Fez'capades

Fez Goes to Washington

2009-06-22T07:32:00.001-07:00

I'm packing my things this morning to head to on a driving trip to Washington, D.C. I'm trying to decide which travel games to place in my backpack. I'll be with three adults and two kids. With a mixed crowd like this in the same van for a week, I think that Connect Four is a solid choice.

I'll take it easy on them for the first leg. Then, it's on.

Wrappin' It Up

2009-06-07T11:23:00.000-07:00

Okay. Well, I've been getting re-aquainted with the folks at Benetti's and need to take some time to make my final post related to my trip around the world. As you can imagine, I saw lots of people and places - some wonderful and some I won't be anxious to revisit. However, I can say that we live in a pretty amazing world.

I'm looking forward to doing some local traveling. Maybe some summer camps?

We spent several of our last days in England, and Dick ended up with about 2,500 images just from those few days. But, I'll just share four with you here.

Kissi' the Blarney Stone

2009-05-04T15:48:00.001-07:00

Ireland was soooo green when we arrived and I'm sure the several days of spring rains before we arrived only enhanced the colors. Kissing the Blarney Stone requires you to do some things with your body you don't normally do. It wasn't too much of a challenge for me, but Dick used a hotpack for the ext few days. :>) We visited a local pub to taste the local supplies and enjoyed a walkabout the village.

Lisbon, Portugal

2009-04-27T14:31:00.000-07:00

Lisbon was a pleasant surprise – clean, not crowded and friendly. Located along the Tagus River it is a major port for ocean-going vessels. The city suffered through a massive earthquake in 1755 that killed 30,000 people. Many of the explorers of the Americas started from Portugal. Like other countries in the region there is a mix of cultures because of past occupations from the Arabs, Romans and Spain. The democratic form of government was restored in 1974 in a bloodless revolution. As we pulled in to port, we were greeted by the famous Lisbon tug boats. They perform what is called a Boat Ballet with quick turns and sprays of water. It was fun to watch.

Barcelona, Spain

2009-04-27T14:27:00.000-07:00

Barcelona has a balance of old, well-preserved buildings and new structures that blend well together. Some of the buildings date back to 1100 to 1200. The church that Antoni Gaudi started to build in 1883 is still under construction despite the fact there are no building plans or notes left behind. Outside of the town in Montserrat is the home to the Black Madonna carved from wood in the 12th century. Spain has a population of 46 million, but attracts 55 million tourists a year with over 20 million coming by way of ship.

Athens, Greece

2009-04-27T14:23:00.000-07:00

Athens is the capital of Greece, a country about the size of Alabama with a population of approximately 11 million people. It is considered the founder of democracy, where public debates and votes in the Pnyx date back to 6th century BC. The term Marathon comes from the 26 mile run by a Greek soldier to bring news of a battle victory to Athens. Athen’s history dates back to 3000 BC. Many statues on display in museums were created between the first and sixth centuries BC and were recovered from the sea.

A Tour of Egyptian Temples & Pyramids

2009-04-17T10:30:00.001-07:00

Luxor, the companion temple of Karnak, was started around 1400 BC by Amenhotep III and expanded by Rameses II. Large statues were made for the temple along with two obelisks. One of the obelisks was removed in 1831, taken to Paris and stands in the Place de la Concorde. The site, two miles from Karnak, was built in the 18th dynasty of the Pharaohs. The temples were built to worship the gods and goddesses of the time and the location was chosen because the Nile would be a constant supply of water.

The Karnak Temple in Luxor is famous for its columns 122 - 10 m tall and 12 - 21 m tall. In addition, there are many sculptures and sphinx in the temple. The site is huge (247 acres) and was constructed over a 1300 year period with each ruler adding to it, including Rameses, Tut, Amenhotep and others ending with Alexander the Great. A road (now buried) connected this temple to the Temple of Luxor and was lined with sphinxes. Can you name the James Bond movie that had a scene shot in this temple?

