Friday 30 April 2010

Smokey Mountains




We continued heading south west, the smokey mountains were calling and we had urges to vist the Cherokee Reserve, the road was outstanding, long sweeping bends designed by nature just for us who risk life and limb on the metal mules.. On arriving in the reserve we bumped into this guy Tony Walkingstick an interesting chap.

Tonight we are staying in the Cherokee Inn, whilst warnings of heavy rain and tornado coming our way we mange to get skype sorted and spoke to Marlon; if any of you are on skype our name is johntaz.dixon we are often on late due to the time difference but feel free to drop us a message.

White Top



Te day before we got there they had four inches of snow i gues that why they call it White Top

Sun out...


The morning brought a frost, but within a few hours the sun was up and we felt the Virginian spring at its best 21 c and we started to loose our warm jackets. We drove for a few hours out of town and into more picturesque places, quant little townships all with their local elections for mayor and sheriff in mid flow, there pristine lawns abound with VOTE FOR joe for MAYOR etc. We were supprised at the number of churches all different types some across the road from each other. I wonder if theey argue who's church is the best.....????

Elvis is Alive!



in the hearts of the people of Lexington, West Virginia.




We set off on our days riding and took a route called the Sky Drive which then led into a famous route Blue Ridge Highway.. It was amazing the veiws were spectacular and the people we met we really cool. We noticed that the accent has started to change into a more Southern twang..

That night we jumped off the the Blue Ridge and stayed in the Pink Cadillac Motel, for all you Elvis fans this would be heaven for you...

Wednesday 28 April 2010

Front Royal


We started the day by going shopping,, i know its not meant to be a that type of a trip, but all the report on the TV are showing very bad weather snow and tornadoes.... Well we started this trip with volcanoes messing with our plans so what's a little tornado going to do? Any way i needed a replacement set of waterproof trousers after mine had gone missing on the ship. The weather was hot and it was great to ride in jeans and biking jacket all open. We tried the Interstate and we didn't like it, too much like the motor ways back home so we hit the back roads. Back roads are the way forward, it was like being in the movies all the houses and barns like in Smallville, it was so cool. We headed south west and even got a chance to jump on a private ferry that went across the Potomac River. It was just what we needed. We eventual arrived in a town called Front Royal a picturesque town where its history was embedded in the civil war. That evening we fettled with the bikes before heading down to the local Mexican eatery. Total miles today 165

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Bikes and Escorts


We arrived at the docks early in the morning, excited to be reunited with our bikes. A very long taxi ride brought us to the security gates, a quick introduction and an explanation of our intentions to collect the bikes led us to one significant problem, we didn't have a union card so we had to be escorted into the docks. We secured ourselves an escort or rather two and headed in. the shipping and customs were as helpful as you would expect from an officials who were entrenched in the unions. Lunch breaks and coffee breaks meant we spent the whole day filling in forms and waiting in queues. We finally got to see our bikes at 2.30pm. Both bikes had flat batteries and the 1200 had various bits missing, i.e. waterproofs out of the panniers and the spot lights off the front. After getting the bikes started with a jumper pack we exited the docks and after a quick repack of kit we embarked on our first ride on US soil. Taz was very nervous but did fantastic. We headed out of Baltimore to find a motel, where we bumped into Chris, a random bloke who was interested in the bikes and our trip. Chris Winger of Baltimore was our first encounter with the locals and we couldn't of done better. He went out of his way and showed us to a decent motel at a reasonable price and even helped me to replace my bulbs that had blown (both probably due to the jump start) We chattered for an hour or so and then he left, and we settled into our motel. Total miles that day 44 by taxi 10 by bike... doh!

picture will follow shortly

Sunday 25 April 2010

Washington DC





Abe and I chilling out...


Safe in the US finally, we spend the next few days exploring the sights of Washington DC. A very clean and friendly city, it surprised me. We spent a few days traveling on the Metro underground train and really got into it. The cry of the road is calling and we collect our bikes tomorrow, fingers crossed. You cant help but worry about the bikes after not seeing them for over two weeks. Tomorrow will tell. Oh an addition to the volcanic adventure hindering our departure, there is are few tornadoes making an appearance.

Friday 16 April 2010


View Larger Map



This is a guide line to our trip, the true route will not be known until we are on it!

Volcano's won't stop us!


Can you believe it? all air travel in the UK is suspended due to an Icelandic volcano spueing ash across Europe. Its got to be a one in a million coincidence, our flight is not for a few days but if this weather pattern continues, it may delay us.. Has any one got a very fast boat?

Sunday 11 April 2010



Cameron and Sadie on their adventure..in Africa. You make us so proud and inspire us to explore and experince all that is. Love you.

The next post will be in a few weeks when we are flying out to Washington.

Wednesday 7 April 2010

The bikes have gone!


dropping the bikes off at the port is hard! not because it takes long or because there is a lot of paper work. its because you just hand your keys over to some strange bloke and thats it. I was worried about the 1200 because its big and heavy and lots of people struggle to ride it due to its size. Dont drop them please.......

This is the last pic of the bikes and Taz before we were shuttled out of the port... bye bikes hope to see you in Baltimore.

Monday 5 April 2010

packing and re packing.....



We spent the evening packing our bike panniers as they would be going with the bikes. Tomorrow we take both bikes to Liverpool to have them shipped to Baltimore. The scariest thing will be handing them over to a Liverpoodlian Docker , keys and all and saying goodbye to them!


We are hoping to take our spare tyre's with us but they may turn them away at the docks if so we will rap them and ask our friends to send them on to a hotel somewhere in Alaska....