Yo, G-Man and the Queen had a blast!

[G-Man]

But Man, IT WAS HOT. 

Always fun riding the slabs with OSS.  The ride to La Crosse started out early Sunday morning and we ended in Ill. 700 sumthin miles later.  Next morning rode to O'Hare to meet Bonnie and Cheryl and then it was 2-up to La Crosse. 

We had a great time on Hubcaps ride on Tues and the Charity ride on Wed.  The poker run was a lot of fun, especially when we got to act like 6 year olds in the toy store.  Bonnie's gotta post the pics! 

Once again it was great meeting up with old friends and putting names to faces of new friends.  98T, happy B'day once again!  Punisher, the Queen says you're a gentle giant and she knows who she's leaving me for if I get outta line  .  Robin and Judy it's always a pleasure and really nice riding with you on Hubcap's ride.  Hubcap, thank you again for a very nice ride.  Thanks to all who snapped into action when the side of the road moved out from under my foot and Cher rolled down the hill and the bike was leaning a little more that it should have been.  Everyone's kindness and concern was greatly appreciated and heartfelt.  Thanks to the staff for all the hard work.

Then, it was back to NY in the reverse.  The trip to O'Hare started out warm and went to hot in about 8 minutes.  The heat and the blasts of wind from no particular direction was beating me up.  At one point, after maybe 2 hours of it, I just had to pull off and an exit in the middle of no where.  I was getting disoriented and  just needed my feet on the ground.  The others said I had a funny look on my face (no, not a funny looking face!).  Had a bottle of water and in a few minutes we were on the bikes again.  The week of heat was taking its toll and my body was shutting down, but we stopped a lot and drank a lot.  THEN, the last leg into O'Hare just said F__K YOU to my body and mind.  After dropping off the girls and sitting in Friday afternoon southbound traffic for a while I'd had enough and pulled off at the very first rest stop and nearly passed out.  I drank water and just crashed in the a/c.  I know OSS, wanted to push on, but I needed to rest.  I mean, I was inhaling and exhaling hot air and my arms were on fire even though I applied sun block on at every stop.  It took a half hour for my breathing to return to normal and I was cool enough to think straight so we headed out for more punishment.  We stopped when we needed to hydrate and rest, but it wasn't getting any better, until our last leg for the day.  Then it got a bit cooler as the sun was now behind us and it was getting later on in the day.  The next day was MUCH better.  We followed the rain for about 400 miles.  Every road we were on was wet, but we never got rained on.  The temps were more comfortable and we made it home by dinner time. 

All in all, we put 2,700 miles on the Valkyrie and she performed flawlessly.  It was a great week and we're looking forward to the next one! I vote for February!!!   

[sandy]

Some advice from an AZ resident. Get a 100 OZ Camelback and carry water on your back. Drink every 10-15 miles so you don't run out of hydration. Once you get the headache and dizzy feeling, it's pretty hard to recover. Usually waitresses fill it for you.

[Oss]

Gary I sure was worried when we stopped on 39 just a few miles north of 88
as you did look a little off and I thought you were gonna drop the bike any second.

Figured the lunch break would revive you as it was over an hour we were there at the buffet.

I truly did not realize that you were that close to passing out after OHare when
we pulled into the Oasis rest stop (funny names they choose in Illinois for rest stops)  I know I always want to keep moving and next time I will ask you how you are doing when you drop back.  But I heard you when you said that may be the last HOT LONG ride for you my friend. They are not for everyone.  

Wearing that heavy hit-air jacket was a burden but it also was a layer against the wind and the sun
causing me to sweat but not to overheat as long as we were moving. After that post O'Hare rest stop it came off for the day and I just used the evaporative vest which had been under it the whole day
Wish I could have gotten you to wear long sleeves at least that day or Bonnies joe rocket jacket. She and Cheryl was fried also as she went without long sleeves or a jacket

Saturday we learned again that if you dont want it to rain on you let me wear the frogg toggs cause the whole way well into PA it didnt rain a drop on us till after I took those damn things off  lol

The toy store was terrific, got Daniel the squirrel, tried on lotsa stuff, posed for pics ( I dont look vikingish) and it broke the tension of the heat of the day until we went back outside to bake some more



The last hour or so of the ride was faster, especially once we hit Jersey I dont think we were under
80 except for when I saw the police hiding. That was a lot of fun tearing up 287's sweepers and weaving thru the traffic.  Hey I never went ahead and failed to wait for you till we were on the TZ bridge.

I would ride with you again anytime you are ready Gary, hope you recover quickly

Bonnie and I rode tonight up to Yorktown Heights, just because it was nice out.

[hubcapsc]

Dang, that was a scary heat story...

I was on the get a new bottle of water at every 100 mile gas stop schedule... I
don't usually wear bandanas, but I tied one around my neck and soaked it
at every gas stop, too... really helps...

I ran into wet roads but no rain at the end, too... almost as good as Mike Terry's
fan!

-Mike

[G-Man]

Thank goodness I was recovered by dinner that night.  Great steaks again!  The next day was terrific.  In the low 80's most of the day and we only hit a 1/4 mile of sprinkles.

OH, and how cool was meeting up with Big D and Little D for that 1/4 mile.  Out of 1100sumthin miles, we meet up for a 1/4 mile and then split up again.