I had planned to drive down the Blue Ridge Parkway, but after driving the sidehack rig down the Skyline Drive, I turned East on I-64 and headed for I-95 South.
Travel was smooth, not like the winding twisting roads of the Skyline.
It was a great drive, but the Interstate made for an easy ride.
The sign on the back of the Yamaha from Helena to Minneapolis read:
80 Year Old Iron Butt Challenge Rider - 1000 miles in 24 hours.
I had made good use of the sign when I missed the 270 cut off around Columbus, Ohio.
I drove through the evening rush hour traffic on I-70 and on several occasions when I got into the wrong lane, people would see the sign and wave me back into the right lane.
I tried to maintain a 65 mile per hour pace and as I cruised down the interstate where most traffic was moving at 70 MPH or more, people in passing cars would read the sign and give me a thumbs up, wave, or in many cases slow down long enough to shoot a picture with their cell phone camera. The sign must certainly have been the most photographed sign on the highway.
In Iowa a young father with three sons in his car whizzed up along side then slowed quickly and pulled in behind so they could take pictures. Pulling alongside they all smiled, waved and gave the thumbs up.
This became a familior sight as people young and old laughed, waved, smiled and gave the thumbs up salute.
The old drivers safety adage that you go where you are looking proved true on several occasions as people intent on reading the sign slowly drifted over the line in to my lane. In South Carolina a young lady was so intent on getting a good picture that I was forced to cross the rumble strip and on to the shoulder of the road. She was shocked and embaressed when she discovered what she had done, but a smile and a wave from me brought a similar response from her.
At gas stations, rest areas and food stops fellow travelers would go out of their way and take the time to say how good it was to see an older person doing something special like the Saddled Sore 1000-1 of the Iron Butt Association. What would seem a joke at first took on a more serious note when I explained that the Iron Butt Association was an organization that promoted safe long distance motorcycle touring.
It began to dawn on me that age, race, ethnicity and belief didn't matter.
Americans really do love, honor and respect older people and show those feelings in many ways.
Since leaving Helena, Montana on September 27th, I have traveled 3,667 miles across the United States. Through the evening rush hour traffic in Columbus, Ohio to the Monday morning rush hour traffic around Washington DC, people were kind and courteous.
What a great experience.
Through Montana, Idaho, North and South Dakota, Washington state, Wyoming, Minnesota, Wisconsin, Iowa, Illinois, Indiana, Ohio, West Virginia, Virginia, Pennsylvania, Maryland, North and South Carolina, Georgia and Florida people have been fantastic .
Thank You America for your scenic beauty and for your multitudes of great people.
People who wave, smile and support an 80 year old man on a motorcycle on his quest to ride across the country.
From bikers to truck drivers American travelers have expressed their support for this ride in many ways.
The word I have heard the most at truck stops and rest areas is "Inspiration."
As if to say other older citizens might be prompted to live out their dreams and take another look at the proverbial Bucket List.
The most frequent question I have received is, "Are you really traveling all by yourself.
I got the feeling the deeper question they were asking was: "You mean your kids are letting you do this on your own?"
I know this has not been easy for kids and grand kids, but frequent updates on the Face Book group Where In The World Is Grandpa kept them up to date on the latest travels.
Another question heard frequently was, "Don't you have a radio to keep from getting bored?"
My response is always the same, "As I travel I have a lifetime of memories which I can play back at will with no need for a navigation screen, Sirius XM, Bluetooth or GPS.
The memories are as bright and real today as when they were lived all of those years ago.
3,667 miles so far and thousands more coming up as I look West from Lake Mary Florida to Houston, Texas, Denver, Colorado and San Jose, California.
Watch for me in your area.
I'll be in the Right Lane America.
Del "Lonnie" Lonnquist
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