The great pyramids are part of the seven wonders of the ancient world. Designed by Imhotep the step pyramid is the oldest pyramid, designed around 2600 BC. The pyramids at Giza were started around 2500 BC. Each pyramid site has 4 parts. First, a Valley Temple for the mummification of the body, second an ascending path to the second temple, third a Mortuary Temple at the pyramid to pass the funeral contents and 4th a place of rest – the pyramid. The Sphinx is the protector of the Chephren pyramid.

Salalah,Oman

2009-04-11T07:55:00.000-07:00

Salalah, Oman experiences a wide range in weather, ranging from snow in the mountains to 130 + highs in the desert. This took quite a toll on my fur. This is the "perfume capital of the country" and is a very clean city. Large quantities of frankincense are exported. The ruling Sultan has implemented programs that have endeared the national population to him - namely education, medical care, land distribution and housing. The monsoon season (June to Sept) draws visitors from the region to enjoy the rain and cooler temperatures.

Mumbai, Taj Mahal

2009-04-06T10:32:00.000-07:00

The Taj Mahal is a truly beautiful structure. However, Mumbai and Agra bring the reality of life in this country back to the forefront. All industry within 60 km of the Taj has been closed to decrease pollution around the area. Busses parked 1 km away and electric busses completed the trip. The Taj Mahal was built by an Emperor in memory of his wife, who died giving birth to her 14th child. They were married for 18 years. The building is made entirely of marble with inlays of semi precious stones.

Port Blair

2009-03-30T07:11:00.000-07:00

Port Blair is the Capital of the Andaman & Nicobar Islands (350 islands) – a part of India. Most are uninhabited & even the inhabited ones have few amenities of modern life. The Islands were prison locations use by the UK when India was a Colony of Britain. They had a name “kala pani” or “a place of black waters” and were feared by the people. There are 242 species of birds, 46 species of mammals and 78 species of reptiles living on the islands. Many are nearly extinct. The port is home to a bustling lifestyle and we visited a very peculiar bizzarre. Independence was gained with India in 1947.

Kuala Lumpar, Malaysia

2009-03-30T07:06:00.000-07:00

Kuala Lumpur and Malaysia are rapidly developing and a melting pot for people of many cultures. The city of two million by day and one million by night has many modern and beautiful skyscrapers. The city is very clean – attendants were seen sweeping cigarette butts up at toll booths. Hinduism and Buddhism have played a role in the countries development. The country is a major car assembly location for Japanese and Korean vehicles. Independence was gained in 1957 from the UK and Singapore left the republic in 1965.

One Night in Bangkok

2009-03-26T05:05:00.000-07:00

Bangkok has some of the most elaborately decorated temples that we have seen on this trip. Unlike Cambodia and Vietnam, Bangkok has attracted businesses and cultivated its tourist trade. It, too, has some areas that struggle economically but not nearly on the scale of its neighbors. It boasts to be the home to nine precious gems and a major economic & financial center of Southeast Asia. Home to eight million, the country has a population estimate of 65.5 million, and is about twice the size of Wyoming.

The Clean City of Signapore

2009-03-26T04:57:00.000-07:00

Singapore is the cleanest city we have visited to date; get caught flicking a wrapper on the ground and you pay – no tolerance. The country of five million is a major oil refiner, ship builder, constructor of ocean oil drilling platforms, and a major port for container transfers. It is also a major financial market location and attracts many companies involved with communications, electronics and transportation. The famous Singapore Sling cocktail reportedly goes for $25 on the island, or so Dick tells me. We took some time to visit a wax museum representing what life was like when Allied Forces were stationed there during WWII.

Ho Chi Minh City (formerly Saigon)

2009-03-21T08:11:00.000-07:00

With a population of eight million, Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon) is the largest city in Vietnam. The streets are full of markets and vendors. Bicyclists go where they want. Traffic signals are advisory only and the wiring is something to behold. The US Embassy was torn down after the war but the Presidential Palace, the French Colonial Post Office, Rex Hotel and Notre Dame Cathedral remain in use. The Mekong Delta is still unimproved & used for farming. The trails both on land and in the water are haunting.

