This all started in the Spring when I was looking for an adventure. The thought occurred to me to list the States that I have and have not been to. As it turns out, I only needed six to complete all 50. My major challenge was that ALASKA was in the to do list. After considering the options, and the distance, Claudia and I concluded that this trip provided a good opportunity to finally visit Alaska's Inland Passage. We have heard so much about it's beauty over the years, and have always wanted to see it for ourselves. So we'll meet in Juneau in early July.
I planned this year's motorcycle route with 'wilderness beauty' as the main theme, so rather than lots of quirky things I saw in 2006 by doing the sideroads and out-of-the-way places, I'll be sharing America's majesty - and maybe a few wacky things too. Departure Day - June 17th. Departure Time - 9:55am.
I planned this year's motorcycle route with 'wilderness beauty' as the main theme, so rather than lots of quirky things I saw in 2006 by doing the sideroads and out-of-the-way places, I'll be sharing America's majesty - and maybe a few wacky things too. Departure Day - June 17th. Departure Time - 9:55am.
To those who didn't receive my email -
ReplyDeleteTED'S ON BLISS!
He updated the blog with his departing picture this morning (although the time still says 1:12 from yesterday???).
Thought I'd give you some updates about how he's communicating this year:
* As a reminder, the website is at TedsBigRide.com.
* From the Home page, you can see his past trips - for this year's adventure look below the map, and click 2009 Big Ride. On the second page you see the route, the calendar, and all the states he will cross on this trip. If you click on the map, you get a larger version to see more detail. (From the larger map, click the browser arrow to go back to the main page.) Each of those stopping points on the map corresponds to the place name listed on the calendar below the map.
* I believe that as he posts each day, you will be able to click on the date box to see his post. Also, you'll know when he has posted the link because the date box on the calendar will change colors.
* In response to your requests, he's added a blog comments section to the website, right above the calendar. This way, any of us who have a public comment can respond to him on the website.
* If you click the Blog link, the blog Comments page shows up; to leave a comment, click the Comments link at the bottom right. Or click the Alaska Bound link on the right side of the page under Blog Archive.
* You can also become a "Follower," although since I'm already signed up I can't tell you how! When you go to the blog page, you should see a link that allows you to sign up if you want.
BTW - He has already called me to say he stopped at the Quince Orchard Boulevard overpass to put on his rain pants. . . .
I hope you enjoy this trip as much as he does!
CP
The clock for this site must be on California time! It's really 11:03. . . .
ReplyDeleteWe're looking forward to your updates! Ride on!
ReplyDeleteMartin
When I talked to Ted last night, he was just too tired to work on the website. Two hard days of travel. He said, "Thanks for the good food, a soft bed, and terrific company, Bob."
ReplyDeleteTed's off today to visit people he met on the last trip in Minnesota. About 400 miles and threatening skies - hot as blazes he says, and humid! Aargh!!
Hi Ted - Talked to Bob - said you had a good visit and a good nights sleep. Ride safe & watch the sky. Happy Trails - Steph & Ed
ReplyDeleteI am in Red Lodge, MT and leaving for Yellowstone soon. While there I will attempt to finish the page of June 19 and create the other pages I owe the site. There is a real premium on available time. Keep the faith.
ReplyDeleteHi Ted -- You should be enjoying Yellowstone by the time you get this message. We are enjoying following your adventure! The beginning of the trip was certainly a challenge weather-wise but hopefully you are in the midst of reasonable weather and great scenery now. We are sure your Minnesota stop was a special part of your trip! We look forward to more updates and wish you safe and happy travel time -- Jim and Peggy
ReplyDeleteHi Ted,
ReplyDeleteWe're sending all our best wishes, prayers and thoughts to you on this marvelous trip you've begun. What a wonderful memory this will be when you're 90 and sitting in your rocker! Just to keep you informed on Nicole's college endeavors.....she made President's List for the 5th time in a row!!!...the 4.0 average continues. Needless to say, we are very proud of her. She has come a long way. Later in the summer, I plan to have this place "together" and we're gonna do a spiediefest! So, prepare for that, okay?! You and Claudia will be the first to know the date. Be hungry! We'll keep in touch as you progress. I hope you run into much LESS rain and cooler weather.....you'll probably get that when you reach the southern part of Canada! If you get to Vancouver, at least visit the Empress Hotel in Victoria...love the old elegance! Have tea! Later.
