tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-88592712024-03-07T10:22:45.104-08:00where are you, eric liu?a travelogue for a solo cross-country motorcycle road trip from Tampa, Florida to San Diego, California in 2008 and an overland attempt from Singapore to Morocco from November 2004 to August 2006Eric Liuhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02236502256471531795noreply@blogger.comBlogger2037125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8859271.post-52853289714157849002008-10-08T22:04:00.005-07:002008-10-08T22:04:32.553-07:0020-mph self-portrait<div style="float: right; margin-left: 10px; margin-bottom: 10px;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/whereruericliu/2891787394/" title="photo sharing"><img src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3162/2891787394_d736553e35_m.jpg" alt="" style="border: solid 2px #000000;" /></a><br /><span style="font-size: 0.9em; margin-top: 0px;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/whereruericliu/2891787394/">20-mph self-portrait</a><br />Originally uploaded by <a href="http://www.flickr.com/people/whereruericliu/">bastchild</a></span></div><br clear="all" />Eric Liuhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02236502256471531795noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8859271.post-30126585389525108992008-10-08T22:04:00.003-07:002008-10-08T22:04:22.443-07:00Mountain sheep<div style="float: right; margin-left: 10px; margin-bottom: 10px;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/whereruericliu/2891787238/" title="photo sharing"><img src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3096/2891787238_068140723d_m.jpg" alt="" style="border: solid 2px #000000;" /></a><br /><span style="font-size: 0.9em; margin-top: 0px;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/whereruericliu/2891787238/">Mountain sheep</a><br />Originally uploaded by <a href="http://www.flickr.com/people/whereruericliu/">bastchild</a></span></div><br clear="all" />Eric Liuhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02236502256471531795noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8859271.post-54515845559957084242008-10-08T22:04:00.001-07:002008-10-08T22:04:07.782-07:00Badlands<div style="float: right; margin-left: 10px; margin-bottom: 10px;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/whereruericliu/2891786888/" title="photo sharing"><img src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2043/2891786888_ec311e3452_m.jpg" alt="" style="border: solid 2px #000000;" /></a><br /><span style="font-size: 0.9em; margin-top: 0px;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/whereruericliu/2891786888/">Badlands</a><br />Originally uploaded by <a href="http://www.flickr.com/people/whereruericliu/">bastchild</a></span></div><br clear="all" />Eric Liuhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02236502256471531795noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8859271.post-9974241312603335082008-10-08T22:03:00.001-07:002008-10-08T22:03:20.446-07:00Badlands National Park<div style="float: right; margin-left: 10px; margin-bottom: 10px;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/whereruericliu/2890949181/" title="photo sharing"><img src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3193/2890949181_d01599e816_m.jpg" alt="" style="border: solid 2px #000000;" /></a><br /><span style="font-size: 0.9em; margin-top: 0px;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/whereruericliu/2890949181/">Badlands National Park</a><br />Originally uploaded by <a href="http://www.flickr.com/people/whereruericliu/">bastchild</a></span></div>I swung through the Badlands on route-240 to see the layers volcanic sediment that makes it so famous.<br clear="all" />Eric Liuhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02236502256471531795noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8859271.post-88004977284251512672008-10-08T22:02:00.005-07:002008-10-08T22:02:50.571-07:00Helmet self-portrait<div style="float: right; margin-left: 10px; margin-bottom: 10px;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/whereruericliu/2890948967/" title="photo sharing"><img src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3059/2890948967_c1186a964f_m.jpg" alt="" style="border: solid 2px #000000;" /></a><br /><span style="font-size: 0.9em; margin-top: 0px;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/whereruericliu/2890948967/">Helmet self-portrait</a><br />Originally uploaded by <a href="http://www.flickr.com/people/whereruericliu/">bastchild</a></span></div><br clear="all" />Eric Liuhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02236502256471531795noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8859271.post-36824545471297567872008-10-08T22:02:00.003-07:002008-10-08T22:02:38.095-07:00Windy