Desert Dash Rally, Burns Oregon

　

　

On a snowy May day in Austin, Nevada I was looking for a place to eat and get some hot coffee. There wasn’t much to choose from in Austin, so I just headed over to where all the parked cars were. As I took off my winter riding gear, I glanced over to see some Oregon plates on a white Mercedes.

“Hi” I said “ You guys from Oregon?” Darcy Patterson and her mom Bev where doing some traveling down the 50 as well. We got out of the cold and they invited me to join them at there table. We then talked about my journey on the 50 and the reason I was riding for the Vasculitis foundation. Darcy told me of a little run that her and her sorority sisters (the bitches in black) put on every year to raise money for the sporting programs and stuff for the kids in her community. She asked me if I’d like to ride over in August when they had it. It’s kind of hard to say no to Darcey she is such an energetic person, I think I told her I’d try.

So I finished up the 10871 miles of the hwy 50 ride and found my self back in Grants Pass, when I got a e-mail from Darcy reminding me of the Desert Dash. So I found myself packing up Drunk Bob for a little run to the eastern part of our state. Which was cool since having lived here I have never really traveled much over to eastern Oregon.



I had during some point over my flap jack breakfast with Darcy told her about the couch surfing site that I had joined to hop- skip my way across the U.S. to make the hwy 50 run. In her e-mail she told me” Don’t worry if you’ve got no place to stay you can crash on our couch or something’ just grab your friends and ride over and party with us!”

Hwy 62

Eastern Oregon looks a lot like parts of Nevada.

So after a burger in Bend I headed east on Hwy 20 long, flat and it seemed to take for ever to get close to Hines Oregon where the run was held. So I finely rolled into town and met my busy host Darcy and all her gal's.

I call her the reneagade couch surfing host as she is not officaly on the couch surfing site. She had a time explaining to her kids that a "Stranger" was going to stay with them! I think that they gave her a hard time. Mom! if we did something like this you'd kill us! Any way we all got along fine and I think that I have more friends over in eastern Oregon now than here where I live.

Wonderful fam. They were all so kind to me "a total stranger" this kind of experience, meeting these kinds of people restores my faith in what a great country we live in.

Woke up early and got this shot from the front porch.

Every body I met was so nice in this town . I mean I really didn't know anybody except Darcy and her mom (well sort of) However it seemed that everybody was looking out for me. I'm  alright roaming around all by myself most of the time. How ever everybody made sure that I wasn't alone or made an effort to see that I wasn't left out of anything. If you can imagine with all that was going on they all took time to make sure I was OK. I tell you what these are some of the nicest people I have ever met. I kinda wanted to take Lisa, Darcy's single sister for a ride but as usual I fiddled away my time being too shy to ask her.

The run was pretty fun too, I even for the first time entered the bike events. It got a little hot but it was fun.

Tina my partner in the events.

Round Barn.

Thanks to you all over in Hines Oregon, hope to see you again. Peace.

Casey Anthony "So What"

Well we've heard from just about everyone now from Hollywood's finest to the flag waving, lynch mob morons on the street. So why not from an unemployed 50 year old Harley rider. First off I think she probably had something to do with it, it's not rocket science. What a horrible thing to happen to a young innocent child. BUT! That's your justice system folks! OJ, MJ all the rich motherfuckers who rape and pillage on wall street, Bernie all of them.

If you got money and you've got a spot light you are dealing with a very different justice system than your everyday common man, let me tell you. Lawyers, judge's every one's wanting to be a star and write a book. $$$$$$$$ get it!

I've had a brush with the justice system and so have my two sons. We didn't have the money for proper lawyer's just the over the counter over worked court appointed lawyer's. These lawyers don't know a damn thing about trying a case, or even believing for one minute that you might even be innocent. They could care less! There just deal makers. If you are poor you're screwed!

I don't see any body getting upset by the daily unfairness of the justice system. Let me tell you there are probably thousands of unjust sentences handed down every single day. Case in point how can they let this murdering so called mother go? Yet we have plenty of time, space and money to throw someone in jail for having a little weed? The state failed to convince the Casey Anthony juror's with out a doubt that she was guilty. It's as simple as that. We all need to go on with our lives. Like I once told my son's "life isn't always fair"  So its not been fair for this sweet innocent child either.

My Beautiful City..

