back in NZ and it about a week 10 days since i arrived back, Jan has sorted all the tee shirts for the kids and most of them were to big but they will grow into them. Am back at work and everything under control, Mary-Ellen my assistant manager did a great job while i was away and all i have is praise from the customers and reps and staff about how well she managed the business.
Now that i am home i have had time to reflect on the trip, the highs and the lows .
The highs would be just the traveling and seeing some of the magnificent scenery this country has to offer ( talking to local people in the states i think we have seen and traveled more of there country than they have )
Also just meeting and talking to people, their hospitality is awesome  even when lost in some city and you end up in a seedy part of town i would stop and ask directions and and people from all walks of life would help you out and ask where you were from, and if you were sitting in a bar ( and we saw the inside of a few ) people would ask where are you from and tell you about what to see and where to go. A big thank you to Phil on showing us how to read the maps and help full hints about traveling and how not to get lost,( still got lost but not as much as in 2012 )
Other highlight would be Jim Beam and Jack Danial's distillery, corvette museum, Jersey Boys show ,Laughlin,  and lots of laughs with the guys
The lows, while it was good the have the guys along i think we did to many miles per day for a start and didn't have time to look around. The other thing was and i am as guilty as the others is that when we booked into the motel all the modern gadgets came out and we were on the i pads i phones etc and grabbed a few beer and all ended up in one room where in 2012 we would unload gear hope on bikes and have a look at the local sights , now don't get me wrong i enjoyed this too. Having the car along was ok but would have been better if all on bikes as a bit boring following the car and while i enjoyed the 5 others company i preferred last time just with 3 people as easier to organize motel and where to meet etc but still the company was great. Another low bike problems but learnt a lot about bike and how to trouble shoot and fix the problem.
all up i did about 13000 km , had a good time, meet some great people, and loved the USA and would recommend this as a must visit country.
Next year plan to do a small trip with Jan some where  but bring on 2016 as plan to do the East coast of the USA, i should be able to get in 2 more road trips in before i retire.
thank you Jan for letting this old bugger live his dreams as my motto is " you are dead a long time, do what you can now as you never know what is around the corner and you have to live life to the full "
now all i have to do is get this blog edited and fix all the mistakes and try and get some photos in it

Left Vegas on Friday about 10am and thank god I was getting out before the weekend as was labour weekend here and the amount of traffic going to Vegas was unbelievable . Once on the road it only took me 20 minutes to get out of the city and into the desert and it was hot so I called into most of the towns gas station to have a drink either water or gator aid usually both and put water over my head to cool down . In some wee town they were showing they had how hot it was, 108 degree F , I found it was hotter than Death Valley last time I was here. Any way arrived in LA and was worried I wouldn't find the motel as wasn't using the GPS  just a note I had written on the bike so off at this exit checked GPS and it was around the corner wahoo who is the man . Checked in found pool ( 6.30 at this stage ) couple beers a feed in bed by 9.30 buggered.
Saturday on the bike and went and checked out Venice beach and the Santa Monica beach ,now these beaches are not like what you see in the movies or on TV with all the tanned beautiful people some looked ok some we're stunning and a lot were fat and not good to look at ,had lunch did some tee shopping and had enought by 4 so back to motel got a cab to movies ( expendable 3 ) and that was my day
Sunday just realised that kiwi shipping closed Monday and I fly out Monday night , damn and my suit case at the depot made calls e mails etc can't get a hold of any one, so not panicking will sort out Monday May have to stay an extra night and change flights . Went to a mall, 6th biggest one in the country finished shopping ( was going to Tijuana today, but bus had to get,from here 2.5 hr to San Diego 2.5 back ) any this mall was huge you needed a GPS to find your way around , saw I lot of stuff I would have liked to buy but am under orders from Jan ( you don't NEED any more clothes) then I dawned on me leave bike at motel on Monday buy a cheap suit case and they can pick up the bike on Tuesday ,and Ocker will need a bigger bag when he goes to come home.
Monday have gone to Wal mart got a cheap case , packed, emailed kiwi shipping , keys in envelope at front desk, taxi ordered for 6 ,and I am allowed to use pool till then sweet . Next blog from NZ

