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Todays Mileage:  291 miles
Loop Total:  2485
Quest Total:  5495
Present Location:  Seneca, SC
State Tally:  15

Today was a pretty easy day except for starting out in 35 degree temperatures.  It was a clear day with lot's of sunshine which helped a lot.  The route was a mixture of interstate, primary and secondary roads.  I got to finish on secondary roads over the mountains, so that was a good thing.  Now it's time to get out the maps, do some more planning, reshuffle some gear requirements and wait until next month, before starting the big loop out west.  As with most adventures, I am excited and somewhat concerned at the same time.  I think that might be a requirement to be an adventure.

Ho Hum

Today's Mileage:  505
Loop Total:  2194
Quest Total:  5204
Current Location:  Fayette, TN.

I need to be home tomorrow, so i needed to start back today.  That meant I traveled on interstate and primary roads.  To top it off, I started out in rain for the first two and a half hours.  The weather did clear up and I hope I can stay ahead of the rain tomorrow.  I did try to visit the 'Sheriff Buford Pusser Museum (Walking Tall Movie), but unfortunately it was closed today.  I was just curious to see what you would have in a museum about a guy who went around and hit people with a big stick.

The Song is right

Today's Mileage:  479
Loop Total:  1689
Quest Total:  4699
Curent Location:  Mena, Arkansas

Started west out of Chanute today.  In Moline, saw this T-33 aircraft static display.  No explanation for it, but it was the first jet aircraft I ever did an aileron roll in, so i took a picture.  Went a little farther west and then turned south into Oklahoma.  The wind was definitely blowing thru the plains this morning.  Spent most of my time leaning into the wind so that I wouldn't go off the road.  Stopped for gas and almost hit the doorjamb walking into the store because I was still leaning left.  Weather lightened up nicely, so decided to go farther south than had planned so that I could ride the Talimena Scenic Drive that goes over the Ozarks from OK to Ar.  Almost didn't go there but am glad I did.  It was a great route, great scenery, and great road.  That's a couple of things that I'm really enjoying about this trip.  I never know what the best part of my day will be, and I never know what to expect along the side of the road.

Looking for Dorothy

Today's Mileage.  405 miles
Loop Mileage:  1210
Quest Mileage:  4220
Current Location:  Chanute, Kansas

I left Farmington this morning and took some roads recommended by the motel desk clerk.  They were good roads and a nice way to start the day. Later, I took off on some back roads that didn't show on my atlas.  I always figure that when I come to a town I can find out where I'm at.  Turns out that when the town only has 43 people, it doesn't show on the atlas either.  Spent the better part of an hour on narrow two lane roads winding thru the countryside before I hit a major numbered highway.  It was the best part of my day. Continued thru Missouri and entered Kansas at Ft. Scott. I love old neighborhoods and spent some time going thru the Ft. Scott historical area. Also visited the national cemetery. I've visited a few others, but it is always a somber experience.  If i could order weather for my entire trip, the last three days are exactly what I would want.

Happy Easter

Today's Mileage:  417
Loop Mileage:  805
Quest Mileage:  3815
Current Location:  Farmington, Missiouri

I left out of Frankfort on Hwy 421 heading up to Indiana.  It was a great route to start out on.  I always expect that I might see some wildlife early in the morning, like deer (which I did), maybe a turkey (which I did), but I really wasn't expecting the horse in the middle of the road all by himself. He obliged by moving over to the side, so I guess I really can't complain.  Before leaving Ky. I took a photo of some black barns.  I've seen these all thru Ky. And wondered why most of them are black.  I Googled it, and found out that I wasn't the only one to wonder.  Indiana and Illinois  were great rides.  I enjoyed the roads and the scenery.  But who would have thought that you can go thru French Lick Indiana and not see a single sign about Larry Bird. I try to stay away from big cities if I can, so i headed to Chester, Illinois to cross the Mississippi river.  I wouldn't say that I have a rare motorcycle, but it is rather uncommon ( it's estimated less than 3000 worldwide).  So i was a bit suprsed to be going down the main street of Chester when I passed another Cavalcade going the other way.  I turned around and caught up with the rider.  He had never seen another Cade.  We talked for awhile, and I headed across the bridge into Missiouri.  Who knows what tomorrow will bring.

Bluegrass State

Today's Mileage:  388
Loop Total:  388
Quest Total:  3398
Current Location: Frankfort, Kentucky

It was a little chilly starting out today, but it ended up being a great riding day.  Clear skys, lot's of sunshine and moderate temperatures.  About two hours out I jumped on the interstate to get through TN.  Three hours later, I headed off the interstate and got back onto secondary roads and then entered Ky.  Will get through the rest of Ky. Tomorrow and enter into southern Indiana and then start heading west.  I'm not crazy about the interstate, but I must admit that when going through the mountains, they clear out so much land, that you really get some great vistas from the hwy.  Additionally, you never know what you'll see along the side of the road.

Heading Out

The weather is still good for this time of year, so I'm heading out on another loop to the lower Midwest.  I've always stated that the number one rule of my plan, is that the plan can change.  With that in mind I've realized that my hope to stay off interstates is not going to happen.  With South Carolina being my state of departure, I spend a lot of time riding through a state more than once.  In order to save some time, I've decided to jump on interstates when I can, in order to get to the place where I am actually riding in a new state.  Additionally, I'll use interstates where appropriate when I'm heading home through states I've already visited.  Not really what I had hoped to do, but reality has set in, and I realize I need to do this.  I'm sure this won't be the last time the plan changes.