Filling in time till plane catch tonight, some impressions to conclude, not in any order of preference.
The outstanding politeness and courtesy of american people...
even the most tatoo'd, unlikely looking individual, will proffer an apology or excuse me, in an inadvertent bump.
Driving on the roads very predictable, and also forgiving if you make a mistake,
you feel safer, as long as you maintain lane discipline.
A few more roundabouts on the roads over last year, but 4-way stop signs still rule...
first in, then next by turn, etc
Hard to imagine it working back home, let alone the lane-driving free for all we have, so well served by roads are they here.
Not the 2 lane fight, but 2 lanes almost for every direction.
And the lawmen and women too, engaging helpful people.
Despite they got the gun, what else could we do but oblige.
I'd be happy if our force were armed.
Tipping hard for us kiwis to accept...
the insult of having prices quoted without sales tax compounded by having to add a tip.
Sometimes you can end up paying 20-30% over the ticket or menu price.
On the other hand, you can see the virtue of the for-reward service ethic...
far better than the take it or leave it attitude that used to rule NZ, contributes to the general courtesy ethic here, along with religion still playing a big part in American life.
Again TV gives us the impression this is a nation of religious nutters, but in 30,000 odd kms travelled around this place in 2 years, I aint seen one yet.
Its like NZ used to be 20 years ago, lot of men still wear ties round here.
Comparing notes round the table has revealed one place that might have got away with some over-charging.
The form at most bars is you start drinking, and settle up the tab when you leave.
We kiwis have been putting money up first, per round, as is our norm, and I think the bar people forget they've taken payment for early rounds, ask for it again, and like polite, non-counting visitors we've coughed up, and also for supposed erring mates who left the school early and supposedly didnt pay.
Mile High in Jerome was the main culprit...
and when the Sherriff's within earshot, you dont kick up a fuss.
Cock-up or conspiracy........?
Who knows, but in the busy tourist traps, when tipping feels more like gouging, count your drinks.
Better still, limit drinking to just a couple of social whistle-wetters at the bars,
and pick up cans from the gas stations or supermarkets $1 each or less.
The economy.....
general comment from the 'economists' in our group is that the place is so stuffed by debt to China
and we're lucky NZ's in such stable shape, comparative, but i disagree.
American people are industrious, their agriculture and process cropping so geared and frenetic.
Armies march on their stomachs, and this one is supremely well fed.
Someone commented, yeah, but cheap Hispanic labour in the fields, if even legal, props the system up...
but I aint seen no-one busting to get back to Mexico
so what....
thats only because taxes arent high enough,
or too much civil expenditure,
or the bureaucracy's getting paid too much.
Some of the road surfaces round here could do with a touchup though.
From the 'Expendables' movie, Sly and Statham are doing a deal with Bruce Willis, waiting for a 3rd party to turn up...
the doors swing open and its the Governator.
He dosent like the deal, and walks out.
'Whats up with him?' asks Sly
'Maybe he wants to be President' replies Jason
and the audience guffaw.
The traffic so relentless, bumper to bumper, 3 wide.
I refuse to believe theyre all travelling to nowhere, for no purpose, if economic activity halved, the boulevards would still be too busy.
By comparison, halve NZ's activity, and you could find a better life for yourself merely by shifting to Tasmania.
We're specialists at riding the sheep's back into oblivion.
Travel anywhere in the world, and we're always pleased to be home, but for this kiwi, America
Its partly why i came back, the endless road, pure biker heaven, and the way of the biker being so accepted and a part of the American way, the big road signs urging care with motorcyclists, and by and large they do.
And the vast, beautiful, awesome, scenery, high mountain passes and ranges, scary and challenging at times.
So humbling for us who think LOTR showed the world how its done for vistas...
and the deserts so awesome in teaching the difference between the 21st century and death by thirst, or like a mere pawn in the open spaces, skirting round a 50km wide storm cloud.
14,000 km in 6 weeks...
a fulsome sense of achievement for those in the group
couple of bike drops, no serious injury
a couple of pull-ups by the cops, but no tickets
although one bloke got off of a DUI charge with a couple of hours in the cooler
above all, the Bandit, the CB, and the BMW, got right round without mechanical incident
but 4 Harleys had mechanical call-outs, one finishing the tour on the back of a rented pickup.
Above all, they like us here
I hope we've been good ambassadors
the hotel receptionist said, hope we see you again
me too
I wish america
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