontiac, Illinois. We bought gas at the Dixie Truckers Home (truck stop).

We checked into the Route 66 Motel in Springfield, IL and had a CozyDog dinner (corn dogs) at the Cozy Drive In.

Tomorrow - Chain of Rocks Bridge (made famous by Kurt Russell in the movie "Escape from New York" - this is the bridge he "escaped" across), the St. Louis arch, and staying in Rolla, Missouri.

The weather was great, all was good, but it was a long day - we're tired!

See more photos at http://www.picasaweb.google.com/stephen.hamstra

Taliesin East Tour

After a great breakfast at the Silver Star Bed & Breakfast we rode in the rain to the Frank Lloyd Wright estate - Taliesin East.

Here we went on a four hour walking tour in the rain.

The grounds and buildings were most impressive!

Following lunch at the Visitor Center we drove in the rain and 52 F temperature to Janesville, Wisconsin.


We stayed at a Hampton Inn - immediately got in the hot tub to warm up! We hung our wet clothes anywhere we could in hopes they will dry by morning.

Tomorrow the forecast is for partly sunny skies with only scattered rain.

We've posted more pictures at:
http://www.picasaweb.google.com/stephen.hamstra

The first day of our trip...

The RADAR before we left home showed lots of rain in Wisconsin.

Q: "What do you do on the first day of a 6,000 mile motorcycle trip when it's raining?"

A: "You go anyway!"

The crossing of Lake Michigan was very rough, 4 to 5 foot waves - both of us were nauseated, even with the Dramamine we took (but we kept our cookies down!).
We arrived in Milwaukee to gray skies but no rain! The ride to the bed & breakfast was a bit long but we made it OK. We then went out to dinner at the House on the Rock Resort - good food!

We were so tired when we got back we fell right to sleep.

We will be posting our pictures on a website. You can see them at

http://www.picasaweb.google.com/stephen.hamstra

A Tribute to my Dad

Tomorrow (September 3) we leave on our big adventure to the West Coast and back. Today was a day filled with last minute projects at the office and at home that needed to be done. It was also a time to stop at the cemetery...today was Dad's birthday.

Dad was a traveler. He seemed to know every highway and exit without consulting a map. His travels had carried him far and wide, and through his work he carried us. He always provided more than we needed - we were never in want that I can remember, although my older (much older) sisters might argue with me.

As I stood by his grave today with a lump in my throat the size of an apple, Melinda speculated that right now Dad and her Mother were arguing in Heaven - her Mom saying that we shouldn't be going on such a dangerous trip on a motorcycle, and Dad arguing that adventures are important in life and not to worry - they'll be OK.

Dad's right. Regardless of what happens on this trip or in life, we will be OK. I can thank my parents for a faith that sustains me and my family. It truly is "well with my soul".

So Dad...Happy Birthday and always know that you are loved, respected, and missed.

Your son,

Stephen