Saturday was spent by me and Scott acclimating to society w/out our motorcycles. We enjoyed going into Seattle in his truck. We went back to downtown to look for souvenirs we could take home and had lunch at Three Girls Bakery. The food was awesome.
We went to Walmart and picked up supplies for Scott's return trip in his truck with the trailer and bikes. We loaded everything up in hot (90F) weather. Everything went smoothly with his bike and Red Velvet not protesting getting back on the trailer. Scott was planning to leave Sunday afternoon. We were spent and chilled the rest of the afternoon, hanging out with Bailey, the awesome black lab of Jeff and Dennie.
So Saturday night we went to dinner with Scott's brother and sister-in-law Dennie. We went to a very cool restaurant called "Ivar's Salmon House" and man it was great. Jeff got us an awesome seat next to the window and we could watch boats going from Lake Washington and Lake Union. The weather was perfect, the company was awesome, beers very tasty and the food excellent! I had salmon, and it was very good. Here are some pictures from dinner:
Scott at the door of Ivars Salmon House.
Me and Scott, we made it!
The Hoys, Jeff, Dennie and Scott.
So we had fun, went back to the Hoy's house and crashed early. My flight back to Ohio was Sunday morning, taking off at 6:40 AM!
So this is my last post for this blog for my trip on the west coast. It has taken me a while to get this done, exactly 7 days, because I was reluctant to do so until Scott, his bike and Red Velvet made it back via truck and trailer. If you did not know or don't remember, Scott Hoy, my buddy, drove his truck out to Seattle with our bikes on my trailer.
So on Tuesday, Scott called me and told me his truck engine had given up the ghost and he had to get it rebuilt or to purchase a new used engine. He was stuck in Gillette, Wyoming, a small town in the middle of no where. I was bummed and I know he was too. We talked about it off and on a few days. I was close to jumping in my truck and going out to tow it all back to Ohio. Then on Wednesday night I called him and he said he was pulling away from a Chevy dealership in a brand new 2014 Silverado. He had traded in the red truck and bought a new one!
This is the last known picture of the red truck on the first day of Scott's return trip back.
Scott and the bikes made it back Friday 7/18 afternoon. I rushed out of work to get back to Grove City to help him unload the bikes and gear. Everything went great and we were unloaded by 4 PM. Scott was exhausted, as you can imagine and likely slept a good part of Friday evening and Saturday. He deserved it! Man that truck is nice, I definitely had 'truck envy'. I can hear Cathy grumbling about me looking at new ones again. :)
So my trip back from Seattle was much better for me than for Scott. However, it was not fun. I flew from Seattle to Los Angeles Sunday morning on Alaska Airlines. Boy do I like the name of that airline and it was a great flight, I was by a window, could see the awesome mountains leaving Washington on down to LA. It was clear with very few clouds. We made it to LA and then the fun began.
I got off of the plane and new I had to catch another flight from LA to Columbus. I did not really have a specific flight number or anything. I knew I had an hour to get on my plane and thought that would not be a problem...until I found out I was flying on American and I had to be shuttled to the gate I was flying out of. Well I waited and waited for the shuttle. If finally arrived and was packed. It got me to my gate and I immediately went to the desk to get my actual ticket. The lady I talked to was not friendly at all. I asked if there was an aisle seat or one in the emergency exit row. She said "no" and that my seat was in the middle but she would "consider" changing me to another seat just before boarding. Well I went up to her and waited and waited and she finally said all she could do was move me to a window seat. I reluctantly agreed, waited my time (I like to board last when I have assigned seating) went to my row/seat and it was just me and another guy in he was in the middle. He was planning to move if no one sat next to him.
Well, we were all set to go and the door was almost closed when a lady weeble, wobbled to our row and sat right next to the guy in the middle. She was short, but did weeble/wobble and I asked if she wanted to change seats so she could sit next to the window and I could take the aisle row (better for all of us). She said "no" because she gets claustrophobic and gets anxiety. She said she might consider once we got in the air. That is when I decided for her to not forget me.
What might this picture be? That ladies and gentleman is what it looks like in my seat from LA to Columbus. There was not an inch to budge.
Here are pictures from the trip that I looked back and liked.
This is Scott's picture at Crater Lake.
Me and a huge Red Wood.
Scott's lovely "Motel 1". Nice tent, but it is not sound proof.
This is the face Scott makes when he needs a nap.
You can't go wrong checking out light houses. We watched a gray whale right off the tip of the island below this.
We camped out in some great state parks.
Those are seals (white) on the rock sunning themselves. Scott mimicked them is is the one on the far left. 
The Golden Gate Bridge. Yep, I can mark that off of my list of places to ride. It was foggy, but still awesome.
A nice selfie.
This pictures shows my long lost key and key chain in the bottom (red & black)
This is me making Mount Shasta in CA look good.
The ocean view we saw hundreds of them.
So I had a great trip with my buddy Scott and all is back to normal for me. I want to thank my family and friends for following this.
So why Zen Motorcycle trips? I love the feeling of riding, my thoughts are clearer, the road is open and inviting. When all is going well on my motorcycle I am one with it. Nothing gets in the way ( just distracted drivers) and the freedom to go where I want is powerful. I thought of many things while riding and enjoying the scenery.
I use my motorcycle trips to help me move closer to Zen. You should try the same and see the world!
-Mark G
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