Werewolves of Groveland

Follow us across the U.S.

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It ain't HOME, but it's home. For a week. Come and get your beer, and I'll give ya a free smile

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To paraphrase Blur, "MNlife!"

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Mike and I completed our journey yesterday and made it to San Diego where we were greeted by Uncle Steve, our parents and Mauer on the beach. Thanks to everyone for all the support! P.s. Zanzibar is following and will be in shortly

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There you are! Climbed you 7 years ago, with @hardmarv, and you still look like a tough mofo! Mount San Jacinto, SoCal (at Palm Desert, California)

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The bike wants to swim! (at California/Arizona Border)

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It's starting to feel real. We made it to California yesterday and have three more days of riding till San Diego. Under 150 miles to go!

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Getting to see the amazing Lisa! She's cool!

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Let the Countdown Begin

Well, we took our break at te old Grand Canyon. Then we took yet another break in Cottonwood, AZ to stay with one of my very best friends- Lisa! We arrived in Cottonwood on Monday and stayed till Thursday morning. Monday night was just a relaxing movie night at Lisa's. Tuesday Dragon and I went to Out of Africa Wildlife Park where Lisa was able to show us the wonderful world in which she works. This consisted of none other than a tiger show, kissing giraffes, and petting rhinos , along with many other fabulous animals. This was followed up by a nice dinner and some camping. Wednesday was full of plans however, the weather seemed to have a different idea. Most of the ideas thrown around were washed out with the monsoons, but that didn't stop us from getting outside and going for a little hike in Sedona. This was of course appropriately followed up with the movie theaters and seeing the movie "Tarzan". It was tough biding farewell to Lisa because there are only so many times I get to see her, but it marked the beginning of the end for our trip. The countdown is now on. We are separated from San Diego and all it's glory by none other than that retched hot desert. We will see what the desert has to offer in these next six days. In the meantime we will get used to drinking our water hot! -The Professor Aguila, AZ July 22, 2016

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July 14-15: A respite in Grand Canyon with Mina, a German biker traveling the world (she will eventually be in Southeast Asia!), and Jake, who is riding his chopper to North Carolina. With Mina, we decided to get a good night's rest on the edge of the canyon (a reasonable distance away, of course). July 16: Dragon and Zanz stay at The Flintstones Bedrock Inn, in Valle, AZ. A gentleman here showed us a dead tarantula, which apparently occupies the parts of Arizona through which we are headed... Flagstaff and Sedona. July 17: We are grateful to stay with Sandy, a local Flagstaff biker who was a blast to be with. She kept us company with good talk and tasty beers. She's from Wisconsin, so we jived on the same level, talking about current events, Flagstaff culture, our mutual love of the Midwest, etc. Prof gets back from a wedding, and we continue on with San Diego entering the metaphorical picture.

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Yes we made it to the Grand Canyon ON The Dragon's 21st birthday. As you can see he is enjoying it!

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Into Arizona! Next state: California.

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Sunday, July 10, 2016 Cortez, CO -> Bluff, UT Today, we woke up in a baseball field dugout. We’ll be bedding on the floor of a beautiful chapel tonight, courtesy of St. Christopher’s Episcopal Church & Mission. Deacon Leon made us feel welcome at this this historic, stone-and-log mission, built between 1943 and 1951. How grateful we were to escape the 50 mph wind gusts (which has the capacity to almost push you backwards UPHILL. That almost happened to me today). I should mention the 97 degree heat. However, desert heat is tolerable. It is dry, and the wind actually helps in that regard. The desert southwest is enchanting and rugged, and it is another chapter in our story, another biome that will serve as our home. Sights worth noting: Canyons of the Ancients Nat'l Monument; the San Juan River. -Evan — Zanzibar

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Made it over our highest point on this trip. The Continental Divide at Wolf Creek. Elevation: 10,857 ft.

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Marius riding away as we departed this morning. We have split up with our "new" friend Marius. Although he is a relatively new friend, after spending over a month and 2000 miles with him we have been able to share some incredible adventures together. The werewolves are going to miss him on the rest of the trip and we wish him the best on his way to Oregon and then Finally San Francisco. Hope to see you again someday Mariusp. p.s. For those of you curious. Marius started in NYC, made his way down to Virginia (where we met him), and will make his way all the way to Oregon before finishing in San Fran. Puts even our journey to shame.

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The Werewolves enjoy the 4th of July in Pueblo, CO. We swam in the Arkansas River, strutted the neon district, and enjoyed the company of our fellow Transamerican Trail-goer friends while celebrating this wonderful holiday. Happy birthday, America!

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A group of rowdy bikers at the local watering hole.

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Werewolves eat hot dogs, suffer, then rejoice in recovery

Saturday, July 2, 2016. We didn’t know how today was going to go. Yesterday, which was Friday, Tommy was quite ill from what we suspect was food poisoning caused by a hot dog, ingested in Dighton, KS. Marius and I got sick as well. I was vomiting little chunks of my own hot dog and suffering intense indigestion Thursday afternoon, after leaving Dighton. Mike must have gotten a good hot dog, because he didn’t get sick. Thursday was my absolute least favorite day of the trail, and I felt like I was in the seventh circle of Hell. Friday, when we crossed into Colorado, my health had recovered, but Tommy’s had deteriorated. That night, we stayed in Sheridan Lake, CO, at a church with four or five other groups of bikers. Before going to bed, Tommy was writhing, as his condition had worsened. We contemplated calling an ambulance from the nearest hospital in Eads, CO, 30 miles away. Instead, Mike and I monitored Tommy’s health throughout the night at the request of Tommy and Mike’s parents.

This morning, Tommy felt better, and we might have stayed in Sheridan Lake another day if his recovery hadn’t been so miraculous. We ended up going 90 miles today. Right now, I am blogging in an empty RV in Ordway, CO, courtesy of a local named Gillian. She hosts bikers at her tucked-away camp out. If the tally was correctly counted, there are 17 bikers staying here tonight, many of whom stayed at the church in Sheridan Lake last night, and also many of whom are heading west to catch 4th of July celebrations in Pueblo, CO. Some bikers are heading east. One biker, Mark, started in Seattle and followed the Northern Cascade route, hooked south into Montana, and then rode the Western Express route to Pueblo, ending up in Ordway with the rest of us. Ordway, CO really seems to be the crossroads of western bikerdom. Gillian suggested we all venture to the VFW for burgers and beer, so we all did that and had a great time. Tommy was back on top and performed Karioke, singing “Boy Named Sue” by Johnny Cash. Mike performed “Night Moves” by Bob Seger. In sum, the Werewolves are on back on track and on schedule. Life is good. -Zanzibar/Evan