Living where I do with all the mountains and trees, I found my self drawn to just the opposite as I visited my home town of St Louis, Missouri. Growing up as I did there I was young and never paid much attention to my surroundings. I guess just growing up you just take a lot for granted. I mean my first concern was playing with my friends in the neighborhood etc. I never really noticed where I actually lived. Now seeing the sites through my half a century old eye's I can really step back and appreciate things a bit more. St Louis is really a beautiful city, Tons up on tons of bricks make this city and it was build to last! I really admire the work by many talented people who brick by brick made this city. I let the idea of moving back there roll around in my head for a moment.

The big finish?

I know its a few days late to be posting this.... but I did make it.

  What an amazing experience this was. I find it hard to put in to words. I have met so many nice people on line and in person. I feel great inside, I think I am as happy as I ever have been. I hadn't counted on feeling so good inside, I was a bit suspicious of it.

The last day I picked up Craig's sister Joyce and we road to her son Marc's house in Salisbury MD. It was about an 80 mile ride for her(she's a first timer) She did well.

 I was to ride the last 30 miles or so all buy my self. It was kind of lonely once I got there, no flags waving no ribbon to cross. I just had a few moments to my self on the beach, thinking.

 Later on I was met by her son Marc. He's a nice young man, imagine this; a 21 year old man with plenty of other options I'm sure for  a Saturday night. Wants to take time out after working all night to meet some old dude who once was a friend of his uncle Craig. That's how much they loved this man. Willing to show up and meet this total stranger just to have a beer and talk some about our memories.

Just a short word about this helmet, Craig had painted this helmet for Joyce at about age 16. We strapped it on the bike on our way to Salisbury.

 So its over the ride, now just gotta turn around and start heading west.

  I really don't have much else to say. I wasn't alone and I realised that this wasn't just about raising dollars and cents. I told a story about friends and family and how at any moment the ones you love can be snatched away from you. I realized that this ride was for his family, some one willing to take the time to call attention to this life changing illness. All I really did was ride a motorcycle but in the end I learned a lot about my own life and how grateful I am to be alive.

West Virginia, Pittsburg....

 I like old buildings, Smithsburg,WV

I know that I am a few days behind posting here, I am still a bit shy of the key board and painfully slow.

Anyway it's been just beautiful the weather. I am leaving the 50 just to sneek up and see my sister and her family in Bethel Park, PA What a wonderful family,my sister and Scott her husband or just great people. I got to spend a lot of time with her and the kids, Scott was busy working much of the time.

The youngest two not really liking the picture takeing too much.

 Two Artsy fartsy pic's

Nice to be off the road for a few days and enjoy family, Plus you save a ton on Hotels! When I left Pittsburg I was just two day out from the end of the ride.

Still here and there.

 Old barn Bloomington IN and old Sanders gas station,Sanders IN

OK so I took a few days off the Hwy 50 ride to visit family and take a little side trip. I kept seeing this little hwy in south Indiana. It road the north shoulder of the Ohio river and I just couldn't get off my mind. I remember passing up hwy 50 on my first  x country trip in 2006 as I was heading back to Oregon. It always bugged me that I didn't hang a left at Salina (Utah) and take hwy 50 back then. Well I reasoned  that I should not make that mistake again. I mean you only live once, right. So just shy of John Mellencamps place I zig zaged my way to Madison, IN

  After a nice cold beer break I left the nice old river town of Madison. I was right the road was fantastic. Following the Ohio river, I kept wondering about the brown water? Was it due to rain or just brown muddy? I'm so used to the clear running snow melt waters of the Oregon terratory.

  I decided to take up a possable couch surfing spot in Lexington KY just about a hour and a half south. I am so glad I did. I met Tatsiana and her daughter Kyra there. In side of about 2 minutes I had a new best friend, Kyra who at any given moment would start hissing at me. I know this doesn't sound like new "new best friend behavior" but Tatsiana explained it away as behavior of the creature's in the movie Avatar. I hadn't seen the movie, tried a couple of times. If you know me you'll understand that when I get still for a few minutes I usually fall asleep.

  They are real sweet Tatsiana and Kyra and they treated me like family. After a nice diner, we walked down town, Lexington is a beautiful city.

  In the morning it was indeed hard to leave my new best friends. In fact I got a way later start than I wanted to. Finely after a very good piece of cheese cake and coffee, I tore my self away and got back on the road.

