Home Friday after incredibly high crosswinds

[MarkT]

Left Taos around 10:15 headed North across the San Luis Valley. Turned E on 160 thru Walsenburg & continued E on Hwy 10 on the high plains. Pulling the tagalong trailer which was more heavily loaded than usual with a lot of tools (including a lift, impact driver, DeWalt tools) and spare parts in case someone including us might need rescue. June on the back so the 444's sometimes bottomed.

Turned N on 71 after detouring the bridge out S of Ordway where we stopped for a break and ice cream.  Had my eye on the XM weather radar as Myradar not working sans cell towers.  Forecast was for thunderstorms starting 3-ish on the high plains. Could see an occluded front close ahead on radar and eyeballs.  

Pushing against a strong headwind such that at 75 actual the speed was drawn down climbing hills and I had almost no acceleration left to pass trucks.  Passed a PT Cruiser who was poking along at 65 when he decided to be my shadow.  Apparently we became his preferred cruise control.  Hate that.  I deliberately stay away from traffic; what if I have an emergency stop and she's texting?

Wind switched to crosswinds from the left.  Obviously a gust front associated with the occluded front. Driving rain with it.  OK I was expecting and prepared for it.  Crosswind picked up to over 30.  Feet off the highway pegs and sitting upright for max control.  

Wind picked up some more.  This is open plains, nothing to slow the wind.  Tumbleweeds  moving across the road at perhaps 50mph. Can't stop; no place to get away from the road so cars and trucks passing would be dangerous; this wind would blow the bike over w/o momentum to countersteer to keep it upright - Picking it up is not an option with the bags loaded with tools and computer.

This is the highest crosswind I've ever dealt with. Worse than the incident in Alberta in 2010 which blew my friend and his wife on a 2001 wing with trailer off the road.  Worse than the incident in 2003 on my wing on Hwy 80 in Nebraska when we stopped at a truck stop and waited over an hour for it to subside.  Concerned about the occasional oncoming traffic getting blown at us, or a semi blown over on us.  Fortunately traffic is light and all the trucks headed S are hauling heavy equipment and the like - no box trailers that might be empty.  Crosswind is over 50 and gusting higher.  This gust front is unusually persistant, it's been around 10 minutes now.  With rain but at least it isn't heavy.  I expected rain to increase and the wind to subside.  Now I've slowed the bike to around 30 to reduce the impact from the impending crash while maintaining steerage.  The PT Cruiser stays behind us maybe to watch the show (that's a big attraction at Daytona; let's go watch the crashes) or maybe he's entertained or will help if we go down or he's concerned enough not to pass. Whatever - I'm too busy to watch the mirrors.

XM radar indicates we are on the edge of the front.  Only a little more...

After about 12 minutes of this the crosswind changes back to headwind with no sideways component.  The rain also quits.  WHEW!  And I was wearing a board shirt; hadn't donned the rain gear and didn't notice much as I was too busy.  Hard to believe the wifey actually congratulated me on a good job (kudos are rare); said later if she was riding her Magna she would have been in the ditch!  OK I have much more experience and the Valk is probably a better crosswind ride.  Also if I was leading her I would have slowed down to a good steerage speed like 35 right away.

The PT Cruiser remained behind us another 40 miles until he turned in for gas in Limon.  Turned W to Hwy 86 and radar says another shower ahead but it will be short.  This time I stopped before we hit it and suited up.  Only 3 minutes in the rain.  Stopped at Bernie's Kitchen in Elizabeth for dinner and to unwind only 5 miles from home.  WHEW what a ride!  Only 344 miles from Taos and this is the long way.

[cookiedough]

wow, glad you made it home, good job leaning the bike heavy into the wind.  I had that once over 30 mph winds gusting higher and it took all I had to lean over into the heading wind to compensate for the bike tipping over doing only about 45 mph top speed I could do at the time.  I know what you mean about NO power even though I could have sped up,  it was too dangerous to consider going much faster.  What sucks for me was when there was a blockage of wind coming at me sort of sideways say a taller hill in the field, the wind would drop easily 20 mph or more and leaning into the wind became dangerous throwing me off balance very quickly.     This was only a short 20 mile drive close to home, cannot imagine enduring it for 100's of miles in the boonies having to keep your attention span on HIGH alert that long.

[Valkorado]

Sounds intense.  That Maria sure can be a heartless witch,  especially with rain tossed in the mix.   Glad you kept 'er between the ditches!

[old2soon]

         Ross-A K A da prez-was South and West on your route going to Taos. Some of it anywho. I've been on those roads in a big truck. Nuttin and I Mean NUTTIN out dere.   Glad you handled the situation presented to you even IF it weren't the situation You desired. Good on ya Mark.   RIDE SAFE.

[Oss]

Colorado in fact the whole sw can boast bodacious winds

Some of my scariest pucker moments were in colorado before and after Limon and also trying to get to Colorado Springs (think it was 285)  after we went over Monarch Pass on 50

Bearinthehouse's Interstate pulling a trailer 2 up he was struggling as was I just with Bonnie as passenger

Both our hands were numb by the time the wind finally passed by us

Slowing down is a smart move, with the trailer the ability to lean into the wave (wind is a wave) goes down

Well Done Mark !

Did you get pie this year?

[MarkT]

Yep.  We won the blueberry pie.  We had a good strategy and it worked.  Got it for $140.  Interesting story but best to not post it here.

[_Sheffjs_]

Reading this sure had me on edge, glad no issues changed the ending!   

[hubcapsc]

Everything is big out there... several days I rode in the most
intense kinds of lean-into-it blustery winds I've ever rode in...

-Mike "no rain"

[Bigwolf]

Mark,
I am glad you made it home safe.  Well done!