Last night in Vegas, now some of you must be thinking all jim does is sit by the pool, visit bars, drink beer and that's it and ride his bike and that's it , but this is not the case, yes in the afternoon especially in the heat and I am talking hot , 40 degrees c it's to hot to be on the bike especially in the city as you have to sit at the traffic lights and you cook and the bike is over heating so I tend to pick on things to do in the morning , relax in the pm and go out at night when cool .
Yesterday took a ride out to the Hoover dam and then rode down the strip but by then traffic at the max so back to room and pool $2.00 buds and the server comes to you then I went to the Jersey boys show last night , when in Vegas this has got to be seen Awesome the some Chinese after a wee flutter a look around and home by 1.00  a good night ( by the pool all shapes and sizes no one cares )
Today up at 10.00 and away to see the Mob Museum and OMG didn't notice but 3 hours there very interesting ,history of the Mob in USA and about law enforcement ( nothing about the MORTIMER Mafia thank goodness ) . Tonight am going to walk down the strip take in the atmosphere ,a few beer a wee flutter ( double my money yea right ) . Before I leave I might buy a pair of cowboy boots , have started buying tee shirts for the grand kids , jan gave me there sizes but here it's different measurements so am buying an assortment and Jan can sort out what fits who and when they get to big for the tees they can swap around . Am in count down mode now as only 4 sleeps left here , this is an amazing country , sure they have screwed a few things up , like why don't people stay home and cook wholesome meals instead of eating out at all these crap fast food places , they need to get rid of tipping and introduce a decent wage for hospitality workers, and biggest bitch when something advertised, that's the price, oh sorry then there is the tax, and wtf is this 1cent 5cent  25 cent coin and 1 and 2 dollar notes it's the 21st century get rid of them , ok to much sun and buds time for a Nana nap then Viva Las Vegas strip ( good bands all around the place )  tomorrow LA

Haven't posted for 5 days so this is a quick update. Left Armarilo and on to Albaquerqui which is about a 5.5 hr ride and not too hot as a bit overcast and between those 2 city hit a cafe in the middle of nowhere on Route 66 called Mid point cafe and it's half way between Chicargo and LA 1139 miles each way . Any way got to albaquerqui got a cheap motel just off I 40 w ( getting the hang of the road system now thanks Phil ) so had a quick ride around bit city to big so back to motel and went to a big wings sports bar ( wings terrible but beer good ) counted 37 TV screens in the bar. Any way got talking to a guy called Mark who was waiting on a lady friend hadn't seen for 20 yrs and this was his local and then a guy called Mark  heard my accent so he joined us and both we're asking about work in NZ as wanted a change of scene , so many beers later Mark had to meet his friend outside as she wouldn't come in and Dave had to go so exchanged e mails and snuck across the road to bed. Coronas  there $10 a bucket (5)
Next day Saturday was Flagstaff but before I got the I recognised an Indian trading post where I ran ran out of gas back in 2012 so look at gas gauge on bike and it was orange which means it low, bloody hell not again so took it slow and hit a gas station about 10 mile down the road ( still had 20 miles up my sleeve)
Any way flagstaff is awesome especially the historic 66 part of town and being higher up in the mountains and not to hot so had a look around and came to a square where they had some local Spanish dancing with wee kids all dressed up like 150 yrs ago, and buskers, and bars a great afternoon ( just a note if you are an outward type af person you can talk to any one, so have meet some great people on this trip )
Sunday on to Laughlin which is a small casino town on the Colarado river just over the Arazona boarder so now in Navada ( got to wear a helmet now) $35.00 a night at the holder nugget can't go wrong . Monday did a day trip to Oatman and chilled by the pool and took a river Walk . Today arrived in Vagas hope to see a few shows bit of shopping for the grand kids. Only 6 days till I fly home .

