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