June 5, 2013 and two events are occurring
in the same place…Durango Colorado, and about the same time, so it must mean it’s
time for another trip. Since 2009 I have
been going or attempt at going to Durango for the Beginner Bikers Potato Ranch
Rally at the home of Jo the Durango resident that has hosted this event for
over 5 years now. This will be my 4th
complete trip along with one attempt making it to Flagstaff but turning back in
2011. New this year is a 5 day group
ride from Orange County of about 20-23 riders for a first time ever multi day
trip to the same place but just one day off from the Rally. This means I am going for sure.
As part of preparation for an
approximately 1,800 mile 5 day trip, the Road Star gets 2 new tires and valve
stems, new rear brakes, oil change and general check up by my friend Johney who
does all the maintenance. What we did
not replace is the battery and this will come up later in the story. The rest
is packing everything I will need including two different jackets, warm
clothing and very light cool gear for the expected hot desert travel this trip
is famous for. There is only so much room
so it has to all fit somewhere.
The group of Orange County riders
numbers about 19 motorcycles at the start but we add 3 or 4 along the way, I
could not keep track. We meet at a gas
station off the 91 freeway at 4:30 AM and its dark and chilly out. I was so
glad for the departure day to finally arrive even knowing the heat was in front
of us. There are two groups and I am in
Ed’s group #1 and off we go. By the way,
times shown on photos are one hour off due to Daylight Savings, I forgot to
adjust it.
Our first stop is in Newberry
Springs on I-40 about 120 miles from our start past Barstow for gas and a short
break. It is starting to warm up. Next stop another 120 miles further is
wonderful Needles, CA where it will be hot for sure. Thinking ahead I purchased a subway sandwich
the night before so when the group stopped at Denny’s for breakfast I had food
ready in the duffel bag no need to buy anything. It’s time to get serious about the heat so on
goes the Kool Vest along with drinking extra fluids to maintain hydration
through the heat ahead. I think I
finally have the hydration and cooling down fairly well since during the entire
trip I never experienced real heat trauma, major sunburn or light headedness.
This is the added stop in Seligman on the I-40
Needles, CA to Kingman, AZ is a
shorter 60 miles which helps, otherwise it gets very tiring to have three long
intervals between stops. Everything is
proceeding according to plan and everyone is holding up well including me, except
for the rider in front of me who is having some difficulty with the heat. Back at Needles we discussed drinking less
water and more Gator-Ade to infuse electrolytes and to keep him alert, which
seemed to be helping. The plan was to
continue on to Williams, AZ some 114 miles distant. I asked Ed and rider leader Scott if we could
stop at Seligman, AZ instead and sure enough they were very accommodating,
shortening the next gap to just about 70 miles.
We still stopped in Williams, but I felt much better having that extra
break on the road, a couple people thanked me for requesting the added stop. It’s only 32 more miles to Flagstaff, AZ our
overnight for day one and then we were there.
I booked a room at a different motel after misreading the one the group
had booked and this would cause a small problem in the morning. I had a great room and stopped in at the
motel everyone else was at before turning in, but in the morning could not
start the Road Star. Oh No, big problem
and no one around to help. Seems the cold overnight temps made the clutch
somewhat sticky and the battery could not turn the starter over to free it. After calling Ed who offered helpful suggestions
and then AAA which was no help, tried again and slowly it started to crank
around. Wow, was I lucky and for the
remainder of the day no further problems occurred but this was an indication of
possible battery weakening. Making my
way to the main motel we decided to buy a battery from a close by O’Reilly Auto
parts, and yes they had a Road Star battery so I bought it to have along just
in case. The other rider in front of me
also needs a jump start as his battery is also having problems but makes it to
Durango as well.
Leaving Flagstaff we turn off at
Sunset Crater Volcano National Park for a sightseeing side trip past the crater
and Wupatki and Wukoki Indian Ruins.
We
are now headed into Indian country and that is for real as we enter the Navajo
Indian Reservation stopping at Tuba City on Highway 160 for gas and lunch.
Choosing Sonic Burger along with Doug, Cindy, Daveta Jo and others it was a bad
decision. Doug and Cindy suggested the
place, phoned in an order but never received it, terrible service. No one working there seemed to have any idea
which order went where or what it was; Sonic is off my list forever. We leave Tuba City but no more than 6 miles
out the same rider in front of me motions some sort of problem and pulls to the
side. The rule is we do not stop, but
the tail gunners peel off to help assist and determine what is wrong. We hear there is a tire problem. Next stop turns out to be Kayenta, AZ where
we will turn left to head through Monument Valley and on to Cortez, CO. The heat does not let up until we get to
Cortez, CO.
At Cortez our last gas stop about
50 miles from Durango, we learn that the rider with a tire problem got it towed
and should have a repair soon. I do not
learn the full story until Durango. Photo below is at the Chevron in Kayenta, Scott one of the tail gunners catches up after helping the other two riders deal with the $300 tire problem.
