Got in to Atlanta at 1am Thursday morning.
So I got from Buffalo, WY to Atlanta in 2 days. Thats 1800 miles in 2 days.
I was going nearly insane at the end. My rear tire was bald, there were cops everywhere and my right eye was drooping from exhaustion. I was as hungry as hell but would not let myself stop for anything other than just gas.
Got up and everything seemed fine. Carried on south through Iowa towards Kansas City then all hell let loose with the weather - high winds and mad rain.
So what did I do?
Rushed to IHOP of course and had a stack of pancakes.
I felt alot better coming out even though it was still raining and decided to carry on as long as I could. This was tough and the side winds were pushing me all over the place. I could see RV's and trailers almost getting pushed onto two wheels and off the road. It was nasty.
However my stubborn streak kept me going for the rest of the day. Stopped in St Louis for a Starbucks and went to order some coffee from some young lady there. She asked me what I wanted and I told her 'something strong enough to get me to Atlanta'. So she made me a coffee with seven shots of expresso and didn't charge me a penny! Cool people!
One of the major goals to hit was Nashville and I got there late afternoon.
Then it was onto Chatanooga.
By that time I had all kinds of worries as my rear tire was almost completely bald and it was late night. My clear visor had melted slightly when I put cleaning chemicals on it so I could hardly see. I was also getting a bit mental, worrying that I would get 99% of the way home then crash. I would fill up, get on the highway following the correct signs and STILL would think I am going the wrong way. I guess I had a long day and I was mentally shot.
Anyway I got back home and went to bed as soon as I could!
Thursday, September 4, 2008
September 2nd
So I got some serious miles done! I was sick of being in a hotel room and ready to put down some serious miles. I couldn't wait to get out on the road.
Started off in Buffalo WY and the weather was on my side, although a bit cold in Wyoming, especially at altitude. I froze for my first tank load. When I came into the gas station I filled up and added more layers of clothing (and inner gloves), which made me toasty warm and much happier.
Unfortunately I then got into a speeding rampage and got pulled over for 93mph in a 65. Luckily I talked them out of it but they gave me an 'official warning' blue ticket.
Once the sun got up it warmed up and I got stuck into getting through Nebraska. Got through Omaha then into Iowa in the evening (went on for a while then got a hotel for the night - there were too many deer near the road and I was getting nervous).
Anyway here is a video I took late in the evening:
Started off in Buffalo WY and the weather was on my side, although a bit cold in Wyoming, especially at altitude. I froze for my first tank load. When I came into the gas station I filled up and added more layers of clothing (and inner gloves), which made me toasty warm and much happier.
Unfortunately I then got into a speeding rampage and got pulled over for 93mph in a 65. Luckily I talked them out of it but they gave me an 'official warning' blue ticket.
Once the sun got up it warmed up and I got stuck into getting through Nebraska. Got through Omaha then into Iowa in the evening (went on for a while then got a hotel for the night - there were too many deer near the road and I was getting nervous).
Anyway here is a video I took late in the evening:
Monday, September 1, 2008
September 1
Hi
I started off home today out of Yellowstone going east to Cody. The plan was then to turn south and get to Casper. Well I missed by 100 miles, ending up in Buffalo, WY.
The reason is the cold. It was cold from the moment I got on the bike today until the moment I got off. Rainy, windy and some snow. It was tough. Yellowstone was cold and there were snow flurries going out of the East gate - not a good sign. Anyway I continued onto Cody, going as fast as I can.
One good thing was that I saw several moose today.
Everything was wet and cold until I got to the Big Horn mountains. Then it started snowing on the way up, at the top and on the way down. That made for some difficult riding as I could barely see infront of me.
Anyway I got down to Dayton then carried on east as long as I could bear it, reaching Buffalo, WY.
That leaves me 1700 miles left.
However the weather forecast is good for tomorrow so I am planning on making up time!
I started off home today out of Yellowstone going east to Cody. The plan was then to turn south and get to Casper. Well I missed by 100 miles, ending up in Buffalo, WY.
The reason is the cold. It was cold from the moment I got on the bike today until the moment I got off. Rainy, windy and some snow. It was tough. Yellowstone was cold and there were snow flurries going out of the East gate - not a good sign. Anyway I continued onto Cody, going as fast as I can.
One good thing was that I saw several moose today.
Everything was wet and cold until I got to the Big Horn mountains. Then it started snowing on the way up, at the top and on the way down. That made for some difficult riding as I could barely see infront of me.
Anyway I got down to Dayton then carried on east as long as I could bear it, reaching Buffalo, WY.
That leaves me 1700 miles left.
However the weather forecast is good for tomorrow so I am planning on making up time!
Sunday, August 31, 2008
31st August
Well today was spoilt by the weather - cold and wet. I set the alarm clock so I could get up early but it was raining outside.
So I hung out watching crappy movies (Mrs Doubtfire anyone?) til the weather cleared out.
Went to the park after lunch and immediately made my way up north to Lamar Valley. Watched the beasts out in the open for a while - saw some pronghorn antelope and lots of bison. No wolves. Unfortunately it started to rain so I had to make my way down South.
So I went south to just north of Canyon Junction and walked up the hills there for a while. I felt like I was in the middle of nowhere and I got very close to a really big female elk. That was pretty cool.
After I got to the bike it started to get cold so I made my way home, stopping for bison and elk on the way back.
So overall I had a good time at Yellowstone but a car would have been warmer! If I had a car I could have gone out in the early morning and stayed out late at night to watch what really goes on in the park. It is too cold here to ride the bike very early or late.
Tomorrow I will be leaving Yellowstone out of the east gate then east to Cody. Then I will go South to Casper. This will get me on Interstate 25, which will take me south east. I will go as far and as fast as I can and see where I end up!
So I hung out watching crappy movies (Mrs Doubtfire anyone?) til the weather cleared out.
Went to the park after lunch and immediately made my way up north to Lamar Valley. Watched the beasts out in the open for a while - saw some pronghorn antelope and lots of bison. No wolves. Unfortunately it started to rain so I had to make my way down South.
So I went south to just north of Canyon Junction and walked up the hills there for a while. I felt like I was in the middle of nowhere and I got very close to a really big female elk. That was pretty cool.
After I got to the bike it started to get cold so I made my way home, stopping for bison and elk on the way back.
So overall I had a good time at Yellowstone but a car would have been warmer! If I had a car I could have gone out in the early morning and stayed out late at night to watch what really goes on in the park. It is too cold here to ride the bike very early or late.
Tomorrow I will be leaving Yellowstone out of the east gate then east to Cody. Then I will go South to Casper. This will get me on Interstate 25, which will take me south east. I will go as far and as fast as I can and see where I end up!
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