On the iPod today:

I Hope That I Don't Fall in Love with You
Tom Waits

Well I hope that I don't fall in love with you
'Cause falling in love just makes me blue,
Well the music plays and you display
your heart for me to see,
I had a beer and now I hear you
calling out for me
And I hope that I don't fall in love with you.

Well the room is crowded, people everywhere
And I wonder, should I offer you a chair?
Well if you sit down with this old clown,
take that frown and break it,
Before the evening's gone away,
I think that we could make it,
And I hope that I don't fall in love with you.

Well the night does funny things inside a man
These old tom-cat feelings you don't understand,
Well I turn around to look at you,
you light a cigarette,
I wish I had the guts to bum one,
but we've never met,
And I hope that I don't fall in love with you.

I can see that you are lonesome just like me,
and it being late, you'd like some some company,
Well I turn around to look at you,
and you look back at me,
The guy you're with has up and split,
the chair next to you's free,
And I hope that you don't fall in love with me.

Now it's closing time, the music's fading out
Last call for drinks, I'll have another stout.
Well I turn around to look at you,
you're nowhere to be found,
I search the place for your lost face,
guess I'll have another round
And I think that I just fell in love with you.



Left Toronto heading south west towards Colorado.

Lake Superior, from the bridge at the Canada-US border.





Got to Chicago, and stayed at Rich's (Skeeter from ADVrider.com) place.  It was a worknight for him, but he still took the time to help me fix a couple of things that were wrong with the bike since the Nova Scotia crash.  I was up early the next morning to have the bike serviced at the dealer for the 12,000 mile service.  With the bike fresh and ready, I headed out of Chicago.  Mike (cbxtc6 at ADVrider) had sent me a message saying to drop by if in his area.  Gladdly obliged and was well received by him and Sharon (Giddyupgirl at ADVrider). 

Lounging in Mike and Sharons garage.


Packing up to leave the next day.


Went through St. Louis.


And ended up at another ADVrider pit stop, at Jeff and Mariah's (Slider and Ex#2 at ADVrider) place in Missouri.  They invited me to stay an extra day, for a nice backcountry ride in their "backyard". 




I was warned that the horse I was riding liked the water a bit too much.  When we got to the water I let the horse get a bit too close to the deep end, and it went swimming, taking me, and the camera, underwater.  Picture by Jeff.

After getting back to the house and drying out, I hung out while Jeff and Mariah went out to run some errands.  When they got back they had bought a new camera for me!!  The exact same model.  I was speechless, but told them I couldnt accept it.  They insisted in no uncertain terms.  We agreed that if my camera (which was drying in the sun) didn't come back to life, I would take the new camera with me.  The next day when I left, my camera was working again, with just a bit of condensation on the screen, which later evaporated.  Jeff and Mariah said they would hold on to the new one and send it to me if mine had any problems.  Amazing!  As if that wasn't enough, they took me out to a great dinner at "Lamberts Cafe" for some real Missouri cookin'.  Good stuff and plenty of it.

Checking emails on the road...


And crossing into Kansas.


Jeff sent me over to his friend Rick's (Curvy at ADVrider) place, just west of Wichita, Kansas.  Rick and his wife Gina welcomed me on their day off.  Rick had some steaks on the grill in no time.  A swim in the pool, a steak and a few beers.  Awesome stuff after a 105 degree day on the road!

Rick in his playspace, with his toys.


Leaving the next day.

--------------------------------------------------------------
I struggled a bit with mentioning the following, as it is a very painful and trying time for Rick and Gina, but felt it wouldn't be appropriate to just ignore it.  I was unaware until after I arrived at their house, but their 8 yr. old son, Hunter was ill and not feeling well.  He had a difficult physical and cerebral condition since birth, and was having an especially difficult time with his health on that weekend.  The love and care that they provide him with was really moving.  I did not see him for but a few minutes, as again, he was not feeling well.  I sent Rick a message about 10 days after I left, thanking him and Gina for their hospitality, and wishing Hunter was feeling better.  He replied shortly after letting me know that Hunter had passed away just the day before.   I was shocked and saddened by the news.  I had never before been hit so hard by the passing of someone I barely met or knew.  It was having met two such good people as Rick and Gina and imagining their loss that hit me.
---------------------------------------------------------------

Some Kansas backroads...  not very exciting stuff!


