The missing states

Again the trio (BmrPop, C-Zuki and BurgMa) is heading out on motorcycles. This time it is to complete the tour of states. We have only 9 states in the continental US (or 8 plus DC) through which the 3 of us have not traveled together. (Actually, that is not completely true; on our last trip we did zip through New Jersey for a hot half second, but apparently it didn't count for all of us...someone obviously blinked.)

Our earlier trips in 2006 (2 weeks) and 2008 (4 weeks) allowed us to cover most of the continental US. You can read our blog of those trips here: http://wheemedriving.blogspot.com/2006_08_01_archive.html and http://infinityusa.blogspot.com/2008_01_01_archive.html

So now we are off on our "Missing States" tour. We are pretty relaxed about this trip. Not much planning going on. We have some new toys (new GPS; BurgMa has a new helmet and a new Burgman!!! - No, I am NOT spoiled; we have tiedown straps) and we have abandoned some of our toys (the headset communication system). For this trip we'll go old school just like in 2006. This means we will need to have a refresher on the hand signals - the jazz hand for 'need gas'; the leg out for 'this is our exit'; the blinking headlight for 'I need to stop' in addition to others: the universals hand signs we all know, and the fun animal hand signs we developed on the cross country 2006 tour.

Concerns for this trip are the numerous and violent storms that have been occurring this spring. The Mississippi is way out of its banks, and tornadic activity has been plentiful. Challenges for this trip will be the planned ferry crossings, a first for us (C-Zuki has taken her bike on a ferry before but it is similar to the NJ story - it was a hot half-second so it doesn't count.) Potential joys are that we are hoping to stop in and visit some family and friends whom we have not seen for awhile. In addition, we hope to visit the home where BurgMa's grandmother lived, where BurgMa's mom was born, and where her father is buried. BmrPop looks forward to revisiting Gettysburg SD where, while on a cross-country motorcycle trip with a friend during the summer of 1972, his friend experienced an accident with a herd of sheep. And I am guessing here, but I am hoping that C-Zuki is looking forward to two weeks of 24/7 with her parents. I know I am excited about the time we will be spending with her.

Well, that's all for now. Next we hope to get a map up, and also figure out how to use our phones as a location tracking device so that we can post our progress through My Maps. We invite you to follow our journey, and wish us cool dry weather.