This document summarizes a multi-state road trip taken by Gary Burgess from September 17th to October 4th. Some key details: - The 8,240 mile trip covered 24 states and included visits to 120 places, 10 state capitals (for a total of 49), and 9 manufacturing plants (for a total of 745). National parks and sites visited included Death Valley, Zion, and Great Basin. - Highlights included seeing the 48th and 49th state capitals, spending time with friends and family, and beautiful scenery. Challenges included extreme heat in Death Valley and icy conditions at Great Basin. - Stops along the way provided experiences like touring Vicksburg National Military Park, museums

1. This is a 8,240 mile adventure in which I visited over 120 different places / sites covering twenty four (24) States. The Trip including seeing ten (10) of our
Capitols bringing my total to 49 and nine (9) Manufacturing Plants bringing my total to 745. The trip included eleven (11) National Park Service sites and five
(5) National Parks. Three (3) new – Black Canyon of the Gunnison, Great Basin and Zion. Two (2) were repeats – Death Valley and Yosemite.
The low point was Badwater at 282 feet and camping at Furnance Creek at 180 feet below sea level.
The High points were ‘The Trip’, Our Great Southwest, seeing my 48th
& 49th
Capitol and being with Friends and Family. – Gary.L.Burgess@gmail.com
Sunday - Day 1 – September 17th
- Capitol 1 – What is in your Wallet? – Montgomery, Al

2. Monday - Day 2 – September 18th
– Secretary of State - John H. Merrill – I am 6’2” and do not meet many taller… (I carried a second set of keys
when I went to the Arctic along with a whistle. - Remember Rose / Kate Winslet in that 1997 Movie – it saved her.)
My Tour Guide / Docent, Mr. Aroine Irby participated in the Freedom March from Selma to within ½” of the Capitol Grounds in Montgomery / March 7–25, 1965
(18 days). At the time African Americans were not allowed inside the Capitol. Now Mr. Irby is a Tour Guide and more…

3. Monday - Day 2 – September 18th
- Vicksburg NP – USS Cairo. The Cairo was the first ship to be sunk by a mine remotely detonated on December 12, 1862. She
was found in 1956.
There are only four surviving Civil War-era ironclads in existence, USS Monitor, CSS Neuse, USS Cairo, and CSS Jackson.

4. Wednesday - Day 4 – September 20th
- Duck, Duck, Goose….Beauty and the Beast…Yellow is the color of the Day…. (When you wear a helmet all day – don’t
expect ‘good hair’.
I wear ‘Draggin Jeans’, which are Kevlar lined. In addition to the Kevlar, I added two (2) layers of Dyneema – which is stronger than Kevlar (in the impact zones)
and Sas-Tec Viscoelastic armor in the knees and hips. With my ‘SuperFabric’, or the most abrasion resistant fabric that I added to my Olympia Motorcycle Jacket
- I wear 20.2 pounds of gear. In rain and cold this gear could top 30 pounds.

5. Wednesday - Day 4 - September 20th
- Lock Them UP! - The Old Capitol of Little Rock, Arkansas – now a Museum. I have seen ‘Old Capitols’ in Dover, DE,
Jackson, MS, Little Rock, AR, Carson City, NV and Iowa City, IA. I also stopped by three (3) Governor’s Mansions – bringing my total to nine (9) counting the
White Hourse which I toured with my wife Karen in 1973. I have yet to be in any of our Governor’s Mansions and was turned away from the Governor’s
Mansion in Jackson, MS.
There is discrimination against bikers – especially at hotels. Often you have to take a room by the front desk and / or are given a room by the front desk despite
your request for a quiet room away from elevators, ice machines, dancing elephants, etc. I have been mistreated / lied to by Trooper Grant Lonski in Bismark,
ND, Christopher Rust? MS State Capitol Police in Jackson, MS and by an Officer in Oklahoma City, OK.
Oklahoma City was very minor in nature as I asked him to take some pictures for me and he said he could not. After we talked for awhile he took pictures of me
as he was impressed with my going to Carson City and having gone to the Arctic Circle and beyond. Being part of the Patriot Guard also helped, he did not take
pictures of the Governor’s Mansion but did take pictures of me which can be seen on the next page.
Carson City Old Capitol and my 49th
was a highlight of my trip until a heavy set officer came down came down and said sarcastically – taking pictures, then stared
at me the entire time until I left.