plains<div style="float: right; margin-left: 10px; margin-bottom: 10px;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/whereruericliu/2891786164/" title="photo sharing"><img src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3277/2891786164_0fb66fbe5b_m.jpg" alt="" style="border: solid 2px #000000;" /></a><br /><span style="font-size: 0.9em; margin-top: 0px;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/whereruericliu/2891786164/">Windy plains</a><br />Originally uploaded by <a href="http://www.flickr.com/people/whereruericliu/">bastchild</a></span></div><br clear="all" />Eric Liuhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02236502256471531795noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8859271.post-84856912473896442572008-10-08T22:02:00.001-07:002008-10-08T22:02:14.889-07:00South Dakota rest stop<div style="float: right; margin-left: 10px; margin-bottom: 10px;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/whereruericliu/2890948665/" title="photo sharing"><img src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3174/2890948665_abe3668166_m.jpg" alt="" style="border: solid 2px #000000;" /></a><br /><span style="font-size: 0.9em; margin-top: 0px;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/whereruericliu/2890948665/">South Dakota rest stop</a><br />Originally uploaded by <a href="http://www.flickr.com/people/whereruericliu/">bastchild</a></span></div>It was a windy trip through the plains of South Dakota. I managed to ride leaning to the left. A trucker told me to take a secondary road, but I didn't, and the wind eventually calmed down.<br clear="all" />Eric Liuhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02236502256471531795noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8859271.post-79877444176090484512008-10-08T22:01:00.003-07:002008-10-08T22:01:57.057-07:00Shredded pants<div style="float: right; margin-left: 10px; margin-bottom: 10px;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/whereruericliu/2890948513/" title="photo sharing"><img src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3215/2890948513_e84ed076e3_m.jpg" alt="" style="border: solid 2px #000000;" /></a><br /><span style="font-size: 0.9em; margin-top: 0px;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/whereruericliu/2890948513/">Shredded pants</a><br />Originally uploaded by <a href="http://www.flickr.com/people/whereruericliu/">bastchild</a></span></div><br clear="all" />Eric Liuhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02236502256471531795noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8859271.post-57629339074326538932008-10-08T22:01:00.001-07:002008-10-08T22:01:06.351-07:00Super 8 Motel in Worthington, MN<div style="float: right; margin-left: 10px; margin-bottom: 10px;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/whereruericliu/2889228047/" title="photo sharing"><img src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3175/2889228047_7d0fcc35bd_m.jpg" alt="" style="border: solid 2px #000000;" /></a><br /><span style="font-size: 0.9em; margin-top: 0px;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/whereruericliu/2889228047/">Super 8 Motel in Worthington, MN</a><br />Originally uploaded by <a href="http://www.flickr.com/people/whereruericliu/">bastchild</a></span></div>After 510 miles, I stopped in Worthington, Minnesota, 60 miles east of Sioux Falls, South Dakota at 1030pm. I checked into the Super 8 Motel because it had free wifi. All the food places were closed by the time I checked in, so I went to the glorious Super Walmart and bought some frozen food. The rain pants I bought at the Walmart in St. Louis were shredded from the wind. It was cold riding, so I wore my thermals, three jackets, rain pants, and knit cap. That was all I had, but it was still cold.<br clear="all" />Eric Liuhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02236502256471531795noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8859271.post-89657513190432720372008-10-08T22:00:00.003-07:002008-10-08T22:00:42.297-07:00Somewhere in Minnesota<div style="float: right; margin-left: 10px; margin-bottom: 10px;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/whereruericliu/2890061112/" title="photo sharing"><img src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3093/2890061112_c3c86b1987_m.jpg" alt="" style="border: solid 2px #000000;" /></a><br /><span style="font-size: 0.9em; margin-top: 0px;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/whereruericliu/2890061112/">Somewhere in Minnesota</a><br />Originally uploaded by <a href="http://www.flickr.com/people/whereruericliu/">bastchild</a></span></div>I entered Minnesota by crossing the mighty Mississippi River and noted that I would be running low on gas. With no gas stations in sight, I headed toward a small town off Interstate-90 called Rushford. A red BMW motorcycle stopped to see if I was okay. He recommended taking a different route back to the Interstate (rt 16 to 52), so I had a nice windy detour through a small canyon cut by a river as the sun was setting. It was the highlight of the day.