I'm back!

[Rocketman]

I know, most of ya'll didn't notice I was gone, but there 'tis.  I've been a lot less active both locally and on the board here.  I just got back from a 3 week, ~5500 mile trip.  As most trips go, there were good times and bad times.  These bad times were more extreme than the standard fare, unfortunately.  None of the bad times had anything to do with the ride directly, though.
I've actually been physically back for a little while now, but just barely getting back in the swing of things.  I left on May 7 for one of my business trips, and took the Valkyrie this time.  I met with some of the northern Alabama guys for a great ride on the weekend while I was there (big tip o' the hat to RonK, Santa, and Slow Road for leading me on a great route and dodging the rain all day (mostly)).
Bad time #1 hit at the end of that leg of the trip when my uncle passed away after a very brief battle with cancer.  I could not make it for the funeral, because of my business trip.  (This whole cancer thing is starting to piss me off.  That makes 3 friends/relatives in 12 months.)
I was due in Denver at the end of the week, and I had some time to kill, so at my lovely wife's suggestion, I turned north and visited my grandfather in Indiana (near Chicago).  We had a wonderful time, and he was as strong, alert, and mobile as a 94 year old man could expect to be.  I'll always treasure that visit, because the night after I left, he suffered a massive stroke and died.  My logical side tells me that he was 94, he lived a good life, and was loved by all he met.  He had a lot of physical difficulties over the last ten years, and he's not in pain anymore.  My emotional side tells me that he was the greatest man I ever knew, and I wanted him to live forever.
I left Colorado, headed back to the midwest for the funeral.
My father and I had planned to go to St. Louis on Memorial Day weekend, and catch some Cardinals games.  It made sense to simply mate that trip to this one, so we stopped in on our way homeward.  All in all, 3 weeks and >5500 miles door to door.  As I said, good times and bad times.  This was my longest (time-wise) motorcycle trip, and I would have liked for it to be a little more of a happy memory, but we take what life gives us.

Mark

[Red Diamond]

Long trip Mark, glad you have a great prespective on the good and bad times, lets you enjoy the good even amongst the bad. Sorry for the loss of your Grandfather and Uncle. Also happy to know that you made it back safely, you didn't mention any breakdowns or other issues, so that is a pleasure within itself.

[Rocketman]

Thanks, Eli. 
No, I didn't have any Valkyrie issues worth mentioning.  I didn't expect to log enough miles to justify an oil change, but changed my mind when I added >1k to the trip by heading back to the midwest.  So, I took care of that on the road.  I also had trouble with my AM reception, but if that's the worst that happened, well, I had a great trip (from a vehicular standpoint, at least.)
It's just too bad that most of the miles were superslab, getting from point A to point B.

[Red Diamond]

Wow, are there still AM stations out there?

[HayHauler]

Glad you're back Mark.  Sorry about the funerals, but as you said, they are in a better place.  Just sux that they happened while you were on your trip.

Maybe he was talking about CB receiption?  CB is AM, but maybe he was talking about the good time radio....

Hay 
Jimmyt

[Mr.BubblesVRCCDS0008]

Glad you made it back safe and sound.  Sorry to hear about your uncle and grandfather. What a blessing it was that you got to see him one last time.           I have to ask did you pack a spare alt. with you for the trip?

[hotglue #43]

Glad yer back safe and sound!  Sorry to hear the news of your kin. 

[RainMaker]

Didn't know you were gone but happy to hear you are safely back.  My condolences on the loss of your uncle and grandfather, but how fortunate you were to have such a wonderful visit with your grandfather before his passing.  If he was like my grandfather, he is still with you even in death.  My grandpa passed in 1968 but even today, he gets me in trouble all the time!

The part that surprises me about our respective trips is that I had an alternator story and you didn't.

RainMaker

[Rocketman]

Yes, there are still AM stations.  That's where all the baseball games are aired.  That's what I was after, as I circled St. Louis in very large circles.

As for happening while I'm on the road:  I seem to have bad luck with that.  Another uncle passed away while I was in Colorado for InZane.  When I heard my uncle had gone into hospice care in late April, I wondered if I would get a similar phone call while I was in Colorado. 
Yes, my grandfather is very much with me.  He was an electrician, and when I got home, I found some detailed notes he had written for me on how to troubleshoot a house wiring problem I was having.
Side note:  I didn't mention it earlier, since it wasn't while I was on the trip, but Stephanie's grandfather passed away about a week after I got back.  May was a rough month.


No, I didn't pack a spare alternator.  I do stare at my voltmeter a lot, but I've never had a problem since that amp got yanked out.  I'm approaching time to pull and clean the alternator, but that's a good thing, since it means I've gotten 35,000 on this one, as opposed to the 3,000 out of the one before that, and the 200 out of the one before that, and the 150...  Well, you get the idea.

Mark

[SideCar]

Sorry to hear about your grandfather, Mark, but how great is it that you were able to have a good visit with him.  Glad the rest of the trip went well.

[Disco]

Glad you got out for a ride, but sad for Stephanie's and your losses.  I think of my grandfathers very often.

[mario]

welcome back mark.  i'm sorry for your losses. 
i'm glad your ride was safe.

[Hollyday]

So sorry to hear about the loss of your and your wife's loved ones.   Thankful you were able to spend some time with your grandfather before he passed.   
Glad you are home safe.

Hollyday