My Own Private Idaho

You're livin' in your own Private Idaho. Idaho.

You're out of control, the rivers that roll,you fell into the water and down to Idaho.Get out of that state,get out of that state you're in.You better beware.You're living in your own Private Idaho.You're living in your own Private Idaho.

Even Millionaire Cowboys Get The Blues

Yellowstone National Park was beautiful, if not surreal. After witnessing one of the 7 Wonders of the World, you can then visit a 40,000 square foot gift shop or buy a $6.00 ice cream cone. It's ok, I realize that when you have so many visitors, concessions must be made to accomodate them, at least they've left Grand Teton National Park mostly alone.

All Along The Watchtower

Sometimes not having a plan can be a pretty cool plan. This fire lookout was my motel room last night. It was strangely unmanned, so I decided to volunteer for the evening. I'm happy to report that there were no fires spotted in the Devils Tower area of Wyoming Last night or early this morning.

Mt. Rushmore National Monument, South Dakota

Today I visited Mt. Rushmore National Monument for the first time. After seeing it in photos a million times, I can honestly say that none of them can do this beautiful sculpture justice. Equally awe-inspiring is the Crazy Horse Monument a few miles away (though far from completion, it is still breath taking). This is my first time in South Dakota but I will definitely return. I feel like I could spend a month here and still want more. 

CHICAGO!

My kinda town, Chicago is!

Home to two of my favorite things, deep dish pizza, and house music!

Can't wait to go back.

For those about to ROCK!...

I visited the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame in Cleveland, Ohio. I could have easily spent the entire day there, highlights included Janis Joplin's 356C Cabriolet Porsche convertible, pieces of the wreckage from Otis Redding's plane crash, and my personal favorite, a full walk-on tour of Johnny Cash's tour bus! 


Some items were, well, perplexing to say the least. I'm still wondering about the rock & roll significance of Richie Valen's roller skates.  


Also caught the Cleveland Air Show. Cleveland, does indeed, rock! 

Cosmic Detours

As some of you may know, my friend Michelle, someone very special to me, has been in the process of donating a kidney to her sister for quite some time now. It just so happened when I received a call saying that all systems were "Go", I was only 5 hours away from where the surgeries would be taking place. Well, it just doesn't get more clear than that, I pointed the bike East and rode. I thought it would be fun to surprise her too, so I didn't mention that I was coming.

I almost didn't make it as the bike overheated while crossing the George Washington Bridge into NYC! But undeterred, I pressed on and made it just in time to see her awaken, now with one less kidney!

She was surprised to see me, and I think she was glad I was able to be there. I spent a few days helping in anyway that I could.

Everyone will be pleased to hear that both the donor and donee are making full recoveries and that the new kidney is happy and healthy in its new body.

Sometimes the universe just puts you in the right place, at the right time.

Oh, and we had pizza, and it was delicious, and why can't we get this on the west coast??