<br clear="all" />Eric Liuhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02236502256471531795noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8859271.post-7253603442892724842008-10-08T22:00:00.001-07:002008-10-08T22:00:14.507-07:00Amusement parks<div style="float: right; margin-left: 10px; margin-bottom: 10px;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/whereruericliu/2889225547/" title="photo sharing"><img src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3232/2889225547_c3e1e27076_m.jpg" alt="" style="border: solid 2px #000000;" /></a><br /><span style="font-size: 0.9em; margin-top: 0px;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/whereruericliu/2889225547/">Amusement parks</a><br />Originally uploaded by <a href="http://www.flickr.com/people/whereruericliu/">bastchild</a></span></div>The area around the Wisconsin Dells is plagued by tacky amusement parks and sights like "Ripley's Believe it or Not!". It is quite impressive in the number of places that surround the Dells. They must get many visitors in the summers. It was pretty dead when I was visiting.<br clear="all" />Eric Liuhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02236502256471531795noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8859271.post-88202173267276566202008-10-08T21:59:00.003-07:002008-10-08T21:59:50.351-07:00Wisconsin Dells<div style="float: right; margin-left: 10px; margin-bottom: 10px;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/whereruericliu/2889223347/" title="photo sharing"><img src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3029/2889223347_7cfa6265fd_m.jpg" alt="" style="border: solid 2px #000000;" /></a><br /><span style="font-size: 0.9em; margin-top: 0px;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/whereruericliu/2889223347/">Wisconsin Dells</a><br />Originally uploaded by <a href="http://www.flickr.com/people/whereruericliu/">bastchild</a></span></div>You can't see much from here, but you can take a boat tour to view the dells.<br clear="all" />Eric Liuhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02236502256471531795noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8859271.post-32511064824009278142008-10-08T21:59:00.001-07:002008-10-08T21:59:26.033-07:00Wisconsin Dells<div style="float: right; margin-left: 10px; margin-bottom: 10px;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/whereruericliu/2889221513/" title="photo sharing"><img src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3236/2889221513_ccb201a7cb_m.jpg" alt="" style="border: solid 2px #000000;" /></a><br /><span style="font-size: 0.9em; margin-top: 0px;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/whereruericliu/2889221513/">Wisconsin Dells</a><br />Originally uploaded by <a href="http://www.flickr.com/people/whereruericliu/">bastchild</a></span></div>Robert had to work the next day, and I had to travel. I got a late start and headed west toward Badlands National Park in South Dakota. It was more than 800 miles away, so I didn't expect to make it there in one day. I left after noon and stopped at the Wisconsin Dells to take a peek of the limestone gorge.<br clear="all" />Eric Liuhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02236502256471531795noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8859271.post-51516408993342004722008-10-08T21:58:00.005-07:002008-10-08T21:58:49.616-07:00Dinner with Lois & Ken<div style="float: right; margin-left: 10px; margin-bottom: 10px;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/whereruericliu/2888852019/" title="photo sharing"><img src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3239/2888852019_0f85962b58_m.jpg" alt="" style="border: solid 2px #000000;" /></a><br /><span style="font-size: 0.9em; margin-top: 0px;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/whereruericliu/2888852019/">Dinner with Lois & Ken</a><br />Originally uploaded by <a href="http://www.flickr.com/people/whereruericliu/">bastchild</a></span></div>Lois is out of frame on the left. Lois is Robert's mother. She cooked us a wonderful meal.