Had a nice trip out to visit my folks!
Heading out of town was escorted by Ray & Mary. They lead the way out of town and went as far as Albuquerque where we’d stopped for breakfast and parted ways.
Heading out of western New Mexico:
Had some heavy head and cross winds to blow any chance of decent gas mileage. Heading north on hwy 92 just south of Hoover Dam! Kind of anxious to cross over that new bridge over the dam. Nice sunset timeframe, weather was great.
By the way, you can't see anything crossing over that new bridge!!!
Stopped off in Las Vegas to stay overnight at my daughters place, enjoy Easter Sunday breakfast with the family and watch the grandkids hunt for Easter eggs.
I hit some more wind from Baker, CA up until about Cajon or so where I then ran into fog and light rain. So much for cruising t-shirt style. That and
welcome back to town after an Easter weekend getaway stop and go traffic.Made it to my son Nicks place just in time to see him off as he was heading out to work (second shifter). We ate the next day on the pier at San Clemente.
I took a short run along part of PCH and then spent time with mom. We recently had to put her into a care center due to her progressive dementia and failing health in general.
Shot taken just south of Laguna!
Had a nice visit for just over a week. My daughter and her family came out from Vegas to celebrate her and my dads birthdays. We hung out at my sisters place in San Clemente for a pool party and some bbq burgers & dogs with the kids.
I head out first thing this past Monday a.m. trying a different route. I made my way south to San Diego and then due east on I-8. Uncharted territory for me. Anything other than I-40 was good for me.
A nice trip in general, not uneventful however! Not being the expert helmet wearer, I get caught in some major cross winds which took ahold of my comfortably loose-strap fitting half helmet, yanking it straight back, nearly choking myself out as I make my way to the road side. This could not be quickly corrected as the winds were so strong I could not let go of the bike even in a stopped stand still position. The winds in gusts were trying to blow me over taking both hands holding firmly. I get my helmet act together and get back on the road. Chalk one up to poor helmet use/experience.
Cross and head winds continued from San Diego at least until El Centro. I rolled into Yuma, AZ and noticed some tough front steering. I thought I had also noticed some squirrely lane changing once the winds had let up on I-8. Pretty low pressure in the front and significant low air in rear. No visible punctures... ???
I refill to PAR and continue on.
Next gas top, same thing only this time just the rear, the front was fine. I was refilling about every 100 - 125 miles. Not great if you wanted to make some time. My plan was to at least hit Lordsburg, NM, ideally Silver City if possible.
Refilling at each gas stop, still no sign or sounds of a puncture... WTH?
I make it to Lordsburg and stay at the Best Western. Clean place, fairly reasonable, $59.00 w/AAA discount. I hope to see the bike in an upright position in the a.m. I check it a few times during the night and then pump it up with the portable air comp for the first time vs gas station. I blow a fuse after about 30lbs but enough to make it to a station. $0.75 cents for air, that's just not right. I got to do this a few times $$$. O.K., enough about that.
The original plan was to cruise through Silver City, maybe head up the hwy to check out the Gila Cliff Dwelling Ruins and make my way back to I-25N. Well, cruising through the switchbacks just isn't quite the same when you are worried about your flattening tire and feeling the poor performance. Thank goodness it was the rear instead of the front.
I get to refill with a new fuse roadside, kinda makes you feel like you're one with nature. Bumped up the fuse from a 5A to a 10A.
Portable compressor question: should you run the bike while running the compressor or?Nice paved road on Scenic Byway hwy 152 from Silver City to Caballo with some nice switchbacks, at least for those with air'd up tires.
Nice view at Caballo.
Still refilling at each possible stop, I decide to stop off in San Antonio, NM to eat at the other infamous place for a green chili cheese burger, The Owl Cafe. Some of you may recall last October I believe I had made a run out to the Ruidoso Rally and stopped off to eat at The Buckhorn Cafe, ranked as #7 in the nation. Not sure of The Owls rank but it was good and I did like the Owls fries better...
FYI - Air was $1.00 in San Antonio...
I stopped in Belen for gas and more air of course, FREE AIR at the Philips station. The only problem, it actually let out more air than it inflated. So standing right next to the Free Air compressor, I have to whip out my portable and fill her back up. It was then I noticed that it seemed to be the valve stem leaking. This is at least the second time this has happened due to a stem failure.
I had strongly been considering filling her up with some Slime to possibly seal any leaks but really did not want to crap up the inside. Let see;
crap up the inside or risk being stranded... hmmmm.After a few choice words and I get back on I-25 northbound. Suddenly, RumbleBee (of OK VRCC) pops in my head. If memory serves me, that he, with all his ingenuity and roadside craftiness, wedged a piece of wood between the stem and that mighty plastic stem holder. I ponder this awhile while flying along I-25 and then pull over roadside on I-25. I locate a popsicle stick, break it down to a workable size and wedge her in. The rest was history. I pull into my driveway about 6pm, pop a couple Advil, take shower, grab some chow and relax.
Another great run, this time with a just a little twist or two. Just over 2,100 miles round trip!
