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1500 Miles in 31 Hours...
First off I don't recommend this ride to anyone! But I'd do it again.
It all started with a question, and the answer was if we do it in 36 hours we
qualify for an Iron Butt Ride. So we decided and pushed the date from talking on
Monday to driving that Friday. Things like this need little planning, if your down
your down no matter what.
Mike and I met up in Hayward, gassed and left at 10:00pm sharp. The first
couple hundred miles were more to get comfortable for the long ride ahead.
Soon we were traveling on the interstate past Chico, Redding and entering
Oregon. Oregon has funny speed limit laws (55 mph) and normally I'd try to
respect them but now was not the time.
We headed past Klamath Falls to Medford and Froze our asses off in the High
Desert Wilderness areas they call National Parks. 19 degrees and a wind chill
factor of 90 miles per hour. There was snow everywhere and probably black ice
I just refused to acknowledge it. One of the comforts I got is Heated grips and
they work good, Mike has no such thing so when we pull over his hands are frozen
and cramping while I got steam coming off mine. I gotta lotta love for a guy who
can drive under those conditions (not love in a Brokeback Mountain way) but a
lotta respect and love none the less.
As the morning sun began to rise we found ourselves frozen from the helmet to
our toes and decided to stop off at a local diner and grab "the special" (eggs,
bacon, hash browns, ham) and lotta warm coffee. The warm mugs were a great
comfort in my hands and we drank our fill. It was probably 7:00am and a little
warmer because the sun was coming up. We filled up with gas and off we went.
Into the High Desert we went and we came across some amazing sights like the
Twin Sisters Mountain Ranges in Bend Oregon and all kinds of beautiful Lakes
and Valleys.
Keep in mind the speed limit is 55 mph and we are doing 80 to 90 the whole state
of Oregon. Oregon hates Californians and have plenty of bumper stickers to that
effect. Our patches have California in big bold letters. Its unbelievable we did
not get stopped. I had charted the route through most of the National Park's
and kept us away from the main roads patrolled by the State Troopers. We did
start to see State Troopers as we entered the main interstates and had a few
close calls though.
Now to stay awake we tried everything we could think of i.e.: Red Bull, Starbucks
Double Shots, Vitamin Packets, Full Throttle energy Drinks, Pimp Juice, Hot
Coffee, Cold Coffee & eating bugs. To some level it worked but, when you start
mixing Red Bull with Full Throttle I started to see things in the corners of my
eyes. Seriously when flying down the road in the middle of the night that dark
area just to your sides, behind the headlamps glow is filled with all sorts of
shadows. I won't say more, but I will say don't mix Red Bull with Full Throttle!
The Bugs were impressive! At various points along the route we collected so
many bugs on the front of our bikes that it was a safety issue! My windshield had
131 flavors of bug splattered all over it along with my helmet. The bugs were
splattered so thick that it seemed that Mike's bike was egged by a group of
punk,"bug filled" egg throwing kids. All different colors and sizes, some flew
into the helmet some into my clothing and a seriously large bee even stung me
inside my shirt on my back. The little fucker probably didn't like the fact I was
killing off the rest of his clan. I'm thinking of changing my name from Big Sweaty
D to Bug Killer!
After several attempts to remove the bugs from the front of the bikes we
moved forward. Into Idaho we ride at around 3:00pm on Saturday. We were
heading towards my awaiting new 5 bedroom 4.5 bathroom House for some
seriously needed rest. Once we arrive we found out that we couldn't get into the
place (the security code was f**ked up) and we left as quickly as we got there
since my punk-ass realtor wouldn't accept my calls! "The Beeyatch"
They were nice folks and my Mike gave them our MC's card. Outside we spent
They were nice folks and my Mike gave them our MC's card. Outside we spent
more time cleaning the bugs off the bikes and took the time to check in with our
peeps. Our plan was to complete 1000 miles before 10:00pm, but my plan was to
keep riding for 12 more hours till we get back home.
keep riding for 12 more hours till we get back home.
"The Blurr", began when leaving Idaho and continued while re-entering Oregon.
We stopped and I told Mike we were entering the straightest stretch in the
desert and there are no cops and now would be the time if he ever wanted to see
how fast his bike would go... So we started to make up for lost time.
It is a beautiful thing riding in the desert as the sun goes down. All different
shades of purple, blue, crimson and everything in-between. It's a special time of
day when your all alone in the middle of a desert plain and you can reflect. Oh did
I mention the bugs?
So more Red Bull and more stops to take a leak and more Red Bull.... We enter
Nevada and pull over in some town with a Basque Restaurant, a Casino and Gas.
We take the gas and decide to get more Red Bull in Winnemucca.
I love Winnemucca, I go there a lot and have finally decided on a favorite stop
there. Its "The Flying J" a Sonoco gas stop for Truckers with all the amenities
you come to love when you're putting a lot of time on the road. Stuff like
Showers, Laundry, Couches, Big screen TV, Slot Machines, Hot Babes, Hot Food,
Hot Coffee, Cheep Gas and so on. I stop there every time now, and it's easy to
hit the interstate from there. We drowned some more Red Bulls (the new
improved larger can) and I had this thing that was called "Meatballs on a Stick",
so simple I wish I thought of it.
