Day 13 - The Final Day

Well everyone, I'm finally home. After 13 days and 4,440 miles, AJ and I have accomplished our goal. I want to thank all of my friends and family who supported, or at least tolerated, my endeavor. It was a lot of fun crisscrossing this great country of ours. It truly is "America, the Beautiful". Frank Hofbauer used to often say, "some people die to go to heaven, I'm in heaven!" In some ways, he was right. This country is vast, free, outstanding beautiful, and full of great people. I met so many truly nice and genuine people on my trip. Too many to name, but I want to thank them all for their gestures of interest and kindness. But of all the amazing sights I saw, none was more welcome than the finish line my wife had stretched across the garage door opening when I returned. AJ was a head turner from day one and she performed flawlessly, bringing me home safely. If any of you out there have a dream trip in mind, make it a reality. You'll never be sorry for the investment of time and money. I will remember mine for the rest of my life. Thank you all for following along with me. May God bless.

Day 12

Well I'm back on schedule with my posts. Today was a rocket ride south. I tried to put in as many miles as I could. The good news was no trouble from the police. I did get a big thumbs up from a Florida Highway Patrolman. The best news was going through Alabama when I got summoned over by some young ladies doing a radio promotion for "Monster" energy drinks. How could I refuse a free energy drink. You can check out the pics. I also wanted to say hi to some of my adoring fans, Lynne, my wife's walking buddy, and Al & Helen in Bryan, Ohio. You all are famous as me now, you're on the web. Tomorrow is home, and my final post!

Day's 10 & 11

Wow, I miss a day and my fan base turns ugly on me! Actually, there wasn't a lot to report. I did get pulled over by a lady between Springfield and Poplar Bluff. A lady cop with an attitude, I might add! (no tickets though) and then I got pulled over for doing 78mph in 55mph zone by two county sheriffs. They couldn't figure out how to write a ticket on a car that wasn't in their system, so they gave me a warning and then talked for twenty minutes about AJ. I did make it Des Arc, MO. Where I visited my Aunt Francis, who drove from St. Louis to see me and AJ, and my Dad's grave. We lost Dad last summer to cancer and this was my first opportunity to return. I miss Dad terribly, he was my best buddy. For those of you that didn't know him. He was a WWII veteran, a survivor of the battle of Midway. A great grand father and husband of 63 years. Just an all around great man. Tomorrow is the next to the last leg home!

Day 9

If you want a sure cure for insomnia, drive all the way across Kansas in the same day! I think there were 2 bends in the road in 500 miles. Nothing memorable to take pictures of except my oldest brother, Norman. (He's the ugly one on the left). On to Poplar Bluff, MO tomorrow!

Day 8

Today was a fun day. I met up with CJ "Bottoz" an Atom owner from Colorado Springs. He rode up to Pike's Peak with me, we had lunch, gave AJ a bath and swapped Atom stories. According to Bottoz, AJ was the first Atom to the top of Pikes Peak! We're breaking records here! I'm in Burlington CO for the night, on my way to my brother's house near Wichita. Check out the pics. Oh yea, met another nice trooper today. He even knew Bottoz! What a relief, I can't catch a break.

Day 7

After spending the last 3 or 4 days in the desert southwest, what a pleasant change it was to see the lush mountains of the Colorado Rockies. I didn't realize how much I missed the green and the site of flowing water! Today was absolutely beautiful driving up from Cortez, CO to Colorado Springs. Beautiful, I mean BEAUTIFUL, majestic mountain scenery. The only down side was I finally got caught in a summer rain that turned into a mixture of rain and hail at higher elevations. There was nowhere to take cover, so AJ just chugged right through it. Whatta gal she is! Check out the new pics, again they don't do justice. Oh yea, did I forget to mention getting pulled over in Canon City? AJ caught their eye again! Tomorrow... Pikes Peak!!!!!!

