It's aliiiiive!!!

After $17.00 for a set of brushes (see old brush above), 3 hours of work and a few well placed curse words, the Wing is firing up better than ever! Big day for the Zerilli boys, we can now add "motorcycle starter repair" to our list of services. It was an awesome feeling to hear the bike fire up on the first try!

In addition to having the starter worked over, the Wing got a well needed bath and oil change for good measure. Now if the weather will just cooperate, I will be back on the road home soon...

Without a hitch? Not quite...

In an intersting stroke of luck (some bad and some good), the starter on the Wing decided to quit about 30 miles from my parents house in Manistique. With some help from a couple of kind folks at the gas station we got it push started and it is now in my Dad's garage where we are giving it the diagnostic treatment.

It really is something that the starter held out for 3000 miles to get me back to Michigan before locking up. It is looking like I will get a chance to rebuild my first starter!

Matthew Zerilli's location@7:33pm,9/27
5th St, Manistique, MI 49854, Manistique, MI
http://m.google.com/u/m/x1ak88

The land of cheese

Yes, those are "cheesehead" hats in the bed...ugh

Slug Bug Yellow!

That one is for you Jeanette :)

Washed out in Wisconsin

Here is the 5 day forecast for the Green Bay area. Good timing to be marooned, I get to catch up with all of the WI family!

Riding the storm out

Rain, rain and more rain through northern WI all day (and as you can see from the pic, it is still raining!). I have had such good weather over the last few weeks I can hardly complain. This weather has certainly made me grateful for the good run I had out west.

The Wing and I are both resting and recuperating at my brothers place in De Pere, WI. We will be taking it pretty easy tomorrow.

Matthew Zerilli's location@4:44pm,9/25
Wisconsin, Wisconsin
http://m.google.com/u/m/dszOJH

Rainbow

Pretty cool way to start the day...

In for the night

It was a good day of riding all in all. Sunny and with a brisk breeze all day (which, I find, is good for staying alert).

Minnesota is a pretty state, particularly the bluffs on the banks of the Mississippi. Aiming for the greater Green Bay area tomorrow.

Matthew Zerilli's location@7:30pm,9/24
Wisconsin
http://m.google.com/u/m/xdQEQ5

Red Wing

Matthew Zerilli's location@5:41pm,9/24
Red Wing, MN, USA
http://m.google.com/u/m/dvLTb1

Minnesota (don't cha know)

Free coffee at the Minnesota rest stop! Around these parts that is what they call "Minnesota nice".

Matthew Zerilli's location@1:20pm,9/24
Minnesota
http://m.google.com/u/m/wV7qfW

Eastbound and down

Big lesson in pushing too hard today. There is nothing like ending up in city traffic to kill my open air riding buzz. Dog tired...need sleepy...

Matthew Zerilli's location@10:12pm,9/23
Sioux Falls, SD, Sioux Falls, SD
http://m.google.com/u/m/wmutT3

Time for a change

I have been following I-90 back through SD and it is time to switch it up. While it does offer the ability to rip through the countryside at a good pace it does not have much to offer on the side of scenery and/or variety. Thanks for getting me this far I-90, I think we should see other roads for a while.

Matthew Zerilli's location@3:03pm,9/23
South Dakota
http://m.google.com/u/m/zLjw6G

Wall Drug

This place hurts my brain...too much stuff!

Heading for the Minnesota border.

Matthew Zerilli's location@11:56am,9/23
Wall, SD 57790, Wall, SD 57790
http://m.google.com/u/m/z0XJy2

Keyhole Lake State Park

I found a great campsite last night on Keyhole Lake in eastern WY. I fell asleep to the sound of fish rolling on the surface and woke up at sunrise to a flock of geese honking overhead...nature's alarm clock. To once again overuse a far too common term: Awesome

Day, uh, something or other (what...I'm losing track)

Today was a day to remember for sure. I left Red Lodge at first light and made a run up Bear Tooth Pass for Yellowstone. These photos are a couple of views from the top: one of the sunrise on the peak and the other of the view down! It was definitely slow going weaving up the pass...and chilly (there was snow up there!) I felt like a Sherpa.

