Webcam shot in Bob Evans in Springfield, OH

People are in a hurry!  It’s Friday before July 4th weekend, and apparently alot of people have taken to the road like I have.  Anyway, I was heading north on US-68 earlier from Yellow Springs, and I hadn’t even passed Young’s Dairy when an SUV pulled out of oncoming traffic to attempt to pass 6 cars… about 600 feet in front of me.  This dipshit female starts honking her horn while driving next to a MACK TRUCK.  Bitch, please.  You think a couple tons of freight is going to get out of the way because you made a mistake in your SUV?  Try again.  And get the fuck out of my way.  I don’t think I’ve ever flipped off another motorist so liberally.  I think many children were watching in other cars.  Bitch ran me and a few other following vehicles off the road, I don’t give a shit.

“Woo sah.  Peace, harmony, focus.”

That was my next thought, as I wasn’t harmed in any way, no accidents happened, and everyone around me was ok.  I then proceeded to Springfield.  I stopped at Competition Accessories since they were on the way and talked to them about getting floorboards for Flying Horse–he’s a 2008 Honda Shadow Aero VT750C; my trusty steed.  Anyway, I figured if they had floorboards for my bike I’d get them installed, thinking it would be fate that they happen to have the right floorboard for my bike at that location.  You might be thinking, “who the hell installs a drastic modification to their bike before taking a 14-day trip?”  This guy. /thumbs

Anywho, It’s currently noon and I’m in Springfield at the Eastern edge of what I would consider close enough to abort my trip.  I’m sitting in Bob Evans and having breakfast.  I plan on going East on US-40 from here, and then north or east (however it flows) on US-62, a small road that goes from Columbus through Canton, OH, and onward to Youngstown, OH.

I think I’m going to revise my plan.  I want to cross the border on the 7th, so I’m thinking I’m going to travel along the northern border past Lake Ontario, making the cross in the New England area somewhere.  In the meantime, local travel involving American discovery (for myself) will be what I do leading up to that date.

Well, time to finish Brunch and get on the road, instead of just talking and thinking about it.  See you in Youngstown.

-TJ

Went on another run today, this one I did solo to test my loading strategy for Vegas in two weeks. I think I’ll be prepared to undertake the COS to LAS via Grand Canyon run.

Map of today’s excursion

Some items worth mentioning… the trip between points D and E on the linked map were by far the most challenging and fun part of today’s trip. This was my first real attempt at traversing a gravel road, which motorcycle riders know must be treated with the utmost respect as traction is reduced greatly due to the lack of a firm gripping surface. Things like cornering I ended up taking on 2nd gear if I was going around a blind turn. Surprisingly there were a couple cars coming down the path, but even more surprising I didn’t meet a car in one of the many one-lane sections of the road… I would have hated to back up through a narrow path to let a car through. Also,my new eTrex H apparently tracks GPS signals while in my jacket pocket. Nice.

What I didn’t care for was the first leg of my trip, heading down I-25 towards Colorado City. It seems that once I passed Academy Blvd at the north end of Ft. Carson there was a particularly strong crosswind all the way down to Colorado City. I felt like I was riding alot faster than I actually was… the wind was pretty strong and blowing against me. I hope that’s not a common feature of the wide-open space south of Colorado Springs, but if so I guess I’ll be able to handle it, since Walsenburg isn’t too far past Colorado City, and the crosswind effect dissipated once I got off the freeway. Maybe if I plot properly I can even avoid the I-25.

Read the rest of the post to see pictures w/ GPS coordinates.

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Here’s the google map of what I plan to do for the 18th. Note that Tsegi Canyon road is unpaved, and I’m ending this day at the south rim of the Grand Canyon.

Folks, this trip is spiraling into all sorts of challenges that I didn’t plan on before. When I first decided to go to Vegas, it was purely just to go and play for a weekend. Today’s excursion with Mr. EP, however, has really opened my mind to the possibilities for adventure for the approach to Las Vegas. I went out and bought an el cheapo GPS receiver and am planning to take pictures at regular points in my trip to post to Google Earth.

One major hurdle for this plan is the packing. I have to pack a tent and sleeping bag, both of which can fit on the back of my bike, but I also have to pack shower gear and 4 nights worth of clothes–5 sets of underwear, socks, and shirts, 2 jeans, and walking shoes… not that much really. I think I can cram that into my gym bag, and my gym bag can be tied down with some bungee to the seat behind me, if it can’t already be tied under the cargo net. On top of this I have to ride down Tsegi Canyon, which looks to be a windy dirt road.

I’m going to practice on Sunday. I’m going to load my bike with what I plan to bring with me to Las Vegas, and I’m going to take it out on a dirt road down the 24, only an hour away from my place through the mountains. There are some dirt roads out there that I would call “easy”, as in they’re mostly straight with very gradual turns. Long, slow braking and easy turning is key from what I can say, as I treat riding over dirt like driving a boat in water, and I don’t want that boat to move sideways, so… really really easy turning.

My only wish is that I had a riding buddy of sorts that would watch my back. I guess I just forge ahead on my own, like always.

Wow, I’m pooped!

We ended up making an oval path, and instead of going to Gunnison, we went down to Salida, then up to almost Buena Vista, at which point we turned towards home. Point C on the map is where we took our mid-ride break, stopping for a drink (water and coffee), fuel, and just a break from the riding position. We went our separate ways once we hit downtown Colorado Springs.

I was personally tempted to embark on another journey, but I was feeling pretty tired on the way towards Woodland Park near the end, so I just went home after grabbing something to eat in town. All in all a fun ride. I was glad as usual that I had a full face helmet, as Mr. EP apparently took a bee to the face while we were in Cañon City. As for myself I have a collection of bug carcasses all over my faceshield, jacket, and pants.

Some notes for the ride to Las Vegas, I think it’s going to be colder as we go into the fall season, so I better see about buying some sweatshirts. I only have my UCLA one and my flight hoodie from basic training, and now that I’m moving to Ohio next year I’ll have to get some more cold weather clothes. Also, Mr. EP recommended a route that involves hitting the Four Corners, Grand Canyon, and Hoover Dam. I’m looking into it now, and am pretty excited about the prospect of riding through the desert and some NA reservations.

Good morning!

Today I’m going to meet up with a friend from work, Mr. EP, in 1 hour and we’re going to ride out to Gunnison, CO. I don’t know what’s out there, but as is the way with motorcycle rides the journey is more of the point of this excursion than the destination. I think it’s alot of parks and mountains in Gunnison, not sure if there’s an actual city, although they do have their own website.

Anyway, I’ll try to practice more riding skills in preparation for the Las Vegas run–i.e., taking breaks regularly, remaining calm and relaxed, etc. This’ll be my first “group” excursion, as all my previous trips I’ve been solo riding. I’ll be back in a couple of hours!