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4 Corners Ride - May - June 2004
RIDE NOTES
Mark Fletcher -
Richard Howard - David Ebersole -
Harvey Royal
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4 CORNERS VISITED |
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4 |
Corner 1 |
O
Key West, FL
O |
☻
May 10, 2004
☻ |
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4 |
Corner 2 |
O
San Ysidro, California
O |
☻
May 16, 2004
☻ |
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4 |
Corner 3 |
O
Blaine, Washington
O |
☻
May 21, 2004 ☻ |
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4 |
Corner 4 |
O
Madawaska, Maine
O |
☻
May 31, 2004 ☻ |
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DAY |
DATE |
TIME |
LEAVE FROM |
TIME |
ARRIVE AT |
DAY MILES |
TRIP MILES |
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01 |
05-09 |
09:00amET |
Jax., FL - Fire Sta. 31 |
06:51pmET |
Homestead, FL |
415 |
415 |
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Day 1 - Sunday: Left Fire Station 31 with send-off by family,
friends, and fellow firefighters escort; Breakfast in Green Cove Springs,
FL; Lots of Lovebugs. Route: US 17s - 19s - 27s - 997 to
Homestead, FL; Super 8 Motel |
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02 |
05-10 |
06:15amET |
Homestead, FL |
08:30pmET |
Temple Terrace, FL |
582 |
997 |
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Day 2 - Monday: US1s to Key West, FL; take pictures of first
corner;
4
1st CORNER -
O
Key West, FL
O
Depart Key West 10:30amET; US1n to Homestead (2:30pmET); I-75 thru
Alligator Alley to Temple Terrace/Tampa, FL: Fairfield Inn |
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03 |
05-11 |
07:15amET |
Temple Terrace, FL |
05:55pmCT |
Moss Point, Mississippi |
533 |
1,530 |
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Day 3 - Tuesday: I-75n; Hwy. 50w, 98w, 19n to Crystal River FL;
US19n to Tallahassee; I-10w thru Crestview FL at 4:10pm; I-10w to Moss
Point, MS. No rain, HOT; Moss Point, MS: Days Inn |
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04 |
05-12 |
07:00amCT |
Moss Point, MS |
06:20pmCT |
Sealy, TX |
500 |
2,030 |
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Day 4 - Wednesday: I-10w to Sealy, TX. RAIN! STORMS! Raingear! Road
hazard - car bumper dropped in road; Thru Houston, TX in 5 o'clock traffic
and rain; washed clothes. Sealy, TX: Rodeway Inn |
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05 |
05-13 |
06:45amCT |
Sealy, TX |
04:45pmCT |
Ft. Stockton, TX |
477 |
2,507 |
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Day 5 - Thursday: I-10w; 8:45amCT in San Antonio, TX; 2:00pmCT in
Sonora, TX lunch with Jane's brother Bill; Rain in early am; cloudy; then
90+ degree heat; Ft. Stockton, TX: Econo Lodge |
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06 |
05-14 |
07:00amCT |
Ft. Stockton, TX |
06:00pmMT |
Tombstone, AZ |
567 |
3,074 |
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Day 6 - Friday: Early am: COLD!!! 55 degrees, WINDY; Put on all the
leathers; 11:00amMT (1:00pmET) have all bikes serviced, oil change, 5000 mi.
check-up (Harvey & Ebb) at biggest Harley dealer in El Paso, TX. Harley
dealer takes 4-corner riders to lunch in a limousine! PM: Warmer weather;
LATE PM: HOT! I-10 to Tombstone, ARIZONA: Holiday Inn Express - watched
movie "Tombstone" (Imagine that!) |
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07 |
05-15 |
09:30amMT |
Tombstone, AZ |
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Chula Vista, CA |
531 |
3,605 |
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Day 7 - Saturday: Bike cleaning day; looked over Tombstone AZ & OK
Corral from distance / road blocked; Boot Hill Cemetery; 9:30am: Leave
Tombstone; Hwy. 80n - I-10w - Tuscon, AZ; Rode Sonora Desert Natl. Monument;
Eloy, AZ; I-8w; Yuma, AZ: 101+ degrees - HOT! Crossed Colorado River; Saw
cactus(es) with their arms pointed to the sky in California desert; I-8w;
crossed California mountains, elevation 4100+ ft.; COLD! High winds!
Leathers time again; I-8 to El Cajon, CA; Hwy. 94w - 308w to Chula vista,
CA; Holiday Inn Express.
