November 9th-12th, 2007

Friday

For multiple reasons, I wasn't able to get going as early as I wanted. I finally got on the bike at 3:30 still needing to get gas before getting too far down the road. I make the ride "over the hill" via the Ortega Highway (yes, it's still under the construction). By the time I reach Perris, it's getting much too late to take much more of the scenic route. I turn North on I-215 towards Hwy 60 which blends into (ugh) I-10. Once I pass through Palm Springs, the weather actually improves to a nice balmy evening ride. I arrive at my motel by about 7:30.

Friday's Route

Total for the day: 228 miles.

Saturday

Barely Saturday. Two "gentlemen" in the room next to mine come back from the bars and have no consideration for their neighbors. Not only is the conversation loud, but it seems like WWF is taking place next door. It's 2:45 before they pass out and I'm wide awake. "I might as well get up" I say to myself. I'm on the road by 3:45. I make Apache Junction right after sunrise. With the sun in my eyes, it's a good time to stop for gas, face shield change and breakfast.

Finally, I'm done with the Interstate for a while. I follow AZ 60 through Globe and Stafford. This is one of my favorite routes through the Southwest. The weather is incredibly warm for a mid November day. I find that I'm overdressed and peel off some layers at my next gas stop in Lordsburg, NM. That's right. I only stop once in Arizona.

Due to  my early departure, I arrive in Deming a little after noon. I stop at a restaurant for a cup of coffee and a slice of pie. I easily find Don Cameron's house since I've been there before. It was  nice to find that the road to Don's house is now paved. The old gravel road was O.K., but asphalt is nice.

I have the opportunity to check out the bikes, meet some people and check out some bikes. Eventually, Greg Ruggles, Dan Gonzalez and Mike Faull arrive. They spent the night in Globe. As it turns out, I was through Globe before they left their motel.

I took some pictures, but there are more here.

Dinner was pretty good and I won a pretty good door prize ( a pair of folding knives - tank bag fodder). I give my 50/50 tickets to Greg, Dan and Mike. By 6 pm, I'm on the road again, this time to El Paso. Originally, my sister Carol was going to meet me in Deming, but she decided she would rather have hip replacement surgery instead. She doesn't realize that it takes more than that to get out of seeing her nuisance of a little brother. I arrive at her home on the east side a little before 8 pm.

Saturday's Route

Total for the day: 629 miles.

Sunday

This is a non-riding day. Carol and I spend the morning shopping. I got a 13mm ratcheting combination wrench for my tool kit. This will help changing my next alternator belt. We spend the afternoon watching our beloved Dallas Cowboys. Sunday evening we dine at Cattlemen's, a steakhouse that was pretty famous even when I was a resident. My college roommate Bob Gray (aka "Bad Bob") and his lovely bride Beth were able to join us. It was a very nice evening.

Monday

I'm on the road by 4 am and get my first tank out of the way by sunrise. There's a cold front that has moved in and it is a little brisk. At Lordsburg, it's 46 degrees. With a legal speed limit of 75 MPH, the wind chill makes that feel like 32F. My Marsee ballistic jacket is letting too much air in for my Gerbing electric liner to work very well. I guess I really do need two jackets. Drat.

My next stop is Eloy, just outside of Casa Grande, for gas. One more stop in Yuma for gas and I'm in California. To this point, I've made a pretty efficient ride. I rode the first 500 miles in less than 8 hours and I set a personal best for miles before noon at 584 miles if I were riding on a California clock.

I continue along I-8 through El Centro. I'm really getting bored with the amount of riding on the Interstate. I finally take a detour when I see the sign for S-2 and ride through Anza Borrego. I continue north through Warner Springs on CA 79. The ride is nice until I reach the Ortega Highway where traffic is horrendous.

I arrive home by 6 making it a 14 hour transit.

Sunday's Route

Total for the day: 845 miles.

Total for the trip: 1,702 miles.

Wonder why my wife Nancy lets me go on all these rides? She has her own definition of "farkles"