Mount Hood National Forest Area

Mount Hood Back Drop

June 29th

We Are In...??

The Mount Hood National Forest!!

Another wonderful day spent with our old shipmate Ray Weber and Jane McKenna at their home up in the Mount Hood National Forest area.

Mike & Nadia

Josiah

Mike Chandler, Nadia & Josiah

From Estacada, we traveled back to Portland for a Salmon Barbecue with Mike and Nadia Chandler. Their son Josiah kept us in stitches with an ever expanding command of his language skills.

Ray Weber (2nd from left) Coast Guard BROTHER # 3

Visited our Coast Guard BROTHER Ray Weber and Jane in Estacada, OR. They live and work in the Mount Hood National Park lands. We were absolutely blown away by the beautiful lush green and mountainous landscape we saw while traveling highway 224 along the crystal clear Clackamas River.

Bev Sallee and family

Visited with Bev Sallee and family in Bend, Oregon. Bev, sons Paul and Mark, plus grandchildren Skylar and Karsten met us at a local coffee shop. Bev paid for our bkfst, Paul filmed our departure, and Mark and children joined us for a short spell before we moved on to Portland.

BM2 Carlton on the Coast Guard Cutter Orcas

BM2 Scott at Chetco River Coast Guard Station

June 26th

We ARE IN....??

BEND, OREGON!!

A long (402 mile) day today!!... During the first half day we headed North on highway 101 from Ukiah, CA to Reeds Port, Oregon. Two brief stops along the way included visits at two Coast Guard units. The first stop was at the Chetco River small boat station in Brookings, Oregon. The second stop was at the Coast Guard Cutter Orcas in Coos Bay Oregon. A special thanks to BM2 (Scott ?) at Chetco River and BM2 Carlton on the cutter Orcas for offering us a welcomed cup of coffee, a short look around and a chance to share a few old sea stories with them. The second half day (literally) up to midnight was spent heading West from Reedsport on the Oregon Coast to Bend Oregon over a very, very cold Cascade mountain range!

Coast near Crescent City, CA

Redwoods

Redwoods

June 25th

WE ARE IN....??

Crescent City, CA!

From Ukiah, we headed North on highway 101 through the town of Willits, otherwise known as the gateway to the Redwoods and a 30 mile stretch of road called "Avenue of the Giants". Weather for the first half day was beautiful. However, after the Redwoods when we continued North on highway 101, the winds began to pick up as the temperature dropped drastically. By the time we got to Crescent City, we were wind driven and uncomfortably cold!

June 24th

WE ARE IN...??

Ukiah, CA

From Morro Bay up to Big Sur and through Monterey Bay on coastal highway 1. More than 100 miles on winding mountain roads with so many hair pin curves. This would have to be the best ride, scenery wise, that we have experienced since Utah! Words, even video records, which we filmed, can't begin to describe the beautiful and rugged landscape we saw today. From Monterey, it was back on to highway 101 through San Francisco and then further up the coast to Ukiah. Actually, while trying to get over the Golden Gate bridge, we took the wrong ramp and ended up down town, in the city, during rush hour traffic. Fortunately, our GPS bailed us out of a mess once again. Can't imagine what we did before the GPS was invented. I guess they used maps or whatever they were called????

Big Sur Area

Big Sur Area

June 24th

Richard Koeneke (USMC)

Finally was able to personally meet Colonel Richard Koeneke, retired, USMC. Good friend and law school classmate of Mike Trombino. Richard practices law in San Diego and after some careful planning we were able to share some time, plus some coffee, at a local coffee house just before we departed the area. Great guy, new acquaintance, hopefully we'll meet again.

Malibu Beach Coast Highway

June 23rd

WE ARE IN...??

Morro Bay, CA!

400 miles today. Departed San Diego around 10 AM heading north, in our effort to beat the LA traffic. NOT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! There is no time of the day or night that this could ever be possible!! Heavy, heavy traffic all morning with frequent stop and go maneuvering. This did not let up until we got on to the coast road (Rte 1) near Malibu. From Malibu onward up the coast was very nice and we managed to shoot some rolling video footage through wine vineyard country.

June 22nd

WE ARE IN...??