Even though we were in desperate need of sleep we decided to head toward
Reno, another personal favorite stop. Lots of action in Reno, but not the type we
were looking for.
Off we went into the night to kill more bugs. I don't remember much of that
stretch because I was sleeping most the way but I did remember coming up on
Sparks, NV because there were some pretty hairy turns and I had to wake up
for them. We pulled over for gas at a 7-11 with no fucking bathroom. I felt like
just peeing on the gas pump but I took us over to another spot, a Arco am/pm
that sold us some Pimp Juice.
From Reno it was all downhill, Literally. We hit Tahoe and started our decline
until we came onto Sacramento. We pulled over for more gas at a spot I cannot
remember and it was at this point my credit / atm card was refused because of
the weird multi state pattern they thought it was stolen. So they cancelled my
shit! Bastards should have called me first, it's a good thing I was carrying a grip
of cash!
It was here that Mike and I split up, we were both content with the fact we were
in the Bay Area again and for some reason I thought I was closer to home than we
really were. I thought we were in San Pablo,but it turns out we were somewhere
totally different. By the time I figured it out I tried to find mike on the freeway
and started to turn off in Richmond to backtrak but decided it was a bad idea as
I got lost in a parking lot.
Driving across the Benicia Bridge alone and into the Bay Area was good, I was
coming home and could not wait. It was at this point I noticed the HUMUNGO
Fireball and Plume of smoke on the freeway ahead of me. Some disrespectful
speeding cocksucker of a tanker truck driver flipped his truck and dropped
8000 gallons of gasoline on the last part of my drive. The dude even started the
shit on fire and burned down the over-pass and it collapsed it in front of me.
What a fucking jerk, didn't he know how tired I was. Any way I tried to drive
around it but I was also attracted to it like a moth to my headlight. So I stopped
and watched it burn.
Rolling up to the house at 5:00am on Sunday was special. The ride was behind me
and I have all the greatest memories to last me until the next one.
A special note to my Riding Partner Mike, Even though you're were riding a
Harley Road Glide and you took more of the weather than I ever did, I gotta a lot
of respect for you. You put up with more shit in such a short time than I ever saw
in a man. You allowed yourself to be pushed and pushed and that is a true test in
a man's character. I know you wanted to rest many times along the way and
because you didn't give in and you pushed yourself beyond and you rode Hard... I
got a lot of Respect for you. Some other guys would have quit.
Big Sweaty D
First off I don't recommend this ride to anyone! But I'd do it again.
It all started with a question, and the answer was if we do it in 36 hours we
qualify for an Iron Butt Ride. So we decided and pushed the date from talking on
Monday to driving that Friday. Things like this need little planning, if your down
your down no matter what.
Mike and I met up in Hayward, gassed and left at 10:00pm sharp. The first
couple hundred miles were more to get comfortable for the long ride ahead.
Soon we were traveling on the interstate past Chico, Redding and entering
Oregon. Oregon has funny speed limit laws (55 mph) and normally I'd try to
respect them but now was not the time.
We headed past Klamath Falls to Medford and Froze our asses off in the High
Desert Wilderness areas they call National Parks. 19 degrees and a wind chill
factor of 90 miles per hour. There was snow everywhere and probably black ice
I just refused to acknowledge it. One of the comforts I got is Heated grips and
they work good, Mike has no such thing so when we pull over his hands are frozen
and cramping while I got steam coming off mine. I gotta lotta love for a guy who
can drive under those conditions (not love in a Brokeback Mountain way) but a
lotta respect and love none the less.
As the morning sun began to rise we found ourselves frozen from the helmet to
our toes and decided to stop off at a local diner and grab "the special" (eggs,
bacon, hash browns, ham) and lotta warm coffee. The warm mugs were a great
comfort in my hands and we drank our fill. It was probably 7:00am and a little
warmer because the sun was coming up. We filled up with gas and off we went.
Into the High Desert we went and we came across some amazing sights like the
Twin Sisters Mountain Ranges in Bend Oregon and all kinds of beautiful Lakes
and Valleys.
Keep in mind the speed limit is 55 mph and we are doing 80 to 90 the whole state
of Oregon. Oregon hates Californians and have plenty of bumper stickers to that
effect. Our patches have California in big bold letters. Its unbelievable we did
not get stopped. I had charted the route through most of the National Park's
and kept us away from the main roads patrolled by the State Troopers. We did
start to see State Troopers as we entered the main interstates and had a few
close calls though.
Now to stay awake we tried everything we could think of i.e.: Red Bull, Starbucks
Double Shots, Vitamin Packets, Full Throttle energy Drinks, Pimp Juice, Hot
Coffee, Cold Coffee & eating bugs. To some level it worked but, when you start
mixing Red Bull with Full Throttle I started to see things in the corners of my
eyes. Seriously when flying down the road in the middle of the night that dark
area just to your sides, behind the headlamps glow is filled with all sorts of
shadows. I won't say more, but I will say don't mix Red Bull with Full Throttle!
