clmixon
07-22-2005, 09:18 PM
Note, I had posted this on the old site before the move and had been meaning to repost here but never got around to it....
So here is MY first ride report, ( I have de-matured even more since then :D )
Saddlesore or How Charley Pride Ruined my Life
In the early 1990’s I got my pilot’s license. As part of the training you have to plan and then fly a “long” cross country flight. Using an E6B you have to figure heading, wind drift, winds aloft and fuel burn. You even have to allow for taxi and takeoff fuel. Weight and Balance have to be calculated and flight plans have to filed and followed. After planning, having the plan reviewed by my instructor and waiting for the right kind of weather, I set off on a “long distance flight.” Sounds good huh, except the longest leg was only from Lafayette to Monroe La., refuel and then to Natchez MS. and back to Lafayette. Grand total of about 500 nautical miles, total flight time about 5.5 hours.
Jump to 2004. It’s 0815 and I just pulled my credit card out of the gas pump at the Chevron next to my house. The clock has officially started on a 1000 mile motorcycle ride! Total estimated time 17 hours! I had been vacillitating between a last minute ride to TEXSTOC or the Saddlesore and this morning the urge to ride in a really big circle won out. I am going to cover twice the distance in one day on the ground. 1000 miles from my house in Southern Louisiana is Washington DC or Albequerque, NM. Buffalo,NY. Charleston, SC. Cleveland, OH. or Jacksonville FL. (another story cause the 50cc is in my future)
0500 planning….
Rand McNally atlas has a little chart that shows driving distance and time between cities. Humm…let’s see, from here to here, nope too short. Ok, a little more, still to short! 3rd try, add some distance because the ST has a very optimistic speedometer and odometer, looks like Lafayette east bound I-10 to Baton Rouge, westbound to Krotz Springs on 190 and then north to Alexandria on LA 71. Pick up I-49 to Shreveport and then 71 again to Texarkana. I30 to Dallas and then 235 south to Austin TX. 290 to Houston and I-10 to Lafayette.
0600 justification…
Ok it’s October, nobody else will go, too late in November and I really want to do it. Yes Dear, I will be careful. I know it’s a long way but other people have done it. I know I have to work Monday. Yes, I will be careful. I have been riding on and off for 30 years, I know what I doing… I have read all the ride reports on MSN ST1300, ST1300 Riders and the really different posts on ST.N and feel like I am mentally prepared. She agreed with the mental part for some reason.
0700 Loadout
I have had the new ST1300 since spring, but since I broke my leg in early May while hiking and I have not had too many chances to get out. Did one weekend ride in September, the week I got off my crutches and because of my findings I have added some bar risers and foam grips. That’s all the bike needs, right? I put my cell phone, wallet and CD/MP3 player in the tankbag and for some strange reason a small towel in the right saddlebag. Mellow on the ST1300 riders recommends ear bud speakers so I am going to give them a try. Rain gear is in the left bag. Jeans, JR Alter-Ego jacket and Olympia light gloves, boots and a ball cap for when I stop complete my dress and a bottle of Motrin goes in the faring pocket. (well, it was supposed to go in the pocket. I put about 150 MP3’s on a CD and add a pack of double A batteries to go with it. Map on the tank bag and my list o cities and travel times in the pocket.
0800 Departure
Fog, lots of very dense fog. In my Flight Paramedic days this was known as Earn Money Sleeping time (EMS) because we were not going anywhere. Today, no problem. Right? Glasses mist over real quick but I can solve this one. Power the shield to the Up position, flip up my visor and here we go…
I-10 to Baton Rouge, 56 miles 1 hour estimated.
I like riding the Atchafalaya bridge on I-10, the swamp is very beautiful even in the fog and the temps are about 75 degrees, I am comfortable even with the dense fog running the humidity up to 100%. The MP3 is playing “The Highwayman” from Loreena McKinnet and the bike is purring. I-10 is a little rough but I am used to our pavement. First 10 miles flies away, only 990 to go!