Cambodia

2009-03-21T08:07:00.000-07:00

Cambodia appears to be a country of the have's and have not’s. The beaches are something to behold and Sihanoukville is a “resort” town for folks from the inland. Roads in the country side are unpaved and many small tent communities line the roads. It is not unusual to see the children wearing nothing but a single piece of clothing. Educational opportunities in the country are difficult to come by & some schools built & supported by foreign groups. Many walls remain from previous land owners.

A Big Adventure in China

2009-03-16T14:57:00.000-07:00

We spent four straight days exploring only a small portion of China and ended up with hundreds of photographs and a few new friends.

So, here we go. (in no particular order)

The Olympic structures are quite impressive. The structures are not being used on a daily bases because there are no organized sporting events (teams) in China. The massive investment made in these facilities may turn out to be the future museums of the country.

Beijing is the Capital of China and home to 16 mil people. Since 1979 the country has been opened to more western trade. Many modern buildings line the cities business district. There are currently 5 ring roads around the city with plans for a 6th. Many of the old traditions are maintained while incorporating some ideas of the west. Families are still important and the young are still expected to take care of their parents. The one birth per family is still in place with many exceptions.

The Great Wall is one of the wonders of ancient China. Over 7350 K in length (4300 mi) this defensive structure was first built over 2700 years ago. Watch towers line the wall to serve as look outs and warrior resting locations. The wall varies in height (25 to 40 feet) and width (15 to 25 feet). Over 1 mil worked on the wall and those that perished during construction were buried in the wall. The center portion of the wall is rock and earth with a flat stone surface.

Shanghai was our kickoff point to the Great Wall thus limiting our ability to see the sites. All of modern finance, trade, science and technology centers have been built in the last 20 years on the east side of the Huangpu River. Approximately 18 mil people live in the Shanghai metro area and is China’s largest city. The city was self governing and influenced greatly by western culture until the Communist Party came to power. It entered the English language as a verb meaning “to kidnap.”

Hong Kong was reunited with China in 1998 and is now an administrative region of China. A British Colony prior to that it has enjoyed the glitter of the west. The islands were occupied during WWII by the Japanese and then had more than 1 mil refugees come in after the Communist took over China. Famous for clothing, electronics, watches, jewelry, china, optical goods, cameras and more, retail shops line the streets with elaborate signage. Bargain hard and get it made in an hour.

The Ming Tombs are northwest of Beijing & cover 40 Sq Km. The site is in a horse shoe shaped valley with mountains on the three sides. 13 emperors have burial sites in the valley. It was thought that the emperors would continue their rule form the mountains as the shape of the basin gives the notion of a natural throne. The Sacred Way leads the basin and is lined with stone statues of Warriors and animals standing & resting. Standing to guard the tombs & resting to be the guards tomorrow.

Tian’an mem Square is said capable of holding 500000 people. It served as the entrance to the Forbidden City & now is the plaza in front of the National Assembly Building. A memorial to the fallen China soldiers is in the plaza. Mao se Tung’s mausoleum & Memorial Hall is opposite of the Forbidden City. The National Museum of China History is opposite the Assembly Building. Rallies & celebrations are held in the square & who can forget the student confrontation with the tanks in the 80’s.

The Forbidden City was just that to the peasants. Reserved for the Emperors and the ruling class the area was used for grand ceremonies. The city is surrounded by a moat and wall and protected with corner towers. Court business was conducted in the city and it also served as the seat of imperial power in the Ming and Qing dynasties (1368-1911). The walled City covers 720000 Sq M (160 ac) and is 750 by 960 meters. The site is now called the Palace Museum.

