Category Archives: Journeys in Space

Journeys in Space: An Excellent Motorcycle Adventure! Day 38!

An Excellent Motorcycle Adventure! Day 38!

We've come a long way!

Home again!

Deep Greens and Blues… again…

You can tell me about the times you spend on the Rockies and on the plains…

Summary:

Date: July 30, 2014

Departure Location: 30 Main Street, Stockbridge MA

Arrival Location: 34 Magazine St, Cambridge MA

Total Miles: 126 miles

Total travel time: 2:40 hours

Total miles/total travel time: 47 mph

Number of States: 1 (Massachusetts)

Number of Watersheds: 5 (Housatonic River , Connecticut River, Black River, Merrimack River, Charles River)

Stops: 1 (Blandford MA (gas))

Weather: Sunny, AM;

Temperature: 7:00 AM (Stockbridge) 68 ͦ F, 12:00 Noon (Cambridge MA) 78 ͦ F

Lodging: Home, Cambridge MA

Restaurants: Main Street Café, Stockbridge MA;

Home again!

Home again!

We have completed our Excellent Motorcycle Adventure at 8827.7 miles!

We have completed our Excellent Motorcycle Adventure at 8827.7 miles!

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Journeys in Space: An Excellent Motorcycle Adventure! Day 37!

An Excellent Motorcycle Adventure! Day 37!

Counting the cars on the New Jersey Turnpike (not really)... the New York Thruway... the Taconic Parkway...  back to Stockbridge...

Counting the cars on the New Jersey Turnpike (not really)… the New York Thruway… the Taconic Parkway… back to Stockbridge…

Counting the cars on the New Jersey Turnpike…
All the miles unwind, reverse watersheds… the Hudson River and the Housatonic River
Our 36th wedding anniversary…

Summary:
Date: July 29, 2014
Departure Location: 300 Harrisburg Avenue, Lancaster PA
Arrival Location: 30 Main Street, Stockbridge MA
Total Miles: 310 miles
Total travel time: 6:20 hours
Total miles/total travel time: 49 mph
Number of States: 4 (Pennsylvania, New Jersey, New York, Massachusetts)
Number of Watersheds: 6 (Susquehanna River, Schuylkill River, Delaware River, Passaic River, Hudson River, Housatonic River)
Stops: 2 (Bernards NJ (gas), Beekman NY (lunch)
Weather: Sunny, AM; Sunny, Partly Cloudy/Partly Sunny PM
Temperature: 7:00 AM (Lancaster PA) 66 ͦ F, 12:00 Noon (Bernard NJ) 84 ͦ F, 7:00 PM (Stockbridge MA) 82 ͦ F
Lodging: Red Lion Inn, Stockbridge MA
Restaurants: Beekman Country Club (lunch), Beekman NY; Red Lion Inn (dinner), Stockbridge MA; The Lion’s Den (cocktails), Stockbridge MA

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Journeys in Space: An Excellent Motorcycle Adventure! Day 36!

An Excellent Motorcycle Adventure! Day 36!

Zoom! Zoom!  Checking off the states:  Virginia, West Virginia, Maryland, Pennsylvania...

Zoom! Zoom! Checking off the states: Virginia, West Virginia, Maryland, Pennsylvania…

More time in Purgatory trying to find the Interstate!
A nice lunch in Martinsville at the Blue White Grill…
Zoom! Zoom! “Checking the boxes” for States Visited: 23 miles in West Virginia, 11 miles in Maryland… a couple of cheap states…
US Route 30 through Gettysburg, York, and on to Lancaster PA

Summary:
Date: July 28, 2014
Departure Location: 2815 Candler’s Mountain Road, Lynchburg VA
Arrival Location: 300 Harrisburg Avenue, Lancaster PA
Total Miles: 324 miles
Total travel time: 7:17 hours
Total miles/total travel time: 44 mph
Number of States: 4 (Virginia, West Virginia, Maryland, Pennsylvania)
Number of Watersheds: 3 (James River, Potomac River, Susquehanna River)
Stops: 3 (Natural Bridge VA (discuss route, reconnoiter), Mount Sidney VA (leg stretch), Martinsburg WV (gas, lunch)
Weather: Sunny, AM; Sunny, threat of showers PM
Temperature: 7:00 AM (Lynchburg VA) 68 ͦ F, 12:00 Noon (Martinsburg WV) 84 ͦ F, 7:00 PM (Lancaster PA) 82 ͦ F
Lodging: Lancaster Arts Hotel, Lancaster PA
Restaurants: Blue White Grill (lunch), Martinsburg WV; John J. Jeffries (dinner), Lancaster, PA

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Journeys in Space: An Excellent Motorcycle Adventure! Day 35!

