As journeys go, this has been one challenge after another to organize and set to motion.
It began with my grandson, Eli who is ill and in the hospital with Aplastic Anemia, a disease of the bone marrow. He is now being treated and his plight can be followed on his Facebook page. He is such a trooper considering all he has been through, and I am so sorry he’s so far away right now as I’d love to be up in Alaska seeing him, but the time of year is all wrong for a motorcycle excursion to the great frozen north! My mind is filled with him, none the less and I wish him great healing waves.
As his treatment has progressed his mother spread thin and finance drained, seeks help. As a result, Eli’s older bro Hayden will be arriving in the weeks ahead to spend the school year in Carmichael with me and Gary and his Daddy, my oldest son, Daniel who has recently become homeless too. So, Gary and my little empty nest will be full for the nearby future, as it should be. We are family. For anyone desiring to assist even a little, Eli has a fundrazr page.
With my mind churning, I decided I ought to get out and do one last journey for this season and head to the Southwest, one of my favorite spots to blow out the cobwebs. As I drew up maps of routes and figured out what friends I could visit, I added Texas to my travel list, one state that I had not yet visited. Plus what a great opportunity to see the Cadillac Ranch first hand!! I also made the banner decision by taking the Bandito instead of my new Kawi. This decision was based on a couple of reasons, one being it had the extra umph, needed for big open roads I’d be covering plus it had a top box for my second set of gear. On this journey I’d be riding temperatures between the 90s and 30s, making elevation changes between sea level and 9,000 ft. My total mileage would calculate out to around 3600 miles not counting any local riding. Yep, it was necessary to set my mind straight, and I was ready to go!!
My plan was to leave early on Friday and ride to Ely, NV. But of course the best laid plans change. I discovered a nail in the rear tire of the Bandit.
Gary, a man after my heart, came home from work and got off the wheel so I could take it in to Cycle Gear and get a new Pilot Road 3, since I’d been wanting to try them. He got it back on the bike by Friday night and I was good to go or so we thought. The bike was loaded and ready and when I gassed it up, I noticed the front end not responding properly. Sigh*…back to Cycle Gear for another tire. Gary got it on and I was good to go by 2pm Saturday afternoon. I decided I’d ride as far as I could down Hwy 50 and made Eureka, NV about an hour past dusk, just when the Antelope were ready for their evening road dance. Arriving in Eureka, I snugged in for the night after an entertaining meal. The restaurant down the street was a bar/restaurant called “the OWL”. I walked in and the patrons were covered in camo. I asked the camo table next to me what hunting season had opened, and was told deer season had opened the previous day. I told them it explained why i saw NO deer and only antelope on the highway. They then told me all the deer come into town and sleep in folks yards. And people think deer are dumb!! HA!!
Somewhere east Nevada
Sadly Mom’s in Salina wasn’t opened.
Day one, 364 miles…
When I arose Sunday morning it was 32 degrees. Yep, I was ever so glad to have heated gear!! Two gents from the Bay Area, were heading home after a trip to Arches NP and did not have heated gear. They were hoping for the best. As I heading east, I thought of them since I was toasty and warm. I wished them the best. I rode to the Border Town Inn and stopped for tea at the casino there. It’s a very funny place and was filled with more camo and completely run by high school locals. Be sure and fill up here, if you are riding this route. There is nothing for many many miles after this spot.
A year earlier, I had stopped here as the management was painting a sign on the front, saying, ìwelcome queensî. Hmmm, I pondered, are they speaking of the sort of queens I was? I had to ask and discovered that they indeed were. They host a drag queen floor show once a year and all the surrounding ranchers flock to check out the ìqueensî. I gotta pencil that in on my calendar, as this is one event I must see!!!
I was off my schedule by 80 miles, so I knew this day would be a long one. I was determined to reach Monticello, UT a bit south of Moab by evening. I opted for the most direct route but was riddled with guilt for not riding through Capitol Reef, my favorite NP to date. I gave a hearty wave as I blew past riding on I70. I must say as interstate highways go, I70 is quite lovely.
I made Moab around 6:30 pm and it was bustling. I searched for a room here, but there was nothing less than $200 a night available and the town was packed. I was running a bit on overdrive so stopped only for gas and headed to Monticello as the sun set. Stunning! If ever there is heaven on earth, I believe it occurs at sunset.
I 70
Yep…i’m snugged into my room!
Day 2 miles…512