Meeting people

I have met so many wonderful people on this trip! Usually the motorcycle breaks the ice. Nice bike. Are you going to the run? Where ya ridin'? I then tell them my story about the hwy 50 and me at 50 and Craig passing away at 50. Then a sort of a "right on man" kinda look.?

Like this guy Les Morris he owns a little bar in Branson West. I had to stop! It was a burst of a storm, raining like crazy!

So... just walk in an there he is old school biker dude, smokin' and talkin' with Ronda one of the customers. I don't know where I'm going with this. Its just that I have found bikers to be the most genuine and nicest kind of people I've ever met. If I am in a real jam some where I know that I can find the most gnarly biker and 9 times out of 10 that's the dude that's gonna help me out! It just is. And probably most of you reading this will never find this out first hand. Les is one of those dudes, a no bull shitting, straight talking REAL person. It's simple and straight for ward. Once he found out what I was doin' I couldn't buy my next beer (See it was still raining) Not only that he slipped me a fifty with out hesitation and didn't say a word. He just gave me a look that said "here ya go brother have a nice ride"

 I would recommend stopping at this bar...

Good to be near...

Family. I stayed in Garden City KS. Saturday night after trying to get as many miles in as possible. It was a smelly little town. Then when I left I know why. There was a stock yard just a cross the road. Pee U. I left the 50 and started angling my way northeast to get I-70 and into Lawrence. I am so proud of Josh! What an amazing young man. He shares his house with 3 girls and he brewed his own beer. Let me tell you it was great tasting beer to as good as any I've ever drank.

Family swarmed in as I pulled the motorcycle in. Kinda hard to miss it.
Now after staying near Kansas City I am home with my family. A great family too. I am so blessed to know all these wonderful people. I am proud of all of them, just real good folks the kind you just love to be around.

 So in the AM its on to St. Louis my home town.And yet gettin' to see more of my family.
This ride as been a complete blessing, even though the rough start. It's all working out.

I am so lucky to be able to make this ride for Vasculitis. Through the "Craig Watkins MotorcycleRide"  I have been cheered on by many many people that I don't even know. I receive messages on the FB page almost daily. Well wishes, from people that I've never even met. All thanking me for making this ride for Vasculitis. Some have various forms of vasculitis, others are friends,some like me have lossed someone. I can't explain how good I feel having all these new friends. When ever I have doubts and such like "am I raising enough money" I am reminded that its more than just raising money. Its giving people a voice also. I have encountered many people who ask, what? What is vasculitis. I get to share my story of my friend, and the hwy 50 story. Me being 50 and Craig passing at 50. I don't know this has been an amazing experience I feel like I am so blessed to have the chance to do this. Peace and Love Joseph             

Dry Feet...

First day in 6 day's that my boots weren't totally soaked. Left Gunnison to cross over Monarch Pass about 11,000 ft. I was promised that it would be sunny over there?

The rest of the day was just good riding, with a smile on my face!

I even got rid of me make shift snow deflectors. I Salida CO.

Hwy 50 through CO.

Double rainbow in Kansas.

http://vasculitisfoundation.org/josephshoreride

What day is it anyway?

It's saturday. I missed calling my brother John it was his birthday yesterday. I'm about 2 @ 1/2 states behind. So what! I am in Gunnison CO. Now it was just too cold to go another 74 miles. That would have givien me a 400 mile day and pehaps made up a little time. Gunnison is one of the coldest places in the country. So today is new and the sun is shinning. All pictures of Utah

Just into Utah

Yes same old story, rain,rain and more rain! Now its friday,and waking up to yet more rain. So its been now 6 day in a row rain. I am about two states behind now. I don't think that I will make it to Josh's graduation on Sat.
 I am in Salina Utah now just about to get on the interstate,(50 share's 70 to Grand Junction,CO)

 I met John here at the Econolodge. What a nice man. He and his family are great! If you happen to need a place to stay in Salina go see John at the Econolodge.

Nevada

 Prep for the days ride

 Yes, cold This whole ride it has been 31o to not over 55o

 Mary's little bar she's owned for 31 years in Austin, NV. She was a great person to talk to. Good pizza to. Stop by

 Austin Nevada only a 10 minute walk through town.

Open road, Hwy 50vasculitisfoundation.org/josephshoreride