Yellowstone is breathtaking, quite a surreal experience. I realized while I was taking it all in that it was a shame Jeanette wasn't here to see it with me...so with that in mind, I decided to cut my Yellowstone visit short and save the rest for another trip with her.

So I have made the big turn and pointed the bike back east. It was really something riding through western WY...the landscape is like being on Mars. Very peaceful though, lots of quiet time. It was like a rolling meditation.

Made good miles today and found a great campsite (Connor, I will take some pictures in the morning, the sun was just setting as I set up).

Tomorrow: More miles on the road home...perhaps a stop at Wall Drug?

Boom!

What does freedom taste like you ask? Ramen noodles..."Oriental flavor" to be exact

Keyhole State Park

Just set up camp for the night. Next step, jetboil some ramen noodles. Thanks again Penny, the jetboil is earning its keep on this trip!

Matthew Zerilli's location@7:35pm,9/22
Wyoming
http://m.google.com/u/m/dsbIZY

Made it!

Just to make things interesting, I tested out the capacity of the reserve tank on the 'ol Wing this afternoon. I don't think I had much left when I rolled into Buffalo, it didn't hurt that I was able to coast down from the mountains the last 20 miles or so.

The temp is really rising the lower elevation I get, I have been gradually taking layers off all day.

Matthew Zerilli's location@4:23pm,9/22
Buffalo, WY 82834, Buffalo, WY 82834
http://m.google.com/u/m/wFg6Vb

Yellowstone

Matthew Zerilli's location@10:45am,9/22
Wyoming
http://m.google.com/u/m/womCeZ

Day 7 in the books

I just hobbled into Red Lodge, MT after a long, beautiful day on the bike. Today was one of the best days riding I have had: great weather, hardly any traffic and some great windy roads through northern Wyoming and Montana. There is something about the "wide openness" up here that is like a powerwasher for the mind...great therapy.

I was hoping to camp, but as the sun dropped behind the mountains so did the temperature (it is already in the low 40s and falling). This is probably a good night to use the motel budget!

Big day tomorrow, I am about 2 hours from Yellowstone.

Matthew Zerilli's location@7:56pm,9/21
Red Lodge, Mt 59068, Red Lodge, Mt 59068
http://m.google.com/u/m/xn5Ldd

Bighorn County- Montana

Making my way through wide open country toward Little Bighorn battlefield. Beautiful day, great riding weather.

Matthew Zerilli's location@3:20pm,9/21
Crow Agency, Mt 59022
http://m.google.com/u/m/zAMtp9

Devil's Tower

Wow

Matthew Zerilli's location@10:51am,9/21
Wyoming
http://m.google.com/u/m/x8cqEc

Deadwood

Spent the night in Deadwood last night and managed to avoid any gunfights. The weather looks promising for the next few days so it's westward to Wyoming!

Matthew Zerilli's location@9:12am,9/21
Deadwood, SD, Deadwood, SD
http://m.google.com/u/m/zSvw8S

Wind whip repair

The wind has been ripping though western South Dakota the past couple days, it has made for some brisk rides. My gloves are getting the brunt of it. Check out the photo of my professional repair job...right back on the road!

Big fellas

Here are a couple buffalo on the side of the road in Custer State park, they were just hanging out eating grass. I have also seen a bunch of signs for bighorn, but no sightings yet

Back in civilization

I have been in the Black Hills the past couple days and, for the most part, out of service. I have seen so much over the last two days it is hard to recap, this is a beautiful part of the country (it is also tough to get pictures on the motorcycle). Basically, I am coming to grips with the fact that, thus far, I am a failure as a blogger. In any event, I am seeing some cool stuff, I will attempt to catch up with some posts.

This picture is of the Crazy Horse Memorial. if you have not heard of it, look it up. I spent several hours there today on a recommendation from my parents and was really moved by the experience. It is an unbelievable undertaking and an awesome message.

