Day 16....... Until Next Year

We spent the night in Dubuque, IA at the Days Inn..........Can't get with in miles of here and we stay. We went to the casino last night and had the best steak dinner. We played some PiaGow Poker and that sucked. So then we played 3 card poker. That was better. I got a straight flush 40:1 on $5.00 bet along with 2 other side bets.... $265.00 then I got an other straight flush (same cards!) $265. Whole evening......priceless. We had such a good time. Perfect ending to a perfect vacation!
Got up this morning in Dubuque IA to the sun shining and puddles of water on the bikes and roads.  We went and ate our free breakfast in hopes of things drying off. Packed everything up and started toward Wisconsin via very big bridge......last one.

OOOOOhhhhh that sucker is long. All done now.
We had a great ride back. Wisconsin has a few nice roads, not many but a few. We had lunch in Broardhead and stopped to see a friend while we were there.
Neither of us were in any hurry to get home, but it was time. We get 2 more days at home. Sunday with family and Monday us.
We put on 3200 miles with less than 200 on the interstate. It is the best trip yet. Spending so much time with each other has been fantabulous! Thank you Bruce! Love you tons!
Until next year!

Day 11 & 12 & 13 & 14 & Probably the Last

We left Ashville, NC Monday morning and headed Northwest. We found the best road ever! It had more turns than the DRAGON had. It took about 90 minutes to get to the end of it. Then we ended back on the RATLER so by the time we were done with those 2 roads I was exhausted!
It's so beautiful in the mountains.

We have had perfect weather. There was one night it got close. We kept riding into it, but missing it. It amazes me how the weather changes so fast in the mountains. The wind kick up really bad and we pulled into a gas station and sat under the over hang.

There was a down pour that last about 10 minutes and then we were on our way........ through a TUNNEL, a dark, long tunnel. I made it... no tears. That was the end of the day

We couldn't wait to get to Kentucky, where we could take our helmets off.  We finally got there and packed away the helmets! Instead of "sweathead" look I now went with the "wind blown" look.  Not sure which one is more attractive.

We have taken this trip on all back roads and small highways. The biggest thing I have noticed is that 70% of all the businesses are out of business. It is so sad.  You go through a small town and all the businesses are gone. The buildings falling apart, just a shell is left. The only thing you see is pawn shops, and flea markets. People trying to sell anything and everything to make a buck.

Even the General Store couldn't stay in business.

There were also many many home is disarray, rotting where they sit. I always wondered who used to live there (in some case who lives there) and what happened there. How long ago was it built, by who???

I lost my Ipod Touch days ago (it's the 3rd one) so I have all this time for my mind to wonder! Sometimes too much.

I decided since I have lost 3 Ipods, it is a good excuse to get and Ipad. I was thinking (again) that I have nothing now for music and Bruce can have the laptop and I really really should have an Ipad. Bonus! 

All the way down south and then on the way back we saw this vine growing on EVERYTHING. It over took where ever it grew, but it was pretty.

Does anyone know what this is. We asked a few people but they had NO idea. One women told us it was poison ivy & poison oak.

We are heading to the Mississippi River to ride it up north. There were a few problems with that. The first is that I had to go over a bridge at the Kentucky River. Nasty bridge.........

No tears on that one. I just told myself to "breath" and by the time I got to the end my finger tips were tingling. :)
Then there was the bridge crossing over the Ohio River............ Bad bridge

This was a bad bridge. Tears rolling down my cheeks all the way across. I tried to hide it but my dear husband knows me too well. He knew this was a hard one for me. I get this pain in my stomach and then we had to stop in the middle and I screamed "NO!" and I think that's what gave it away. And also he knows, and he cares. Love him tons.

Today we road "The Great River Road" from Illionis north. It is beautiful. I thought we were done seeing all the beauty in the mountians, but this road is wonderful. It starts off along the river on the left and rock walls on the right. Lots of bardges and tug boats, a couple of house boats on the river. There are just a couple of houses down on the river a long this way.

This house was really up on stilts. They must get it bad at some point in the year. This other one is a very old house and they built it right on the shore line.

Last night we stayed in Sparta, IL. They were having a shooting contest there where they get people from all over the world (so they say). We stayed @ the Holiday Inn Reject Hotel. It is owned by Holiday Inn Express and my theory is that Holiday Inn gives them all their old stuff. I recognized the sheet right away. Those I love....Egyptian cotton. The bed was almost on the floor, the furniture was beat up, in the amour they had metal hangers of all kinds.  And the cost......   $132.50 the most we have paid in the last 2 weeks. On the plus side ... it was clean.  It was a 2 star that charged for a 4 star. All because of some shooting thingie. Oh well, I just feel bad for the people who have to spend more than one night there @ that rate.

Tonight we are in Galesburg, IL. Egyptian cotton sheet, down comforter and full breakfast in the morning. Can''t ask for anymore than that.

We should be home on Sunday, so I am not sure there will be an other post. I will try to get one more in.

This has been the greatest vacation ever. I want to thank my Husband for all the wonderful rides he got us on and the great times we spent together. We just continue to love to spend time together.  :)

I love you Bruce.