LYBB (this is Nicole's closing greeting--- love you bye bye!!!)
Arni & Pete
Followers -
ReplyDeleteTalked to Ted today and he is planning to take time to complete all his blog days tomorrow morning; however, it will be late Thursday or early Friday before we see them. Turns out there is no email access in YNP.
Have sent him a care package that he will pick up in Butte MT on Thursday because he froze last night - even with an REI super-duper sleeping bag. It's only going to get colder as he moves north.
He says every time he turns around, he sees one more beautiful vista - he's been taking lots of photos, so we'll see what he uploads for us.
Dear Ted,
ReplyDeleteJust checked out your site. Wow. Lovely photos and I really appreciate the time it takes to enter all that data. As a loyal follower I send you greeting and joy. Happy Trails!
Connie
Ted, it was nice meeting you today. Being a computer jock has its advantages as your site is much better than mine! Anyway travel safe and enjoy the ride.
ReplyDeleteRegards,
Geoff
grwell@comcast.net
HI Ted, Found out about your blog through Geoff Weller. Geoff is a good friend and I am enjoying his blog as well. Your pictures are beautiful. Have a great trip and safe travels. Joni
ReplyDeleteSuch great pictures. It's so much fun to just roam the countryside when it's real open country wild, but not too wild.
ReplyDeleteHow about that V-Rod. Thats the first one I've seen as a finished product.
Jim
Good Luck Ted! Pictures are great. Don't get too wet!
ReplyDeleteHi Ted,
ReplyDeleteWe are enjoying your wonderful pictures ---- you do good work!! Sorry you got some freezing time; but happy to hear that you now have the warm sleeping gear. Have been up to my eyeballs with bridal shower, baby shower, Col. Joe's 90th birthday (which by the way was wonderful --- a few of the old AJSTCers were there; Bill Thompson, Bob Ward, Mike Carroll, Dave Fry, Jim Epting, and CHARLIE BROWN----he got OLD, Ted!!). Joe looks good and someone in his family made(or HAD made) his birthday cake....get this.....it was a Datsun 1600, white, rollbar, number 47 on the side...it was Joe's car! I took a few pictures of it -- can I just send an email with the picture attachment to you so that you can see it? Leaving Fri. a.m. for Afton NY for Pete's brother's 60th party. Back here Tuesday night. I don't know what I'll do without my computer...pretty scarey! Will write again when we get back from NY and catch up on your journey. Take care. Stay warm.
Arni & Pete
Hi Ted - awesome pics - looks like you are getting some good sun and nice "warm" weather. Scenery incredible - Start our mini-adventure to see Bob in Iowa on July 11 - continue you anti-rain dance for us - Ride safe - Steph & Ed
ReplyDeleteAmazing - the interesting people you meet on an adventure like this. The landscape is just wonderful and it goes on and on.
ReplyDeleteJim
Hi Ted -- What an amazing journey! I am in awe of the majestic scenery -- and the effort you take to record and share your adventures. I am glad that the incident involving your bike didn't prove to be more serious for either you or the bike. I am sure any slight injury to Bliss disturbs you -- but she seemed to weather this one very well.
ReplyDeleteI checked out several days of posting and pictures and wish you could have heard my comments! It truly looks as if you are riding through heaven -- although I am sure it does not always feel like that as you battle the various weather and road challenges and the logistics involved. Claudia has obviously been a tremendous help in locating places for you to stay!
