Smilin Jack
11-30-2003, 04:59 PM
First let me state that I know that a lot of folks have ridden farther... but for me this was an opportunity to see the country from ground level. I have flown over this beautiful country of ours hundreds of times but this is the first trip that I have made since I can remember. My folks took me out west when I was about 6 but I don't really remember much of it.
The opportunity existed for me to have 9 days off from the flying schedule and my wife was invited to help out with the National Clogging Convention in Las Vegas. She was to be there by Tuesday the 25 and stay until today Nov 30. We decided to fly the rest of the family out also on Tuesday and Wednesday. But I was the only one not to make a reservation. I had Friday off the weekend before and I was really restless about the decision to go out west alone as well as doing the 1000 miles in 24 hours to get all the required certification for the Saddle sore award. All Morning Friday I was pacing around looking for something to do to make the day disappear. At 11:00 am I decided well if I am not going to fly today I might as well hop on the bike and head west.
Preparations.....How much to take. should I take the trailer... nope... just slow me down. Just a T- Bag and a few tools just in case.
Time to leave... Since I did not get a good start in the morning I figured out I would just head west until I got tired. I looked at the weather for a final time and decided to head out the interstates via Chattanooga, Nashville, Memphis and I-40 to Kingsman, AZ then up Hwy 93 into Las Vegas.
Valk Cabbie called and stated he was leaving San Fransciso and that we would meet somewhere along the way.
Day one I made it to Brinkley, AK. 551. miles. It was dark and I was cold as the temperature was alreay in the teens. I would do the Saddle Sore tomorrow getting up earily AM. There is a real trick on how to layer clothes even if you have gerbings on. I learn quickly to put clothing over the gerbings to keep the leather stuff from cooling the gerbings.
Day two.
I was up at 4am...which was really 5am eastern time so it was not too early. The temperature was 9 degrees and the wind was really blowing at about 25mph. Across through Little Rock and and out west to Olkahoma. I stopped about every 125 miles as the wind was now picking up to 35 mph. The Valkyrie was really sucking the fuel with the stiff headwind. I was putting in about 5.5 gallons every 125 miles but it would only get worst. I made it through Olkahoma and out to New Mexico. As I crossed Amarillo the winds were up to 50 mph and they had already closed down I-10 due to 80 mph winds so the south route options was now gone. I was continuously leaned over at an angle and passing the trucks was a real thrill. I tried to maintain 85 mph with a few burst in there to stop my eyelids from colapsing. I watched an RV get blown over as he tried to get to the side of the road. The Tractor trailers were dog tacking about 3 foot in the wind. There was so much dirt in the air you could only see about a mile down the road. The bike was using up 6 gallons of fuel every 110 miles now. It is amazing how she shuts down when your running out and already on reserve. Seems like the Valkyrie shuts down a couple cylinders and then a couple more. but by the grace of God I made it into an airport to get fuel (love my GPS) since most of the fuel stops were further apart the the old lady was going against the wind. By 10 pm the temperatures were down to 11 degrees and I still had a long ways to go. I had made it 90 miles east of Albuqerque, NM and was at about a 7200 foot elevation and had 165 miles left to go. Down the hill in to Albuqerque what a sight. You cover vast darkness and then start down a long pretty steep curvy grade and then see all the lights of the city from about 1500 feet above. I stopped in Alburqerque and almost quit. I had 61 more mores to ride but it was now 5 degrees and still blowing about 40mph. It was now 11:30 pm and I was tired and cold. It was now snowing in Amarillo from what the weather reports were saying. I was lucky to miss the cold front fiery. I could not seem to shake the shivers. Every part of my body was shaking and I could not get warmed up. I took 45 minutes at this gas stop which as the longest so far and started looking for a motel... but I kept hearing this little voice saying it's only 61 more miles till you get your 1000 miles in. I inquired about what town was out west and was told Grant was 90 minutes away...
Off to Grant. I would not quit with only 61 miles to go. With 3 cups of coffee in me and some snacks alreay consumed I headed out again. this by far was the coldest I have ever been. It seemed like the Gerbings actually stopped working. The visor on my helmet would not close all the way and I counted the miles one by one as I continued to Grant.
At last, I made it to Grant, NM. 1019 miles covered. Not a big place but there was a Motel 8 there and the heater worked great. With the bike parked next to the office and all the gear in the room...I filled up the tub in the room and slid into the water. I usually never take baths but after 20 minutes of adding more and more hot water I was finally thawing out. Grant is at 6200 feet elevation and the temperature was 11 degrees.
Day three. troubles..... the bike would not start.. it was 2 degrees and the wind was about 15 mph. Nothing would help start the bike but thank God there was a Wal-Mart that had a battery behind the hotel. After filling up the battery in the room and letting it sit for an hour the bike started up just fine. Only other problem was the plastic side cover was so cold she cracked when I put her back on. I rode into Flagstaff and met Valkcabbie for dinner. We had more problems the next day but I will save it for later.
What I will state is the I really enjoyed most of the ride. Watching the landscape change every couple hundred miles. With the great Plateaus dropping off into the plains and the colors of the scenery. I will state that you never realize how barren most of the west is. It amazes be that folks actually live there and makes you realize the injustice we did to the Indians on their reservations. Olkahoma by far has the worst roads.... but also some of the friendlest folks around.
She is a beautiful country... and the folks that gathered around the bike at all the stops were fabulous. The old Valk drew crowds where ever I stopped.
