Smilin Jack
12-01-2003, 08:11 AM
After meeting Valkcabbie in Flagstaff and having some dinner, We arose in the morning to neither bike starting. It was just a bit cold about 9 degrees. I got my bike jumped off but Micheals bike the started button would not dissengage. Valkcabbie was cold and went back to bed. I headed over to the local Gas station picked up some WD-40 and got his starter button unstuck. Then proceeded to wake his sorry butt up and jump off his bike. After breakfast we said our goodbys and the the trip to Vegas was quite uneventual. The mountains start shooting up and the scenery is absolutely georgous. If you have never gone down into the Hoover Dam the trip down is worth the 10.00 they charge. No Truck or Buses are allowed any more across the dam. YOu also have to pass a security check point... Big deal. Saw me on the bike and just signalled me to continue... I never had to stop. Some cops are great. But I think even a bike loaded with explosives could be dangerous. It seems to me some of our security measures are not what they could be.
After loosing a few dollars and having a great time in Las Vegas. It was my Daughter and her husbands first time there and they went crazy playing blackjack. Thursday afternoon it was time to start back as the weather reports were calling for snow in Vegas Friday night and Saturday..
I knocked out 400 miles the first day by evening and by the second day I was going through Texas.
The truckers were great on this trip... Always galking at the bike and making comments about the great lights at night. Yep I had all the LED's on. But the Semi's were having their share of problems.
On the way out I failed to mention that one semi caught fire and by the time I had come upon the scene the entire cab and trailer were consumed. About the only parts left were the engine and the axles for the entire rig.
On the way back another semi decided to take a curve to fast and flipped over on an exit ramp. This was just out side of Amarillo Texas near hwy 70. For us we would avoid the 5 miles back up that was forming by hoping over to 70 and running parallel to I-40 for about 8 miles. CB's are great.
As we entered back on the interstate I decided to put the hammer down.... well I was just cruising about 90 and just slowed up a little when all the sudden I saw the dreaded blue lights coming up fast from behind. Where were all the CB warnings about this BEAR? Surely he was going past me but it was not to be my day :( . One of Texas finest Rangers , no not Walker, walked up to the bike. You have to appreciate this. Here I am in layers of clothes as I start peeling off the helmet, Bandana, Face mask gloves etc and then tell him I still can not hear him with all the trucks passing. I put in the old hearing aids and now he sees that I am an older fellow than his 20 something. He ask for my drivers license, reg, and insurance. He states Mr. Hunt you know why I stopped you...
Yes I figured it out....
He stated he was issuing me a ticket for only 11 over as that is what he finally clock me at. I asked him if there was any grace for Thanksgiving but he looked at me and stated Thanksgiving was yesterday. He came back to the bike and started casual conversation about the bike and thanked me for being so cordial toward him.... What's a fellow to do... get nasty? I will not, will not ever like WALKER again.....
Day two ended with 980 miles left to go.
I was determined to make it home on day three. Almost another thousand miles to go and should not be a problem. The day started off 90 miles west of Olkahoma City and with no alarm clock in the room I had over slept. By 10:30 am I was on the road and by 11pm I had made to Pell City, Alabama. 810 miles in 12 and a half hours total time. According to the GPS I averaged 76 mph during my ride. But again I was getting tired and cold. The old boy got another room and finished up the trip home Sunday. Better safe than sorry.
All in all it was a great trip. Met some nice folks in the stops but it is always nice to get home again.
Would I do it again..... Yes.... But two weeks would be better so I could take some extra time to visit some sites. With the time restraints meeting my family in Las Vegas and getting home by Monday made it difficult to do detours. All in all I put on 4700 miles from the time I left home including the riding in Las Vegas.
Any lessons learned.... CB's help but are not the total answer.
Radar detectors help but if the sun is behind you the display becomes unreadable.
Gerbings are great... but there are limits to even electric suits.
See ya on the road.
Smilin' Jack
After loosing a few dollars and having a great time in Las Vegas. It was my Daughter and her husbands first time there and they went crazy playing blackjack. Thursday afternoon it was time to start back as the weather reports were calling for snow in Vegas Friday night and Saturday..
I knocked out 400 miles the first day by evening and by the second day I was going through Texas.
The truckers were great on this trip... Always galking at the bike and making comments about the great lights at night. Yep I had all the LED's on. But the Semi's were having their share of problems.
On the way out I failed to mention that one semi caught fire and by the time I had come upon the scene the entire cab and trailer were consumed. About the only parts left were the engine and the axles for the entire rig.
On the way back another semi decided to take a curve to fast and flipped over on an exit ramp. This was just out side of Amarillo Texas near hwy 70. For us we would avoid the 5 miles back up that was forming by hoping over to 70 and running parallel to I-40 for about 8 miles. CB's are great.
As we entered back on the interstate I decided to put the hammer down.... well I was just cruising about 90 and just slowed up a little when all the sudden I saw the dreaded blue lights coming up fast from behind. Where were all the CB warnings about this BEAR? Surely he was going past me but it was not to be my day :( . One of Texas finest Rangers , no not Walker, walked up to the bike. You have to appreciate this. Here I am in layers of clothes as I start peeling off the helmet, Bandana, Face mask gloves etc and then tell him I still can not hear him with all the trucks passing. I put in the old hearing aids and now he sees that I am an older fellow than his 20 something. He ask for my drivers license, reg, and insurance. He states Mr. Hunt you know why I stopped you...
Yes I figured it out....
He stated he was issuing me a ticket for only 11 over as that is what he finally clock me at. I asked him if there was any grace for Thanksgiving but he looked at me and stated Thanksgiving was yesterday. He came back to the bike and started casual conversation about the bike and thanked me for being so cordial toward him.... What's a fellow to do... get nasty? I will not, will not ever like WALKER again.....
Day two ended with 980 miles left to go.
I was determined to make it home on day three. Almost another thousand miles to go and should not be a problem. The day started off 90 miles west of Olkahoma City and with no alarm clock in the room I had over slept. By 10:30 am I was on the road and by 11pm I had made to Pell City, Alabama. 810 miles in 12 and a half hours total time. According to the GPS I averaged 76 mph during my ride. But again I was getting tired and cold. The old boy got another room and finished up the trip home Sunday. Better safe than sorry.
All in all it was a great trip. Met some nice folks in the stops but it is always nice to get home again.
Would I do it again..... Yes.... But two weeks would be better so I could take some extra time to visit some sites. With the time restraints meeting my family in Las Vegas and getting home by Monday made it difficult to do detours. All in all I put on 4700 miles from the time I left home including the riding in Las Vegas.
Any lessons learned.... CB's help but are not the total answer.
Radar detectors help but if the sun is behind you the display becomes unreadable.
Gerbings are great... but there are limits to even electric suits.
See ya on the road.
Smilin' Jack