Day 11 - A Harley Excellent Adventure

Well, we need to start by saying our GPS is named Dingy, not Ding-a-Ling. Ding-a-Ling would just be wrong.

We were so glad to hear we can now carry our guns into the Starbucks!! You never know when the barista drafting your coffee will jump across the counter and beat the crap out of you. So, we can stop worrying.


What an adventure we have had but it will be good to hear a southern accent tomorrow when we return to Roanoke on USAir (which will always be Piedmont Airlines to Jim). Last night we ate dinner at the Iron Horse Hotel and a couple of excellent Milwaukee beers.





Today we visited the Harley Davidson Museum, the center of the civilized world for Harley lovers.










The exhibit included the bikes from the movie Easy Rider..........














and an opportunity to have your picture made on the bike used in The Temple of Doom. (See the handsome guy to the right).....

Harry salivating........

So, Jim and Harry had an excellent adventure, and signed the Harley Davidson Museum visitor book just so............

After the Museum, we lunched on deep fried cheese curds, a Wisconsin delicacy, and soup.

So home tomorrow after a magnificant adventure. We thank Harry for providing the opportunity and we thank our loyal followers for their support and we thank God for our safe keeping ( a few times we surely needed divine help).

Discussion topics for today:
Starbucks safety rules
Duke's basketball downfall
Excellent Sleep Inn waffles
We feel bad for Charlie Rangel
We feel really bad for Gov. Paterson
We are encouraged by Grandma Pelosi
We wish Tiger good luck!

Goodnight Beth
Goodnight Mary Lou and Mac

Day 10 - We're in Milwaukee

The big activity last night, other than eating a not-so-bad steak in the dining car, was deciding who was going to get the lower bunk in our roomette (which, BTW, ain't big enough for two fully grown men, such as us). The discussion of options for this covered the major part of the day yesterday, culminating just before bed time.

After discussing the options rock-paper-scissors, flipping a coin, etc., we finally decided on who picked the number nearest to a number chosen between 1 and 20 by the nice porter lady. And guess who won - Harry!!!!! Jim had already expended his winning luck earlier in the day at a wine tasting party where he won a bottle of the finest wine Joe's Vineyards bottles. So it was determined that the day would end with Jim trying to scamper, climb, escalate himself into the top bunk. And that was quite an ugly scene, which included dislodging the lighting fixture in the roomette.

But we both did actually get a pretty good night's sleep and awoke nearing Minneapolis and trees for the first time in a week. Still, snow.

We traveled along the mighty Mississippi most of the morning, which was mostly frozen.

Harry had to really study his many lunch menu options........

Others in the dining car were already eating like pigs........

The train stayed on, or ahead of schedule, and we arrived in Milwaukee about 2:00 PM, where we walked a few blocks to the Budget car rental place, got our Hyundai Accent, and headed to our hotel, the Airport Sleep Inn. Our GPS, Ding-a-Ling, which we have not mentioned, gave us some surprise turns finding our hotel, but even though neither of us had a clue where we were, we found the hotel.

We need some comments/responses from our 1's of fans so we know the people we know and love are still alive. So weigh in folks.

Discussion topics today:

How well we slept last night

What the h--- happened when that light came tumbling down while Jim was getting in bed

When would Connie put up the beds and get the seats back out

Milwaukee itinerary


Goodnight Beth

Goodnight Mary Lou and Mac

Day 9 - On the Train

We closed down the house in Choteau, and headed 60 miles north to Shelby, MT, where we met the train at 11:43 AM. It was another perfect weather day (for Montana in winter).

No, the train was not about to run over Jim. He is an X-railroad employee you know. And according to him, I'm pretty sure he used to run the Norfolk Southern.

Poor Lizzy, the car.....all alone in the Amtrak parking lot, where friends will pick her up and return her to her new home in Choteau. (It is weird to name a car. I just know that.)

Jim couldn't make any friends, so sat alone in the lounge car. He misses Mac. Or is he trying to escape from his friend??

