2011-08-22 NERDS Mentor Ohio to Galena, Illinois

published by dcarver on Mon, 09/05/2011 - 10:17

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LOL, woke up late again. Actually, I simply have no will power - but never the less had a GREAT ride today..

The BW in Mentor, Ohio. They are trying too hard to be an 'up scale' BW IMHO, but to each their own. I will say the staff was very courteous. Matt, Melody, and Susan were the best.
BTW, see the old peeps in the lower left?

Here they are again. I saw so much of my Dad and Mom, when they were younger, in various Midwest couples. The shirt, glasses, they were so courteous to each other, truly working as a team. It touched me.

Starting mileage.

Named for my MzDcarver!

I need to really think and recall where this was..

For some reason, Chicago has always freaked me. Anyplace that Oprah loves can't be good, jes' saying..

Football? Hockey? WTFO? What's an Amherst Comet?

I think that many old barns are dying in our country, and for some primal reason I don't like it.

It's almost as if America is dying the same economic, moral, death as these un-cared for barns.

Another poh-poh pix..

This doggie and I had WOOF-WOOF contest for over 12 miles! He won - and his owner was laughing the entire time.

I think I was born in the wrong era.. I love this stuff.

Taken at a toll booth. I had to pee soo bad.. At another toll, they had a bathroom. Not this one, and the guy was pretty pissed off at me. Screw him. Really. Or should I say piss on him? At least the flag was flying.

Indiana, where the wind comes sweeping down the plains!
Oh, wait, that's Oklahoma..
NEVER MIND!

Home of the Indy 500, so the state can't be all bad!

Just so you know..

You've heard of Pokamon, well this is Pokagon!

We don't have clouds like this where I live..

Triple trailers are cool to pass.. just go phast..

Another bunch of HD's being trailered to Sturgis?

What else is Elkhart known for?

LOL, is this a Freudian thing?

I wonder what these towers are used for? Tornado and weather mapping?

Commercial overpasses - don't see them out west..

Need a truck? Some assembly required.

Unmarked Poh-Poh snags more revenue..

Finally, approaching Chicago.. very industrial.

Loads of coal heading to the steel mills.

The electric commuter trains were fast, ugly, and gritty. Most of the riders looked scary..

Chicago, the city of ugly. Reminds me of LA in a different form of ugly.

Mayor who? Where you from, Rahm? (sorry)

Bridge of the mighty MO.

I remember this just like yesterday. Wait, it WAS yesterday!

More industry. At least Chicago produces products, goods. We need more of this in the USA if we are to compete on a global scale.

I missed the majority of the brick chimney.. just don't see that out west in Equake country..

Approaching Chicago.

Home of the Cubs!

I can't imagine living in any major city, and especially this one.

Nice helmet.

The train roars by, the cars are stuck.

Gritty, mean, Chicago.

Major airport, electric transport, cars, trucks, trains, Chicago has it all.

Including a bazillion freaking toll booths! What up with that? How are they legal? It cost a small fortune to exit that city...

The view ahead.

The view behind.
I"m a motobike sandwich.

Cherry valley.. hmmm.

Corn.. More corn.

This is west of Chicago.. it doesn't take long and we're back in farmland.

When you get really bored, take pix of your sefl..

I wonder who lives there? What are their life circles?

We are fortunate to have such fertile land and water.
Now then, where is all this freaking corn going?

Major interstate construction is a common theme on this trip..

Small town USA.

Truly the heartland of America.

Approaching Galena, Illinois. The roads were paved well, and I was riding in the 'mountainous' region.. Rolling hills, really. Still, it was great fun to get on the edges of the tires again..