Sunday, August 31, 2008

Ride Photo Gallery 1

Here are a few photos I have been taking along the way. I'm just enjoying the rest of the ride home and replaying in my head all of the fond memories that I have accumulated along the way. I will begin work on the Glacier Park and final ride home videos when I get home. We are looking forward to our escorted ride to White Bear Lake by my Star Touring and Riding Chapter 444 as well as other chapters. My church riding buddies are also sure to show up.

Ken

I want to thank everybody that prayed for my trip home to see my Dad and Mom. All the prayers sure worked and I was able to rejoin Ken quickly to finish our ride. This has been a trip of a lifetime, I have seen such beautiful sights and met so many friendly people I almost hate to see it end, but I look forward to seeing all my friends and family. I want to thank everyone for supporting Riding For Smiles on this ride for UNICEF, with your help and donations many kids around the world have been given a chance in live.

Shannon






Saturday, August 30, 2008

Grand Coulee Dam #2


Here is part 2. We really enjoyed all of the
riders that came along and it was great seeing
the laser show at the dam.

Enjoy

Ken

Friday, August 29, 2008

Grand Coulee Ride #1


We met many new Star Touring and Riding
friends on our motorcycle journey to the
Grand Coulee dam. Breathtaking and wonderful
roads for biking. So much to tell and show
I have decided to make this into 2 parts.

Enjoy

Ken

Wednesday, August 27, 2008

Washington Chronicles #4


Shannon got back from Minnesota and was able
to have a very nice day in Seattle with our friends
Jack and Lyn and Lenny and Colleen. We went
down to the farmers market and also saw the
Space Needle. We don't want to leave. Seattle is
just the greatest place to visit. I know we'll be back
for an extended stay.

Enjoy

Ken

Washington Chronicles #3


I was able to cross off one of my bucket list items
by riding around Mt. Rainier. 12 hours
on the bike, 330 miles, rain for 10 hours and it
was amazing. I can't thank my fellow riders enough,
it was a great day with friends.

Enjoy and remember to Donate with your hearts
to save children. Use our Riding For Smiles link
to UNICEF in order to donate today.

Ken

Sunday, August 24, 2008

Washington Chronicles #2


Washington Chronicles Part 2

Great riding, great people and a really great
time. Hope all of you riders can eventually make
it out to Washington, as it is motorcycle riding
nirvana.

Enjoy

Ken

Friday, August 22, 2008

Washington Chronicles #1



The next few videos will be called the
Washington Chronicles as they are really one
big video broken up into 4 or 5 segments, in order
to get the whole effect of our stay in Washington
and the Seattle area.

Now please sit back and enjoy
Washington Chronicle #1

Ken

The Trip Is Still On Schedule


Shannon and I would like to thank everyone for their support and prayers during Jim Carlin's hospital stay. At this time he is out of the ICU after a six hour surgery which took place on Tuesday. He is described as a walking miracle by the hospital staff. Shannon waited until yesterday to make sure that things were going in the right direction and then jumped on an airplane to Seattle. She arrived last night ready to continue our journey together. We are still on track as per our itinerary and plan on leaving Saturday.

While she was gone I just want to personally thank Al and Lynn Brown, Jack and Lyn Muegge for putting me up at their houses and showing me lots of support while I was here.

I would also like to express my gratitude to Ron, Bobby, Denny, Sandy, Rich, Doug, Marcy, Tony (Grumpy), Larry and Dave who are all members of the Star Touring and Riding Association. These men and women really went above and beyond the call of duty to show me incredible riding and friendship while here in the Washington Seattle area. Yesterday I even checked off a long BUCKET list item. I rode around and up to Mt. Rainier - that video will be coming - 12 hours on the bike to make that happen and every mile was the most exhilarating I have ever ridden. One always hopes that a bucket list item will be every bit of what you imagined it to be

I also want to thank Lenny Balter and Colleen Casey for traveling up from California to support us on our adventure, now that Shannon is back we can all have one nice day together. It is our 33rd anniversary today so we are going into Seattle to explore before leaving tomorrow.

