Horizons Unlimited Travellers Meeting

I spent this past weekend (July 16 - 20) at the Horizons Unlimited Travellers Meeting in Stecoah, North Carolina. Horizons Unlimited is an organization dedicated to long distance and international motorcycle travel. Several presentations were given on Latin American travel. There was on on South Africa and I gave two presentations, one on how tho make a travel DVD and the other on my trip to Alaska. All in all the weekend was very informative and inspirational. If you don't hit the road on your bike after attending one of these meetings there is something wrong with you!

Day 27 - 328.1 Miles

I left Clarksville, Tennessee about 7:00AM. I rode through Nashville and Maryville. We lived in Maryville for 18 years before moving to Asheville. I took the “back way” through Newport, TN and Hot Springs, NC. It was strange to be riding on my home roads after almost one month on the road. I arrived home safely and I am already planning my trip for next year. Stay tuned for Koast to Koast with Kurt – 2009!!!!

Day 26 - 484.1 Miles

When I started today I though it would be relatively uneventful. I knew that I would not be able to make it home today, so I broke away from the main highway and decided to take The Great River Road by the Mississippi. I had seen Alton Brown do this on his Food Network show “Feasting on Asphalt”. I had forgotten about the flooding. There was detour after detour routing me around the road. That was not my only problem. I had forgotten that today was the 4th of July. I was in the middle of America in small towns in Missouri. Every Main Street was having a parade! I called my wife because I thought this was hilarious. She said I could join the parade on my bike. At one point I had the Mississippi River to my left, water covered roads ahead of me and 4th of July patriotism on my right. What could I do. I decide to watch a parade. I was talking to a policeman about a possible route around the detours when I mentioned joining the parade on my bike. He said I should! I asked “Didn’t you see Easy Rider. The cops arrested them for that!” He thought that was funny! I decided that it was time to make some time, so I went back to the slab. I finished the day (with just a little rain) in Clarksville, Tennessee. Believe it or not, one thing I am looking forward to is changing oil in the bike. I last changed oil in Anchorage. I have been working this oil hard. I am looking forward to washing this bike and giving it some tender loving care. It has done everything I have asked of it and more. Tomorrow…home!

Day 25 - 432.2

Today was a good day. The weather was almost perfect. The highlight of today was riding through Marceline, MO, the boyhood home of Walt Disney. Did find one thing interesting while in South Dakota. While watching TV there were commercials trying to get people to stay in South Dakota. It was telling them that they had good jobs, better apartments, and a better way of life. As I left South Dakota there was a billboard that said “DON’T LEAVE SOUTH DAKOTA”. It made me wonder what is going on there. It certainly did not speak well of the state to tourists passing through.

Day 24

There is not much to report today. Guess what? I had a cold, rainy ride this morning. I did make it to Sioux Falls, SD. Sorry, the weather was too bad to photograph anything today. Tomorrow I will head further towards Dixie!

Day 23 - 71.9 Miles

Today was just a relaxing day. I rode less than 100 miles! It was almost like a day off. I rode to mount Rushmore and spent a little time there. It really does look bigger on TV. When I got back to the campground an older gentleman asked me what kind of motorcycle I had. I told him a BMW. He then asked if that was a British version of a Harley. I just said, “Yep!”. This is sort of the end of the trip. The next three days will be spent riding the slab to get home. I will update you each night as to how where I made it to and how many miles I covered. I know how you mother hens worry!!