Badlands or bust - Page 6

nikimcbee · 04-29-12, 02:11 PM

Quote:

Wendy and I

Who's this Wendy? She's not the waitress from Gaido's is it?

Onkel Neal · 04-29-12, 11:37 PM

Day 5: Friday, lots of cold rain, strong gusts, as predicted by the weathermen. Caught up on bike maintenance: adjusted chain, lubed, checked oil level, tires and air pressure. Cleaned out luggage.

Wendy, in the rain.

The hill behind our hotel. This ain't MC weather, it's book weather.

Onkel Neal · 04-30-12, 12:00 AM

Day 6: Saturday/Sunday. Got a text message from my little one, she had a piano recital Sunday. Did I already know about that? Not to my knowledge, but I thought it would be nice to be there. I planned a route that would loop west through a bit of Wyoming first, and then down through Colorado to view the Rockies. Google maps estimated a running time of 26 hours and about 1500 miles. A stout challenge but do-able.

So, early Saturday morning, I loaded my gear and set sail west to Wyoming. It was raining a bit for the first hour, but then I ran out of it. I would see threatening clouds most of the way home.

The winds in Wyoming are really strong, 30 to 45 mph. Most of the way through Wyoming and some of Colorado, the gusts would rock the bike and push it around. I ran at a 60 degree angle much of the time. It was also pretty cold, about 42 until Denver, then it warmed up to 51.

The traffic in the Mile High City slowed me down a bit. On Saturday? At least I got to see the Rockies.

I made my way south to the border of Colorado and New Mexico and cross at the high altitude Raton Pass (7834 feet). I then wheeled west and made my way to Clayton, NM. The roads were largely deserted. While stopped and reading a map, a nice guy on a 2011 Suzuki DR650 came up and we talked about the best route through the Panhandle to Dallas.

As night fell, I cruised back into the Lone Star State. I kept seeing some spectacular lightning displays in the cloud banks in front of me. I dreaded getting hit by rain in the dark

Not safe at all. But it never materialize, thank goodness.

By the time I made Amarillo, close to 1am, I was beginning to flag a bit. The stamina isn't the issue, it's the fading concentration--very important on a bike. Also, after 16 hours steady riding, I was getting a little sleepy. As I approached Sweetwater, I pulled off on a country road about 100 yards, and took a 30 minute nap. That kept me going until the sun came back up.

While in the Sweetwater area, I began to see a huge number of flashing red lights, and as I got closer, I could see the faint red glow on the wind turbine blades as they turned. Texas is the Number #1 wind energy producing state in the US.

I continued on through Abilene and was within 30 miles of Cross Plains, the town where Robert E. Howard wrote his Conan stories. But I was not sure I would make it back to Pearland in time for my daughter's concert, so I decided to mark it down as a future road trip.

No other incidents, just lots of riding. I arrived in Pearland about 12:30 pm, after 1502 miles and 27 hours. Wendy needs a bath, new front tire, oil change and probably a new chain. Then... we'll see where. Maybe the Florida Keys.

Some of you may be getting postcards, if you could let me know, that would be sweet.

Final Map of the route
Close calls: several lapses of concentration, fixed with coffee
Song of the Day: Roll Me Away - Bob Seger
Philosophical thought: Wherever you go, there you are.
Dining: The Depot: Denny's, Ultimate Omelette: A

Falkirion · 04-30-12, 12:40 AM

Long ride home mate. Great shots and trip report Neal.

HunterICX · 04-30-12, 03:23 AM

Neal,

Well played you've made me jealous sitting here at work reading your reports of you having all the fun.

Seems like a hell of a ride

Plans over here are forming about a trip to Morroco after the summer season this year.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Neal Stevens

Some of you may be getting postcards, if you could let me know, that would be sweet.

Got one of you last week, appreciate it

HunterICX

TarJak · 04-30-12, 04:59 AM

Awesom trip Neal. Thanks for sharing it with us all.

Reece · 04-30-12, 05:14 AM

Welcome back, nice to see you arrived in good health!

And now for a good nights sleep in your own bed!!

Jimbuna · 04-30-12, 05:51 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Neal Stevens

Some of you may be getting postcards, if you could let me know, that would be sweet.

Rgr that buddy...see #34

http://www.subsim.com/radioroom/show...5&postcount=34

Onkel Neal · 04-30-12, 09:30 AM

Some interesting info about Wyoming and wind farms.

