That's all folks

I arrived home Sunday afternoon after a long ride from Panama City Beach. I elected to take the back roads and not the interstate. I was rewarded with a beautiful albeit hot and slow return to Tampa. I followed U.S. 98 most of the way until I hit the Sun coast Parkway.

Did I say hot? Hot doesn’t seem an adequate term. Hotter than Hell seems more like it. I went through a lot of water., drinking and just pouring it on me. I kept wishing all morning for rain to cool me down and got my wish but I was only five miles from home.

The bike ran well until I pulled into the driveway. The electrical system decided to go south and now it’s in the shop.

I can say it was a great adventure and easier than I thought it would be. There is something about being on the motorcycle all day as the countryside full of sights and smells that never seems to get old.

The trip is over and my Bucket List has one less item so it seems as I should be adding to the list. Can’t say what it is just yet as my wife reads this blog.

My adventure by the numbers


4130 miles traveled

12 states

80 or so gallons of gas

50 miles per gallon approximate

10 different beds (Alone. Ok there was one night with a dog).

16 family members I shared a meal with

2 people who stopped to offer assistance to me when I ran out of gas and had a minor mechanical problem

3 horses, 2 mules, 5 dogs, 3 cats, one plastic elephant and Zirky received a pat on the head and a scratch behind the ear

Too many detours to count ( I took a lot of right turns just out of the blue to see what was down the road. (My thanks to Dick H who suggested that)

Bugs on windshield were too numerous to count

1 submarine visited

1 laughing horse

1 30-foot tall Harley guy

1 spaceship

1 airplane made of hay

1 Longhorn cattle drive

1 scooter ride in Hannibal, Mo

1 embarrassing chicken dance

49 degrees the coolest morning

100 degrees the hottest day

1 person who mooned me

1 house found with 2 airplanes, submarine, and helicopter sticking out the walls.

1 photo of me in president Clinton’s the oval office.

0 accidents

4 of my friends standing in a cornfield with me

many mistakes by Zirky my plastic frog that was blamed on me.

1 really great trophy presented to me by my daughter Kellie. (new photo)

Thanks to all my family and friends who supported me in this trip ,especially my lovely bride Monique.


Mike Pease

ps. It was about time.