Home Sweet Home

Yes we are home!

It has been a great experience and Josiah has worked hard and knows what needs to be done going forward.

We would like to thank all who have helped us on this trip. Our friends in the States, eg. the Hempens, who without them the trip would never have happened. They cooked us great meals, let us use their beds when we first arrived and the shower throughout our many visits. They put our bikes together, changed engines over, lent us their trailer, ran us in and out of town, took us to Millville and went out of their way to help me do what I needed to get done. Also, the Tews who had us visit. Plus the Fullwoods for helping us out and letting Josiah go horse riding. The Yoests for having us camp on their front lawn for a week and the boys for coming and sharing Loretta Lynn's with us. Steve and Beth for catching up and picking up Sarah for us. Mike and Pam for letting us camp, teaching Chris how to fix bikes, letting Josiah train on their track and teaching him super important life skills (driving bulldozers and bobcats and shooting rifles). Max and Cason for helping us sort Josiah's mod bike at the track. Tat from Pirelli who gave me a great deal on tyre and changed them at the tracks. Also the new friends we made on the way who let us borrow their power washers (water blasters). The memories will stay with us.

To the Ayres, thanks for travelling over to share the experience, being a mechanic for Josiah and getting the bikes sorted for the big races and to cheer him along from the side of the track.

Thanks to our sponsers in NZ, CNC Profile Cutting Services, Pirelli, Pro Shield, Pro Moto, Storm Master Socks & Scott.

Thanks to our friends and family who kept in touch through the blog and for those who tried to keep in touch through the blog who had trouble getting on to comment.

On a trip like this, the highs are high and the lows are low but most importantly I want to thank the Lord. It is in Him I find strength. For safety on the track and as we travelled and answering my prayers. The Lord works all things (the good and the bad) together for those who love him. If everything in life went the way we planned with no ups and down's we wouldn't know how to appreciate the ups and wouldn't grow through the downs.

We look forward to seeing you at the track or where ever.

Signing off
Janine (and Josiah)

Loretta Lynn's 2010 finished

You got the results from Chris so you will all know Josiah finished 5th in the modified class and 6th in the stock class. Josiah is mostly happy with his results. He was disappointed with the modified class as he had to beat #40 to get 4th. He had been leading him until lap 5 when Josiah made a mistake and #40 got past. Josiah tried to pass back but didn't manage too, only being a bike length behind him at the finish line. But 5th is not bad when you consider how many he had to beat to get there.

The schedule was running about 4 hours behind so that pushed the Friday night moto to Saturday and the morning moto to the afternoon. Because of that, Andy decided it was better for them to get to Nashville (for their flight back to NZ) on Friday night as things would have been pushed to make it on Saturday. It was a plan as Lee had met a kiwi guy called Steve from Christchurch who works for Moose Racing and he had a car and was leaving Friday night so he could take them to Nashville and saved me the trip.

Before leaving, Andy (as he had done all week), made sure the bikes were both ready for their last motos. Thanks heaps for doing that as Josiah was confident everything was running smoothly. Thanks heaps also too Lee, Olly and Laura for supporting Josiah.

At the start of his first race, Josiah took the holeshot in the 3rd mod race and rode hard to get 5th. Then it was the last moto for the stock class. Josiah didn't get the holeshot but rode a consistent race. Friends we meet at Ponca City (Jody, Misty and Tye) came for the day to support us. Jodi also took photos for me as being in the pits I couldn't do both. They also ran me back and forth from the track which was great as my legs are still sore from when I got hit by the four wheeler.

Josiah and I went to prize giving Saturday evening as did the Hempens. It was long but we got the hardware. We left the Ranch at about 10pm. It was sad to leave and can't believe it's all over. Josiah said to me that although he wants to get back home to NZ he wishes he could stay longer and race the boys in the U.S. The more Josiah races the top guys the more he improves.

But we are looking forward to coming home. We drove a few hours and stopped to sleep for the night. Then we set off early this morning to get back to Iowa.

