Seeking rest along the way!

Nice morning in Idaho

Final thoughts

TOP TEN BEST FROM 48 STATES in10 DAYS

1. God's grace favor and protection daily on this trip

2. The company I spent the entire time with--Randy and Steve

3. Those who prayed for us while we were traversing the entire country--particularly my wife Sharon

4. The great interstate system throughout America 

5. The hosts: Jim and Kristi Westra, Barry and Sharon Harrison, Dale and Dee Hammon, David and Marilyn Potts, Mike and Laura McVay, Jim Shue, Ron and Beth Rager. Great hospitality and again THANKS!!

6. The weather (90%) of the time was awesome

7. Don Rice and his team at Rice Honda who tuned up my bike and the Old Goldwing ran like a champ the entire time with no problems 

8. The scenery was spectacular at every location in its own right

9. Jimmy's pool and spa and Nancy getting us tickets to Mystere Cirque de Soleil at Treasure Island

10. Times of prayer and intercession on the bike over the 10 days

TOP TEN WORST FROM 48 STATES in 10 DAYS

1. The 10% of the weather that was 109 degrees in Needles, CA and the gusty winds in Arizona, New Mexico, Nevada, Montana, North and South Dakota--I mean gusty!

2. The pot holes on the New Jersey turnpike (I went in to one and came out with a different Goldwing on the other side)

3. Randy's primping--just kidding; it was all necessary prep

4. 99 miles of turns, no water and 90 plus degrees in Hell's Canyon, Idaho

5. Sleep deprivation all but one night

6. Caught between two semi rigs on I-80 outside Toledo, Ohio at 1:30 am and feeling like I am on a wave machine

7. Inadequate road markings around Atlanta--no way it was the drivers fault!

8. Arriving at 4 am at Dale and Dee Hammons after riding through 40 degree weather in New Hampshire 

9. Not having time to visit with the people who shared their homes with us

10. Missed my wife the whole trip

Randy, Steve and I traveled over 8,000 miles in 10 days. We experienced such grace from God and favor at every turn. The classic is motels we never booked and getting fair prices in the summer season. Everyone's bike ran top notch the entire trip. For me one of the most spectacular yet horrendous rides was from Cambridge, Idaho to Lewiston, Idaho..to Clarkstown, Washington back to Lewiston and in to Missoula, Montana. It was 423 miles and took over 9 1/2 hours. After Lewiston it was in the 90's and Hell's Canyon was a good name for where I felt I was going, at the same time viewing extraordinary American landscape. I  thought while I was riding, "This is a lot like sin in our lives". We think we are enjoying the ride until we go too far and then we can't seem to get out of the mess. With the hours of travel, getting in late to every stop but one, rising early to get back on the bike and begin a day lasting fro 12 to 21 1/2 hours, I can't believe we didn't struggle any more than we did. It was all truly amazing start to finish. And NO I wouldn't do it again on a bike. 

Grace and peace to all.

Day 9

Wheeeew!

Went for a big ride today.

About 792 or so miles.

Toughest ride of the nine day for me.

Glad to be at Ron and Beth's house to rest.

One day left!  

Hard to believe, but the grace of God strongest today on a very tough day.

Grace and peace to all!

Rare photo of old grizzly bears cooling their feet in the river!

Day 8

Day 8 is over!

All but the last 50 miles were interstate.

So we made great progress:  950 miles in 15 and one half hours.

Saw spectacular territory in northern Utah and all over Idaho.

Again God was gracious unto us.

2 big days left.

I cannot believe we have covered 44 states and over 7,000 miles.

We have ridden eight straight days.  Get up and get on bike and ride till we cannot see.  I've never ridden in a car for 8 straight days.  What in the world were we thinking?

Temperatures today exceeded 100 degrees.

Thanks for praying!!!!

A horse named Honda.

I rode through the desert on my horse named Honda. As my father would say, I did it twice- my 1st and last time! 

