April 2008 Archives

Sierra Vista, AZ to Brookshire, TX

· By Dave

Start Time:	0545 Pacific Time, 16 March, 2008
End Time:	0022 Central Time, 16 March, 2008
Fuel Stops:	9
Rest Stops:	0
Distance:	1030 Miles
Motorcycle:	2006 Harley-Davidson Ultra Classic FLHTCUI

I concluded my trip to Sierra Vista, AZ on the 16th of March with an attempt at an Iron Butt certification. I'm not sure that I'll get certified as I had a few issues with my memory and the trip logging along the way, but I know in my heart that I logged 1030 miles that day, so I'm certified in my heart for a SaddleSore 1000 right this minute, even if the paper comes back negative later.

Failing for a technicality is a possiblilty but, I feel good about the ride.

Now, about that ride......

I left Sierra Vista, Arizona ahead of a weather report that indicated storms would follow me into Texas. What I got instead was a lot of wind.

I mean...a LOT of wind.

After I cleared Texas Canyon eastbound on I-10 in southeastern Arizona the wind picked up with a vengeance from the south. That southerly wind kept blowing for most of my trip across Texas.

I experienced gusts up to 51 miles per hour and a steady wind of at least 35 miles per hour from Lordsburg, New Mexico to Sonora, Texas. From Lordsburg to Las Cruces, New Mexico that wind meant that I was to enjoy a near continuous dust storm. El Paso brought a brief relief from the dust, but that didn't last long and there was more dust to be had from Plateau, Texas to Fort Stockton.

All in all, by the time I arrived in Kerrville, Texas I was seriously considering stopping and calling the attempt failed. I was bone tired from fighting the wind all day, and the light rain that was picking up wasn't helping matters.

Fortunately, the rain only lasted about 5 minutes and my ride continued on into the night.

I arrived in Brookshire, TX at around 22 minutes after midnight, the ride having taken about an hour longer to complete than I'd accounted for.

Where I was tired before, on the stop in Kerrville, my stop in Brookshire was an absolute necessity. I was almost falling asleep behind the handlebars and I fully expected to crash if I was forced to ride even 10 more miles.

Short of my mark for the ride (I'd wanted 1075 miles for a good safety buffer) I called it a night at the Super 8 in Brookshire.

The only really interesting story to relate is that if there is a police chase video done on Sonora, TX that day, I'll be the guy pumping gas at the Shell station as the State Trooper comes screaming down the exit ramp after what appears to be a red Neon. The Neon circled the on-off ramps using the Interstate as his personal raceway for a while as he was chased by an increasingly large contingent of Troopers and local police.

The quote of the day comes from the station attendant who remarked, "Wow! This is so exciting! Nothing EVER happens around here."

Getting Started

· By Dave

Just some fun with my bike and my severely underused camera and Lens Baby on the morning of my departure for Arizona in March.