9 Sept.......Van to Marriott Hotel for Reunion Festivities..Park Ridge,NJ

It's still pouring, so Will organized a van to transport the Rogers & the two of us to NJ.

Regret the meteo wouldn't cooperate for a leasurely ride together the final 43 miles, but West Point was the goal/destination. That we accomplished.

Final totals: 5823 km...108/day..54 days riding with 6 rest days

or 3617 miles..65/day

Cost:$1200/month vs.$1000/month 5 yrs. ago

Flat tires:Palmer-3,Weber-5?,Swedes-none

Sincere thanks to our hosts on the trip for providing that "home away from home"...you can't know how great that cocoon was......we felt so spoiled. Getting to know "a name" a little bit better today ,nearly 50 years after our initial shared experiences, was a delight. Kinda like finishing a sentence started that long ago. Hans & Inga-Lill expressed often their astonishment of being so readily invited into the "family" & how thankful they felt. So, Bill & Kathy, Carl & Liz,Bill & Alyson,and Jim & Jynell our heartfelt thanks for putting up with us & bending over backwards to make our stays the special treat that they were. You're tops.

Jim...extra special thanks for all the great work transcribing my telephone call updates & getting them out on the net. Am certain you've made Larry Struble proud. And Frank..without you ,the site would be truly in cyberspace. Thanks for anchoring it.

Impressions:PRO:

A x-country jaunt like this needs to be undertaken by bike..to see, feel the diversity of this great expanse..its people, its geography, national parks, its history. The further from metropolis' the better. The reception by bike is genuine, non-threatening, open..is full of surprises. On unexplored roads each day is unique. Your senses will go into overdrive, be fully used. Your emotions, both highs & lows, will fill scales heretofore unknown (war excluded). Encounters, though fleeting ,are REAL....Americans' capacity to trust, serve, help you are far more than you could ever expect. To cram all this into a brief 8 week experience, you sense that you're LIVING. You've reduced routine to a minimum...that's the KEY to LIVING...IMHO.

CON:

The franchise industry is usurping vast areas of the country. Plunk me down in the middle of McD's, Pizza Huts, Walmarts, Costco strips anywhere in the land & I can't tell you where I am...this is deplorable. Unique town centers are dying, yet where wise city fathers have outlawed franchises, tourists flock...to experience their uniqueness, history,fantastic location. Give me a Ma & Pa soda shop anyday..with home baked pies & an olde frappe.

The country is systematically drugging itself to death. Used to be no one took medication...now you're weird if you don't. What happened? Why? I fear TV has scared the bejesus out of sensible folk..see your Dr. about this ..or that. Europe doesn't operate like this. Maybe that's why I sense an apathy everywhere...about upcoming elections, etc....though the Heartland still shows more emotion than the coasts. Prozac rules! Medication for kids? Wake up, America...Ever try changing diet..lifestyle?

Thanks for allowing me my little rant...good luck all. Hope to see you on the road some day.

Larry