Cruising down the highway in the hot hot sun how bizarre, left Dallas yesterday no mistakes straight out on the 85 west and decided not go to San Antino as was a 6 hr drive then I would have back track next day so headed to Abilene but only took 2.5 hrs to get there so took a look around the frontier museum hell they were hard men and women in those pioneer days and at the end of the tour you sat on these swivel stools in the middle of the theatre as there was a 360 degrees screen so you had to follow the action all around you . On the bike again in the hot hot sun and about 3 found a wee town called Synder so got a motel only $40.00 with pool got a couple of beers and chilled then into town for a pasta $8.99 for a big chicken creamy pasta in bed by 9.30 oh on the news a gut was shot and killed here 2 nights ago.
I have noticed I am loosing weight as by myself now and not so much beer and food when I was with the rest of the guys also enjoying going at my own pace not in a hurry trying to keep up with every one.been talking jan my understanding wife most days on face time but Wi Fi hopeless some days.
Today I left at 8.30 and arrived in Armarilo about 2.30 traveled 340 km so resting by the pool and tonight going to get the free limo to the big Texan steak house which is vey famous for its large steaks also have a lot of craft beers there ( been trying different brews some good some bad like NZ ) might go to the race track tomorrow also look at some Route 66 stuff like the Cadillac ranch . The ride today was great very flat with mile apon mile of cotton fields as far as you could see then there was a big canyon about 8 to 10 miles wide and you rode down into it and it was like going into a furnace ,was about 42 degrees in leather vest and chaps didn't help but got back up top and there was a nice breeze and more cotton fields .

What day is it. Monday I think starting to loose track of time. Just a reminder about spelling , things not making sence, wrong words in the sentence etc these blogs usually written after a long drive or a long day and I am buggered, or after a few beers etc but will get them all proof read when I get home. Another thing I might not be able to do any more bloggers after # 100 as I think that is all you are allowed.
Ok left Mt pleasant on Saturday morning and had a straight run to a quality Inn in Irving which is between Fort Worth and Dallas so after laundry duties went to a mall in Grapevine and it was ferkin huge so had a cheap Tai and a look around but got sick if the crowds so decided to chill at the movies, a 30 screen complex you can even get a meal and eat it at a table while watching a movie , saw the Gardians of the galaxy and really enjoyed , just as I got back to motel it started to rain and rain and the same in the morning but it was very heavy with all the lightening and thunder but still 29 degrees. I was going into Dallas about 10 but put off till 1 and finally got a shuttle at the airport ( transport system crap here ) and when I arrived a did a JFK tour which is one of the best tours I have ever done. Took an hour in this trolley buss but the driver/ guide had such a know large of the shooting and the events it was like you were there. After the the tour had a healthy lunch (no cheese) and found a train station ( bit dodgy lot of  suspicious people lurking about but a few cop around) and caught a train home , think I got off at wrong station cause I was at the Irving conference centre with no one around  so got a cab back to motel , couple of beer next door at a flash hotel as this was the only bar around , and listened to some guys talking about Wal Mart as they were on a month long course , the way they we're talking I would say a brain washing course
Today made a fatal mistake decided to take bike to Fort Worth railway station even though I had the GPS a 10 minute drive took 35 min, one wee mistake re an exit and you are screwed, any way got train to Union station and went to the Sixth floor museum where JFK was shot by Lee Oswald, it had all the info about the lead up to and after the event also had some info regarding all the conspiracy theory's . Got train back got lost now time for beer by pool , tomorrow Vista the Alamo

now Friday so here

is an up date on the last 3 days, after nashville we arrived at the Jack Danials distillery and meet up with Speed,Phil & Ocker and had a tour around the plant which was awesome and all the guys enjoyed it. Then off to Memphis and found a hotel near the airport as Phil and Speed had to fly out next morning back to NZ and bugger me didn't know but it's Elvis week and hotel full of impersonators and old ladies but they didn't see much of us as it was such a big hotel ,just about needed a GPS to find your way around. So the order of the night was swim, few beers, meal, few beers then bed.

Next morning the boys after a tearfull good buy from Speed they were one the shuttle and off,  so after packing up did the Grace land tour and then we moved into down town near Beale st as this was where all the entertainment was with a free outside concert and some of the country's top Elvis impersonators preforming in the bars and they also close off the streets and you are allowed to purchase a drink and wander around and drink it. We had a blast mingling with all the old ladies ( meet some from England and Scotland and they would be in there 70  just here for the week) and they were screaming and yahooing at these entertainers and the truth be known we enjoyed them also.

Today we split up and I am heading to Dallas and have got as far as Mount Plesant and Dallas only 2 hours down the road so am by the pool no drinks as a dry county and just chilling .