San Diego, CA!

We met up with Tom and Ruth Ann Tucker in San Diego around noon and they treated us to a wonderful lunch at a marine side restaurant. (Ruth Ann is Janet Allison's sister). After lunch, as we were leaving the parking lot, we came upon mother duck and her 4 little ducklings curbside on the main street! A rescue mission developed as Ruth Ann and Bob tried to heard them safely in the right direction. Needless to say, mother duck made it clear to us that she did not understand what this mission was about!! However, we did eventually manage to direct them to a safer location away from traffic. Ruth Ann then took on the ugly task of providing long over due laundry services. (THANKS RUTH ANN!)

The remainder of the day was spent fighting rush hour traffic while trying to navigate safely to reasonable accommodations for the night. Our plan for tomorrow is simple, time our morning departure to avoid rush hour traffic and make our way north to safer traffic environments! It is a toss up, which has been worse, dealing with the traffic conditions and impatient drivers or fighting the relentless highway cross winds here?

Dr. Joe and Mary Kay

As we approached Escondido, Califonia on the interstate, I mentioned to my riding partner that my first cousin Dr. Joe Rua and his wife, Mary Kay lived in this area of California and that I would enjoy visitng them as we passed through here. I placed the call, Joe answered, and within minutes we were sitting in their living room drinking coffee. Great visit as we compared notes as to how our families were doing. Everyone, including chidren, are all doing good. Both Joe and Mary Kay were taken back by our arrival on motorcycles. Big smiles covered their faces as they focused on the bearded cousin and his explanation as to living his dream of circling the USA on a motorcycle. We agreed that our children meeting sometime in the future would be a good thing. Our link is that my mother was Dr. Joe's fathers baby sister. Enjoyed the visit very much.

Bobby Van De Pol (middle) Coast Guard BROTHER # 2

WE ARE IN...??

Escondido, CA!!

Only 157 miles today. The windy condition experienced yesterday, was nothing compared with a 20 mile stretch of road through Palm Springs, CA, on Interstate I-10, today. With out exaggeration we got pounded with 50-60 mph cross winds. Had to pull off the highway at one point as things got that hairy!!

We stopped in Moreno Valley to visit with our second Coast Guard mate and BROTHER Bobby Van De Pol. Bobby is 6'4" and back in the good old days, he was just a skinny runt that we nicknamed "THE STORK"!! Went to lunch with him and had a great time catching up as well as discussing old memories.

We then headed south on highway 215 & 15 to Escondido to visit with Louie's 1st cousin Joe and wife Mary Kay.

June 20th

June 20th

WE ARE IN...??

INDIO,CA !!

Didn't get started until around noon because the town of Seligman was so unusual and interesting. Seligman is a fixed up, painted up, historic Route 66 landmark!!! We spent half the morning kibitzing with Frank and Lyn Kocevar who own and manage Historic Seligman Sundries. I don't see how anyone passing through Seligman could avoid a cursious stop and look around thier unique building. Visit their website @ (http://www.seligmansundries.com/)

During the second half of the morning while trying to get organized and packed out, we were standing on the street corner when out of nowhere comes a charging Black Angus bull!!! right down the middle of the street! Behind it is a Cowboy on a horse giving pursuit. The bull crashes through a chain link fence, falls down, gets up, and keeps on going. We ran to get our cameras but that was the last we saw of it. Talk about an interesting town!!

Departed Seligman at noon and the rest of the day was not much fun. 355 miles on desolate/desert roads with 35 -40 mph cross winds!!!!!!!!!

June 19th

WE ARE IN......??

Seligman, AZ!!

319 miles traveled today. From Torrey, Utah, South on highway 89A to highway 89, then South to highway 24 to the Grand Canyon. From the Canyon, continued on 24 South to I-40, and West to Seligman, AZ.

Seligman is located just off I-40 on the old Route 66!!!. Hold up here for the night. Tomorrow we start off on about 60 miles on the old Route 66 and then onward toward California.

Grand Canyon

Bryce Canyon

June 18th

WE ARE IN.....??

Kanab, Utah!!

