ROK Big Trip Letter

Would like my friends at ROK and Kawasaki to know I just finished a 9850 mile,24 day, 30 State trip with my 900 Vulcan LT. Over the Continental Divide, thru the Mojave Desert, and out of the Tropical Depression in New Orleans, my Vulcan was rock solid. Confidence inspiroring, and since I was riding solo that meant a lot. Badlands, Mt Rushmore, Needles Highway, Crazy Horse, Yellowstone, Custer National Park, Columbia River Gorge, Oregon, Pacific Coast Highway one from Cresent City to San Diego, Grande Canyon, Arizona, New Mexico, Texas, New Orleans,LA,Alabama, Miss. Bradenton Fla. and The Dragon Deals Gap.318 curves,11 miles. What an awesome handling bike! Thank You for building such a great, durable, dependable, and fun Kawasaki Vulcan 900;o) Rich Tanzini Jr, RoK member and NYS MSF Motorcycle safety Instructor 130141

Tires used on Big Trip

Would like to take the time to mention 9850 miles in 24 days, 30 States all on one set of tires. Metzeler ME 880 Marathons on my 900 Kawasaki Vulcan gave a smoothe ride with fantastic grip and wet road confidence. My Wife, Kim, and I, and my riding friends can't believe how much tread remains and how evenly they wore. I figure theres 3 or 4 thousand miles left of use on them. The front looks new and the rear has used 2 or 3 thousandths of rubber. Not bad considering the heavy load of gear I was carrying, high heat thru the Mojave Desert, and heavy rain through a Tropical Depression heading out of New Orleans. Just wanted to let You know. Rich Tanzini Jr NYS MSF Instructor 130141

Last Page finally!

9850 Miles Total.Just missed 10000.30 States,extremes in weather, awe inspiroring landscapes;I'm Home!!! Would like 2 thank Kim,next month will be our Silver Anniversary,4 letting me fulfill a huge dream.She also was my Eye in the sky Navigator, Love U so much! Laurie,4 selling me a brand new Vulcan, making the trip possible:which never failed.Bill and Tom 4 their helmet cams. Jessica,Zak,Charles,Pat,Jim and Carol 4 taking care of me when I came dragging in.And YOU! 4 TAKING THE JOURNEY WITH ME,AND DEAR GOD 4 KEEPING ME SAFE AND FOCUSED:O) ANY ?, FEEL FREE TO ASK, I'LL ANSWER ALL YOUR FRIEND, RICH,THANKS AGAIN..

Last page continued

seems like 20 years of endless road construction but is getting better. Maybe by time I'm 65 will be done, probably. Seemed like I was riding downhill with the wind at my back from here, picking up momemtum with each passing mile. Stopped @ the last PA. rest stop to call Kim, Fried Whiting and Perogies would be waiting for me on arrival to my MOMs' home in Endwell NY. Approaching Binghamton a warm feeling came over me and the Vulcan was on auto pilot with a beacon bearing towards home. The feeling of accomplishment was flooding over me as I traced back all I had just done, and tears came to my eyes as images rushed thru my head. Took exit 69 to Endwell and called Ma saying I'll be landing in 5 minutes. Pulled in the drive way to outstretched hands of my daughters,Sara,10,Jess,14, and my wonderful Wife. We snapped up some final pics and I dismounted the Vulcan, thanking her for the rock solid durability,confidence, and getting me home safetly.

Aug 21,Last Page of big trip

Left Salem Virginia @ 5:30, couldn't any sooner, heavy fog which lasted till 8 a.m. Noticed a car approaching on my left, thought nothing of it; until 5 minutes later it didn't pass. Checked my left blind spot and there pacing me was a Virginia State Police.Must of ran my plate, cuz once I looked he accelerated past. 200 miles and passed into West Virginia singing John Denvers' Country Roads the whole way-don't laugh-but it did pass the time. On into Maryland for a brief time, very nice, then Into P.a. Smilin',gettin close to home. Long ride, cloudy skies and high mountains spell cold temps, started to get the shiver quake. Gas mileage suffered over these hills and saw a sign for gas in a little town called Frackville, yeah I know! 4 miles off track to station, shew, fueled up and headed out. The road is quite rough thru these MTNs so had to read the road and swerve accordingly. Signs 4 Wilkes-Barre and wonderful rolling hills, enjoyed climbing and
decending and sweeping corners. Seems Scranton never changes,

Aug 20 Friday continued

those witches! But thats another story. 450 miles today. Heading home tomorrow, thanks 4 listening.