Now in Nashville after a great ride around the back roads as you go to fast on the freeways and it's stressfulso it was a nice easy ride plenty of country side, huge homes with stables and no corn ( well just a bit) Got Into town about 2 and got into a cafe to shelter from the rain and got talking to a guy who recommend a hotel, got there and what a dump, next thing police arrive so got talkin to them and the advised us not to stay there as was full of drug dealer and good time girls so we have ended up at the Remada inn which is very nice ,big pool shaped like a guitar and 5 minutes from down town. Thankfully just as we settled into the room it started to rain and it bucketed down, cars were just crawling along ,thunder lightening had the whole lot, think we got the tail end of what hit Hawaii
Went into town last night and bar hopped had a few beersies and listened to the bands , what a great night got home about 10.30 and crashed we were buggered.
Late start this morning breakfast at 9 and took my pbike to a shop to get checked over then caught a cab to the country music museum then the Johnny Cash museum both these were great and we enjoyed. About 3.0 now laundry on then time for a swim then maybe a nana nap ( dave sleeping now ) then into town for tea and check out some more music. The music scene here is great all these bars with some really talented people playing in them

Monday morning 11.8.2014  8 am in Bowling Green Kentucky and it's raining and there is thunder ,lightening and it's not nice out there but still 23 degree so going to stay in bed for a while and see what happens.
I had a hell of a trip on Saturday , left Bloomington and just getting out of town and there were some railway tracks across the road and hit these at 60 mph but they were doing repair work and they had removed a lot of the road , so hit this next thing bike and me in the air but landed safely a few wobbles and on the way. Later on down the road went from a 2 lane to a 1 lane because of road works so all these big orange plastic barrels with black bases to hold them down separate the road , now with road works here you are allowed to travel 60 mph which means 70 so following this car at 70 mph then boom hit one of the bases that was lying in the middle of the road gave me a hell of a fright but straightened out and on the way. Getting into Louisville it started to rain and I mean rain ,only had the skid lid helmet on and Sun glasses on so stopped changed glasses then on the way then it really started raining going at 60 mph couldn't see any road couldn't see what was in front was in a 3 lane freeway , had suntan lotion on, this was wet running into my eyes so was blind, pulled over took glasses off , wiped eyes and crouched down beside screen and carried on finally getting to motel soakin wet , so not a good day riding but not so much corn now and the scenery is very nice .
Sunday Phil, Speed and Ocker have departed in the car for 3 days to have a look around ( ahhh peace and quite no Aussie accent ) so Dave, Mark and myself are heading for  Nashville as one of Dave things on his bucket list is to do some line dancing in the country music capital before he is 60. Today we had a look around the Jim Beam distillery which we really enjoyed as all we have been doing is riding and no sight seeing so thanks Callum from Beam Global

Catch up time, been 2 days since my last blog ( sounds like I'm in an a confessional box )  yesterday dat we traveled to Madison WC and the weather was good as was the ride , over the last 2 days riding appox 16 hours all we have seen is corn fields ,mile apon mile as far as the eye can see is corn and what the do with is it feed it to the stock during the winter and also convert to Ethanole to mix in with the gas ( petrol ) but in saying there is a lot of corn there is still some great scenery. We arrived in Madison about 3.30 and on the way we picked up this voucher book so stayed at the Crown Plaze for the night only cost us $30.00 each and it was 4 star , did our laundry ( down to last pair of jocks, mark already turned his inside out and Phil was going commando ) which took ages as only 1 machine then 100feet down the road for Chinese and one of the best meals of the trip.
Apologise for spelling and grammar on the blog I type as I think and spell check doesn't work .
Today not a good start, every one all loaded up on bikes and car ready to go and bugger me, my bike wouldn't start, lot of noise but wouldn't fire up , was low on gas "ahhh that's the problem " guys pushed me 150 feet to gas station ,bit of a top up no result so thank god I had bike insurance rang them and they sent a tow truck ( no charge as part of policy)  only took 20 minutes for truck to arrive an 10 minutes to Kawasaki bike shop, took bike off truck and was going to wait an hour for shop to open when this lady turned up so I explained what has happened bike not starting etc hopped on to show her and bloody hell the bike started straight away. Very embarrassing  so I waited and had a guy check out the bike and we still don't know why it didn't start. Any way back on the road again and now in Bloomington Il and have just had a great meal washed down with a margarita and it 9.30 so having an early night

