Acacia
08-13-2006, 05:41 PM
I left Sugar Land (20 miles SW of Houston) Texas August 3rd, on the R1150R twin spark headed North West. Hit severe rain at Las Vegas NM, over the mountains to Taos and decided to call it a days ride at 913 miles. Was hoping for Pagosa Springs, Colorado but more severe weather threatened to take the fun out of more mountain roads.
Next days ride was to Pagosa S over Wolf Creek Pass, left up through Gunnison and on to Denver – mountain passes and back roads. Out of Denver I did the 100,000ft ride – 477 miles, 10 mountain passes and 105,000 vertical feet in elevation as well as a visit to Rocky Mountain National Park the Co Beemers. Then the next day, up similar roads out through Walden, CO, and into Wyoming.
Visited Grand Teton’s and Yellowstone. Seeing the morbidly obese in their thousands pretend to go ‘hiking’ (with their REI hiking poles and hiking sneakers, conversing with their snotty nosed kids at the top of their voices) from the parking lot to Old Faithful a mere 100 yards, told me I was in the wrong place. Instead of riding up another 40 miles into Montana I turned around in disgust, back through the Teton’s into Idaho, following the Oregon Trail route. By this time I had stopped counting the mountain passes –plus 30 enjoyed. Lots of HD’s heading the other way for Sturgis, decked out in the DOT doo-rags, red faced from the sun and wind- all in-line and uniformed with caps, vests, tassels to perform their pilgrimage and rituals.
More mountain passes, great simple country side, small villages and wide open clean skies. The 500 miles of rain already ridden through going up through NM, CO, WY seemed to be far away now. Once into Utah, heading for Moab,- the desert seemed to open up. Air temps. were said to have been 97, the bike at sustained 110 indicated for 20-30 miles registered the hottest oil temp while riding - 250 degrees (210 most of the time). Who said ‘oils-heads’ don’t run Hot! You need synthetic oil if you are going to do this kind of riding.
Visited the Arches National Park then headed South through Blanding and Mexican Hat. I was going to go through Torrey, Hwy 12 and Zion Canyon, rode last year, but a cold front was moving in from the West over that area with storms so I stayed East and went through Monument Valley. Next was through the Vermillion Cliff’s NP, the North rim of the Grand Canyon, back into the mountains and passes again. Back up and out of those mountains and instead of going through Flagstaff, headed down 264 and 6 through the Painted Desert and Hopi reservation. Flying through this desperate and poverty stricken region I could not help notice the grass growing though the cracks in the road surface.
At Holbrook I called the Old Hoon saying I was headed in his direction. We met at Snow Flake and back-roaded it to Show Low. By this time the deserts had given way to green and trees. Once at his home, met the vivacious Ms Pam, and the dogs Chainsaw and MT (The dog Mike, that Deans calls Mike Tyson). Spent a great night with great company, good food and got to walk the Motorcyclist’s Café Bunk house site – the 1st non–Hoon related to do so. Ms Pam out did herself - She rose early to set an apple pie in the oven before she left for work. That stuff is to die for!
The following morning after a leisurely walk around the great property with the Hoon, Chainsaw and MT, a slice of cinnamon scented apple pie, Dean and I set off over the mountains and more passes to Alpine AZ, the second town of Alpine visited on this trip and breakfast at the Bear Wallow. Down more passes and into New Mexico, a visit to the Gila Cliff Dwellings and on to El Paso in TX.
Approaching El Paso I feel my right ankle starting to burn. I could not recall bumping it. Looking down I see gas pouring out from under the tank over the right cylinder, my leg, transmission, down over the catalytic converter and back wheel. I head off the 1st off ramp find a gas station shelter and stop. Trying to use the BMW roadside assistance program at 4.30 pm on a Friday afternoon is an exercise in frustration. With help, the BMWOA Anon. book, a few calls and a crusty Will, a BMW rider arrives and begins to shuttle for me to a nearby auto parts store. Had I used the roadside assistance they would have sent someone from Albuquerque some 200 miles to the North to help – a 400 mile round trip with a lot of the cost being mine! One of the fuel quick-release connections under the tank had fractured dumping about 2 gallons onto my foot and boot. A jury–rigged by-pass, 4 hours of lost riding time, I was tired and headed for a motel.
Saturday was across the 750 miles of TX in 107 degrees ( A far cry from the 37 in CO). I did think of heading SW to visit Alpine TX to make 3 towns by the name of Alpine visited - but was tired and home was sounding a good idea. 6 pm I drive up my drive way. The bike looks like a rat-bike with bug guts, rain, mud, road trash, tar-splashes and dirt from the 10 days of riding.
So, 5414 miles in 10 days, and estimated well in excess of 200,000 vertical feet of elevation, well in excess of 30 mountain passes, crossed the Continental Divide at least 12 times, countless National Forests, 7 National Parks and all the above mentioned adventures enjoyed. The only average speed I took note of was across TX from El Paso to home – the bicycle computer said I averaged 76.5mph. for the nearly 750 miles.
Met some great people, was awe-struck by the back roads, natural wonders, simple folks and what it must have taken to open the country in the past. What a great country! All the right ingredients for a memorable ride!
