Ride Around America

Two Dollar Bills Remember American Veterans

Gold Hill, NC (06/23/2011) - Did you know that the number of American two dollar bills in circulation is approximately the same as the number of living US military veterans and active duty personnel? Most of us can easily point to a known veteran or current solidier, sailor, or airman. It's also a fact that most of us have to go to a bank to obtain a two dollar bill. I want to change that.

When Did Veterans Become A 'Special Interest Group' ?

Gold Hill, NC July 25, 2011 - I've been a fan of drive-in restaurants since the very first time my Mom and Dad took me for my first visit to an A&W. It always seemed a great thing to load everybody into the car, drive around to see the sights for a while, and top off a nice ride with an ice cream treat or a hamburger and fries. It was a sad time for me when America started losing A&W franchises.

In the 1980's Sonic Restaurants started in Oklahoma City and during the past 30 years they've really struggled to bring back the car hop atmosphere to a new generation of kids and cars. The food is good, the prices are reasonable, and the service is especially enjoyable at nearly every location I've ever visited - and I suspect I've probably eaten at 200 of their locations since I've started on my Ride Around America. In fact, I generally try to stop and get something from their value menu at least every other day .... that is, until today.

Mark It DONE!

Another Backyard! Brunswick, MD (July 10, 2011) - Tenting in a back yard tends to get me up and running early for a number of reasons. The largest is the desire not to intrude upon family routines of my hosts, espcially on Sunday mornings. With that in mind my gear was packed aboard and the Honda underway by 6:30 AM. The plan was to hit the last seven counties of West Virginia by early evening and spend the night with some new friends in Brunswick, Maryland.

My first planned stop was just 14 miles up the road at Kingwood, the county seat of Preston County.

Two Virginia's ?

Monterey, VA July 11, 2011 - My host, Gene Hollar, was very generous with his time this morning. He delayed his normal departure for work in order to escort me to a memorial just a few blocks from his home in Brunwick. It's always a great feeling to bag another marker first thing in the morning - it almost guarantees I'll have a very successful day. Thanks again, Gene!

Harper's Ferry Ranger I ran quickly down to Harpers Ferry National Historical Park, not really to visit the park, but to pick up a National Parks and Federal Recreational Lands Pass. A couple of years ago Veterans Affairs classified me as disabled, so I qualify to receive the pass, which gives me free access to national parks and reduced rates at most of the federal campgrounds. It's a welcome benefit that I've pretty much ignored, but there are so many federal camping areas along my routes that I would be foolish to not include them in my plans.

Riding "The Pipeline"

Fellowsville, WV (July 9, 2011) - One of the things that surprises me is that many other motorcycle riders consider me a long distance rider. I guess the confusion lies in how long distance is defined. I think an LD rider is one that routinely hits that 1,000 mile mark each day and just lives to wear tires off the bike. My average touring day is 300 miles, give or take 150 miles. The variations are usually dependent upon three things; weather, darkness, and distractions along the way.

Finishing West Virginia

Beckley, WV- July 8, 2011 - I set out on a five day swing through West Virginia and Virginia this morning at 6:30 AM. The goal for this leg is to finish the remaining counties of West Virginia outbound and grab the western tier of counties of Virgina on the return to Gold Hill. The run will be over 1,300 miles and a good indication if my decision to turn to the 'Darkside' was right or not.

The first segment from Gold Hill to Marion, VA, was a 170 mile stretch over rural roads to US-21 and then NC-16 and VA-16. Early morning traffic seems to be expanding further and further out from Charlotte, even in the Mooresville area at 7:30 AM it was busy. I'm making a mental note that from now on if I want to travel US-21 north I'll just go through Salisbury to pick up US-601 to Mocksville and jog over to Harmony. It's much more pleasant with less traffic and most of the road has recently been resurfaced.

Vagrant or Free Spirit ?

Oscar's Story

June 30, 2011 - Mom always taught me that no matter how bad things get it's possible, and very likely, that somebody else has it worse. Her admonitions were never the "Eat your food there are starving children in Africa" type, but more in the style of "Try to appreciate what you have, because there are those that don't have this much - and believe me, Kiddo, I've been one of them."

My mother had been a child of the Depression Era, and from a broken home to boot. She knew full well what it was like to be shuffled from one house to another as my grandmother and grandfather struggled to make a living at a time when jobs were scarce and employers took advantage of the situation.