I think I'll ride...

[Valkpilot]

...to California for Thanksgiving.

My son is stationed at Twentynine Palms through the end of the year and is staying there for the Holiday.   

Gonna take two days each on the outbound and return legs.  Still debating northern (I-40) vs southern (I-10) route.  Only 100 mile difference between the two, but the northern looks to be about 10° F cooler.

Decisions, decisions, and to top it off, now I've got to go convert from solo setup and put the fairing and trunk on.  It just never ends. 

[Disco]

Those are some really serious problems, Valkpilot, but I'm sure you'll work them out. 

Ride safely, have fun, and thank your son for us.   

[flamingobabe #44]

aren't you glad you got choices!!!!!!

[Gear Jammer]

I'm planning on going out to Oceanside (Camp Pendleton's home) during Xmas thru New Years to see my son.  I'm thinking temperature won't be a big problem, but I'm leaning toward the southern I-10 route.       Last time I took I-40 route in December, it snowed and some stretches of the road got ice patches       .  Make sure you get back and let us know how the trip went.   

[Baron]

Have a safe trip!

[Valkpilot]

I'm planning on going out to Oceanside (Camp Pendleton's home) during Xmas thru New Years to see my son.  I'm thinking temperature won't be a big problem, but I'm leaning toward the southern I-10 route.       Last time I took I-40 route in December, it snowed and some stretches of the road got ice patches       .  Make sure you get back and let us know how the trip went.   

Well, it looks like I'm taking the southern route too.  Possibility of snow on the return trip, and outbound, I'd prefer the warmer temps.  If I'm doing 600 - 700 miles a day, I don't need anything sapping my endurance and even 50° at 70 MPH for hours at a time can be pretty chilly.

[Valkpilot]

aren't you glad you got choices!!!!!!

Well, I've sure got better choices here in Texas.  When I was in northern Indiana my choices this time of year were ride in the cold and wet, or don't ride!

[Valkpilot]

Trip conversion complete:

Town


& Country

[Baron]

Looks great!

[Valkpilot]

So the first 680 or so miles is behind me, but not without incident.

Pulled out yesterday am around 6:30.  Noticed a few wisps of fog in the neighborhood.  No biggie, says I.  Huh.  A mile later I was socked in so bad I couldn't see lane lines and had cages up my nether regions trying to force me to go faster.  It wasn't just fog, either; it was gravity-defying rain hanging suspended in the air.  I targeted getting out of the metro-mess before traffic got really bad and stopped about 10 miles west of 820 on 20 to warm up and let the fog burn off some.

The day turned beautiful.  Mid to high 70's and sunny.  Smooth sailing, right?  Uh, no.  I rode against a substantial headwind all the way to I-10.  Of course gas mileage suffered.  Second fill up, I was getting 25 MPG.  I'm thinking, I've seen this before, 70-80 MPH against a headwind.  No big deal.  

But...

It kept dropping.  25 MPG, 20 MPG, and finally less than 17 MPG.  I went to reserve at 68 miles on that one and actually sputtered into a lonely gas station 4 miles outside of Kent, TX.  Started thinking about vacuum leaks causing loss of mileage and began poking around.  Sure enough, the hose on the number 4 cylinder had split right at the end of the intake nipple.  Cut it off and made it work.  Rode 40 miles and stopped again.  Two gallons = 20 MPG.  Better, but not great (still a headwind or front quartering wind.)  Checked some more and the number six line wasn't split, but was gummy, so I cut it off and reconnected it.  Things are better, but now I had a slight hesitation at throttle twist and some sputtering on acceleration.  This eventually cleared up, so I'm guessing I had a wet plug on number 4 that dried out.

Anyhoo...after stopping every 50 miles from there to El Paso, I finally established that my mileage was back in normal ranges.  I made the 70+ miles from El Paso to Las Cruces, NM without going to reserve, so I think I'm good for now.  

Too bad I won't be able to attend the wrench party on Dec 5.  Clearly I need to change out the lines.  Maybe I'll bite the bullet and do it at my son's before the return trip.

On the up side, if that bastard wind is still around on the return, I might literally sail home!

[flamingobabe #44]

"On the up side, if that bastard wind is still around on the return, I might literally sail home!"