I am so sorry for all the pain you had to go through. But most of all I want to thank everyone for all their love and support through this horrible time. It did not go unnoticed nor unfelt

Again.....Thank you so much.

Hope there is something to write about tomorrow.

Wish you were here.

 

Day 10... The Slow Ride Home

Today we packed it up and said "good bye" to friends. We left Greensboro around 10am and started heading towards Chattanooga. It was getting hot fast. We wanted to stay away from the storms that were coming around. Bruce set the GPS, no Interstate, 473 miles to go. We have put over 1700 miles on so far and less than 200 of them have been on the Interstate. The rest have been on back roads & highways.

The GPS started acting up, shutting off and tuning back on, then it froze up. We stated @ a Wally World and bought a new one. It also gave us a chance to cool down while we were in the store. We hooked up the new GPS in the parking lot and away we went. Just as we pulled out of the parking lot it vibrated off the stand. Pulled over, found a "reset" switch on the old one and hooked it backk and WAAHHHLAAA. It's  working again. 

We got as far as Ashville, NC and spending the night. Did some laundry, we were out of clothes. Did some swimming to cool off.  Had some beers to relax. Ordered pizza & wings for dinner and now doing some more relaxing.

See you all soon.
Wish you were here.

Day 8 & 9 Market America International Convention

We have just spent the last 3 days learning all the new things Market America has released ... Shop.com.... is amazing .... there is MORE CASHBACK, so you make even more money to shop.... to do what you are already doing. It will be up and running Sept 14. http://bit.ly/db1uQy

ma Mobile.... Market America has just developed two amazing features for ma Mobile - a barcode scanner and store deal notifications. The barcode scanner allows you to scan UPC codes found on all packaged products, automatically searches marketamerica.com for that product, and returns results showing all stores that offer it, while listing the prides to compare for the best deal. It no store offers that product, a related product will be suggested. Just search "ma Mobile" from your iPhone or Android powered smartphone.  http://bit.ly/nDP2Un

Skin Care Analysis ... The Skin Care Analysis analyzes your response to a series of questions about age, skin type and skin concerns, helping you discover an ideal skin regimen that will enhance the beauty of your skin everyday.  http://bit.ly/ronBNP

motives.... new products, Mineral Pressed powders, Collagen Care Lipstick, Custom Mineral Powders, great new colors in the Nail Polish, just to name a few.  http://bit.ly/9t27t1

Time to get your shopping lists together..... Back to School, Christmas, Birthdays, Weddings and I will show you how to get the best prices around or if you want, I will do the shopping for you. :) and you will get cashback

Tomorrow it's time to get back on the road and take a slow ride home. We don't know where we are going yet, but it is suppose to be HOT. So we may just head back to the mountains where it is cooler. I'll let you know tomorrow night.
It's a good day.
Wish you were here.

Day 7..... Danny's Day

If Tears Could...

If tears could build a stairway
And memories were a lane,
I would walk right up to heaven
To bring you home again.
No farewell words were spoken.
No time to say good-bye.
You were gone before we knew it,
And only God knows why.
My heart still aches in sadness
And secret tears still flow.
What it meant to lose you,
No one will ever know.

Day 6.... Mayberry, RFD

Last day before we get to Greensboro (Wendsday) so we are heading to Mayberry to see if we can find Floyd, Andy or Barney. It's hot hot hot out. The cool mountain air is gone. We took a few wrong turns, but we finally got to Mayberry aka: Mt Airy, NC. It was crowded, hot & hot. We came, we saw, we left. Saw Main Street with the movie theater, etc. Too hot to even get any pics.

We found our way to the Hotel and relaxed the rest of the night. Headed over to Lone Star for food and drinks. Tomorrow the big stuff starts. Yeahh

Tomorrow will also be a very difficult day for our family. And again we would like to thank you for all your thoughts and prayers.

Day 5.......Blue Ridge Parkway

We left Acola, NC around 10am. Can you tell we aren't morning people when we travel  :)
Off we went, heading to Cherokee, NC where we are going to get on the Parkway. We took a twisted, turning awesome road to get there.

As we were going along this road for miles (about 75 miles) it also ran along a river. There were people parked along the road where they got out and were walking, and swimming in the water. there was one spot that the kids were diving in.

The water is so clean and clear. What do we do to it??? We really need to start taking care of what we have! It starts out perfect and we ruin so much of it.

Well, we make it to Cherokee http://bit.ly/qRN6cJ  just in time for some gas & lunch. After we filled our tanks and our tummies we headed over to the Blue Ridge Parkway. http://1.usa.gov/pzF6nh

This ride was the most beautiful of them all. First we headed up the mountain, then the road takes you down a little, then back up. They also throw in 15, yes 15 tunnels.  Dang.....they were ok, except the ones that you couldn't see the end. There was a tunnel called "The Devil's Courthouse" and an other called "The Big Witch Tunnel".

 

We make it to the highest elevation on the parkway.

I decided that the air is so thin up here that you can do anything stupid and blame it on thin air. So I am bringing the thin air down with me and that's my story!