Topics of discussion today:

Railroad timetables
Why people name cars
Itinerary for Milwaukee
Should we tip the porter and the waitress on the train and if so, when
Why bourbon is a popular adult beverage
Where do we get ice
Why certain rail wheels bump and make noise
How tight a rail spike should be
How does a rail tie expand in summer (Wonder what a "rail tie" is?? )
How fast is the train going

What time to make dinner reservations

Good night Beth

Good night Mary Lou and Mac

Day 8 - The End is Near(er)

Well, tomorrow we leave Choteau after a wonderful visit. The train leaves Shelby at 11:30 AM.

We took a long walk this morning, viewing the famous Choteau rodeo grounds, and followed the new walking trail up on the bench above Choteau to the golf course, where Jim was seen doing what he does best..........

And we walked on............

Today we cleaned house and had lunch will Shelly, Elaine, and Al, some of Harry's friends. We gave "Lizzy" a bath (By the way, who names their car? It's a little weird but it's not my car). It's hard to believe four days have passed.

As much as we hate it, we may not have an entry tomorrow since we will be on the train. But look for us in Milwaukee!!

Topics of Discussion:

None (we were listening today)

Good night Beth

Good night Mary Lou and Mac

Day 7 - We Are Good Boys

Today, we were good boys. We got up late, after a nice, but late, visit from friends last night, watched CBS Sunday Morning (it comes on earlier here), then went to church. Now, that's being good! Not only that, we stayed and ate Tacos in support of the youth fundraiser for Choteau Unitied Methodist. We sat with the minister and were exemplary in our conduct.

Following church, and helping the nice lady next door move her refrigerator so she could clean behind it, we drove down the scenic Teton Canyon Road, which takes us directly into the Rocky Mountains. These pictures show us at the end of Teton Canyon Road directly in front of one of the main landmarks in Choteau, Ear Mountain.

We visited a local Roanoke, VA resident, Ellen Aiken, at her beautiful home on the front and the end of Teton Canyon Road

We've taken a "before" picture of Lizzy, the great cross-country car of travel. Tomorrow, she gets a well-earned shower before taking us to Shelby, MT on Tuesday (assuming we can find a driver) to meet the train to our next destination, Milwaukee.

Topics discussed today:

The sermon

The Good Samaritan (we decided if we could find someone almost dead along the road, we'd be Good Samaritans)

We also have a PS from yesterday, when we visited Glacier National Park. On the way up 89 towards Browning, MT, we looked over into one of the many gigantic hay fields bordering the road and saw a very large Bald Eagle flying right towards us. Jim was calm but Harry was ecstatic!

Harry says: Good night Beth

Jim says: Good night Mary Lou and Mac

Day 6 - Choteau Where Life is Good!!

Last night, we had dinner at John Henry's with Mike Maples, a friend of Harry's, and his wife and son. Pizza was on the menu and the beer was good!

Today was tour day. Hey, Harry was on this trip!!!!We drove to Glacier National Park and were dazzled by beautiful views of the snow covered Rockies. Lunch at Two Medicine Grill in East Glacier, and back to Choteau and the bikes.

A relaxing day in beautiful country.

Downtown Choteau (Main Ave.)

Today, we discussed:

The origin of the world

The aroma of the cattle feed lot

Native American culture

Prohibition

Harry says: Goodnight Beth

Jim says: Goodnight Mary Lou and Mac

Day 5 - A Day in Choteau

A good night's sleep in Choteau was really needed, and gotten. Today was a day of figuring out how to fix the coffee, deciding on breakfast, meeting some Choteau friends, doing laundry, and most important of all, getting out the bikes!

Yep, we did the laundry......

Then, we got out the bikes.......

Topics of discussion today:

Breakfast

Lunch

Dinner

Harry says: Goodnight Beth

Jim says: Goodnight Mary Lou and Mac

Day 4 - We've Arrived Safely!!

We are now aware that we have 1's of blog fans - lots of anonymous comments and responses, phone calls of love and support, and that generally good, warm feeling that comes from being loved and respected by the throngs. Thanks to all of you for the love and care you've shown on our excellent adventure across what seems like the entire US of A, including Alaska and Hawaii.

We did arrive safely in Choteau, MT about 6:15 PM local time, a short trek of about 2263.4 miles. Our car, Lizzy, performed flawlessly, and we now call her home (minus the bathroom). Our butts are firmly imprinted on the seats.

