I made a decision and had direction for the next leg of this experience. I decided to take a backroad cruise on a famous cross country highway which runs from Bishop, California to Provincetown, Massachusetts. US 6 or the Grand Army of the Republic Highway. It’s been modified many times since it was built in 1926. When researching this route I found a quote from author George R Stewart about route 6 ” Route 6 runs uncertainly from nowhere to nowhere, scarcely to be followed from one end to the other, except by some devoted eccentric”. I was in!
I realized that US6 was just behind the hotel I was staying at in Bowling Green. It went right into Portage, Indiana. I got a hold of Shirley, who was married to my cousin Terry, who I thought the world of. Heck, those three boys Tommy, the oldest and Larry the youngest were all like older brothers to me. I looked up to them. Earlier on the trip I stopped and visited Wanda, Tommy’s former wife. These women are family, as the boy’s are all gone, they are all I have. Shirley still lives in Portage where her and Terry lived until Terry’s untimely passing ( I’m sorry I don’t remember the date, but was fairly recent). Nearby Shirley’s daughter Missy and her husband David live, so we met at Missy’s. With me cruising in on mostly the 6. It was a great time seeing them again, although I had seen them 3 years ago at Larry’s funeral . Shirley and Terry also had a son first born, Michael or Mike who lives in Illinois more on that later. We had fun talking about the old times and as it did at my last cousin visit in North Carolina the stories about my parents flowed. It was great, and made me feel really good too. It was getting late, so I followed Shirley to her home where the stories went on into the night. The next morning Shirley and I went to breakfast in a cool little diner. Back at Shirley’s I loaded up my bikes and said goodbye to my dear cousin and so many thanks for your hospitality. I must add that both of these women Shirley and Wanda have known me since I was 2 or 3 years old, they are family.
It was Saturday morning and today’s ride is to Paris……Illinois. Heading to see cousin Mike and his wife Annette and daughters Becca and husband Jordan, and Brinana. I also met Keegan, Becca and Jordan’s son. He is almost 2 and we became fast friends. We enjoyed more reminiscing and of course about my folks, never gets old. they took me out to dinner which was wonderful, I ordered fried chicken at an Italian restaurant? But it was good, By the way I left it in the fridge, hope you ate it Haahaa.
I saw Mike looking at my fogged up headlights that some plastic lens do. He showed me he had the stuff to fix them, and he went at it. We forgot to do before and after pictures, but lets just say they look better than new. It was Sunday and it was time for a local Car show. Mike inherited his uncle Larry’s 1978 Pontiac Trans Am, which was another one of Larry’s awesome cars he owned over the years. Mike started cleaning the car up and taking it to shows around Paris……Illinois. And he won! He’s really having fun with it and proudly calls it Uncle Larry’s Trans Am on a placard with all of the cars stats.
I was talked in to staying until Monday (wasn’t hard) and I did. Monday morning we said our goodbyes as they left for work I readied to leave on my next step. I can’t thank Mike and Annette enough for there graciousness and the Love, thank you. Becca, Jordan, Brianna and of course Keegan is was great seeing you, much love. Travel on Dude
