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
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