The Bugs were impressive! At various points along the route we collected so
many bugs on the front of our bikes that it was a safety issue! My windshield had
131 flavors of bug splattered all over it along with my helmet. The bugs were
splattered so thick that it seemed that Mike's bike was egged by a group of
punk,"bug filled" egg throwing kids. All different colors and sizes, some flew
into the helmet some into my clothing and a seriously large bee even stung me
inside my shirt on my back. The little fucker probably didn't like the fact I was
killing off the rest of his clan. I'm thinking of changing my name from Big Sweaty
D to Bug Killer!
After several attempts to remove the bugs from the front of the bikes we
moved forward. Into Idaho we ride at around 3:00pm on Saturday. We were
heading towards my awaiting new 5 bedroom 4.5 bathroom House for some
seriously needed rest. Once we arrive we found out that we couldn't get into the
place (the security code was f**ked up) and we left as quickly as we got there
since my punk-ass realtor wouldn't accept my calls! "The Beeyatch"
They were nice folks and my Mike gave them our MC's card. Outside we spent
They were nice folks and my Mike gave them our MC's card. Outside we spent
more time cleaning the bugs off the bikes and took the time to check in with our
peeps. Our plan was to complete 1000 miles before 10:00pm, but my plan was to
keep riding for 12 more hours till we get back home.
keep riding for 12 more hours till we get back home.
"The Blurr", began when leaving Idaho and continued while re-entering Oregon.
We stopped and I told Mike we were entering the straightest stretch in the
desert and there are no cops and now would be the time if he ever wanted to see
how fast his bike would go... So we started to make up for lost time.
It is a beautiful thing riding in the desert as the sun goes down. All different
shades of purple, blue, crimson and everything in-between. It's a special time of
day when your all alone in the middle of a desert plain and you can reflect. Oh did
I mention the bugs?
So more Red Bull and more stops to take a leak and more Red Bull.... We enter
Nevada and pull over in some town with a Basque Restaurant, a Casino and Gas.
We take the gas and decide to get more Red Bull in Winnemucca.
I love Winnemucca, I go there a lot and have finally decided on a favorite stop
there. Its "The Flying J" a Sonoco gas stop for Truckers with all the amenities
you come to love when you're putting a lot of time on the road. Stuff like
Showers, Laundry, Couches, Big screen TV, Slot Machines, Hot Babes, Hot Food,
Hot Coffee, Cheep Gas and so on. I stop there every time now, and it's easy to
hit the interstate from there. We drowned some more Red Bulls (the new
improved larger can) and I had this thing that was called "Meatballs on a Stick",
so simple I wish I thought of it.
Even though we were in desperate need of sleep we decided to head toward
Reno, another personal favorite stop. Lots of action in Reno, but not the type we
were looking for.
Off we went into the night to kill more bugs. I don't remember much of that
stretch because I was sleeping most the way but I did remember coming up on
Sparks, NV because there were some pretty hairy turns and I had to wake up
for them. We pulled over for gas at a 7-11 with no fucking bathroom. I felt like
just peeing on the gas pump but I took us over to another spot, a Arco am/pm
that sold us some Pimp Juice.
From Reno it was all downhill, Literally. We hit Tahoe and started our decline
until we came onto Sacramento. We pulled over for more gas at a spot I cannot
remember and it was at this point my credit / atm card was refused because of
the weird multi state pattern they thought it was stolen. So they cancelled my
shit! Bastards should have called me first, it's a good thing I was carrying a grip
of cash!
It was here that Mike and I split up, we were both content with the fact we were
in the Bay Area again and for some reason I thought I was closer to home than we
really were. I thought we were in San Pablo,but it turns out we were somewhere
totally different. By the time I figured it out I tried to find mike on the freeway
and started to turn off in Richmond to backtrak but decided it was a bad idea as
I got lost in a parking lot.
Driving across the Benicia Bridge alone and into the Bay Area was good, I was
coming home and could not wait. It was at this point I noticed the HUMUNGO
Fireball and Plume of smoke on the freeway ahead of me. Some disrespectful
speeding cocksucker of a tanker truck driver flipped his truck and dropped
8000 gallons of gasoline on the last part of my drive. The dude even started the
shit on fire and burned down the over-pass and it collapsed it in front of me.
What a fucking jerk, didn't he know how tired I was. Any way I tried to drive
around it but I was also attracted to it like a moth to my headlight. So I stopped
and watched it burn.
Rolling up to the house at 5:00am on Sunday was special. The ride was behind me
and I have all the greatest memories to last me until the next one.
A special note to my Riding Partner Mike, Even though you're were riding a
Harley Road Glide and you took more of the weather than I ever did, I gotta a lot
of respect for you. You put up with more shit in such a short time than I ever saw
in a man. You allowed yourself to be pushed and pushed and that is a true test in
a man's character. I know you wanted to rest many times along the way and
because you didn't give in and you pushed yourself beyond and you rode Hard... I
got a lot of Respect for you. Some other guys would have quit.
Big Sweaty D