I thought as I sat in the tub about doing another 500 miles in 36 but it will have to wait for another day....... this hot water felt sooooooo great....
Smilin' Jack
The opportunity existed for me to have 9 days off from the flying schedule and my wife was invited to help out with the National Clogging Convention in Las Vegas. She was to be there by Tuesday the 25 and stay until today Nov 30. We decided to fly the rest of the family out also on Tuesday and Wednesday. But I was the only one not to make a reservation. I had Friday off the weekend before and I was really restless about the decision to go out west alone as well as doing the 1000 miles in 24 hours to get all the required certification for the Saddle sore award. All Morning Friday I was pacing around looking for something to do to make the day disappear. At 11:00 am I decided well if I am not going to fly today I might as well hop on the bike and head west.
Preparations.....How much to take. should I take the trailer... nope... just slow me down. Just a T- Bag and a few tools just in case.
Time to leave... Since I did not get a good start in the morning I figured out I would just head west until I got tired. I looked at the weather for a final time and decided to head out the interstates via Chattanooga, Nashville, Memphis and I-40 to Kingsman, AZ then up Hwy 93 into Las Vegas.
Valk Cabbie called and stated he was leaving San Fransciso and that we would meet somewhere along the way.
Day one I made it to Brinkley, AK. 551. miles. It was dark and I was cold as the temperature was alreay in the teens. I would do the Saddle Sore tomorrow getting up earily AM. There is a real trick on how to layer clothes even if you have gerbings on. I learn quickly to put clothing over the gerbings to keep the leather stuff from cooling the gerbings.
Day two.
I was up at 4am...which was really 5am eastern time so it was not too early. The temperature was 9 degrees and the wind was really blowing at about 25mph. Across through Little Rock and and out west to Olkahoma. I stopped about every 125 miles as the wind was now picking up to 35 mph. The Valkyrie was really sucking the fuel with the stiff headwind. I was putting in about 5.5 gallons every 125 miles but it would only get worst. I made it through Olkahoma and out to New Mexico. As I crossed Amarillo the winds were up to 50 mph and they had already closed down I-10 due to 80 mph winds so the south route options was now gone. I was continuously leaned over at an angle and passing the trucks was a real thrill. I tried to maintain 85 mph with a few burst in there to stop my eyelids from colapsing. I watched an RV get blown over as he tried to get to the side of the road. The Tractor trailers were dog tacking about 3 foot in the wind. There was so much dirt in the air you could only see about a mile down the road. The bike was using up 6 gallons of fuel every 110 miles now. It is amazing how she shuts down when your running out and already on reserve. Seems like the Valkyrie shuts down a couple cylinders and then a couple more. but by the grace of God I made it into an airport to get fuel (love my GPS) since most of the fuel stops were further apart the the old lady was going against the wind. By 10 pm the temperatures were down to 11 degrees and I still had a long ways to go. I had made it 90 miles east of Albuqerque, NM and was at about a 7200 foot elevation and had 165 miles left to go. Down the hill in to Albuqerque what a sight. You cover vast darkness and then start down a long pretty steep curvy grade and then see all the lights of the city from about 1500 feet above. I stopped in Alburqerque and almost quit. I had 61 more mores to ride but it was now 5 degrees and still blowing about 40mph. It was now 11:30 pm and I was tired and cold. It was now snowing in Amarillo from what the weather reports were saying. I was lucky to miss the cold front fiery. I could not seem to shake the shivers. Every part of my body was shaking and I could not get warmed up. I took 45 minutes at this gas stop which as the longest so far and started looking for a motel... but I kept hearing this little voice saying it's only 61 more miles till you get your 1000 miles in. I inquired about what town was out west and was told Grant was 90 minutes away...
Off to Grant. I would not quit with only 61 miles to go. With 3 cups of coffee in me and some snacks alreay consumed I headed out again. this by far was the coldest I have ever been. It seemed like the Gerbings actually stopped working. The visor on my helmet would not close all the way and I counted the miles one by one as I continued to Grant.
At last, I made it to Grant, NM. 1019 miles covered. Not a big place but there was a Motel 8 there and the heater worked great. With the bike parked next to the office and all the gear in the room...I filled up the tub in the room and slid into the water. I usually never take baths but after 20 minutes of adding more and more hot water I was finally thawing out. Grant is at 6200 feet elevation and the temperature was 11 degrees.
Day three. troubles..... the bike would not start.. it was 2 degrees and the wind was about 15 mph. Nothing would help start the bike but thank God there was a Wal-Mart that had a battery behind the hotel. After filling up the battery in the room and letting it sit for an hour the bike started up just fine. Only other problem was the plastic side cover was so cold she cracked when I put her back on. I rode into Flagstaff and met Valkcabbie for dinner. We had more problems the next day but I will save it for later.
What I will state is the I really enjoyed most of the ride. Watching the landscape change every couple hundred miles. With the great Plateaus dropping off into the plains and the colors of the scenery. I will state that you never realize how barren most of the west is. It amazes be that folks actually live there and makes you realize the injustice we did to the Indians on their reservations. Olkahoma by far has the worst roads.... but also some of the friendlest folks around.
She is a beautiful country... and the folks that gathered around the bike at all the stops were fabulous. The old Valk drew crowds where ever I stopped.
I thought as I sat in the tub about doing another 500 miles in 36 but it will have to wait for another day....... this hot water felt sooooooo great....
Smilin' Jack