Time to move on

Today was my last day in Houston area. First, I want to thank Brenda, Jackson, and the dogs for allowing me to stay. Not so much to you, JD. You never really had a choice. Our Brotherhood runs to deep and we can't say no when the hand goes up.
This morning, Jim and I traveled to the Johnson Space Center, where astronauts did most of their training prior to a mission. We saw some of the real equipment used on missions, moon rocks, and actual capsules from the earliest John Glenn capsule to the multi-person Apollo. We saw a Skylab mock up.Very interesting and thought provoking experience all around.
 We also drove around Galveston Island, an enormous low lying wetlands that has been beaten time after time by one hurricane after another. The folks keep coming back to rebuild, 'cuz it's a beautiful place and near the water.But the houses are getting higher and higher up the stilts. This time it has gone up from 12 to 14 feet above water line.

Space Shuttle on stand. Will be available to tour soon

Big Boy go Pee

Is this part of the fake moon landing?

Somebody probably believes, yes

Looking South across Galveston Bay

Looking North from the same place on Galveston Bay

Eagle Eye Construction

We also ran into a couple of buddies of Jim. James and Tree of Eagle Eye Construction.These guys just finished final inspection on an elevated boardwalk of about 300 yards. Beautiful job, no elevation changes in the whole span. The job is for a local environmental group and had to meet ADA standards. Jim and I had stopped to walk out to the beach and found them just finishing their work and getting ready to leave.
Luck put us together with these hilarious guys. The interesting part of the company is they can move from a raw lumber job like this into a clean room construction project for research labs, etc. Good work, and nice meeting you. Now send me a clean, new hat. JD has your dirty one. Also James, quit calling me. I don't wanna date. HA!!















Finally, I take off tomorrow towards the east coast. I will have two long travel days that were supposed to be cooler and easier. But, I will be right inside this record heat as it moves east with me. Yeah, yeah, I hear you; quit my sniveling. Hoping my new gear helps temperature control.
Closing thought of the day seems appropriate... "There are only two ways to live your life. One is as though nothing is a miracle. The other is as though everything is a miracle." Albert Einstein asks which way we will go with ours in this simple statement.

A very relaxing, and needed break

Good morning to all. I'm in Sugar Land, Tx. for the fourth day. Re acquainting myself with old friends and their family. I have done the required things here in Texas, like having chicken fried steak for breakfast (YUMMY!!), eating TexMex food which is kinda like Mexican food with it's own special twist. I was also able to drive around the city of Houston, seeing downtown and the other parts of this giant metropolis. There is a section of this city that is known as Houston Medical Complex. It encompasses an area somewhere near 3x5 miles. There are more than 120,000 people working here. It has it's own zip code and actual police force. Amazing! For you folks in Eugene, imagine the entire downtown area times 20. No kidding! High rise hospital and research facilities as far as you can see. My host, JD, is a construction project manager for most of this area. His budget is more than150 milion dollars. He is only one of 51 different organizations with similar budgets.

JD and son, Jackson

Front yard

Brenda, Jackson and I at Minute Maid Park

Baseball been bery bery good to me

This morning's sunrise

JD and I

 Last night we were able to attend a Houston Astros baseball game. They played, and beat, the San Diego Padres. This was really cool 'cuz I couldn't see the Pads when I was in SD. The ballpark is visually very beautiful. Situated in the downtown area, but fairly easy to get in and out of. I had to buy a T-shirt, of course, and had to search through five different shops before I found a medium size. I guess the old adage, "everything is bigger in Texas" includes human bellies and bodies. The predominate size in every shop was 2XL and up. Big Boys! 

I must also give profs to a clerk at the Cycle Gear shop, DeAndre. I went in to buy a cooling vest for my ride. Damned hot out here, and looks like I'm gonna follow this heat all the way to the east coast. DeAndre wouldn't let me spend twice the money for a mediocre item. He guided me towards a new type of material by Bilt, called Heat Off. This stuff is less than half the cost of the swamp cooler type of vest I went in for, but, Oh my goodness! it is incredible. On my ride back to JD's I was so impressed that I called him back. He not only remembered who I was, he knew the sizes I would need and told me he would pull and hold the items I was coming back for.Thank You,  Brother.

I will close this with this simple thought; You get what you give out of life. Give your best to the folks you serve, whether family or stranger, they deserve your best. It will always come back to you...REDSENDS...

Misery loves me

Sunrise Yuma Arizona

Dinner in Deming N Mex

The drive across the desert southwest was hot and miserable. I would like to talk about the quiet solitude and the stark beauty, but it was too, way too hot.
The most remarkable visual part of this leg of the trip were the grave markers along the way. I stopped counting at 150. These are homemade markers ranging from a shrine of about 30 feet across to simple wooden crosses. I wondered along the way how many of these folks died of pure boredom and how many died of the unbearable heat.

The second day was from Deming to Kerrville. It should have been only about 8hrs, but it took almost 12hrs. I had to stop for liquid and heat relief so many times that I was screaming aloud to keep myself moving.I swear it was comparable to the hardest task I ever took on in the Navy. I wanted to quit more than anything. Arrival in Sugar Land Tx was one of the really rewarding moments.

