PART 3 - Motorcycling the USA - 4,823 MILES FROM OREGON TO FLORIDA - WE DID IT!!!

ON TOP OF THE WORLD

After leaving Harrisonburg, Virginia, we decided to head south and ride along the scenic Blue Ridge Parkway  and ditch the idea of joining the "Two Million Bikers to DC" rally in Washington, DC.  It was a perfect decision.  The weather was fabulous and the scenery along the way more than we hoped for.

Because of precious time left, we made the difficult decision not to go to New York (where we are both from) or to tour the New England states (to celebrate our anniversary).  Instead we headed for Charleston, South Carolina and relaxed at our dear friends' home.  Every stop to stay with family and special friends has been such a resting haven.

Our special friends - Arch, Caroline, and Sophie.  To know them is to love them !! Thank you dear friends for a true rest haven before the final leg of our cross-country USA journey. 

Our friends' neighbor twins were thrilled to try out the Valkyrie.  Future biker babes, perhaps?

We traveled a total of 4,823 miles and were on the road 31 days by the time we reached Largo, Florida on September 16th.  Yes, we were both so tired and ready for this long journey to be over!  Near the end, some days were particularly hot, humid and grueling, and it's made us long for the perfect Cuenca weather we've come to appreciate and miss.

Though we endeavored always to see the beauty along the way, our ending route was not scenic at all (there's nothing like the Pacific Northwest when it comes to breathtaking scenic beauty).  At one point in the trip, on the way to Charleston, to break up the monotony we were both experiencing, Bo headed down a side road that said, "Hampton Historic Plantation - 2 miles."  There's where we tipped the bike AGAIN!

Not Again!!

No injuries!  Now, to lift the bike and continue on - AND WE DID!!  We were determined to finish our USA adventure from Oregon to Florida - AND WE DID!!

Bo is one of the best of riders.  I rode behind him in complete confidence from beginning to end, even after two minor mishaps.  I can call them minor because no one was hurt, nor was the bike.  Just Bo's ego!  How did this happen AGAIN? Road turns to sand.  Biker Bo keeps going - slowly.  Sandy road suddenly changes and gets deeper.  Biker Bo loses control.  Hey, it happens!  I did get Bo laughing, and we took a few pics just for the blog!

One of the sweetest memories of our USA journey was our stop to see my brother who lives in Savannah, Georgia.  It had been nine years since our last visit.  Our hours together were a sweet and long-due reunion.  I cried for miles after we said goodbye.  Yet, I know we will see each other again.  We also stopped in Gainsville, Florida to visit my sister whom we haven't seen in several years.  This cross-country trip gave us such opportunity for family reconciliation and reunion. 

So, here we are in Largo, Florida settled in and relaxing with dear friends.  We have one week left in the USA before leaving for Ecuador.  It was our pleasure to meet blog friends who are here in Florida and will be leaving for their new home in Cuenca the same week we are leaving.  It's a small world!  We went to a wonderful seafood restaurant together with Guy and Jvonna to celebrate her birthday on Sunday. 

Our "Blog" and future Cuenca friends meet us in Florida!

Happy Birthday Jvonna!

We also recently heard from our Sandpoint, Idaho friends whom we visited on our cross-country trip, and they just sold their house and will be arriving in Cuenca in February.  Our family of special friends in Cuenca is growing! 

East Coast Skies

On September 30th, we leave Florida and the USA to return to Ecuador with several suitcases and glad hearts, ready to be "home."  There, I said it!  Home!  After being back in the states for almost two months, we both are looking forward to settling back into our apartment and continuing our simplified life in beautiful Cuenca.

Home sweet Home - soon we'll be back!