DAY 18 Thursday, May 19, 2011

It was another late night last night. I wrote and posted my blog and then had to do my pictures. By the time I finished my blog, it was 12:30 AM. After posting my blog, I called Laura, my wife, and spoke with her for a while. I needed to go to my room, try not to wake Ken and transfer my pictures from my camera to my computer. When I got to the room, Ken woke up momentarily and went back to sleep. I decided that I would do the pictures in the morning. I finally got to bed a little after 1:30 AM.

My alarm sounded at 6:30 AM. I was barely able to hear it. It seems that I lowered the volume to my cell phone when I set my alarm. I got up, got dressed and packed. Ken got up and told me that he didn't sleep very well last night. It must have been the 20 wings he had for dinner! I set up my computer and then walked out to my Motor to get my charger for my camera battery. When I got to my Motor, C.E. was cleaning his Motor. I returned to my room and transferred the pictures. Ken took a bag down to his Motor and got it ready for today's ride. After I transferred my pictures, I went down to the breakfast room and joined Ken and C.E. We all had breakfast so I returned to my room, gathered my stuff and took it down to my Motor and loaded it. I cleaned my Motor a little and had to return to my room to get my helmet. When I got back down, Ken was checking out of our room at the Front Desk. I gave him my key and went to my Motor. We left at 8:31 AM.

The skies were overcast and it was 61 degrees. Ken took the lead again and we headed south; back the same way we got to the hotel in Bemidji. We passed familiar landmarks, signs and towns. Before I knew it, we were approaching LaPort, MN, where we stopped yesterday for a pit stop and gas. Soon after riding through LaPort, there was a farm to the right (actually, there were farms all over the place) that had a few fat and contented cows. We passed the cows and came upon two horses. They were very contented! As we were passing the horses, I could have sworn that I saw a bottle of wine and thought I heard the sound of Luther Vandross coming from a nearby boom box while the horses were "making love." Well, maybe not the wine...nor the boom box with Luther. But the horses WERE making puppies! Any way, as you can tell, by this time, it doesn't take much for me to be entertained. We rode for 54 miles and at 9:25 AM, we stopped at a BP gas station and Swanson's Bait Shop in Hackensack, MN. The weather felt very good. It was 61 degrees. We went in for a pit stop. While we were "taking care of business," Ken was taking care of business. He was shopping and bought a brand new pair of rain pants to replace the pair that he blew the crotch out of. He was happy, except for the color. Chuck was drinking some coffee so we had to wait for him to finish. I was very envious that Chuck gets to drink coffee. I love drinking coffee, however, the guys won't let me drink coffee during the breaks. They say that we have to stop far too much as a result of me drinking coffee...so I don't! We left at 9:49 AM.

We continued on with Ken in the lead. We rode for 63 miles. Ken lead as if he were on a mission. We stopped at a Sinclair gas station at 10:53 AM in Ft. Ripley, MN. After gassing up our Motors, we went into the mini-mart and bought some water and snacks. Chuck bought some more coffee. He walked by me and I could smell that wonderful smell of coffee, the Nectar of the Gods! I believe a tear ran down my cheek knowing that I'm not allowed and I wanted some. Bruce was drinking a Diet Coke and asked me to give him a two minute advance warning before we were about to leave so that he could go make a pit stop. I told the guys to get ready and we left at 11:17 AM.

It was my turn to lead now. We headed south on Highway 371. After riding about 2 miles, I motioned to Jan, who was right behind me, that I was pulling over at a cross street. We stopped and I told the guys that there was a National Sign indicating the Great River Road. We had been talking about getting a picture of the sign and each of us. They were wondering how we were going to do it. I told the guys that when the traffic cleared, I would ride out into the street, make a u-turn and stop by the side of the road next to the sign. I did and Jan followed, stopping in front of me. I positioned my Motor in front of the sign, got off and gave Jan my camera. He waited for traffic to clear and he took a picture of me, my Motor and the sign. I moved my Motor and Jan made the u-turn and stopped next to the sign. I took his picture. C.E. came next, then Bruce, Chuck and finally Ken. We all had our pictures taken so we continued on. Highway 371 turned into Highway 10 soon after Fort Ripley. We rode for 66 miles and we came into a small town named Becker, MN. It was time for lunch and I happened to see a Subway on the left side of the road. I slowed, as did the others, and we turned into the Subway at 12:23 PM. We went in and had lunch. We had not gone to a Subway in two or three days and it was time! The clouds were threatening rain. I was hoping that if it rained, that it would rain while we were having lunch. It didn't. We left at 1:09 PM, still no rain.

