Ridesomewhere 2011; Home again

I can't say it was my favorite summer ride. It was hot. I don't mean "gee it is warm out today" hot but real record breaking hot. From the time my friend Larry and I left Pueblo, CO and headed across the plain states till I got back to the Rockies a couple of weeks later it was hot. The day we left Pueblo it was 76 degrees at 7am. That was the last time it was that cool until I got back to Flagstaff. We did have a few pleasant days in Michigan but that was about it.

The only way to get ahead of the heat was to leave before dawn. The day I left Oklahoma City heading for home it was 82 degrees at 5:15am. My temp gauge on the bike hit 113 that day but I made it to Flagstaff, AZ and some cooler weather.
The BMW Rally was good. The first day, Friday for me, was just too hot and I only lasted about 3 hours. Saturday was busy with several seminars and lots of vendors to see. Next near the rally is in Missouri and I don't know if I will ride back. I think I will wait to see what the weather is going to be before committing. I will ride somewhere but I think it will be somewhere cooler.

until I ride again...

Beat the heat

I left the hotel in Oklahoma City at 5:15am this morning to try and beat the heat. It was 81 degrees. That was as low as it got last night. The good news is it is now 10:30 and it has not been above that temp yet.
Could make Flagstaff tonight.

Oklahoma is not OK

Two times in the past 3 years I have ridden my motorcycle across Oklahoma in late July / early
August. The last time I saw 108 on my onboard temp gauge. Today my temp gauge read 116 coming into Oklahoma City. I may have learned my lesson about riding through this area in summer.
Going to get an early start tomorrow. The goal for tomorrow is Gallup, NM a little short of 700 miles.

more to follow...

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I can smell the barn

Dropped Jill off at Little Rock, AR airport. Punched HOME on my GPS. 1710 miles. Will make the west side of Oklahoma City tonight, Gallup tomorrow night and be home Sunday night. No problem for the cement slam burning K1300GT.

more to follow...

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It is a hot one today

We got in early thankfully. This is the bank temp and time reading here in town.

4:35pm 119 degrees. The official temp is only 111 but the heat index takes it up to 119. It is like riding in a convection oven.

more to follow...
I hope

Leaving Peoria

The "Bumble Bee" and I took off this morning from Peoria. Our destination was Sullivan, MO. With temps getting up to 104 and heat index at around 110 it was a hot day on the bike.
Tomorrow we are going to take some back roads through the Ozarks. Should be a bit cooler and a lot more scenery.

more to follow...

Day 22 Tough days ahead

About to leave Illinois and head for the Ozarks. Should be very pretty and finally some twisty roads. Jill is still with me and has planned some short riding days through the Ozark mountains. We are going to hit some hot weather though. With temps of 104+ and heat indexes of over 115 we need to keep the riding day short and the pool time long.
Hope to post some good pics and video over the next few days. That is if the camera doesn't melt.

more to follow...

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