The end … is this really so ?

Yesterday at noon came this moments – I reached the start point which I left 6 weeks ago. At that time I was full of energy and curiosity of what will I see. Yesterday I was full of emotions and memories, level of energy was somehow lower.

As the whole trip was success without any accident (always safety first !) return of bike was fast and without any problems. Afterwards I packed my things back to suitcases and put casual clothes on. Scott and his wife came and took me to Lake Geneva where I was invited for a fantastic dinner. It was an ealry one we our fisihing was starting early today.

At 3.30 in the morning I was picked up by Scott, his father and cousn Stev. We drove to harbour at Lake Michigan where we boarded the boat and went to the lake. After seeing the sunrise and some patience we got the 1st fish – I was given the opportunity to be the lacky one. After few minutes I manager to bring a 5 lbs (2,5 kg) rainbow trout. Not so longer after me Steve did the same and then once again I brought one more. Totally we got 3 nice fishes – so the last of my adventures in USA was a full success as well.

Sunrise at Lake Michigan

 

The fish I caught - rainbow trout :-)

 

Result of our todays morning trip

 

After getting back Scott drove me to bus station and I travelled to airport in Chicago. I now wait to board the plain to Warsaw – and so the trip will make a full circle.

It was an amazing trip that I planned for some time. I am glad I manager to make it … and that I get back in good conditio to Europe J

Kilometers:

Friday, August 16th: 64 miles / 103 km, from start 12 818 miles / 20 624 km

Route 66 - part 2

After rainy Tuesday the weather got much better – I had couple of showers during Wednesday , while they were minor. Yesterday I drove into high pressure area and – as promised by wethaer specialists – I shouldn’t get wet until I fly out from USA.

Wednesday ws just a driving day – I left West Virginia and thru Pensylvannia and Ohio reached Indiana for the night.

Yesterday, after just 2 hours, I reached Illinois – but instead of going to Chicago I detour west and got once again on Route 66. I manager to see some nice places and this confirmed that driving whole Route 66 remains as my future plan.

When I saw this sign I realzied I drove around USA !

Historic station in Springfiled,

Antique gas pump in Williamsville

Route 66 museum in Pontiac

Gas station in Odell

Gas station in Dwight

 

Dziś ostatni dzień jazdy motocyklem. Przede mną 60 mil / 100 km do punktu startu i po drodze wciąż miejsca z Route 66 do zobaczenia. Jutro czeka mnie nowa przygoda – Scott zabiera mnie na ryby (nie pamiętam kiedy miałem wędkę w ręku !).

 

Jutro przed odlotem napiszę też ostatni wpis na blog – u, aby symbolicznie zakończyć moją podróż.

Podróż, która na długo zostanie w mojej pamięci J

 

Kilometry:

Środa, 14 sierpnia: 450 mil / 724 km, od początku 12 465 mil / 20 056 km

Czwartek, 15 sierpnia: 287 mil / 462 km, od początku 12 752 mil / 20 518 km

Blue Ridge Parkway and Shenondoah National Park

My trip is entering into the last part – I am driving towards Chicago, while not directly yeat.

On Sunday, when being in South Caroline, I met with Rick in Charleston. It was nice to see him after a ery long break, so we discussed for a while. Afterwards I drove north and stayed for night in North Carolina.

 

My "souvenier" from Yellowstone got a whole and is not travelling any longer with me

Yesterday I drove a special road for USA citizens – Blue Ridge Parkway. It is a fantastic drive over the Blue Ridge Mountines and one can see a lot of views on both sides. It i salso a scenic drive with limited speed – despite I drove the whole day without being bored…

 

  

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The most frequent sign along the road

 

 

 

 

Today was this to the right, tomorrow will be the one to the left

On the north end of Bue Ridge Parkway was the target of my todays drive – Shenandoah National Park. It is one of few parks on eastern side (and 1 of 2 that are in Blue Ridge Mountains) and drive thru i san amazing experience.

 

Today till lunch this is how I looked - driving in the rain...

 

 

 

Next cloud on my way ;-)

 

 

 

 

My trip is currently going morth northe then my original plan – and the reason for this is weather. Between myself and Chicago is a hot and cold front meeting point and this leads to serious rain, thunerstorms and flooding. Due to this I decide to detour towards north and cut the wether front – and I believe I managed to achieve this today. I spend driving in rain for 4 hours – according to eather forecast tomorrow will be similar, while later no more rain on my way.

Yesterday and today my body ha dan extra test – temperatur. First time from beginning of my trip temperatur did not get over 86 F (30C). Yesterday this made me happy – however today temperatur was below 68 F (20C) till lunch time and my body reacted with a cold. Over 5 weeks with temperatur each day reaching over 90 F (32 C) that i stoo much even for me J

 

Kilometers:

Sunday, August 11th: 357 miles / 574 km, from start 11 401 miles /  18 344 km

Monday, August 12th: 345 miles /  555 km, from start 11 746 miles / 18 899 km

Tuesday, ugust 13th: 269 miles /  433 km, from start 12 015 miles /  19 332 km

Seeing Florida and visit to Cape Canaveral

After seeing Key West I started my trip back to Chicago. First I needed to drive thru Florida, which is a big state. I spend the night at Key Largo – first of Keys – and planned to go thru middle of Florida and see Okeechobee Lake. Unfortunatelly due to huge truck accidnet the road was completely closed  - I had to make a detour via Miami. I drove on a 6 lanes higway, that is currently being rebuild. Such ride is not pleasent, especially for motorcyle – uneven lanes, sand and loose gravel makes are things motorcycle drivers are not happy with. Luckily I manager thru and continued rest of drive in better conditions till I reached Cocoa Beach. This is a very nice place where beaches are very very long !!!

 

 

Morning at the ocean side

Closed road that I planned to take...

On Cocoa Beach

 

Next day I saw the sunrise over the Atlantic Ocean – which was a nice experience – and I drove to Cape Canaveral. This is the place where history of space exploration has been created and this was the reason for my visit to Kennedy Space Center. Seeing Atlantis space shuttle, seeing launch pads, seeing the Appollo 13 landing module and touching rock from the moon – all these made my day a great one !

 

Sunrise over Atlantic

With space shuttle Atlantis

Simulation was very realistic !

 

Vehicle Assembly Building - used to assemply ships before start

Steering place for Apollo missions

Capsule from Apollo 13

I drove further and spend the night and Daytona Beach – where beaches are wide even so one can drive on bike or in the car on the beach ;-)

 

 

Gary, colleague from our factory nearby, and his wife took me today for a nice breakfest. We talked a lot about travelling and things that happends to us during various trips. Shortly after my motorcycle has the second schedule service. Afterwards I continue driving north – still on the ocean coast. I passed thru Georgia and reached South Carolina, where tomorrow I meet with another colleague.

 

Daytona Beach - very warm city

I have been here before - I arrived here during last year 1 day rental trip

Here comes next state on my way...

...and a following one

 

 

 

Kilometers:

Thursday, August 8th: 284 miles / 454 km, from start 10 702 miles / 17 123 km

Friday, August 9th: 116 miles / 186km, from start 10 818 mils / 17 309 km

Saturday, August 10th: 226 miles / 362 km, from start 11 044 miles / 17 670 km