Waiting Game

It has been over two years since I returned from Alaska on my motorcycle; way too long.

Last week I thought I had corrected that "error"; but it was not to be.  My planned 5 week excursion to Rio De Janerio, Brazil and beyond was aborted on Friday when I was not able to get a boarding pass to board the plane.  Cheapotickets thought that it was unimportant to advise me that Brazil required a visa for travel within the country (the only country in South America that requires a visa for travel).  My advice, "Don't book via Cheapo".

Thus far it's cost over $500 in cancellation and re-booking fees, and I haven't left Bronson.

Still uncertain, but I'm trying to "dodge" Brazil altogether (to avoid the high cost and extended delays  required in order to get a visa) and fly to Argentina instead.  I'll keep you posted.

Absence Makes the Heart Grow Fonder?

It has been a long time since I have written anything and I truly doubt that "Absence Makes the Heart Grow Fonder"; but today, I'm feeling inspired!
  
It is an understatement to say - "It's been a long time".  But, it is what it is so, "Let’s let sleeping dogs ...." - Well, you know!

I'm still in little ole Bronson and still living on Matteson Lake.  The house is for sale as well the Harley Davidson Ford F-150 (its 2003 hundredth anniversary, supercharged model and it's listed on eBay if anyone is interested).

There are still visions of places to go and things see and so, if I can get free - who knows what might happen.

For the past few of months I have been involved with a leadership training program that is only now beginning to show signs of being a life changing experience.  Is it real?  Or is it too soon to hope for such a new reality? 

Can listening to CD's and reading books really provided the inspiration and the motivation to change lives?  I don't know the answer but as the saying goes - "IF IT FEELS GOOD DO IT!"  For now I have got to go with my gut and follow the dream!

I want economic FREEDOM, I want more FRIENDS, I want earn back the love and respect of my FAMILY, I want to have FUN and I need to make money and get my FINANCIAL picture in order to insure that all this and all of the above can really happen.

There are truly "boat loads" of money to be made in the program; it takes a DREAM (I have that), but more than that a clear VISION where one can see that dream as your reality (I'm working on that); and finally, the test of your WILL, it takes "action" to make it happen (I'm fighting my own set demons of my own creation and - working on that).

The ones who have succeeded in the program (and there are many) usually get involved to make money - but, stay involved to "make a difference".

I was going to end by saying, "wish me luck", but I know that "luck" is not the secret; it takes action and the will to win.  It is all about - "What you’re made of".

Praise: The People of Egypt Have Spoken!

Congratulations to the people of Egypt and to the thousands who supported their peaceful protest.

Although the overwhelmingly peaceful protest was not without the loss of lives, one has to believe those protesters who paid the ultimate price would gladly offer their sacrifice for the goal achieved.

The success of the Egyptian people is unlike anything I have witnessed my lifetime.  Now however, the ultimate test is: can the people of Egypt formulate and preserve a form of democratic government that insures freedom and equality for all of Egypt?

The world awaits the answer, but in the meantime, I for one salute the perseverance of the Egyptian people and hope for their success.

Merry Christmas!

Merry Christmas and here is hoping this season finds everyone in good cheer.  Attempted to post this belated message before Christmas, but my computer shut down for an update and I had to run.

It has been a long time and I'm still working to put the house back together after the flood caused by the rusted out water heater.

The repairs are nearly completed and the plan is still to put the house back on the market and hope for a quick sale.  The present mortgage payments are out of sight and only a glimmer of hope of that changing in the near future.

My motorcycle repairs are completed, but until the house is sold there is no hope of continuing my travels.  In the meantime I will try to do better.  What more can I say?

Best Wishes to All!  

Back Again

Nearly six weeks without posting a blog, I guess apologies are in order but, what's point?  I regret my failure to keep abreast of my blog and now its time to try to resurrect what ever remains.

For the past several weeks I've been busy power washing the deck (until the power washer puked), rewiring the downstairs after the flooding (caused by the rusted out water heater), replacing the insulation and hanging drywall.  During this time I was also researching the replacement costs for all of the personal property lost due to water damage.  This effort resulted in a total value an astounding $42,000, of which I received (after depreciation) a little more than 33% of the value; still, not bad considering that many of the items were long forgotten.

Now I have contracted with a plasterer to finish and paint the board which should be completed by some time next week, ready for the finish carpentry, new ceiling tiles and carpet (there's a hint of - "light at the end of the tunnel").

This Saturday, my brother Don is hosting his son's 50th birthday party in Newnan, Georgia (it's amazing
how old Greg has gotten!)

As a result, I'm planning to make a quick trip down and give my congrats.

I must be getting soft after the nearly two months without riding the motorcycle except for a few miles somewhat disastrous miles of local riding (more on the "disastrous part" shortly).  I first planned to ride the bike, but after riding 20 miles to breakfast and enduring the 37 degree temperatures I decided that the hardship wasn't worth the $200 I would likely save.  I'll still take the Harley, but it will be the 2003 Harley Davidson Ford F-150 and not the bike.

It is just as well since the motorcycle needs to go into the "fix-it-shop" to have the front forks and
fender replaced.

