NOGILLS2
May 8th, 2006, 11:20 pm
Saturday morning at 0300 am the alarm sounded and woke me. I jumped up and dressed finished loading the LT and headed south on I 55 to LaPlace, La. I arrived at 0345, backed into a parking place, in a few minutes a Champagne Rocket known as the Bayou Buffalo, rolled into the Station. I was glad to see him, but the thought went through my head, what am I doing?, and what am I trying to prove?
I filled up the tank and pulled the receipt, noted the Odo reading, numbered the receipt. We pulled out at 0410 and headed west on I 10, at least the sun would be at our back, is the thought that went through my head. We sent the pace at about 80 mph and rolled right across the State of Louisiana.
At 0700 we pulled into a station in Orange Tx. Fueled the bikes, the attendant screwed up and Steve paid for my gas, so I payed for his, was .20 different. At this time we decided to put on raingear, and continued west. Shortly after departing the station it started raining, and it continued raining until we cleared San Antonio,Tx, Although as we passed Winnie Tx, was the worst, as it was not raining, but the water was blowing straight across, not falling down. I was wet to the bone, it was as if the rainsuit was still in the saddlebag.
Our next stop was ColumbusTx, we pulled in at 0945, and decided also to get breakfast. As we were leaving the restaurant a couple was entering the restaurant and asked us where we were from and headed to, we spoke about the SS1000 and the BB1500, The guy chuckled and told us he had done it.
We were off again.
It was interesting to see the progression of change in the landscape. We went from the swamps of south Louisiana to the hills and mountains of west Texas.
We stopped in Kerrville at 1320 and off to Ozona. This was my first time west of San Antonio, I expected flat desert plains and was surprised at seeing mountains. I thought Big Bend was farther south and was not seen from I10. We came around a turn and discovered a wind farm. I was disappointed that I had left my camera in the top bag because of the weather, so I did not take pictures of our westward trek.
We pulled into the gas station at Ft Stockton and began our routine of filling the tank and logging time milage on the odo, when another LT pulled into the station, He was from Colorado and headed to Rockport Tx. We took a few minutes to check out his bike, with a custom paint job, red marble, with the handlebars painted to resemble carbon fiber and a FtWorth rack. It was an 05, and was an excellent custom model. We headed next door to the Comanche Springs Diner. It was a typical truck stop restaurant, nothing real special, but edible. We rolled on west and now the setting sun began to be a real problem, I was wishing for some of those clouds we had all morning, but it was straight on sunset for hours. I thought of about a hundred ideas for a sunshade to install on my helmet, to no avail, because I could not build it at the time. I may keep a strip of sunscreen that is statically attached to objects, and stratigecly placed on my facesheild to block the sun. My sunglasses was no match for this west Texas sunset.
We passed a immigration check station on the eastbound lane and looking at the lines, I thought that is going to be fun in the morning. Hoping that we will get through without much trouble, and what info they will be looking for.
At 2015MT we arrived at the gas station in ElPaso Tx, fueled the bikes, got the receipts and then began a search for a motel. At check in we asked the deskclerk to verify our presence and fill out the witness forms for the end of the ride for the SS1000. After we explained what we were doing he gladly filled out the forms.
The first part is now complete and we could get some sleep. A hot shower and a phone call home and the next thing I knew it was 0330 and my next room neighbor was hard of hearing cause his TV sounded like it was in my room, since it was close to wakeup time I just got up and started packing and loading the bike for the next leg of our trip. I woke up Steve and we asked the desk clerk to fill out our forms and we were on the road.
We stopped for gas, I think I pumped about $1.00 worth into the tank, recorded the time, odo and location and we were off to see the wizard.