They definitely have the raw material.

nikimcbee · 04-30-12, 09:32 AM

Well Neal, I'm glad you made it home safely. Was it your first time to Wyoming?

Onkel Neal · 04-30-12, 09:46 AM

It was. Wyoming certainly lived up to its billing as the least populated state (560,000). I went for miles without seeing a residence or vehicle. The towns I passed through...cannot imagine what it's like to live there. Not saying good or bad, but very isolated.

Penguin · 04-30-12, 10:13 AM

First: good that you came home in one piece - so we can enjoy subsim a little more!

Sounds like it was a nice trip, despite the little rush on the last day.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Neal Stevens

Some interesting info about Wyoming and wind farms.

They definitely have the raw material.

The US map is definitely very interesting. I didn't know how huge the area in the US with excellent wind conditions was.

For a comparision, wind conditions in Germany, note that slim red line along the coast is the only area with avarage speeds more than 21ft.
Being about 2/3 the size of Texas, we produce 2/3 as much wind energy as the whole US - so there is definitely a lot of potential. Germany has the same issues than WY: bringing the power from the areas where it's harvested, to the areas that consume it, so there is now a massive construction/renovation of power lines in N/S direction.

For Western Europe, I could only find this map, without any scale though:

As you mentioned Texas being the biggest wind energy producer in the US: Are there also offshore wind farms in the Gulf?

sorry for derailing, but [child voice]: you started it! nah, nah, nah, nah, nah

[/voice off]

Herr-Berbunch · 04-30-12, 11:03 AM

I've ignored this thread until you got back, to read it all in one - a good trip to clean out the cobwebs before teaching. And some great pics.

Some more on that EA-6A -

Quote:

In VMCJ-1 70-73. Deployed from IWA to Danang 20 Nov 70 to support Son Tay raid and follow on NVN strikes. (Cardwell/Miner) In VMCJ-1 Cubi for Linebacker support. Last of VMCJ-1 RM acft transpac to NKT by LtCol Bloomer Aug 75, Was prototype for RECAP mod program for reserves. Last unit VAQ-33. Had been slated to be used as target or training aid at Hardwood Weapons Range, Volk Field, WI. but somehow ended up on static display/in restoration At Warner Museum of Aviation, Souix City, Iowa!

Source: http://www.mcara.us/EA-6A_history.html

Still waiting for my postcard, but then you don't have my address.

nikimcbee · 04-30-12, 11:17 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Neal Stevens

It was. Wyoming certainly lived up to its billing as the least populated state (560,000). I went for miles without seeing a residence or vehicle. The towns I passed through...cannot imagine what it's like to live there. Not saying good or bad, but very isolated.

My uncle has lived all over Wyoming. When I was in high school, I visited him for a week. The girls are...very friendly

. I was worried you might pick up a girlfriend as you passed through there.

.

nikimcbee · 04-30-12, 11:22 AM

Too bad you didn't have the time to visit Yellowstone. You can spend a whole week there camping, just watch out for the bears and the moose.

04-30-12, 05:14 AM	#82
Reece CINC Pacific Fleet Join Date: Sep 2003 Location: Down Under Posts: 34,901 Downloads: 171 Uploads: 0	Welcome back, nice to see you arrived in good health! And now for a good nights sleep in your own bed!! __________________ *Sub captains go down with their ship!*

04-30-12, 09:32 AM	#85
nikimcbee Fleet Admiral Join Date: Jul 2003 Location: Patroling the Slot. Posts: 17,952 Downloads: 90 Uploads: 0	Well Neal, I'm glad you made it home safely. Was it your first time to Wyoming? __________________

04-30-12, 11:22 AM	#90
nikimcbee Fleet Admiral Join Date: Jul 2003 Location: Patroling the Slot. Posts: 17,952 Downloads: 90 Uploads: 0	Too bad you didn't have the time to visit Yellowstone. You can spend a whole week there camping, just watch out for the bears and the moose. __________________

04-29-12, 11:37 PM	#77
Onkel Neal Born to Run Silent Join Date: Jan 1997 Location: Cougar Trap, Texas Posts: 21,386 Downloads: 541 Uploads: 224	Day 5: Friday, lots of cold rain, strong gusts, as predicted by the weathermen. Caught up on bike maintenance: adjusted chain, lubed, checked oil level, tires and air pressure. Cleaned out luggage. Wendy, in the rain. The hill behind our hotel. This ain't MC weather, it's book weather.

