End of the Trail :(

Well, that's all, folks! Kelly came to get Ken and me in Dahlonega, GA, and we returned home. I was beyond sick, unable to breathe, stuffy head, etc. After we got home, I was tested and found out I had COVID-19. I am so tired of the virus and how it has ruined everything for the past couple of years. I hope and pray that we will have another chance on the trail one day. 

Location: Greeneville, TN, USA

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This Week!

To Albuquerque, NM via the Santa Fe Loop

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Yesterday's ride was awesome. I reached a milestone! - made the 1/2 way (mid-point) at Adrian, TX. For Route 66, this means I'm 1/2 done (or 1/2 started the mother road!). Still not too warm, but I can tell the landscape terrain and the climate is changing, as well as the elevation. Lots of buttes and hills as well as flat stretches. Things are getting a bit dryer! I stayed overnight at Santa Rosa, NM and witnessed my first western sunset in a long time! It was absolutely beautiful. Today I contemplated going straight into Albuquerque, NM, weaving in and out of the frontage ways of I-40, on the post 1937 Route 66, but decided to trek into the old historic city of Santa Fe, NM. For Route 66, this is "the OLD ROAD" portion  the Old Route 66 (1926-1937) up through Sante Fe, New Mexico (aka the Santa Fe Loop) . Much of the original road is dirt, and impassable... and much of it runs on what is now private property. Nonetheless, the Route is still there (replaced by ...
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Beginning of Route 66 (Third Corner)

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I’m not sure the complete reason for the infatuation I feel for the Historic Route 66. When I traveled 66 from Chicago to Santa Monica in 2017, I spoke a bit about the “sacredness” of the road… about how traveling the road connected me to something from the past and something other than myself. I prayed the Litany of Supplication at the 3rd Corner of these contiguous United States, asking God to guide us to peace and reconciliation.  One of the main treats of today was meeting up with my classmates and friends, Pete Ince and Bobak Montemedi. It was very cool to get together with them at Ye Olde King’s Head, a restaurant on Santa Monica Blvd. just up from the West End of 66. Pete, Bob, and I graduated from Frederick Military Academy together 40 years ago. With this as the year of our 40th, and them not able to make the reunion in August, I felt it was a real honor to see them. We enjoyed stories of yesteryear and bringing each other up to date with what’s going on in our lives. Like...
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To Kingston, TN then Kingstree, SC

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Catching up with friends has become one of the big benefits of this trip. Not only have I ridden an epic journey across the US, but I have continued to connect with folks that I haven't seen in years. These aren't just anybody... At one time in my life, these were my best friends. The ride on Thursday 8/17 took me to Kingston, TN were I had a chance to catch up with Tracy Hanson. Tracy and I went to Frederick Military Academy together c/o '85. We were even lab partners in Chemistry class. It was fun to swap stories (she showed up with year books!) and meet her husband, Don. We enjoyed dinner at the historic "downtown" Jackson Square of the once "secret city" of Oak Ridge, TN. Tracy and I haven't seen each other in 32 years. From Kingston, I headed southeast and stayed overnight in Spartanburg, SC on my way to Kingstree, SC. I arrived in Kingstree this afternoon at the home of my best friend at the Citadel, Mark Whetsel. Mark and I were the class of ...
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I am Getting the Hang of This...

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I am trying to do things on my sabbatical that take my mind off the millions of things I deal with in my normal routine. What I have noticed, so far, is that I am a creature of habit. I like routine. I appreciate rhythm. So, what happens is that I get into the rhythm for the task... Packing, riding, cooking, camping... it's all a process. What most people probably don't realize is that I like to camp. Kelly and I like to camp. Kelly grew up camping. I grew up camping (thanks mom & dad who are in there 70s and still camp). I also like to ride. However, motorcycle camping is much different. It's like fast backpacking! :) That's the closest description I could come up with. It is a it out of the comfort zone (intentionally). But, I'm getting the hang of it.       We do what we like to do, but we should always push the boundaries a bit... Get out of the comfort zone. I'm not sure it was easy for Peter, Andrew, James, and John to leave the fishing trade and...
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Back on Route 66 (Arizona)

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Yesterday was wonderful. I got to spend the morning with my good friends Beth & Anthony Tripp in Boulder City, NV (just a short jump from Vegas). We spent the morning catching up over coffee and then set out to see Boulder City. They took me to the park to see the Big Horn Sheep that come down to graze in the green grass. Then we drove by the pirate house and the local Episcopal Church and the National Cemetery.  It was wonderful to spend time with them. Beth and I have been friends since High School. We met (along with Susan Bastin who I caught up with in McKinney, TX) at a Campground in Northern California in 1983. The last time we connected was 2017 when I came through on my Sabbatical. This time we were able to spend more time before I left to pick up Rt. 66 in Kingman, AZ and ride to Williams, AZ. The ride to Williams, AZ was cooler than crossing the Mojave, but I still rode part of the hot desert. My cousins were telling me about the Grand Canyon Railway that goes from Wi...
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Down to the South East Corner of Washington

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It's Tuesday (8/1) and I am officially 1/2 way (6 weeks) into my sabbatical. Today I rode from Winthrop, WA down to the South East Corner of the state, Clarkeston, WA. It was hazy, due to fire activity in Idaho. I also experienced some remnants of forest fires where it looks like 1000+ acres were burned. As the ride progressed, it got warmer and warmer, until I got to Clarkeston where it was 103 degrees! Glad I'm in for the night with AC! On the way out, I stopped for coffee at Blue Star Coffee Roasters in Whisp, WA. This was recommended by the young couple this morning as I was packing up camp. It was a very good choice!! Great cup of coffee. The ride took me along the Columbia River and finally crossing the Snake River into Idaho then back into Washington. It reminded me of the saying, "you can't get there from here!" If you're from South Carolina, you know what I am talking about. Today's thoughts and concerns are about fire and the devastati...
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Happy 79th Birthday, Dad!

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I made it to Goose Creek State Park campground to meet up with my mom and dad in order to celebrate his 79th birthday. My dad’s sister (my aunt Hope) and my cousin Rob were here camping also. My sister, Angel, and her husband, Jason, drove down from their house near Raleigh.   Today was a beautiful ride day! I started off by attending worship at St. Luke’s Episcopal Church in Salisbury, NC. It was an Episcopal “standard” spoken Rite I service at 8 a.m. I call the 8 a.m. service one of the only sacred cows that the Episcopal Church has left. You can change the world, but don’t mess with the 8 a.m. service! I don’t care if you have 4 people there! (Just kidding!). I arrived at Goose Creek SP at about 3:45 p.m. in time to gather with the family to celebrate dad’s birthday. It was pretty cool to have me and my sister there with him as well as his sister. I spoke yesterday of the importance of family connections. It’s pretty amazing how when you’re back together as a group, regardless o...
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