I am happy to say that I made it back to Ohio with no radiator problems. Very strange. One biker told me he thought the nut that was wedged in my radiator caused some sort of "stress crack" and since it isn't there anymore, the crack sealed. Regardless I have to have this addressed.
Leaving Springfield was pretty miserable. Cold drizzly rain but I have gotten use to most weather after nine weeks on the road so it didn't bother me too much. I ended up in Vandalia, IL.
My last day's ride was quite uneventful and mellow. It was gray out but still very pleasant riding weather. I didn't meet many characters on the road. Only one elderly couple that seemed quite impressed that I could last two months with only my bike and what I had packed on it.
Crossing the Ohio border was a little weird. The realization of my trip ending had set in.
I came home to no big fanfare from family. That's the way I like it.
This has been quite a trip. 9 weeks, 19 states and over 10,000 miles. Quite honestly I would of probably tried to stay out west another month and traveled Colorado and some other places in Utah, if winter wasn't fast approaching.
I feel very lucky to have done this and have no regrets. This was one of those once in a lifetime trips.
It's funny how it went. I really didn't start to feel settled in the trip for at least a week. Alot of the land was beautiful but I really didn't start getting excited until I made it to the Badlands in South Dakota. There is where you started to see drastic landscape changes.
Big Horn National Forest in Wyoming was another "WOW" place. I had to keep reminding myself that I need to keep my eyes on the road. There were areas with no guard rails and riding off the road isn't the "textbook" way to check out these beautiful valleys.
Riding Beartooth pass in Montana was curve filled fun that is perfect for motorcycling. Every turn you got to see a mountain in a slightly different way because you are riding up such a steep hill. I was at 11,000 feet when I reach the top. I believe the highest altitude of the whole trip. There was no snow around me but I could look down in some areas and see drifts.
This was the first area too where I did have real concerns for rock slides and better yet, just sharp rocks that have fallen in the road. There were quite a few. Any one of them could of easily caused a blowout. That didn't deter me from the beauty around me though.
thing I never cared for. Yellowstone really needed to be a 3 to 4 day adventure that I tried to do in 2.
Yellowstone was as pretty as everyone said it would be. I enjoyed Yellowstone from its wide range scenery of lakes to mountains and good riding. It was very exciting to see the geisers errupt.
Las Vegas was well worth shaking up wilderness experience. It was a perfect two day getaway. Great for people watching. Now if I could only hit a few more 21's at the blackjack table.
California was a combination of crazy drivers and beautiful fall trees with lots of color. The Redwoods and heading up through the valleys of Northern California was worth the trip alone.
All in all this will be one of those trips that I will remember forever and will never regret.
I joke with friends that if I don't find a new location and job by Mid-March, I might just get on the bike again.
Hmmm. Nice idea eh?