Talk about 4 seasons in a day, how about in an hour!!! From Torrey, we struck out on highway 12 up and over Boulder mountain. Ran right into rain, sleet and snow, only all three at the same time! Finally broke through that mess only to run into worse weather at Bryce Canyon. We got soaked clear through and did not think it would ever let up. However it did finally break enough for us to get some good film and pictures. From highway 12 at Bryce, we drove south on highway 89 into Kanab where we are layed up for the night.

June 17th

WE ARE IN......??

Torrey, Utah!

Where is Torrey Utah you ask? Well, let me tell ya. Actually,.......I'm not quite sure??? We rolled into Torrey about 9:00 PM this evening after more than 10 hours on beautiful Utah roads. From Grand Junction, we headed west on I-70 and on into Utah. Then south on highway191 to the town of Moab. From Moab, we took highway95 (162 miles) into Torrey. This puts us in position tomorrow, to take highway 12 up and over Boulder Mountain and down into the Bryce and Zion canyons.

Given a little more time I plan to up load some video footage of what we saw today, because words alone cannot describe how beautiful Utah is.

June 16th

WE ARE IN.....???

Grand Junction, CO!!!

Too tired to push on further. Traffic on I-70 over the mountains was TEDIOUS in a word, but the scenery was absolutely breathtaking!!!!!!!!!!

Visiting the cousin Sanders

Could not possibly drive through Colorado Springs without pulling off the highway and making the effort to visit our cousins "The Sanders". Had a wonderful time "catching up" with Joanne, Chris, and Greg. Appreciated Greg's "collector Harley Davidson" and totally enjoyed being fed a wonderful steak dinner cooked personally by Chris Sanders. Of course Joanne offered "bed and breakfast", but, the plans had been made and I had to excuse myself and head out to meet my riding partner and 40 year military shipmate, Bobby Chandler. Thank you cousins for a wonderful visit.

June 15th

WE ARE IN.....

Colorado Spring, CO!!!

Welcome to Colorado!!!!!!!!!

June 15th

Our arrival in Colorado Springs;

It just so happened that Kent and Marilyn Merkel were in Colorado Springs at a family reunion in celebration of their 50Th wedding anniversary. Long story short, the Merkels are friends of Bob and Janet and were not aware of our arrival here. They were away for the day white water rafting, and so when they returned to their vacation home, these two ripe (well, you all have seen the blog pictures) motorcycle guys are sitting on the front porch! So, I say to Kent "Sir, we are lost and can't find our way out of here" The look on his face while trying to figure out WHO the hell are these strangers sitting on my porch, was just priceless!! I then ask " you wouldn't happened to have a couple of rooms for the night would ya?" NO SIR! ABSOLUTELY NOT! (and by now, completely wound up). I then say "Is your name Merkle by any chance? " YES IT IS????" to which I respond with "well then in that case, Janet Allison sent me all the way here from Maryland to say Happy Anniversary!" Having now figured out this guy must be Bobby Chandler, Kent responds back with "come on down off that porch so I can kick your butt!

This was definitely one of those Kodak moment, if you know what I mean.

June 14th

June 14th

WE ARE IN......Dodge City, Kansas!

Home of Boot Hill, and the town

portrayed in the TV show Gun Smoke.

Only 175 miles logged today from Salina to Dodge City. Weather situation factored in causing us to hold up here for the day before continuing on to Colorado Springs tomorrow.

Experimented with video clips of the bikes along the highway on the trip here. We intend to post a couple of these to the blog site when we figure out how to make that happen.

June 13th..Farewell to Brother Kelly

June 13th

WE ARE IN..... Salina, Kansas!!

Departed St. louis early morning and headed West on I-70 all day. Side trip to town of Liberty where Jesse James robbed local bank of $60,000 back in 1866. Cattle ranch country west of Topeka where the rolling hill sides, green patures and scenery was just incredible to see!

June 12th

George Kelly (Middle) Coast Guard BROTHER # 1

Here we are in st. Louis, visiting with Geroge Kelly, one of our old (relatively speaking) Coast Guard Shipmates. 40 years ago we were stationed together on the Icebreaker Staten Island. George is the 1st of four shipmates that we intend to visit with during this trip around the Country.

Friends/Brothers & Shipmates forever!!