The Trip - Day Four

I apologize. I have no photo for this section and actually took very few. I was so intent on riding (and it's hard to take pictures while riding a motorcycle) that I just didn't take them. The next ride I'll try to do more.

The last leg of the journey had a few unpleasant surprises, but nothing unexpected when I think back on it. The trip yesterday turned out to be closer to 800 miles in total. It was a long day of riding. If it hadn’t been for my back and butt being in pain from these first 2,000 miles I could have gone further last night. It’s nice and cool riding at night. The traffic is lighter. It’s quiet. When you stop along deserted highway you can see the millions of stars.

I had fallen asleep in less than ten seconds last night, literally. I woke early and gave up on additional sleep without attempting it. I showered and got ready for the remaining ride segments. Based on the temperatures when we rolled in I dressed for a cool morning ride. I couldn’t have been more wrong.

I had a donut and orange juice at the continental breakfast and then we got ready to get on the road. It had already warmed up into the 70’s by 9:00. I was reminded we were back in Florida where heat combined with humidity to make the highway a blast furnace. I only hoped the early morning would be tolerable. Our total trip today would be just over 400 miles to get home.

In other states we had seen few police patrolling the Memorial Day weekend. From Colorado through Alabama I had seen no speed traps looking for hurried vacationers. The few instances I had seen troopers had been on normal highway patrols. But now we were back in Florida. Within 30 minutes of Tallahassee we passed no less than 12 patrolmen either in speed-trap position or with motorists pulled over. Between Tallahassee and I-75 we must have seen 30 different patrol cars involved in some aspect of speed control for the holidays. I found it interesting that suddenly there were more police visible in a 120-mile stretch of I-10 than I saw in the other 2,000 plus miles of my journey. I found relief that none of them expressed interest in us as we cruised towards Gainesville.

Once on I-75 traffic picked up in volume and speed. The slow lane moved at the 70MPH speed limit and the faster lanes ranged from 85MPH to 95MPH. I kept towards the happy medium as much as possible. Gainesville was a planned stop to visit my daughter and get some breakfast. It was good to see the recent graduate (yes, I’m proud of my kids and take every opportunity to brag about them) and see how life was progressing. We went to a “deli” for breakfast around 11:30 and had great food with our conversation.

Back at Katherine’s apartment I took my watch off to lather up with the dreaded sunscreen. Even though I had been blinded by it before, I wanted to go with my new half helmet for the remainder of the trip. I covered up thoroughly and before long we were on our way. It was over 100 miles later that I realized I had forgotten to put my watch back on my wrist. I called Katherine later to ask her to look for it, knowing there was little chance of survival. She found the crushed remains of my Skagen in the parking lot. It was the last big negative of the trip. The watch was great for the last four years, but it could be replaced.

The ride started with fueling and then we were headed south. Within 30 miles I noticed the heat was far more intense than any other part of the ride had been. By the time we had traveled 70 miles I could feel the sun sucking the life from my skin. We stopped at a hospitality center to get gas and refreshments. We took our time in the air-conditioned comfort knowing the hell that waited outside. Even the three patrolmen we saw inside seemed reluctant to begin their shift.

Back on the road we found more traffic than before. Passing cars and groups often separated Andre and me. He was in a hurry to get home to his pregnant wife (due the end of July) and his Gold Wing provided the power to get there quickly. I lagged behind and within 40 minutes we were in far different sections of the turnpike.

As I approached West Palm Beach I noticed threatening clouds in the distance. Fifteen miles away it was accompanied by the traditional drop in temperature as the road dropped from the high 90’s to the low 70’s. I wasn’t sure I would make the last 20 miles of a nearly perfect trip before dawning my rain suit. Somehow, it worked. I had a few drops on the exit and a few in the first several hundred yards. Then, I was away from the storm cloud and driving with sunny skies.

The bike was filthy with bugs. I had cleaned the windshield several times, but had never washed the bike of the now 2,400 miles of highway grunge. I stopped in Royal Palm Beach at a car wash and pressure washed the motorcycle. I was amazed at the places bugs had managed to end their lives.

Once cleaned, I drove her home. The total miles came to 2,417. My actual time driving was about.33 hours including rest stops. The journey from Castle Rock, CO to Wellington, FL had lasted a total of 74 hours. I was tired, but felt good about the ride and the new bike. I called the people that needed to know that I made it safely. I unpacked a few things. I showered. I lay down. I slept.

I recommend an adventure like this for everyone at least once every five years. Whether you ride motorcycle, hike, ski, dive… whatever you do, do it big occasionally. It shows you what you can do; that you still have it in you. It restores confidence. And best of all, it’s great fun. It’s good to be home, but I’m ready to ride anytime.