PatrickLY – Lower 48

PatrickLY — Thu, 24 May 2012 21:40:00 +0000

Summer 2012 starts out on the bike visiting friends around the United States. Planning on being back home around the end of June, then we’ll be heading for Scotia Bay (far north end of Vancouver Island near Port Hardy) for a couple months of fishing and kicking back with our friends and family up there.

I’m looking forward to some real road time on the motorcycle again and the opportunity to see some people I haven’t seen in years. My goal is to stay off interstate highways the entire way. I’ll post pictures from the road and write about my exploits along the way. Check back often for updates, there should be something new every day or two after Memorial Day. Speaking of Memorial Day – Please take the time to remember and thank the people who made the sacrifices necessary to keep our country free…..

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Day One

PatrickLY — Mon, 28 May 2012 22:05:00 +0000

Day 1 has begun!

Lenny left right on time this morning, and only had to sacrifice a small amount of blood to make that happen.
(I cut my left index finger with of all things a surform tool – Ugh)
I’m going to try to help him keep up with the blog, so from time to time these posts will be signed by me ;).

Ride safe babe, stay cool, and I’ll see you in VA, soon!

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Day One – End of Day

PatrickLY — Tue, 29 May 2012 20:34:00 +0000

Thank you dear, for my getting out of town blog post and for the wonderful breakfast this morning, my life does not suck! My first day on this ride across the country started nice and cool but that didn’t last for long. Nice ride through Fillmore and then through the Valencia & Canyon Country area. I lived in that area for many years but haven’t been back up that way for a while; it’s hard to recognize with all the growth and other changes. Around Yucca Valley the wind was starting to gust. After I turned off the 247 and onto the 62 it was really bad and all the jerking around was enough for my tent and motorcycle to part company. I didn’t notice but a fellow rider pulled up and told me about where it came off. I went back but these people out here are not likely to leave anything that has any value at all sitting on the side of the road. It was gone, but I’ve already located a replacement and will have it (more securely attached you can be sure) before I leave for Texas on Thursday.

I was happy when I got to Parker because I only had 150 miles to go and I could take my helmet off. I know, I know – you should ride with a helmet. And I think YOU should ride with a helmet whenever YOU ride. I on the other hand will make my own decisions; hell the decision to travel by motorcycle in the first place is pretty dangerous. Okay, off my soap box.

It’s hot out here in the summer time and there’s just no way around it. It wasn’t too bad as long as I was going at least 35 mph but just stopping at a light was not fun. When I pulled into the driveway at my parents house my father met me with an ice cold glass of 1800 (that’s tequila for those of you who didn’t know). Now THAT’S what I call a welcome.

Tomorrow starts a two day golf tournament (just me and my dad) but I’ll tell you more about that later…..

Day Two

PatrickLY — Tue, 29 May 2012 22:01:00 +0000

I told you that today starts a two day golf tournament. That may have been a bit of an exaggeration. It’s really just a two man match play event. Whenever my father and I play golf we play a match. The loser of this match must carry this pink towel with him and display it prominently during all matches. The bearer of the towel must win the match AND add something to the towel before it can be passed on. As you can see, there has been a high level of creativity in the selection of towel additions over the years. Most of these little things have a particular story that relates to that particular match, the manner in which it was won, etc. But I won’t bore you to that level. Our Pink Towel Matches are good fun and this time I am NOT taking that thing back home.

So, this morning – IT’S ON!!!

Prolog: It came down to the last putt on the last hole but I prevailed. Now if I can just defend tomorrow I get to leave the towel here on Thursday. I like my chances but dad did shoot 38 on the back today.

Day Four

PatrickLY — Thu, 31 May 2012 20:11:00 +0000

For those of you interested, the Pink Towel Match was decided on the 17th hole yesterday. I lost three and one. We both had a good front nine but I folded like a cheap suit on the back. On the positive side, dad was so thrilled that he didn’t have the towel – he bought the drinks!! Guess I’ll have to give it another shot in Canada at Seven Hills. It’s a nine hole goat pasture but it’s the only course within a couple hundred miles.

This morning I’m getting ready to pull out & head for Silver City, New Mexico. Think I’ll try out my new tent at their KOA. Of course that’s all subject to change after I get on the road, but you have to have a Plan A and that’s mine. Don’t know what kind of Internet access they will have there but if I can get on, I’ll post again this evening. Until then…..
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Today I started out with a fairly short ride planned but as most of you know, that isn’t what happened. Couple answers for your comments. The Pink Towel is being shipped back to CA in a box with my dirty golf clothes. That thing doesn’t see the light of day until it’s match time. Kentucky – might be on the list, I’ll take a look.