Temple of Heaven was a venue for Emperors to offer sacrifices to Heaven & pray for good harvest. The temple is divided into two parts. There is an Altar of Prayer for Grain & a Hall of Prayer for Good Harvest that were used in the spring on the north side of the compound. The south side contained an Altar to offer sacrifice to the heavens on the Winter Solstice. The emperors never walked in the compound, they were carried to the different sites and would participate in ceremonial plantings.

Hiroshima, Japan

2009-03-09T13:39:00.000-07:00

Hiroshima, Japan - August 6, 1945 at 8:15 am will be remembered by this city for centuries. The atomic bomb dropped on the city not only changed Japan but the worlds view regarding these weapons of mass destruction. Hiroshima has since rebuilt and dedicated much of the area around ground zero to a park and museum promoting peace and providing a reminder of the destruction brought about by the bomb. The bomb left 200,000 dead and half of the city destroyed. Today about 1.2 mil people live in Hiroshima.

Osaka, Japan

2009-03-09T08:35:00.000-07:00

Osaka is Japan's seventh century capital and home to 8.8 million residents. A trade center with deep water port, Osaka is the center of finance, trade and cultural exchange for western Japan. Osaka and surrounding cities are home to many castles, shrines and temples. It is Japan’s second largest city. Rain and cool weather greeted us and hampered some of the photo qualities. Much of the city was destroyed in WWII and rebuilt since. Hence most of the office buildings have a modern style.

The architecture is simply amazing. Very climbable, but they frown on that.

There is a love of beauty and colors in this country.

This boat tree is more than 600 years old.

Guam

2009-03-05T10:11:00.000-08:00

Guam came under US control after the 1898 Spanish American War and was purchased from Spain in 1899. In 1950, the island was established as an United States Organized Territory and the Island’s civilian government was formed. All of the islanders were granted US citizenship. The island was discovered by the Spanish and much of the architecture still reflects the Spanish influence. Jesuit missionaries were the first bring European-style civilization to the island. Guam was occupied by Japan during WW II.

I rock.

Like many places, honoring those who have died is very important in the culture here.

Rabaul, Papua New Guinea

2009-03-01T08:37:00.000-08:00

Rabaul, Papua New Guinea was the provincial capital of the country until it was destroyed in 1994 by falling ash from a volcanic eruption. The volcano started to spew ash into the sky again in 2006 and continues 24/7. Although these are not major eruptions they keep the sky full of ash. Our ship had to be scrubbed down after departing the port. There are minimal services on the island, no industrial capacity or running water. While lacking money, the people are not poor in spirit.

My favorite part of the trip is meeting children from around the world. My new friend made us feel very welcome and showed us around the grounds.

I had a night full of grooming after getting covered in this ash.

Ben, I think I found a new project bike. I'll let you ride in the side-car.

Always Didgeradoo, Never Didgeradon't

2009-02-27T19:04:00.001-08:00

Cairns (Cans) is surrounded by the Great Barrier Reef in the ocean and rain forest inland. The city is in the northeast part of Australia thriving on tourism. Many Aborigines lived in the area and the didgeridoo is the musical instrument used in ceremonies. It comes from a tree that has had their interiors hollowed out by termites (naturally). The barrier reef is one of the natural wonders of the world. The reef is host to 1500 species of fish, 4000 types of mollusk and 200 species of birds.

This reminded me of Lord of The Rings; the Fellowship, of course.

No, that's not Michael Phelps.

Ugh.

The Young and the Restless in Brisbane

2009-02-27T19:00:00.000-08:00

Brisbane was home to Britain’s “worst” offenders. Free settlers came in 1842; it became the capitol of Queensland in 1859 which joined the commonwealth in 1901. Brisbane is home to 1.6 mil people and Queensland is known as Australia’s "Sunshine State." Attractions include tropical rain forest, mountain ranges, dusty outback, fertile fields and the Great Barrier Reef. A modern clean city and that strives to play a good host to its visitors. Avg age is 33 years and 21% of pop is under 15 years.

