Where to start to summarize this trip. There are so many things to remember, so many sights, so many people, so many places. As with my trip from Earlier This Year I reflect back and try to remember everything but it’s a case of sensory overload, I think. I try to remember all of the places and views but they merge into one huge panorama of rocks and rivers and flowers and vistas. I can see every scene in my mind but I can’t remember exactly where each one is located. I remember the rain and the cold of certain places but they are so inconsequential that they barely even register. I remember the places we stayed and the places we stopped but the order is already getting jumbled because there were just so many magnificent scenes to keep track of I can’t keep them ordered in my mind. So here’s a quick summary of the highlights:
- 2,944 miles over 8 days – My longest motorcycle trip to date
- I crossed parts of 6 states on a motorcycle that I hadn’t ridden in before bringing my total up to 22 states on a bike.
- I closed off the country – I rode from Nashville to the East Coast in September, 2008. I rode from Phoenix to the West Coast in February, 2009. Now I have ridden from Nashville to Phoenix to close the gap in the middle. I can honestly say that I have ridden from coast to coast on a motorcycle, something I never would have thought possible a few years ago.
- I got to see parts of historic Route 66, something I’ve wanted to do for years
- I got to see the Grand Canyon, also something I’ve wanted to do for years
- I got to see some of the most magnificent scenery the country has to offer and I did so from a motorcycle
- I visited 21 National Parks, National Monuments, and National Recreation Areas in 7 states
- I collected around 31 National Park Passport Stamps bringing that total up to about 132.
- I got to see the Mass Ascension at the Albuquerque International Balloon Fiesta
- Most importantly of all I got to spend time with my two favorite people in the entire state of Arizona. I wouldn’t trade that part for anything!
What’s next? I have no idea. Tennessee will start to get cold pretty soon so it’s unlikely that I’ll travel much more this year. I’ll just use the time to figure out what I’ll do in the spring when things start to thaw out.
For now I just have one more thing to do, I have to thank my hosts. AGirl and Kobi, what in the world would I do without you guys? You are the ones that made it possible, the ones that made it work, and the ones that made it great. Thank you doesn’t even come close!
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