The Penn's

Day 18 Tuesday, May 4, 2010

Last night after we had checked into the Comfort Inn, a black Harley with a trailer with a male rider and female passenger came riding up to the hotel. Chuck went out and spoke with them. The checked into the Comfort Inn also. We saw them at Ray's Tavern at dinner also. They had introduced themselves as Jim Bob and Vicki Penn from Georgetown, KY. After dinner, we got together with them and talked before returning to the motel.

This morning we saw them at breakfast and spoke with them. We met them time and again as we stopped for gas, break, lunch and in passing.

C.E. and I got up today at 6:15 AM, got dressed and packed. We went outside and uncovered our Motors and put a bag or two in the Motor. Breakfast here we come. We were the only ones in our Group in the breakfast room. There weren't very people there either. We had a quiet breakfast. Before we finished, Chuck and Ken joined us. Jan and Bruce came in a little later. After we had breakfast, we packed our Motors. While we were doing that, there was a carload of people by our Motors. They were tourist, possible from Canada. They only spoke French. The were admiring the Motors. I think that they were looking at the Gold Wings, but Jan made contact with them as they were taking pictures of the Motors. Jan took the old man's camera and motioned to him that he would take a picture of him next to Jan's Harley. He was excited. We didn't understand what he was telling, we think, his wife. There were no subtitles. He was happy to get his picture. I guess they have no farm equipment in Canada. Soon, everyone was packed and ready to go. Jan led us to the gas station not far from the hotel and gassed up. We left at 8:54 AM with Ken in the lead.

Ken led us to I-70 headed for Salina, UT. We were going at a good speed and making great time. The scenery was awesome. Ken pulled over onto Exit 116 and we stopped at Eagle Canyon View Area at 9:31 AM after riding 57.5 miles. We didn't realize how badly we needed this stop until we saw the restrooms. We all had our turns there. We looked at the Canyon and it was great! We took pictures of the Canyon and the Group with the Canyon. Chuck also rode his Motor off of the parking lot and onto a hiking trail and had his picture taken. Bruce told him to hurry and get back on the parking lot because the Ranger was coming. He wasn't, Bruce was just funning. We took a Group picture and we left at 9:51 AM.

We continued westbound on I-70. We rode through some beautiful scenery. The map indicates that this road is dotted, that means that it is a scenic road. It was! Ken led us doing about 80 mph on a road with hills and valleys. Chuck was behind Ken, C.E. was next, then Bruce, then me and then Jan. With Ken going 80, Chuck's Motor couldn't keep up so he was dropping back, making us drop back. Ken later told me that he had to slow down so that the rest of the Group could catch up. As Chuck was dropping back, so was Bruce. Jan had no problem keeping up. At one point, I had considered passing the Group and staying up with Ken. Jan told me later that if I did that, he would have followed me. I don't doubt Jan would have followed. After riding 63.4 miles, we stopped at a gas station/mini-mart in Salina, UT at 10:40 AM. We made a pit stop and took a little break. We had snacks and drinks. C.E. bought something and left his Motor keys on the counter. The clerk was asking everyone if they had left some keys on the counter. Bruce looked at them and noticed that they were Gold Wing keys. Chuck got the keys and asked me if they were mine. I told him that they weren't and he determined that the keys were C.E.'s. Chuck said, "I got him." We went outside and Chuck asked C.E. if his keys could open the trunk with remote control. C.E. said that it could and he reached for his keys in his pocket. He didn't have them and Chuck told C.E. that maybe he could open the truck with the keys he had. C.E. saw that Chuck had his keys. Chuck then gave C.E. his keys and told us that when the clerk put the keys back on the counter, Chuck had laid his wallet next to the keys and walked off, leaving the keys and wallet on the counter. Chuck did go back and picked them both up. After a nice break, we left at 11:09 AM.

Ken led us north on SR 28 into downtown Salina and then west where we got onto I-15 south. We rode I-15 south for 13 miles and then got off onto US 50 again. As we were back on US 50, we were riding and a fellow Gold Wing rider and passenger passed us going the opposite direction. The passenger motioned to us to slow down. We were expecting to see a State Trooper working rader. We didn't see one for a while and then there he was off the side of the road facing eastbound, with his radar. He didn't catch us. Ken had slowed. After riding 93.5 miles, we stopped in Delta, UT at 12:16 PM for gas. The Penn's passed us as we were riding to the gas station. We gassed up and rode down the street, with me leading, to a Subway for lunch. After lunch, we left at 1:25 PM with me in the lead.

I led the Group back on US 50. The weather was great, the scenery was great, the company is so-so, (just kidding) and we were having a great time. There was no place to stop after our customary 20 to 30 after lunch break. The road is long with many a winding turn and no where to stop. I know that I couldn't stop, even if someone needed to make a pit stop. There were no buildings or trees, or even a tall bush to hide behind. We continued until we came up to an oasis in the desert. There was a gas station and a mini-mart on the left side of the road. It was called the Border Inn, Nevada. I pulled into there at 1:45 PM after 93.5 miles. There was a sign across the street indicating, "Welcome to Nevada." We gained an hour. We went into the mini-mart and found that there was an extension which contained a small casino and bar. Yes, we were in Nevada! Chuck and Bruce took the opportunity to throw away some money by gambling. We took a little break and, lo and behold, Jim Bob and Vicki rode in and stopped. We soon left at 2:08 PM.

Chuck told me that he needed to stop in the next city so that he could get some gas. We rode for 60.7 miles and stopped in Ely, NV at 3:02 PM. The Harley boys got some gas while the Gold Wing boys parked the Motors and took a break. We still had about 2 gallons of gas each. When we finished getting gas for the Harley boys, we rode a short distance away and stopped by a US 50 sign. We each took pictures parked next to the sign. We left at 3:31 PM.

Now that the Harley's had gas, I continued to lead the Group. We rode for 82.7 miles and came into the town of Eureka, NV. It was a quiet town. It was 4:43 PM and I think that they rolled up the sidewalks already. We stopped at the Best Western and all of the Group entered, except me, to "make the deal." I stayed with my Motor writing down the information I need for the blog. They came out and we discussed the price. They did make a deal so we checked in. We got our bags out of our Motors and took them to the rooms. After we secured our bags and our rooms, we returned to our Motors and tucked them in for the night. We were in the lobby drinking coffee and hot chocolate and Jim Bob and Vicki walked in. We invited them to join us to dinner. The clerk told us of a Mexican food restaurant about a block away. They went with us. We had a good dinner and a good conversation with the Penns. When we were done with dinner, we returned to the hotel. Chuck, Ken, Jan and Bruce went into the hot tub. C.E. stayed in his room and read. I went to the lobby and started my blog.

Today, we rode for 435 miles. We rode, "The loneliest Road in America." A lot of people and brochures speak and write negatively of this road in Nevada. The same road in Utah is not as good. We have enjoyed this road so far. Tomorrow, we will be riding to Sacramento to the end of US 50. We will take pictures and buy t-shirts. After that, we head back to Phoenix.

Before I close, I want to wish Genna a very happy birthday!

So, until tomorrow...