6. Day 6 – September 22nd
- Governor’s Mansion in Oklahoma. – Who let the Dogs Out? Who, who, who, who… “Yep, she went with Okie – a derogatory name
given to the poor Oklahomans who fled the state for California during the Dust Bowl …Seriously, if you need more proof that Mary Fallin may be the dumbest
Governor in the US” – Other two are named Trooper (looking up) and Hot Dog / Burny (in the back). https://www.thelostogle.com/2014/07/08/mary-fallin-
didnt-name-her-dog-trooper/

7. Day 7 September 23rd - Cadillac Ranch – Work done by aliens. (It was windy and dusty so ‘flight googles’ are down.) This 1974 installation of used or junk
Cadillac automobiles, represents the evolution of the car line covering most notably the birth and death of the defining feature of mid twentieth century
Cadillacs tailfins from 1949 to 1963. They are half-buried at an angle corresponding to that of the Great Pyramid of Giza.
Day 6 September 22nd
– Having donuts and coffee with my new buds. (Or six (6) Amarillo police bikes – they like many riders do not lock up their helmets. – I
have an XXXL helmet and cannot afford to lose it especially on a trip so I lock mine up.)

8. Day 14 Saturday September 23rd
Half way on Route US 66 – Adrian, TX. Many bikers from Europe including the Famous Irish 66 ers’ take this famous road from
Chicago to Los Angeles.
Day 13 – September 22nd
Elk City, OK and the National Route 66 Museum with the Old Town Museum with Elk City's own Susan Powell Miss America 1981 and a
lot more. It also includes the Farm & Ranch and Blacksmith Museum with early farm and ranch life in western Oklahoma.

9. Day 6 – September 22nd
- Inside Oklahoma’s Capitol with the Guardian – 1/16th
and 16/16ths Native Americans. Oklahoma’s Capitol has a once functional oil
well in front of it.

10. Day 7 – September 23rd
- Mesalands Dinosaur Museum, Tucumcari, NM – OK we are related… the Mesozoic period or ‘The Age of Dinosaurs.’ Or the Triassic,
Jurassic and Cretaceous periods.

11. Day 9 – September 23rd
- Breakfast with My Brothers at That's a Burger – Shiprock, NM. Franklin Ellison with His Father Henry / Mother Jean Degay. Franklin’s
Grandfathers went to Gallup to get a job at which time they were both given Social Security Numbers and “Christian” names from a book. One was given the
name Bowman, the other Ellison. Franklin took his Grandfather’s name.

12. Day 9 - Shiprock – Preparing my Wing for a little more gravel road riding and crossing a ‘Cattle Crossing / Guard / Gate’ that Cattle will not cross – ‘Don’t Put
Your Foot Down while Riding.’
I added about fifty (50) miles of gravel roads this trip – not that I wanted to add any, bringing my total to 1,250+/- on my current Wing. I also have about 1,500
Ocean Miles counting crossing Lake Michigan.

13. Day 9 - Can you name the four (4) states that I visited all at once? Yabeny (right) is part of the Táchii'nii (Red Streak Running into Water) clan. She was born
to Tó'aheedliinii (Water Flows Together) clan. Her maternal grandfather is Tábaahí (By the Water's Edge), and paternal grandfather is Kinlichíi'nii (Red House).
Yabeny’s jewelry took care of about 14 of my needs for gifts / souvenirs for friends and family. I bought over half her arrowhead necklaces and wish I had bought
all she had. Yabenypottery@gmail.com / www.mkt.com/yabenypottery.com / 505 320 4754
My first words as a baby was water and I have been considered an expert on pure water – I knew there was something that attracted me to Yabeny and her art.