One of the nice parts of the Kerrville stop were the deer. I woke at about 2am to find five of the long legged rats grazing right in front of my tent. Early in the morning around sunrise I watched a fawn suckling off mom for my coffee time. They were right beyond the fence in the campsite picture. Today was spent doing laundry, washing the motorcycle, resting and rehydrating. More to come tomorrow. Till then, a great big hello to all, especially to my son Sean, who is keeping my home fires burning. Thanx son...REDSENDS...

Campsite in Kerrville Texas

A long hard hot day

Today I rode from San Diego to Deming, NM. It took just short of 12 hours. The temperature was over 100 deg most of the trip. I had planned to be in the saddle for 12 hours, so I guess that is a good day. I am tired and slightly dehydrated, but ok. Sleeping in a hotel tonight cuz it is still 92 deg out now at 7:30 in the evening. I have another long day tomorrow of 8 hours riding which I will start very early to avoid the worst of the heat. No pictures today, just a sore butt, and you don't wanna see that.
Tomorrow takes me to Kerrville, Tx where I will camp. Just overnight and a short run to the Houston area Sunday where I stay a few days with friends. Till then, Nighty night...REDSENDS...

All aboard for points east

Brock and I

Today was my last day is San Diego. I will hit the road for 625 miles to Demming, New Mexico tomorrow at 330am. This will be the longest scheduled ride of the trip.I have enjoyed my time here and am anxious to be moving again. I spent time with Brock, enjoyed an incredible meal at a Mariscos restaurant last night. He is one of the highest energy guys I have ever known, and I will remember our time for awhile, a long while.

I spent Keegan's 32nd birthday with him and his girlfriend, Michelle. We had an easy afternoon together, then went for Mexican food for dinner (notice any eating patterns). It was nice to be with my son, watching him in his comfort zone. Bye for now, the travel gnomes are calling.

Keegan and Michelle

Another good day to be alive

Twin son of a different mother

Good morning to all. I spent the afternoon with my son, Keegan. He is healthy and alive (something I might have bet against many times). He is teaching Bikram Yoga, what a stud! He is also going to school for mechanical engineering, what a geek! To anybody that knows him from early years, I guess you are as surprised as I am. The smile you see is a relatively new thing for Kee. Looking at it right now brings a tear to my eye. But, I digress.
I also tried to go onboard NAS North Island, in Coronado. The rules for Motorcycle riders were too rigid, and I couldn't get in. I wanted to take a picture of the H-3 Helicopter that I crashed into the Pacific in. It was stricken (removed from flight) and put on a display stand. Oh, well. Disappointment ruled that morning as I also found my favorite Mexican restaurant in the world has closed. Jalisco Cafe RIP.
Finally, I had dinner with some friends of Kim and I that I was almost ready to give up to the divorce. That would have been a terrible mistake. I had a wonderful evening and a mediocre dinner, but the time I spent was so rewarding and refreshing. I must remember that what I did to myself over these last few years is not who I am, or who I want to be. Thanx for the wake up, Charles. I will not forget our words.
I close for now with these thoughts; Those damned hippies from the sixties were right, wealth cannot be measured in dollars. It is measured by love...REDSENDS...

The next leg of the trip

My home for now.

I have arrived in San Diego, Ca. It is a beautiful day of about 70 deg, and I am staying at a campsite where my childhood home used to be. The place was torn down, and a KOA was put up about 35 years ago. I am looking forward to seeing my oldest son, Keegan. I will also see Brock the world traveler. Staying for about four days before mounting my pony for points east. I also hope to track a couple other friends down and bother them too. Made it through LA without incident (yippee!!). Thank goodness and the Ca laws for carpool lanes; motorcycles allowed! One last word on and to the Morro Bay layover..Thank you all for a great visit. Best to all...REDSENDS...

Happy Father's Day

At the edge of the world, Cayucos Ca

As close to a smiling pic as I get

Today is my last day in Morro Bay. I travel to San Diego, Ca tomorrow. I'm having a great time. Hoping all you fathers and children alike remember what really matters.This trip is re-awakening my love of family and connection. I had put all of that away, blamed my ex, and hid myself from the world...Too much information? Oh well, ignore the touchy feely and just laugh at me, I will...REDSENDS...
Big P.S.   To all my folks at the pool, get in the water, it's not that cold

Is there anybody out there?

If you look at my crapola, let me know you were here with a comment...REDSENDS...

Late posting of Santa Cruz, Ca

Santa Cruz Boardwalk. Water temp 55deg

I stayed in SC for two days with my VERY good friend Chuck. Got pretty drunk, enjoyed myself, and found an old age death cell phone. This is the only picture recovered. Probably better that way. Hard to know what I shot with a fifth of Camareno Tequila sloshing around in my head.

Redji Trip: First Night

Redji Trip: First Night. Spent the night in Mt Shasta,Ca It got down to 38 degrees. Horse and rider are well and excited to run down the road. This is the day I find that my video camera is not compatible with this blog site. My phone will have to do everything from here on...Redsends...

Here are some of the pictures I have taken in Morro Bay, Ca. The first is my daughter, Amber. The others are of this massive rock. It is really hard to get how big this thing is. It sits about a quarter mile off the beach. The two pics that I took looking at the water and rock together are fully expanded and fully zoomed. See the surfer in the water compared to the little point n the pic before. That little point is about 100 feet across, in comparison to the single rock, about 1/2 a mile across. Missing all, ...Redsends...

From the beginning

Saturday, June 9 we begin the trip of a lifetime. Follow me, if you dare.