[Chopin]

Only one thing come to my mind at the moment : Ride on fossil, ride on.

 

[crownfire]

Sounds great, makes my little ride today seem silly. Wish I was going on a long one also. Keep it up!

 

[MarkH]

Hey Fossil...I hear that if you go to the Anhauser Busch tour first and then climb the Arch...you have a better perspective of heights....

... good luck and safe travels

....let us know when you get close to WI....me and my wife can meet you and ride through the state

....yes take the fairy across the Lake....lots of construction on I94 and I294 through Chicago....took the fairy last week coming back from Michigan....had a great time with the other bikers on board....

 

[fossil92]

St. Louis for the day. Here's a couple of pictures. Tomorrow Tulsa.


Mark we can be in touch as we come across Ws. We already have plans to Ride with Matt so you can jump on board.

The Little Lady wants to go to Chi-Town so I think the ferry is out & I plan to eat at Lawry's Prime Rib while we're there but thanks for the advice.

 

[Chopin]

Donuts! Well that's one way to carry a spare tire. Any comments on the " undergarments " ? Inquiring minds want to know. Go - nuts. Ride fossil, ride.

 

[fossil92]

Lee, The LD comfort underwear works great. I also bought the helmet liners & our long sleeve uv shirts are all they are supposed to be. They all wick away moisture & reduce body heat. Helmet liner prevents sweat in helmet from running down your face. Then once you get to the hotel all I do is hand wash them all & they're dry by morning, ready to go again. Believe me they have been getting a workout, one thermometer we saw today said 102 & most said 98. neither myself or the little lady have any sunburn.

Maybe someone can use these links.

http://www.ldcomfort.com/

http://wingstuff.com/pgroup_detail/...group_list/apparel/319_Firstgear/mfg/?page=13

 

[fossil92]

Leaving Tulsa this morning, heading to Tucumcari N.M. We stayed an extra day here. I got some tickets to a Michael Buble' concert for the little lady & myself. She was thrilled & I can tell you that the guy puts on a great show. If any of you guys wives like him & you can score tickets, do it. You will be earning Big Big Big Brownie points.

 

[Chopin]

Gee fossil. I had to Google Michael Buble. In return I offer you this little song from " Little Feat " for your trip to NM : " ....... And I been from Tuscon to Tucumcari
Tehachapi to Tonapah
Driven every kind of rig that's ever been made
Driven the back roads so I wouldn't get weighed
And if you give me: weed, whites, and wine
and then you show me a sign
I'll be willin', to be movin' . " Run fossil, run.

 

[Chopin]

Good morning Bill! You should start seeing some hilly country by now.

 

[fossil92]

So let me say this. I know you Southwest guys might be used to this but it was a new experiance for this Yankee. We are driving on I40 out of Amarillo & things are going just swell (albeit hot). When I look out on the horizon & I say to the little lady "Do they look like storm clouds to you?" Her reply "I think so."

Here's the strange part. Drove another hour & 1/2 or so & beat the storm to the Hotel. It is odd to be able to see the weather that far out & actually, if needed could do something about it. At least I think so.

Anyhow great day yesterday & heading to Mancosa Co, this am.

 

[crownfire]

Watch out for that large wildfire just outside of Flagstaff, AZ. They have Hwy 89 open now but the fire crossed it south of Bitter Springs and adjoins the road just north of there. They say there will be delays if you go that way. Watch out for firefighter traffic.

Love the pictures. Looking forward to seeing more. I’m living vicariously through you right now.

 

[fossil92]

Thanks Mark. I was trying to get a handle on where that was. We are supposed to go to Page from Co. then to Bryce Canyon. Then from there we were going to drop down to Flagstaff. Do you know if it is South or North of Cameron? Because we can & will alter our plan. The last thing the firefighters need is more %&#@ tourists to worry about.

If anyone knows the answer to my question please let me know Thanks.

 

[crownfire]

It is south of Cameron. If you are going south on US 89 to Hwy 64 and then to the Grand Canyon that should be okay. The fire is just west of Sunset Crater Volcano National Monument and north of Flagstaff.

 

[Chopin]

When you hit Arizona Bill, your in the state where my heart is. As we speak, my sister is in Phoenix. If I were there now I'd be waiting for you in Flagstaff: http://maps.yahoo.com/#mvt=m&lat=35.640101&lon=-111.695358&zoom=10

 

[fossil92]

It is south of Cameron. If you are going south on US 89 to Hwy 64 and then to the Grand Canyon that should be okay. The fire is just west of Sunset Crater Volcano National Monument and north of Flagstaff.

