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