Being as though I was by myself, I got up early (my body is still on CDT) and got ready to leave. It was first daybreak, and it was quite cool outside. I dressed in 3 layers of clothing once again, assuming I would have to run heat at least for the first part of the ride. I left the motel around 5:30 a.m. (PDT) and headed east on I-40. I don't usually ride the "I" roads unless I have a need to get somewhere fast, but the first several hours of my ride were very enjoyable. It was nice and cool and the crazies in the cars weren't up and out yet. It didn't take long before I was shedding clothes, finally down to just my vented jacket. The trip across New Mexico was especially hot and windy, and really smoky in places. I think half of New Mexico and Arizona is on fire, and it's burning acres and acres of land, daily. I saw 108* on the thermometer, with I'm guessing 40 MPH winds.
I ended up riding all the way home to Hutchinson, a total of 1044 miles in 16 hours. Not my record, but close. I really wasn't even tired when I got here.
This trip was a combination of extremes. I have never ridden in winds like we had on this trip. Fifty MPH + winds were the norm on several days. The temps were cold enough some days that I had all the clothing on that I brought and I was running heat. Some days were intense heat.
On the way home, somewhere in the middle of N.M., I got hit by a "Dirt Devil", or whatever you want to call it. It's like a miniature tornado, swirling dirt everywhere. You can't see it in time to avoid it, and I thought it was going to chew me up and spit me out. I was running 68-70 MPH at the time, and it took me across both lanes of traffic and to the shoulder on the left side of the two east lanes, in a matter of seconds. Needless to say I was wide awake after that.
Gas here in Hutchinson is $3.56 a gallon. I paid $5.19 a gallon at one stop.
I had a low of 37 MPG (wind) and a high of 75 MPG.
Riding motorcycles is my passion and anytime I can ride is a great day, even when I have to deal with the weather. Some days just seem to be better than others.
In 10 days I rode a total of 4,000 miles on this trip. I'm already looking forward to Indiana in August.
Hope to see everyone there.
Motor Mike
Monday, June 13, 2011
DAY #9...LONE PINE, CA. TO OLANCHA, CA. TO KINGMAN, AZ. (359 MILES) (2956 MILES)
Not having far to ride to Olancha, Jack and I slept in and leisurely got ready for the big day. We rode the 20 miles to the Ranch House Cafe and several Thumpers were already sitting in the parking lot, with more showing up shortly after.
You could hear the Thumpers coming from afar, and the row in front of the restaurant kept getting longer and longer as they arrived and parked.
I got everything set up and started signing those in attendance. Eventually we had around 37 bikes on the lot, and everyone was having a great time renewing old friendships and talking Thumpers.
Then the time came for the most important part.....eating. The food was great and the host was even better.
All in all it was a great day with great people. But what else could it be?? We all ride THUMPERS.
Thanks to all those in attendance and to those who wanted to be there and couldn't. You're what makes this a great club.
At around 2:00 P.M. we were finished and I headed east, for home, arriving in Kingman, Arizona just before dark.
You could hear the Thumpers coming from afar, and the row in front of the restaurant kept getting longer and longer as they arrived and parked.I got everything set up and started signing those in attendance. Eventually we had around 37 bikes on the lot, and everyone was having a great time renewing old friendships and talking Thumpers.
Then the time came for the most important part.....eating. The food was great and the host was even better.
All in all it was a great day with great people. But what else could it be?? We all ride THUMPERS.
Thanks to all those in attendance and to those who wanted to be there and couldn't. You're what makes this a great club.
At around 2:00 P.M. we were finished and I headed east, for home, arriving in Kingman, Arizona just before dark.
Friday, June 10, 2011
DAY #8...BISHOP, CA. TO LONE PINE, CA. (105 MILES) (2597 MILES)
Sleeping in this morning, after we got up we decided to wash the bikes. After riding the passes on Thursday they were a little dirty. We only had a short distance to ride, so there was no real hurry to leave.
