Topic: Ride from California to Texas (Read 4889 times)

Switchback FLD · « **on:** April 12, 2017, 04:23:54 PM »

Double checked tires oil and everything. I weighed the cargo, and have 42 lbs onboard. Was going to start tomorrow but I think I'll leave today and start with a short leg.

The Before Picture.

Jock · « **Reply #1 on:** April 12, 2017, 05:59:59 PM »

Enjoy the journey!

JCZ · « **Reply #2 on:** April 12, 2017, 06:05:35 PM »

Didn't forget the large, heavy duty trash bags did ya?

Looking forward to your pics of your first overnight and your first out of state journey!

Switchback FLD · « **Reply #3 on:** April 13, 2017, 01:05:29 AM »

Wheels up at 1800. Here's a pic from San Francisquito Cyn at dusk. Stopped for the night near Rosamond.

Trash bags, check.

Switchback FLD · « **Reply #4 on:** April 13, 2017, 07:44:44 AM »

Cold outside, going wheels up by zero-five, getting bundled up hydrated and heading out thru Edwards to I-40 via the 58

muddypaws · « **Reply #5 on:** April 13, 2017, 07:57:06 AM »

Ride should be a blast. More picturts......

JCZ · « **Reply #6 on:** April 13, 2017, 08:23:20 AM »

I forgot to mention.....hang your camera around your neck so that you can shoot on the fly.

Cuz we all know.....

olds88lss · « **Reply #7 on:** April 13, 2017, 01:29:11 PM »

Just envious from rain soaked Minnesota.

Harley Guy · « **Reply #8 on:** April 13, 2017, 05:15:05 PM »

Looking forward to the pictures.
.
RIDE ON........safely.....

muddypaws · « **Reply #9 on:** April 13, 2017, 05:52:42 PM »

Sorry Minnesota and your hockey team also lost...

Switchback FLD · « **Reply #10 on:** April 14, 2017, 12:25:30 AM »

Rode from Rosamond CA, to Albuquerque NM. I only took a couple pictures because really all I did was ride! Covered about 750 miles. I saw the big green and blue Colorado River and I saw snowy peaks above Flagstaff AZ. Got a picture of a B-52 at dawn and I tried to get a picture of the New Mexico sunset. That's all for now. Going for another 700 tomorrow.

Switchback FLD · « **Reply #11 on:** April 14, 2017, 12:27:32 AM »

Here's the dawn picture.

coloradotom · « **Reply #12 on:** April 14, 2017, 09:26:20 AM »

Quote from: Switchback FLD on April 14, 2017, 12:25:30 AM

Rode from Rosamond CA, to Albuquerque NM. I only took a couple pictures because really all I did was ride! Covered about 750 miles. I saw the big green and blue Colorado River and I saw snowy peaks above Flagstaff AZ. Got a picture of a B-52 at dawn and I tried to get a picture of the New Mexico sunset. That's all for now. Going for another 700 tomorrow.

That's the way to do it!

JCZ · « **Reply #13 on:** April 14, 2017, 10:16:02 AM »

I see a bagger with a tour pack in your future.....maybe a Street Glide with a quick release tour pack....or an Ultra Classic.....maybe even a CVO.

I warned you when we were talking at the Rock Store.....the long distance rides get very addicting.

Switchback FLD · « **Reply #14 on:** April 16, 2017, 01:58:50 PM »

I'm in Phoenix AZ. Logged 2602 miles so far since Wed evening. I've got a few pictures and thoughts to post when I get home tonight... Focusing on the ride at this point. And a cup of Circle K coffee.

JCZ · « **Reply #15 on:** April 17, 2017, 09:19:44 AM »

So you ended with about 4k miles.

I sent a PM (private message) to you. Got a bit concerned after you didn't post for a couple of days....

Switchback FLD · « **Reply #16 on:** April 17, 2017, 05:05:09 PM »

Quote from: JCZ on April 17, 2017, 09:19:44 AM

So you ended with about 4k miles.

I sent a PM (private message) to you. Got a bit concerned after you didn't post for a couple of days....

Thanks for the PM. Made it home. I did 3029 miles in 5 days. I did a loop, I-40 on the way out, I-10 coming back.

Day 1 Ventura to Rosamond CA. I left at 6pm and it took me about 3 hours to cover a little over 100 miles. I looked at it as a little shake-down cruise.

Day 2 I pushed off at 5:30 am or there-abouts and I rode from the Rosamond area to Albuquerque NM and got there around 8:30 pm. I saw some beautiful scenery in the deserts of California and the mountains of Arizona. It was a little windy at times. I stopped for a longer break for a cup of coffee and a map recon when I got to Flagstaff. I believe it was around 750 miles total. I have never ridden that far, and I felt the decrease in my situational awareness and reactions especially when I got into the city traffic in the evening.

Day 3 0445hrs I headed for Wimberly TX. I reckoned it was 700 miles or so. I knew I was heading into the hill country of TX, and I knew there would be a lot of deer, so I wanted to get there before dark. I followed the highway thru Lubbock then on to Highway 84 and 83, thru Fredericksburg to some small ranch roads. The sun went down on me 15 miles outside of Wimberley and in that next 10 minutes I probably saw a dozen deer. They came out like clock work. I slowed down and made it without incident. Planned my breaks better and the ride felt better.

Day 4 Left Wimberley at 7am after it got light due to my deer concern. Rode thru some nice ranch country to the I-10 and went all the way to Tucson. This was my highest mileage day. The 10 is a nice smooth fast road. A little drizzly around Sonora, but it got hot by the time I got to Ft Stockton. El Paso traffic reminds me of crazy So Cal traffic. Saw a house burning as I crossed the Rio Grande.

Day 5 Tucson to Home, around 550 miles. This should have been an easy leg mileage wise. But I rode right in to a very strong headwind around Palm Springs. Right about that time really started to see the crazies too. After passing the 60 traffic mellowed out till I transitioned to the 210, and it got crazier. Two traffic jamb accidents on that road.

All in all it was a fun ride and I learned a lot. The bike performed well.

Switchback FLD · « **Reply #17 on:** April 17, 2017, 05:08:20 PM »

Rest stop in New Mexico.

Switchback FLD · « **Reply #18 on:** April 17, 2017, 05:10:17 PM »

Rest stop in New Mexico. Cold morning.

Switchback FLD · « **Reply #19 on:** April 17, 2017, 05:11:02 PM »

Picnic Area in Texas on the 40.

Switchback FLD · « **Reply #20 on:** April 17, 2017, 05:11:51 PM »

Small town in Texas. These Texas highways move along at 75 mph. Until you come to a town, and then they slow down, and the highway is the main street. Once you clear the town you gas it again.