Mt. Rushmore

Matthew Zerilli's location@1:42pm,9/20
South Dakota
http://m.google.com/u/m/xofATF

Badlands National Park

Riding through the interior. An eerily beautiful place.

Matthew Zerilli's location@2:04pm,9/19
South Dakota
http://m.google.com/u/m/dQR0xN

Day 5- There will be rain

If you would have told me this morning that I would make it to Mitchell, SD, I would have told you that you're crazy. There was a huge rainstorm in Minnesota last night and I pushed my luck during a lull and got caught. The theme for the first 200 miles today was 40 degree weather and intermittent showers...quite unpleasant.

But almost exactly as I hit the MN/SD border, the sun came out and the temp jumped up to the 60s. It made for some great riding conditions and did wonders for my soggy morale. I was able to crank out a couple more hours through the plains.

All in all a great day. Light travel day tomorrow with lots of cool stops!

Matthew Zerilli's location@8:46pm,9/18
Mitchell, SD 57301, Mitchell, SD 57301
http://m.google.com/u/m/xWIq2T

Matthew Zerilli's location@10:59am,9/18

Matthew Zerilli's location@10:59am,9/18
Rochester, MN, USA, Rochester, MN, USA
http://m.google.com/u/m/dJixKi

Lots of rain...cold and wet. Stopping to regroup and warm up.

Matthew Zerilli's location@7:07pm,9/17

Matthew Zerilli's location@7:07pm,9/17
Minnesota
http://m.google.com/u/m/wAjzYz

Put in a full day riding across Wisconsin and am just setting up camp at Great River Bluff State park on the west bank of the Mississippi.

Matthew Zerilli's location@12:33pm,9/17

Matthew Zerilli's location@12:33pm,9/17
County Rd S, Appleton, WI 54913, Wisconsin
http://m.google.com/u/m/dYeJMR

Freedom....Wisconsin

Brad "Bellichek" Zerilli

Just watched my brothers flag football coaching debut. He helped coach his girlfriends sons team to an 18-16 victory. Boom! Well done kid, well done.

Matthew Zerilli's location@9:13am,9/17

Matthew Zerilli's location@9:13am,9/17
De Pere, WI
http://m.google.com/u/m/dbsjzD

Bless you boys!

Big win for the tigers last night, they are looking strong going into the postseason...

http://detroit.tigers.mlb.com/mlb/gameday/index.jsp?gid=2011_09_16_detmlb_oakmlb_1&mode=recap&c_id=det

Quick stop in Oconto, WI to visit w/ my sister and nephew Connor. He wants to head out west too...maybe next year!

Matthew Zerilli's location@4:29pm,9/16

Matthew Zerilli's location@4:29pm,9/16
Quincy St, Oconto, WI 54153, Oconto, WI
http://m.google.com/u/m/wCR4vF

Matthew Zerilli's location@11:05am,9/16

Matthew Zerilli's location@11:05am,9/16
Michigan
http://m.google.com/u/m/xMsNe2

On the way to Wisconsin

Beautiful day on the way to Green Bay...the lake is showing off today.

Matthew Zerilli's location@7:30pm,9/14

Matthew Zerilli's location@7:30pm,9/14
Manistique, MI, Manistique, MI
http://m.google.com/u/m/xs9UgN

These are cool! If you click the link it will show you my location on the map. I will be sending these intermittently along the way.

Day 1- Up in the U.P.

Just crossed the Big Mac (pictured to the left of my big head) and am standing firmly on Upper Peninsula soil. The wind was whipping through the straits today, which made the ride across much more interesting than originally anticipated. There is something about crossing the bridge on a bike to give you a new perspective the whole "fear of heights" issue. Definitely a beautiful view though, well worth it. On to Manistique and a day off visiting with my Mom and Dad.

Day 1- The 2011 motorcycle road trip begins!

The bike is packed, running and ready to go! The goal today is to make it across the Mackinac Bridge to Manistique. It is a cool a breezy day in Traverse City but the sun is shining...here we go.