I love the picture of you and Bliss posing in the mountains as you were leaving Montana. The picture of you at Crowfoot Glacier by Moraine Lake is also incredible. You and Bliss look as if you are enjoying your adventure tremendously! The picture of you by the campfire at Whiskers Point Provincial Park is another favorite. I loved ALL your scenic pictures and the great pictures of the moose, buffalo, goats, and bear in British Columbia. By the time you read this, you should be in Alaska and meeting up with Claudia and Celeste. Best Wishes to you all -- and Happy Trails! -- Peggy
Hi Ted -- I was glad to read that you have Claudia and Aunt Celeste with you. It must have been a great reunion! This is an awesome time to be in Alaska, with the daylight stretching so late into the night. We look forward to reading your updates as you have time to post them -- and wish you all well as you travel around Alaska and take your ferry trips! -- Peggy
ReplyDeleteHi Ted, Chris and I made it back from NY (what a measley trip for us - a big 6 hours and about 400 miles ---- you can do that standing on your head, right?!) Pete is driving home today. He likes to stay up there by himself and FISH! Friday is Joe and Dayna's wedding. You know, when I saw the Peace River sign I got to thinking (yes, I do that sometimes! :-)----I think my cousins either lived near there or live there now. They have been up there for probably 40 years. Anyway, I'll have to ask my other cousin (their sister) if that is where they are. How about that?!!! I continue to be really impressed with your pictures and with the scenery which makes the pictures. Your entire site is fantastic. I hope you are planning to put ALL of your adventures into a book which can be seen by those without computers (if those people exist anymore!). But just to have a "hard copy" of all your adventures would be wonderful too.
ReplyDeleteTake care, enjoy your time with Claudia and Aunt Celeste, and I envy you the ferry trips (I loved riding on the ferries when I visited our old friend Jean in Wash. State -- she lives on Whidby Island), be safe.
Arni
Your trip is a great story. With all the details you've included on your site it could easily be a format that others could follow. Maybe you could package it and sell it - like Rick Steves does for Europe - only this would be for Harley people.
ReplyDeleteJim
Hi Ted,
ReplyDeleteThe glacier pictures are absolutely fantastic. Also loved the picture of you, Claudia and Aunt Celeste. Good pic (even if you didn't take it! :-)). I finally got the "Joe's 90th Birthday" pictures downloaded and will attach them to your email account tonight. We're looking forward to more days' pictures and prose. Thank you for sharing.
Arni
Thanks for giving me your contact info when Dianne and I (Randy) met you on the road between Lake Louise and Radium B.C. I regret we didn't get to spend a few more minutes chatting but the road is always calling me to get back at it. I just showed Dianne the picture you posted to your page of us on our two red Ducati. It makes us a part of your adventure and that's great. I really like your format for the webpage to log your trips. We'll check in from time to time to see more of the text and pics you post along the way. Happy Trails
ReplyDeleteRandy
Hey Ted,
ReplyDeleteWe're Back home.
What a amazing trip your having. I'm just getting caught up on your blog. The updates are awesome and the pictures are breathtaking. Sorry to read about the loss of the tripod.
We made our Rutland, Vt to Riverside, Iowa trip safe an sound. Had a great time, only hit rain one day of our three week trek. So we lucked out weather wise. The Road King just hummed along like a dream. Ed got the Road King set up for the new true duals in Medina, Ohio as planned. Which was one of the big reasons for this trip. With that taken care of we were off to Iowa. Made the rounds on the way out and back, saw all the kids, grandkids and relatives which was fun. Watch our daughter Julie do a Triathlon at Hamlin State Park off Lake Ontario on Sunday. Then headed home on our last leg of our bike trip on Monday. We're both glad to be home and sleeping in our own bed. We did 3000 miles total, for us that's saying something. Ed did fantastic, no fatigue or sore muscles. Which was something I was worried about. But he didn't miss a beat the whole trip. That's a feather in his cap for sure, seeing August 2nd it will be nine months since his stroke. So this bike trip will definetly be one for the memory book for us. Glad we decided to do it. So stay safe and we can't wait to read more about your journey's. Enjoy this last leg of your Big Bike Adventure!
