Author: Dennis

I had a pretty steady climb for the first half of the ride today.  When I reached the top of this climb, I looked over and thought, wow!, I’m at the top of Pennsylvania!  I’m sure it’s wishful thinking, but at least for today, this was the highest altitude I would reach. Long before the… Continue reading Day 9 – Top of PA!

As far as I know — I only spent 1 night in Punxsutawney.  I guess that’s good news, although I’ll have to spend many lifetimes practicing what Phil Conners finally realized.  I could write a chapter on the metaphor used in that movie and how each of the lessons he learned by repeating the same… Continue reading Day 8 – Extra

Whoa!  I had to climb a hill today with a 20% grade. I didn’t make it. The picture above is from the top looking back.  It’s hard to get the true perspective.  About half way up, the grade went from 15%, which was pretty challenging, to 16, 17, and then 18%.  I couldn’t see the… Continue reading Day 8 – 20%

Picture perfect day!!  Mike rode with me about 5 miles into Grove City from the KOA. He was hoping to do twice that, but there were so many turns that he didn’t want to get lost on his way back.  He had to go pack up the truck and drive to the next destination. There… Continue reading Day 7 – 12%

YES!  Back on the road again!!  My brother Mike finished up his teaching duties in Phoenix, AZ and hustled to Michigan to provide support.  We took off from Brighton about 8:30 this morning (Friday).  Back tracking the route I took to get everyone home from Warren, OH, Mike and I were eating at the Sunrise… Continue reading Day 6 – On The Road Again

I like riding with someone!  It was great having Greg and Jason with me for 2 days, and Jason with me for another 3 days. I ride a lot on my own, but it’s a lot more fun to ride in a group. There wasn’t enough time to enjoy camping!  Greg and Becky are experienced… Continue reading Lessons Learned

https://youtu.be/cW7QhKifdFc I had the GoPro Hero 10 with me for the whole trip.  I took a little bit of video each day, except for the shortened 5th day.  Even though I have a mount on top of my helmet, I tried to take some by just holding the camera instead.  A lot of the scenery… Continue reading First Five Days

Joseph Keith Howell, (5/27/1934 – 10/25/2005)   In case my dad is looking down at us all — Happy Birthday Dad!  He would have been 88 today. Joe was the youngest of 9 kids that my grandfather had — 8 boys and a girl.  Five with his first wife Olive and 4 with his second… Continue reading Generation 8

It took us 5 days of riding to get to Warren, OH, but only 3.5 hours to drive home.  Yeah, we had to pull the plug on this adventure (for now!)  Greg hasn’t felt good almost this whole trip and now Becky is sick too.  Jason and I were well down the road by the… Continue reading Day 5 – Oh Oh!

Last night and all morning, we had visitors.  We didn’t invite them and they wouldn’t go away.  The first time I heard them, Greg and Becky got up and put most of the food into the truck.  The second time, I heard something right outside my tent.  I opened up the zipper and this big… Continue reading Day 4 – Visitors