HEADED HOME After 8,000 Mile Motorcycle Trip Around USA

I woke up at my normal 6:00AM time, and had a small “panic” oh no I should be out on the rode already moment. I caught myself and had to talk myself down allowing myself to relax and sleep in until pretty much check out time for the room. As I carted everything back up for one last final time I was excited to see my husband and kiddos that later evening. I left Iowa City just before noon, after another gas station breakfast and some time stretching near the bike. It was hard to get going, but the motivation of what’s waiting at home for me kept pushing me forward. Again, that trek from Iowa through Dubuque back to Wisconsin was the longest feeling of the entire challenge, again because it was 65mph speed limits but also just because I wanted to be back home. I had just under 500 miles to go that day, the shortest mileage of the entire trip. The rows of corn fields were welcoming to see, and driving through the driftless region again in Wisconsin is always a real treat. A heavy downpour of rain, stood just two small towns away from me and my loved ones. I took cover in my beloved Kwik Trip gas stations, a staple for me here in the Midwest. It was almost like I was “home” already. I had my husband keep the kids up an extra hour, as I pulled into the driveaway around 8:30PM that evening. Instantly my kids knew my bike and I could see their little bodies jumping up and down with glee. I hopped off the bike and was greeted with immediate hugs from them, my husband capturing it all on video for me. Thank goodness for modular helmets, I lifted up that chin bar and welcomed a long awaited embrace from my husband. The first person I officially was able to celebrate with besides myself. I took another couple days to settle back into a route and actually feel “relaxed” again. I was always moving, always routing myself to the next stop, getting to the next destination I had planned. There was no “off button” the entire trip until I pulled back into my driveway.
Over the five weeks I was blessed to have the Pan America in my possession, I put 13,500 miles on it. This “swiss-army” of a bike was the perfect vehicle to complete for my challenge. The week after my challenge, I rode the bike back down to corporate headquarters in Milwaukee. Sadness washed over me, I was so connected to the bike. Even when I got into my car to drop the kids off at daycare, I didn’t know how to turn on the car for a second. I instantly looked down for a kickstand and over to my right for the ignition to flip. It was a surreal feeling. But grew to love this motorcycle, the memories I made with it, the experience I shared with just myself and it. It was so hard to return it, even though it was rightfully never mine in the first place. I so very thankful and grateful to Harley-Davidson for allowing me that short time with the bike. Putting it through its paces, endurance testing at its finest. I know the bike probably had some intensive R&D testing when it was returned back, but I joked with my contacts there…that when the bike completes its demo life and is open to purchasing (if possible). I would be interested. Yes I could just get a new different bike, but those miles on that odometer (besides the first 200) were all mine up to that point. I would absolutely love to continue to put the next 200,000 on it if I had the opportunity.
#longdistancemotorcycletrip #HarleyDavidsonPanAmerica #IronButtChallenge
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