PA to LB Chronicle of Bruce Smith's Historic Journey

Looks like cousin Bob is spending too much time at the Sun Cruz buffet

Wandering around the casino ship, trying to decide next game to attempt

Enjoying sun, pool, and beer at Hoffmans' after return from cruise

Decked out and ready to roll on to Venice - hopefully, before the rain hits

PA 2 LB

(Pennsylvania to Long Beach)

Chronicle of Bruce Smith's Historic Journey

Part I - York, PA to Wichita Falls, TX

(Part II - Wichita Falls, TX to San Bernardino, CA)

(Part III - The Saga Continues - Not in Long Beach yet!)

(Part IV - Travels & Commentary of Ricochet Smith)

So, you ask, what's so historic about a trip from Pennsylvania to Long Beach? Well, firstly, we're talking about an old guy - he graduated High School in 1965, 6 years after me, so that would make him about 61. Second, he's making this trip on a Harley. Third, he's going by way of Florida. Fourth, and possibly the most interesting, he's planning to mostly stay with friends and relatives! So, when he biked out of my yard this morning, I thought it might be spiffy (old Minnesota expression) to chronicle the trip, adding photos from each stop, and end up with a bit of a family photo website.

On the itinerary down the left side, we add updates every time the bike moves (and Bruce with it). Below, you'll find photos with captions. If you want to be emailed about updates, sign the Guest Book above!

Bob Hoffman, cousin and webmaster

CLICK ANY PHOTO FOR A LARGER VIEW!

ITINERARY

(click a date to jump to specific photos)

PART I

08/19/08 - Leaving York, PA (Daughter Aleta w/ Ella, Phil)

08/22/08 - York, PA to Ocean City, MD (with Aleta, Ella, & Phil)

08/22/08 - Ocean City, MD to Raleigh, NC (Sister Joyce)

08/25/08 - Raleigh, NC to Savannah, GA (motel)

08/26/08 - Savannah, GA to Rockledge, FL (Cousin Bob Hoffman and wife Joyce)

08/30/08 - Rockledge, FL to Venice, FL (Cousin Buzz Gordon and wife Kris)

09/03/08 - Venice, FL to Lake Placid, FL (Cousin Len's house)

09/05/08 - Lake Placid, FL to Tallahassee, FL (Cousin Marylin and husband Bill)

09/08/08 - Tallahassee, FL to Opelousas, LA (fleabag motel)

09/09/08 - Opelousas, LA to Shreveport, LA

09/10/08 - Shreveport, LA to Wichita Falls, TX

PART II

09/12/08 - Wichita Falls, TX to Amarillo, TX

09/13/08 - Amarillo, TX to Santa Fe, NM

09/16/08 - Santa Fe, NM to Gallup, NM

09/17/08 - Gallup, NM to Needles, CA

09/18/2008 - Needles, CA to San Bernardino, CA

San Bernardino - Route 66 Rendezvous (Classic Cars)

Ancient Bruce: With 1951 Triumph, just after return from Viet Nam

Semi-Ancient Bruce: In 1977, while mining gold in California

What people do on Sun Cruz casino ship after they lose all their money

In the garage, before donning his boots and other biker paraphenalia

York, PA - Ocean City, MD - Raleigh, NC - Savannah, GA - Rockledge, FL - Venice, FL - Lake Placid, FL - Tallahassee, FL

- Opelousas, LA - Shreveport, LA - Wichita Falls, TX = 2759 miles (Mapquest estimates 45 hour trip :)

Bruce in biker bathing suit on Maryland shore with grandkids

It's the amazing Kite-Man!

Mom and Grandkids checking out the surf at Ocean City, MD

Tropical Storm Fay visits Dillon, SC Not the best weather for biking

Bruce rides off toward Venice, looking like Peter Fonda in "Easy Rider"

Bruce let me sit on his bike! (sorry about the foggy lens - hot morning)

Labor Day with the Nam Knights

Nam Knights run - Bruce, hanging out with bikers in Venice, FL

Biker exercising on the beach

(no enlargement available YET)

Labor Day party at Willies', a friendly little gathering spot in Venice

Another view at Billy's place

Cousin Buzz in front, friend Billy in back on his new bike

Bruce at Cousin Len's in Lake Placid

Buzz, Bruce, and Billy (taking photo) ready to ride to Len's at Lake Placid

At Smitty's request, we've added (for your entertainment) links to

Back On The Beach"

with Jimmy Rabbitt

on 101.5 KOCI FM

Newport Beach , California

streaming on: KOCIRadio.com

twittering at: twitter.com/elconejo09

Interesting roadside attractions: Mudders in Perry, FL.

Len's Bedroom on the Beach by Diane

Learning com-pu-ters together (Cousins Marylin and Bruce)

Learning how to use a com-pu-ter

Antique Car Museum: Marylin in the phone booth

Antique Car Museum: Bruce & Bill with the "other" Marilyn

Brandon & Hayden (Marylin & Bill's grandkids via son Michael and wife Cristi (not shown)) on Bruce's Harley. So, all you family tree buffs, what is the relationship between Bruce & Brandon?

Eating at Ted's Montana Grill (love that Bison)

Webmaster's note: I've been to the Antique Car Museum and there are some really amazing cars, etc. there. I'm all for people pictures, but I can't believe they didn't take any car photos - maybe coming from Bruce's camera ...

Antique Car Museum: Put Your Leg There and Pull Harder! (Is it my imagination or is that left foot at a really strange angle?)

Antique Car Museum: (finally, some cars) Bill and Marylin's new Tucker

Antique Car Museum: Batman Special - Is that Bruce in the Batgirl costume?

Sunday, September 7 email:

What with Ike being hot on my heels soon at Cat 4, I’ll be leaving Marylin & Bill’s tomorrow morning (Monday). I figure to be somewhere near Baton Rouge Monday night and overnighting again in Shreveport . Then NW through Dallas/FW, Witchita Falls and Amarillo and more to figure out.

--------------------------------------------

Monday (midnight), September 8 email:

I left Tallahassee this morning and it was great until I got to Baton Rouge – Gustav refugees and repair crews/FEMA have taken over the entire city's motels and I am in a fleabag motel in Opelousas run by people from India but I am drying out!! You would not believe the destruction around here. I’ll try to get photos when it’s daylight.

Antique Car Museum:

The Luddite Special

Mississippi has the best Welcome Centers and Louisiana has the friendliest cops – they all wave hi.

Mississippi has the best Welcome Center - Elvis is in the building!

The road rain did my laundry for me by the time I got to Grand Cane, LA for the “self portrait”.

Breakfast in Ville Platte, LA - How about shrimp etouffe for breakfast???

Tyler (East of Dallas) off-ramp

Best gas-stop in Texas

With all the Necessary Stuff

In Wichita Falls (West of Dallas), watching Ike following and eating Pecan Pie for midnight snack, after enjoying Ike's rain most of the way from Dallas to Wichita Falls