We had almost made it back to Iowa when we blow another tire. I had not been able to get another one from the one that blow on the way to Loretta Lynn's travelling the week before from Ponca City so we had no spare. A man stopped and said there was a Walmart 3 miles back that had a tire service centre. So I got on the phone and they had the one I needed. I dropped the trailer off and took the tire to get fixed. The Hempens weren't far behind me so they were waiting to change the tire for me and get me hooked up again. So thanks for being there to rescue us again. So on the road again and we arrived at the Hempens house at about 3pm.

There are now things to tidy up before we leave next week for NZ. I have the motorhome on ebay and flights to book and bikes to sort out and sell. So it is all go.

Look forward to coming home.
See you soon

Janine

Loretta Lynn Nationals final day racing

Have just checked the results.

Josiah got 7th in his final moto in the stock class. That gave him 6th overall for this class.

Josiah got 5th in his final moto in the modified class. That gave him 5th overall for this class.

It's over.

Loretta Lynn Nationals day four racing

Josiah raced Friday morning (early hours of Saturday morning NZT) and got seventh in the stock class. From the brief text I received today there was a big storm and it was very muddy.

Because the race organisers are behind schedule Josiah has no further races today. Tomorrow Josiah will race the third and final moto for both classes.

Chris (Dad)

Loretta Lynn Nationals close of play on Thursday

Chris has updated Josiah's results so far.

Josiah was real happy with getting the holeshot as with it he gets $100 to spend at an online motorcycle store. Yes he is sitting 4th equal in points in the mod class. And 5th is only one point behind so he knows what he has to do. He is riding really well and improving everytime he gets on the track. He is also getting better with handling the heat. They say it was 114F yesterday. It is hotter than hot!! Today is was hot too. When Josiah was staging for his moto, the thunder and lightening started then the rain came. So after standing there for about an hour they called it for the day. So Josiah is up 2nd moto in the morning. He is supposed to get the 3rd moto in for the mod class at 5.30pm tomorrow but it will only be if they catch up on what wasn't run today.

Kenny had a good first moto in his 1st class finishing 8th. Then in class 2 he got tangled and stuck with another bike so that wasn't a good finish. Then in his 2nd moto of his first class, he got a good start but got taken out in the first lap. He was run over and has nice tyre marks to prove it. So he sadly had another bad finish.

Luke finished 21st in his first moto and about 25th in today's moto. He is enjoying the racing though.

Yesterday was interesting for me. I was biking back to camper and a woman hit me with her mule (4 wheeler) she knocked me off my bike and I crashed on the ground. I hurt my ankle on one leg and my knee on the other leg. I'm ok but was rather shocked when it happened.

Well it is 10pm and I still have washing and shopping to do.
See ya Janine

Loretta Lynn Nationals day three racing

Wednesday was day two of racing. Josiah had his first moto for the stock class and finished 10th.

Early this morning (Thursday in the US) Josiah raced his second moto for the modified class. He got the holeshot and finished sixth. Josiah was to race his second moto for the stock class late afternoon but a thunderstorm at the line halted the day's racing until first thing tomorrow morning.

Chris

Loretta Lynn Nationals day one racing

Josiah had 2 practices on Monday, one for each of the classes he is competing in. They went well . Josiah worked on getting to know the track.
Today racing started at 7.30am. Josiah's moto ( 85cc 9-11yrs modified) wasn't until this afternoon at 4pm. At 2pm he started getting geared up. Then at 2.30, he went with Andy to the jetting area to warm up (not had there was much need for that in the 100F + heat.) Then down to the start line. It is a spoon draw for the first gate pick. Josiah got the 17th gate pick. That was cool as his riding number for Loretta's is 17. So don't be looking for 413. Numbers are allocated between 10 and 99. So Josiah opted to have 17 in support of Olly who is here to support him.
The gate dropped and Josiah shot out. I thought he had the holeshot but just missed out turning the corner in second. He raced well, in the heat and finished 6th. We are very pleased with the result as the 42 riders are all fast.
Tomorrow is the 1st race for the stock class. Josiah's race is at 10am.
At rider's briefing it was very cool as there was a guest appearence by Loretta Lynn. The crowd went wild.
Not sure when I will get back to McDonalds to update the blog but will when I can borrow another car.
Bye for now
Janine

Lorreta Lynn's American Amateur Motocross National Championship

Hi

We arrived at Loretta Lynn's Dude Ranch at about 11.15pm on Saturday night. We got parked up and went right to bed. On Sunday morning Josiah was keen to walk the track before tomorrow's practice. In the afternoon we signed on and got ready for tomorrow. It is super hot here and humid. The kids have all been swimming in the creek and now we are doing chores.