Am going to catch up on 2 days with this report, so yesterday was Tuesday 05.08.2014 and we are still in Deadwood at the Sturgis rally. Today we decided to leave the car at the camp and go 2 up on the bike and go into Sturgis and show Ocker and Speed around then go to a few of the bars. I has steve on the back of my bike and we got there about 10.00 am and the place was humming, found a park ( took photo of street sign so we could find the bike ) and away we went but first up a pizza for breakfast. After that went down the main drag where all the bikes are parked ( I think they park there from about 6.00 am ) and the street was full no parks left ,people every where and hot very hot 32 degree c . So the boys did a bit of shopping then found our bikes and we went and visited the Full Throttle saloon about 2 o'clock ,band playing , body painting, bike riding competition and bikers every where then on to the buffalo chip and and checked out the bar there and met a guy call Scott who is comming to NZ in November . He was staying at the camp the and said their was a concert at the chip the night before and there was a 100000 people in attendance. Just as we were ready to leave the thunder and lightening started and about 5 miles down the road it started to rain and rain so we drove about 15 miles in the heavy rain back to camp and even thought we put on our bike jackets we got as wet as a shag. Back in can't changed and all standing in gazebo decide to go to the bar/ casino across the road and it was happy hour 6 pints for $13.50 so we dried of met some othe wet bikers had a great night and got home about 11.
Today packed up the camp and got on the road about 8 and headed to Soux falls about a 7 hour drive but we side tracked and went throughout the badlands which in now a national park, also a lot of history here as this is where a lot of the outlaws used to hide. Just after we left the park struck rain again but not to heavy and still warm 22 degree. Very boring riding as we are on the 90 free way and all there is to look at is corn fields. So now at a super 8 had tea and now ready for bed.

day 2 in Deadwood and the Wi Fi has been terrible so this is the first chance I have had to write. We'll Ocker is a bit happier was getting home sick but saw some sheep about 3 days ago so happy now. The camping ground is nice but they have put us out the back ( same thing happens when we go for a meal ) and its nice and peacefully and a trolley bus picks us up and takes us into Deadwood.. Had to get a grease and oil change as done over 5500 km and bike Is running well but have had the odd spot of bother with it but all going good now.since arriving here we have purchase a $30.00 gazebo to keep us out of the sun and it handy cause Ocker slept in it last night so I didn't have to put up with his snoring and gas omissions. Went into stuggis yesterday morning and it was a mad house bikes and people every where, so did a bit of shopping ( got chaps for grand daughter Maddy) but no tee shirts as have got the message from Jan NO tees still have some from last trip I haven't worn yet. No tattoos this year either. Have been keeping In touch with home by Face time which is good but haven't spoken to any of my family for a while so a big HI to them especially the grand kids, I hope they inherite the travel bug off Jan myself and explore this wonderful world. I am getting side tracked we are usually back in camp about 4 have a few beers have an argument with Ocker the go find some where to eat and in bed by 11pm. He'd a good ride today over to the big harley shop before Rapiid City which has every thing you need , if you want new pipes on your bike they will do it while you wait, new wheels,new seat, new motor, any thing you want, and there would be about 15000 people plus there. Thought we are going into town to visit some bars and check out the bands. As usual people here are interested in where we are from and want to know a bit more about our country and we do have to reminde them that Ocker is an Australian not a Kiwi . Still haven't figured hop to get photos on my blog as waiting to here from Steph

Today is the day we drive to Sturgess about a 5 hour drive and already we are starting to see a lot of bikes on the road. Last night stayed in Billings Montana, we arrived about 1.30 did the washing had a swim and kept in the shade as it got to 37 degree. Went for a meal at the Red lobster service was good but wouldn't rave about the meal. After we came out at 10 pm was still a nice 28 degree.when we get to Sturgess we are just going to relaxe put up the tents and just have a look around.

