Learnt something new about the iPhone today. While it can be on mute you still get that wake up call. What you don't get on mute are emergency alerts. At 12:41am there was a tornado alert in Springdale to take shelter. I woke up at some point hearing thunder, but just grunted and went back to sleep rather than seek the basement of the Quality Inn. I suspect this Inn had bed bugs so a night in the basement may have been worse than the tornado. When I got out to the bike in the morning it was still standing, not even twisted around. The sky was crystal blue and the air fresh as is true after a good overnight rain. It was the start of a 70/70 day. A perfect 70F and maintaining a speed ... read more

The major event today was wind. I know what you are thinking, but it was not the Bob's Big Boy burger I had the night before, but a southerly breeze of some 20 miles an hour that plagued much of the ride. As I headed west on I64 I felt I was leaning 10-20 degrees to the left to compensate. Then I headed south down I57 (so much for getting off the interstate) where it became a head wind. Only for the last hour did I get on Route 60 west. It looks like I can take this for a long long way. Certainly not much of interest in the initial stages as I cross the plains, but at least they are green and there are the occasional fields of yellow flowers which look and smell ... read more

Well we are off. A late start because of the weather - waited for the morning rain to pass leaving a fresh if overcast start. Its such a beautiful time in DC and our suburb is no exception with an explosion of spring color. Left Cameron, Daniel and Sandy guarding the house. Don't have a plan beyond an approximate route through Kentucky (where I have never been) and meeting Rob on Thursday or thereabouts in Santa Fe or another point to be determined. Headed out on historic Route 66, but has little to recommend it close to DC. In fact according to everyone's friend - wikipedia - its not even considered Route 66 in DC. Notwithstanding sounds like a good way to start. Been out on this road as far as Front Royal which is the ... read more

It was Interstate all the way today with two friends I30 and I40. Certainly less interesting that the secondary roads that take you through the towns with their own special character. On the Interstate there is only one personality - fast food joints. Gourmet truck stops now there is a bad idea. Wisked through Memphis - never realized it was on the Mississippi (which I still can't spell). My geographic upbringing in South Australia leaves me lacking. Thought of Elvis and pushed on. The highlight today was lunch as a hole in the wall hamburger joint off the highways called Sandy's Hamburgers. Seemed to be run for locals by a few of the local ladies. Had a nice chat with local folks at two tables. One fellow had such a thick Tennessee accent I could only ... read more

Left Roswell with not a UFO in sight - too cold I suspect for aliens as the temperature was down to 37F. Quite a surprise since the temperature reached 85F in the east of California and had been a pleasant 65-75F for most of the rest of the trip, but as we shall see just the beginning. We headed east on 380 towards Lubbock, but had to stop in less than an hour as the cold had begun to seep in. Rob and I made a nice pair standing in the gas station convenience store with hot chocolates giggling in our shivering hands. Clearly this was going to be an issue. It was then, for me at least, that one of the best investments I had ever made came into play - the heated jacket. As ... read more