American Roadtrip Tauranga residents Kay and Mike Travelling America on a Harley Davidson

After Leaving South Dakota we headed west to Iowa's oldest city Dubuque on the Mississippi River. It was such a beautiful city we stayed for two nights enjoying a steamboat ride on the river, the museum, aquarium and the beautiful old architecture.

The first permanent settler was a Québécois pioneer Julien Dubuque who arrived in 1785, hence the name of the city and the historic Julien Hotel, where we had our daily beverage - a Bud Light beer. There we met another American couple, who asked us to join them, an hour later we had another address to keep in touch with.

The day we left President Obama was arriving on his campaign trail.

Milwaukee in the State of Wisconsin the headquarters for Harley Davidson was our next stop, staying with friends of our NZ friends, whom we had never met.

Steve and Lisa have a gorgeous log house on beautiful Lake Muskego, they were so hospitable taking time off work to show us through Harley headquarters and the museum, which was the highlight.

In 1901 William Harley aged 21 completed a blueprint drawing of an engine designed to fit a bicycle. Seeing those motorbikes from the early years and learning the company were so close to bankruptcy on New Years Eves 1985, we really appreciated what a true American success story Harley Davidson is.

We rode into Chicago in the State of Illinois the next day with Airforce jets practising for the Airshow. I was proud to manage a photo from the back of a moving bike, given the speed they fly at.

We treated ourselves to a night in the well-known Hard Rock Hotel in the heart of downtown. Chicago on Lake Michigan is one of the largest lakes in the States. We took an hour river cruise through the city, the young tour guide entertained all on board with his great sense of humour adding flavour to the commentary.

I loved Chicago it is such a beautiful city with lots of tress and huge colourful planters in the streets, one night was not enough, but time marches on, with a lot more to see and do, until next week.

1971 Harley Davidson A Model once owned by Elvis Presley.

Harley Davidson Museum.

The first Harley Motorbike at the Harley Davidson Museum Milwaukee.



At the Harley Davidson Headquarters in Milwaukee.

At the Harley Davidson Headquarters in Milwaukee.



Steve and Lisa's log house which we stayed in at Lake Muskego, Milwaukee.

On the steamboat in Dubuque on the Mississippi River.