Just got back from a Western-USA vacation- went riding in California!

[fyi]

We're back finally!!

Well, my wife and I just flew back in town late last night after a 13-day vacation hiatis and we had a *GREAT* time with everything we did, saw or experienced! It was really nice for both of us to take a vacation after all these years and we're definately glad we're home. I just can't wait to get back into the office Monday...we really miss the shop!

In a nutshell, we were go-go-go for nearly 13 days straight and needless to say, we're tired... We saw a LOT of places, did a LOT of things, stayed in a LOT of very nice four/five star motels and restaurants and just plain had fun!

- Stayed at the Hyatt Regency in St. Louis..
- Visited the Kansas City Chiefs football/baseball stadiums and the weight training facilities..
- Toured the Harley-Davidson Motorcycle V-Rod assembly plant..
- Visited the location of the Fort Leveanworth Military installation..
- Visited the location of the infamous Leveanworth State Prison..
- Visited family in Missouri..
- Toured the original outlaw Jesse James house he was shot in..
- Stayed at the Red Lion in Denver..
- Toured the Coors Brewery in Golden, Colorado..
- Drove the snow-capped Rocky Mountains..
- Walked in the *cold* Colorado River..
- Stayed in the Marriot in downtown Salt Lake City..
- Drove through the Nevada desert and saw a LOT of military facilities, (advertised and unadvertised) including a couple of nuclear testing sites.. :eek:
- Got a damned speeding ticket in a small, speed-trap, toilet-of-a-town of Tonopah, Nevada for doing 40 MPH in a 25 MPH zone... Can you believe that.....?
- Stayed in Bishop, California..
- Visited the Bonneville Salt Flats
- Rented ATV's and went riding in the Sierra Nevada mountains in Northern, California.. I climbed a 437 ft. mountain with an XR400 dirt bike!!!
- Sat on the California Aquaduct pipeline..
- Got my cell phone stolen in Mojave, California..
- Dropped by Edwards Air Force Base..
- Drove a portion of the scenic I-5 interstate and Pacific Coast Highway..
- Stayed in Ventura, California..
- Dropped by A&A Corvette..
- Dropped by Magnuson Products..
- Watched a bunch of surfers at Marina Bay Beach in Ventura, CA.
- Walked in the Pacific Ocean at Marina Bay Beach
- Spent the day on the Santa Monica Pier
- Visited downtown L.A. (never again..)
- Stayed in the Rennasance Motel in Holleywood, California..
- Spent a night on the Holleywood Strip and visited MANY attractions there..
- Visited the Kodak Theatre in Hollywood..
- Visited the Chinese Theatre in Hollywood..
- Took a tour of Paramont Pictures in Hollywood and walked on the set of "Dr. Phil", "ET Tonight", "Mission Impossible 3" and a new sitcom called "Love Inc.". We saw Alissa Milano, another chick from the "Charmed" sitcom and the super-hot blond chick that screws everyone on the show of "Nip Tuck".
- Got on the live audience set of the Jimmy Kimmel Live show in Hollywood..
- Saw a Kenny Chesney Concert in Hollywood..
- Drove to Las Vegas, Nevada..
- Stayed at the Hotel Paris on the Vegas Strip..
- Dropped by Nellis Air Force Base..
- Toured the Hoover Dam.. (WOW!)
- Visited the Las Vegas Motor Speeday and watched some drag racing..
- Visited all the major casinos on the old-Vegas, Fremont Street strip..
- Visited nearly all the major casinos on the new-Vegas, Las Vegas strip..

Whewww, I think that's about it.... ;) We had a ball and we had a unique opportunity to see some of the most majestic mountain scenery a person could see! This land; as our we, are truly blessed and after seeing all our great *.S.A. like this really makes us proud to be Americans!!!!!!

We have a lot to be thankful for and after seeing this all of this, we once again extend our extreme gratitude to the Veterans living and deceased that have given us the glorious freedoms we all have!!

God Bless this land!!!

[dovesprings250R]

Very Cool man. Grew up near downtown L A. Pretty rough huh? Hollywood is cleaning up a bith though. Highland and hollywood where the kodak theatre was used to be a bunch of ratty gift shops and hooker hangouts just a few years ago. How was the Chesney concert? Did you drive into Vegas from LA? If so you past the best riding spot in so cal...Rasor road. Feels good to be home I bet? Happy Holidays.....Dove

[fyi]

Very Cool man. Grew up near downtown L A. Pretty rough huh? Hollywood is cleaning up a bith though. Highland and hollywood where the kodak theatre was used to be a bunch of ratty gift shops and hooker hangouts just a few years ago. How was the Chesney concert? Did you drive into Vegas from LA? If so you past the best riding spot in so cal...Rasor road. Feels good to be home I bet? Happy Holidays.....Dove

Yeah, driving in downtown L.A. was pretty brutal, especially at near rush-hour and I was taught how to use my horn very quickly!!:naughty: There were still some ratty gift shops in some areas of Hollywood, but I agree, it was pretty decent near the theatres, etc. The Chesney concert was pretty cool and was put on by Coors Light and the Jimmy Kimmel show, in a concert stage right behind the studio. Best part...it was FREE!!:D

We did drive from L.A. to Las Vegas (about 3.5 hrs or so) and it was really neat to see the Vegas lights as we approached the city. Man, there is a LOT of money there...geeez!

We're planning another trip out there next year with all our of our own machines and when we do, we're definataly going to ping this board so we can meet up with some of you locals out there to do some riding!!:naughty:

We're definately glad to be home finally and no matter how neat the rest of the USA is, it's always nice to walk in the door of the house after a long trip! ;)