Today, we started our journey in Spearfish, SD, a truly toddling town, home of we're not sure what. Heading through northwest SD, WY, and in to the great state of MT, we saw, guess what - lot's and lot's of snow. But the closer we got to Choteau, the less snow we saw. But that's not to say there isn't any snow in Choteau. It was pretty well dark upon arrival, so we're really not sure.

Life with Jim is REALLY exciting.......

There are a bunch of windmills at Judith Gap, MT.......

Today's topics of discussion:

Obama's Health Care Summit

Investment strategies

Religion (who is God)

Music

Abortion Rights

You see, we were running out......

Harry says: Goodnight Beth

Jim says: Goodnight Mary Lou and Mac

Day 3 of the Excellent Adventure

Well, here we are in Spearfish, SD. The past 10 hours were a blur of snow (on the ground, not falling) and cold. Everyone who thinks they know what nine below zero feels like, raise your hand. Well you are wrong, it will take your breath away. We quickly left a beautiful motel in Sioux City, IA and traveled across South Dakota.

We experienced the true magic of the Mitchel, SD Corn Palace. The Corn Palace is a basketball gym and meeting center covered in ears of corn and corn husk. You really have to see it! We will never eat another ear of corn without thinking of it.

On to Murdo, SD, for lunch. The waitress made fun of our accent. She didn't believe y'all was a real word!! But Harry connected with her with "you betcha".

Stopped in Sturgis, SD for a quick picture and on to Spearfish, SD for the night.















Some comments about Jim Lewis: Jim is a lot older than Harry, so he needs a lot of heat in the room and some help getting out of the car. Harry constantly gives him advice about the "lady talking from the GPS", convincing him as often as possible that she really isn't the "she-devil" talking to him.

Topics of discussion today:
Health Care (solved)
College Sports
Investment strategies
Motorcycles
dogs (Mac)
Religion
Lewis and Clark


Good night Beth
Good night Mary Lou and Mac

Day 2 of the Excellent Adventure

How far is it to Montana? Nobody knows for sure but it is a long way from Virginia. We drove and drove and drove and tonight, we are about half way (1,200.3 miles). Nothing of consequence happened today. We escaped from the America's Best Value Inn without any personal damage.













Passed by the arch in St Louis and ate lunch with our "trip weather adviser",













Dick Williams and his wife, a friend of Harry's. Some very interesting folks that added to our adventure.











We saw a flock of what we believe to be Canadian snow geese, that were quite impressive.












We have snow (on the ground-not falling) in the flat lands of Missouri and Iowa and cold winds.

Tomorrow will be below zero. We can't wait!!!! We love cold weather so much!!!!

We have been tolerating each other very well. We spend the day in the car a foot apart and sleep in the same room. However, one more day and we may have to evoke one of John Wesley's rules that states one should not drink to excess unless it was absolutely necessary. Tomorrow, by God, it may be necessary.



And the wide Missouri.......










Topics of discussion today:
National Health Care
Tiger Woods
High finance
Religion
Meteorology
Mac
Our Children
Politics
Lewis and Clark

Harry says: Goodnight Beth
Jim says: Goodnight Mary Lou and Mac

Day 1 of the Big Adventure

Mac thought he was going also......

It was a warm, but turning cold, rainy day as we sped through West Virginia, Kentucky, Indiana and in to Illinois - a total of about 631.3 miles. We have nested at Mt. Vernon, IL, in the lovely (sleeziest) Americas Best Value Inn ($41), a hotel that technology has left behind in its wake. After several hours we outsmarted them, by-passing their s&*$ty internet, and are connected in a new and top secret way.

The most exciting thing we saw today......

Harry says: Goodnight Beth
Jim says: Goodnight Mary Lou and Mac

Getting Ready to Go

Beth's been messing with our blog. This is her post:

In the last four days, Grandma's car, "Lizzie," has had an oil change, a radiator flush, a "fix" for a transmission fluid leak, and four new tires in preparation for her cross-country trip to her new home in Choteau. Although it's below freezing here in Blue Ridge this morning, we pulled her in the garage and did a thorough inside cleaning; the outside will have to wait for a warmer day.

Harry and Jim have purchased their return tickets and have almost finalized their itinerary. However, with the amount of snow that's hit the southeast in the last weeks, they may need to head north to escape the bad weather.

The final countdown to leaving has begun!