14. Day 9 - Good Boy – Thanks for Powering My Trip – When in Rome do as Romans do… I am eating Navajo (whose true name is Dine pronounced Din nah)
traditional food.
Although various mutton / corn dishes are more ‘Navajo’ – I do not like but mutton. My sister is not 100% sure that we are 1/16th
Indian. I think it is time we try
www.ancestrydna.com

15. Day 9 - Easy Rider – Born to be Wild - Get your motor runnin' - Head out on the highway - Lookin' for adventure - And whatever comes our way… Heavy metal
thunder – (This trip included seeing over 120 sites / places.)
My Mama always said you've got to put the past behind you before you can move on.” – Forrest Gump
An "Aging Hippie" asks if Forrest could think of a good slogan for his new bumper sticker business. Just then, Forrest steps into a large pile of dog shit, surprising
the old man, in which, Forrest reacts just by saying "It happens." This resulted in the phrase “Shit Happens.”

16. Day 9 - Monument Valley, NM – With the Rock Formations I am thinking I look like Dale Robertson, Clint Walker or John Wayne.
I am going with Dale Robertson although Chuck Connors (Lucas McCain) in the Rifleman and Nick Adams (Johnny Yuma) in
The Rebel were my favorite Westerns. I even had a ‘Johnny Yuma’ gun and remember buying it with my Mother.
I think I had a Rifleman Rifle that I got for Christmas.
You have to stop for the sunsets, even though I was late getting to Marble Canyon.

17. Day 10 – September 26th
- You should have saw it this Morning and wait to sunset – it will take your breath away. Relaxing after a wonderful lunch with a corner
view in the Grand Canyon Lodge – North Rim.
My server lived in his camper working the Canyon with his wife during the summer. He then worked in China doing design during the spring and fall. He would
winter in Washington, his home state, and travel to S. America to see his wife’s family.

18. Day 11 – September 27th
I did not stop 40 years ago as their laundry was broke. We ended up in Vegas eating a $2 steak dinner at 1:00 AM and sleeping in the
desert. (How things change)
Alien seen near Zion National Park – fake news. The Marble Canyon Lodge had Rhodes / I mean Roads Scholars from NAU – Northern Arizona University each
year at this time.

19. Day 11 – Zion Early in the Morning - I saw the light, I saw the light / No more darkness / no more night – Hank Williams
Mine is the sunlight - Mine is the morning - Born of the one light Eden saw play - Praise with elation, praise ev'ry morning - God's recreation of the new day – Cat
Stevens, Bob Dylan and Leonard Cohen among the best to my ear / psyche’
You need to get to Zion early in the morning as by noon it is full and crowded.

20. Day 11 - September 27th
– My Man Trump – Making America Great / Shooting was October 1st

21. Day 11 – You got to love Las Vegas – Bellagio is the Prettiest and was my favorite but now I am liking Trump Towers. Five Thousand $100 dollar bills (Eleven
Pounds) and One Happy Biker.

22. Day 11 – This is why I ride a Yellow Bike – so I can be seen. Do you think I would be seen if I was riding a black bike? – Real Forrest Gump Fans – Shit Happens!

23. Day 12 – September 28th
– Death Valley is the Hottest, the Driest and the Lowest.
Fred Flintsone and Barney Rubble - “Meet the Flintstones…When you're with the Flintstones / You'll have a yabba dabba doo time /A dabba doo time / You'll
have a gay old time. Cliff Dwellers - Stone House is 8.5 miles West of Marble Canyon Lodge and was originally a resturant and gas station run by a couple whose
car broke down at this spot in 1927. How they got the rock on top for a roof is a question?

24. Day 12 - September 29th
Morning / sunrise and it is already getting hot. Day 11 – September 28th
Campsite in Death Valley’s Furnance Creek Campground which
is 190 feet below sea level.
‘Baked Biker’ Recipe
Preheat ashpalt to 150o
F+ starting at the break of dawn for 12+ hours. Season to taste by riding in 100o
F heat in full gear for 3 to 6 hours. Lay self inflating
sleeping bag pad, that no longer holds air, down. Cover with a $30 – 30o
F sleeping bag – then lay down on surface about 30 minutes after sunset. Strip naked
and begin sweating – take an hour or so to fall asleep. Wake about 3:00 AM cold and having to go pee. Let ‘rest’ by putting clothes on. About 6:00 AM when
morning breaks ‘Baked Biker’ is ready to be served. Small Bikers serve 75 +/- people. Larger bikers server 125 +/-.