<br clear="all" />Eric Liuhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02236502256471531795noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8859271.post-45020600406569990362008-10-08T21:58:00.003-07:002008-10-08T21:58:30.470-07:00Michael running<div style="float: right; margin-left: 10px; margin-bottom: 10px;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/whereruericliu/2888850137/" title="photo sharing"><img src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3107/2888850137_03dbde91f6_m.jpg" alt="" style="border: solid 2px #000000;" /></a><br /><span style="font-size: 0.9em; margin-top: 0px;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/whereruericliu/2888850137/">Michael running</a><br />Originally uploaded by <a href="http://www.flickr.com/people/whereruericliu/">bastchild</a></span></div><br clear="all" />Eric Liuhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02236502256471531795noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8859271.post-57616008136675888352008-10-08T21:58:00.001-07:002008-10-08T21:58:11.200-07:00Touchdown dance<div style="float: right; margin-left: 10px; margin-bottom: 10px;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/whereruericliu/2889680986/" title="photo sharing"><img src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3031/2889680986_8a5bb02402_m.jpg" alt="" style="border: solid 2px #000000;" /></a><br /><span style="font-size: 0.9em; margin-top: 0px;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/whereruericliu/2889680986/">Touchdown dance</a><br />Originally uploaded by <a href="http://www.flickr.com/people/whereruericliu/">bastchild</a></span></div><br clear="all" />Eric Liuhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02236502256471531795noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8859271.post-1165565756623046752008-10-08T21:57:00.003-07:002008-10-08T21:57:53.641-07:00Whassup doc?<div style="float: right; margin-left: 10px; margin-bottom: 10px;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/whereruericliu/2889677700/" title="photo sharing"><img src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3257/2889677700_1d21ed7869_m.jpg" alt="" style="border: solid 2px #000000;" /></a><br /><span style="font-size: 0.9em; margin-top: 0px;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/whereruericliu/2889677700/">Whassup doc?</a><br />Originally uploaded by <a href="http://www.flickr.com/people/whereruericliu/">bastchild</a></span></div><br clear="all" />Eric Liuhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02236502256471531795noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8859271.post-73159450175718572202008-10-08T21:57:00.001-07:002008-10-08T21:57:11.555-07:00Picking tomatos<div style="float: right; margin-left: 10px; margin-bottom: 10px;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/whereruericliu/2889675004/" title="photo sharing"><img src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3049/2889675004_bb5f2454a1_m.jpg" alt="" style="border: solid 2px #000000;" /></a><br /><span style="font-size: 0.9em; margin-top: 0px;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/whereruericliu/2889675004/">Picking tomatos</a><br />Originally uploaded by <a href="http://www.flickr.com/people/whereruericliu/">bastchild</a></span></div>We picked Michael up from his first grade class and went to his grandmother's for dinner. She had him pick some vegetables from the garden.<br clear="all" />Eric Liuhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02236502256471531795noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8859271.post-67806624083828881862008-10-08T21:56:00.003-07:002008-10-08T21:56:49.743-07:00Keshena, WI<div style="float: right; margin-left: 10px; margin-bottom: 10px;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/whereruericliu/2889671272/" title="photo sharing"><img src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3145/2889671272_05909881ce_m.jpg" alt="" style="border: solid 2px #000000;" /></a><br /><span style="font-size: 0.9em; margin-top: 0px;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/whereruericliu/2889671272/">Keshena, WI</a><br />Originally uploaded by <a href="http://www.flickr.com/people/whereruericliu/">bastchild</a></span></div>A small town in the Menominee Indian Reservation.<br clear="all" />Eric Liuhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02236502256471531795noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8859271.post-79348575544936127712008-10-08T21:56:00.001-07:002008-10-08T21:56:24.469-07:00Route 55<div style="float: right; margin-left: 10px; margin-bottom: 10px;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/whereruericliu/2888835377/" title="photo sharing"><img src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3210/2888835377_8c6961d9c7_m.jpg" alt="" style="border: solid 2px #000000;" /></a><br /><span style="font-size: 0.9em; margin-top: 0px;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/whereruericliu/2888835377/">Route 55</a><br />Originally uploaded by <a href="http://www.flickr.com/people/whereruericliu/">bastchild</a></span></div>We took route 55 down from Lakewood. It follows the Wolf River. We passed a group of Harleys lead by a BMW. I resisted the urge to wave.