Today is the day I set out for Colorado. I am planning on 2 1/2 days to get there, so I don't plan on killing myself. I've spent considerable time getting the bike and gear ready. If anythink, I've over prepared.
It's a long way from Moonlake to Colorado and I am expecting the first leg to be quite tedious. As I'm traveling down I-94 the Robert Frost poem is rattling around in my head. You know the one... The Road Not Taken.....Two roads diverged in a wood, and I, I took the one less traveled by. Well that certainly is not the case today as I navigate around Chicago and out of Illinois into Iowa. Sturgis has just ended that there seems to be an endless stream of bikes, trailers, motorhomes and all kinds of rigs heading eastbound.
Oh, did I mention it's HOT? We were forecasted to set a record today. The temp gauge has been sitting at 100 degrees most of the day. I'm covered up and drinking lost of water so it's not uncomfortable.
You know what is worse that a dead deer on the side of the road? One standing in the middle of the highway. Just before I left Illinois there were breaklights coming on everywhere and standing right there was a fairly good sized doe. I was quite remarkable to see her negotiate four lanes of I-80 and bound into the corn field without getting hit. Whew!
I'm making good time and it's getting late in the. I'm wondering where I should stop at, and I'm thinking Des Moines. As I roll across Iowa I can see this very intense looking storm off on the horizon. Judging how far away is difficult. As I watch the intense lightning I debate on whether or not to stop and put on the rain gear but decide against it. Rain gear isn't going to help with this severe of a storm, so I push on. About 10 miles outside of Des Moines I realize that what appeared to be a slow moving storm is actually rolling in like a tidal wave, literally! I jumped off at the first exit I came to seeking shelter. It happened to be Altoona. I spotted a Microtel with a covered awning and pulled in there. Within 30 seconds all hell broke loose. Ever see 2 inch hail? What a remarkable storm. I walked in and asked if they had any rooms and food. Well, one out of two isn't bad so I took the room. I talked them into letting me keep the bike parked in front of the door under the cover so it was protected. They were quite nice about it.
The rain never stopped all night so I ate from my emergency rations. Carrots, apple, orange and buffalo pemmican jerky, very interesting dinner but somehow satisfying. Oh yeah, no bar either so no nightcap tonight. Bummer.
Total mileage Day 1 + 540 miles. Not bad.
cart, you need to revamp the second sentence. 700 miles in one day is alot!I know you were anxious to get there. Your bike looks very clean here, wonder how its looking today? 8-20
ReplyDeleteyou wouldn't believe how dirty it is now.
ReplyDelete