I will try to get to McDonalds (where there is wifi) to post updates.

See you
Janine

Kinder, I got the photos loaded up. You will have to come around when I'm back home and teach me how to post videos!!

Photos from Ponca

I hope I can get these posted. We are at McDonald's waiting on laundry so here goes.

Ponca City to Loretta Lynn's, Tennessee

Janine sent me a text this morning (Sunday) saying that Josiah got fifth in his last (third) moto to finish up sixth overall. Josiah didn't get a great start but is happy with his overall considering the freight train of fast kids. Janine, Josiah, Andy, Lee, Olly and Laura are now in the RV camper doing the miles to get to LLs and should get there around 11pm central time zone.

Chris

Ponca City Oklahoma continued

Olly raced on Wednesday. He got a good start but had an off in the first lap. He got up and was making progress. Then at the end of the last lap his rear brake seized and he couldn't get the bike to move. When Andy looked over the bike, the clutch had burned out. So they took the bike to KTM USA's tent and they but in new clutch plates and got the bike sorted. Olly's classes were only 2 hours apart so he had another race.

In Olly's second class sadly he didn't even get a lap in. The rear brake seized again. Then when Andy looked at it again, there was a nut missing which was allowing another part to unwind and was slowly putting the rear brake on. So everyone was guttered.

Josiah had his 2nd moto yesterday. He didn't get a great start, was running about 8th and made it to 4th in the first lap. He finished 4th and was happy with his ride even though his result on Tuesday was better.

Olly had his second motos today. As he had the last gate pick he didn't get great starts but rode really well. He finished 13th and 14th.

We are now at a fun water park and will then go get some dinner.

Josiah has his main moto tomorrow (Saturday) morning. His race is 2nd up. Then we will head to Lorreta Lynn's Dude Ranch, Hurricane Mills, Tennessee. It is about a 600 mile drive (1,000 kms) and should take 12 hours so we will get away as soon as we can after Josiah's race.

If you go to http://www.mxsports.com/ the LL weekly schedule is all there.

Will keep trying to get photos posted.

Ponca City Oklahoma

After dropping Chris, Sarah and Joel off at Oklahoma City airport to fly back to NZ, Josiah and I drove two hours north to Ponca City to get in line for three days to get an RV hook up at a motocross track. Ponca City is the venue for the NMA Grand National and is one of the biggest amateur motocross events outside of Loretta Lynn's. We arrived Thursday so we could pre-register the RV for a hook up (it is on a first come first serve basis). Then they move the RVs in on the Sunday.

On Saturday just gone Andy, Lee, Olly and Laura arrived. It is great to see them.

The race format at Ponca City is two motos with the top 15 from two divisions going through to the final event which is this Saturday. All three motos count. Josiah is only racing one class (85cc stock bike 9-11 age) and had his first moto today with his second moto on Thursday. Josiah got a great holeshot in his moto and finished third. The kids in Josiah's age group are very fast. riders in the other division are posting phenomenal lap times. Olly is racing two classes, 65cc open through 11yrs and 65cc 9-11 mod. Both his classes are Wednesday and Friday (US time).

Posting photos at Ponca City is a problem as the internet connection is super slow so I may or may not get them on.

Will keep you all posted during the week.

