Trans Americas 2009 - The Blog

Today was an emotional day for 3 main reasons.

First, I got my bike back. It was ready to collect first thing in the morning, so I went in the van with Jim and Al and was re-united with it in the car park, resplendent with new tires (yes, I know how we're supposed to spell it, but we're in America) and having had a full service. Cost the best part of $900 so it should be good... Al was less fortunate, his bike (an R1150 GS Adventure like mine but immaculate and black) has suffered severe scoring of the rear brake disc and the pads were down to the metal. He's going to have to keep an eye on the rear pads from now on, as they were unable to replace the disc (no spare available). But at least he's also back on the road again...

Second, and more emotionally, we had to say “goodbye” to Uncle Kenny. He'd ridden from Florida to Anchorage with Aaron (his nephew, hence the “uncle”) before the start of the trip, and been with us all the way to Tucson, but needed to get back home for business reasons. All through the trip he's been a font of great knowledge, especially about the wildlife (and how to hunt it) and the flora and forna. We're all going to miss his happy smiling face, his dry humour and most of all his sheer presence (I think secretly the women are also going to miss his “builder's bum” too...)... Thanks for the happy memories, Kenny, hope to catch you on the road again someday...








Thirdly, Andy (“Ozzy Andy” to distinguish him from Andrew) has managed to sort things out so now he can do the complete Trans-Am as opposed to his original plan to leave us in Panama. This is great news, as it means the full team that started so long ago in Anchorage (with the exception of Kenny, who we knew would have to leave in Tucson) will now be heading all the way down. Andy's wife, Sandra, is here in Tucson having flown in to see him, and she'll be taking care of their business whilst he's enjoying himself with us, so big “thanks” to her from the rest of us...

And so to the rest of the day. Well, it wasn't quite as hectic as expected. I had intended to go to the Air & Space Museum (more of that tomorrow, perhaps), but still had a lot to organise, so decided to spend the day getting myself sorted and then chilling out by the pool. First job (having got my bike back) was to sort out my finances, as I'd been locked out of my Internet banking service and needed to get that resolved quickly. Luckily, my access had been restored, so I was able to check my credit card balance (been using it for fuel all the way through the US as the pumps are “pay at pump before filling up” types), and setup the payment. Then I wanted to ensure Tracy has sufficient money to treat herself, so sorted that, then it was off to the bank to get some more cash out (dollars, in good-quality notes) and to change the $50 notes I have for smaller denominations...

The bank, Wells Fargo, was “interesting”. On entering, I was greeted by someone saying “Welcome to Wells Fargo and how may I help you”. I though it terribly polite, and was quite chuffed, until I realised they said it automatically whenever anyone walked through the door, or drove up to the drive-in window (I kid you not, this bank branch had a “drive-in” counter for those too lazy or fat to get out of their SUVs and waddle inside). The next bit that I found odd was the staff uniform. In the UK, all bank staff tend to wear a sedate, professional uniform. The young girl serving me had a top on that emphasized her infeasibly large cleavage. After 6 weeks on the road, this was quite a problem, especially when she came to count out my currency and had to lean over the counter a bit more whilst doing the “That's 20-40-60-80-1, 20-40-60-80-2...” thing. But this was my money, so I wrenched my gaze away from her chest and watched the cash being counted with the intensity of stare Medusa would have been proud of. Then it was back to the hotel for a cold shower and to stash the cash in my secret hiding place...

With the great financial challenges resolved, the next task was to update the blog (didn't take long as naff-all happened yesterday), and then get changed and go sit by the pool for the rest of the day. I did try to sort through my photos and start the process of creating the Trans-Am galleries, but it was hot and sunny and there was a cool pool to mess about in, so that's what I did instead.

I did manage another chore, washing my bike jacket & trousers in the hotel's guest laundry machine, but it came out looking as dirty as it went in, so I don't think that was a great success. Oh, and I also finished my book (“Uneasy Rider” by Mike Carter that Tracy bought me as a going-away present – it's very good).

Before long the day had gone and it was time to have the first beer and eat something, so we congregated in the hotel's bar/restaurant and ordered an appetizer and entree, only for them to arrive all at once (again!) and so the food was rushed (though it was very good). Aaron's bar-hopping trip coincided with the meals arriving, so only Jeff and Aaron went out, the rest of us sitting and chatting for a while, until it was just Nick, Andrew and me left at the bar, chatting to the barmaid as she closed up (her mother is from Gloucester) before heading off to bed, the promised last-night-in-the-US debauchery having completely failed to materialize...