Okay – it was HOT for part of the day – ESPECIALLY through the San Carlos Indian Reservation. WOW, that wasn’t fun – about the time I got to Safford the smoke from one of the Arizona fires was actually defusing (photography term, sorry) the sun quite nicely. I’d say it cut the temp at least 10 degrees. As I got closer and closer to Silver Creek the smoke got worse and worse – to the point that there were no shadows on the ground. I was thinking I might have to press on because Silver Creek would be a smoke out. But the smoke cleared about 10 miles from town – I just wasn’t ready to get off the bike that early. I was a little concerned about fuel while I was traveling along the Mexico border (fuel gauge doesn’t work) but I had plenty. I will tell you though – that is one desolate piece of asphalt. The only people on that road besides me were Border Patrol & Law Enforcement.

So – tonight I’m in a Wyndham hotel here in El Paso, TX. I had Robin call ahead because I was running so late and she got me a suite with a sliding glass door that exits to the parking lot. My bike is parked right outside my door. The best of all possible worlds. I did take some pictures today and will hopefully have time to post them in the morning before I leave. Just look for a pictures tab on the top of the blog and check them out.

Tomorrow I will be staying with a long time (notice I didn’t say OLD Murry) friend in Del Rio. The link for the tracking should still work for you if you’re so inclined.

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Day Five

PatrickLY — Sat, 02 Jun 2012 08:03:00 +0000

Started this morning in El Paso and headed east on 180/62 then south on 54 into Van Horn. After that it was just old Highway 90 to Del Rio. I started early in an effort to beat the heat and get into town early enough to go out to dinner. I had a gas station picked out about half way but it was no longer in business (sounds like Alaska all over again). As soon as I saw that I was going to be close on gas I slowed from 80 to 55. It was a good effort but left me 2 miles short of Van Horn on the side of the road. NOBODY takes the 54 and I could have parked my bike in the middle of the southbound lane for the 35 minutes it took AAA to bring me a gallon of gas and nobody would have gone around it.

I climbed a gate that was near my bike and “shaded up” under a mesquite bush until they got there. Really, just a nice break is all (at least that’s the way I see it). Highway 90 is a nice road that goes through several different types of terrain. I haven’t taken the 54 before but it was easy to look around at 55 mph and it’s a good road too. Both of them are much better than the 180 out of El Paso, providing you have enough gas!!

Murry and I had a nice dinner at a local Mexican food place & if you can’t get authentic Mexican only 3 miles from the border – you aren’t looking very hard. To start with, if the plate isn’t at least as hot as the food, go somewhere else. The margaritas were pretty good, but after having ridden almost 500 miles, it could have been swill & it would have been tasted good to me, long as it had ice in it.

Tomorrow I am shootin for Houston. Actually, it’s just north of there – a little town called Cut And Shoot. It’s pretty humid here in Del Rio, but I’m sure it’s NOTHING compared to what it’s going to be like in Cut And Shoot and throughout the rest of the southern states. I’d really like to camp in Cut And Shoot, but if it’s really humid – I’ll probably get a room.

Okay – I’ve got a couple pictures to post from today so be sure to check that out if you haven’t already. Hope to see you down the road.

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Day Six

PatrickLY — Sun, 03 Jun 2012 21:30:00 +0000

Saturday night in Willis Texas is not one I’ll soon forget. Thank you Rick & Blanca for your hospitality (pictures to follow). Good friends and good times, that’s what it’s all about.

Getting a bit of a late start this morning but I made up for it last night I assure you. Don’t know where I’ll be ending the day but you can always follow me if you’re curious.

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Day Seven

PatrickLY — Mon, 04 Jun 2012 11:32:00 +0000

Del Rio to Willis (yesterday)

When I walked out of the hotel room the warm moist Texas summer took me straight back to my Air Force Basic Training days in San Antonio, and I smiled at that. After a little over 100 miles I stopped for something to eat in Hondo. The lady at the gas station told me to try the Taqueria across from HEB. I had the chiliquiles and they were very good but on the way out I noticed what someone else had and I did the V8 thing, Wow I could have had some Menudo. On the way out of town I noticed the sign & decided to take a picture. I don’t think they would have been too happy about where I parked the bike but I got out of there pretty quick.