Still a bit of warm weather 104 F (40 cntgrd).


Picture says it all.


But it would take a while for it to get "Colorful".



So I took the first Colorado exit while heading west on 70, in Burlington.  Was low on gas, so I'm filling the tank, minding my own business, when a harsh voice behind me says "We have a rule at this gas station regarding bikes like yours..."  Uh,oh....  "The rule is you have to come inside and tell the owner all about your trip!!"  There stood Ed, owner of the gas station, avid motorcycle enthusiast, and all around renaisance man.  So gladly in I went and we talked for hours about trips, bikes, routes.  Looked over maps, got suggestions on where to go and what to see.  As it started getting dark, Ed offered me his couch on his RV behind the station.  Slept like a log after the hot day.  Thanks Ed!




Was feeling some shake in the front wheel, so I went to BMW of Denver, where they re-balanced the tires, but did not assure me that would cure the problem, as my front wheel was apparently a bit bent.  Met Chris, one of the techs there, who happened to be and ADVrider (Colorado Chris).  He suggeste I see Woody at Woody's Wheel Works, the spoked wheel guru, who happened to be right in Denver.  It was late for that and Chris offered me some prime couch space.  Gladly accepted.

Riding through Denver with Chris' the next day.


An emotional good bye!!


Here's Woody himself.  Prime service and attention at Woody's place.  They let me use a KLR650 to go get some breakfast after my wheels were off.  Then Woody let me help with fixing my wheels, not only charging me less since I helped, but taking me to lunch later as well.  No bullshit, genuinely nice guy who knows his stuff, no question.



Stopped at Buffalo Bill's gravesite on the way up to Mount Evans.


As always, the skies were angry...


Another view on the way up.


I pulled over at a picnic site on the way up the mountain to remove my rain suit.  While I'm doing that, a woman walks out of the woods and asks me if I havent seen a young lady walking around.  I haven't, sorry.  Then after thinking that maybe the woman has lost her daughter, or more likely grand-daughter, I ask her how young?  "Oh, about 70, but she looks 60"!!!  Ok, this doesn't sound too good.  They've been hiking in the woods, picking mushrooms (no, not that kind) and she's been lost for about a hour.  I look with her for about another hour, and nothing.  We decide that I'll go get help, and she'll wait.  No cell signal up here.  I ride down the hill to Echo Lake where the sheriff is called, and I am instructed to wait by the road for him.  At the Echo Lake lodge, father and son, Robert and Randon, head back up the hill before me and start looking on their own.  The sheriff and the cavalry (see below) arrive.  Search dogs, rescue teams, radios, GPS's, mountain bikes, etc. etc.  The whole Alpine rescue team is all set up and ready to go, when someone on the radio announces she's been found by Robert and Randon.   The Alpine Rescue team was somewhat dissapointed they didn't get to go into full action.  The woman was fine, just way, way lost, and in a spot she couldn't get out of hereself.


Left there and continued up on my trip to Mt. Evans, the highest paved road in the US at 14,130 ft. (4,306 mts.)


Those are cloud, not fog.


So I get to the top looking forward to the magnificent view...


It cleared up in 5 minutes while I threw on some colder weather clothes at the shelter.







I noticed this little guy looking lost...


"Hey dude, have you seen my kid around here?"


"I cant let you out of my sight for one minute!!  C'mon, let's go home"




A little twisty, and a little cold at 36 deg F (2 Cntgrd).  Notice snowflake sign on computer warning of possible road ice.


Some fun dirt roads from there.








A fun water crossing...  The guy in the pickup truck said I couldn't make it.  That was all it took.  I left my tank bag wit the camera, iPod and papers before crossing, and had to walk bak in hip-high water to get it.  I'm dumb, not stupid...




Can you see Abe Lincoln by Granby Lake?


Riding through Rocky Mountain National Park.






This guy was camera shy or was eating something really good.






A bit cold up here too.


Keep your eyes on the road!










And the rainbow points the way back to Denver!!


Heading to Jazz at the park with Colorado Chris and friends, yes, on bicycles!  Blasphemy!





Cris and his toys (R80GS, R1100GS and KTM 640)


More on the rest of Colorado later.  Bye!