25. Day 14 – I have a T-Shirt to prove it. Day 11 – Las Vegas and TV’ Gold & Silver Pawn – unfortunately I did not sell or pawn but bought.

26. Day 15 – October 1st
Long Way for a Great Hamburger at Walker Burger in Coleville (Walker), CA along Hwy 395 which I learned about on the Gold Wing Forums
from Michael Holmes of Oregon?

27. Day 15 – October 1st
Carson City and My 49th
Capitol. Day 14th
typical site in Death Valley – what are they? I saw two (2) other groupings of vehicles and could
not tell what they were.

28. Day 15 – October 1st
My 5th
Older / Original Nevada Capitol – This one is a working building with Govenor, Secretary of State and other Officials. Day 14
Septermbr 30th
and a sad day in our American History.

29. Day16 – October 2nd
Grimes Point about 12 miles east of Fallon, NV. 7,000 year old Native American Art. There are hundreds of boulders with petroglyphs of
circles, wavy lines, human figures, snakes, and other animal figures inscribed in them.

30. Day 17 – October 3rd
Highway 50 / The Lonliest Road in America and a Pony Express Rider on the Pony Express Trail / Lincoln Highway, one of the earliest
transcontinental highways dedicated October 31, 1913. It runs from Times Square west to Lincoln Park in San Francisco.
International Café / International Bar in Austin, NV – population 192. It is a "living ghost town" containing four churches. The Catholic church and the Austin
Methodist Church were built in 1866. The Methodist Church is now used as a community center. The Catholic Church, St. Augustine's is being restored as a
cultural center for Central Nevada. The Episcopal church, dedicated to St. George and considered by some to be the prettiest frontier church still standing. It was
built in 1878 and is still in use.
The fourth church is a more recent building built by The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. This picture shows three (3) church steeples.
The International Hotel, first built in Virginia City in 1859 and moved to Austin in 1863, still serves meals and drinks, but it does not rent out rooms – I had a
couple cups of coffee while conversing with the Owner. She offered me self baked apple pie meaning it was a frozen pie that she baked. The International
Hotel is said to be the oldest in Nevada.

31. Day 17 – October 3rd
– Great Basin 10,000 +feet. Wheeler Peak is a 13,000-foot summit behind me. The oldest nonclonal organism was discovered in Great
Basin. This Bristlecone pine tree was least 5,000+ years old, grew at the treeline near Wheeler Peak in the national park. It was cut down in 1964 by a graduate
student and U.S. Forest Service personnel for research purposes. I wanted to walk to the summit but it was icy. A lady with hiking poles had turned around
saying it was too dangerous so I could not see Bristlecone Pine Trees.
Day 17 / Day 18 October 3rd
and 4th
Hotel Nevada in Ely, NV. This was the best stay of the trip in that it was historic and full of motion picture memoriabilia.
Kanab, UT and Ely, NV were popular spots for Westerns and for Western Greats like Gary Cooper, Ingrid Bergman, Mikey Rooney, Tennessee Ernie Ford…
The Hotel was built in 1929 at the height of the Depression. Ely has evolved from Nevada’s largest mining town to one of the state’s best-known stops on
America’s Loneliest Highway.
My bike / horse spent the night with six (6) other iron horses. With my $58 + tax stay I received two drink coupons and a coupon for coffee and a Grand Slam
at Denny’s. My room was on the 6th
floor oposite Gary Cooper’s room. Most of the celebrities had rooms on the street view as opposed to the quiet mountain
view.

32. Day 17 – October 3rd
– Old car in the back ground of which you see many out west. This was a ranching exhibit. It is hard to capture the endless vistas, views,
scenery that you are exposed to riding 12+/- hours a day. These clouds appeared to be more and more like snow clouds especially when I got to Cañon City,
CO.
Great Basin was my 2nd
new National Park. Death Valley, Great Basin, Black Canyon of the Gunnison and the Grand Canyon are all well known for dark skies and
star gazing. My fifth National Park was Zion one of our most beautiful parks.

