Day 6 - Halfway to Santa Monica!

Today was an excellent day, though Melinda woke up feeling a bit fatigued and sore.  We had a nice breakfast at the Ambassador Hotel in Amarillo.

At the blessing and dedication, Bobby "Road Kill" Taylor (the other Cancer Survivor with Melinda) received a special hat:

We rolled through Amarillo and headed to the Cadillac Ranch to paint a Cadillac purple - fun!

That's Melinda!

We then road to Adrian, Texas - the halfway point between Chicago and Los Angeles.  We had pie and ice tea and took pictures.

We took that same picture in 2008 - Melinda is pretty excited to have made it this far!  Here she is in the middle of Route 66 standing on the halfway line:

There we traded motorcycles with our precious friends Jim (Preacher) and Bobby (Road Kill).  Jim rode our Valkyrie, Bobby took Jim's bike and we took Bobby's Goldwing Roadsmith Trike.

Well, the difference between the Valkyrie and the Goldwing was so huge, that Melinda and I decided that we need to replace the Valkyrie with a Goldwing Roadsmith Trike this winter to prepare for next year.  It was way more comfortable, less wind turbulence, more stable, and much more power.  It will be much less tiring to ride the Goldwing - we love the Valk, but it's not quite the bike we need if Melinda is up to riding some more.  Stay tuned!

The scenery has changed totally from the midwest.

We arrived in Santa Rosa, New Mexico this afternoon and picked up an hour due to the change in time zone.  This gives a little time to relax, do some laundry and rest up for tomorrow.  Rodger Fox (the Leader) has been great to allow Melinda and I to jump off of Route 66 and onto the highway later in the day to get us to the hotel sooner than the group.

Yesterday we did leave the group early, but one rider asked if he could ride with us.  As it turns out, he was meant to be there as we ran out of gas, and he spent 40 minutes getting us enough to make it to Amarillo.  God provides and He is good - all the time.

Love to all!

Stephen and Melinda

Day 5 - Ride for the Relay

Today we crossed the 1,000 mile mark on our trip - tomorrow morning we will pass through Adrian, Texas which is halfway from Chicago to LA.  The ride today was interesting and not quite as warm, but the road was bumpy which tired Melinda out early in the day and made her sore.

Leaning water tower.

We had dinner at the Big Texan tonight in Amarillo - good steak! and good friends!  We are tired, so short posting tonight.

God is good!  All the time!

Love to all!

Stephen & Melinda

Day 4 - Ride for the Relay

Today we left Joplin, MO, passed through Galena, KS, Tulsa, OK and then Edmond, OK.

We stopped in Galena at the origin of 'Mater - the tow truck from the movie "Cars".

Across the street was an old Bordello, where the Madame murdered some of the clients, stole their money and dumped their bodies in the mine.  It has recently been restored.

The short ride through Kansas was scenic.

We then went to visit a Cancer Center of American in Tulsa - a major corporate sponsor of the Ride.   They treated us to a wonderful lunch in the Board Room and a great tour.

Bobby "Road Kill" Taylor doesn't look happy, but he really was!

It was a great day!

Tomorrow is a big day - 300 miles from OK City to Amarillo, Texas.

We are doing great, although Melinda is commenting on how the Valkyrie is not quite as comfortable as the GoldWing was - we'll see how that works out!

Love to all!

God is good, All the time!

Stephen and Melinda

Day 3 - Ride for The Relay

We left Rolla, MO this morning around 8:20 AM after a blessing and the day's ride dedications.  It was very hot and humid.  We saw some thermometers reading 97 F.

As we rode we enjoyed several nice curves and pretty views on old Route 66.

As we got close to Springfield, MO we received a Police Escort from the County Sheriff - several patrol cars and police motorcycles took us through the heart of the City with lights flashing, stopping traffic at every intersection so we could pass through.  This was REALLY neat!

After Springfield, we drove to Gay Parita to the old Sinclair station to see Gary Turner.

Gary and his family treated us to a wonderful lunch and some of the sweetest home-grown watermelon we have ever had.

That's Gary on the right, serving ice cream for root beer floats.  He wouldn't let us pay - but we were allowed to leave a donation.  Note the sign for Fruitport, Michigan at the front of his store!

The ride from there to the Hilton Garden Inn in Joplin, MO was pretty easy - got in around 4 PM so Melinda and I could both take showers, put on fresh clothes and do some wash.

The family that owns the Hilton Garden Inn in Joplin treated us to a nice BBQ pork dinner this evening.

We enjoyed the meal and fellowship and will call it an early evening.  Tomorrow we pass through Galena Kansas, and then into Oklahoma.  Several of us will leave Route 66 and head into Tulsa to the Cancer Treatment Centers of America there for a tour and a lunch, then on to Edmondson OK.

Shine On!

God is good, all the time!

Love,

Stephen & Melinda

Day 2 - Ride for the Relay

Perfect weather, though a bit warm - in the upper 80's and sunny.  We put on our "cool vests" - vests that you wet and wear under your coat to keep you cool.

They are having a hot air ballon festival in Lincoln, and a hot balloon came right over us before we had the blessing of the bikes and the dedication of the day.

Melinda requested that today's ride be dedicated to our Brother-in-Law Joe Mangum, so the group heard of Joe's Cancer and we all dedicated today's ride to him.

We stopped at the Rabbit Ranch, and I took her picture in the same place as 2008 and 2009.

We continued on to an old stretch of Route 66 that was built of bricks.  It was rough!

We continued on to the Chain of Rocks Bridge - we are the ONLY motorized vehicles allowed on the bridge all year.  Really a neat experience!

From there most of the group went to downtown St. Louis - we decided (with a few others) to hop on the expressway and head straight to Rolla, Missouri - about 80 more miles.  The whole day was around 200 miles.  It was a little tough on Melinda - it was so hot and the rides were a bit long, so she is tired tonight.  Our friends Bobby and Preacher bought us shakes tonight after supper - very nice!

But all is good, and God is Good, all the time!

Love to all of you!

Shine on!

Steve & Melinda