Can You Trust Google Maps? I had just left Pasco, Washington, after stopping at Dollar General for groceries. I was headed out on State Route 124 when I lost my phone signal. Google Maps told me to turn onto Lyons Ferry Road, so I did—but I was already starting to get leery of Google Maps. I rode until I ran out of daylight. Then I used my headlight until it went dead. I could still barely see the painted lines on the road, but eventually I had to pull over. The question was: where? There was nothing around. The only things I could recognize were the fiber-optic manholes, each marked…
-
-
The 10mm Conspiracy
Coffee Time, real talk:Where are all the 10mm wrenches and sockets? I can never find one.I dropped a 10mm, and now it’s gone.You can never find a 10mm. So when I see a small wrench, I’m checking it like:“Are you my 10mm? Did you survive the bench? The engine bay? The gravel driveway?” This thing is a real mechanic/motorcycle thing. 10mm is the most common bolt size on modern vehicles, especially Asian cars. It’s used the most, so it’s the one that always gets lost, left in the car, rolled under the floor, or somehow ends up in the fan shroud or under the subframe. We need a National 10mm Day.A day…
-
Changing Gears
I’m changing gears.After a lot of bicycle adventures, I’m shifting to motorcycle adventuring. I figured I’ll be closer to the middle of the road this time. Bicycle riding actually relegated me to the edge of the road — this will be safer. 😉 Still on the backroads, away from the freeways. Still doing my morning “Coffee Time.” Still sharing pics.And sometimes I’ll be bringing my friend Steve along too.Next week, I’m heading out on a motorcycle camping trip to Crescent Lake on my VT600. More to come as we ride in and set up camp. Pat Hays PatHaysOnline.com
-
Buy Me A Room
I’m getting ready for the TransAmerica ride and sharing the trip on this blog. If you’d like to help once in a while, this is my “Buy Me A Room” page. A contribution helps cover a motel night, a safe place to recharge, get out of bad weather, clean up, and keep going. No pressure — reading the blog and following along helps too. Click Here, Thanks in Advance
-
“TransAmerica” – It’s Officially On!
(May 1 Launch) I’m on my way to DC for the Fourth of July to celebrate our nation’s 250th Birthday! I am going to ride the TranAmerica Trail route that was first introduced in 1976, our nation’s 200th Birthday. I thought it was fitting to use the same route as they did 50 years ago, and it has become more and more famous since. I have always wanted to make an adventure trip like this, and I won’t likely have another chance. I was dreaming last year of riding to Boga Chica, Texas last summer, and Watch a big rocket go up to space. I couldn’t pull the trigger. That…
-
Grass Burrs and a Long Walk
I was a homeless drunk in Denver, but I still worked. Temp agencies mostly. If a customer needed a guy the next day, I was the one they asked for again. One week they sent me to this small manufacturing shop on the edge of Commerce City. Place was clean as a whistle—floors shining, everything in its place. They put me on a CNC lathe that was already programmed. My whole job was to load the part, push the buttons, and not screw it up. After two days, the boss calls me into his office.‘You’re a good worker,’ he says. ‘How much you want an hour?’I tell him, ‘Don’t pay…
-
Boldest. Man. Alive.
People keep asking me what I think of our President now that he’s been back in office for a year. You’ve seen the headlines. Mass deportations on a scale nobody thought a modern president would actually try. Executive orders flying so fast Washington can’t even finish being outraged about the last one. Half the country says it’s chaos, the other half says it’s finally someone doing what he promised. Gas prices down from the worst of the Biden era, some relief on energy and inflation if you actually pay the bills in your house. At the same time, every pollster on TV tells you Americans are still angry about the…
-
Push for U.S. Control of Greenland
The recent resurgence in the United States’ interest in acquiring Greenland has sparked intense debate and international concern. President Donald Trump’s persistent calls for the island’s annexation, coupled with his administration’s aggressive stance, have pushed this issue to the forefront of global politics. Historical Context Greenland has long been a strategic asset for the U.S., primarily due to its location at the intersection of North America, Europe, and the Arctic. The United States’ interest in Greenland dates back to World War II when it established military bases there under the 1951 Agreement Allowing US Military Presence. This historical context underscores why the U.S. views Greenland as a critical vantage point…
-
Jogging in Your Sixties
A great way to meet people! “Today I met two paramedics, three nurses, a cardiologist, and I almost met Jesus!
-
You’re Getting a Raise. So Why Are They Still Fear‑Mongering Social Security?
“You’re getting a raise… and they’re still fear‑mongering Social Security.”That pretty much sums up where we are right now. For 2026, Social Security checks are going up, not down. The Social Security Administration has already announced a 2.8% cost‑of‑living adjustment (COLA) for next year. For the average retired worker, that means a bump of around 56 dollars a month — roughly from about 2,015 dollars to 2,071 dollars. It’s not life‑changing money. But it is a raise. So why does every conversation about Social Security still sound like the sky is falling? What Your Raise Really Looks Like On paper, 2.8% sounds decent. In real life, it runs into two brick…