Aug 20 Friday

Woke @ 3:40 to pack and get going before its too hot. Route 515North out of Jasper Ga was dark,quiet, and real foggy. 70 miles and my next right was R.T.129, the Apalachin Trail Highway;AKA The Dragon,Deals Gap. In Robbinsville filled the tank and headed into the Keehonee State Forest. And the curves and corners started flowing ahead of me. Ran into the Deals Gap motorcycle camp @ Tacopi and went in to get some shirts,stickers, lic plate bracket, and anti road gremlin bell. Came out of there 70 bucks lighter,but? what the heck! 100 ft passed and the Dragon really starts as you enter Tennessee. Wicked corner after decreasing radius to switch backs to Pigtails..Awesome..did I mention perma smile:) Three quarters thru you overlook a huge dropoff and Dam, took some pics.Finished the Dragon and doubled back, who knows when I'll get back.Pure thrills, a 20 yr dream fullfilled,XXXtasy.Rolled thru Tenn. and met up with a old friend,RT81North, and followed her
to Salem Virginia,wait a minute, thats were they hung ..

Thurs.Aug 19

Left my Birthday bud Charles in Orlando and headed north to Jasper Georgia @ 9 am which proved to be a bad move, caught in Atlanta at rushhour!1:35 minutes to go 20 miles..not fun. Heading to Deals Gap AKA The Dragon tomorrow morning. Let u know all about it tomorrow nite..nite..

Aug 18 B.T.

Stopped back in Orlando to celebrate my Buds 4oth B-Day, Happy Birthday Charlles. Heading north towards Georgia tomorrow morning.

Relaxin w/good friends

Aug 16 n 17. Been chillin with my dear friends Jim and Carol the last 2 days, recharging the batteries. Yesterday hung out and talked all day while 2 nice guys installed their new central air conditioning. Watched and learned. Jim and Carol were in the NYS MSP for a long time so when Carol went off to work the boys could talk shop, to our hearts content. Jim and Bill are my mentors and have taught me so much. Who I am as a motorcycle teacher is in a big part, to these gentlemen. Going out to look at GPS,see ya.

Aug 15 to Bradenton

20 years ago was the last time Kim and I were on the west coast of Florida. And at 3:oo I was heading down I 4 west towards I 275 south and the Sunshine Skyway. Fueled up prior to set up the helmet cam to bring some of the thrills of seemingly riding straight thru Tampa Bay.I hope the video dosen't disapoint, what a visual thrill! After the 2 huge bridges dropped on to 70 for a short run and exited into Bradenton. Within 10 minutes was at two of my Great Friends and Rider heros that mean the World to me. Jim was a riding Instructor long before me, we talk and I absorb his wisdom. Carol,an expert on the Range, is the one who taught me the range layout, still use her notes today,invaluable. So good to see them, took me out 4 Chinese, and Sana Maria Island to view the Gulf of Mexico, tremendous.only 155 miles today, here on out,will be heading home.Nite

big trip

Sat,Aug14.Kept the Vulcan parked today and headed 2 Daytona Beach. Planned on cruzn the beach but found the driving lanes closed because of 2 fatalities in the past few weeks.Took a walk up the beach and a few pics then headed south 71 mmiles to Cocoa Beach, Cape Canaveral. Picked up the wife and kids a few gifts, went swimming in the waves, and collected some sand and Atlantic water to splash on front tire of Bike. Pacific splash,now Atlantic, and tomorrow Gulf.Back in Orlando went to a sushi Bar,Moonfish, half price,top shelf,delicious..tomorrow, see my old friends and neighbors jim and carol in Bradenton. nite

Aug 13 to Orlando

Woke up a new man and was on the road @4:20.Made great time and was in Orlando by 7:35. Met my good Buddy Charles at a Exxon,after I took a wrong exit,and followed him home. He took me to Kelly Rock Springs where we road rented tubes-5 bucks-acouple miles, cooled down,72',and unwound. Had a great BBQ lunch, went to a bass PRO SHOP TO GETa new compass,then rode around to see Orlando. At 7:30 went to Universal Studio City and caught a concert by Black Sabbath-classic concert live,professioal studio musicians ,lots of fun, got to meet 3 of Charles friends,John,Rob, and Dan,great guys.Tomorrow, the beach,Atlantic style. 0miles:)

Leaving N.O.continued

Went to the Hotel Lobby and asked the front desk their opinion. He said,Rich, get out now, while u can, this Tropical Depression may sit here a couple days.Packed up,pulled out of The Prince Conti,shook the attendents hand,and headed out in flooded streets. The raised deck bridge over the Mississippi Dela was terrorfying. Didn't look out to much,the waves were huge, tried not to look,wild lightning. Made it out and into Miss.,still raining but improving. Then Alabama,into Fla. Black skies ahead were looming, and headed in. One storm after another kept coming,lost track after 7,was tired and weary by 5:30 stopped to fuel and just couldn't think, concentrate at all. Called Kim to get some help.SOS. She found me a place 2 miles down the road, was fast asleep by 7.55o grueling miles...

