Roadtrip 2007
“What's the weather like out there?”
"It's hot. Damn hot! Real hot! Hottest thing is my shorts. I could cook things in it. A little crotch pot cooking."
“Well, can you tell me what it feels like?”
"Fool, it's hot! I told you again! Were you born on the sun? It's damn hot! […] I saw little guys, their orange robes burst into flames. It's that hot! Do you know what I'm talking about?"
-- Robin Williams as Adrian Cronauer in, “Good Morning Vietnam”
Epilog
From home on Thursday, June 28, 2007
Well, clearly I didn’t keep up with entries for the last couple nights. But, Paul and I are home without any major issues. Here’s a summary:
I spent Monday preparing my IBA paperwork. Obviously, I had brought with me my laptop; the hotel also had computers and printers. The front desk made copies of all the documents. I walked to a near-by Walgreen’s for a shipping envelope and stamps. Basically, I got everything ready, and in the mail to the IBA that day.
Tuesday
Tuesday morning we left Tucson about 08:00. The temperature was already in the 90’s and climbing. It was hot enough that all it took to break a sweat was to load the bike. We saw triple digit temperatures for a good portion of the day. Paul wasn’t doing too well in the heat on his FJR. He reported that the engine heat was quite noticeable in those conditions. For both of us, our on-board hydration systems, and mesh gear were indispensable. Just for reference we were both ATGATT.
Our route was roughly north up Arizona SR 77 to Globe, then SR 188 & 87 to Payson. In Payson we grabbed lunch at the local Chilies. After lunch we started up the Mogion Rim on SR 266 where it cooled off to the mid-90’s. You know it’s hot when the mid-90’s is “cool”. Once in Camp Verdi we rode south on I 17 to SR 169 to Dewey, then SR 69 to SR 89 and into downtown Prescott. A short day of 290 miles.
Here’s the only photo from the rest of the trip. This is from SR 266 looking north towards Flagstaff.
Once in downtown Prescott we checked into the Hassayampa Inn on E. Gurley were we had each booked a room the night before at a good mid-week Internet special rate. We meet up again in the hotel’s bar about an hour later for a couple very tasty, frosty, adult beverages.
For dinner we met with Steve and Laurie Lavoy at a local downtown restaurant. Steve and Laurie have recently relocated to Prescott from Napa, after Steve’s retirement from Napa PD. After dinner we walked around the downtown square, and Whiskey Row for a bit in the evening, before calling it a night.
Wednesday
Wednesday we left Prescott at, again, about 08:00. We headed to Chino Valley for breakfast. I wanted to go to the Ugly Green Café. I use to go to this place for breakfast, and dinner when I was traveling to Gunsite a few times a year, several years ago. It was a no frills, greasy spoon type café, with an adjoining bar. You know the kind of place -- where there is nothing but ranchers’ pick-up trucks parked out front, and the waitress calls you “Hon”. In the bar they don’t serve umbrella drinks – it’s Bud, or Coors, or straight booze, or get out. Based on the name of the place, you can work out what color the building was painted.
But going north up 89 through town I almost missed the place; it was now painted brown. We parked in the gravel lot, got off our bikes, and I noticed the business sign out front. It now read something like, Our Coffee Café. I noted that what use to be the restaurant portion was closed, so we went into what use to be the bar, and found it to be the restaurant. It had a more urban café style to it now. They advertised Seattle’s Best coffee, and they had fancier breakfast items on the menu. The food and service was very good. But it was clear that this part of Arizona was changing; it was no longer a small ranching town. There was clearly a more up-scale influence, probably due to the transplanted Californians. I’m not sure if that’s a good or bad thing.
After breakfast we rode up to Ash Fork, went west on I 40 to the next exit, and took old Route 66 to Kingman. It was a pleasant ride, a bit windy, but not too hot, warm, but not hot.
Warm changed in Kingman. It got hot again, and there was no way around the heat no matter which way we went. We opted to head towards the coast instead of the high desert area. We rode I 40 to Barstow, picked up westbound SR 58 to SR 223 to I 5. That 223 bypass avoided Bakersfield. We jumped off I 5 at Buttonwillow, and took a break at a Starbucks. I personally was ready for that venti mocha Frappuccino.
While sitting in the Starbucks we decided to ride 58 east to 33 north to 198 west, to 101 north where it should be cooler. So we did. And, it was. Additionally, 198 is always a blast to ride — especially after all the hot, boring slab time earlier in the day. A last gas stop was made south of Salinas before our beeline to Napa. Total for the day, about 850.
Total for the trip, just above 3,200.
Ride safe, everyone.
Monday, June 25th, 2007
Rest day in Tucson
Step 1: Achieved
Step 2: Achieved
Step 3: In progress
Did you know that the Albuquerque airport only charges $1 for half an hour parking? It’s true. It’s one of the little things I learned on this SS2K.
Maybe one of these days I’ll write a ride report, and explain how I came to learn that little tid-bit. I’ll also expound on how well the first day’s one thousand miles went; and what a cluster the second one thousand was. But in the end, Paul and I rode 2,064 miles in about 43 hours. It won’t be official until Mike Kneebone signs our certificates, but I know we pulled it off.
Anyway, posted below are a few photos. Tomorrow is an easy 300 miles to Prescott.
Paul at our gas stop in Austin, Nevada
Me in Delta, UT (yes, we made in through town without a disaster)
A quick photo op on the top of Monarch pass. Photo taken by a friendly Harley rider.
Colorado Rocky Mountain High
Fellow IBA member, and Tucson resident, Barbara Bixby, verifies our ending mileage.
Sunday at the Ramada Inn, Tucson, Arizona
Friday, June 22nd, 2007
Prologue
The Plan: Ride an Iron Butt Association® SaddleSore 2000
The anticipated procedural method for the execution of the plan:
Step 1: Ride motorcycle for 2,000+ miles in less than 48 hours
Step 2: Stop riding motorcycle
Step 3: Drink beer
Friday evening. A friend and co-worker, Gregg, has all ready been by both my house, and over to Paul’s house, to verified the mileage of our bikes. Paul and I plan to meet for breakfast at Emmy Lou's Diner tomorrow morning at about 0530. Afterwards, we'll get our starting receipts at the near-by Chevron, and leave Napa sometime between 0600 and 0630. Our destination is Tucson, Arizona, by way of Nevada, Utah, Colorado, and New Mexico. Not exactly the direct route.
Route:
I 80 to Fernley, NV; Alt US 50 to US 50 at Fallon, NV; US 50 across Nevada, Utah, and into Colorado. Take a break in Montrose, Colorado. The next morning continue east on US 50 to Pueblo, Colorado; from there south on I 25 to Las Cruces, New Mexico. Then proceed west on I 10 to Tucson. It should work out to about 2,060 miles in less than 48 hours.
It will be very doubtful that I'll do an entry from Montrose, that stop is planned as a sleep break only. I'll post next from Tucson, maybe with a few pictures.
Until then, some other friends of mine are on their own riding adventures. Check them out as well: