Note to self: eastern Colorado and all of Kansas on I 70 is just to be endured, not enjoyed.
OK, the riding is not noteworthy so we can talk about other things of interest. In eastern Colorado we passed through a wind turbine farm of at least 200 huge wind turbines. We saw where construction crews are ready to build many more. I cannot understand how this makes economic sense but, after all, I do not know the economics behind this kind of investment.
We did a short stint on I76 then dropped down to I70 via Rt 71 and made good time. It was actually cool and we were going south for about an hour so did not hav to look into the sun. Went through Last Chance, Colorado...maybe that was an omen.
On I70 we were blessed with fog and cloud cover so it was still
cool. Stopped at 100 miles to have breakfast in Flagler, Colorado. Flagler (population 150?) is blessed to have a Starlight Diner. We met the owner, cook, and head waitress. Rick is an award winning chili cook who was the head chef at Willie Nelson's restaurant in Austin, TX 30 years ago. He insisted that we try his various chili blends and then we embellished our breakfast with chili. This was the best breakfast of our entire trip! Honestly, it is worth making a special stop when on I70...it is that good. Rick is certainly a character. Told he is 61 years old and recently married a 30 year old, declaring that indeed, "There IS a God."
By 1100 it was getting noticeably hotter. Around 12:30 Mark pulled us into Hays, Kansas because we simply had to do something to beat the then 93f heat. We gassed up, changed to our lightest riding gear, filled the cooling vests, and were about to forge ahead...when I glanced at my rear tire and saw tire cord showing. That brought me to a standstill.
It is Sunday in Kansas. We have about a dozen motels nearby. There are two motorcycle dealers in town, both closed on Sunday but one open on Monday. The temp is climbing and now hitting 103F.
We checked into a Days Inn for $51, had a beer at the restaurant next door, took a swim in the pool and decided that life is good.
In the bar we net a guy from Maryland who is on a similar trip. He rode 1800 miles in one sitting (Maryland to Pueblo, CO.) Makes us look pretty wimpy. Oh, he is on a Harley Ultra Glide Classic averaging 32 miles/gal versus Mark's 42.
Motorcycle tIres are a black art. Mark has Michelin Pilot 3 tires, I have Pirelli Angels. They are the same size, on similar bikes, carrying about the same weight, and have exactly the same number of miles, at the same speeds. My rear is toast at 5600 miles but Mark has quite a bit of life left on his. It should be noted that for about 50% of the circumference my tire looks OK, the other 50% is showing a 1/2" band of cord. Mark thinks I have a defective tire.
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Location:Hays, Kansas
Where are the bikini babes handing Mark one cold one after another in the pool lounge??
ReplyDeleteHopefully, the rear axle doesn't break on "the Duc" during the last 600 miles into Roanoke - I mean, "What else could possibly go wrong with that Multistrada????"