The rest of the ride that day was a good one even if the GPS screwed up and sent me on the wrong road TWICE. No big deal it’s all part of the adventure & those were good roads too, just in the wrong direction. It all worked out just fine though and I wasn’t off the bike more than 15 seconds before I had a cold beer in hand and plans were underway for dinner & a trip to the local club to check out the band.

Very good BBQ, and the country rock band was great. Plenty of cold beer & tequila, of course, we closed the place.

Willis to Gulfport (today)

Got a bit of a late start this morning – as you might have expected, but I wouldn’t have had it any other way. Thanks again to Rick & Blanca..

Just a good ride without much to talk about until I was out of Texas. Speed limits on the same type roads in Texas are 70, in Louisiana it’s 55. That’s OK though because the roads are close to awful and anything over 60 is insanity especially on a bike; little bumps everywhere & big bumps and pot holes a plenty. It was taking far to long on the back roads and I’d seen enough of the small towns in LA – at Baton Rouge I got on Interstate 10 and didn’t get off until Gulfport. I know, I said I wasn’t going to ride on the Interstate Freeways but that’s just a goal. I’ll spend some time on the county roads when the roads improve & it’s not so difficult to plan a route (they only build so many bridges over the big water).

I didn’t know about the helmet law in Louisiana but the nice officer was happy to make sure I was informed. There are more pictures under the Pix 2 Tab.

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Day Eight

PatrickLY — Tue, 05 Jun 2012 08:27:00 +0000

I normally put 100 or so miles on the bike before I have anything to eat but the free breakfast at the hotel was tempting enough to check out. The biscuits and gravy weren’t the greatest but they were certainly good enough. I stopped off in Biloxi at Keesler AFB and got off a couple shots of the west gate area before I was once again under the scrutiny of law enforcement. Apparently you aren’t supposed to take pictures of the gate area. I did get to keep the pictures – he just had to write me in his little book.

Stopped off in Alabama at the battle ship and would have gone inside but the lady at the toll booth said it was going to be raining all over Florida all day tomorrow so I figured I’d just take a couple pictures and start putting asphalt behind me.

I pulled off the Interstate near Milton to see a friend if he was around. I couldn’t get ahold of him but left a message and “shaded up” for a little rest by the Blackwater River. I stayed on Highway 90 for a little while but it was just too hot to be going that slow and stopping for stop lights along the way; so, back on the Interstate for awhile. A few miles outside Tallahassee I stopped at a rest area and consulted a map. I decided to try another state route and actually found a good one. It could have had a faster speed limit but there was virtually nobody else on the road and that suited me just fine.

I’m currently holed up in Perry, Florida and will be leaving in the morning for Rockledge, Florida. It’s less than 300 miles and I think I’ve got a route already so I should be there in plenty of time for dinner – even if it’s the early bird special (hint hint). New pictures at Pix 3.

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Day Nine

PatrickLY — Wed, 06 Jun 2012 18:19:00 +0000

From Perry to Rockledge was just over 250 miles. I got an early start though because rain was forecast after noon and so far (knock on wood) I have been able to avoid the rain. I know it’s inevitable but I’m trying to put it off for as long as I can.

Today was a fauna day. I saw a macaw flying overhead and a wild turkey spooked and flew right at me it did startle me but it wasn’t that close. Not like the time in Oklahoma (huh Bert). And then there was the snowy egret on the side of the road that had been contemplating suicide all morning and apparently had decided that death by motorcycle was going to be the method. He took off and only flew a foot off the ground right at my bike – not much I could do but prepare for the impact & at the last second he changed his mind. I was really surprised that he was able to turn around that fast. Lastly, I was happy I saw and didn’t hit a rather large turtle crossing A1A up by Daytona.

I got to Daytona and A1A around noon; plenty hot but no sign of rain. (Dad, thebatteries in my Spot lasted about 65 hours) By the time I got to Rockledge (about 50 miles south) it was considerably darker and I actually did get a few drops of rain but not enough to make me any wetter than I already was.

Phil and Shelley have a garage at their condo and Shelley graciously moved her Mustang outside so I could keep the bike dry for my visit. We went out to Phil’s local watering hole and had a couple beers while Phil schooled two of his friends in the art of playing chess. One of his friends is a boat salesman and thought he might be able to hook me up with a fishing guide that could help me put a 10 pound bass on the wall. He made a couple calls but it didn’t work out. I will likely leave tomorrow and start heading north. I was toying with the idea of heading on down to Key West but I’ve been there and it just wouldn’t be the same without Robin. I’ll save that story for another time….

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