<br clear="all" />Eric Liuhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02236502256471531795noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8859271.post-47585806872395715542008-10-08T21:55:00.001-07:002008-10-08T21:55:29.451-07:00Small-mouth bass<div style="float: right; margin-left: 10px; margin-bottom: 10px;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/whereruericliu/2889653550/" title="photo sharing"><img src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3076/2889653550_6be23eda75_m.jpg" alt="" style="border: solid 2px #000000;" /></a><br /><span style="font-size: 0.9em; margin-top: 0px;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/whereruericliu/2889653550/">Small-mouth bass</a><br />Originally uploaded by <a href="http://www.flickr.com/people/whereruericliu/">bastchild</a></span></div><br clear="all" />Eric Liuhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02236502256471531795noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8859271.post-92165954554358191062008-10-08T21:54:00.005-07:002008-10-08T21:54:59.152-07:00Crossing the stream<div style="float: right; margin-left: 10px; margin-bottom: 10px;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/whereruericliu/2889649080/" title="photo sharing"><img src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3008/2889649080_192b3635bb_m.jpg" alt="" style="border: solid 2px #000000;" /></a><br /><span style="font-size: 0.9em; margin-top: 0px;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/whereruericliu/2889649080/">Crossing the stream</a><br />Originally uploaded by <a href="http://www.flickr.com/people/whereruericliu/">bastchild</a></span></div>I lost one of the lures the day before, so today I returned with Tevas and shorts to retrieve it. The water wasn't too cold, nor was the current very strong.<br clear="all" />Eric Liuhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02236502256471531795noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8859271.post-85939471808918567822008-10-08T21:54:00.003-07:002008-10-08T21:54:32.959-07:00$25 mountain bike<div style="float: right; margin-left: 10px; margin-bottom: 10px;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/whereruericliu/2888813113/" title="photo sharing"><img src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3096/2888813113_cae67d408a_m.jpg" alt="" style="border: solid 2px #000000;" /></a><br /><span style="font-size: 0.9em; margin-top: 0px;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/whereruericliu/2888813113/">$25 mountain bike</a><br />Originally uploaded by <a href="http://www.flickr.com/people/whereruericliu/">bastchild</a></span></div>We went to Lakewood to rent a mountain bike. They let me use a brand new Diamondback without a deposit, credit card, or identification. I, of course, returned it the next day.<br />We went mountain biking along dirt roads near Cathedral Pines. Then we came back for lunch (gas station broasted chicken with wheat bread) and more fishing.<br clear="all" />Eric Liuhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02236502256471531795noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8859271.post-23094870883940260182008-10-08T21:54:00.001-07:002008-10-08T21:54:07.934-07:00Fall colors<div style="float: right; margin-left: 10px; margin-bottom: 10px;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/whereruericliu/2888811659/" title="photo sharing"><img src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3250/2888811659_9536c93cbd_m.jpg" alt="" style="border: solid 2px #000000;" /></a><br /><span style="font-size: 0.9em; margin-top: 0px;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/whereruericliu/2888811659/">Fall colors</a><br />Originally uploaded by <a href="http://www.flickr.com/people/whereruericliu/">bastchild</a></span></div><br clear="all" />Eric Liuhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02236502256471531795noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8859271.post-64377858919186007442008-10-08T21:53:00.003-07:002008-10-08T21:53:27.926-07:00Close to the car<div style="float: right; margin-left: 10px; margin-bottom: 10px;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/whereruericliu/2888810183/" title="photo sharing"><img src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3138/2888810183_849571b842_m.jpg" alt="" style="border: solid 2px #000000;" /></a><br /><span style="font-size: 0.9em; margin-top: 0px;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/whereruericliu/2888810183/">Close to the car</a><br />Originally uploaded by <a href="http://www.flickr.com/people/whereruericliu/">bastchild</a></span></div><br clear="all" />Eric Liuhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02236502256471531795noreply@blogger.com0