The Dixie Pixie's Blue Bike undoubtedly wins the "showbike" of the trip award. No picture can do justice to this marvel put together by Husband and forum leader MoccasinMike. From the double ghost flames and custom fenders to the lighted and mirrored air cleaner to the turquoise conchos, this bike is really something.

And fittingly, the Dixie Pixie and Moccasin are the last to leave the Hotel Prytania:

However, a small group of us linger to join Big Daddy in his Monday ritual of a Red Beans and Rice lunch, before taking off.

Anyway, when I last checked in and brought all up to date I was in the town of Mojave, CA...right on the edge of the Mojave desert and ready to commence the last leg of my journey home...500 miles (roughly) over the Tehachapi's, up I-5 across the Bay Area and then Northward and home.

May I ask who here doesn't understand the concept of DESERT!? At 4:00 a.m. I am awakened by the sound of wind driven rain rattling the motel windows to the tympani accompaniment of thunder and lightening. By about six a clearing appears to be developing so I hit the road and successfully manage to progress through the morning without serious weather to contend with. However, by early afternoon I'm within sight of Northern CA, and the rain begins and continues on and off for the rest of the day. Ah well, I've been very lucky on this trip when it comes to weather, so the last day is the best place to hit me with some adversity.

I'm home by 5:30 that evening, in the shower by 6:00 to warm up, and at our neighbor's for their annual pumpkin carving party by 7:30. Tomorrow is Halloween, and I seem to have returned to normalcy. And don't think I forgot about Halloween on the trip. Mountain Rick and I stopped by the World's Largest Harley-Davidson dealership in El Paso Texas --

--and I got a flaming pumpkin/skull Harley T-Shirt to scare all the kids!

It has been a fantastic trip, with good camaraderie, great scenery, great food and great riding. On top of this, we accomplished something to help out the folks in the New Orleans parishes, who have been double battered economically over the past few years. As serious as our ultimate purpose may have been, though, if I had to pick one photo that summed up the experience, I guess it would have to be Big Dave from New Jersey showing off the signed flag of the Road King Riders, which has now been twice (at least, that we know of) around the country, and probably will make the trip many times again. (p.s. The red hair is fake...)