Baton Rouge and now to loop back on 190 to LA 71 to Bunkie, 75 miles, 1.5 hours estimated. I add fuel and collect my first receipt in Port Allen. Back on the bike in no time…wait a minute that took 15 minutes? All I did was get off tank pay and pee, and oh yea, I got some snacks. Back on the bike. 190 is smooth, very little traffic, Charley Pride is singing “rain dripping of the brim of my hat, sure is cold today” My Dad loved that song when we were growing up so I threw it onto the mix. Hey, I’ve got 150 tracks. 190 meets 71 and lookie, brand new pavement in the middle of nowhere. North we go. No gas station here but I can make a stop in Bunkie to document the route. Cowboy Mouth does “Everybody Loves Jill” and “Jenny Says”” Al Stewart’s “Year of the Cat” things are great and I already have 132 miles! No Problems!
Where the hell did that Trooper come from? Ah, shoot! Time to pull out the wallet and turn on the “I am a very good person to know” routine. I pull over and get ready as he turns around and puts on his light bar. This will be my first ticket since 1981. Well, maybe not. He keeps going and pulls over a truck that was in front of me!
Bunkie to Shreveport 190 miles, 2.5 hours estimated.
I-49 is really new pavement as interstates go and the Sun has finally come out! Temps are in the low 80’s and I have unzipped the outer cover from the Joe Rocket Alter Ego. It’s a mesh now and I am very comfortable. There is a chance of a front moving through but I have my rain gear if I need it. It’s Eagles time and I have Greatest Hits vol. 1 and 2 running. “Take it Easy” “ Desperado” “ Witchy Woman” and an easy run to north LA on the interstate. My left foot is itching and I have a little cramp in my right hand but overall I feel great. I have the stock seat but I have it set high in front to keep the boys off the tank and I don’t have any heat problems on my bike anyway.
Shreveport to Texarkana, 76 miles, 1.5 hours estimated.
Back on La 71. Got turned around at the gas stop and needed the map. Where is the map? I lost the map! No problem, let’s just ask. Those “men don’t ask directions” thing is just a rumor anyway, Right? Why are people avoiding me? Oh, I am wearing a ballistic jacket and a helmet. As soon as I take it off I can again approach people without a look of fear appearing. Gotta remember that, even a 41 year old fat man looks threatening in protective gear. Wonder what kind of response I would have got with a leather vest and a doo rag? Or even worse, in full leathers or a stich? Ok, nobody knows how to get there. They are all from somewhere else, India or Mississippi seem to be a common finding. I can do this. North is north. I used to dead reckon all the time when we were flying. After an hour I flag down some more help, old black man in a pickup full of lawn gear. Boy, does he look tired. But he knows! Turns out you got to go East first to get around the lake then north. Ok, here we go, little behind time but still way inside the allowable avg. miles per hour. Who needs a GPS anyway?
Two lane blacktop, what Wizmo and Gizmo call a blue road in their blogs. I wouldn’t know, I lost my map! Music player is skipping a little, well Charley Pride is ok, “Is anybody go’ in to San Antone, or Phoenix Arizona?”
Texarkana to Dallas 208 miles 4 hours estimated.
I am really starting to hate Charley Pride. Music off, I am going to listen to v-4 technology and road sounds for a while. I-30 westbound is a new highway for me. Is there a speed limit here? I am in traffic and matching the pace. I look down and see 4500 rpm in 5th which means, glance right, 85 indicated in traffic. OK, I am still fresh, I have 507 indicated miles so I am probably just about 25 miles short of halfway. I can see now why some people say this is hard, but it still ok. Little bit of butt pain and my foot still itches. We are going to seriously look at the cruise control/ throttle lock thing when I get back, Right arm is really starting to get tired but with the ST’s fuel injection, if you let off the deceleration is drastic and immediate. Sulfur Springs TX. Looks like a great place to stretch. First unplanned stop but this is not supposed to be torture. Walk around a little, collect a fuel receipt and feel a lot better. I am not sleepy but I feel a little tired but hey, I am almost half way! I am so happy with the ST1300, it really is starting to sound like a small turbine under there, the gauges are enough entertainment for me and I am really do not need a map the way the U.S. Interstate system is designed. All I gotta do is look for an odd numbered Interstate going to Austin when I reach Dallas.
