Adventures of the Waylands: September 2014

So I'm sure you all have figured out that even thought the blog is titled the Adventures of the Waylands that I, Jen, am really the one who does all the publishing of blog posts. Clint has been back from his trip for 3 weeks now but still hasn't shown any interest in creating a blog post about his adventure. So I will relay the trip as best I can.

It all began in 2013 when Clint found a "love note" from a guy asking if he wanted to sell his motorcycle when he parked it at Osan Airbase, Korea. The fact that Steve, the author of the note, had seen it, is a little amazing since he works at Camp Humphreys but lives in Osan. So he had left a note for Clint asking if he wanted to sell his motorcycle (which Clint had just bought new in January and had shipped to Korea by April.) But it wasn't until some time in the summer that Clint had found the note because it had slipped down beneath his seat. Guess it had fallen down there. And so began a great friendship!

Steve had started to tell Clint about this Trans-American Trial (Click the link to read about it, but basically it is a trail for motorcycles that goes from the eat coast to the west coast and is mostly on dirt) which Steve had already been preparing for, even from Korea, It was literally a life saver for Clint! Everyone knows we disliked Korea and it was a tough 2 years. Clint getting to plan for the TAT was a great goal for him to reach at the end of the tunnel.

We had a few hiccups, like the bike not getting to Korea in time to meet Steve on the East Coast. So he rode his bike from South Dakota to Oklahoma to meet up with Steve.

There are a lot of pictures, but I am really proud that Clint actually took pictures! He usually harrasseS me about always being behind the camera, not experiencing it in person, but photos help me remember and share my adventures with friends, so hopefully you will all get a little taste of the TAT!

Driving to Okalahoma.

First camp site.

Back in Kansas!

Flat as a pancake! Literally!

Miles of this!

Clint was thankful for the porta - potty!

A guy that Clint had met while waiting for Steve. Invited him to his farm so that Clint and Steve could have dinner with his family! Clint said he had the best fried zucchini he has ever eaten and will never eat zucchini any other way!

Fancy hotel for the night. Steve had crashed his bike, and thought he broke his collar bone. After a few hours at the ER they decided sleeping in beds would be better then campin.

Haunta House in Kansas.

Steve doesn't like Oklahoma. Can you tell?

Colorado!

Clint had name tags made for him and Steve. Guess you would have to watch Ewan McGreggor in Long Way Round to understand the desire to have a name tag. But the New Englanders that Steve had met up with at the beginning of the ride were giving Clint a little bit of a hard time for not starting on the East Coast.

Clint's camping stove.

We still are in shock at how beautiful the skies are in the USA!

They made some modifications to the TAT due to Steve's injury and did some paved roeads.

How much do you want to bet that Clint smiled even thought we couldn't' see his face?

This road that they were on was really difficult to ride because the stones were just big enough to fit in the treads of his tires which made it like trying to ride on marbles.

Moab

Clint learned how NOT water proof our 13 year old tent was! He said he woke up to his phone swimming in water! So they bought a bag of rice. Steve said that the rice attracts the Asians and they fix the phone while you are sleeping!