Bet the gas mileage go'es up...a good tail wind usually helps
Have a GREAT trip...enjoy your son...fb

[Wanderer]

Sure thought you were going towards a faulty petcock cover set. Have you tried sitting side saddle in a head wind? Me either, but it might just help. Enjoy the trip. Thanks for checking in. ~Jeff

[Mr.BubblesVRCCDS0008]

Once while riding I-10

going to San Antonio running 80mph into strong headwing on my tourer I ran out of gas. I forgot to switch back off reserve at an earlier fuel up, we coasted to the side of the road at 135 miles on a full tank. I was only getting about 23 mpg. I'm sure glad my I/S has a fuel guage on it.

[Valkpilot]

Have you tried sitting side saddle in a head wind?

Only when I'm courting and need to appear more lady-like.

[Valkpilot]

Another day, another 700 miles.

It was 32° in Las Cruces yesterday morning when I got up.  I decided to slack off until full sun up to pull out.

I'm thinking I got a tank of bad gas just before the 17 MPG episode in addition to the split vac line.  The station I stopped at in Wickett, TX was out of both Premium and mid-grade, and probably running low on regular, which is what I ended up with.  Anyway, in the morning, the engine was loping a little at idle, but hitting on all six based on the old hand-over-the-exhaust trick on the 6 x 6 pipes.  Dumped a bottle of STP gas treatment in to work on any residual water, and the bike ran great all day.  A working bike = a relaxing ride!

The day was beautiful.  I love the southwest and I love cranking out miles, so this was nearly perfect.  Last 126 miles was cooolllllld. 

One minor inconvenience:  I used my credit card so many times buying gas after short legs, that the company put a security hold on it and I had to call and confirm that yes, it was me, and yes, I had the card in my possession.  I don't mind that though.  Beats identity theft all to pieces.

After the last fill-up in Blythe, CA, the GPS routed me around the east and north side of Joshua Tree National Park.  Ninety miles from nowhere in all directions. Where "The Hills Have Eyes" was filmed.  In the dark.   Avoided the zombies and hit reserve just outside of Twentynine Palms.  Whew!


All in all, an almost perfect day on the bike!

[Valkpilot]

Bet the gas mileage go'es up...a good tail wind usually helps
Have a GREAT trip...enjoy your son...fb

Thanks.  So far, so good...

[godfire]

Sounds like a great trip....even with the vacuum line problems.....Next time I see you, remind me to tell you about my Sportster issue in Beavers Bend....
Happy Thanksgiving!

[Wanderer]

I am really enjoying these installments. Keep 'em coming even if you have to pull the Valk up to the dinner table tomorrow, David.

Any photos? ~Jeff

[Valkpilot]

... my Sportster issue in Beavers Bend....

Should I be afraid?

[Valkpilot]

I am really enjoying these installments. Keep 'em coming even if you have to pull the Valk up to the dinner table tomorrow, David.

Any photos? ~Jeff

No photos yet.  I always think of them after.

[Valkpilot]

Any photos? ~Jeff

Here's one:


Not bad for a couple of temporary bachelors, I think.  

All the major Thanksgiving food groups are represented: turkey, gravy, green bean casserole, sweet 'taters, stuffing, and claw-hammer mashed 'taters.  

That's right, claw-hammer mashed potatoes.  We were shy a few necessary utensils. We also had to do without fancy serving dishes, as you can see.  

But it ate good, just the same.

Oh yeah, and PIE.

[Valkpilot]

So, I leave Jordan's apartment to go take this picture and decide to stop at a store on the way.  Just as I'm turning into the parking lot, the bike begins to sputter, then dies.  It'll restart, but not run.

"Now, what? More bad gas?"  I go in and do my shopping and on the way back to the bike, the lightning strikes and I figure out what's wrong.

Y'all have made me so paranoid about the petcock that on Wednesday I shut it for for the first time in like, never.  I had run the carbs dry.

A counter-clockwise twist of the knob and slap on the forehead later, I was off and away.

[Houdini]

I've stood in front of that sign back in the eighties.  My brother, the Marine, was stationed in Japan.  He was a hard-core rock and roll fan...  He flew all the way from Japan to Twentynine Palms so he could see Blue Oyster Cult in Riverside Calif.  I dropped him back at Twentynine Palms after the show to catch the next freighter back to Japan. 