An Excellent Motorcycle Adventure! Day 35!

A sublime trip through the Blue Ridge mountains, but is a demonstration of the principle of "conservation of misery" we pay for it at the end of the day with a trip to the purgatory of Lynchburg VA.

A sublime trip through the Blue Ridge mountains, but in a demonstration of the principle of “conservation of misery” we pay for it at the end of the day with a trip to the purgatory of Lynchburg VA.

The Blue Ridge Parkway is… Sublime!
A quick return to Purgatory on the road to Lynchburg VA…
Downtown Lynchburg VA is a hoax! It’s like Twin Falls ID, there’s no “there” there!

Summary:
Date: July 27, 2014
Departure Location: Tunnel Road Asheville NC
Arrival Location: 2815 Candler’s Moutain Road
Total Miles: 337 miles
Total travel time: 10:24 hours
Total miles/total travel time: 32 mph
Number of States: 2 (North Carolina, Virginia)
Number of Watersheds: 4 (Santee River, Mississippi River – Ohio Division, Roanoke River, James River)
Stops: 2 (Blowing Rock NC (lunch, gas), Fancy Gap NC (cold drinks, leg stretch)
Weather: Sunny, AM; Sunny, threat of showers PM
Temperature: 7:00 AM (Ashville NC) 63 ͦ F, 12:00 Noon (Blowing Rock NC) 86 ͦ F, 7:00 PM (Lynchburg VA, NC) 83 ͦ F
Lodging: Best Western Inn of Lynchburg, Lynchburg VA
Restaurants: Foggy Rock Eatery & Pub (lunch), Blowing Rock NC; Cockerham Food Mart, (cold drink, gas) Fancy Gap VA, Little Caesar’s, Arby’s (take-out dinner), Lynchburg VA

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Journeys in Space: An Excellent Motorcycle Adventure! Day 34!

An Excellent Motorcycle Adventure! Day 34!

A beautiful ride today through the Smokey Mountains to Asheville NC.  We run into some alternate worlds after experiencing Lodging Anxiety and the Cinderella Syndrome

A beautiful ride today through the Smokey Mountains to Asheville NC. We run into some alternate worlds after experiencing Lodging Anxiety and the Cinderella Syndrome

On the road again, through the Smokey Mountains to Asheville NC… this time with friends…
Lodging in Alternate Worlds: Lodging Anxiety and the Cinderella Syndrome

Summary:
Date: July 26, 2014
Departure Location: 154 Intracoastal Road, Madison AL
Arrival Location: 31 Woodfin Street, Asheville NC
Arrival Location in Alternate Worlds: 22 Woodfin Street, Asheville NC
Arrival Location in Alternate Worlds: Tunnel Road Asheville NC
Arrival Location in Alternate Worlds: Old Haywood Road
Total Miles: 334 miles (+/- 10 miles depending on alternate worlds)
Total travel time: 10.25 hours
Total miles/total travel time: 33 mph
Number of States: 3 (Alabama, Tennessee, North Carolina)
Number of Watersheds: 1 (Mississippi River – Tennessee River Division)
Stops: 3 (Chattanooga TN (lunch, gas), Murphy NC (cold drinks, leg stretch), Slyva NC (gas, cold drink, leg stretch)
Weather: Sunny, AM; Sunny, PM
Temperature: 7:00 AM (Madison AL) 78 ͦ F, 12:00 Noon (Chattanooga TN) 94 ͦ F, 7:00 PM (Slyva, NC) 92 ͦ F
Lodging: Renaissance Hotel, Four Points Sheraton, Mountaineer Inn, Sleep Inn Biltmore West, Ashville NC
Restaurants: Tacqueria Jalisco (lunch), Chattanooga TN; Parker’s Drug Store (cold drink, Murphy NC; PJ’s Fast Food Mart (cold drink, gas) Sylva NC; Red Lobster (dinner), Universal Joint (dinner); Bouchon (dinner) , Asheville NC

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Journeys in Space: An Excellent Motorcycle Adventure! Day 33! A day trip to Lynchburg TN!