Continued in Part II
So here is MY first ride report, ( I have de-matured even more since then :D )
Saddlesore or How Charley Pride Ruined my Life
In the early 1990’s I got my pilot’s license. As part of the training you have to plan and then fly a “long” cross country flight. Using an E6B you have to figure heading, wind drift, winds aloft and fuel burn. You even have to allow for taxi and takeoff fuel. Weight and Balance have to be calculated and flight plans have to filed and followed. After planning, having the plan reviewed by my instructor and waiting for the right kind of weather, I set off on a “long distance flight.” Sounds good huh, except the longest leg was only from Lafayette to Monroe La., refuel and then to Natchez MS. and back to Lafayette. Grand total of about 500 nautical miles, total flight time about 5.5 hours.
Jump to 2004. It’s 0815 and I just pulled my credit card out of the gas pump at the Chevron next to my house. The clock has officially started on a 1000 mile motorcycle ride! Total estimated time 17 hours! I had been vacillitating between a last minute ride to TEXSTOC or the Saddlesore and this morning the urge to ride in a really big circle won out. I am going to cover twice the distance in one day on the ground. 1000 miles from my house in Southern Louisiana is Washington DC or Albequerque, NM. Buffalo,NY. Charleston, SC. Cleveland, OH. or Jacksonville FL. (another story cause the 50cc is in my future)
0500 planning….
Rand McNally atlas has a little chart that shows driving distance and time between cities. Humm…let’s see, from here to here, nope too short. Ok, a little more, still to short! 3rd try, add some distance because the ST has a very optimistic speedometer and odometer, looks like Lafayette east bound I-10 to Baton Rouge, westbound to Krotz Springs on 190 and then north to Alexandria on LA 71. Pick up I-49 to Shreveport and then 71 again to Texarkana. I30 to Dallas and then 235 south to Austin TX. 290 to Houston and I-10 to Lafayette.
0600 justification…
Ok it’s October, nobody else will go, too late in November and I really want to do it. Yes Dear, I will be careful. I know it’s a long way but other people have done it. I know I have to work Monday. Yes, I will be careful. I have been riding on and off for 30 years, I know what I doing… I have read all the ride reports on MSN ST1300, ST1300 Riders and the really different posts on ST.N and feel like I am mentally prepared. She agreed with the mental part for some reason.
0700 Loadout
I have had the new ST1300 since spring, but since I broke my leg in early May while hiking and I have not had too many chances to get out. Did one weekend ride in September, the week I got off my crutches and because of my findings I have added some bar risers and foam grips. That’s all the bike needs, right? I put my cell phone, wallet and CD/MP3 player in the tankbag and for some strange reason a small towel in the right saddlebag. Mellow on the ST1300 riders recommends ear bud speakers so I am going to give them a try. Rain gear is in the left bag. Jeans, JR Alter-Ego jacket and Olympia light gloves, boots and a ball cap for when I stop complete my dress and a bottle of Motrin goes in the faring pocket. (well, it was supposed to go in the pocket. I put about 150 MP3’s on a CD and add a pack of double A batteries to go with it. Map on the tank bag and my list o cities and travel times in the pocket.
0800 Departure
Fog, lots of very dense fog. In my Flight Paramedic days this was known as Earn Money Sleeping time (EMS) because we were not going anywhere. Today, no problem. Right? Glasses mist over real quick but I can solve this one. Power the shield to the Up position, flip up my visor and here we go…
I-10 to Baton Rouge, 56 miles 1 hour estimated.
I like riding the Atchafalaya bridge on I-10, the swamp is very beautiful even in the fog and the temps are about 75 degrees, I am comfortable even with the dense fog running the humidity up to 100%. The MP3 is playing “The Highwayman” from Loreena McKinnet and the bike is purring. I-10 is a little rough but I am used to our pavement. First 10 miles flies away, only 990 to go!
