A little Background

      Why a blog:    For sometime we have been sending our friends a ride report via email when we finished a major motorcycle/trike trip.  They seemed to enjoy them and asked us to continue.   With the start of our extended riding it didn't seem practical   To try and remain more current rather than wait until trip completion we decided to start a blog.  We thought it would allow a more current and complete picture of our ride and the comment feature would also allow interaction.  We also thought it would allow those that don't ride to gain an insight into what we do.  This will be that ride  report,  we are new at this so bear with us.  We have a GPS tracker we call "gypsy tracks" that leaves a trail on a map so our concerned friends and relatives can keep an eye on us.
      A little background, a lifetime of experiences, mistakes and victories. We have Lots to draw on.
      My father was born on the first day of 1900 and the story is that he weighed two pounds. As the youngest of five I was born when he was 46 and my mother was 45. Knowing little of my parents or ancestors, I would also like to leave something for my children and descendants to learn and draw from.  Maybe we can make their life path easier. 
    Growing up on a farm in South Eastern Minnesota. I like to call it an old fashioned farm, 160 acres, horses for field work, a few cows, chickens, pigs, sheep, ducks and of course riding horses. They became one of my first passions. We had electricity but running water was added sometime in my younger years and an indoor bathroom was added at some point during my senior year in high school. Our only source of heat was a wood fired potbellied stove in the living room.
    I attended country school (yes I walked but it was not uphill both ways.)  for the first few years.  The school was absorbed into the Dover school District to complete my elementary education and then on to neighboring Eyota for High School.  I attended vocational electronics in Winona.  I married my sweetheart and we have three grown daughters.    Drafted into the service becoming a  Navy Aviation structural mechanic during the Viet Nam years.  I joined my squadron aboard the USS Enterprise, at that time the largest nuclear powered Aircraft carrier.  I’ve had work careers in sales, delivery, repair, labor of all kinds, gentle horse training and finally motorcycle/Trike conversion. Our Trike Website!

     Contributions accepted but not expected. 
1.  Individuals:     Often I have enjoyed something and felt I should contribute to it's continuation.  If you enjoy or benefit from what you are reading. (We don’t know yet, it’s too early. We might not even enjoy reading it.)    If you have the means and want to drop a buck or two in an envelope please send it to R & V 14108 655 Street Wabasha MN 55981. We are new to blogging so if you include your email we will inform you if we move to another site.

2.  Business’s:  that we have patronized on our ride.  Contact us by Email  for information on adding a link/map to your location or website.   I think we would make great secret shoppers. We will not add a location where we have been less than pleased with our interaction.    Patronize them and let them know you seen it here.
    One example of this would be Bandanas by Michelle (her Facebook handle)  . Shameless example, Michelle happens to be our daughter. She rides a Harley, I know we tried

3.   What will we do with these gifts. They will be used as needed.  To aid our travel costs or Samaritan activities.  Our dream goal would be to have enough extra so we could be good Samaritans with funding.  In our travels we are exposed to people with needs.  Sometimes a helping hand is all that is needed.   However sometimes besides hard work it just takes cash.  We know what it is like to be on the road with children in the back seat looking to you for safety and steam coming out of the front of the engine.
   
As Louis sings!
"I hear babies cry...... I watch them grow
They'll learn much more.....than I'll never know
And I think to myself .....what a wonderful world "


Welcome and thanks for joining us, climb on and enjoy the ride.  Hope you brought your camera!
      I believe I will start off with a little disclaimer.  Sometimes when you tell a story it is hard to convey the meaning behind the story without listing some details that may or may not be flattering.   A Facebook freind gave me what I believe is a safe solution.   Everything I write is from my point of view, which if you know me at all is probably somewhat slanted and maybe some of it is pure fiction and any resemblance is just a coincidence.  However if you see someone you admire you are welcome to claim that it is you.