My bike of choice at that time was a KLX 250.

[motorose]

great posts! i know what that west tx wind can do. and there is basically 2 temps, hot or cold. glad that you rode out there

[Valkpilot]

I've stood in front of that sign back in the eighties.  My brother, the Marine, was stationed in Japan.  He was a hard-core rock and roll fan...  He flew all the way from Japan to Twentynine Palms so he could see Blue Oyster Cult in Riverside Calif.  I dropped him back at Twentynine Palms after the show to catch the next freighter back to Japan. 

My bike of choice at that time was a KLX 250.

Hard core, indeed, to ride in the back of a military freight transport all the way to and from Japan.

[Valkpilot]

great posts! i know what that west tx wind can do. and there is basically 2 temps, hot or cold. glad that you rode out there

Thanks.

More follow...

[Valkpilot]

Back in Las Cruces.  Mostly uneventful ride today.  No major faux pas by either me or the bike.  So...a small photo essay:


Twentynine Palms is in the high desert.  It only rains about 11 inches a year there.  Guess what greeted me about 20 miles outside of town?


Ah.  That's better.



Everything's bigger in Texas, especially when it's in Arizona.  These next two are Texas Canyon, outside of Benson, AZ.




That's it.  I'm beat.  Last leg tomorrow.

[Wanderer]

The applause meet her is going off big time, Dave. Keep 'em coming. I wish we had arranged a rendezvous in Strawn at Mary's on your way in. You did stop at Mary's or did the smell of the barn carry you home??? ~Jeff

[Gear Jammer]

Great pics with a nice travel log.      Post more pics when you can.  Which route did you decide to take out there?  Inquiring mind wants to know. 

[Valkpilot]

Home.  Meatball sandwich in hand, kitty laying across my now warm legs.

When I pulled into Las Cruces Saturday night, the streets were wet.  It began to rain again as I checked in at the hotel, and the temp began to fall.  

No rain on Sunday morning, but cold enough to see my breath.  It was the start of a long, cold day.  Somehow I managed to follow the cold front all the way from New Mexico to Dallas.  Sheesh.  I kept thinking I would ride through it.  After miles and miles of "when will it get warmer?", I finally hauled out the rain gear and pulled it on over the already-multiple layers I was wearing, just to try and get a little more windproof.  

The biggest problem was my hands.  I have yet to find gloves (not counting electric) that will keep my hands warm.  If it weren't for the fact that I keep chemical hand warmers in one of the saddlebags, I don't think I could have made it all the way today.  Stuffed two in each glove, one in the palm, one on the back of the hand, and I got to keep all my digits instead of them breaking off like icicles.

And the wind: Last Monday it was out of the south southwest, fighting me the whole length of I-20 and putting MPG in the low to mid 20s. (Worse with the vac leak.)  Today, it was out of the northwest, providing either a headwind or front quartering wind.  The problem with a quartering or cross wind is that you don't build up a nice warm envelope of air behind the fairing and Bakers.  Phooey.  Had to stop for gas every 100 miles from I-10 to Abilene, to boot.

The wind made me feel like a kid again, when I had to walk to school through snow up to my chest, in the summer heat, uphill both ways.

THEN...traffic comes to a dead stop near Ranger, TX.  Spent a minimum of an hour standing still for 10 minutes, then inching forward two car lengths.  The back up was miles long.  I thought it was a major accident.  I was also idling away my precious gas and I don't know the territory well enough to know where is the next gas station.  I finally hit the shoulder and motored up to the head of the line, pissing off more than a couple of folks including a trucker who let loose with his air horns as I merged back in.  (Actually, I'd have hated me too.  Cheaters piss me off, but I've given myself amnesty on this one.)  It turned out to be a construction delay with everything funneling to one lane for three miles.

Bottom line: Due to the short legs between gas stops, extra time to re-don the cold weather gear each time, and the construction delay, I added about 3 extra hours to the day.

Today notwithstanding, it's been a great trip.

