A Sudden November Ride

[DarkSideR]

In all my life living in Colorado if you had ever asked me to hop on my bike and ride 2,200 miles in November I would have laughed my head off. But, today I took off to do just that!

I travel for my job and had worked lined up in Phoenix Thursday & Friday (Nov. 10th & 11th), and San Diego the following week (Nov. 16th & 17th). I had my flights, car rentals, and hotels all booked when..

..while at lunch today I got a text from my customer in Phoenix with an invite to the Rocky Point Rally in Penasco, Mexico! That was the game changer. Within 2 hours I had cancelled my flights, and car reservations. I had the bike packed, and was heading south.

I got a late start heading out of town at 3:30. I rode 215 miles in just under 3 hours making it from Pueblo, CO. to Las Vegas, NM. With Daylight savings in affect the afternoon sun, along with nice temps left me quickly. Mars loomed just over I-25 so I used it as my guide as I headed south. I did 1 hour in the dark in 40 degree temps.

On a side note; tonight I put the new DayMaker Headlight to the test. I have the 7", and 4.5" spots. Running 75-80mph down the interstate in the dark was.. a joy! Oh My Gosh - I could see forever! The 7" DayMaker lit up the road way, way ahead of me giving me confidence to keep my speed up. The 4.5" spots light up the sides of the road allowing me to keep my eye out of wildlife (which I saw only a fox). I am so happy with the upgrade.

I have a 540 mile day tomorrow. I'm going to bundle up and get an early start. The belly tank is welcome on the long hauls but not so much when it's cold. I suspect a couple of extra coffee/pee stops in the a.m. but will stretch my 260 mile range (running 75-80mph) in the afternoon.

This is going to be quite an adventure taking a long trip this late in the year. I'm looking forward to riding in Mexico, the warmth of Southern Cali. and am crossing my fingers hoping that the weather holds up so I can make it back home in 2 weeks. But then again it wouldn't be such a bad thing if terrible winter storms attacked Colorado forcing me to extend my meanderings in the warmer parts of the country.

I will post some updates as I meander. Think I will look up Sandy in Mesa.

[gordonv]

  Good for you.

Do you have a heated jacket even? I found my rain jacket acting as a wind breaker keeps me warm enough. My wife uses the Gerbing.

[DarkSideR]

Today I am thankful for my Break-Away Throttle Lock. My day started in Las Vegas, NM with frost on my seat. The thermometer on my bike read 28 degrees. The nylon covers for my gloves made gripping the throttle difficult. My right hand started cramping up pretty early in the day, but then I remembered my wonderful throttle lock.

540 miles was on my plate today. It started cold and ended up hot! As I dropped down from Flagstaff to Phoenix the temperature went up to 82. Many layers were shed before I completed the final 60 miles of my day. I rode from 7:30a.m. to 4:15p.m. and my longest stint was 190 miles. It was a great ride today as I had the wind at my back most of the day. Unfortunately the wind didn't help the mpg's (only averaged 31) whereas I did 80-85mph all day.

I will work tomorrow (Thurs.), and after work Friday I will start the next adventure. Heading down to Puerta Penasco Mexico for the rally will be interesting. I have taken cars across the border but not a motorcycle. I will sign back on in Mexico.

[Valkorado]

Today I am thankful for my Break-Away Throttle Lock. My day started in Las Vegas, NM with frost on my seat. The thermometer on my bike read 28 degrees. The nylon covers for my gloves made gripping the throttle difficult. My right hand started cramping up pretty early in the day, but then I remembered my wonderful throttle lock.

540 miles was on my plate today. It started cold and ended up hot! As I dropped down from Flagstaff to Phoenix the temperature went up to 82. Many layers were shed before I completed the final 60 miles of my day. I rode from 7:30a.m. to 4:15p.m. and my longest stint was 190 miles. It was a great ride today as I had the wind at my back most of the day. Unfortunately the wind didn't help the mpg's (only averaged 31) whereas I did 80-85mph all day.

I will work tomorrow (Thurs.), and after work Friday I will start the next adventure. Heading down to Puerta Penasco Mexico for the rally will be interesting. I have taken cars across the border but not a motorcycle. I will sign back on in Mexico.

Sounds fun Josh.  Viaje seguros mi amigo.

[DarkSideR]

Good for you.

Do you have a heated jacket even? I found my rain jacket acting as a wind breaker keeps me warm enough. My wife uses the Gerbing.

I have not invested in any heated gear.  The gear I currently have allows me to comfortably ride in 40 - 50 degree temps, which is good enough for me.

