AaronMcCarthy.com

I actually got home Thursday night around 11:30 but was resting all day Friday trying to recuperate from the 5,696 miles and 18 states. I’m just now getting around to posting an update.

Tuesday we rode to the top of Pike’s Peak which is just West of Colorado Springs and is home of the famous annual Pike’s Peak Hill Climb. The weather was perfect…at the base of the mountain anyway. As we made the ascent the winds picked up and temps dropped making it a real challenge on two wheels. The winds at the summit had to be blowing at 40-50 mph while the temp was 31 degrees!! Part of the road to the top is unpaved which made it even more challenging for the two-wheelers. After reaching the top we were at 14,110 ft!! It was a little difficult to breathe especially if you exerted yourself in the least amount. For example, I bent over to pick up my helmet after the high winds knocked it off my bike and as I stood up I was light headed and dizzy. The pressure that high is much greater also. I had a small bottle of power in my luggage compartment and it exploded. I also had a Gatorade bottle that swelled up and nearly exploded. I released the pressure but when I got back to the base of the mountain the bottle was squeezed in from the negative pressure. I know big deal but I found it interesting.

The ride home was an adventure in itself. From dodging tornadoes to almost being taken out by a deer 50 miles out from the house.

We left Colorado Springs Wednesday morning to begin the long ride home. Dave headed South then cut East to get back to Tallahassee. Cliff was staying out to ride a few more weeks with his wife. Must be nice to be retired! Hillard and I rode together to St Louis. He then split off and headed to Lebanon, TN where his truck was parked at Dave’s sister-in-law’s house.

The first day we clocked 500 miles then followed it up with the remaining 650 on Thursday. The initial 400 miles from “The Springs”, as the locals refer to Colorado Springs, was long and rather boring due to the uninteresting plains. We had to stop and air up Hillard’s tire since it developed a small leak after climbing Pike’s Peak. We think the pressure difference altered the plug’s position in the tire.

It was a super hot day through Kansas. So much so, that we stopped and took our riding jackets off. That’s very rare since we always wear our gear no matter how short the ride. At one point Hillard opened a bottle of water while riding in front of me and some sprayed back. I radioed to him asking him to lift the bottle and squeeze! It was so refreshing.

It was getting late in the day Wednesday when we noticed the sky was darkening ahead of us. So we pulled off the interstate onto a small county road and geared up with our rain gear. It was damn near torture because it was so hot and rain hadn’t begun to fall yet to cool things off. After about an hour it began raining really hard. The sky was super black, very ominous looking…almost like it was straight out of a Hollywood effects studio. I began to get worried since, after all, we are in Kansas one of the most tornadic states in the country.

After a slight communication mishap Hillard and I were separated. I radioed to him but didn’t get an answer. I pulled off the interstate and waited and radioed for 10 minutes in the torrential rain but still didn’t receive a response. So I assumed he ducked for shelter at a gas station. I needed fuel myself so I stopped at a small station and the lady said you better get out of here. I asked why and she pointed to the south east and said, “because there’s a tornado”. I asked which way was it headed and she replied, “right this way, leave now”. Her husband also said there was a tornado just north of I-70 as well. I got on the bike and hauled ass!! I was doing 80-90 in the monsoon type rain. I figured that was the least dangerous option. Needless to say, I was frightened but never panicked.

I continued on to exit 275 to call and see where Hillard was. I reached him via cell phone only to hear the loud tornado sirens in the background. He said everyone was huddled in the corner of the gas station. He wasn’t going anywhere soon. So after a quick call home to get a radar update, I got back on I-70 to try and outrun this storm because it was headed right for my current location. The lightning was so intense that it started several fires along the interstate. One was a large structure of some sort fully involved when I passed it by where others were small brush fires. I outran the storm and stopped at exit 350 for a breather and to call home. Hillard and I got back together at exit 356 and grabbed a hotel for the night.

I mentioned the exact exit numbers for a reason. Remember I got off the highway at exit 275? This is what happened at exit 286. We were very lucky that we didn’t get caught up in this. This was the same storm system that devastated that boy scout camp in Iowa and spawned more than 35 tornadoes that evening.

That wasn’t all the drama for the drive home though. I was about 50 miles out from the house when a forest rat, aka deer, decided to play chicken and darted out from the high median grass right in front of me. I grabbed all the brakes I could while steering towards the rat. I did this because by the time I got to where he is now he wouldn’t be there. I read about that technique and finally got to practice it. It came instinctual. I missed his hind legs by less than a foot!! After a few choice words I thought how nice that would have been. Only 50 miles remaining out of 5,700 and I get waxed by a deer.

