A Little Trivia & A Few Interesting Places

There are many, many points of interest in the US. While traveling, we came across a few. Did you know that?
Friona, Texas is the Hamburger capital of the world. Rigby, Idaho is the birthplace of Television. Inkom, Idaho has a population of 738 and the community name derives from an American Indian term for "come ahead." Chief Joseph(3/3/1840 - 9/21/1904) was the chief of the Wal-lam-wat-kain(Wallawa) band of the Nez Perce Tribe. Jim informed me that he once said,". . . I will fight no more forever." This was one of his many quotes and was stated after battling with the US army soldiers. We saw his name while riding through Yellowstone National Park. We visited Hover Dam on July 20, 2010 and on that day, the temperature was 119 degrees. Baker, CA, houses the largest thermometer in the world. It is 134 feet tall. Baker, CA is a small town near Nevada and is considered "The Gateway to Death Valley." We crossed the Rio Grandee River once in Texas and the Snake River twice in Idaho.We saw the famous Bonneville Salt Flats that borders Interstate 80 in Utah(south) and West Wendover, Nevada(west). It is the remnants of Lake Bonneville and stretches over 30,000 acres. Teddy Tezlaff, daredevil attempted an automobile speed record. He drove a Blitzen Benz 141.73 m.p.h. to set the official record in 1914. The Flats became international known in the 1930s. Records were made in the 1960s. Art Arfons(576.55 mph) & Craig Breedlove(600.6 mph) In 1970 Gary Gabdich attained 622 miles per hour. We are on our way up to Bear Tooth Pass in Montana today(11,000 feet up) to take some interesting shots. We'll get back to you later. Tina & Jim

Back At The Ranch

Back on Thursday, July 16, 2010, we had a great meal at The Big Texan Steak Ranch in Amarillo, Texas. Jim found this place while watching the History Channel on television a while ago and decided that he wanted to go. This steak ranch is well known for their 72oz steaks. If you can eat the whole steak in 1 hour it is FREE. Once there, we also found out that a baked potato, roll, salad and shrimp cocktail must also be eaten within that 60 minutes. That's a lot of food. The meal was on display and we took pictures. They also had a chart with a list of people who were successful. (NO, we didn't try)

The Big Texan Steak Ranch is like a theme place, complete with a gift shop, slot machines, shooting games and more. There was a motel on the grounds and very large statues of a cow and of a boot. They also had a few of those cut outs that you put your face in to take pictures. Yes we took pictures.

Happy Birthday Dahmir - July 27, 2010

"Thanks be to God" On Tuesday, July 27th, Dahmir was 9 years old. I called him on his birthday and in order to do that, I had to get up very early. We were in Reno, Nevada and there is a three hour time difference. I  spoke with him and his sister, Amaia.  They were having their breakfast. I also spoke with my youngest granddaughter, Nile a few times on this trip. She is such a talker. Last night, I attempted to reach a few of my book club friends. They are at Ocean City, New Jersey for our annual overnight beach meeting. I will see them next meeting and will see my grans in about 15 days. Still riding and having fun.

Utah Winds

We are at the Oquirrah Inn, 8740 North State Highway 36, Lakepoint, Utah 84074. This is 18 miles from our goal of Salt Lake City, Utah. Last night the winds were extremely strong and it also rained. We rode through wind and rain as we got closed to Salt Lake, but then we got to a sign that said, "Strong Wind Gust Area." My question was,"How much stronger can they get?" They got stronger. A lot stronger. We rode on the shoulder for over 30 miles at about 20 MPH until we found some place to stay. 

Need a computer

It is not easy typing on Jim's IPod touch. There is so much to write about. We are near Magic Mountain, CA.

Interesting People

It is Monday, July 19, 2010 and we are at Jonathan & Lynne’s house in Chandler, AZ. Jonathan is Jim’s brother. I’m watching “Touch by an Angel” and thinking about some of the people that we met while at rest stops. There was the one biker that we met on Tuesday, July 13th and I already quoted him earlier. He said
“Keep it in the wind and on two wheels” Then we met a guy name Pete in Deming, New Mexico. People usually just walk right up to us and start a conversation by asking where we are from or where we are going. Well, Pete appeared to be about late 60ish and told us that he did a trip of 13,000 miles on a smaller bike. He went to the tip of Argentina. Jim estimated our total trip to be about 8,000 miles. Then there was another guy that was telling us about a trip that his friend was in. He said that they rode from Florida to Alaska and the first person there received ½ million dollars. It cost $1,000.00 to enter and it took them 7 days. His friend was number 37 out of 1500 riders. Today, Jim went to an area Harley Davidson dealer to have the Harley serviced and to purchase a long sleeve shirt for me. (Sun poison on my arms) While at the shop, he met other people who also rode from Florida to Alaska. Jim took a picture of the Banner that read.

HOKA HEY

. . .but not today

Key West, Florida to Homer, Alaska

13 days, 9,100 miles. Finished 115 & 116 out of 683

E.B. Chester & Travis Metcalfe. June 20 to July 3, 2010

There was also a guy name David that I ran into coming out of the rest room. He wanted to ask a few questions and I answered. He informed me that he would only try riding coast to coast on a Gold Wing Honda.

A Honda, yea right.

These were only a few of the many interesting people that we met and I am sure that we will meet many more.

What Day is It?

I was getting ready to read a page from,"Christ in Our Home" and I forgot what the day and date was. I looked on the television and did not see anything so I looked on my cell phone. It said Tuesday, July 20, 2010. I guess this is what happens when you are on vacation Especially a nice long vacation. I will now get back to my mini devotions.