Leaving New Orleans

Woke at 3:30 in the morning to wicked lightning,pouring rain, and weather channel warnings of flash flooding.

New Orleans bound

Aug10, left Gainsville Texas @ 4:05 in morning to beat the heat and make time,13 plus hrs to New Orleans. Louisiana is fantastic,lots of bayous and greenery. Seen a baby alligator in the road,and in Texas a few armadillos. Out of Shrevport crossing Henderson Swamp on I10 was a 10 mile bridge~wow~rough shape from the hurricane however.Traffic was hectic coming in and gettin off to fuel and back on was an adventure.But madeit.Stayin @ The Prince Conti,a 5 star hotel,just once! Boubon street was a ball,but there is a shady side and a con tried to play me but I sent him on his way. Cafe Du Monde now,Beignets and chickory, take a walk around and Pic and video.640 miles dat of rest and discovery see ya

Big Trip

Aug 9,2010. Lots of tough miles today so I got up @ 4:30,out the door by 5:20.New Mexico was a long ride with weird vibes.Was glad to leave behind. Texas by 11:30 but Us 4o weaves amoungst the small towns with many speed traps and zones slowing me to a crawl.Oh,did I forget to mention, It was 105 degress with some areas so hot the road was boiling and hard to take a breath. 13 an a half hours on the bike,608 miles, I'm exhausted, gotta go, New Orleans is calling.6228 total~nite.

fri,aug8,continued

zip ties holding it together and on, fingers crossed. Need to find a plate holder to make a permanent fix.496 miles today,5624 to date,tomorrow, Gainesville Texas,goodnite;o)

The Big Trip

Sun,Aug8,2010. Left the coolest motel owner,Fred,and the nicest room by far @ 6am and headed north on I64 to the great canyon.61 miles later was @ the gate n heading inn.12 bucks 4 a bike,25 per car to get in. Avoided the tourist town and went right 64east around the southeastern rim, seemed right since Flagstaff was that way ti catch I40 east later. The great gorge was something I always wanted to ride to, big satisfied smile. Amazed at how the Colorado River carved this out over a couple million years. slight fog didn't ruin the pics but added to them. The east desert road is only 58 miles long but I took some great video with the helmet cams. Off to Flagstaff, elevation 6200 ft over Sunshine Volcano Crater.I40east to Albuqurque had a mean side. Hard Thunder storms raging across these flat,huge plains with wicked winds pounding my left,then right, then huge gusts from behind made the last 160 miles a white knuckle affair. Checked in to Motel6 noticed
my License plate ripped at the bolts,bad, black tape, and

Fri and Sat Aug6,7

Well,left Jess and Zaks with a sad heart, goodbyes R tough at 6am. Making time before the freeway clogs up and to get thru The Mojave Desert before it becomes a pressure cooker. Made good time,Barstow,right before the desert at 10:45.Fuel would be an issue,long stretches without services, Zak traded up my 1gal 4 his 2and a half,thanks bud! With the help of my new evap vest and my camelback hydrator I made it 315 miles in low elevation, blistering heat. Then,Mtns appeared and as I approached the temps dropped drasticly as elevation rose and the rain came down, all the way to Williams,cold,extreme changes wreak havoc on your body. Glad to see Fred @ the Highlander Motel. He had been waitin 4 me since he called Kim @ 1pm worried if I was OK in the Mojave. Kim has talked 2 him a few times and what a down home,southwestern,super friendly Personality. Kim said I would like him. He gave me a great room, 10% discount, and $20 dollar Gift certificate 4 Wild Bill
Hitchcocks Steakhouse. Yum. Steak and mushrooms, esparagus and skewered shrimp,2 hell with the diet! 480miles 5230miles total,tomorrow morn,the Grande Canyon, then off to Gainsville Texas~longhorn country-yeehaa>:O}

WED. AUG 4TH - TRAVEL LOG

Wed, Aug 4. 2010

Well, like to say Eureka is a tough town. I saw many homeless people wandering around. Left the hotel only to realize I forgot my knife on the bed, an omen of things to come. The ride down 101 was good, reminiscing as I went by San Rafael, where I lived in ‘96, and Mt Tamapi, where I worked. Took the exit before the Golden Gate Bridge, Sausalito, it brings you up on top of the hill before the bridge. Way back since the 1840s the Army has had a battery of cannons and big guns to protect us. From there it was downhill. Road construction caused me to miss my exit to Highway 1 so I had to take the freeway thru SF and San Hose during rush hour. Nice spelling Rich! Got lost and turned around but with the help of Kim and her GPS locater on me she righted my path. I made it into Marina at 6:30, couple hours longer than I planned, but made it!

TUES. AUG 3, 2010 TRAVEL LOG

Tues.Aug 3,2010.