We headed on down the mountain and on to find a hotel for the night. That trip took about 3 hours and we ended up in Morganton, NC. We travel about 300 miles today but it was such a twisted and turning route it seemed like 500. Loved every mile of it.

Today was a better day then yesterday. It is amazing how the universe works. But its is always there for us, we just have to listen.

Wish you were here.





Day 4.... The Dragon Tail

Got up early today.... 8am early. Sun was even shining already. Left the hotel about 9:30 and had to go 200 miles to the dragons tail. Bruce almost ran over a turkey on the way. And we found a new way to display your neighborhood mailboxes.

Put them on a wheel and just spin until you get to yours.

Eddy was in charge of all mailboxes. And he is closed  opps.
We spent most of the day going up the mountain and down the Mountain.
Twisting and turning on the best roads ever! If you ever get the chance to do this ride on a motorcycle.........do it. You will never forget it.

This is on the way to Deal Gap

To day we road the "Rattler". Which is 262 turns in 24 miles. We then rode an other 70 miles to Deals Gap to ride the "Dragon". First we needed a snack & some Awake so I could get though the next 318 turns in 11 miles. Well it was enough, we make it.  Dang tired though. Arms feel like we have been throwing bales of hay all day. But WE DID IT!  http://bit.ly/fAGv60

We left Virgina today and went to Tennessee then to South Carolina and then back to Tennessee. When we left them AM we were 120 miles from Greensboro.... now we are 320 miles away. Crazy....

Tomorrow we are going to get on the Blue Ridge Parkway http://bit.ly/dgLFVX and take that for a while on our way to Greensboro.

We are doing better today. Each day gets a little bit easier. The not knowing why is the hardest part. Again thank you all for you prayers and thoughts, they are so appreciated.

Tired, exhausted, going to sleep now.

Wish you were here.

Day 3.... Sunshine Again

Woke up this morning.... late, but that's what I do. The most wonderful thing... the sun was shining. It felt like the darkness from the night before really had lifted. It was a new day! I was so thankful. I love new days, but I have a very hard time letting go of the present one. It's just knowing once I go to sleep it is over and there is no getting it back. But I was ready to let go of July 30.
Driving through Louisville this morning I think we found where the Market America Directors live. Wow we saw some unbelievable estates. I didn't get any good pics though. 

Lot of fence and house waaaayyy off the road. I think they hid the horses, I didn't see any in all the fence line. But we did see 3 black cattle grazing along the high way. They didn't mind the highway noise they just kept eating.
There was also a lot of stone walls. I wish I knew what that was all about. they went on for miles and were in many different places.

We finally got to the mountains. Oh my gosh, it is as close to heaven as you can get to and still be alive. Up the mountain, down the mountain. When you got to the bottom it was 20 degrees cooler.

Then we got to Virginia............ had to put helmets on. The ride was beautiful. We are spending the night in Abingdon, VA. tomorrow........

the TAIL OF THE DRAGON. WAAAHOOOO  Deals Gap here we come. 318 curves in 11 miles. Can't wait. http://www.tailofthedragon.com/

Well .....

I drank them all so it's time to get some sleep, but not without thanking all of you for your prayers, well wishes and your heart felt kindness during this sad & crazy time. Thank you.

Wish you were here.





Saturday.... 300 more miles

Started out day out around 10am. Sun shining, temp in the 80's and if you kept the speed up around 70-80 mph you could feel a little chill in the air.
We didn't go far, as usual, and we found a little cafe to have breakfast.

We MISSED breakfast! It  ended @ 10:30 we arrived @ 10:33. Not too flexible down here. I think it worked out for the best. We decided on a "Transitions" friendly lunch and had a great salad bar.

Then we headed for Indiana. We had never been though that state before. It looks a lot like Wisconsin. I figured out a way I could take pictures while I was driving. I always wanted to do that, you miss so much stuff as it just zooms by.

This is "The Look" I got from Bruce when he saw I was driving and taking pictures at the same time. (I know what those eyes look like behind those glasses).  He doesn't think I can walk & chew gum at the same time. He just shook his head! I didn't do too bad .

We ran out of sunscreen today and I left home without any lipstick. We found a CVS Pharmacy and I almost hyperventilated when I had to buy things from a store when I know I can buy it from my own store........www.shopwithbruce.com and get paid for it!

I found a lipstick in a black case so it could be mistaken for Motives! hehehe

Before we left I make and AWAKE to get rid of the headach I got.

We finally got to Indiana and guess what was waiting for me..........

Look carefully in the back. See the bridge??? Oh joy, I keep getting tested for this one. I think I have over come this phobia. I just need to work on the tunnels next.....we went through one of those also today. We got to Louisville around 5pm. Welcome to the Ohio River, which means Bridge. This one is an "UP & DOWN Bridge". while we were going on the bottom they had cars driving on top of us..........dang that's crazy.

Bruce got a phone call from home on our last gas stop let him know that his nephew Danny had died suddenly. Funny how things can change in a flash. I don't know what is going to happen now. We may go home, we may continue to Greensboro, who knows, time will tell.

Life is short and you never know what is going to happen next so life it to the fullest so you have no regrets.

Wish you were here.