33. Day 18 – October 4th
The Black Canyon of the Gunnison - The park contains one of the most dramatic canyons in the country, with sheer walls of gray stone
rising more then 2,700 feet above the swift and turbulent Gunnison River, which took two million years to carve out the canyon.
The canyon is deeper than it is wide in some places and so narrow that sunlight only reachs the bottom only at midday.
The metamorphic rocks at the bottom of the canyon are nearly two billion years old, dating from the oldest era of the Earth. Walls are schist and gneiss.
I saw snow in three of the National Parks and ‘shot the gap’ as I-70 in Denver was closed with a foot and a half of snow the Monday before I arrived and then
snowed the Sunday / Monday after I left.

34. Day 20 – October 6th
Factories No. 737 and 739. This fellow was on the Coors Tour / Tour Bus with me. We talked about Iowa football and then when we
reached the parking lot, I asked for a picture of his hat under my Michigan State Spartan Sticker. He was from Iowa and a good sport. Waiting to hear from him.
I wrote the User Requirement Specifications - URS for AstraZeneca’s 6,400 square foot new QC Lab and had chance to see the fruits of my labors. I met Michael
Sonnenberg whom I worked with and who manages the lab. Needless to say it is one of the best labs of its kind in the world……lol.
I did the initial redesign of Wyeth’s / Pfizer’s Lab while working in Marietta, PA which was more than twice this size. I own stock in AstraZeneca, Pfizer and
Sealed Air. After a stockholder’s meeting I toured Sealed Air’s new lab here in Charlotte and put AstraZeneca’s Lab as being ‘better.’ I could be partial as Sealed
Air’s Lab is very nice.
AstraZeneca’s lab is very, very nice especially because of the Architect - Justin Gerze, Architect, LEED AP (720) 763-8119
justin.gerze@ironhorse.email along with the use of Danish Labflex Case Ware.

35. Day 20 – October 6th
Factory Tour No. 738 and Food Plant No. 147. I had a nice almond - apricot scone with one of ther most popular hot tees. Here I am
drinking my second sample of tee made with catnip. Celestrial Seasonings is a very nice place to spend an afternoon.
Dino, whom I have met all over the Northwest / Southwest, has become a favorite for photo opts. Sinclair Oil began using the Apatosaurus in Chicago during
the 1933-34 Century of Progress World’s Fair. This is in downtown Golden, CO.

36. Day 21 - October 7th
– I had hoped to make the Capitol before it closed for some pictues inside. I nearly ran out of gas gambling that I would make it before they
closed at 5:00 PM. (I was acting as the ‘crew chief’) Unfortunately or fortunately a few miles out, Nebraska Cornhusker and Wisconsin Badger traffic stopped me
and I stopped for gas. Having worked for Novartis I was familiar with Lincoln and took some back roads / ways to Nebraska’s East Campus and Dairy for some
‘homemade ice cream’ – their Dairy is almost as good as Michigan State’s – Go Green.
North Plate, NE – Bailey Rail Road Yard and the World’s Largest. The view is from the Golden Spike Observation Tower and it is hard to take a picture of
something that is 8 miles long and up to two miles wide. The yard may have had 400+ Engines in it any one time as it repairs 50 of them per day. The yard has
200 separate tracks totaling 315 miles, 985 switches, 766 turnouts, 17 receiving and 16 departure tracks.
An average of 139 trains and over 14,000 railroad cars pass through Bailey Yard every day or a 100+/- car train passes through the Yard every 9 to 10 minutes.

37. Day 21 October 7th
– Des Moine, IA is one of our prettiest Capitols. I had toured it years ago but had no pictures. Unfortunately it was not open on Sunday for
picture taking and reviving memories. Memories, Light the corners of my mind, Misty water-colored memories…
Day 23 October 9th
John Deere’s Waterloo Works - Tractor, Cab, and Assembly Operations where the 6R, 7R, 8R/8RT, and 9R/9RT Series tractors are made.
Do you think my tractor’s sexy? It has a 400 gallon fuel tank and monster tires.