Bye for now
Janine

Mike and Pam's, Amity Arkansas bye bye

Hi

We are packing up today. It has been great catching with Mike and Pam. We thank them very much for having us stay. It has been great for Josiah to train and focus on his up and coming events. It has been great as Mike has help with the bikes and great advise and we have felt so at home. We are sad to have to say good bye but it will be see you when you come visit with us in NZ!
Here at Dirt Bike Mike's you not only learn to ride bike's, you get to learn the dozer and the bob cat!!
We have been to the local lake a few times swimming and last night Pam and I took the kids, Sarah, Josiah, Joel, Hannah and Jacob (Mike and Pam's grandkids) to the bumper boats, go kart, and mini putt park for some R&R. Pam and I were very entertained on the way home with the kids telling jokes. It was a real fun night.
Chris and Mike had their own fun changing bike engines...Not!
So off to Oklahoma City for more good buys then on to Ponca.

Sarah's 2nd Blog

Hello All!!! It's Sarah again :-)

I haven't been doing the same stuff as the rest of the family these last 2 weeks so I have decided to update you all on what I have been doing!!!

When the rest of the family went to Red Bud I stayed with the Hempens. On the day they left me, Jennifer, Josiah and Luke Hempen went and handed out flyers for Vacation Bible School. Heaps of the houses were really run down and it was quite sad. There was one house and the lady asked Jennifer to help her open a jar of pickles!!! It was really funny!!! That night all us girls went to church.

On Saturday afternoon Jennifer, Kenny Sr. and me went to pick up the fireworks and on the way I got to drive!!!!!!!!! It was so awesome!!!! That evening the Hempens had a party for the 4th of July (American Independence day). Some people came over and we all swam then we had a big dinner and dessert (apple pie which me and Courtney had made) . After dessert some of us went for another swim and then we had fireworks!!!! They were so cool!!!

The next morning the rest of my family got back and everyone went to church. We went to church at night as well and after the service we had homemade icecream and watched the fireworks because it was the actual 4th of July.

On Monday we were supposed to leave for Mike and Pam's but I stayed with the Hempens again so I could go to Texas with them to The Baby Conference. That day we went to Vacation Bible School and it was fun. At 8pm that night we left for Texas. It was a 16 hour drive so we stopped in the night to sleep then we took off again early the next morning. We took a bit of a detour and stopped at Three Palms Motocross track. The next day while the boys rode the girls went shopping. I got a bunch of new stuff! It was sooo fun!!!!! That evening we drove the last three hours to San Antonio and we got to our RV park at night time.

The next day we looked around San Antonio and we went to The Alamo and The River Walk, it was really cool!!! In the afternoon we signed in and the lady was trying to write me a name tag but couldn't understand my accent to be able to spell my name!! We went back to the RV park for a swim and then we went to the Convention center for the conference. It was really good!!! There was a family there called the Douggers and they had 19 kids!!!

The next morning Kenny Sr had to fix the trailer stacker so the rest of us had to catch a shuttle to the convention center. Tracy, Courtney and Jennifer went to morning tea with Mrs Dougger and I stayed with the boys at an interview with Mr Dougger while we waited for Kenny Sr. There was a man behind us and every time Mr Dougger said something (not even funny) he would just crack up laughing!!! When Kenny came back he took me and the boys for lunch at a Mexican restaurant along the river walk. It was really yum but the plates were gigantor!!!! I didn't even eat it all but I still didn't need dinner!!! The chicken song was playing and Kenny Sr. didn't know what the chicken dance was so I stood up and did it for him. The other boys were all so embarrassed!!!! We met back up with the rest of the girls and went back to the conference for the rest of the day.

The next moring we got up early to go to the first 2 sessions starting at 8.30am. The first session was really sad but the next one was really funny. In between we got some books and me and Josiah were running up the down escalator and running down the up escalator but then we got growled off by a lady so we stopped. It was quite the workout!!! After the 2 sessions we went to lunch at a gigantor buffet it was sooo huge!!!! The food was really yum as well!!! After lunch we went back to the RV park and packed up and then we headed back to Iowa. On the way I had to get dropped off to Steve and Beth Crowe. I was so sad to say goodbye to the Hempens and I can't wait to see them again!!!! The next day me, Steve and Beth met up with the rest of my family at Applebees's (Mt Pleasant, TX) for lunch. Then we said goodbye to Steve and Beth and now we are all at Mike and Pam's in Arkansas. I have to do school now. It isn't very fun.

