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

Vidio

Loneliest road in AmericaPlease Donate to the Vasculitis Ride

Day 2 Hwy 50 motorcycle ride for vasculitis.

Day two a little worse than day one. I left Nevada City CA just before 10 o'clock. Had an easy ride down to Placerville, where hwy 50 starts. Just about 1/2 hour into the ride I found out that hwy 50 was closed due to land slide problems. I was sure the old man I talked to was wrong about the hwy. So I am climbing up to about 3000 ft. and I see the weather getting worse. I stop for info at a gas station and find a detour. Its not the easiest road to follow, mostly local roads. I was wondering at time if I'd ever make it to state hwy 88 and in to lake Tahoe. Was not to be. The snow and ice began falling and I was force to turn around. I wasn't making the best time today either with all the detours and rain/ice/ snowy roads.

 So I am stuck at the moment in Pioneer CA. got a hotel and I am hoping that the weather is good for motorcycling tomorrow. From what I hear though.. more snow!

My first surf.

I joined this site called couch surfing.com or some thing like that. Well I had my first surf last night. It was wonderful. i Was welcomed into the home of Bob and Jane Theobald of Nevada City CA. I was latter than I wanted because of bad weather. Sill I got served a warm meal and a beer. They were great folks. My first experience was great! Thanks Bob and Jane

Rain,sleet and no snow thank god!

  Not off to the greatest start. I was looking at the weather yesterday in Grants Pass and it was like rain 3 days in a row. I can't really sit here for 3 days. All that  Planning! So with a little sprinkling off I went to the I-5 to begin this motorcycle ride for Vasculitis.

   It was now raining as I stoped in Medford, just barely gettin' started. So slowing down in the curves and holding on tight was the riding position of the day. I had to cover my face with my gloves when it started hailing. Putting on my hazard lights and riding about 30 mph to stop the sting of the hail on my face.

Official Coast to Coast trip.

Last week I took a little practice ride on the bike. Just to kinda see where I was at comfort wise. I wanted to go about 300+ miles with all the gear on the bike and such. I was planning on riding out of Glendale OR. and ride through the mountains over to Camas Valley (kind of a short cut) then pick up hwy 42 over to the coast.

After having a debate with my self over which road I was actually on. I finely headed up the mountain road. So things weren't off to the smoothest start. After riding up in to the mountains about 15 miles, guess what SNOW! I wasn't even thinking about that, but got soon reminded of where I was living. So back track to the I-5 out of Riddle OR.

 I finely got to Bandon and turned around to head back to Grants Pass. I ended up spending about 10 Hrs gone that day and traveled 378 miles. I guess I'm ready?

Next Week....

I bet you were expecting me to talk about the trip. No next week I am going to try and wake up with my dogs attitude! I'm talking about Buddy. Man even though he wakes up with a few aches and pains he is always grateful for life. Each day he wakes up he is ready for love, adventure (even though we may take the same walk, he is still as enthusiastic as ever) he never takes him self to seriously, and what ever else life throws at him .  He is content with his place in life at the moment, he' not worrying or fretting about the future. I have never ever seen him in a bad mood! EVER! I think if I wake up with Buddy's out look on life i will be a much happier person and enjoy life much more. Thanks Buddy