Happy Trails!!!
Steph and Ed
Hi Ted,
ReplyDeleteStill completely awed by your adventure! The tripod thing scared me when you started to talk about it!!!---glad you made it through that okay. Also can relate to the "at this age" thing about a bike race. Every time I get into the Boxster, I think about the autocrossing days, and how much I would love to do that again. Then I think of my elbow bursitis and knee bursitis and figure I'd CRASH if I tried it now! And I get sleepy driving anyway......:-)---I'm kidding; well, not about getting sleepy driving, but I really don't believe I would get sleepy autocrossing! Nicole is coming home in Sept. with Ryder (and possibly Rodney too), and I'm trying to get a spiediefest together for the week she is here. Will keep you and Claudia posted. Take care and good riding.
Arni
Ted,
ReplyDeleteI have enjoyed keeping track of your travels and still very impressed with your updates!I got home two weeks ago and have finally arraigned all of my pictures, what a great trip. I plan to go back to CO and spend some real quality time there as I really enjoyed that area.
Keep safe and watch out for flying camper tops, one almost nailed me in Neb.
Regards,
Geoff
Just checked in to see where you were. I think it's amazing that you were able to keep on schedule for this whole incredible trip! I bet you will sleep for about 3 days once you hit Wyndale Street! The pictures of the Nat. Parks are amazing. Two which made me wonder....the "Balancing Rock": wonder how much longer it will be there? Someday it will crumble......and then "Dead Horse Point": what happened to make the horses dead and why? One other amazing fact ----- so many people have jumped into the Grand Canyon. I think I would prefer jumping into water off the Bay Bridge!!! Not that one would ever know any difference!! And I don't plan to do either. It looks like Nicole and Ryder will be here Sept. 15th (her classes end Sept.14th) and stay until Sept. 23rd. I'm not anxious or anything!!! He is growing so fast and I'm missing so much of it. I sent a picture taken of him yesterday to Claudia. Welcome Home! What an adventure!
ReplyDeleteArni & Pete
Hey again Ted,
ReplyDeleteForgot to congratulate you on having visited ALL FIFTY STATES!! You done it!!!! :-) :-)
Arni
Hey Ted,
ReplyDeleteJust finished reading the last few days of your trip. Didn't you start out in constant rain? And lo and behold, you almost finished the trip the same way. Glad to hear the weather did clear up before you landed home! Tried to send you a regular email and the darn thing wouldn't go through ---- my computer hates me lately! I'll try to send it again in a while. Trying to get laundry caught up for Monday. We will be leaving Friday around 7 pm (after Pete's class ends at 6:45) for NY again. This time it is to attend the Saturday Aug. 15th wedding of Sean Canavan. Sean is marrying Michelle Headley, and they will be married in Owego NY. We're staying with my sister and her husband about 1/2-hour from there in Endwell, NY. Then back home on Sunday. I have a feeling this is another trip which will take a week or better to recover from!! This 65-thing stinks -- this one bothers me. Probably Susan and I should have had another big party at the Beach Club and it wouldn't be so bad! Oh well! At least I'm still this side of the dirt!!
Once again, Pete and I salute you! Quite an adventure indeed!
Love,
Arni & Pete
Welcome Home, Ted!!! I have just spent the night following the Alaska and return portions of your amazing trip. The pictures are awesome -- and your story line provides great insight. I'm sure you will enjoy reliving your adventures and remembering the great scenery and wildlife and people you met from the comfort of an easy chair after all that traveling. Do you wake up in the night and wonder where you are? The unbelievable part of all this to me is that you look so relaxed and invigorated during the final days of your trip! WELCOME HOME! -- Peggy
ReplyDelete