We rode to Lone Pine, CA. on highway 395 and came upon an overturned cattle truck. There were cattle everywhere on the dusty highway, so we had to come to an abrupt halt. Several cowboys were there on horses, with several other horses tied up to a trailer alongside the road. They asked if we could help, so Jack and I mounted the horses and proceeded to round up the cattle. I'm sure it was quite a sight to see us on horses, because instead of wearing a cowboy hat, we were still wearing our helmets and our motorcycle gear. It was quite exciting to know that we were helping out, or at least we thought we were. I was riding a big black mare, and Jack was riding a gray Shetland. After all the cattle were off the road and the cowboys had thanked us for helping, they told us we could have the horses as a gift. We asked how we were supposed to get them home and they told us that was our problem, so.... we now have two horses tied up outside our motel room in Lone Pine. Not sure what we're going to do with them tomorrow, but hopefully something comes to us in our sleep.
We were finally able to ride on south to check out our accommodations in Olancha. It's a great location with the snow covered Eastern Sierra's in the background. We then rode back to Lone Pine, and the motel, where the Thumpers were starting to arrive. After relaxing and visiting with other FSSNOC members, we walked down the street to have supper together.
Tomorrow is the big day, the reason for riding all this way on a single cylinder motorcycle.
Stay tuned for pictures of the day.
Motor Mike
P.S. By the way....I lied about the horses.
We rode to Lone Pine, CA. on highway 395 and came upon an overturned cattle truck. There were cattle everywhere on the dusty highway, so we had to come to an abrupt halt. Several cowboys were there on horses, with several other horses tied up to a trailer alongside the road. They asked if we could help, so Jack and I mounted the horses and proceeded to round up the cattle. I'm sure it was quite a sight to see us on horses, because instead of wearing a cowboy hat, we were still wearing our helmets and our motorcycle gear. It was quite exciting to know that we were helping out, or at least we thought we were. I was riding a big black mare, and Jack was riding a gray Shetland. After all the cattle were off the road and the cowboys had thanked us for helping, they told us we could have the horses as a gift. We asked how we were supposed to get them home and they told us that was our problem, so.... we now have two horses tied up outside our motel room in Lone Pine. Not sure what we're going to do with them tomorrow, but hopefully something comes to us in our sleep.
We were finally able to ride on south to check out our accommodations in Olancha. It's a great location with the snow covered Eastern Sierra's in the background. We then rode back to Lone Pine, and the motel, where the Thumpers were starting to arrive. After relaxing and visiting with other FSSNOC members, we walked down the street to have supper together.
Tomorrow is the big day, the reason for riding all this way on a single cylinder motorcycle.
Stay tuned for pictures of the day.
Motor Mike
P.S. By the way....I lied about the horses.
Thursday, June 9, 2011
DAY #7...BRIDGEPORT, CA. TO BISHOP, CA. (348 MILES) (2492 MILES)
$140.00 a night for a motel...
$5.19 a gallon for gas...
A view of the snow covered Eastern Sierra's in the early morning sunlight....PRICELESS
We had frost on the bike covers this morning when we woke up, with temps in the lower 30's. Our goal today was to ride the passes north of Yosemite National Park, except for Tioga Pass, which is still closed. According to the locals Tioga still has 63' snow drifts on the road up, and they don't anticipate it being open until July.
We headed up highway 395 then turned towards Sonora Pass on 108. This pass just opened on Tuesday, and when we got to the higher altitudes the snow was twice as deep as our heads, on both sides of the road. It almost made me dizzy riding through this white tunnel of snow, but it was an awesome sight. We stopped to play in the snow at one of the few pullouts that had been plowed, so it wasn't all work today like it normally is.
We continued around the loop towards the town of Sonora, then turned back northeast towards Ebberts Pass and Monitor Pass, before heading back south on 395.
We stopped for the night in Bishop, California, only 81 miles from our destination of Olancha.
I'll be here tomorrow night from Lone Pine, California.
Motor (I did curves again) Mike
P.S. And for those that thought my fish from last night ws a fake. I was told that it was the largest CARPet fish they had ever seen.
$5.19 a gallon for gas...
A view of the snow covered Eastern Sierra's in the early morning sunlight....PRICELESS
We had frost on the bike covers this morning when we woke up, with temps in the lower 30's. Our goal today was to ride the passes north of Yosemite National Park, except for Tioga Pass, which is still closed. According to the locals Tioga still has 63' snow drifts on the road up, and they don't anticipate it being open until July.
We headed up highway 395 then turned towards Sonora Pass on 108. This pass just opened on Tuesday, and when we got to the higher altitudes the snow was twice as deep as our heads, on both sides of the road. It almost made me dizzy riding through this white tunnel of snow, but it was an awesome sight. We stopped to play in the snow at one of the few pullouts that had been plowed, so it wasn't all work today like it normally is.