Another examples in the bizarro overlapping with the U.S., Queensland is Australia's own "Sunshine State."

Since we are on a cruise, so many of the cities that we visit are beautiful ports.

Sydney, Voting Is Not A Right, It's An Expectation

2009-02-20T13:21:00.001-08:00

The attitude is a “don’t fret it will get done” approach or as they put it “no worries mate.” However, the Australians take great pride in their country. Everyone votes in elections if you are eligible to vote. If you don't, you pay a fine. Sydney like many Australian cities started out as a British Penal colony. Today, a bustling city in excess of 4 mil people, boasts a very modern downtown of skyscrapers and motorways. As with other cities the old has been preserved or converted to new uses.

There are lots of similarities in topography and monikers (that's a lot of syllables) between the US and Australia. These are Australia's Blue Mountains.

The Wilds of Tasmania

2009-02-18T08:19:00.000-08:00

Tasmania is an island and one of the seven states of Australia. Hobart originally served as a penal colony for England to rid herself of unwanted criminals. Original inhabitants were Aboriginals from Australia arriving across a land bridge during one of the ice ages. Burnie is an industrial center and a large container port. Tasmania once boasted the richest tin mine in the world. Much of the area remains unchanged from the time when the Aborigines roamed the land thousands of years ago.

Some may have thought that this was a "Tasmanian Devil," but it is actually my old friend, Mike. He has put on some weight, so I wanted to be descreat in taking the photo.

Falls like these offer great bathing opportunities for me, whether it's Tuesday or not.

I paused for a while to show this young man how counter sitting is done back in the West.

Aukland, New Zealand (not the home of the Raiders)

2009-02-13T20:13:00.000-08:00

Auckland, New Zealand is a modern city with over one million in population. The city is the host to the Americas Cup Yacht races. The city is known as the city of sails with 5 out of 6 households owning a boat of some sort. We are a day ahead of you at this point having just celebrated Valentine’s Day. It is a clean city which has preserved the old Victorian buildings and merged them with the modern designs. The Sky Tower is the tallest building in Auckland and offers a 600+ foot bungi jump.

You can see that Sue tans the best out of our group.

I just just a tad dizzy from the excitement of climbing that high. Obviously, I'm not scared of heights or anything. Maybe it was some cold medicine...

Luckily, this is a guided tour. Although, I imagine that Dick could ignore these signs just as well as the ones back in the states.

Going back in time at Cook's Island

2009-02-10T08:28:00.000-08:00

The Cook Islands are a territory of New Zealand with a Pop of 16,000-10,000 of whom live in Rarotonga. The main Island is mountainous with jungles and is surrounded by a coral reef. There is one waterfall, an International Airport and a hospital. The coconut-tree-lined white sand beaches are plentiful and inviting. The island is clean, filled with friendly down to earth people and probably 30 years behind most places trying to keep up with the Jones. No one should ever go there (except me). :>)

I felt very "Jurassic" riding in this Jeep-like truck.

Coconuts, coconuts and more coconuts. It takes a guy with a big hatchet to keep up with my appetite.

We've seen a lot of the ocean on this trip, and yet, it looks different from each beach.

Tee Hee in Tahiti

2009-02-06T11:08:00.000-08:00

Tahiti–part of French Polynesia is a 400 sq mi island with 170,000 islanders. A volcanic island with mostly black sand beaches. The caldera of the volcano supports a rain forest receiving 500 inches of rain a year producing many waterfalls large and small. French culture is apparent in language, buildings and mixed with Polynesian traditions of dress, fishing and canoeing. The mystic of the island and culture is apparent among the traditionalists, but the young are caught up in modern ways.

Take photo. Climb tree. Climb again.

Yes, that is a very long waterfall.

Is there a Pun for Pitcairn?