30.7.2014 night

Night time in Fort Mcleod ,arrived here about 12.30 and found a motel $35.00 each for the night on the main drag , very small town not much to do but it's chill out time been a few hard days riding and we just need to relaxe. 34 degree c at 1.00 so went and did laundry and back to motel ,caught up on e mails and had a couple of beers and yes Ocker got mislaid again but found us about an hour after we arrived. Supermarket acros the road so we purchased a couple of cooked chickens and salads, fresh bread etc, so cost for tea 7.00 each plus 10.00 each for refreshments priceles
Tomorrow is going to be a big on we are going to do the " ride to the sun" highway which is way up in the mountains about 7000 ft up and has a reputation of being one of the best rides in the country.
Am I bit peved as yesterday I had a go camera and all around the ride through those magnificent mountains I was slowing down ( got a remote as camera attached to my helmet ) holding up traffic clicking away for still shots, taking videos  for about 3 hours thinking " peter Jackson eat your heart out " and I got nothing as camera shut down.

OMG no one got lost today, ( only one road to take so couldn't go wrong ) big day today left  Fort Mcleod at 8.00 am and changed where we were going and ended up in Helena about 500 km and with the stopping and starting arrived here at 7.00 pm but had a lot of stops on the way. Today we traveled through Glacial National park and this has been the highlight if the trip as we road the top bike ride in the USA it's called " ride to the sun" . Kiwis go on about Milford sounds, the west coast but this ride is spectacular , you have to ride it and see for yourself words can't describe this road and scenery. Got some good photos and will post later . Thank god I am using 70 plus suntan lotion so still very hot here and haven't got sunburnt yet. We are in Montana now so you don't have to wear a helmet so fairly exposed to the weather and we had a lucky break as could see a big storm coming up but it went to the side of us.
Tomorrow Billlings

It's morning at the casino watch says 5.45 I pad say 6.45, we are leaving at 8 but don't know what time the guys are on and Ocker not here he has gone walk about about an hour ago don't know where only one road and only thing to see is casino. The night before we left Seattle he woke me up said it was 6 o'clock and was going for a walk so I dozed for an hour woke and it was only 3.30 so his body clock is still out . Did a post last night took me about an hour with Ocker in the background asking me question tried to add some picture and lost the blog, thank god I have Steph back in NZ helping me with this it stuff but still trying to send pictures. on to Fort Mcleod today should be there by lunch time. Today is laundry day, and catch up day so going to chill and relax

Sorry everyone for the lack of blogs but has been full on for the lasr 4 days.
Ok last report we were in Seattle nod on the Sunday 27.07.2014 dave myself Coxy and Ocker went to the boing factory for a tour , the site is the biggest building in the worl ,410000 staff are employes here there are 19 cafés on site has its own fire brigade and security and it was certainly worth a look around. We have had some big days riding, with most days the last few days riding an average of 350 miles a day or about 6.5 hours on the bike . The guys are amazed at the scenery fron the big redwood forests to coastal rides, now we are up in the Canadian Rockies with huge mountains big rivers ,lakes ,waterfalls you name it we are seeing it and the best thing is the highways , big long straights and sweeping bends and some tomes the sped limit is 120 km an hour .there has been no major dramas some of us tend to get lost or side tracked most days or go down the street on the wrong side of the road but no one has received a ticket yet. Mark had a bit of trouble getting into Canada after us waiting in line, on our bike, in about 32 degree c heat for about 55 minutes, we got through ok but he got taken to a room and questioned, this is what happens when you own a Yamaha road star bike. On Monday we stayed in Kamloops which was a nice wee city/ town but went to get some beer and what a price on a par with NZ $22.00 for a 15 pack where in USA $18.00 for a 24 pack Bud , taxi driver to us to a nice bar/ grill for tea and the food was great. We are all eating healthy with salads and a lot of veges and fruit and dring lot of water with the heat, I think I have dropped a couple of KG ( or is that wishfully thinking)
Today we road from Kamloops to Banff about a 7 hr drive and this was through some national parks and went past lake Louise which was full of tourist and we're going to stay the night in Banff ( reminded me of queens town ) people every where and all accommodation was booked out or was going to cost $250.00 a night so we went down the road and staying at a Casino.
Right am going to try and attach some pics

Just let everyone know I have done a blog but it won't let me publish it. So in short Phil and Brian have arrived ,we are in Seattle and today we visit the Boing factory. Have written a bit on blogspot but the wifi is so bad it won't send . Just arrived in Hope Canada and am at McDonald's waiting for other guys. We got separated at the boarder.