Well, that pretty much wraps it up. I’ll get on posting the pics soon. I have over 1,500 to sort through so please be patient.

Greetings from Ouray, Colorado which is located in the Southwest part of the state. This quaint little town is situated in a valley between some impressive 13,000 ft peaks. According to their web site Ouray is commonly referred to as the “Switzerland of America”. We rode into Ouray in the dark from Durango, CO on hwy 550. This road reached elevations of 11,000 ft and the entire 40 miles or so was without guardrails!! Temps were in the low 40′s at that elevation and there was plenty of snow. The deer were out grazing and roaming in the road. Several ran in front of us on a couple occasions but no real close call since we kept the speeds reasonable.

After we broke camp in Moab, UT we rode through the Arches National Park. This park is better suited for hiking and spending a couple days exploring. We were able to only see two arches from the roads/parking areas.

We then headed south toward the Four Corners. This is the exact location where four states meet…Colorado, Arizona, Utah and New Mexico. That sure was a tourist trap but was cool to see and get a photo standing in four states at the same time. It was hot way out there in the desert. My temp gauge on the bike read 100. The air was dry so in the shade it was comfortable but in the sun it was no fun at all. In some parts of the desert area they have “open ranges” which are where all cattle and horses run free….no fences! We saw a group of horses grazing in what little grass they could find right next to the road. I got an uneasy feeling knowing that they could get spooked and run in the road. There was even a horse walking down the side of the road in a small town. Very strange to see a horse walking around as if it were a stray dog.

After eating dinner at Denny’s in Durango, Dave had an issue leaving the parking lot. There was a relatively large rise from where the road met the gutter. As he rolled over the rise, the weight shifted suddenly and he couldn’t hold it so over she went. Other than a ding on the ole pride meter, a small scratch on the right side bag was the only casualty.

Tomorrow we will head to Colorado Springs and ride to the top of Pike’s Peak. From there it looks like we will be starting the journey home. When I get home and rest for a couple days, I will post lots of pictures. Thanks for following along!!

Oh, we hit the 4,000 mile mark today. So the estimated 5,500 is looking to be right on track.

Greetings from Moab, Utah. I am writing this from inside my tent as a wind storm has just developed. Does this typically happen in the desert at night? It was very calm this afternoon. There isn’t even a cloud in the sky.

Today we departed Nevada and headed toward Salt Lake City. Just across the Utah border is the Bonneville Salt Flats. We took a quick stop at the Bonneville Speedway where they run for top speed records. They use a section 80 ft wide by 10 miles long! It’s still the off-season for them so there wasn’t any action to see. Too bad…I could have run my FJR and set a record for the fastest fully dressed bike. We did get out on the salt to see how it felt to ride…it’s very slippery!  I can’t imagine how you can get enough traction.

Onward we scooted to Salt Lake City then headed south on I-15 to hwy 6 to I-70 then south on hwy 191 to Moab. All these roads were very scenic today. We were able to see the Canyonlands National Park just as the sun was setting. I don’t have words to describe the sheer beauty of that area. Another must see.

Tomorrow we will visit the Arches National Park then head south to the Four Corners. We hope to be in the Colorado Springs area before sundown.

Total mileage today was 460. Weather was perfect. 60′s most of the day…some 80′s in the lower elevations then some much cooler temps in the 5-6000+ range.

Greetings from West Wendover, Nevada. This small border town on the edge of Utah is a gambling mecca. Bright lights everywhere. There is an MDA rally here this weekend so there are bikes everywhere. We are lodging at the KOA (which is all dirt by the way…it is the desert after all) overlooking the salt flats of Utah. Really a site to see…flat as far as you can see and snow white.

Today we awoke in Hell’s Canyon, OR to freezing temps. I couldn’t feel my toes! That place was the perfect price though…free! The facilities were the same as the wildlife use but we managed.

Today’s mileage from Hell’s Canyon to Boise, ID then on to Jackpot, NV and ending in West Wendover was 540. A long day for sure but some nice roads and scenery. The weather was perfect too. Low 60′s most of the time until higher elevations we hit some low 50′s. The wind across the desert from Twin Falls, ID to Jackpot were extreme. It was a westward wind and we were heading due south. Lots of swaying to say the least.

We met up with Cliff and Gary in Boise then road together to here before they ventured on to Salt Lake City. It was getting dark and after 500+ miles we didn’t feel up to making the 100+ mile trek across the salt flats then setting up camp at night.

Gary had a little fuel scare today. We were heading south toward Jackpot, NV when his fuel light came on. After realizing it was another 40 or so miles to the nearest town he began to conserve. How do you conserve fuel besides going slower? Drafting of course. He sucked up behind an 18-wheeler and followed him in to town. Dangerous yes but no siphoning or bike pushing was needed.