[Valkpilot]

The applause meet her is going off big time, Dave. Keep 'em coming. I wish we had arranged a rendezvous in Strawn at Mary's on your way in. You did stop at Mary's or did the smell of the barn carry you home??? ~Jeff

Jeff, I don't know Mary's, but you're right, I was homeward bound. 

Funny thing is that I lose my appetite on long rides.  All four days, I would eat a little breakfast, then just a couple of handfuls of trail mix and some beef jerky until settled in at night.  During the ride itself, I only stopped for gas and nature.

Would have been cool to meet up, but I'd have missed the "date" due to complications of the day.

[Valkpilot]

Great pics with a nice travel log.      Post more pics when you can.  Which route did you decide to take out there?  Inquiring mind wants to know. 

I'll see if any of the few remaining pictures are worth posting.  Pickin's are slim, because I never seem to have the camera at hand when I need it.

I took the southern route.  Beautiful except for today.  When you go in December, prepare for cold, if not worse.  The other day crossing New Mexico, I couldn't figure out why it wasn't warmer.   Then I passed a sign denoting the Continental Divide, almost a mile above sea level.  Nearly as high as Denver, CO.

[Valkpilot]

Last of the pics:


Camera did pretty good on this one at 70 MPH


Two more of Texas Canyon

[GW in Little Rock]

Hi Dave

Glad you had a good ride out west to see your son. Boy it's been a really wild ride since Nacgodoches. Been so busy I haven't been on the board much in the last month. The Dragon has been setting in the hanger for the last month, need to start it and run it just to charge the  battery. Since it has cooled down up here I've been flying a lot.  Flew up to Horseshoe Bend yesterday for lunch. Nice little retirement community; turned base over a golf course . I was really scouting the Marshall to Shirley area for the old M & A RR tram. It follows the Little Red River and has tall bluffs  several hundred feet tall along side the river. This spring I plan on riding the KLR into this wilderness and finding the old benchmarks for this abandon Tram. Been working on the KLR trying to rig it out for off road riding and camping. This is new to me and I'm excited about it. May ride  it down to Big Ben in March. Have a buddy here that wants to ride the Trans Am trail to Oregon this summer and that would be a good test for that ride.  You sure need that belly tank for you bike. You said that you didn't see how I made it back to Little Roch so fast from Nacgodoches.: the reason is that I can stay in the saddle for 250 miles without stopping. And if I hold it down to 70 I can  go 300 miles. I rode  from North Little Rock to Edom without stopping for fuel and seems like that was 285 miles. On the way back I got behind a couple GT Mustangs and stuck with them from Texarkana to Benton and we were flying low. Give me a shout if you get up here close and we'll either ride or fly .

[Valkpilot]

Hi Dave

Glad you had a good ride out west to see your son. Boy it's been a really wild ride since Nacgodoches. Been so busy I haven't been on the board much in the last month. The Dragon has been setting in the hanger for the last month, need to start it and run it just to charge the  battery. Since it has cooled down up here I've been flying a lot.  Flew up to Horseshoe Bend yesterday for lunch. Nice little retirement community; turned base over a golf course . I was really scouting the Marshall to Shirley area for the old M & A RR tram. It follows the Little Red River and has tall bluffs  several hundred feet tall along side the river. This spring I plan on riding the KLR into this wilderness and finding the old benchmarks for this abandon Tram. Been working on the KLR trying to rig it out for off road riding and camping. This is new to me and I'm excited about it. May ride  it down to Big Ben in March. Have a buddy here that wants to ride the Trans Am trail to Oregon this summer and that would be a good test for that ride.  You sure need that belly tank for you bike. You said that you didn't see how I made it back to Little Roch so fast from Nacgodoches.: the reason is that I can stay in the saddle for 250 miles without stopping. And if I hold it down to 70 I can  go 300 miles. I rode  from North Little Rock to Edom without stopping for fuel and seems like that was 285 miles. On the way back I got behind a couple GT Mustangs and stuck with them from Texarkana to Benton and we were flying low. Give me a shout if you get up here close and we'll either ride or fly .

Gary,

You get around flying high and low, huh?

Check with Wanderer about the on/off road stuff you're planning.  He's a big fan of motorcycle camping.

Talimena Parkway is calling me, so I'll make it up your way one of these days.  I'll give you a heads up when I do.