Day 6

Day 6 activities included the Hoover Dam and the Grand Canyon. Death Valley was hot, but it paled in comparison to the drive from the Hoover Dam to the Grand Canyon. And of course, I had a visit from a friendly HD Security Officer. He thought AJ was cool, but wasn't real enthusiastic about posing for a pic. especially when he really didn't have a reason to pull me over. I persuaded him to smile anyway. The Grand Canyon is well.... GRAND! But I think it will be years before they get it filled in. You know how fast government projects are! ; )

Day 5

Day 5 was a quiet day for me, just catching some zzz's and staying out of the sun. AJ did get an oil change though. She's feeling all lubed up and ready to go! And so am I! Vegas is quite a city, but not one to visit when you're by yourself. I found it pretty lonely. I want to thank Toni at the front desk. Toni always had a smile and a kind word when I came in. I asked her to pose in AJ, which she graciously did. I told Toni's boss she should get a raise, as she was the best employee I had met in the casino. He said he couldn't, she is married to the manager of the entire place! Her husband is a smart man. ; ) Thanks again, Toni. Tomorrow the Grand Canyon and Route 66!

Day 4

I think it's day 4, I'm so relaxed I can't keep track! I came across Death Valley today. It was beautiful, but so empty, and so very hot! I did make it to Vegas. I can't tell you much, What happens in Vegas, stays in Vegas. Actually, I was anxious to get out of the sun and have pretty much collapsed in the AC and played a few slot machines. I'm spending two nights here just to get some sun relief and then it will be on to the Grand Canyon and Pikes Peak! Have fun everybody!

Day 3

Well, I made it from Yosemite to Lone Pine, CA. Today was another beautiful day. I drove up to
Glacier Point in Yosemite and then headed on toward Death Valley. I made it as far as Lone Pine when I gave out and succumb to the sun. I'm starting to turn into a lobster. Tomorrow will definitely be a sun screen and long pants day. The challenge will be the 102° temp in death valley.

Well, it finally happened. Two of California's finest pulled me over for a quick look see of AJ. They weren't sure about AJ's 0-60 claims. So after they took pictures for their office bulletin board, they let me go. Their only request was for AJ to get to 65 mph (California's speed limit) as fast as she could. No problem. She was itching to let loose anyway. Although she ran a smooth 125 mph on a long stretch of Cal. 395 with plenty of room for more. Tomorrow is Death Valley and hopefully Vegas!

Day 2

Day 2 was mostly driving, but that's never a bad thing when you're driving AJ. I made my way down the coast, over the Golden Gate bridge into downtown San Francisco, then over the Bay Bridge into Oakland, then through the mountains and some wind farms all the way to Yosemite National Park. Yosemite is just AWESOME! I'm going to spend a full day here and then head to Death Valley! I've attached some new pics, check them out.

Day 1 along Lamath mountains and HWY 101

My first day was just insane! Drove 200 mile along the Kalamath River that was a four hour roller coaster ride with a view. What fun! After reaching California 101 or Redwood Hwy, AJ and I had a blast with about 30,000 bikers (no Honda's in the group). I was driving down the Avenue of the Giants, when I came across a biker bar / gas station right out of the movie "Wild Hogs". Well we couldn't pass this up (and no, we didn't blow it up) so we pulled in for some gas. We were instantly surrounded by a crowd of leather clad Atom admirers. We even got invited to join in on the 30th annual "Run of the Redwoods". I drove to the event entrance an it was a scene reminiscent of Woodstock. Thousands of tents, motorcycles, bikers and a little too much extra curricular activity for AJ and I. So we decided to keep on heading south before AJ got me into more trouble than I can handle. My first day will end up in Ukiah, CA and we will rest for the night before heading to San Francisco and Yosemite tomorrow. For all you Atom lovers, there is nothing like it on mountin roads. There's also nothing like it when it comes to setting bikers on their heels saying, "Cool... I got to get one of those!"

She's finally mine!

Picked her, AJ, (my atom's name), up after a long day of traveling from Sarasota to Ashland. That didn't keep me from cruising town last night. Boy did she turn some heads! My first groupie was a young, that blond pulled up next to me as I was cruising down main street. She rolled down her window and yelled, "Is that an Atom!" I replied with a devilish grin, "Yes, Yes it is", She replied, "that will do sixty in under three seconds!". Again, I replied, "Yes it will!" as I gave AJ just a little gas and shot away. I felt bad because I knew deep down that AJ caught her eye, but it was me she really wanted! ; ) hehe. Check this page out tomorrow and what other kind of exaggerations I can come up with!