KRATZMC

Well today began my first leg back to Texas, following my one week visit to my former home town.  I had a great time visiting old friends and even made a few new ones but it was time to get back home.

The day before I had gotten new tires and during the tire removal, it was noted my brake pads were almost done.  I had neglected to check my brake pads before leaving but there are always lessons to be learned from every trip.  The rear pads were completely gone and the fronts have about 1mm left before they hit metal.  I was able to get the rear pads changed but couldn’t get new front ones before I left.  I will try to use only my rear brake on the ride home when needed, in order to save the fronts in case of FUBAR’S.  Besides, I will be mostly on the Interstates so other than emergency braking I can gear down and use the rear brake only.

I spent the night at Tony Zega’s house in Tracy, Ca which allowed me to start the 1,800 mile ride, away from the congestion of the Bay Area Traffic.  At 0600 hrs in the early morning darkness of Daylight Savings Time, I topped off my tank with fuel and began my trek home.  From Tony’s it is just a few minutes to Interstate 5 and I was making good time in the pre-dawn light, with very little traffic.  As usual on long trips, I rode about 100 miles before stopping to have breakfast, just as the sun began to rise directly in front of me.  It was good timing to eat, allowing the sun to crest above the horizon and aleviating having to ride directly into the sun. I normally like to ride from 30 minutes to an hour after waking, to get a good head start on any long journey, which gets me down the road and away from the urban sprawl and also helps to build up a good morning appetite.

After a light breakfast, a few text messages and half a cup of coffee, I resumed my ride.  Now I thought I had gotten a good nights rest but as I continued south, I was fighting the nods.  After another 50 miles, I pulled over to have a Red Bull but it wasn’t working.  I continued to ride, singing to myself inside my helmet but even my off key attempt to keep myself awake was failing.  Now I don’t know if I actually fell asleep but I startled myself a few times, so I let reason win over the need to get back home and pulled over.  I stopped at the Motel 6 at Hwy 46 and I-5, breaking my rule of abstaining from lodges which contain a number in their name.  The alternative of trying to catch a nap on top of my bike or on the ground, made the stay the lesser of two evils.  I reasoned that the $44 nap was much cheaper than and ambulance ride or buying a new machine, so be it.

I grabbed my tank bag, opened the door to my room, pulled of my helmet leaving my ear plugs in and plopped down on the bed.  I immediately went to sleep and awoke an hour and a half later, groggy but refreshed.  It was just what the Doctor ordered and it would allow me to reach my goal for the day, get out of California.  I always opt to take the long way round Los Angeles when heading to or from the S.F. Bay Area, so I continued East on Hwy 46 to Hwy 99, then Hwy 58 over Tehacaphi pass.  This time I decided to head to Barstow and take a route past Joshua Tree National Park and rejoin 10, for the remainder home.  I hadn’t taken this route yet and I am always willing to ride and extra hour or two, just to avoid Dante’s tenth level of Hell, Southern California.

Temperatures varied from the low 40’s to the low 80’s, through out the ride and as I made my way through Palm Springs, the sun began to set.  During Daylight Savings time I always feel robbed of ride time, as the days grow short during the winter months.  With 100 miles to Bltyhe, Ca on the Az border I was reading a half a tank of fuel.  This should be perfect, allowing me to arrive in Blythe with a near empty tank.

Empty Tank.  Note:  The trip meter is off as I forgot to reset it when I left Tracy.  Actual mileage was obtained from my GPS and Streets and Trips.  Average MPG was 42, the clock is set on Central time.

With 578 miles on the odometer, I made my way to the Best Western Sahara in Blythe, 12 hours from my start time, with a cramp in my right hand.  With 1/3 of my trip complete, I thought it was a good time to call it a day and get some rest.  If all goes well, I will make it to the ranch by Dinner Sat night.  I think the next time I head out, I will take a double dose of Vitamin “C” to help get me through the day.

Streets and Trips Map of my route 598 Miles

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