I sit here stunned at how well this trip has gone. 3 days in and I'm just starting to settle down into the ride. The weather has been more than I had hoped for. Not a single cloud in the sky over the last 3 days. Not even wind to worry about. Sunday Morning I was up at 2:30, go figure, couldn't hardly sleep. Got dressed and.. COULDN"T FIND MY KEYS.. after all that planning my mind went blank. So, I dug into my pack for the extra set, I wasn't going to miss this kickoff. Of course when I went to put my gloves on, there was my original set with my gloves. 4am found me meeting up with Ed Skvor, and we quickly headed out. We got to Blythe, Ca 200 miles in about 3 1/2 hours and had breakfast at our favorite place "Steak & Cakes". Once finished we gave each other a big huge and Ed headed back toward Fontana (I'm sure he hated ever mile), and I headed off. Weather was perfect and the bike was motoring along like it was made for this trip. A brief fuel stop at Buckeye Az then on to Phoenix. I was pretty tired of I10 Superslab riding be then so I headed out some 2 lane black top, to Oracle,Az this is where Biosphere 2 is. Quite the interesting and mildly run down place, but worth the stop. I got to my campground (Glibert Ray Campground) a really lovely and very clean campground. Like camping in the middle of a Cactus Garden. I spent a nice evening talking with the people in the campsite next to me and then had a nice sleep. Monday I woke up about 5am, it was already light, and made some coffee. Nothing better than the small of camp coffee in the morning. I packed up the gear and by 7am was off headed east towward Las Cruces New Mexico. Again the weather was really nice, 70's and I got to my campground about 2pm. Leasburg State Park, just north of Las Cruces. This was another surprisingly nice campground with Water, Electric and Showers. I made quick work of a nice shower then had a modest dinner. Waking up This morning, I packed up and again headed east. Next stop Carlsbad. riding through White Sands and stopping at the missile base where they had a large museum with missiles that they had tested at the sight. I'll post some pictures tomorrow. I then rode to White Sands National Monument. A very interesting place covered with miles of white sand dunes. From there to Alamogordo. then up over the mountains through Cloudcroft and to Carlsbad. Here I had my first GPS error. I had plugged in the Carlsbad KOA address and the Female British voice was giving me directions. I came to a town called HOPE, NM and it told me to turn on Armstrong Road. So obediently I did. Riding out into the plains of New Mexico, the voice whispering in my ear "In 9 miles turn left at Rocky Canyon Rd." So I plodded along till I got to where it said turn. UNIMPROVED DIRTY ROAD!!!! are you kidding me. I passed the turn and I heard the familiar voice say "RECALCULATING" "Proceed 5 miles to Roddy Road" Obediently I followed instructions now 15 miles from the main Hwy 82. ANOTHER UNIMPROVED DIRT ROAD!!!! I shouted a couple of expletives at my British Companion, turned around and plodded back 15 miles to Hwy 82 and finally got to my Campground. I'm sure the cattle roaming Armstrong Road had a good laugh at me as I retraced my steps. Alas I'm siting here in my campsite, tired by invigorated by 3 days of wonderful riding. Even the detour was fun, in a sick and demented sort of way. I'll post some pictures tomorrow before I head down to do some spelunking in the Carlsbad Caverns. Night Night All....at Big Red at White Sands National Monument. Miles and miles of bright white sands. Yeah I was there too. :) What a beautiful Place
3 Comments
Time has come today!!!! in less than an hour I'll be off. A systems A-OK to qoute John Glenn. Though I realize that I"m not going to orbit the earth, I definatly know what some of the feelings the astronauts had before they took their epic rides.
So in a few minutes I'll be climbing aboart "Big Red" and starting to live my dream. Thank you so much everyone that lended me a hand. From those that gave me trailer, camping, motorcycle advice to those that are following me through this webpage and have given my encouragement. THANK YOU.... As the song on the Homepage here says, "TIME HAS COME TODAY" VIA CON DIOS.... Tim Stubbe Up at the crack of 3 AM (yes, I can't sleep). With multiple thoughts running through my head. First off, I received some bad news. My good friend Ed Aguilar, who lives in Oregon, had a mild stroke last week and seemed to be on his way to recovery last I talked to him, Thursday. This morning I got word that he has had a 2nd stroke and is in ER, though the prospect isn't life threatening, so I'm told, it is very serious none-the-less. I wish I was closer. This isn't the way I wanted to start out this trip. <This picture was taken a few years ago when Ed and I did some living history re-enacting as 37th Texas> . I'd appreciate your prayers for my friend Ed Aguilar. As for the trip. Everything is ready. Going to do a last Oil Change today and get everything hooked up for my departure. Collecting the last of the electronics and cameras to pack, all batteries charged. I'll load them up this evening and get to bed early (not sure how much I'll sleep) and get some rest. Morning will find me getting dressed, and saying bon voyage to my family. Then out the door to meet up with my Friend Ed Skvor who will ride to Blythe, California (about 200 miles) for breakfast at one of our haunts "Steaks & Cakes" cafe. Tomorrow night will find me camping in Tucson Gilbert Ray Campground near Old Town Tucson Movie Studios. With 72 hours to go, I can't seem to pull myself away from the Weather Channel. It appears that I will hit a window of nice weather all the way to at least Carlsbad. I find myself constantly going through my mental checklists. I'll do a Oil Change on Saturday and have everything loaded (but me) by the time I hit the sack Saturday night. Can't wait till Sunday Morning comes.