Had a great time swimming, relaxing in the hot tub and a steak dinner for supper last night! Capped it off with a really captivating visit to the Las Vegas strip and a performance of "Cicus Dolie?"

I got more than 5 hours of sleeep as well! Praise God for all things and in all things. Looking forward to another great day on the road.

Day 7

WOW!!

Big day across the desert of New Mexico

Arizona California and Nevada.

Nearly 700 miles.

We left early to beat heat and nearly froze going up through the mountains and Grants Pass in NM.  Then what a joke on beat the heat --- I think Needles CA was 109.  So rode from Kingman to Needles to Las Vegas in crazy heat.

Survived so no complaints.

Then Sharon's brother and his girlfriend did everything to make us feel at home.

Since we left Albuquerque at 3am Vegas time we arrived at 3:30pm.

We went swimming jumped in spa.  Jimmy treated all of us to supper at Outback our first real non-breakfast meal all week.

Then Nancy Sharon's younger brother Randy's wife got us comped into Myster Cirque Du Soleil (VIP-seats).

What a treat before we hit the road for nearly 800 miles to Boise Idaho tomorrow after what looks to be our first real nights sleep.

We are so blessed!

Thanks Jimmy and Nancy for being so kind and generous to us. 

Relaxed ready to hit the hay for a 5:30 am start!

Last 3 days coming up!

Grace was abundant all day since I could hardly get a clear head all day.

Grace and peace thanks for praying.

Birthday Boy

Randy's big birthday today!

Happy Birthday Randy!!!!

Jesus loves you big primper.

Day 6 starting day 7

We left my brothers at 6:40 am and arrived in Albuquerque at 9:20 pm. 

We battled high winds all day!

We spent some time with Mike and Laura  and Randy entertained them with his perspective on the trip.  It was hilarious.

We have on the road over an hour now. 

More later!

Caught up

We are caught up.  We arrived around 1:40 am CDT.

Big 800 mile ahead today!

Thanks for your prayers God is good.

Guys are in on peace--praise God.

Be Blessed!

3rd and 4th days

No posts just riding.  Rode until 4am so the third day we got a late start and about 8 pm the rain darkness and trucks chased us off the road.

Yesterday we started about 6 am and rod in the rain for three hours.  The sun burst through the clouds and we were entertained by the beautiful hills of Virginia Tennessee North Carolina and South Carolina.  We spent 4 hours circling Atlanta and went a total of 125 miles.  No the walls did not come down but there were three frustrated bikers.  We traveled until 3:30 am EDT and hit the hay right away after 1025 or so miles. 

About ready for another big day.  Pray we catch up and spend the night in Tulsa.

What a trip so far.  Great grace fantastic scenery and sore everything.

God alone is awesome!!!

Awake and ready for day three

Not much sleep but we are about ready to go.  

Got in at 4 am. Up at 7:30.

Breakfast with Dale and Dee Hammon.

Changing our plans for the next three days and hope to be back on track by Friday night.

Spectacular ride yesterday.  

I am positive we had supernatural grace as we rode for 21and one half hours.

Yes God is faithful!

We give Him praise!

Be blessed and keep praying.

Second day

Not there yet and it is 1:20.

Must revise some plans to make work!

What a spectacular ride today!

Northern New York is spectacular!

The White Mountains of NH were burrrr cold.  Thanks to Randy and Steve they had foot and hand warmers and I stopped shivering until 10 minutes ago!

More later got to get back on the road and to bed.

A shot from someplace in New York State!

Lunch!

First days ride

Wow!

Spectacular day.  Started out chilly and ended that way.  Left Brandon SD at 5 am CDT and arrived in Toledo Ohio at 2 am EDT.  That may be our undoing.  We have a bigger day today if that is possible.  

The day yesterday was just beautiful.  The drive into the night with a full moon!

Reality has struck as we make plans to get going today.

We need pray and common sense.

This old guy needs more than a couple of hours sleep.

The Lord is my strength and shield.

Blessings on you all!

First day excitement

4:00 am and I am like a little boy ready to get on the great adventure.

