Chicago, Illinois to Kansas City, Missouri
15 April 2004
Day 1

As America worries about its taxes I have spent the day in the wind. Lots and lots of wind. White knuckled I endured winds gusting from 22 to 36 mph. Needless to say my hopes for this trip have been somewhat dampened. Tired and sore I did make my goal, I made it to Quincy. 329 miles in a little over nine hours.

I should have known what the day held in store after walking into the garage and seeing the small puddle under the bike. First I panicked, then I swore, then I just hoped I could get it fixed. After a quick trip to Chicago Harley who checked the transmission fluid and oil, we discovered I had overfilled the gas tank preparing for the ride. The overflow tube had left a little puddle.

So now it was noon and I was just getting started. The first leg, down Lake Shore Drive to I55.

On I55 I was following an 18 wheeler who starts hitting his breaks and wiggling a lot. Normally I wouldn’t follow a truck but traffic was heavy and there just wasn’t another lane to be in. I think this truck might have saved my life. A pick up had lost a ladder in the middle of the highway. It's amazing how many little sharp pieces a ladder can turn into. Thanks to the truck driver I was able to slow and move through the pieces without a problem.

From I55 I left the highways behind and began Route 6 heading west. Rt 6 is designated an Illinois River Road. The wind began to pick up a bit here but the ride was pleasant and the scenery beautiful. Little towns along the way and lots of farms. While I was somewhat prepared for the Mississippi River ( I am seriously afraid of heights) I was not in the least prepared for the Illinois River. That’s when I began talking to the Amazons. An activity I would engage in a lot over the coming miles.

Crossing the bridge I could not remember the mantra we have discussed prior to my departure, all I could remember was it was something about WyzWmn and a chicken. What came out was WyzWmn is a kinky chicken. After saying it out loud twice I realized what I had said and burst out with laughter.

I made it across the bridge without a problem.

Leaving Route 6 I now headed south on Route 29, another Illinois River Road. The winds have really picked up now and my nerves are on edge. Traffic, while light, seems to realize I am having a difficult time and leaves me plenty of room to speed up or slow down as needed. For that I am grateful.

After Route 29 it’s on to Route 24 west, the Lewis and Clark Trail. My time today on this road is spent fighting the winds and talking to the Amazons. While some may think this is crazy, for me it helped to relieve the stress and anxiety. For each there is a question or quite conversation, at times it is simple piano music playing in my head that eases the nerves. It is an activity that takes away much of the fear.

Around 9:00 pm I enter Quincy, Illinois, my goal for the day. I am tired and a little sore. Of course the hotel I picked is right next to the bridge crossing the Mississippi River. Have I mentioned just how much I hate heights!! However, it is a beautiful view.

I order a pizza and take a hot bath. As rough as the day was, I do have a feeling of accomplishment. I am sure I will sleep well tonight.

Stella and Bacon in Quincy, Illinois with the bridge spanning the Mississippi in the back ground

Chicago, Illinois to Kansas City, Missouri
16 April 2004
Day 2

As predicted I slept like a rock. The day is starting out quite well and warming up nicely. I decide to visit the local Harley Davidson Dealer, TNT Action Sports in Quincy, Illinois before heading back on Route 24. Its a nice place with friendly staff. Worrying more and more about the bridge crossing the Mississippi I ask one of the salesmen if the bridge was grated, He assured me it was. Great! Something else to look forward to. So I gathered my courage and headed for the bridge

Upon reaching the bridge and finding it NOT grated I began my mantra and made it across just fine. I had arrived in Missouri. The land here is vast. With little towns here and there and every other inch of earth filled with farms. I spend some time pondering a life here. Will the young stay or move on? Would a simple farming life be enough for me? I guess that's a thought I could spend a lot of time on.

The wind has again picked up. Thankfully there's really no other cars on the this road. I ride for hours only seeing a couple. The temperature is now in the 80's and my head feels like a fried egg in my full face helmet. Each time I stopped I poured cold water in the helmet, it helped quite a bit but was dry within a half hour.

248 miles past the Mississippi River I pulled up to the Hyatt Hotel! I had arrived. As I was preparing to celebrate my accomplishment, here comes the valet. "What are you doing? Can I help you?" His tone not of a greeter but more bouncer like. When I tell him I'm there to check in her just says "Oh" and walks away. Not quite the greeting I was expecting.

Checking in I ask where I could park the bike and was told I could put it in the valet section and they would only charge me the standard garage rate. Her reasoning was that the bike would be safe, secure and out of everyone's way in that section. By the time I got back to the bike MJ's shuttle had arrived from the airport. Talk about great timing! I unloaded everything and then told the bouncer valet where the woman inside told me to park the bike. He informed me that valets didn't park bikes. After listening to me explain that I didn't expect him to ride it, I just needed to know where to park it, he troddled off to find his parking manager bouncer. Shortly three burly fellows came walking over to tell me no, I could not park there. I just said fine, MJ's response, "Wow, it took 3 big men to come tell the girlie biker NO!" I couldn't help but laugh.

I had arrived in Kansas City! A trip filled with firsts, first long ride, first ride in heavy winds and the fist signs of biker discrimination.

The Trip Home
Kansas City, Missouri to Chicago, Illinois