We headed east on I 10, It was crazy, the temps fluctuated 20 to 30 degrees before the sun rose, was low as 46 and as high as 68. As usual I was well prepared, I had several t-shirts, a pair of blue jeans. I ended up with t-shirt on and mesh riding jacket and rain gear over this. Handgrips and seat heater on, I couldn't wait for the sun to rise so I could warm up. I know that 46 in not really that cold, but with the 90 degree temps the day before, we had 44 degrees difference, is a lot to deal with. Maybe someday I will learn, travelling through such different climates, you have to be prepared. At least after talking with others I am not alone with this issue.
We approached the checkpoint from the day before. It was daylight by this time and we were the second vehicle to approach. The immigration looked at us as we approached, noticed the MIA-POW stickers on our bikes and our Amc flags and just waved us through. This was before I even had a chance to speak to him. So my fear from the day before became naught. We rode on.
I remembered to remove my camera and I managed to take a few photos. I have not looked at them yet.
Sunday brought out the bikes, the weather was clear, and the bikes were rolling. We saw several Lt's. We stopped in Ozona for breakfast, called Ed Tanner, to give him an eta for our arrival to San Antonio. Ed was to sign off on our end of ride paperwork. The next thing we knew a silver LT was meeting us on the other side of I-10, the rider was waving. A few minutes later that LT came up alongside of us. It was Ed, riding with us to finish our BB1500. Escorted us to a gas station for us to fill up and get receipts to close our trip. I was still in a blur, it wasn't until we sat down for diner and we talked about what we had just completed, that I realized all that happened.
We spoke about different emotions and feelings that you go through while on the ride. It reminds me of competing in triathlons and duathlons, how in different parts of the race, the feelings run through an amazing gauntlet. You have thoughts of insanity, of wanting to quit, thoughts that you are crazy for attempting to try anything with this level of effort and energy. You will discover what you really are made of. It becomes a personal challenge, to prove to yourself that you have what it takes. it comes to a place that you just want to finish and not concerned with the place you finish in, only that you finish. You learn about the mistakes you make and what needs to be changed or improved. As we sat there sipping a cold beer, I told Ed "MY STORY" he was quite amazed at where I came from to where I am. It seems an eternity to me at times, but just five years ago I did not know if I would live much longer, I began to make changes in my lifestyle, and now look at me, and try to keep up.
On the ride home today, I realized that in the last couple of weeks I have traveled through seven states and six thousand miles. What a ride!
I filled up the tank and pulled the receipt, noted the Odo reading, numbered the receipt. We pulled out at 0410 and headed west on I 10, at least the sun would be at our back, is the thought that went through my head. We sent the pace at about 80 mph and rolled right across the State of Louisiana.
At 0700 we pulled into a station in Orange Tx. Fueled the bikes, the attendant screwed up and Steve paid for my gas, so I payed for his, was .20 different. At this time we decided to put on raingear, and continued west. Shortly after departing the station it started raining, and it continued raining until we cleared San Antonio,Tx, Although as we passed Winnie Tx, was the worst, as it was not raining, but the water was blowing straight across, not falling down. I was wet to the bone, it was as if the rainsuit was still in the saddlebag.
Our next stop was ColumbusTx, we pulled in at 0945, and decided also to get breakfast. As we were leaving the restaurant a couple was entering the restaurant and asked us where we were from and headed to, we spoke about the SS1000 and the BB1500, The guy chuckled and told us he had done it.
We were off again.
It was interesting to see the progression of change in the landscape. We went from the swamps of south Louisiana to the hills and mountains of west Texas.
We stopped in Kerrville at 1320 and off to Ozona. This was my first time west of San Antonio, I expected flat desert plains and was surprised at seeing mountains. I thought Big Bend was farther south and was not seen from I10. We came around a turn and discovered a wind farm. I was disappointed that I had left my camera in the top bag because of the weather, so I did not take pictures of our westward trek.
