Day 31 - September 5 Ropin' the Wind & Dry Heat

 This morning as we loaded the bikes, it was 66 degrees and with a more reasonable level of humidity.  This actually made it feel a bit cool so we all opted for light sleeves.  We had planned to leave at our usual 8am, but everyone was ready at 7:40am. The sun had just peeked through the darkness so we headed out.  Within 10 miles we crossed into the mountain time zone, so now it was just prior to 8am.

 

The first two hours on I-10 this morning were quite enjoyable.  The  interstate cut through the Texas Mountain Trail region of the state. And that's just what was noticeable this morning, the mountains! We were on the outskirts of El Paso an "hour" later thanks to the time zone change. As I-10 weaved through town, the homes of Juarez, Mexico could be viewed from the road.  With a turn down one of several exits we could have entered our third country of this trip.  We opted to cross the New Mexico border instead.

 

We fueled in Las Cruces and then headed for the Arizona state line.  The temp had already come up to 77 degrees.  The winds had also picked up and we had to keep a good grip on the bars.

 

We fueled the bikes and ourselves in Willcox where temps were now close to 90 degrees. We also gained another hour back as AZ doesn't recognize daylight savings time. The winds continued to blow and we saw a number of signs cautioning us about dust storms and what to do if visibility was zero.  Sounded harrowing, but luckily the winds weren't quite to that level. The landscape was now changing from scrub brush to cacti. 

 

Just prior to Benson we came through the Texas Canyon. Out of seemingly no where, large rock formations sprung up. 

 

 

Beyond the canyon traffic started to pick up as holiday travelers were returning to the city.  The heat was intensifying too.  By the time we stopped for a break at the Tucson HD it was 100 degrees.  We cooled off in the a/c and re-hydrated. Our room for tonight was just a short distance from there. On the way we were treated to what Tucson is known for, the saguaro cactus amongst a variety of others.

 

Total miles today: 485.3;

Time to travel that distance: 9.25 hours (though local time would suggest only 7.25 hours)

Total Cumulative miles: 11,467

Tomorrow: SoCal





Day 30 - Sept 4 Long Haul through the Lone Star

This morning during the usual process of loading the bike we noticed the deer were still hanging out in the yard/field next to our room.  The humidity was in the 80's and there was a light fog in the air. Temps were in the mid-70's when we rode out at 8:10am. 

  
From TX 46 we connected to I-10 which took us on a tour of Texas Hill Country.  There were Texas Live Oak trees and a number of ranches as we passed through.  We stopped in Junction for a break. As we transitioned from central Texas to west Texas the trees gave way to bushes.  As interstates go, I-10 the riding wasn't too bad as it relates to traffic.  The views are of wide open expanses without many interruption of cities. 

The winds picked up as we started across Pecos County.  By the time we arrived in Bakersfield to fuel the bikes it was getting winds were getting stronger.  The bushes had started to give way to scrub brush.  The temps were rising as well resulting in an over feel of riding in a small furnace.

Just as the heat was reaching a level that was fairly uncomfortable, the cumulonimbus clouds that were forming released a rain shower upon us.  We knew it wouldn't last long, so we opted for riding through it without rain gear.  By the time we reached Van Horn we were mostly dry again. 

Total miles today: 459.2;
Time to travel that distance: 7.5 hours
Total Cumulative miles: 10, 981.7
Tomorrow: The Southwest

Day 29 - Sept 3 Week 4 recap and A Run for the Hills

Today is the beginning of week 5 - the final week on the road.  Yesterday concluded 4 weeks on the road. In the past week we covered 2368.4 miles and touched 6 states.  We covered the deep south and made our way back to the coast.  In the process we crossed paths with a hurricane and our timing couldn't have cut it any closer.  During the most critical periods of that storm coming to Florida we were only 12-24 hours ahead of it. We survived the varying intensities of rain and humidity. We met some nice folks and enjoyed some great southern food.  Total cumulative miles is now 10,151 and we've seen 28 states go by. What a trip it's been!  With the final stretch in sight, we are looking forward to some warm, dry, less humid air which is more like home.

This morning at 8:00am we were greeted by 68 degrees and less humidity than we've had in more than a week.  It almost felt a bit cool, but in a refreshing way.  Just outside the Shreveport city limits we found US79 which Alvin had recommended during our visit in New Orleans. Within 15 minutes we were at the Texas border.

This two lane highway was a treat to ride. It runs between I-20 and I-10 on a diagonal from a northeast direction to a southwest direction. It has a posted speed limit of 70 when it's not passing through a small town. It is tree lined but less it's less dense than what we've seen in other places.

We took a break at Henderson and temps were climbing, and had now reach 73.  All the fellas bought a powerball ticket on the premise that winners often come from some tiny town that few had ever heard of.  As we got back on the road, I noticed that it was a bluebird day - not a cloud in the sky anywhere.

The sky was building thunder clouds but the temps were now in the low 80s as we stopped for lunch in Buffalo.  While we were eating a brief thunder shower passed through. The bikes were almost dry when we went out to saddle up.

 

The next push was a bit longer and took us into Texas Hill Country and a visit to Central Texas HD in Round Rock, TX.

 

 

We were just a relatively short distance to our lodging in New Braunfels, TX.  Unfortunately, we had to take I-35 through Austin to get there.  It was Saturday around 3:30pm so we thought traffic wouldn't be too terrible. But before we knew it, we were back in traffic. In comparison to the traffic we've experienced in other towns this wasn't too bad. At least it kept moving and we did wear out the clutch today.  At the southern end of Austin the congestion lifted and we cruised into New Braunfels.

Our lodging was actually out in Gruene, TX which in its day was a prominent cotton producing town.  It's also home to one of the oldest dance halls in Texas.  We had a delicious dinner at The River House.  Outside our condo the deer pranced in the yard and there was a herd in the park we passed on our walk home after dinner.  This is also the first place we've spotted lightning bugs.

Total miles traveled today: 371.5;
Time to travel this distance: 9 hours;
Total Cumulative miles: 10,522.5
Tomorrow: More Texas