What was the best single piece of equipment taken? The Escort 8500 X50 radar detector. It saved my butt many times every day. A great bike and carefully selected equipment helped too for camping and what to wear.
Next days ride was to Pagosa S over Wolf Creek Pass, left up through Gunnison and on to Denver – mountain passes and back roads. Out of Denver I did the 100,000ft ride – 477 miles, 10 mountain passes and 105,000 vertical feet in elevation as well as a visit to Rocky Mountain National Park the Co Beemers. Then the next day, up similar roads out through Walden, CO, and into Wyoming.
Visited Grand Teton’s and Yellowstone. Seeing the morbidly obese in their thousands pretend to go ‘hiking’ (with their REI hiking poles and hiking sneakers, conversing with their snotty nosed kids at the top of their voices) from the parking lot to Old Faithful a mere 100 yards, told me I was in the wrong place. Instead of riding up another 40 miles into Montana I turned around in disgust, back through the Teton’s into Idaho, following the Oregon Trail route. By this time I had stopped counting the mountain passes –plus 30 enjoyed. Lots of HD’s heading the other way for Sturgis, decked out in the DOT doo-rags, red faced from the sun and wind- all in-line and uniformed with caps, vests, tassels to perform their pilgrimage and rituals.
More mountain passes, great simple country side, small villages and wide open clean skies. The 500 miles of rain already ridden through going up through NM, CO, WY seemed to be far away now. Once into Utah, heading for Moab,- the desert seemed to open up. Air temps. were said to have been 97, the bike at sustained 110 indicated for 20-30 miles registered the hottest oil temp while riding - 250 degrees (210 most of the time). Who said ‘oils-heads’ don’t run Hot! You need synthetic oil if you are going to do this kind of riding.
Visited the Arches National Park then headed South through Blanding and Mexican Hat. I was going to go through Torrey, Hwy 12 and Zion Canyon, rode last year, but a cold front was moving in from the West over that area with storms so I stayed East and went through Monument Valley. Next was through the Vermillion Cliff’s NP, the North rim of the Grand Canyon, back into the mountains and passes again. Back up and out of those mountains and instead of going through Flagstaff, headed down 264 and 6 through the Painted Desert and Hopi reservation. Flying through this desperate and poverty stricken region I could not help notice the grass growing though the cracks in the road surface.
At Holbrook I called the Old Hoon saying I was headed in his direction. We met at Snow Flake and back-roaded it to Show Low. By this time the deserts had given way to green and trees. Once at his home, met the vivacious Ms Pam, and the dogs Chainsaw and MT (The dog Mike, that Deans calls Mike Tyson). Spent a great night with great company, good food and got to walk the Motorcyclist’s Café Bunk house site – the 1st non–Hoon related to do so. Ms Pam out did herself - She rose early to set an apple pie in the oven before she left for work. That stuff is to die for!
The following morning after a leisurely walk around the great property with the Hoon, Chainsaw and MT, a slice of cinnamon scented apple pie, Dean and I set off over the mountains and more passes to Alpine AZ, the second town of Alpine visited on this trip and breakfast at the Bear Wallow. Down more passes and into New Mexico, a visit to the Gila Cliff Dwellings and on to El Paso in TX.
Approaching El Paso I feel my right ankle starting to burn. I could not recall bumping it. Looking down I see gas pouring out from under the tank over the right cylinder, my leg, transmission, down over the catalytic converter and back wheel. I head off the 1st off ramp find a gas station shelter and stop. Trying to use the BMW roadside assistance program at 4.30 pm on a Friday afternoon is an exercise in frustration. With help, the BMWOA Anon. book, a few calls and a crusty Will, a BMW rider arrives and begins to shuttle for me to a nearby auto parts store. Had I used the roadside assistance they would have sent someone from Albuquerque some 200 miles to the North to help – a 400 mile round trip with a lot of the cost being mine! One of the fuel quick-release connections under the tank had fractured dumping about 2 gallons onto my foot and boot. A jury–rigged by-pass, 4 hours of lost riding time, I was tired and headed for a motel.
Saturday was across the 750 miles of TX in 107 degrees ( A far cry from the 37 in CO). I did think of heading SW to visit Alpine TX to make 3 towns by the name of Alpine visited - but was tired and home was sounding a good idea. 6 pm I drive up my drive way. The bike looks like a rat-bike with bug guts, rain, mud, road trash, tar-splashes and dirt from the 10 days of riding.
So, 5414 miles in 10 days, and estimated well in excess of 200,000 vertical feet of elevation, well in excess of 30 mountain passes, crossed the Continental Divide at least 12 times, countless National Forests, 7 National Parks and all the above mentioned adventures enjoyed. The only average speed I took note of was across TX from El Paso to home – the bicycle computer said I averaged 76.5mph. for the nearly 750 miles.
Met some great people, was awe-struck by the back roads, natural wonders, simple folks and what it must have taken to open the country in the past. What a great country! All the right ingredients for a memorable ride!
What was the best single piece of equipment taken? The Escort 8500 X50 radar detector. It saved my butt many times every day. A great bike and carefully selected equipment helped too for camping and what to wear.