USA Midwest 2023, Day 1 of 16 September 1, 2023
I start from home in Douglasville, Georgia and roll northward via backroads through Alabama, Tennessee, Kentucky and then take a ferry across the Ohio River into Illinois where I camped for the night at Tower Rock Campground near Cave-In-Rock, IL.
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Day 10, the last day, of my California Loop 2018 Motorcycle Trip. In this video, I ride from Crystal Lake Camp Grounds southbound on San Gabriel Canyon Road (California Highway 39) to Azusa, CA. From Azusa, I jump onto Interstate 210 East. Not shown in the video, I rode I-210 E to CA-57 South to CA-71 South to I-15 South to Lake Elsinore, CA.
The video resumes in Lake Elsinore, CA on Central Ave (CA-74) where I ride home to my apartment complex. Sidenote, my family and I moved from Lake Elsinore, CA to Ramona, CA in October 2019 preparing for our move to Georgia in 2020 (where we still live today in 2025).
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On this day, I departed Rancheria Campground on Huntington Lake, California and rode the very scenic Huntington Lake Road which had some terrific mountain views and somewhat sketchy road in some spots. Then I headed towards Fresno, CA on California Highway 168.
This is where this video ends as the remainder of the day was mostly freeway and interstates all the way to Azusa, CA where I camped at the Crystal Lake Camp Grounds.
As stated in a post yesterday, Dexter was traded in for a new motorcycle on Friday October 17th, 2025 for a new (23 miles at time of purchase) 2025 Harley-Davidson Pan America 1250 Special. Today, October 18th, 2025 DeAndra named the new motorcycle Bruce. She had me fire it up as she walked around the bike and then stated “You can turn Bruce off now”. So, there we we have it, the sacred motorcycle naming ceremony has been completed LOL.
Bruce is the new bike’s name.
Today, October 17, 2025 I traded in Dexter for a new 2025 Harley Davidson Pan America 1250 Special. Originally, I was planning on keeping dexter in addition to the new ’25 Pan AM. But, with limited space available in the garage and the planned shed delayed for several more years, there was no space for 2 motorcycles. Plus, I got a fair offer for Dexter being 20 years old from Atlanta Harley Davidson (and locked in for what feels like forever on the new bike lol).
DeAndra and I took Dexter out last week, October 10th, 2025 for what would be the last ride (not counting today’s ride to the dealer). It is a bit bittersweet as I am excited about the new motorcycle and the great flexibility for riding that it offers (which is why I wanted an adventure centric bike for future trips). But man, there was allot of history, mishaps, unplanned adventures lol, and blissful mayhem with Dexter. Not to mention that I truly believe Dexter is in the best shape it has been in for many many years. It was a hard decision and I was feeling surprisingly emotional about it. Wow, I guess I do still have a feel human feelings lol, I will have to work on that :).
I think it has been about two years since I have updated anything on this blog or my YouTube channel. Quick update: I did complete my USA Midwest 2023 trip successfully and it was fantastic. Then I began working two jobs again and did so all the way to June 2025. That is my excuse for neglecting this site and riding only about 200 miles since my 2023 Midwest trip to June 2025.
Tail of the Dragon
The weekend of 9/12/2025 – 9/14/2025 I did ride a fantastic weekend trip up in the North Carolina / Tennessee mountains and rode the Tail of the Dragon (and many other roads I think are more fun) with Dexter. A bit sketchy and rusty in the mountains as this was my first real riding of any kind in two years! I did put in about 600 miles on that Saturday alone though and the mojo was returning strong 🙂
Drop on Bell Mountain …Oooops lol
On the way back home in Georgia (I live a bit west of Atlanta) I went up to Bell Mountain and ended up dropping dexter on a stupid steep incline while conducting numerous dumb rider mistakes. It was not very dramatic as I was going slow, too slow and almost stalled on the very very steep climb up the mountain. The bike stopped and there I was perched on the steepest road I have ever been on (to include all of the mountains I been through out west and Colorado). With my rear brake engaged I attempted to throttle up and get moving but, the bike started rolling backward and I basically just bailed (fall over to the right.) Sounds and looked more dramatic than it actually was. I still ended up with a 130 mile tow back home as the drop snapped off my brake lever and there was no way I was going to be able to ride Dexter (just under 1000 pounds) down that ridiculous mountain road. I ordered a new lever and installed it less than a week afterward and have done some light local riding since.
Riding with DeAndra and a slow goodbye to Dexter
Today, 10/10/2025 DeAndra (my wife) and I did a short ride down to Newnan, GA for some lunch at Culvers. This has been the first time we have been able to 2-up ride since we moved from California in 2020. Today will also probably be the last time we can do so on Dexter. On 10/04/2025, I put a deposit down for a 2025 Harley Davidson Pan America and will be trading in Dexter as part of the deal. I am waiting for the motorcycle to be delivered to Atlanta Harley Davidson. If the deal works out as prescribed on 10/04/2025, I should be riding home on the ’25 Pan America (have to wait for DeAndra to name this bike lol) by Saturday 10/18/2025.
There will a be 2.5 year additional pause of any significant motorcycle trips other than to the Georgia, North Carolina, and Tennessee mountains and some riding local and into eastern Alabama (semi-local). First, I have to learn how to ride the new bike and get comfortable with it. Second, I need to configure, outfit and test the planned add-ons and upgrades. Three, I will be practicing off-pavement riding (nothing crazy, not looking at off road, just off pavement Think gravel roads, forest roads, etc and just being comfortable off road with an adventure bike.
And then……currently planned……Alaska 2028 Motorcycle Trip. OOOOH AAAAAH
Alaska 2028 Motorcycle Trip
As currently planned, would be starting the trip from Georgia on June 23, 2028 and wrap up back in Georgia on August 01, 2028. Will be riding with some camping and some hoteling, to Fairbanks, then Deadhorse via the Dalton Highway, then to Anchorage. My wife and son will be flying up to Anchorage from Atlanta for a week family vacation, then, I resume my motorcycle trip to include a tentative mini sidetrack to Telegraph Creek, BC (weather permitting) and then back to Georgia.
Total planned miles for Alaska 2028 Motorcycle Trip = 11,304
In the Meantime….
I believe I still have a few videos to upload from some of my riding in 2018, All days for the USA Midwest 2023 trip and the more recently the Tail of the Dragon trip. I plan to start posting again soon and once I get rolling again doing that, I will start posting videos. Of course, there will be some goodbye to Dexter and Hello to the yet to be named bike too. And of course, I actually need to start riding some more again lol…
Be back on here soonish……..Peace!!
Ride from Stockton California to Huntington Lake California where I camped for the night. Much of the days ride was on CA Highway 99 which leaves much to be desired scenery wise. However, the ride back into the mountains was had some nice scenery and enjoyable riding.
On Day 8 – Part One, I travelled from Cottonwood Creek Campground, along the east side of Lake Tahoe, over Carson Pass, to Stockton, CA. The video picks up the trip in Lake Tahoe and ends in Clements, CA.
Ride over Carson Pass, California on Carson Pass Highway (CA-88).
Garmin fell from bike. Will explain more later. Trip tracking looks to be over .
Wanderlust Lyfe 