An Excellent Motorcycle Adventure! Day 33! A day trip to Lynchburg TN!

A day trip to the Jack Daniels Distillery in Lynchburg TN.  We get to hang in the "secret" Squire's Room!  Big fun!

A day trip to the Jack Daniels Distillery in Lynchburg TN. We get to hang in the “secret” Squire’s Room! Big fun!

A trip to Lynchburg TN… a visit with Squire Randall, Mr. Mike and Ms. Gina at the Jack Daniels Distillery!

Summary:
Date: July 25, 2014
Departure Location: 154 Intracoastal Road, Madison AL
Arrival Location: 154 Intracoastal Road, Madison AL
Total Miles: 158 miles
Total travel time: 6:00 hours
Total miles/total travel time: 26 mph
Number of States: 2 (Alabama, Tennessee)
Number of Watersheds: 1 (Mississippi River – Tennessee River Division)
Stops: 2 (Lynchburg (whiskey tasting, sightseeing, lunch), Sewanee TN (sightsee, leg stretch)
Weather: Sunny, AM; Sunny, PM
Temperature: 7:00 AM (Madison AL) 82 ͦ F, 12:00 Noon (Lynchburg TN) 93 ͦ F, 7:00 PM (Madison, AL) 92 ͦ F
Lodging: Chez Mortimer, Madison AL
Restaurants: Jack Daniels Distillery (whiskey), Lynchburg TN; Southern Perks (lunch), Lynchburg TN

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Journeys in Space: An Excellent Motorcycle Adventure! Day 31 & 32!

An Excellent Motorcycle Adventure! Day 31 & 32!

We follow the trail of tears from Memphis TN to Madison AL.  We will be visisting friends in Madison for the next few days.

We follow the Trail of Tears from Memphis TN to Madison AL. We will be visiting friends in Madison for the next few days.

The Trail of Tears
Another intermission… visiting with friends in Huntsville AL…

Summary:
Date: July 23 & 24, 2014
Departure Location: 149 Union Avenue, Memphis TN
Arrival Location: 154 Intracoastal Road, Madison AL
Total Miles: 224 miles
Total travel time: 6:30 hours
Total miles/total travel time: 35 mph
Number of States: 2 (Tennessee, Alabama)
Number of Watersheds: 1 (Mississippi River – Tennessee River Division)
Stops: 3 (Corinth MA (cold drinks, leg stretch), Rogersville AL (cold drinks, gas, weather delay)
Weather: Sunny, Hot, AM; Sunny, Hot, Scattered Thunder Storms PM
Temperature: 7:00 AM (Memphis TN) 78 ͦ F, 12:00 Noon (Corinth, MS) 97 ͦ F, 7:00 PM (Madison, AL) 89 ͦ F
Lodging: Chez Mortimer, Madison AL
Restaurants: Martha’s Menu (cold drinks), Corinth MS; Quik Mart Convenience Store (cold drinks), Rogersville AL

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Journeys in Space: An Excellent Motorcycle Adventure! Day 30!

An Excellent Motorcycle Adventure! Day 30!

Western Arkansas look looks like New England... Eastern Arkansas looks like, well... ummm... Kansas... but with rice paddies...

