Not an event report but a report of a 6000 mile road trip by 4 MSTA members to the Pacfic Northwest in August. The jouney was made a bit more interesting by large swings in temperature and dodging wildfires blocking our route! The plan was to ride out to the Pacfic in Washington State and then work back through Montana and the Dakotas.
The group included Kevin from the NOLA area on his R1250 GSA, Tony on his R1250 RT and myself on my Yamaha Tracer 9 GT from the Baton Rouge area and Scott on his R1250 GS form northeast OK We met up on a Saturday in Amarillo TX. I left on Friday and rode to Paris Texas for the night, about half distance to Amarillo and a frequent starting point for my trips out west. Saturdays 400 mile ride to Amarillo saw temps as high as 105F. The humidity was not as high as I am used to in south Louisiana and I was not terribly uncomfortable in my mesh riding gear and cooling towel. However, I made sure to stop every 100 miles or so to rehydrate and wet my towel. It was certainly good to have a motel room waiting for me with the AC on full! The four of us enjoyed a steak for supper at the BIg Texan Steak Ranch a short walk from the motel.
Sunday's destination was Salida, CO. We rode through Dalhart, TX and Clayton, NM to Raton, NM where we picked up I-25 to Walsenburg, CO. From there we went west on CO 69 which I have ridden several times on trips to the Sport Touring Association Rendesvous in Avon. A few miles soth of US 50 we took a shortcut on a county rod to Cotopaxi where we stopped for fuel and a snack. THat is Tony seated on the right. The two guys on the left were local dual sport riders, also taking a break.
The ride on US 50 to Salida was pleasant. We ate at the first of several Mexican resaurants but the Margheritas and food were great!
More to come.