Not enough sleep but rested well after the trial run of nearly 400 miles.

I am thankful for grace.  What a mighty God we serve.

Endured high winds across yesterday now bring it on as the journey begins today.

Blessings on the Westra's for the bed and fellowship!

God Bless all of you!

What we looked like to begin the journey.

Staging ride to Sioux Falls

Well it appears that gas mileage will be an issue on my bike. Had a little issue 4 miles short of Mitchell, SD and ran out! Steve rode to a small campground close by and befriended a guy that graciously delivered a gallon of gas to me along side the interstate. 

Rest of the trip here was good, lots of  wind and a little cold was the only other issues. I'm sure weather will always be a challenge. 

Wonderful host home tonight with the Westra family! Delicious "Eilleen's Coolies"! 

5:00 am start in the morning, goodnight.

As we begin: from Les Potts

It is 5 am and we are about to get on the road (in about 8 hours) and head to our starting point in Sioux Falls South Dakota. Went to church last night and heard about seeking the Lord. I know my own heart is deceitful and desperately wicked and that my inner being of desires feelings and thoughts is often evil corrupt and selfish. I cannot change my heart. The only remedy for me is to experience God's grace and be born again through faith in Christ and receive a new heart--one that hates evil and delights in doing good. That has happened! So nothing makes me more ready to ride through all 48 states in this great country of America more than knowing the greatest freedom known to mankind--freedom from sin. What great liberty to be free from the eternal penalty of my sin because of God's grace! So it is with great peace during my devotional time today before we head out that I am seeking God and asking that He will somehow let me be a blessing to others when I am tired of traveling and may be a bit ouchy. What an exciting adventure to see the lower 48 in the next 10 days. Ready, prepared, excited and about to hit the road. Pray for us. Les

48 State in 10 Day Ride: Overview Map

Here is a look at the entire trip mapped out. This will give you a good indication of the path we will be taking. The total route will be over 8,000 miles when we finish. We will have our official start on Monday June 1st in Sioux Falls, SD and then travel to a portion of all the lower 48 states within the next 240 hours (10 Days). The final state we will be when we arrive in Beulah Wyoming and get our official gas receipt sometime on Wednesday June 10th!

Here are the states in order of how we will visit them:

Day 1: South Dakota, Minnesota, Nebraska, Iowa, Wisconsin, Illinois, Michigan, Indiana and Ohio
Day 2: Pennsylvania, New York, Vermont, New Hampshire, Maine, Massachusetts, Rhode Island and Connecticut.
Day 3: New Jersey, Delaware, Maryland, West Virginia, Virginia, Kentucky, Tennessee & North Carolina.
Day 4: South Carolina, Georgia, Alabama, Florida and Mississippi.
Day 5: Louisiana, Arkansas, Missouri, Kansas and Oklahoma.
Day 6: Texas, Colorado and New Mexico.
Day 7: Arizona, California and Nevada.
Day 8: Utah and Idaho
Day 9: Oregon, Washington and Montana.
Day 10: North Dakota, Wyoming and then back to Rapid City!



Targeted overnight stays:

Pre:   Sioux Falls, South Dakota
Day 1: Toledo, Ohio
Day 2: New Haven, Connecticut
Day 3: Morganton, North Carolina
Day 4: Jackson, Mississippi (Need a place to stay here.)
Day 5: Tulsa, Oklahoma
Day 6: Albuquerque, New Mexico
Day 7: Las Vegas, Nevada
Day 8: Boise, Idaho (Need a place to stay here.)
Day 9: Billings, Montana
Day 10: Home, Sweet Home!

This is the Start

What? You must be CRAZY!

That seems to be the common response when sharing this plan to ride our motorcycles to all 48 lower states in 10 days. What an adventure that we will be on. Plans are being made and a start time has been set for 1:00pm on May 31st to begin the adventure.

We will do our best to share as much of our experience with whoever wants to follow us on this blog.

Thanks for your prayers over our little trip.