22.07.2014

Day 2 here in LA and today we went and picked up Ockers bike left about 8.30 am and got on the freeway heading in the right direction which was a good start but about an hour into trip made a cock up which threw us of our route but got sorted and got back on track once again and arrived at Chucks place way out in the desert only about half an hour late and thank god there was a gas station there as we're very low on gas.instead of coming back via the motorway we took a back road called Angeles crst highway 2 which took us about 5000 ft up into the hill behind LA with some great views over the desert. During the winter the road is closed as it gets about 20 ft of snow. The road was good with lots of bends and had to drop down to 25mph on some of the corners so a slow trip back to LA and it was hot, about 90 which is 32 in NZ. After coming of the mountain this is when things turned to custard we got separated and some how I ended up in down town LA and I can say that was some thing I will never forget so stopped to ask directions twice and then I was back on the I110 s freeway and got back to motel about 5.30. All up clocked up about 220 miles ( 350 km ) for the day only annoying thing was Ocker beat me back to motel and he got lost also. Mark and Dave have arrived and have already put a scratch on their rental and they have had to shift motels as their room was canceled for last night, not a very good system here for checking in etc. A few beers we're had last night and went to the casino for tea again $40.00 us for 3 Stella and 3 meals can't go wrong. Big day Wednesday as head to San Fran.

21July2014

The day has finally arrived, left Invercargill @ 3.00 pm on the 21.07.2014 ( should have been 2 but plane delayed )  so missed flight in CH CH but got next one so all went well as left Auckland at 9.30 on the flight we were booked on . Not a bad trip apart from the big air pocket and turbulence about 3 hours out, plane dropped about 50 feet all of a sudden and red wine went every where aperture from that dozed all the way. Got out of LAX  airport about 3.30 so dropped bags off motel then on to Kiwi shipping to pick up bike and had bit of trouble starting but loose connection was found and fixed so all go . Once again the service at Kiwi shipping was excellent with them going out of there way to get us on the road. . Got a bit lost coming back went east instead West so ended up in run down part of town but all good after some locals put us the right track so have arrived at LA Adventure hotel which is a back packers and is a bit run down and I think we are the oldest here.  Unpacked  and had a couple of beers by the pool then a 10 minute walk to a mall and sorted out our phones with Ocker buying his first cell . Went to a casino for Tea , interesting no pokies only tables for cards etc? Early start tomorrow as going to pick up Ockers bike.

Hi everyone i am back again and going to hit the road again on July 21st with another trip to the USA but am taking a different route this time. This time around we fly into LA pick up our bikes ( and car ) and from there go up the west coats to Seattle,we then cross over the boarder to Canada some and go to Kamloops and then cross over the Canadian Rockies to Banff from there we have heard about one of the best rides you can do and its called " ride to the sun" so Google it or use YouTube. From here we go back to Sturgess for 4 days but this time staying at "Whistlers Gulch " camping ground in Deadwood and after this go right across the the country to Milwaukee to see the Harley Davidson museum then down through Nashville,  Memphis, Dallas where we split up and go our separate ways.
I have some new companions on this trip but Mark and Dave are coming again, they arrive on the 22nd July and Mark has just purchased a bike and will ride it and will bring it back to NZ and Dave is going to hire a car which will be handy for carrying the chilly bin with essential supplies. They are in the USA for 30 days and leave us in Dallas on the 17th August and fly out of LA on the 22nd.
 A new member of the team is Adrian Nesbitt other wise known as" Ocker" he arrives with me on the 21st and he has purchased a bike to ride and going to ship back to NZ also. Ocker departs us in Dallas also and is going down to New Orleans and is staying in the states for another month just looking around.
We have another 2 guys Phill Ford and Brian McStay arriving in Seattle on the 26 July and travel in the car with Dave till 14th August and they will fly out of Memphis
So after every one splits up in Dallas i will be looking around by myself till the 1st September and then fly home  am going down to look at the Alamo might have another look in Vagas    just wait and see what happens no plans take it day by day.
Here is a photo of my new bike i have purchased and will ride then brink back to NZ and sell. we have done the sums and is a lot cheaper buying and selling than hiring. Kawasaki 1500cc vulcan nomad 2002

          

Mark new bike for 2014 tour    more details later