Thanks Mark. We were planning on only going to North Rim but that will change now. Just didn't want to deal with all the mayhem in South Rim.

Thanks again.

Chopin if you catch a flight now & rent one of those Harleys you can still do that. I won't be down to 40 until Sunday.

 

[fossil92]

Forgot to add a couple of pictures from yesterdays travel.

Some Great roads we were on yesterday. Took 104 NW out of Tucumcari, ran that to 25/84 into Santa Fe (real nice city with lots of friendly people). then 84 to 160 in Co. & accross to Durango (Nice resort town, BUT Crowded) continued on 160 after grabbing supper. to Mancos.

 

[Chopin]

Compared to the size and majesty of the Rockies, our little hills look like speed humps. Never thought about the Continental Divide in terms of east/west water flow. Tanks for the education.

 

[MarkH]

Bill, The ride and pics look great...sounds like you are having a blast....Just Curious...are you communicating to this forum via a lap top or your bluetooth cell phone?.....I still us a campbell soup can and string and thinking about upgrading for my upcoming trips....

No rush....just let me know....

Thanks and safe ride

 

[fossil92]

Well guys as a couple of you already know our trip took a minor curve ball yesterday. Going into the North Rim of the Canyon the old girl (Wing) decided to start missing. I pulled plugs & one looked like it was fouled, cleaned them & started back out. Got to Jacob Lake & started running poorly again. We were supposed to go to Bryce Canyon however found a Powersports Dealer in St George Utah (other direction). Nursed the bike there just in time to pickup some new plugs that they left out for me. Changed them in the Hotel lot that evening & still the bike was not right. Here comes the change to trip #2. Being closer to Las Vegas than Flagstaff we decided to run in here. Got some advice from Radarsdad & stopped at Ride Now Powersports on Rancho Drive in North Las Vegas. Their Service Manager Fred, who is a super guy I might add, was in at work today catching up on things has us scheduled in for 1st thing Tuesday morning with his Goldwing mechanic. He got us set up in a Hotel/Casino up the road & made a bunch of calls trying to get us a rental car but everywhere was closed. We decided to take the bike go to hotel & drop off tomorrow when we go to get a car. On our way to Hotel the bike started running good again with no miss whatsoever. So my thoughts are "a possible vacuum leak"? Do any of you guys have input?

Moving back a bit we will be going to Hoover Dam & some sites tomorrow by car, sadly, however it is supposed to be 105 also so I guess that isn't terrible.

Anyway sorry to get long winded here but just wanted to share the story even though it is a little troubling.

Bill, The ride and pics look great...sounds like you are having a blast....Just Curious...are you communicating to this forum via a lap top or your bluetooth cell phone?.....

Thanks Mark the little lady is the photographer & we are having a great time even throwing in this little snafu. When we planned this trip I decided to buy a Mini Netbook. It is small enough to fit into the top bag & big enough that the "old eyes" don't have to strain. Both the little lady & I share time on it when we stop for the evening & before we leave the next morning. Every hotel has had wireless even the Little Rt 66 style one in Mancos. The one we got was a Gateway & it works great. It won't do everthing that your PC will do but if you want to check email, Store pics & cruise the internet I would recommend it.

By the way guys here are a few pictures for the last couple days. The 1st & 2nd are of the Canyon. 3rd is I-15 South between St George & Vegas. The 4th is the Vegas skyline.

 

[Chopin]

fos': The four of us were talking about the southwestern leg of your voyage yesterday. Took Mz. Vickie for a 425 mile round trip to Williamsburg yesterday. Vickie and I met up with Rapier and Loni as planned for a foursome return home ride. Hot as hell and Mz. Vickie held up well....... until the return ride home. We had to stop in near Tappahannock to ice her down. Loni took charge of Vickie's condition. I love you Loni ! I'm better at " dealing " with mechanical issues. Now I'm reading about your " mechanical " condition and feeling helpless there also. My only consolation to this is that I'm new to the Goldwing and I ride an 1800. It's a lame consolation, but I need something to mitigate the feeling of being useless here. And of course I'll refrain from making any connection to your proximity to " Hoover " dam and the possible " Vacuum " leak.