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NOTES:
Richard "Loves to Ride" Howard is the trailblazer in the lead;
Harvey "Whatever you all want to do; I'm just glad to be here" Royal is
second; Ebb "I'm right behind you" Ebersole is third;
Mark "The Journalist, Photographer, Documenter, Explore the area" Fletcher
brings up the rear of the pack.
They have a hard time getting together on what is the correct time.
Richard never knows the time; Harvey re-sets his watch to each new time
zone; Ebb is still on Jacksonville FL time; don't know about Mark. Richard
keeps asking for the time and Harvey and Ebb each give him a different
answer. Ebb gets up first and knocks on the window to wake the others... now
in California that could be 3:30am by Harvey's time.
Richard, Harvey and Mark all have leather chaps for cold weather. Going
over the mntns. they thought they would have to find a WalMart to buy Ebb
some long johns.
Mark is the picture-taker. In Tombstone they thought they had lost him,
but he had climbed the hill overlooking the town to take pictures.
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08 |
05-16 |
09:00amPT |
Chula Vista, CA |
05:15pmPT |
Visalia, CA |
422 |
4,027 |
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Day 8 - Sunday:
The 2nd corner does not open til 9:00am PT. So they ate breakfast,
washed clothes, and then rode down to Pacific ocean and wrote names of
family & loved ones in the sand.
4
2nd CORNER -
O
San
Ysidro, CA
O
9:00amPT; Gravel road (did not make them happy but they rode it); took
pictures of 2nd corner; Weather: Chilly but comfortable
Departed San Ysidro, CA; I-5n; I-15n; I-10w; I-210 w past Pasadena CA;
Burbank CA; I-5n to Gorman CA; Hwy. 99n to Visalia, CA; Weather:
Comfortable, Some wind, pretty mountains north of San Diego, Beautiful sky,
Warm down in valley; Visalia, CA: Holiday Inn (on the Swanky side, really
nice but reasonably priced) |
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09 |
05-17 |
07:30amPT |
Visalia, CA |
06:30pmPT |
Oakhurst, CA |
212 |
4,239 |
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Day 9 - Monday:
Depart 7:30amPT; Hwy 198e to Giant
Sequoia trees; Walked thru the Sequoia forests; Saw Gen. Lee tree and
others; Had coffee at the Lodge Pole; did not see Smokey Bear; Hwy 180w to
Wilsonia and Hume Lake; backtracked to hwy 180w to Fresno, CA; Hwy 41n to
Oakhurst, CA; Weather: Hot in valley, Cold leather weather in mountains;
Checked in 6:30pmPT Oakhurst, CA, Comfort Inn |
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10 |
05-18 |
07:00amPT |
Oakhurst, CA |
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Jamestown, CA |
149 |
4,388 |
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Day 10 - Tuesday: Depart 7:00amPT; Hwy. 41n from Oakhurst, CA to
Yosemite Natl. Park; went to Glacier Point - SNOW on ground - 8000 ft.
altitude - BEAUTIFUL! ; Saw two impressive waterfalls - one falls over 800
ft - falls flowing well from snow melt - Falls go dry in summer; Rode Valley road
to Hwy. 120w; stopped by Oak Flat; proceeded on Hwy. 120w down mountain.
THE ACCIDENT - THE 2ND ACCIDENT - THE GOOD NEWS: See NOTES below.
(Just so readers will know: Both Harvey and Ebb are OK, their bikes
were fixed, and they were back on the road the next day.)
Took bikes to Harley dealer in Jamestown, CA. Harley employee took Ebb to
Hospital in Jamestown with Mark following. After Harvey & Richard returned
from Harley shop, and Ebb and Mark returned from hospital - ate dinner and
turned in. Checked in Railtown Motel, Jamestown, CA.
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NOTES:
THE ACCIDENT: About 2:15pmPT - Richard was riding in lead, Harvey second, Ebb third,
Mark fourth with a decent space between all. The road: Hwy. 120w (between
Big Oak Flat and Jamestown, CA) descending
down the mountain from Yosemite with curves in road. For reasons unknown,
Harvey ended up in the ditch, dragging about 15 ft. before stopping. No
apparent serious bodily injuries but is sore and painful. Harvey's
bike was not ride-able and had to be carried to the Harley dealer. The
clutch handle was bent; the engine guard was bent and had the clutch cable
in a bind; also cosmetic damage.
