June 9  Time is keeping me honest even if my schedule won't. With our Cruisers4Kids Ride and the BAD ride behind us, the only other "in the way of my concentration" items (besides work) are the Big Sur ride this weekend and the CHOC Ride next weekend. We decided the only way we can get to the church on time so to speak, is to drive straight through starting Thursday night. That should put us in Montana for the wedding by Friday evening.  I keep thinking there must be a way I could use this trip for something other than just a pleasure trip, to share it with others who can't make the trip, but I'm not sure how to get the word out.

May 23  I've been so busy with our club charity and work, that I haven't had much time to keep this updated. The gas price has dropped a little cause the "war" is all but over.  It looks like I will be able to make the wedding by leaving a day earlier.

March 2003:

We have been talking about this trip now since we got back from the last one.  Our plan at this stage is to have our bikes shipped out to Virginia so that we can continue our trip where we left off last year. Riding up through the north eastern states, then around the great lakes and back across the northern states and back down the west coast. There is some hesitation on my part though, I think we might want to dip south a little to check out some places we may have missed last time. You never know how many times you can make a trip like this, but most people never make it once. I want to make sure we get the most out of the trips we do make. I hope to move out of California in the next few years, and I'd like to find that special place that we both could fall in love with. I know that is asking a lot, but it doesn't hurt to hope. No matter how old you get, you still have dreams you can make come true. So even though this one will be a little harder to afford, I think it is a required trip for us.

March is half gone now and the gas price is up over $2 a gallon and expected to rise even more so we could see $2.50 to $3.00 by the time the ride starts. They are blaming the war but it hasn't even started yet. It is amazing to me that this country's economy runs on "Fears that something might happen." The gas the refinery's are putting out didn't cost them any more yet, only the "future" oil price. Yet the stick us with the increase anyway. Wouldn't it be nice if "Anticipation of NO Fear" lowered the price. I guess I should wake up now and get used to it. We are still planning to go though, with the only FEAR being how much it will cost. I have added a page to the site listing the states with helmet laws and also a link to an interesting argument to the states laws.

Mar 22   I'm starting to put together the budget for the trip. With the cost of gas so high and the Iraq war starting, it is anyone's guess as to what prices are going to be like in July.  I'd like to make it to a friends wedding in Montana on June 28th and still make the start of the bike trip on the east coast.  I've been planning to ship the bikes back east and then fly out to start the trip. Since I found out it will cost about $1500 just for the shipping, I am starting to consider the possibility of renting a truck and driving them out there. I'd loose about a weeks time, but I'd save $1000 or more. I'm also thinking there must be a way to get at least part of this trip sponsored. I just don't know who to talk to about that.