We pulled into the gas station at Ft Stockton and began our routine of filling the tank and logging time milage on the odo, when another LT pulled into the station, He was from Colorado and headed to Rockport Tx. We took a few minutes to check out his bike, with a custom paint job, red marble, with the handlebars painted to resemble carbon fiber and a FtWorth rack. It was an 05, and was an excellent custom model. We headed next door to the Comanche Springs Diner. It was a typical truck stop restaurant, nothing real special, but edible. We rolled on west and now the setting sun began to be a real problem, I was wishing for some of those clouds we had all morning, but it was straight on sunset for hours. I thought of about a hundred ideas for a sunshade to install on my helmet, to no avail, because I could not build it at the time. I may keep a strip of sunscreen that is statically attached to objects, and stratigecly placed on my facesheild to block the sun. My sunglasses was no match for this west Texas sunset.
We passed a immigration check station on the eastbound lane and looking at the lines, I thought that is going to be fun in the morning. Hoping that we will get through without much trouble, and what info they will be looking for.
At 2015MT we arrived at the gas station in ElPaso Tx, fueled the bikes, got the receipts and then began a search for a motel. At check in we asked the deskclerk to verify our presence and fill out the witness forms for the end of the ride for the SS1000. After we explained what we were doing he gladly filled out the forms.
The first part is now complete and we could get some sleep. A hot shower and a phone call home and the next thing I knew it was 0330 and my next room neighbor was hard of hearing cause his TV sounded like it was in my room, since it was close to wakeup time I just got up and started packing and loading the bike for the next leg of our trip. I woke up Steve and we asked the desk clerk to fill out our forms and we were on the road.
We stopped for gas, I think I pumped about $1.00 worth into the tank, recorded the time, odo and location and we were off to see the wizard.
We headed east on I 10, It was crazy, the temps fluctuated 20 to 30 degrees before the sun rose, was low as 46 and as high as 68. As usual I was well prepared, I had several t-shirts, a pair of blue jeans. I ended up with t-shirt on and mesh riding jacket and rain gear over this. Handgrips and seat heater on, I couldn't wait for the sun to rise so I could warm up. I know that 46 in not really that cold, but with the 90 degree temps the day before, we had 44 degrees difference, is a lot to deal with. Maybe someday I will learn, travelling through such different climates, you have to be prepared. At least after talking with others I am not alone with this issue.
We approached the checkpoint from the day before. It was daylight by this time and we were the second vehicle to approach. The immigration looked at us as we approached, noticed the MIA-POW stickers on our bikes and our Amc flags and just waved us through. This was before I even had a chance to speak to him. So my fear from the day before became naught. We rode on.
I remembered to remove my camera and I managed to take a few photos. I have not looked at them yet.
Sunday brought out the bikes, the weather was clear, and the bikes were rolling. We saw several Lt's. We stopped in Ozona for breakfast, called Ed Tanner, to give him an eta for our arrival to San Antonio. Ed was to sign off on our end of ride paperwork. The next thing we knew a silver LT was meeting us on the other side of I-10, the rider was waving. A few minutes later that LT came up alongside of us. It was Ed, riding with us to finish our BB1500. Escorted us to a gas station for us to fill up and get receipts to close our trip. I was still in a blur, it wasn't until we sat down for diner and we talked about what we had just completed, that I realized all that happened.
We spoke about different emotions and feelings that you go through while on the ride. It reminds me of competing in triathlons and duathlons, how in different parts of the race, the feelings run through an amazing gauntlet. You have thoughts of insanity, of wanting to quit, thoughts that you are crazy for attempting to try anything with this level of effort and energy. You will discover what you really are made of. It becomes a personal challenge, to prove to yourself that you have what it takes. it comes to a place that you just want to finish and not concerned with the place you finish in, only that you finish. You learn about the mistakes you make and what needs to be changed or improved. As we sat there sipping a cold beer, I told Ed "MY STORY" he was quite amazed at where I came from to where I am. It seems an eternity to me at times, but just five years ago I did not know if I would live much longer, I began to make changes in my lifestyle, and now look at me, and try to keep up.
On the ride home today, I realized that in the last couple of weeks I have traveled through seven states and six thousand miles. What a ride!