Ken

Tuesday, August 19, 2008

Joseph Oregon Touring and Gondola Ride

We really enjoyed the day taking the gondola to

the top of Mt. Henry in Joseph Oregon. I posted

two blogs today as it might be a while before

the next one. No word on Jim Carlin yet as he is

now in surgery. I will keep everyone informed

as to our change of plans as things happen.

Thanks

Ken

Hells Canyon Ride

Get this road on your bucket list.

When I saw this road, I knew being out in front

was the place for me, A must to ride if you

own a sport bike. Lots of fun!!

Enjoy

Ken

Monday, August 18, 2008

Important News

Yesterday in Winthrop Washington we found out that Shannon's dad (Jim Carlin) he is shown in the second video saying he supports Riding For Smiles was admitted to the hospital and was not supposed to live the night. Shannon is now on a plane for home and will arrive at 11:00 PM hopefully to see her father while he is still alive. I apologize for the delay in the last (2) videos as we did not have internet or phone service. I am now uploading two videos while I await word as to what will now happen. I will stay in Seattle for at least the next one to two days as we have many commitments here. Jim called us before he was put into an induced coma and said that he loved us and that his only wish was that we not stop, but continue this journey. He did not want us to know the difficulty he was in. Apparently this was going on for the last week. This trip now is up in the air with these circumstances but we will finish this journey. It just might have to be rescheduled by a few weeks. I will keep all of you informed as to what is going on over the next couple of days. Please pray for Shannon and her entire family. I have known Jim my entire life and could not have known a finer man and father-in-law.

Friday, August 15, 2008

Salmon River White Water Rafting



Our guide (Skinny) took us on an amazing ride
down the Salmon River in Riggins Idaho. It was
a real adventure, as if a motorcycle ride
to the Pacific Ocean doesn't count as one. We had
a lovely day off. I really needed it to get recharged
for the next leg of our journey into Hell's Canyon
(100 degrees) hair pin turns in order to get to
Joseph OR.

Enjoy

Ken

Thursday, August 14, 2008

Idaho ride with friends



It was an incredible 3 days of riding, again no
rain, lots of laughs and some hard riding. I'm
going to need a vacation after these guys leave
Ha Ha

Enjoy

Ken

Monday, August 11, 2008

Grand Tetons / Jackson Hole Ride



Incredible, the Grand Tetons are just the most
beautiful site that you can imagine. The riding
was legendary and so fulfilling that you almost
did not want to ride the next day, just to savor
the moment.

Some of my riding buddies showed up in Idaho
and just when I thought the riding could not get
any better it did.

Enjoy

Ken

PS. Don't forget to donate to UNICEF

Sunday, August 10, 2008

Yellowstone ( Part 3) ------ Old Faithful



You won't believe what happened to me at
Old Faithful. Check out this video and have
a giggle over it.

Ken

Friday, August 8, 2008

Yellowstone Buffalo Encounter



What a day, The Grand Tour around Yellowstone
150 miles of motorcycle heaven. We encountered
some Buffalo that seemed very interested in
motorcycles also. Check it out it was really a fun day

Enjoy

Ken

Thursday, August 7, 2008

Yellowstone the Story (Fires)


Well we made it to Yellowstone National Park.
It was a pretty exciting time, to much for just (1)
video so the saga will continue over four different
blogs. Fires, Animals, Geysers, and of course
Old Faithful

Enjoy and don't forget to donate using our link
to UNICEF

Ken

Tuesday, August 5, 2008

Big Horn Mt to Cody Ride



The ride through the Big Horn Mountains was
just spectacular, everything I thought it would
be. This ride just keeps getting better and better.
The people we meet are great and the weather
Gods have looked out after us. No rain since
we left.

Enjoy this latest video of our ride to Cody Wyoming

Ken

Saturday, August 2, 2008

Lehman Trike Tour



We visited the Lehman Trike Assembly Plant
located in Spearfish SD. Wonderful, clean, modern
facility - and the bikes were fantastic. Shannon
was like a kid in a candy store. we were able to
take a wonderful tour and afterwards we received
a check for $1,000 dollars for UNICEF. Remember
100% of all donations go to UNICEF.

Ken