THE 2ND ACCIDENT: In the same spot, Ebb was stopping to help Harvey
when he went down. He slid on the pavement about 10 feet. Ebb's bike was
still ride-able, and Ebb rode it to the same Harley dealer in Jamestown, CA.
One of the Harley employees took Ebb to the hospital, followed by Mark on
his bike. Ebb required 7 stitches for a cut on his elbow, is sore and
painful on his left side that went down. Ebb's bike has more cosmetic damage
than Harvey's.
THE GOOD NEWS: Both Harvey and Ebb were wearing their helmets which
show signs of impact. Their bikes were fixed except for cosmetic damage -
and they were on the road the next day.
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11 |
05-19 |
11:24amPT |
Jamestown, CA |
07:30pmPT |
Willits, CA |
309 |
4,697 |
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Day 11 - Wednesday: Harvey and Ebb tired, stiff and sore but OK.
Walked around town in am while waiting for bikes to be repaired. Harvey's
needed new engine guard; both bikes have cosmetic damage that can wait til
trip is over; Mark bought new tire. 11:30amPT: Bikes ready and riders
on the road again. Beautiful day - sunny but cool - 48o at motel.
Hwy. 49n - narrow road thru Jackson, Sutter Creek, CA (some by-passes around
towns); Hwy 16w - Sacramento (heavy traffic); I-50w; I-5N - thru Woodland,
Yolo, Williams, CA; Hwy. 20w. Went thru valley to mountains with long
sweeping curves; along north shore of Clear Lake to Hwy 101n to Willits, CA;
Cool weather - wore leathers; Arrive 07:30pmPT - wore coats to supper; Best
Western Inn, Willits, CA |
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12 |
05-20 |
07:30amPT |
Willits, CA |
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Sutherlin, OR |
383 |
5,080 |
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Day 12 - Thursday: Depart 07:30amPT; Harvey and Ebb feeling better -
not as sore; Early am fog with 1/2 mi.
visibility; Cold - jackets and hood under helmet weather; Hwy. 101n (The
"Redwood Highway") thru the biggest trees in the world; to Leggett, CA to
"Drive thru the Tree Park"
(website);
north to Garberville, CA and "The Avenue of the Giants"
(see good motorcycle
website); continue Hwy. 101n thru Eureka, to Crescent City, CA; Burger
King lunch then to the "Redwood National Park"
(website); Hwy 199ne to Grants Pass,
Oregon; Saw more interesting trees; mountainous terrain; road runs beside
rivers where water is a distinct aqua color; Weather: 15 mi. n. of Redwoods:
HOT!; I-5 to Sutherlin, OR; Check in: Sutherlin Inn; wash clothes |
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NOTES: Harvey seemed really impressed by the Redwoods - the largest living
things on earth. They went to the famous "Drive-Thru Trees". Since modern
laws don't allow new drive-thrus, there is an extreme effort to save these.
Richard was riding around looking for the drive-thru tree, but there was a
car stopped in the building in front of him. He turned around to see where
he missed the turn when they told him to look up. The cars were inside the
tree, and the tree was so big he did not see it.
The sun doesn't reach the bottom of the trees for about 18-20 miles within
the forest.
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13 |
05-21 |
07:30amPT |
Sutherlin, OR |
07:00pmPT |
Bellingham, WA |
485 |
5,565 |
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Day 13 - Friday: Depart 07:30amPT; COLD - RAIN - ALL DAY!
Leathers and rain gear all day; wet and cold bodies all day; Pretty scenery;
green hills; mountains on distance on sides; I-5n all the way; Around
Seattle, WA at 2pmPT with LOTS of heavy traffic; Rode in "diamond" lane for
express, commuter, and motorcycle traffic; Got separated at Marysville WA,
but got back together again; stopped at Harley dealer in Mt. Vernon for info
on Blaine; I-5 n to Blaine, WA.
4
3rd CORNER -
O
Blaine,
WA
O
arrived 5:30pmPT
Arrived at 3rd Corner and took pictures at the "Peace Arch" (A big arch
for Canada/Americans in park); Walked to other side of sign that read:
"Welcome to United States of America"; This sign was on "FREE" land that was
not USA nor Canada.
Rode I-5s to Bellingham, WA; Check in 7:00pm: Hampton Inn - Bellingham
WA; Still RAIN and COLD
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14 |
05-22 |
07:00amPT |
Bellingham, WA |
05:30pmPT |
Spokane, WA |
400 |
5,965 |
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Day 14 - Saturday: Depart 07:00amPT; COLD - RAIN!
