SR 24 takes a hard left in Hanksville, a small crossroads in the middle of NOWHERESVILLE. I am going north now, not really the direction I need, but one I must take to enter Colorado in the right place tomorrow.
I leave Hanksville at 85 mph and soon find the ST at 95. The road is as flat as Calista Flockhart, and smoooooooth. The San Rafael Desert is scenic. The bluffs to left and right, guarding me. The annoying cross wind when I was east bound, now a awesome tailwind.
Soon 95mph gives way to 100, and then 105. There, I found the sweet spot the ST wants to run at. I tuck down slightly and find the quiet. I ride 105 mph hour for the next 40 miles. I only notice the speed when I look down at the lines flashing under me like this-------------and not the normal - - - - " The utility poles flick by me in a constant swoosh. I am literally flying on the ground brothers. This is why we ride motorcycles, to experience what I am feeling now. My outline is to my right in the late afternoon sun. The brothers and sisters reading this know what I am feeling, it is the non riders I wish I could dial in and let sample. If I could you would never ask why we do it again, and then you would be like me, riding thousands of miles to experience this 40 miles of bliss.
In the east, riding like this is unheard off. Traffic, villages, urban sprawl, and frequent LEOs make such a ride impossible. Riding 105 mph for almost 50 miles, is one of life's pure joys, but there are so few places to do it.
It was warm that afternoon but not hot. I covered the 44 miles from Hanksville to I-70 in about 20 minutes.
I-70 appears in the distance and I bring the ST down to make the ramp. Its a helluva note when a guy has to slow down, after he gets on a interstate, but that's what I had to do. Interstates are too heavily patrolled.
Riding east to Green River I can see the smoky haze rising from Colorado, 100 miles away.
I take the first Green River exit, and the first thing I see is a white Prelude getting a receipt from the local cop.
The KOA is located a few miles from the center of town, and I have little trouble finding it. My back and leg felt stiff when I unsaddled at the office.
I pick a quiet, and dark spot in the rear. There are a number of RVs, but only a few tents.
I set my tent up and stowed away my gear, then took a shower.
I rode 516 miles today.
So far I've only cooked one time this trip. Mostly because it is too hot to walk around in my Roadcrafter in a store, and peeling it off and leaving it on bike is out of the question.
I rode back into town and had a excellent NY strip at a place brother Don Cortez recommended. Ray's. The cafe was nothing fancy, but the steak was seared to perfection. It was close to closing time, and I was the only guy in the place, so I called home when I finished eating, and spent sometime with my wife, then called my son.
It was dark when I got back to the KOA. I sipped lemonade and made journal notes, and wrote down the routes for the ride tomorrow. I set my TV on the table and watched the news from a forgotten local station. The picture was a little fuzzy, but the sound excellent. If I do this good in the middle of nowhere, I will have good reception at most other places.
I will try to make Amarillo the next day, bringing me within 1000 miles of home. If I do, it will place me in position for 2 days of easy riding home. But Amarillo will be hard. I scanned the map of the planned route. Almost all of the 600+ miles will be on 2 lane roads, and much of that in the mountains. I am a seasoned long rider, and even by myself 600 miles of 2 lane, mostly mountain, and then throw in a few cites (Grand Junction, Pueblo etc) to get through, will make it a long day. Long riders can look at 500 map miles and quickly convert it to real miles, and figure pretty closely to time on the road. I can jump on I-70, and devour Colorado the painless way, but what fun would that be? No, I want to ride the heart of the Rockies, and if it adds another day to home, who cares?? Certainly NOT me, and I am the only one that counts in this equation.
Do not for a instant confuse 600 back road miles, with open interstate riding.
Finished with that, I went in my tent and watched Leno till I got sleepy. A perfect ending to a awesome day.