So yeah, that's what I have been up to!!! :-)

Mike and Pam's, Amity Arkansas

Chris, Josiah, Joel and myself have been at Mike and Pam's for the week. It has been a week of catching up with our friends and a busy week for them as from Thursday they had family staying until Monday morning.

Josiah has doing some been training but the weather is playing havic with the track. Joel has been burning around on a Honda CRF50. Chris has been working with Josiah and doing bike maintenance. I have been doing washing and running here and there getting jobs done.

The highlight for the week was shooting Mike's rifle (303). We all had a go. Joel was the keenest but had a little help from Mike and Chris (Mike to aim/hold and Chris to block his ears). The rifle was real loud and kicked like a mule.

Sarah spent another week with the Hempens. They went to a camp in San Antonio in Texas. She had a blast and was very sad to say goodbye to them.

Steve and Beth Crow helped with the pick up of Sarah as they picked her up from the Hempens as they came through Dallas on Saturday night. Then on Sunday we drove from Arkansas to Mt Pleasant Texas where we meet Steve and Beth for lunch and a catch up. Steve and Beth came from Plano (near Dallas) to pastor at our church in NZ for 3 years and returned to their home land (USA) last year.

This week will be much the same. Then next week we will head to Oklahoma City to take Chris, Sarah and Joel to the airport to return home. Then Josiah and I go to Ponca City to race in the NMA Grand National. We are excited to catch up with Andy, Lee, Olly and Laura. Olly will also be racing at Ponca.

Back at the Hempens and onto Red Bud...

Hello

We got to meet Kenny's sister, Tanya and her husband Chuck, and their family whilst at the Hempens. They left on the Tuesday for a 32 hour drive back to Portland Oregon. We then had another one of Roger's (Kenny's dad) carnivor dinners. It was great to have steak and pork when we have been living on mince and fastfood (McDonalds or Subway). Thanks Roger.

We left on Wednesday for a days travel to Red Bud MX in Buchanan, Michigan. Sarah opted to stay with the Hempens as there plans weren't able to fit in with Red Bud. We arrived and got settled and met our neighbour Neil and his son Lee from Ohio. We were also rudely awaken out of bed on Wednesday night when a quarter stick of dynamite went of just in front of our camper. The explosion put a nice hole in the grass and put us on edge. We caught up Neil and Lee the following night and had smores over the camp fire. Neil also gave me a lift to the grocery store as we were out of food! Thanks.

On Thursday it was practice for the amateur riders on the Red Bud pro track and racing was on Friday. Josiah got 2nd in one 85cc class (7-11 age) and 4th in another 85cc class (9-13 age group). Red Bud is an amazing track with lots of technical sections and big jumps. These include a sandy whoop section followed by the 80foot Rockstar tabletop and then the infamous La Rocco's Leap. This jump is a 120 foot triple that would send the riders at least 30 feet into the air. When the pros are racing not all of the 450cc bikes do this jump (of the 250cc class we saw Barcia case this jump in practice and not do it again). The dirt on this track is a mixture of soil and sand and gets very rough.

On Saturday we watched the pros ride. The crowd was crazy at Red Bud (you will hear the chant "Red Bud" continuously throughout the day). We cheered on Ben Townley. He was leading the first race and tipped over half way through the last lap. He got the third overall. We briefly caught up with him and Lucy as they were about to leave for the airport.

We packed up Saturday evening and started the long trip back to Iowa on Saturday night, watching the 4th July fireworks as we drove past Chicago. Chris drove until after midnight. We stopped for the night at McDonalds and finished the trip early Sunday morning. We went to church with the Hempens and after went back to their place for lunch. As it was the 4th of July it was a day of celebaration for them. We returned for the evening service and following that was a night of food and fireworks to finish off the days celebrations.

Tomorrow we head to Dirt Bike Mike's (Mike and Pam) place in Amity, Arkansas.