I just want to take a minute to thank everyone that has offered up help in my journey. From route information, meals even places to hang my helmet for a night. I'm very touched at the kindness a lot of strangers have offered up. Thank you all so much. A special thanks to the people that frequent some of the motorcycle forums I do. Royal Star & Venture, Motorcycle Tourers, Motorcycle Trailer Towers, and MotoCampers. Your advice and help over the past 2 years in preparation for this journey has been incredible and invaluable. Wow, it's almost here and I can't wait!!!! With only 5 days left, I had to get out on the road for a few miles. I can't sit still. I've been pacing the floor and packing/re-packing till I can't do it anymore.
Yesterday, I called a friend Jim Hall (also a member of the "Everyday is Saturday" club) to see if he was up for a ride. Well he was. So we met up and did about 170 miles (about 7 hours) through the San Bernardino hills and then up to Idylwild (San Jacinto Mountains) for lunch and back home. It was a nice stretch of the legs (as John Wayne would say) and it felt really good to get some long miles in. When I got home I had that GOOD TIRED feeling, that comes from working the bike thought the mountains. The weather forcast looks pretty grim for the next few days, A spring storm is coming in and will wet Southern California Wednesday through Saturday. The Local Chapter of Southern Cruisers (Mt Baldy Chapter) will he having its Bike Night tonight and I'll pull the rig over to it to show it off and see my riding friends before I head out Sunday. All is Well :) 7 days and a wakeup. WOW!!!! I can hardly believe its that close!! This week will entail doing final checks, and an oil change. Tuesday the 10th, I'll be meeting up with some of my Southern Cruiser Friends for the regular bike night (Legends Burgers, Rancho Cucamonga 6;30pm), then one last shake down day Friday Apr 13th, (a run to San Diego trailer and all) before kicking off Sunday April 15th. I'll have a couple friends with me that day and my friend Ed Skvor will ride east to the California border with me on the 15th.
I keep hearing Carly Simon's "Anticipation" song in my head.. AND ITS MAKING ME WAIT This will be a LONG week until I get to the other side of it then it will seem like the blink of an eye. I"m sure it will take a couple of days on the road for the impact to settle in but I'm more than ready to get started. I have to be in Vicksburg, MS Apr 23rd. I'll check in as I can.. April 15th) Rancho Cucamonga to Tucson April 16th) Tucson to Las Cruces NM April 17th) Las Cruces to Carlsbad, NM April 18th) Spelunking the Carlsbad Caverns April 19th) Carlsbad to Amarillo Tx April 20th) Amarillo to Henryetta Ok April 21st) Henryetta to Memphis April 22nd) A day at Graceland April 23rd ) Memphis to Vicksbug.. Meet up with a friend. From there its where ever the road takes me and as many miles as I care to ride.. Two weeks from today I’ll be on the road and I can barely believe it. It looks like all the pre-work and planning is going to pay off. The Bike is set with new tires, a tune-up and a hosed down. The saddlebags and Tail bag are packed (except for a couple of bottles of water) as well as the trailer. Clothes are packed. Everything is waiting for the big day. Now to wait, this will be the hardest part.
On Friday Apr 13th, I’ll take a nice 300 mile road trip down to San Diego and back. A few of my Southern Cruiser, Mt Baldy Chapter friends will be riding with me as a sort of kickoff. Our Destination is the “Bull Ring By The Sea” in the southwestern tip of California (The U.S. Side parking lot), where we will take a few pictures. Then ride back home stopping at the 94th Aero Squadron for lunch. This restaurant has a WWI Allied Air Wing design and should be a fun lunch. http://94thaerosquadron.signonsandiego.com/ Saturday the 14th, will be a long day, re-checking to make sure everything is ready. An early night to bed , not that I will sleep much, and an early start 4am Sunday April 15th. My riding partner Ed Skvor says he’s going to ride to Blythe California with me to have breakfast at Cakes & Eggs before biding me ado. From there the plan is to get to Tucson, perhaps stopping at Biosphere II in Oracle, Az before pitching camp at Gilbert Ray Campground, about a 450 mile day. Day 2 (Apr 16th) will see me heading east to Las Cruces NM with where I’ll camp at Leasburg Dam State Park. Day 2 should see me riding about 300 miles ( a pretty easy day) Day 3 (Apr 17th) will see some new scenery riding through White Sand NM, CloudCroft NM and east finally ending at Carlsbad NM where I will camp at the KOA. 209 miles and I’m feeling some “what’s down that road moments” , will be coming Day 3 Apr 18th will be a rest day, and the plan is to spend it at Carlsbad Caverns. I’ll get to do some real time exposures which I’m really looking forward to.. That’s pretty much where the plan ends. Day 5 will see me heading East, either to Dallas or North East toward Amarillo then into Oklahoma. My intention is to be in Vicksburg, MS Apr 23 to meet up with Bob Kendal, who will ride most of the south and east coast with me. He will be riding in from Greenville SC. Bob and I go way back to my early years with Pacific Telephone where I was a young Lineman and he was a Repairman in Newhall ,Ca. What I do between Apr 19th and 23rd is pretty much a guess I have a few options but I’ll wait till the 19th to decide. I have received many emails and forum posts from people that seem to be as excited to follow my trip as I am to ride it. This has really given me the encouragement to post as often as I can to make this an adventure that everyone can enjoy with me. So thank you for all your encouragements and positive thoughts. To all my friends, Thank you very much. |
AuthorTim Stubbe AKA Archives
June 2013
Categories |