We continued around the loop towards the town of Sonora, then turned back northeast towards Ebberts Pass and Monitor Pass, before heading back south on 395.
We stopped for the night in Bishop, California, only 81 miles from our destination of Olancha.
I'll be here tomorrow night from Lone Pine, California.
Motor (I did curves again) Mike
P.S. And for those that thought my fish from last night ws a fake. I was told that it was the largest CARPet fish they had ever seen.
Wednesday, June 8, 2011
DAY #6...EUREKA, NEVADA TO BRIDGEPORT, CALIFORNIA (292 MILES) (2144 MILES)
Awaking this morning at 5:15 a.m. (7:15 CDT) because my body is refusing to adjust to the time change, I went to the motel lobby and had a Jimmy Dean sausage and egg biscuit and a sweet roll. It was around 41* when we rolled out of the parking lot and headed west on highway 50. This road may be called the "loneliest road in America", but it's a very scenic ride.
We turned south on highway 361 and stopped at Middlegate Junction for fuel. This was a very unique stop in the middle of nowhere. We took a break, and while sitting in chairs under the porch of a cabin, a Navy fighter jet did a low pass over the parking lot. Jack saw it coming, and he was probably only 200' above the ground. Just as he got to us he waved his wings as he flew over. It was very impressive to say the least.
We then rode north on highway 95 towards Hawthorne, Nevada where we once again stopped for fuel. We met a Harley rider there from Edmond, Oklahoma, and visited with him for quite some time. He was headed for the same area we were, so he followed us on highway 359 for a while, but dropped out of site as we crossed over the state line.
Just before crossing over into the state of California, we came around a curve on 395 and there in front of us was the most beautiful mountain range, completely covered with snow at the top.
It didn't even look real, but more like a picture you would see on a postcard. You would have to be here as there are no words to describe what we saw. Seeing the beauty of God's creation is one of my favorite things about these trips. We will be riding the passes in some of these mountains on Thursday, one of which just opened on Tuesday.
We stopped just south of Bridgeport for the night at a place called Virginia Creek Settlement.
The creek is just outside the front door of our cabin, and is running quite rapidly. Jack and I decided to go fishing and actually caught several fish. This was quite a feat being as though neither of us are fisherman.
That's about it for today.Just a reminder...if you click on any of the pictures you will get a larger version.
Stay tuned for Thursday night.
Motor Mike
We turned south on highway 361 and stopped at Middlegate Junction for fuel. This was a very unique stop in the middle of nowhere. We took a break, and while sitting in chairs under the porch of a cabin, a Navy fighter jet did a low pass over the parking lot. Jack saw it coming, and he was probably only 200' above the ground. Just as he got to us he waved his wings as he flew over. It was very impressive to say the least.
We then rode north on highway 95 towards Hawthorne, Nevada where we once again stopped for fuel. We met a Harley rider there from Edmond, Oklahoma, and visited with him for quite some time. He was headed for the same area we were, so he followed us on highway 359 for a while, but dropped out of site as we crossed over the state line.
Just before crossing over into the state of California, we came around a curve on 395 and there in front of us was the most beautiful mountain range, completely covered with snow at the top.
It didn't even look real, but more like a picture you would see on a postcard. You would have to be here as there are no words to describe what we saw. Seeing the beauty of God's creation is one of my favorite things about these trips. We will be riding the passes in some of these mountains on Thursday, one of which just opened on Tuesday.
We stopped just south of Bridgeport for the night at a place called Virginia Creek Settlement.
The creek is just outside the front door of our cabin, and is running quite rapidly. Jack and I decided to go fishing and actually caught several fish. This was quite a feat being as though neither of us are fisherman.
That's about it for today.Just a reminder...if you click on any of the pictures you will get a larger version.
Stay tuned for Thursday night.
Motor Mike
Tuesday, June 7, 2011
DAY #5...CEDAR CITY, UTAH TO EUREKA, NEVADA (274 MILES) (1852 MILES)
Arising this morning in Cedar City, it was a brisk 42*, but very little wind. This was the first day I wore my heated jacket, and it felt good. In fact I wore it most of the day, as we crossed numerous mountain passes. Riding north out of Cedar City on highway 130 to Milford, we stopped there for fuel. Jack came out of the convenience store with two pieces of individually wrapped sausage. He said they were called nose sausages. Unfortunately he didn't mention the fact that it was spelled Knowes Sausages, and didn't give me any eating instructions. My bad!!!!
