5000 mile cross country ride By skyrider (Read 1,355 times)

[skyrider]

Tomorrow morning, June 17, I start on a cross country ride leaving from Glendale OR to NW AR to visit friends and relatives as well as attend our 55 year HS class reunion.
Might even stop to see JR if the welcome mat is out.
I'll post my progress as I have opportunity.
I'd post pictures too if I could figure out how to down grade them to where they would work. Haven't got that learned yet.

[alleyoop]

Nice Trip planned make sure you take spare stuff, especially a belt, fuel filter, Plug , Tools. If you have spare CDI and COIL take those as well, Duct tape some wire in case something comes loose and you can wire it up etc..
Ride Safe
Alleyoop

[JR]

Welcome mat is here and I know about the long trips. We got back from 29 Palms California this morning at 1:00 a.m. and I'm tired.

What part of NW Arkansas are you heading too skyrider? I'll get my 250B all ready to meet you.

JR

[skyrider]

Day one: Left Glendale OR S. on I 5 to Ashland, then east on 66 to Klamath Falls, then 140 to Denio Junction. i knew there was a long stretch with no gas before Denio so topped off the tank at the last station and headed across that barren desert. At Denio Junction the pumps had a note: "Out of order, next gas 77 miles south. OK, gulp. Rode slow to that station and put in3.1 gallons in a 3.2 gallon tank. On to the rest stop east of Winnemucca and spent the night. 457 miles.

[skyrider]

Day two. Up at 5:30 packed and on the road by 6:00. This is high country from near 6000 feet to over 7000. I 80 is in good shape and the traffic is light. Across Nevada into Utah by the salt flats, Great Salt Lake, Salt Lake City and up into the mountains to 140 south. Near the Colorado border I find a nice place to stop for the night. I've never seen the sky so clear and so many stars in my life.

[skyrider]

Day three: Up again at 5:30 and on the road soon after. At Dinosaur CO I turn south on CO 138 up through the mountains. As I near the pass the road is rough, steep, and very crooked. The hairpin curves are so short that maybe 15 mph is max. Altitude so high the performance drops of severely. The pass is over 8200 feet. Down the other side to Grand Junction CO and find some breakfast. To the south and east I see the heavy smoke from the Black Forest fire. By the time I get to Montrose I"m in the smoke. Now east toward Monarch Pass, 11312 foot elevation (I think) and I am proud of my little Honda is still pulling 43 to 48 mph up the steep grade ant that high elevation. Access to Royal Gorge Bridge is closed due to the fire so no to near La Junta for the night. The south wind is so sever I fear to ride any farther.

[skyrider]

Day four: Again up early and wind is still sever but now is daylight so i press on. All of the rest of eastern CO and Kansas to Coffeeville and there is no let up of the wind. My neck and shoulders are very sore from the high wind. I already knew that the trees in KS all lean to the north and this is the reason why. I had hoped to make Grove,OK to spend the night--there is nice a camp ground there where i can stay for free but it will be 10:00 before I can get there. Then I have to find security to get in, set up camp. Shucks if I take the freeways I can be at my brother's by midnight so I call him and tell him to "leave the light on". Midnight and I arrive and sleep very well.

[skyrider]

JR, I am at Brentwood south of Fayetteville. I have a week to kill, our 55 year HS class reunion is the 2nd of July. I can ride down to your place or we could meet somewhere if you rather. Sundays are out but any other time is fine. I'll PM you with my phone # is case you want to call.

[trailheadmike]

You're on the Reflex? Should be solid mechanically, but how is the seat after such long rides?? Sounds like a great trip - please post some pics when you get them.

[skyrider]

Found out today that the reunion has been moved to to Thursday the 27th. Glad I didn't wait until next week to make the trip!
My pictures are too big to post and I don't know how to scale them down so they will post.
I find the seat about as comfortable as any motorcycle I've ever owned (and that is quite a few).
Yes it is a Reflex and I am very happy with it. But not the dealer I bought it from. Today I found they left the rear axel nut loose when they put the new rear tire on it. That was the last of several things they did wrong in servicing it.

[skyrider]

Reunion was today. 13 of the 28 from 55 years ago. Found out that one of those 13 started first grade with me in a little one room school house in the country. She had known for some time but never told me until today.
It was 2180 miles here from southern OR, several hundred here running around and more than that going home by way of a longer route so will come close to the 5000 by the time I get home. Will head back Monday the 1st.

[skyrider]

Today I scooted down from NW Arkie land to Petit Jean to meet our fearless leader, JR.
I found him to be as congenial as he is knowledgeable.
Thanks JR, and i had a good ride back to Razorback country.

[JR]

So glad you cam Lou! I enjoyed the visit and seeing that reflex scooter. Hope you found out the info on the car at the museum and had a fun safe ride back.

Next time you come give I'll see if I can throw a burger on the grill!

JR

[skyrider]

Yes, I got the information on the car. It is a 1940 Bantum Speedster, not the 39 Crosley as I had it labeled. Good ride back to my brother's place even if it was over 100 degrees. I have lived in the desert for 40 years and am sort of used to heat. I saw this morning it is to be 117 today where we last lived in Southern NV.

[JR]

Yikes! Talked to Doug this morning and he said if I remember right they were calling for 114F?