I stopped to visit a friend at (ironically) his body shop when, as slowed down to stop (for the second time in less than a year) my clutch cable broke!  Concentrating on keeping the bike upright, I herked and jerked my way to a stop - ALMOST!  In an effort to hit the kill switch, I inadvertently twisted the throttle and accelerated through the open garage to the body shop, narrowly missing another vehicle before colliding with the stone wall to the side the garage.  Embarrassed, I picked myself up while simultaneously explaining to startled onlookers that my clutch cable had indeed broken.

The Return Trip

Cook Inlet

It has been three weeks since my return from Alaska and I still haven't completed my account of the return trip; and so, belated as it is, here goes.

The return trip from Seward, Alaska back to Michigan was (as I said before) not the way I like to travel; but - "A bad day of traveling on a motorcycle is still better than a good day at the office!"

The weather throughout Alaska continued to be mostly overcast with intermittent light rain.  Just enough to require rain gear (rain gear that actually felt good in the high 50 degree temperatures).

The dim side of my headlight had burned out, making it necessary to stop at one of only two Harley Davidson dealerships in all of Alaska, "House of Harley-Davidson and Buell," in Anchorage (and of course I couldn't leave there without buying a long sleeve T-shirt).

Even though the weather was still not very obliging, it didn't stop me from making one final attempt to capture the rugged beauty of the Cook Inlet.

House of Harley-Davidson and Buell in Anchorage

It was hard to motorcycle past the Matanuska Glacier without stopping and to walk on the surface of the massive glacier (the Matanuska is one, perhaps the only one, of the glaciers which one can freely walk on the surface of the glacier without fear of being punished for doing so).  I knew, however, that if I continued to stop at every site along the way the trip would be extended for days; instead, I opted for a couple of photos and somewhat begrudgingly continued on my way.

I had hoped to travel from Tok, Alaska northwest along the Taylor Highway to the "Top of the World Highway" (the same Top of the World Highway that I had missed back in March, when the MichCanSka snowmobile riders trekked to Tok).  It was no longer a reasonable option.  Record rains had raised havoc and now the Taylor Highway was only open for twice a day trips led by a "pace vehicle" which guided a caravan of vehicles along the one-way road.  Once again, given my sense of urgency, I didn't have time for that kind of slow travel and therefore chose to repeat my previous route of travel through Beaver Creek, Yukon Territory.

Four days after leaving Seward I arrived in Watson Lake and was surprised to hear people complaining about the heat. I, of course, was aware of the warmer temperatures, but was surprised to discover that the temperature had in fact risen to 90 degrees Fahrenheit; for me it was PERFECT!

For the first time since leaving New Orleans back in April (some 17,000 miles ago) my motorcycle was a "concern".  It was mysteriously shutting down on me for no apparent reason.  Thus far, each time the engine had quit it restarted without incident - but, what if it suddenly chose another option and stranded me in the middle of nowhere?

Matanuska Glacier

The motorcycle problem had first started in Watson Lake, but it was still a concern as I rode, now miles to the south, in Fort Saint John British Columbia.  Clearly, it had to be checked out.  

Safely making my way to Grande Prairie (where I had been advised that there was a thriving Harley-Davidson dealership), I was greeted "royally"; stopped adjacent to a busy Grande Prairie intersection by the Grande Prairie Police.  After thousands of road miles without incident, I was pulled over because my license plate was hidden by my "luggage".

I advised the officer that I had traveled through 26 states and 5 territories and that - "This was the first time I had been stopped."  He, of course, could hardly care less, and most likely considered that fact a compliment; but, fortunately he let me go and only advised that when I load my gear on tomorrow - "find a way to strap your things in place in such a way that will allow your license plate to be visible."


I appreciated being given a break, but nonetheless can't help thinking that he knew that his advise would be shamefully ignored; after all, it had not been a problem for all these miles, and it was not a safety hazard.


The Harley dealership in Grande Prairie disposed me of $190 and advised me that there was a computer related electrical problem that was advising the onboard computer system that the engine was overheating and therefore needed to shut down.  I was told that it was likely a loose or abraded wire that was causing the problem, but the "guilty" wire could not in fact be found without further research and (obviously) further dollars.

I decided to put wallet back in my pocket and depart - POST HASTE!

All is Well in the Land of OZ

Relax - Everything is Going to be Alright.  All is well in the Land of Oz.  On Tuesday (after Labor Day) when I went to the bank it do was revealed that the impending foreclosure was indeed stopped in time.

As best as we could figure the transaction crossed in the mail or perhaps even in cyberspace (is that even possible?)

I have a lot of work to do to catch back up on the "Wayward Blog" and to clean and repair things around the house, but for the time being at least - the house is secure.

We still have a few weeks of moderate motorcycling weather before the snow hits, and even though it is true that my wings have been clipped (as a friend of mine would say) "I'm endeavoring to persevere."  If I can't fly, perhaps I can "flutter" enough to do some exploring around Michigan, the neighboring states or even Canada.

It would not be a motorcycle trip, but perhaps, I could manage a short trip in October to see the polar bear in Churchill, Manitoba and take some wildlife pictures (something that I have wanted to do for years).