Cancelled plans to ride thru North Cascades mntns.;
I-5s; Hard Rain; Stopped at Conway, then on to Everett WA; Got lost e.
of Seattle - missed Hwy. 405 - but got back on track; I-90e; HARD
RAIN! Stopped to walk around and waited about 30 minutes for some clearing;
Rain slowed; 90e; Mark in lead bike; Rain finally slowed near Seattle WA;
Finally some sun peeping out for a little while; then WIND blowing hard left
to right - bikes crabbing in wind; Their bodies were cold, wet, and being
blown around; overcast in Spokane, WA; check in 5:30pmPT: Holiday Inn
Express - Spokane, WA |
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15 |
05-23 |
07:30amPT |
Spokane, WA |
03:15pmMT |
Butte,MT |
321 |
6,286 |
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Day 15 - Sunday:
Ate usual continental breakfast at motel;
Depart 07:30amPT; COLD - RAIN - WIND - SNOW on mountains! Temp. in
30s; I-90e to Butte, Montana; I-90 mountain pass ahead closed for
freeze/snow; Stopped early at 3:15pmMT; Lost an hour with time change;
Check in: Holiday Inn Express, Butte, MT; Washed wet clothes and socks;
Temps supposed to be in 20s with a possibility of up to a foot of snow
overnight |
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NOTES: Harvey seemed grumpy. He said they had been cold, wet and tired
for three days - and did not deny that he was not at his best. He said
the rain on his windshield, visor, and glasses was a constant visual strain
and made him sleepy. So he bought a candy bar to munch on for energy,
keeping it on the dash pouch. When he tried to bite it... it broke off from
being frozen.
Richard said they were putting on all the clothes that they had. He had on
so many layers that if he fell, he would bounce like the Pillsbury Doughboy.
Ebb went looking for another WalMart to buy more warm clothes.
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16 |
05-24 |
11:30amMT |
Butte, MT |
05:30pmMT |
Billings, MT |
238 |
6,524 |
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Day 16 - Monday:
Woke up to COLD - 35o +/- ; Waited around Billings for
weather to clear so as to travel to Yellowstone; Had bikes serviced at
Thunderbolt Harley - oil change - Harvey & Richard needed a new tire each;
Motel called W. Yellowstone motel to check on weather: COLD - Rain
(freezing), heavy SNOW predicted for W. Yellowstone; 11:30amMT: Decided to
head east on I-90; Over Homestake Pass at 6350 ft.; pretty scenery; snow on
trees and ground; Weather all day: No rain, No sun, COLD; Leathers and rain
gear all day to shield from cold; I-90 east all day; 5:30pmMT: Check in Best
Western, Billings, MT |
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17 |
05-25 |
07:30amMT |
Billings, MT |
08:15pmMT |
Buffalo, WY |
552 |
7,076 |
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Day 17 - Tuesday:
Morning am weather still cold: 34 degrees, but appears to have hope of
getting better; No rain - No ice; Decided to back-track and ride thru
Yellowstone; I-90w to Livingston MT; Hwy. 89s to Northern entrance of
Yellowstone Park; Paid and entered Park; Saw Mountains, Buffalo, Elk;
Started SNOWING; Looked like more was moving in; Retreated out of park and
headed back; I-89n to Livingston, MT; I-90east again; Warmed up during day
with sun on their backs to make it comfortable; I-90e to Buffalo, WY; Check
in: Best Western, Buffalo, WY |
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NOTES: Although they rode extra miles and backtracked their trail
twice, Ebb said it was one of his more enjoyable rides.