[cookiedough]

hardest part I have keeping warm driving in 40-42 degree temps is my knees get cold, and hands of course even with gloves on.  I suspect baker air wings would cure the cold knee issue?

Enjoy the warmth while you can down there.  I sure hope though you come home to no snow and unable to make it home safely since old man winter has to come eventually right??   Just heard on the news after a very warm November so far,  that the first spit of snow might just come next Friday night one week away only?   

[DarkSideR]

I am alive! That's amazing considering I survived traveling into Mexico 60 miles, and attended the Rocky Point Rally in Puerta Penasco. I don't have the vocabulary to describe that rally, but I can tell you that though it isn't as big, Sturgis can't hold a candle to it.

I left Phoenix at 3:30 on Friday to ride the 230 miles to the rally. I was following my friend in his Raptor who was bound and determined to get there before dark. 90mph was the average, not just on the Interstates, but also on the 2 lane black tops. It did get dark in Mexico, and made for a hairy ride. We however made it! My friend has a condo in a gated area so parking the Valk overnight there gave me peace of mind. Though riding around the area in the early morning was pleasant, things quickly changed each day for the rally.

Saturday morning I showed up on the main drag around 10am to get some breakfast. There were a few bikes around, and I was able to park right in front of the restaurant. By the time I finished breakfast the bikes were parked 2 deep. I was staying there whether I liked it or not. The next 14 hours were a blur of insanity. Around midnight I went to check on my bike to find that there was a small opening to get out of my parking spot. But this meant running the gauntlet down the main drag where people were doing burnouts, wheelies, etc down a 3' wide path with thousands of people on each side. I said a quick prayer and went for it. Surprisingly it was actually kinda fun. People love the Valk, commented on "The Motor", loved to hear her rev, and I escaped unscathed.

I awoke Sunday morning early to get ahead of the thousands of bikes that would be crossing the border that day. I was at the border around 8am and it took me 10 minutes to cross. My friend in the Raptor was an hour and a half behind me and it took him over an hour to cross.

I canon balled I-8 west to Hwy 111, went north towards the Salton Sea, then west again on Hwy 78. When my Grandmother was alive she lived up in Julian. Back in the day when I visited her I would rent a bike and tear around on the amazing roads up there. Ever since it has been a dream of mine to ride the Valk on those roads. I passed every HD, cruiser, and sports bike on that stretch of tight twisty canyon roads. The mighty Valkyrie, man oh man what a machine.

I'm here in San Diego and get two days to recuperate before I work with my customer here.

This adventure just keeps getting better and better. A good friend of mine contacted me last night and let me know he is in Vegas until Saturday. I am now taking a detour on my way home to hang a night with him in Vegas before heading home.

Home. Home used to beckon me while on the road. Now the road beckons me more and more, and home less and less. Sigh...

[Tailgate Tommy]

Sounds like great fun! 

[Bighead]

2200 miles in one day WOW
Just pokin fun

[DarkSideR]

All good things come to an end. Vegas fell through so I started back home today. I left San Diego at 7am in 50 degree temps, rode 655 miles to Gallup, NM. and ended my ride in 30 degree temps.

Looking at tomorrow's temps along my route, and.. well.. It's going to be a cold day. I will have to start in 20 degrees, and will end in 54 degrees with that being the high. Brrr is all I can think, but this was the risk I took when I left for a ride in November.

Man was it a good ride today. This morning I stayed off the super slabs and found some great roads and canyons to carve. Phoenix came and went surprisingly quick, but New Mexico couldn't have come soon enough. I must have been in the spirit world because I went past 3 different sets of cops usually doing 10+ and not a neigh in my direction.

Today I am thankful for my belky tank. 655 miles and I only filled up 3 times. Talk about freedom to move about!

I have my eyes set on home tomorrow. I haven't been there for 2 weeks. I can only imagine what awaits me there.

[DarkSideR]

My adventure is over. I rode the final 470 miles home today. It was a cold day, but I greatly enjoyed the final leg of my journey.

After being gone for two weeks it's going to take some getting use to the home life, and working in the office.

Is it wrong that I'm already trying to figure how to get away on my next adventure?

[gordonv]

Thanks for your posts, and glad you made it home safe.

Any pictures to follow up with? Kind of thinking of your time in Mexico at the Rally.

[DarkSideR]

I do have a couple of pictures to share.
My bike (AC) at the Sea of Cortez

I mention in one of my posts that I had breakfast on the main drag. Within 45 minutes it went from just a couple of bikes to thousands. This is a picture from breakfast.

And here is AC at the Pacific Ocean in California.