We paid the highest yet for fuel today in Jackpot…$4.45 for regular! There were some folks from California filling up and were elated to see it so cheap. Go figure.

Well, for tomorrow’s adventure we plan on cruising to Salt Lake City then turn south and head to the Canyonland’s. That will most likely be our camping spot tomorrow night.

That’s all for now. Again, pictures will come later…too tired to fiddle with resizing, upload, etc. Sorry.

Ok, this is going to be a little snippet from another perspective.

Hillard here, ready to tell the day’s events.

Since yesterday’s post we discovered that safety cones aren’t really that safe!  During our run from Lolo Pass to Lewiston, Idaho I decided to do a little leaning in a few of the turns…getting closer and closer to the cones in a construction zone (it was one of those zones where nobody is ever there).
Well, I swiped one of the cones with my front left saddle-bag and knocked it over on it side.  At our next stop I decided to check in the bag to see if there was anything fragile in there. Somehow, someway…by just glancing of this soft plastic cone, I wound up rendering my camera useless…and in need of replacement. Now I just need to convince my wife that a bear ate it 

[picture coming soon]

As for today’s activities?   Well…rain / sleet / more rain / larger sleet and then lows in the 30′s towards the upper elevations.  This is JUNE right?

We started the day in the rain with a flat rear tire to greet me in the parking lot….fun!  Once repaired, we ran for a quick jaunt into Washington state and then headed south towards Hell’s Canyon located in Oregon.  In Hell’s Canyon is where we encountered “some” of the coldest temps combined with strong winds.  My mother always used to tell me that some things would only happen when hell froze over…well?

Seeing some of the best roads thus far on the trip and crossing time zones repeatedly to the point of losing track…it was a very nice day, topped off with a great night to camp and a big-ole campfire.

Only 350 miles today but they were nice miles and we will sleep well.

I only hope there’s enough fuel in my tank to make it out of this forest…

Things always happen to Hillard!

g-night.

Greetings from Lewiston, Idaho. Today’s update will be brief. I apologize but we are exhausted.

We departed from West Yellowstone, MT heading north on 191. As we were enjoying the picturesque scenery I noticed a large bird of prey in a small stream just off the roadway. When I pulled over to turn around I saw another on a fence. Both were Bald Eagles!! Who would have guessed we’d see two of he nation’s bird within 300 yards of one another.

After we reached I-90 we scooted up to Missoula, Montana to pick up hwy 12, the Lewis and Clark Trail. This road was over 100 miles of beauty following a fast flowing river the entire way.  Darrin, you would have fun in those rapids!!

The rain started to fall pretty hard about 50 miles out from Lewiston and after 500 miles today we grabbed a motel room. Not much fun setting up camp in the rain while being completely drained.

Tomorrow we plan to drop into Washington then head down to Boise.

Total mileage so far: 2,611
Total states: 10

I’m falling asleep typing this so no pics today. Sorry!

Greetings from West Yellowstone, Montana where the temps will be below freezing in the morning. We may get a snow shower or two also.

Since the Beartooth Pass was closed due to avalanche we spent all day in Yellowstone National Park. This is another place that you need to spend a few days there to see the entire park. We only saw about a third. Tomorrow we may go back in then leave via the north entrance so we can see a little more.

We were in and out of precipitation most of the day. Many brief rain showers and most of the time it was frozen rain. At around 8,500 ft we had a snow shower but it didn’t last too long. There is still quite a bit of snow remaining above 7,500 ft. See below.

We were able to see Old Faithful blow its lid a few minutes after the projected time of 5:08pm. It’s amazing how consistent it can be.

Some of the critters we saw today include the big horn sheep, a grizzly bear with its cub, a couple moose and many buffalo. The buffalo were stopping traffic by walking right down the center of the road. I guess that’s what they call rush hour around these parts. The grizzly was way off in the distance but I was able to get a photo. It still looks like a small spec though.

There was a lake at 7,000 ft that was still frozen. As I pulled off to take a picture of it I tried to ride up on top of what seemed like a hard stable mound. It turned out to be a soft sandy wave break or something and the bike sunk so deep I didn’t need to put the kickstand down….it stayed upright on its own! Then Hillard pulls up and says “that was smart” just as he attempted the same thing and ended with the same result. We laughed so hard trying to pull these sleds out.

I forgot to mention a few days ago that it seems like the birds are out to get me. During the ride across Nebraska there were birds flying in front of us all day. While I was leading I had two of them fly into my bike. Sorry, both were DOA.