Left The Dalles this morning and proceeded to ride around the base of MT Hood on I-94. A cold front off the Pacific moved in and Hood was nestled in a layer of clouds, and so was the rest of Oregon and California I found out. Oregon is a beautiful green state with abundant evergreens and mtns. Thru Eugene and on to Grants Pass where 94 turns into US 199, known as the Red Wood Highway The Red Wood Express snakes thru the northern woods until your enveloped with huge Redwoods right along the bending road. These trees are fire resistant, surviving the western winds off the Pacific, and salt water. Making way to Crescent City everything turned cloudy, heavy wet mist, and the temp was dropping fast.46 degrees! I slapped on the rain gear took a quick look at what little of the Pacific I could see and made a dash to Eureka. High elevations, huge trees, heavy fog, steep roads, and freezing temps made that 75 miles tough. I thought I had seen it all but today added a new page. Made it safe, and more experience to rely on for the future. Its good I had all those years behind me for afternoons like today. What a wild day. Marina, Cali tomorrow. Todays miles 510 milage overall 3740. Goodnite, See U all tomorrow.

MON. AUG 2 - TRAVEL LOG

Mon,Aug. 2.

Left Rexburg and endured a very long, straight, and wickedly hot ride. So hot I had to keep soaking my shirt and mesh jacket to cope with the heat. I drank gallons of a H20 and Gatorade mix to stay alive. It hit 120 degrees and was so dry my sinus’s dried out and when I sneezed got a bloody nose. Finally some 4 hrs later headed in the mtns. of Oregon. Nice ride in the mtns but once descended very hot again. 70 miles to The Dalles I thought I was all good until The Columbia River Canyon and Gorge decided to wipe all with continuous blowing and 60MPH gusts, which after 585 miles, scorching heat, setting sun in your eyes high winds and fatigue was a thrilling ride.5.3 gallons of fuel~70 miles all gone, what a headwind and not 4 a beginner. 682miles rode today, the most I've done, 3229 miles so far, tomorrow Eureka Cali. Nite all!

SUN, AUG. 1 - TRAVEL LOG

Sun,Aug 1.

Leaving SD behind and heading into Wyoming. Speed limit 75mph you got to love that. Wide open hot and flat until you reach Cody, Wy. Riding thru Buffalo Bill state park the Mtns. grow bigger and bigger before me and the winding road puts a smile on my face. 20 dollars to enter Yellowstone and worth every penny. Mtn peaks still cappped with snow as I wind up the mtns. About 10 miles in something catches my eye. I pulled over, grabbed the camera and about 200yds in a meadow was a grizzly bear. I took a shot with my zoom maxed but I'm not impressed with the picture. The switchbacks are exiting heading down towards Butte Lake as you look the drivers who are behind you in the eye! Approaching Old Faithfull I get a photo of a mama Bison with her calf, very close. The day before a woman was attacked by a Grizzly but luckily survived. That night a 49 yr old man was not so lucky and was killed in his tent by the same Female Griz, they found and shot her only to find her two starving cubs nearby, no explanation as to why. Waited to video and picture ol faithfull for our girls. Jess and Sara had to see it. Then I went to firehole canyon to take a look in to hells eyes~wild. Exiting the west end of Yellowstone I reluctantly said good- bye, 2 hrs later down I 40 was in Rexburg Idaho.

FRIDAY JULY 30 TRAVEL LOG

Fri,July 30.

Started at 5am to get a good push that was needed, 1 and a half hrs and was out of Minn. despite heavy rain and into South Dakota. Meet some warm souls in SD and 4 hrs of straight road found myself with clear skies and at the gates of the Badlands. They don't disappoint. I have a hard time with words describing this beyond your imagination region. I took many photos and video with Bills and Toms helmet cams, thanks guys. Could not ride thru just once and doubled back and the view was totally different in the other direction. Heading out of the Badlands on SD44 which is called the badlands south was a ball with lots of swithbacks and a million suicidal locusts and 112 degree temp. Did not realize I was so enthralled with the views that I had not eaten in 11hrs. A hot and desolute ride to Rapid City were Kim finally got a hold of me and said we better get you a room because I was way behind. And last, went to Mt Rushmore 2 nite to see them get lit up, which drew approx.3000 people.

THURSDAY JULY 29 TRAVEL LOG

Thursday, July 29.

Left Elkhart IN. at 6 am w/644 miles. 60 miles later entered Ill. The 5 lane was a joy in Chicago but soon was on the outskirts and heading west then north and back west again to find myself in Wisconsin which wasn't too bad. Wes Dells Wis. caught my attention with about 20 water parks in a row on I-94. Back to I 90 and into Minnesota. A very clean state, $800 dollar littering fine. Crossed the Miss. River which had a wonderful drop and then rise again with gorgeous mountains on both sides but soon after turned very straight and boring. Long ride to Jackson Minn. ride miles 661.