Baton Rouge and now to loop back on 190 to LA 71 to Bunkie, 75 miles, 1.5 hours estimated. I add fuel and collect my first receipt in Port Allen. Back on the bike in no time…wait a minute that took 15 minutes? All I did was get off tank pay and pee, and oh yea, I got some snacks. Back on the bike. 190 is smooth, very little traffic, Charley Pride is singing “rain dripping of the brim of my hat, sure is cold today” My Dad loved that song when we were growing up so I threw it onto the mix. Hey, I’ve got 150 tracks. 190 meets 71 and lookie, brand new pavement in the middle of nowhere. North we go. No gas station here but I can make a stop in Bunkie to document the route. Cowboy Mouth does “Everybody Loves Jill” and “Jenny Says”” Al Stewart’s “Year of the Cat” things are great and I already have 132 miles! No Problems!
Where the hell did that Trooper come from? Ah, shoot! Time to pull out the wallet and turn on the “I am a very good person to know” routine. I pull over and get ready as he turns around and puts on his light bar. This will be my first ticket since 1981. Well, maybe not. He keeps going and pulls over a truck that was in front of me!
Bunkie to Shreveport 190 miles, 2.5 hours estimated.
I-49 is really new pavement as interstates go and the Sun has finally come out! Temps are in the low 80’s and I have unzipped the outer cover from the Joe Rocket Alter Ego. It’s a mesh now and I am very comfortable. There is a chance of a front moving through but I have my rain gear if I need it. It’s Eagles time and I have Greatest Hits vol. 1 and 2 running. “Take it Easy” “ Desperado” “ Witchy Woman” and an easy run to north LA on the interstate. My left foot is itching and I have a little cramp in my right hand but overall I feel great. I have the stock seat but I have it set high in front to keep the boys off the tank and I don’t have any heat problems on my bike anyway.
Shreveport to Texarkana, 76 miles, 1.5 hours estimated.
Back on La 71. Got turned around at the gas stop and needed the map. Where is the map? I lost the map! No problem, let’s just ask. Those “men don’t ask directions” thing is just a rumor anyway, Right? Why are people avoiding me? Oh, I am wearing a ballistic jacket and a helmet. As soon as I take it off I can again approach people without a look of fear appearing. Gotta remember that, even a 41 year old fat man looks threatening in protective gear. Wonder what kind of response I would have got with a leather vest and a doo rag? Or even worse, in full leathers or a stich? Ok, nobody knows how to get there. They are all from somewhere else, India or Mississippi seem to be a common finding. I can do this. North is north. I used to dead reckon all the time when we were flying. After an hour I flag down some more help, old black man in a pickup full of lawn gear. Boy, does he look tired. But he knows! Turns out you got to go East first to get around the lake then north. Ok, here we go, little behind time but still way inside the allowable avg. miles per hour. Who needs a GPS anyway?
Two lane blacktop, what Wizmo and Gizmo call a blue road in their blogs. I wouldn’t know, I lost my map! Music player is skipping a little, well Charley Pride is ok, “Is anybody go’ in to San Antone, or Phoenix Arizona?”
Texarkana to Dallas 208 miles 4 hours estimated.
I am really starting to hate Charley Pride. Music off, I am going to listen to v-4 technology and road sounds for a while. I-30 westbound is a new highway for me. Is there a speed limit here? I am in traffic and matching the pace. I look down and see 4500 rpm in 5th which means, glance right, 85 indicated in traffic. OK, I am still fresh, I have 507 indicated miles so I am probably just about 25 miles short of halfway. I can see now why some people say this is hard, but it still ok. Little bit of butt pain and my foot still itches. We are going to seriously look at the cruise control/ throttle lock thing when I get back, Right arm is really starting to get tired but with the ST’s fuel injection, if you let off the deceleration is drastic and immediate. Sulfur Springs TX. Looks like a great place to stretch. First unplanned stop but this is not supposed to be torture. Walk around a little, collect a fuel receipt and feel a lot better. I am not sleepy but I feel a little tired but hey, I am almost half way! I am so happy with the ST1300, it really is starting to sound like a small turbine under there, the gauges are enough entertainment for me and I am really do not need a map the way the U.S. Interstate system is designed. All I gotta do is look for an odd numbered Interstate going to Austin when I reach Dallas.
Continued in Part II