2009-02-06T11:02:00.000-08:00

Pitcairn Island is inhabited by decedents from the mutineers of the ship Bounty and you must be a decedent to live here no visitors allowed for disease control. A territory of the U K under the cloak of New Zealand. Population - 48 with an elementary teacher and doctor provided by the state. 8 to 10 ships a year stop and share some of their provisions with the islanders. Fuel and law enforcement provided by New Zealand. Island size–18 sq mi and very rugged which well describes the islanders.

Did this island just move? There was a bright flash of light and it seemed to move a couple of feet to the right.

Folks on this island "get by with a little help from their friends."

Easter Island

2009-01-30T20:45:00.000-08:00

Easter Island (Rapa Nui) – a 62 sq mi slab of volcanic rock is 2000 miles from anywhere. The island has about 3400 Polynesian descendants although it is believed the society that created the Moai’s no longer exists. About 900 of the Moai survive in some state –toppled, broken, restored and re-erected and some stand as they were found. All of the Moai faced inland when erected to protect the islanders. There was no thought of danger from the seas since they were so far from other lands.

If I landed here on a boat back in the day, I would have left. Advantage: Islanders

Not all of these fellas were lined up.

One foot on the beach.

The Sacred Valley

2009-01-25T23:27:00.000-08:00

The Sacred Valley lies along the Urubamba River in Peru. Numerous ruins dot the valley and adjacent mountain walls. This area was one of the major food sources for the Incas – fruits and fertile land (corn and potatoes) and the Coca leaf used in everyday life and ritual acts.

Settlements and fortresses were located so runners could relay messages from Cusco to the outlying areas. These messages included info about an attack or request for a certain food which might be returned via return runner(s).

You don't just get this stuff at Kohl's.

Rule #1: Decide what the Llama will eat before they decide what to eat.

From my cozy perch, I could see where the sky actually touched the top of the hills.

Never Bean to Lima, Peru

2009-01-25T12:59:00.000-08:00

Lima has grown from 600,000 to about 8 million in the last 25 years. Many businesses constructed elevated guard houses on their building to counter terrorist attacks in the ninety’s. These terrorist attacks in the outlying areas are one of the main reasons Lima’s population increased so fast. Military presence is evident and the central square is well used.

The city is quite colorful and clean. Traffic was a nightmare as we crawled for an hour at 5:00 to just go a couple of miles.

Lima is a beautiful city, but we were ready to board the ship when the day was done.

The Fortress of Machu Picchu

2009-01-24T11:27:00.000-08:00

Machipicchu is a self contained mountain fortress. There were terraced fields, running water, storage buildings, housing, temples, observatories for sun and stars, and watch towers. The city was never invaded by the Spaniards, but suddenly abandoned by the Incas for reasons not fully known. The ruins were discovered in July of 1911 and many artifacts were removed from the site. It has also been estimated that the site will be closed to visitors in 10 years to preserve the site from human touch.

When I catch that Spaniard that took my hat, it's on.

What a beautiful place for a city.

Saq Say Waman

2009-01-23T11:25:00.000-08:00

When I first heard we were going to Saqsaywaman, I thought it was a Mad Gab involving an attractive lady.

actually, Saqsaywamam is a complex of Inca ruins. It was an outpost consisting of three outer walls (15m, 10m, & 7m) with three watch towers on top. It was a military post and a religious place with a temple and ceremonial plaza between the post & temple. Large stones were used to construct the outpost (360 t) with unique jointing methods in the walls. The site was destroyed by the Spanish and used as a quarry for pre cut stones for new construction in Cusco until 1930.

I could pick up a smaller rock.

Whose that "Saqsay" lady in the photo with me?

Near the Equator in Ecuador

2009-01-21T10:25:00.000-08:00

We've already exprienced some wonderful sunsets on this adventure, but this display on our way to Manta, Ecuador was simply majestic.

A stranger helped himself to a photo opportunity with me on the site of these ruins. He could have at least groomed his hair.

Panama Canal, Panama

2009-01-19T11:23:00.000-08:00

Panama has a lot more to offer than a canal, but the canal is a big part of Panama.

