June 05, 2006 Pre-positioning
06/05/06
Depart Arlington at 0750, 33145 odo.
Gassing up at the station before getting on the road I got my stupids out of the way early, and checked the quality of the new paint on the gas tank by spilling gas over it and dropping the bike against the fuel pump! I'd forgotten how heavy a fully loaded bike can be! I believe there's a rule somewhere about never loading a bike any heavier than you are willing to push up hill one mile for gas. As I took the road I became aware that the first hour riding is probably one of the more dangerous, as I was still thinking about packing and planning, and not so much about riding.
Two hours later, in Wichita Falls I stopped for breakfast at the IHOP under the 287 overpass, in homage to my friend Bruce Davidson. There I noted the first casualty of the trip - a plastic thermo-mug I had packed at the last minute by strapping it to the outside of my saddlebag. It had migrated against the muffler (on the GS the muffler is on the left side and sweeps up a la dirt bike) and melted through. Pancakes were good and filling, and it's comforting to have a little ritual to perform 140 miles away from home! Soon the Alsup's convienience stores and tales of Quanah Parker confirmed I had broken free of the Metromess's gravitational pull and was heading into deep space.
Passing through Amarillo, Dumas and Dalhart the temperature was in the 100 range, and the dust of the panhandle filled my nose and eyes. Passing Texline on highway 87 (yes, it is actually on the Texas state line) was a relief, as it meant after nearly 500 miles of riding I was FINALLY out of Texas. It also meant relieve from the heat - as I was splitting a thunderstorm on the TX/NM border.
Continuing through Clayton NM, just as on I-40 approaching Tucumcari, there was a distinct difference in the character of the land around me. This included the volcano at Capulin (a park I have never visited as it is too late in the day at this point to stop and still make Trinidad CO). There's also an interesting alternate route I put on my 'next time' list. Out of Des Moines (have I mentioned the name game? Notice how many highschool chums, girlfriends, out of place city names you can find along the way) one could travel NM 72 to arrive just on the north side of Raton on I-25. I continued my 'usual' route of highway 64 (now) and bade without a wave goodbye to the brand new Aston-Martin convertible I'd met and with whom I'd played tag/follow the leadercoming through Amarillo.
Up I-25 I quickly left NM and found my destination - Trinidad CO and CO12 for Trinidad State Park. I was alert for Bob and Earl's Cafe (Good Food As Always) with the liquor and bait store (yes, in the same room; no, different refridgerator). I picked up a cold drink to cap the day. Trinidad SP is a beautiful facility, with campsites overlooking the lake and free showers making the 17$ camping fee bearable.
I picked out a nice spot, set up camp and ate my Dinty-Moore and drank my beer in satisfaction. Then I went for a little walk and was treated to an indescribably sight - To the south that thunderstom which had cooled my day was still going strong in the waning sunlight. There was just a sliver of sky over the Sangre de Cristo Mountains (I think) that allowed the sunlight to paint the hanging tendrals and whisps of cloud with gold/yellow, then orange/red and finally deep purple, while huge blue-white veins of lightning stood out against the temples of grey rainfall and virga. I was so awestruck I barely made it back to the tent before the rain came down.
Days run: 592 miles, 64.8 mph average, 9 hours 8 minutes driving time.
oh, yes, I do have a GPS and found I LOVE being able to predict the road's path relative to the rainstorm up ahead! Several times I opted NOT to suit up because the road would turn prior to reaching the weather, and once I DID dress just in time (while still dry)!
Depart Arlington at 0750, 33145 odo.
Gassing up at the station before getting on the road I got my stupids out of the way early, and checked the quality of the new paint on the gas tank by spilling gas over it and dropping the bike against the fuel pump! I'd forgotten how heavy a fully loaded bike can be! I believe there's a rule somewhere about never loading a bike any heavier than you are willing to push up hill one mile for gas. As I took the road I became aware that the first hour riding is probably one of the more dangerous, as I was still thinking about packing and planning, and not so much about riding.
Two hours later, in Wichita Falls I stopped for breakfast at the IHOP under the 287 overpass, in homage to my friend Bruce Davidson. There I noted the first casualty of the trip - a plastic thermo-mug I had packed at the last minute by strapping it to the outside of my saddlebag. It had migrated against the muffler (on the GS the muffler is on the left side and sweeps up a la dirt bike) and melted through. Pancakes were good and filling, and it's comforting to have a little ritual to perform 140 miles away from home! Soon the Alsup's convienience stores and tales of Quanah Parker confirmed I had broken free of the Metromess's gravitational pull and was heading into deep space.
Passing through Amarillo, Dumas and Dalhart the temperature was in the 100 range, and the dust of the panhandle filled my nose and eyes. Passing Texline on highway 87 (yes, it is actually on the Texas state line) was a relief, as it meant after nearly 500 miles of riding I was FINALLY out of Texas. It also meant relieve from the heat - as I was splitting a thunderstorm on the TX/NM border.
Continuing through Clayton NM, just as on I-40 approaching Tucumcari, there was a distinct difference in the character of the land around me. This included the volcano at Capulin (a park I have never visited as it is too late in the day at this point to stop and still make Trinidad CO). There's also an interesting alternate route I put on my 'next time' list. Out of Des Moines (have I mentioned the name game? Notice how many highschool chums, girlfriends, out of place city names you can find along the way) one could travel NM 72 to arrive just on the north side of Raton on I-25. I continued my 'usual' route of highway 64 (now) and bade without a wave goodbye to the brand new Aston-Martin convertible I'd met and with whom I'd played tag/follow the leadercoming through Amarillo.
Up I-25 I quickly left NM and found my destination - Trinidad CO and CO12 for Trinidad State Park. I was alert for Bob and Earl's Cafe (Good Food As Always) with the liquor and bait store (yes, in the same room; no, different refridgerator). I picked up a cold drink to cap the day. Trinidad SP is a beautiful facility, with campsites overlooking the lake and free showers making the 17$ camping fee bearable.
I picked out a nice spot, set up camp and ate my Dinty-Moore and drank my beer in satisfaction. Then I went for a little walk and was treated to an indescribably sight - To the south that thunderstom which had cooled my day was still going strong in the waning sunlight. There was just a sliver of sky over the Sangre de Cristo Mountains (I think) that allowed the sunlight to paint the hanging tendrals and whisps of cloud with gold/yellow, then orange/red and finally deep purple, while huge blue-white veins of lightning stood out against the temples of grey rainfall and virga. I was so awestruck I barely made it back to the tent before the rain came down.
Days run: 592 miles, 64.8 mph average, 9 hours 8 minutes driving time.
oh, yes, I do have a GPS and found I LOVE being able to predict the road's path relative to the rainstorm up ahead! Several times I opted NOT to suit up because the road would turn prior to reaching the weather, and once I DID dress just in time (while still dry)!
posted by Randy Masters at 6:34 AM
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