Leaving Milford we then turned west on highway 21. Highway 21 does not show up in the atlas as being scenic, but the snow covered mountain ranges were beautiful.
We stopped once again at the Nevada/Utah state line for fuel. Relaxing for a few minutes, I had a can of "High Test" Mountain Dew. We met a young girl from California driving an old Dodge diesel pickup, traveling by herself. We asked her what her destination was, and she said wherever the road took her. It amazed us that a girl this young was traveling by herself, and she said she camped out in the desert part of the time. She was definitely a girl with a free spirit.
Joining up with highway 50, the "loneliest road in America", we rode over to Eureka, Nevada, where we stopped for the night.
Looking up the road conditions of the mountain passes in California north of Yosemite National Park, everything is open except Tioga Pass, inside the park. Tomorrow we'll be headed that direction, and should be in California on Wednesday sometime.
As of today we've ridden 1852 miles since leaving Hutchinson last Friday. When I checked the mileage to Olancha before I left, it was only 1450 miles. Where did I go wrong?? Did I take a wrong turn somewhere??
Oh yeah....I'm following #000.
Talk to you tomorrow night...
Motor Mike
Leaving Milford we then turned west on highway 21. Highway 21 does not show up in the atlas as being scenic, but the snow covered mountain ranges were beautiful.
We stopped once again at the Nevada/Utah state line for fuel. Relaxing for a few minutes, I had a can of "High Test" Mountain Dew. We met a young girl from California driving an old Dodge diesel pickup, traveling by herself. We asked her what her destination was, and she said wherever the road took her. It amazed us that a girl this young was traveling by herself, and she said she camped out in the desert part of the time. She was definitely a girl with a free spirit.
Joining up with highway 50, the "loneliest road in America", we rode over to Eureka, Nevada, where we stopped for the night.
Looking up the road conditions of the mountain passes in California north of Yosemite National Park, everything is open except Tioga Pass, inside the park. Tomorrow we'll be headed that direction, and should be in California on Wednesday sometime.
As of today we've ridden 1852 miles since leaving Hutchinson last Friday. When I checked the mileage to Olancha before I left, it was only 1450 miles. Where did I go wrong?? Did I take a wrong turn somewhere??
Oh yeah....I'm following #000.
Talk to you tomorrow night...
Motor Mike
Monday, June 6, 2011
DAY #4...CAMP VERDE, AZ. TO CEDAR CITY, UTAH (350 MILES) (1578 MILES)
It's Motor Mike again with the daily report. We left Camp Verde this morning around 8:30 a.m. AZ. time. Once again it was windy, but the wind was to our south, so we had a tailwind. I had my best mileage ever with 74.5 mpg...but the next tank was only 41 mpg because the wind switched directions, and was directly on our nose. The bike ran great today with no overheating problems, so the problem I had yesterday was taken care of with the new fuse.
We rode north on highway 89 all the way into Utah, crossing over Glen Canyon Dam and Lake Powell, then turned west on highway 14 to Cedar City, Utah, crossing over Summit Mountain. The peak was almost 10,000 feet, and there was snow most of the way up, and lots of it on top. It was cold too, but warmed up quickly as we descended into Cedar City.
This trip is the first trip with the new Caribou luggage, and I love it. It packs easily, and attaches to the bike in about 45 seconds. Ok...that's my plug for the trip.
I take this Blog way to seriously to turn it into a daily advertisement.
Tomorrow we continue on northwest towards our destination of Olancha, California.
Stay tuned for Day #5.
Motor Mike
We rode north on highway 89 all the way into Utah, crossing over Glen Canyon Dam and Lake Powell, then turned west on highway 14 to Cedar City, Utah, crossing over Summit Mountain. The peak was almost 10,000 feet, and there was snow most of the way up, and lots of it on top. It was cold too, but warmed up quickly as we descended into Cedar City.
This trip is the first trip with the new Caribou luggage, and I love it. It packs easily, and attaches to the bike in about 45 seconds. Ok...that's my plug for the trip.I take this Blog way to seriously to turn it into a daily advertisement.
Tomorrow we continue on northwest towards our destination of Olancha, California.
Stay tuned for Day #5.
Motor Mike
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