38. Day 22 – October 8th
One of several covered bridges I would see – hoping Meryl Streep and Clint Eastwood would there.
Marion Mitchell Morrison (May 26, 1907 – June 11, 1979) Boyhood Home in Winterset, IA. Marion is better known as ‘The Duke’.
“Think you can make it, pilgrim?” - JW
“Very few of the so-called liberals are open-minded.... They shout you down and won't let you speak if you disagree with them.” – JW
Still wondering why the Bridges are of interest? Did I tell you I acted next to Mel Gibson in The Patriot?

39. Day 23 – October 9th
– John Deere’s Waterloo, IA Tractor, Cab, and Assembly Operations plant which is one of the largest buildings by volume but falling way
short of Boeing’s (472,370,319 cu ft) Everett or Mukilteo, WA plant.
The 9RX series or the tractors on the extreme left is about $650,000 and on the extreme right is about $500,000 or maybe they have $1.5 million worth of
equiment on display (counting my Wing). Before going on line to find the price of the 9RX – I called a dealer where they wold use such a tractor. I am still
waiting a call back. Sales must be good if he did not want to talk to someone from North Carolina.
Day 29 – October 15th
– AMA – American Motorcylist Association Museum in Pickerington, OH and a 1976 Suzuki RE – 5 Rotary / Wankel Engine -500 cc
motorcye identical to the the RE -5 I owned from 1978 until 2002. It sure looked pretty and brought back many fine memories.

40. Day 23 – October 9th
Sunset across from Iowa 80 or the world's largest truck stop, located along Interstate 80 off exit 284 in Walcott, Iowa. This truckstop is
220-acres or about four times larger than an average truckstop. 5,000 people visit the 67,000 sq ft main building, parking for 900 trucks, and / or 150 fuel
pumps each day. Looking for something cheeky – you can find it in there huge store.
Day 28 – October 14th
– Niece Emily Matuszewski and her new Yellow Lab – Sadie. Two very nice girls.

41. Day 25 – October 11th
- In 1987, Memorial Library was renamed for Father Theodore Hesburgh, C.S.C. – ND’s president from 1952 - 1987. The 134-foot by 68-
foot mural called "The Word of Life," or more commonly "Touchdown Jesus." It faces Notre Dame’s / Fighting Irish Stadium about 100 yards away.
Day 30 – October 16th
– St. Albans, WV – Bill & Fran Casto who Karen and I worked with while at Union Carbide’s Tech Center in S. Charleston, WV. Bill is World
famous for his wood working abilities and Fran for her baskets and Bassets.

42. Day 25– Former Visitation Panther / West Catholic Offensive Guard / Tackle – Defensive Tackle who had chance to play for Wayne Fontes who coached the
Detroit Lions from 1988 to 1996. Fontes 67 wins and 71 losses are each the most for a head coach in team history.
Did I tell you I won the choice of any Chrysler Vehicle except a Dodge Viper or Plymouth Prowler by kicking multiple field goals at the Panthers – Steelers game.
I won my second car last year.

43. Day 27 – October ‘Friday the 13th
’ and fifth straight year to visit the ever changing USS Edson courtesy of my Brother – in – law, Michael Buda who works dailey
at ‘The Ship’ giving tours, polishing the brass, painting, making displays, etc. (and getting away from my Sister – Sandy….LOL.)
Nephew Matthew and Niece Sarah Slosser or Karen’s Youngest Sister’s Cheryl children in Bay City, MI (Not pictured is their dog Sam.)

44. Day 27 – October 13th
– Perch Dinner at the Turkey Roost which is one of the best if not the best Perch dinner in Michigan. They serve breakfast, lunch and
dinner. Except for Friday you can choose Turkey or Turkey or Turkey – OK they have couple of Beef selections too. Apparently they serve on average thirteen
(13) - 35 pound turkeys a day.
Right – One of the rarest of rarest photos of my Sister Sandy and Her Husband who is not camera shy – Michael Buda – Former 3 Term Mayor of Bay City, MI.