Here's our ship passing through the canal. It's huuuuuge.

I thought I would go for a dip, but Dick said that there were large snakes in the water. I guess I'll settle for one of the gazillion hot tubs on the ship.

When Dick said he was going to "help me find religion," I assumed it was a threat related to when I loosened the cap of the parmesan cheese when we were eating pizza on the ship. Guess I got that wrong.

O' Cayman Islands!

2009-01-18T17:16:00.000-08:00

Yesterday we hit the Cayman Islands. Not only was it beautiful, but I also made some new friends... of several different species.

Just in case you needed proof.

Turtles keep it real in the Cayman's.

I can tell this is going to be a friend-filled trip!

Globetrottin' 09

2009-01-16T11:52:00.000-08:00

Hello, everyone. After sitting on my tail monitoring the daily progress at Benetti's Coffee Experience, I've finally gotten the opportunity to do what I do best - engage in Fez'capades. Unfortunately, I have left Marcos behind this time and stowed away with customers Sue and Dick Riegel on their four-month trip around the world.

Our voyage will be mostly by boat, and in preparation for the journey, Dick and Sue shipped most of our belongings ahead of us. Fortunately, mine coud be taken as a carry on. :)

I'll be sharing my experiences with you mostly via photos. So, let's get started:

It takes a lot of stuff to go on a cruise. I think I see a pallet of salsa.

We begin our trip in Fort Lauderdale, Fl. This the a drawbridge, which raises in order for tall boats to be pass through. I guess they wanted to make this boat feel special.

Sue = Awesomeness

We got right down to business by visiting one of the ship's restaurants. Shortly after this photo was taken, a waiter brought to my attention that I was wearing my hat to the dinner table. I agreed to remove it, but didn't think it was any more offensive than Dick's shirt. JK, you know I love ya.

Seeing STAR’s With Motorcycle Riders

2007-08-05T07:57:00.000-07:00

Hello! I just returned from a very exciting trip to STAR Days, a big motorcycle rally for members of a family-oriented riding group centered around Yamaha motorcycles. This year, it was held in Chatanooga, Tenn. I really like saying that --- Cha tuh noooo guh. It’s even more fun to say it very fast several times in a row. It almost sounds like a train. I wonder if that is where they got the name?

Anyway, this Fezcapade was made possible by my companions Bob and Michellene Jeffries. Bob is the president of the Kansas City Starriders Chapter #227. It’s a family-oriented group of bikers centered around Yamaha motorcycles.

There was so much to learn on this trip. First, you learn a lot about motorcycling, which seems to be all about safety and packing a lot of stuff into very small spaces. (I only had room for one or two of my vests.) Since motorcycles are not a box like cars, it is important to pay close attention to safety. This means that we always have to make sure that everything is just right with the motorcycle. Here I am holding the tire gauge for Bob while he makes sure we have enough air in the tires.

Bob did not put his bike on a trailer, so this means I went from Kansas City to Tennessee on two wheels! It didn't take long to find some interesting places on our trip, we even stopped in Missouri's capitol, Jefferson City. Here, I found a very large statue that seemed like it would be a good climb. However, one of the security guards discouraged me from playing on the statue. Here I am planning my route up to the top of his head.

After a few days, we reached the Tennessee border and then the fun really began. Star Days was HUGE and there were a lot of nice folks from all over the country who showed up with motorcycles of all shapes, sizes and colors. I found out that STAR members aren't just in to motorcycles, but they are also very interested in giving to others. Each year, the group donates thousands of dollars to Feed the Children, which helps hungry kids near the rally and across the country.

We also had fun seeing sites and riding very twisty roads. One piece of highway is known as the Tail of the Dragon. There are 318 curves in 11 miles!! Of course, I could have beat them all to the end if I had taken the tree route, but I waited patiently on the bike.

I'm very thankful that Bob and Michellene took me on this adventure. I certainly won't forget it any time soon!

~Fez