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18 |
05-26 |
07:30amMT |
Buffalo, WY |
05:15pmCT |
Oacoma, SC |
484 |
7,560 |
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Day 18 - Wednesday:
Morning am weather cool but nice, partly cloudy, but cleared up later;
I-90e - Spearfish, Sturgis, Rapid City, SD; Hwy. 16/16A to Mr. Rushmore;
Waved to the Guys on the mountain - took pictures - Made U-turn back to
I-90e; Temp in high 60s; Stopped early - Checked in: Holiday Inn Express -
Oacoma, SD |
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19 |
05-27 |
07:00amMT |
Oacoma, SD |
06:30pmMT |
New Lisbon, Wisconsin |
520 |
8,080 |
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Day 19 - Thursday:
Morning am weather cool but nice, Leather weather, cloudy in pm but no
rain;
I-90e; Stopped at Harley Dealer in Sioux Falls, SD for service - but they
could work it in; Stopped at Harley D. in Albert Lea, Minn - they did 10,000
mi. check-up for Harvey and Ebb; Oil changes; I-90e; Nice hilly country in
E. Minn & W. Wisconsin; Check in 6:30pm: Travel Lodge, New Lisbon, Wisconsin |
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20 |
05-28 |
07:30amCT |
New Lisbon, WI |
05:00pmMT |
Freemont, Indiana |
461 |
8,541 |
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Day 20 - Friday:
Morning am weather 55-60 degrees; cool but good weather, beautiful;
I-90e - Janesville, WI; I-30s; I-80e (I-90); Interstate shut down from wreck
- walked bikes around Chicago - LOTS of clutch time; stopped at rest area;
Check in 5:00pm: Holiday Inn Express, Freemont, Indiana |
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21 |
05-29 |
07:30amET |
Freemont, Indiana |
06:30pmET |
Pembroke, NY |
461 |
9,002 |
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Day 21 - Saturday:
Morning am weather cold - foggy; I-80 / I-90e; rode across Ohio; I-90e
along Lake Erie; Interstate runs along lake shoreline; Cool along lake; saw
deer & geese; paid LOTS of tolls; went to see Niagara Falls on American
side; $8 per car; Parked 4 bikes in one car slot for $8; encountered Officer
with bad attitude; I-90e; Hwy 63 & I-90e; Traveled 4 states: Indiana, Ohio,
Penn., NY; Check in: Econo Lodge - Pembroke, NY |
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22 |
05-30 |
07:30amET |
Pembroke, NY |
06:45pmET |
Saco, Maine |
552 |
9,554 |
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Day 22 - Sunday:
Morning am weather cool but beautiful; sun later in day but still
leather weather; No rain; Scenery: hills, meadows, valleys, farm land; I-90e
- Worcester, Mass; I-495n - I-95n - Hwy 11n; Check in: Holiday Inn Express -
Saco, Maine |
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23 |
05-31 |
07:30amET |
Saco, Maine |
06:30pmET |
Sherman Mills, Maine |
525 |
10,079 |
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Day 23 - Monday:
Morning am weather cool - leathers; No rain; warmed up; Scenery:
rolling hills; saw moose & geese - Mountains in distance; I-95n to Smyrna
Mills; Hwy 212 / 11n to Fort Kent; US2 to Madawaska, Maine
4
4th CORNER -
O
Madawaska, Maine
O
arrived approx. 3:30pmPT
Took pictures at Madawaska, ME Post Office; US1s to Van Buren, Caribou;
I-95s;
Check in: Katahdin Valley Motel - Sherman Mills, Maine |
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24 |
06-01 |
07:30amET |
Sherman Mills, Maine |
01:00pmET |
Trenton, Maine |
205 |
10,284 |
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Day 24 - Tuesday:
RAIN! RAIN! RAIN! COLD - In 40's; I-95s to Bangor, Maine;
saw moose & deer;
NOTES: Harvey and Ebb did not want to ride in
heavy rain; Richard needed to get home; After Good-Byes and Best Wishes,
Richard heads home alone from Bangor, ME. Stopped for night somewhere
in state of New
Jersey. Covered over 600 miles today.
Harvey, Ebb and Mark: I-95s; I-395; Hwy 1As; 3s;
stopped early at 1:00pmET and Checked in: Sunrise Motel - Trenton, Maine;
Rain slacked up; rode to Bar Harbor & Acadia Island Park; Rode up Cadillac
Mountain on Acadia; Cadillac Mountain is first place in USA to be touched by
morning sunlight;
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25 |
06-02 |
07:00amET |
Trenton, Maine |
03:30pmET |
Milford, Mass. |
318 |
10,602 |
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Day 25 - Wednesday:
Harvey-Ebb-Mark: Left 7:00amET; Rain - Cold to start; took it easy; out of
rain in Mass.; Weather warming up; Hwy 3 - 1A - I-395s - I-95s; Harvey & Ebb
check in: Holiday Inn Express - Milford, Mass; Mark goes to Boston to spend
night with his brother that he has not seen in 10 years
Richard spent night in or near Savannah, GA. Covered
over 600 miles today. |
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Email
the Webmaster
Webpage Revised:
09/19/05
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