04-30-12, 12:00 AM	#78
Onkel Neal Born to Run Silent Join Date: Jan 1997 Location: Cougar Trap, Texas Posts: 21,386 Downloads: 541 Uploads: 224	Day 6: Saturday/Sunday. Got a text message from my little one, she had a piano recital Sunday. Did I already know about that? Not to my knowledge, but I thought it would be nice to be there. I planned a route that would loop west through a bit of Wyoming first, and then down through Colorado to view the Rockies. Google maps estimated a running time of 26 hours and about 1500 miles. A stout challenge but do-able. So, early Saturday morning, I loaded my gear and set sail west to Wyoming. It was raining a bit for the first hour, but then I ran out of it. I would see threatening clouds most of the way home. The winds in Wyoming are really strong, 30 to 45 mph. Most of the way through Wyoming and some of Colorado, the gusts would rock the bike and push it around. I ran at a 60 degree angle much of the time. It was also pretty cold, about 42 until Denver, then it warmed up to 51. The traffic in the Mile High City slowed me down a bit. On Saturday? At least I got to see the Rockies. I made my way south to the border of Colorado and New Mexico and cross at the high altitude Raton Pass (7834 feet). I then wheeled west and made my way to Clayton, NM. The roads were largely deserted. While stopped and reading a map, a nice guy on a 2011 Suzuki DR650 came up and we talked about the best route through the Panhandle to Dallas. As night fell, I cruised back into the Lone Star State. I kept seeing some spectacular lightning displays in the cloud banks in front of me. I dreaded getting hit by rain in the dark Not safe at all. But it never materialize, thank goodness. By the time I made Amarillo, close to 1am, I was beginning to flag a bit. The stamina isn't the issue, it's the fading concentration--very important on a bike. Also, after 16 hours steady riding, I was getting a little sleepy. As I approached Sweetwater, I pulled off on a country road about 100 yards, and took a 30 minute nap. That kept me going until the sun came back up. While in the Sweetwater area, I began to see a huge number of flashing red lights, and as I got closer, I could see the faint red glow on the wind turbine blades as they turned. Texas is the Number #1 wind energy producing state in the US. I continued on through Abilene and was within 30 miles of Cross Plains, the town where Robert E. Howard wrote his Conan stories. But I was not sure I would make it back to Pearland in time for my daughter's concert, so I decided to mark it down as a future road trip. No other incidents, just lots of riding. I arrived in Pearland about 12:30 pm, after 1502 miles and 27 hours. Wendy needs a bath, new front tire, oil change and probably a new chain. Then... we'll see where. Maybe the Florida Keys. Some of you may be getting postcards, if you could let me know, that would be sweet. *Final Map of the route* Close calls: several lapses of concentration, fixed with coffee Song of the Day: Roll Me Away - Bob Seger Philosophical thought: Wherever you go, there you are. Dining: The Depot: Denny's, Ultimate Omelette: A

04-30-12, 12:40 AM	#79
Falkirion Ace of the Deep Join Date: Aug 2008 Location: Melbourne, AUS Posts: 1,043 Downloads: 34 Uploads: 0	Long ride home mate. Great shots and trip report Neal.

04-30-12, 04:59 AM	#81
TarJak Fleet Admiral Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: Sydney, Australia Posts: 17,052 Downloads: 150 Uploads: 8	Awesom trip Neal. Thanks for sharing it with us all.

04-30-12, 09:30 AM	#84
Onkel Neal Born to Run Silent Join Date: Jan 1997 Location: Cougar Trap, Texas Posts: 21,386 Downloads: 541 Uploads: 224	Some interesting info about Wyoming and wind farms. They definitely have the raw material.

04-30-12, 09:46 AM	#86
Onkel Neal Born to Run Silent Join Date: Jan 1997 Location: Cougar Trap, Texas Posts: 21,386 Downloads: 541 Uploads: 224	It was. Wyoming certainly lived up to its billing as the least populated state (560,000). I went for miles without seeing a residence or vehicle. The towns I passed through...cannot imagine what it's like to live there. Not saying good or bad, but very isolated.