We rode on. Knowing that we just had lunch, I didn't intend to drive for a long distance. As we rode, I was getting a little tired and sleepy. I knew that if I was being affected, the others were also. After riding 35 miles, we stopped in Coon Rapids, MN at 1:50 PM. We stopped at a Mobil gas station and mini-mart. We went in for a pit stop and bought some drinks. Jan and Chuck went back to the area where our Motors were parked and both laid on the grass. I believe Jan took a nap! There was a cute, young lady as the cashier in the mini-mart. I went back in to buy a bottle of water. She was outside and held the door open for me. I thanked her and she asked me, "Do you need me?" I asked, "What?" She repeated, "Do you need me?" At that point, I looked at her and I could have sworn that I saw the light bulb go on above her head as to what she had asked me. She got embarrassed and chuckled. I told her that I was going inside to buy something. I got my bottle of water and went to pay for it. I told her that what she had asked me was a "loaded question." She laughed and I went back to my Motor. Laura, I want to tell you that she started it! I didn't start it. I was innocent! I was being respectful! We left the Mobile station and the "cochina" lady at 2:18 PM.

We were not very far from Minneapolis/St. Paul. We had talked about it and we had intentions of by-passing the two cities and going around them. I had looked at a map and plotted the road that we took. We continued on Highway 10 to I-35 W s, to I-694 East, to I-494 East and then back on Highways 10/61. That was a lot to remember so that we wouldn't get lost. We wouldn't have gotten lost because I had my navigation system on and, with a Dry Erase Marker, I wrote the directions on my windshield! All is fair... We continued south on Highways 10/61 until we came upon Highway 50. We turned east. After riding for 74 miles, we arrived in Red Wing, MN at 3:37 PM at a Super America gas station. We gassed up and Chuck checked his Droid for any place to stay in the town that we were headed for. We were going to meet Gary Mulleneaux in Lake City, MN, however, there was only one motel listed on the Droid and there were several to choose from in Red Wing. We opted to try the Best Western in Red Wing. We left at 3:55 PM. the hotel was 2 1/2 miles away on the right side.

Bruce was up to lead. He had a very hard job ahead of him. He needed to lead us 2 1/2 miles away. We rode east on Highway 50 and arrived at the hotel at 3:59 PM after riding for a little over 2 miles. There was a Perkins Restaurant on the property, next to the highway and the Best Western was on the other side of the Perkins. Bruce pointed to the Best Western and turned off of the highway and continued to turn right onto a street. He continued on the street as the rest of us rode into the parking lot of the Perkins Restaurant and into the adjoining parking lot of the Best Western Hotel and we parked our Motors. A minute or two later, Bruce joined us. Jan, Bruce and I went in to make the deal. Jan and I spoke with Lori, the Front Desk Manager, and made the deal. The others came in. We checked in, got our room keys, unloaded our Motors and took our stuff to our rooms on the second floor. Jan called Gary and asked him to meet us at the Best Western. Jan, C.E. and I waited in the lobby for Gary while Chuck, Ken and Bruce rode to the laundromat, not far away, to check for the closing time. The laundromat was down the same road that Bruce turned onto initially when the rest of us rode to the Best Western.

We were in the lobby when Gary walked in. It was GREAT to see him again! We gave each other "man hugs" and sat and talked "old times." We each had a chance to catch Gary up on our families as he did with his family. Chuck, Ken and Bruce returned and "man hugs" continued. We sat and talked for about 45 minutes before we walked next door to the Perkins Restaurant and had dinner. As we ate, we talked "old times" some more. Gary apologized that his wife, Connie, was unable to accompany him to see us. She had prior commitments. Gary made me feel very special when he told us that he didn't want to hurt any one's feelings, but Connie wanted to come and especially see me! Thanks Connie! There were some stories that the memories were very vague, however, we still had a good time. We must have been at dinner for about an hour and a half, about the same amount of time Gary and I used to take for our 15 minute breaks...back in the day of Motors. After dinner, we walked back to the Best Western parking lot where our Motors were parked and we took several pictures. We talked some more and, like most good things, it had to end. Gary left us and went home.

After Gary left, the guys rode to the laundromat while I stayed at the hotel and typed my blog. Hopefully, I will get done at a decent hour and get a good nights sleep. After I finished my blog, I went outside and tucked my Motor in for the night. The others returned soon after and they tucked their Motors in for the night.

We rode for 292 miles today. We also got to see and spend some time with an old, dear friend. It was good to see and talk with Gary again. Tomorrow, we will head south and follow the Mississippi River. Since we are getting close to the southern border of Minnesota, we will more that likely get into Iowa. We shall see...