On the causeway to South Padre Island on the Texas coast, 20 miles from Brownsville and the Mexican border.
South Padre was quite nice, for the most part undeveloped.
Not too touristy and low season prices.
Along the Mexican border in the valley of the Rio Grande overlooking the city of Laredo. This area along the border is interesting, almost like another country, a blend of Hispanic and American cultures. English is spoken at the counters, but spanish behind.
Bridge over the Pecos River, on its way to the Rio Grande.
Into West Texas along the border west of Del Rio. It has more the feeling of entering the real west, on the way to El Paso.
Gas Stop at Lordsburg, New Mexico and an older station wagon and attached camper.
Visited family in Phoenix, Arizona. My cousin Pauline, husband Mickey and son Casey. Great to see them!
Northwest of Phoenix, a reservoir in "Apache" country.
Tortilla Flats, a small western town northwest of Phoenix.
Sunset in retirement heaven at Apache Junction, 20 minutes east of Phoenix. Friends of mine own a unit and spend their winters here. Pretty, safe, and dirt cheap.
Shuffleboard courts.
At play.,
John and Eunice, friends from Cassidy, B.C., in front of their winter home.
On the highway north to Jerome, a small former mining town up in the mountains 2 hours north of Phoenix
Jerome founded in the late 19th century was a rich source of copper, gold and silver.
Today it is known as an art centre, home to more than 30 galleries. Above the view over the town and of the valley below. The elevation is just over 5000 feet.
On the highway north of Jerome to catch a bit of the famous "Route 66" west. Early March and still a little snow among the trees.
On "Route 66" near Seligman, Arizona. It was early in the season and as a result I had the road pretty well to myself. Lots of neat little American style diners and funky motels.
Classic motel on "66" owned by an interesting Norwegian lady all of 120 lbs. or so, and proud owner of a big white Harley. Notice dust storms in the distance.
Woke up to a dusting of snow the next morning, but soon hit lower elevation and warmer temperatures a couple of hours to the west
Beautiful desert country and a good uncrowded highway.
Sagebrush and cactus.
The Mojave Desert in the distance.
The town of Oatman in western Arizona, a old mining town, now a tourist centre, my last stop on the old "Route 66" before catching the interstate system in California.
Down into the Mojave Desert in southeastern California.
The Mojave
Farmland near the city of Mojave, South eastern California.
Mystic Mount Shasta, northern California.
On the Interstate going through Oregon, one of my favourite American states.
In Eugene, Oregon visiting with Gayla Jean, a long time travelling friend of over 30 years and four continents. Simon, Monica, Casey and Cain, she is now officially part of the trip, having ridden part way of it on the back seat of my bike!
Gayla and her partner Steve had just sold their sail boat in Thailand and are on their way to Europe to buy a canal boat where they plan to spend the next several years.
After a few days in Eugene I made for the Canadian border. Arrived on March 12th, a rainy blustery day
Through the border and into "Beautiful British Columbia".
Back in Nanaimo with two "heroes" of mine, Denny and Audrey, motorcyclists of a "certain age" and still going strong!!
A True biker babe!
Back where it all started on the concrete pad in front of the garage at my old buddy Frank Bajich's place, where we put the motorcycle into a box and loaded it up for shipment to Tokyo 23 months before. With this last stop the trip and the circumnavigation comes to an end. Just short of 50,000 kms. travelled, 21 countries visited and 9.5 months on the motorcycle over 2 summers and one spring. What a ride!!
3475 miles A-Driscoll, Texas, B-South Padre Island, C-Laredo, D-El Paso, E-Phoenix, Apache Junction, F-Jerome, G-Oatman, H-Mojave, I-Eugene and J-Nanaimo, B.C., Canada.
The total milage on the North American part of the trip--9000 kilometres.
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