Western Arkansas look looks like New England… Eastern Arkansas looks like, well… ummm… Kansas… but with rice paddies…

Arkansas hill country… a beautiful part of America…
What’s up with the racist sign in Harrison AR?
Rice paddies and farm machinery…
We cross the mighty Mississippi! We are back in the east!
What’s up with the ducks in the hotel?
A nice night on Beale Street… in Memphis TN.
Summary:
Date: July 22, 2014
Departure Location: 200 NE A St, Bentonville AR
Arrival Location: 149 Union Avenue, Memphis TN
Total Miles: 330 miles
Total travel time: 9:22 hours
Total miles/total travel time: 35 mph
Number of States: 2 (Arkansas, TN)
Number of Watersheds: 1 (Mississippi River)
Stops: 2 (Harrison (breakfast, gas), Marion (cold drinks, gas)
Weather: Sunny, Hot, AM; Sunny, Hot, PM
Temperature: 7:00 AM (Bentonville, AR) 73 ͦ F, 12:00 Noon (Searcy, AR) 93 ͦ F, 7:00 PM (Memphis, TN) 96 ͦ F
Lodging: The Peabody Hotel, Memphis, TN
Restaurants: The Neighborhood Diner (breakfast), Harrison AR; Rum Boogie Cafe, Memphis, TN

We saw a billboard like this in Harrison AR... what's up with that?

We saw a billboard like this in Harrison AR… what’s up with that?

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Journeys in Space: An Excellent Motorcycle Adventure! Day 28 & 29!

An Excellent Motorcycle Adventure! Day 28 & 29!

Flat, flat, very flat... with crosswinds!  Dodge City KS to Bentonville AR.

Flat, flat, very flat… with crosswinds! Dodge City KS to Bentonville AR.

We say good bye to US-50, the best motorcycle road in America, after 1560 miles!
Flat, flat, very flat… with crosswinds…
Bentonville: Museums, art cafes, restaurants… an oasis…

Summary:
Date: July 20 & 21, 2014
Departure Location: 2800 W Wyatt Earp Blvd, Dodge City KS
Arrival Location: 200 NE A St, Bentonville AR
Total Miles: 434 miles
Total travel time: 10:19 hours
Total miles/total travel time: 42 mph
Number of States: 2 (Kansas, Arkansas)
Number of Watersheds: 1 (Mississippi River – Arkansas River Division)
Stops: 3 (Hutchinson (breakfast, gas), Fredonia (cold drinks), Nashville MO(cold drinks,gas))
Weather: Sunny, Hot, Windy AM, Sunny, Hot, Windy PM
Temperature: 7:00 AM (Dodge City, KS) 68 ͦ F, 12:00 Noon (Fredonia KS) 98 ͦ F, 7:00 PM (Bentonville, AR) 92 ͦ F
Lodging: 21C Museum Hotel, Bentonville AR
Restaurants: The Diner (breakfast), South Hutchinson KS; Bacani Plaza (cold drinks), Fredonia KS; Harp’s (cold drinks) Nashville MO; The Hive, Bentonville AR; The Tusk and Trotter, Bentonville AR

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Journeys in Space: An Excellent Motorcycle Adventure! Day 27!

An Excellent Motorcycle Adventure! Day 27!

US-50, the best highway road in America:  Salida to Dodge City... following the Arkansas River from the canyons of the Rocky Mountains to the Great Plains.

US-50, the best highway road in America: Salida to Dodge City… following the Arkansas River from the canyons of the Rocky Mountains to the Great Plains.

We continue on US-50, the best motorcycle road in America!
Into Kansas, what would Emerson think of this this landscape? A reflection on the sublime, the Quotidian, the Divinity, and Purgatory
Oh Baby, what’s that smell?!! An introduction to Kansas Feed Lots….

Summary:
Date: July 19, 2014
Departure Location: 1310 U.S. 50, Salida CO
Arrival Location: 2800 W Wyatt Earp Blvd, Dodge City KS
Total Miles: 380
Total travel time: 10:37 hours
Total miles/total travel time: 36 mph
Number of States: 2 (Colorado, Kansas)
Number of Watersheds: 1 (Mississippi River – Arkansas River Division)
Stops: 3 (Pueblo CO (breakfast), Lamar CO (cold drinks), Garden City KS (gas))
Weather: Sunny, Hot AM, Sunny Hot PM
Temperature: 7:00 AM (Salida CO) 53 ͦ F, 12:00 Noon (Lamar CO) 96 ͦ F, 7:00 PM (Dodge City) 86 ͦ F
Lodging: Towne Suites, Dodge City KS
Restaurants: Denny’s (breakfast), Pueblo CO; Hickory House (cold drinks), Lamar CO; Dodge City Saloon, Dodge City KS

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