KRATZMC

Monday 16 June 2008

I got into Abilene around 2330 hrs. By the time I wrote my latest Post and got to bed, it was 0100 hrs. I had a hard time getting to sleep last night, tossing and turning all night long. My last look at the generic motel radio clock said 0300 hrs. I got up at 0800 hrs, got some coffee from the lounge, showered and repacked the bike. I ended up leaving Abilene around 0900 hrs and it was about 85 degrees and windy. I made my way north on the back roads foresaking the Interstates as much as possible. I even took a few wrong turns as I was experienced Moto Zen and missed a turn here and there. It added about 20 miles but I was in no hurry. You can see my FUBAR as item #2 on the map

Here is my route which was 469 miles not counting a side trip to the Big Texan in Amarillo, where temperatures were in the triple digits.

9 hours and 22 minutes of saddle time. For scale, 1 inch equals six inches. He he

I took several pics of Barney the Bar None hat as he made his way with me out of Texas. Man, what a big state. So far I have spent 12 hrs and 22 minutes in the saddle for 651 miles. I have a short ride of 171 miles in the morning to reach Pueblo, where I will spend the day with Paul Dejoy before heading on to SLC.

I was wondering why it was so windy north of Abilene on US-180 near Rotan.

I am riding my 2000 BMW 1150 GS with ABS, PIAA 540 lights, Garmin Street Pilot GPS, SPOT Sat Tracker, Aerostich Panier bags, Jesse bags hard luggage system. I removed the rear passenger seat and put on a Joe Rocket tail bag, which is sitting on top of my Aerostich suit. Oh, I almost forgot the deer whistles on the front fender. I know the Deer can hear them but how do they know what the sound means? Maybe they take a special class. I know they can talk, I saw them talking in the movie “Bambi”.

I am also carrying a Eureka two man tent, Therma rest sleeping pad, North Face down Bag rated for 20 degrees, a folding chair, a Browning 9mm High Power and my Rugged Notebooks lap top computer. For clothing I have two pairs of Galls 511 Khaki pants, a pair of slip on shoes, a pair of short pants, swim trunks, four pairs of Campmor chemically treated under pants, four cotton t-shirts, two Tropical weight long sleeve button up shirts from Campmor, two pairs of motorcycle socks, two pairs of Cabelas expedition socks, a Gerbing heated vest and two hats.

I am wearing padded bicycle shorts under my Joe Rocket Phoenix pants with suspenders, a cotton t-shirt and Joe Rocket Phoenix Jacket, Honda HRC gloves, a Silkies helmet liner and Nolan N102 N-com Helmet with disposable ear plugs. For foot wear, I am wearing a pair of Gore Tex Oxtar 7103 boots with a pair of stinky sweaty socks from Cabelas.

For fuel, I stop at whom ever is the closest when I decide I need gas or have to pee.

Actually 4.19 per gallon was the highest I paid for medium grade which was in Oklahoma. This pump south of Lubbock right across the highway from a bunch of oil wells.

You don’t see too many of these signs at a rest stop. N/B I-27 near Lubbock Tx. They also have free Wi-Fi access.

I stopped in Amarillo at the Big Texan, famous for the FREE 72 oz steak. Free if you can eat it that is. You have an hour and must sit at a table in the middle of the restaurant for all to see, right next to a big L.E.D. timer. You may have seen the place on the food channel and it’s on I-40 about 5 miles east of I-27 in Amarillo Tx.

This is a must eat at place if you are in the area. Everything is Texas sized on the menu. The Texas sized beer mug is a half a gallon of beer, the slices of cake will feed four hungry adults. I opted for the daily lunch special, which was only a 9 oz rib eye steak with bread, two sides and a drink for $12.99. I had the vegetable soup and cole slaw for my sides. The soup was like a stew and would satisfy most appetites by itself. The 9 oz steak was very flavorful but a little sinewy.

Lunch Specials are more than enough.

The restaurant has a unique atmosphere, adorned with stuffed game animals along the walls. It is dark and I didn’t use my flash fearing I would disturb a guy trying to down the 72 oz behemoth of a steak. I figure that 72 ounces of meat with all the sides is equivalent to eating about 40 regular sized hamburgers.

Look at the guys face. He had 22 minutes left and was only 1/3 of the way through his steak. If you can’t finish it and all that is on your plate, you are stuck with the $125 bill.

This is what you must eat. The pic does not do it justice.

Here is the look of defeat with a side of Nausea.

The atmosphere has an old west saloon feel with modern slot machines. They even have free Wi-Fi if you wanna catch up on your email after your meal. There is a neat gift shop inside worth visiting for your souvenirs. If you leave the place hungry, then you should try to eat the Big Texan.

Well I spent a little over an hour at the Big Texan Steak Ranch and another 15 minutes talking with two Canadians who were beaten down by the heat. They looked like they were dreading getting back on their Harleys, so when I left they were still sitting in the shade on the covered porch looking at their map.

I eventually made my way to Springfield Co, where the temperature was 64 degrees. I had to put on my Aerostich suit mid-way through Oklahoma at the Sante Fe Trail historical marker and picnic area on US 287, before it rained for 2 whole minutes.

I found a hotel (Starlite Hotel) with the fewest number of degenerates smoking outside on the balcony and free Wi-Fi, enabling me to write this post. There are four motels in town and they are of the same quality, or lack of quality. I rode up and down the street three times trying to pick the best of them and finally had to Eanie, Meanie, Minee, Moe it. I would not stay here with a family but with your drunk hunting buddies, its just perfect.

This is a very small town but I did find one of the best Hamburgers I have had yet, at Beep’s Hamburgers. It is a half pound patty made fresh right before your eyes, with a perfectly carmelized bun and the right amount and mix of condiments. If the cook and only employee had a couple of more teeth, I would have asked her to marry me.

Here are a few shots as I crossed two state borders and drove across some desolate scenery.

Oklahoma, flat as a pancake. “I’d rather wake up in the middle of nowhere, than to wake up in the middle of any City” Steve McQueen

Oklahoma border on N/B US-287

Colorado Border on N/B US 287

Well, tonight I should sleep better than last night. I have five voice mails on my cell phone, so I will tend to those and try to get to bed early. I will post again tomorrow and will have 647 miles left to ride from Pueblo on Weds and part of Thursday morning.

Oh, tonight is a special night being Day #2. This means I get to change into some clean underwear for tomorrow. The next time you see me, ask me why I carry Tucks Medicated Pads and Dr Bonner’s Peppermint soap on my rides.

Ciao

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