This is the Spanish Trails Motel
where most stayed
Photos from outside my motel,
Main Street in Durango
Again in Durango I am booked at a
different motel and this time I am happy with the decision. I have a nicer although more expensive room
and a fairly level parking area, I like it.
I get to the battery and with help from Evan and Brian who carried it in
his trailer, we see it is the wrong size, does not fit. Luckily there is an O’Reilly Auto parts store
just a few blocks away and I go there.
After pulling the battery we determine they do not carry a battery that
will fit so I get a refund (Hurray!) and will wait till morning to check with a
local Yamaha dealer.
It was also helpful
to have Johney available via phone to consult on the battery issue and while I
was concerned never really felt any sort of panic about the problem, I am surrounded by friends that will help as much as they can. Remember, if you can keep your head about you
while all others are losing theirs, maybe you just don’t understand the
situation. It is also where I learn that
the rider with a tire problem lost the rear air valve stem due to aging of the
rubber seal and is not a tire problem.
The store in Tuba City that towed him in has a replacement stem so the
rider and tail gunner proceed to do most of the tear down work to get at it,
they install the stem replace all the parts and he is good to go. For a 6 mile tow, a $3 stem and just a little
effort on the employees part the cost is an outrageous whopping $300. Do not
get caught in Indian country needing emergency repairs at least not in Tuba
City. That will be in cash also. Luckily they got it settled and off the two
of them go heading for Durango arriving about 9:15 PM in the evening. Tail Gunner Bob B. really stuck to his duty
and helped get them both caught up, really makes you feel good about riding
with the group, that’s no joke. The next
morning the tire and battery rider and I both head to the local Yamaha dealer
where we get his wheel and battery problems along with replacing my battery all
sorted out.
While everyone else is off
touring in the mountains we have been here waiting for service on his Honda and
it’s around 1:30 in the afternoon, but still time to ride to Silverton and do
some sightseeing. That is just what we
do and have a great time along the way, it was more than enough to make the
trip worth it. Silverton is less than 50
miles up in the mountains so even with stops at two mountain passes we make it
by around 2:30 PM, in time to catch Doug and Daveta Jo just leaving.
Returning to base I have time to
relax and then head over to the Potato Ranch-Jo’s home just south of
Durango. Where did Potato Ranch come
from, seems Jo uses Miss Potato-Potatohead
sort of the sound a Harley makes, as her on-line forum name therefore the
Potato Ranch and headquarters for the Rally. I still don’t remember all the
names of attendees, but know the faces-mostly. We all leave the ranch and head
into town for dinner at Francisco’s and what do you know the prime rib is on special-it
usually is. A fun evening spent with long time online and in-person motorcycle
friends where someone my age seems to fit right in with a much younger crowd.
What looms ahead is the early
morning wake up and two day hot ride back to Orange County and home. I am up early and go to the McDonalds for a
bite to eat since I forgot we are going to stop in Cortez for breakfast, still
it was a good idea. Two groups with a
couple added riders arrive in Cortez at a Denny’s classic Diner and breakfast
takes a long time, I barely got my breakfast but sneaked some from Daveta Jo
especially the fruit bowl, it hit the spot.
We are heading back toward famous Tuba City where we stop in the heat
for lunch at McDonalds again, soak the vests, put ice in the drink thermos,
fill up all the water bottles and head for the Grand Canyon, I must be carrying
3-4 pounds of water and drinks all total.
On the way to the Grand Canyon we
take a sightseeing stop at 4 Corners where four states meet, if this is not the
exact spot it is not too far off. It has been greatly upgraded since I was here
in 2009. I stop at one stall to buy Fry
Bread and Daveta Jo gets to see me do a rain dance. The Native ladies laughed their heads off.
I have never been to this end of the Grand Canyon so look forward to it and I can use the senior free pass where others have to pay $12 or $25-not sure which. As always the Grand Canyon is truly a wonder of the planet so I took lots of photos.
These below are from the second stop at the Visitor Center.
We stop again at the visitor center for another quick look at the Grand Canyon. I told Ed that the first time I saw G.C. it was much smaller, took him a second but the he broke out laughing…”Richard how old are you” I heard someone say. The ride from the Grand Canyon to our overnight motel destination in Williams is about 60 miles but it seems to take a long time. Pretty much everyone is wrung out when we arrive. Pizza is ordered and we get it delivered
The last day, Sunday and record
heat is indicated from Kingman to Needles, and Barstow, Oh Joy.
By wetting down the Kool Vest, having a
bottle of water handy while riding and drinking lots at every stop I am holding
up surprisingly well, Gatorade really makes a difference. The group splits up at Kingman and I join in
with Chuck, Patti, Doug, Cindy and Bob to take the I-40 and I-15 route while
the others go through Lake Havasu to 29 Palms, everyone makes it safely back
with maybe an hour difference in time.
My body had really absorbed a lot of heat during the ride and using cold
towels helped bring it down but it took a while.
Equipment and gear report: on a long trip like this things can
happen and lucky for me the battery issue never rose to the level of disaster,
the motorcycle ran fine, the BrakeAway throttle lock helped keep my hand and
arm from getting really tired holding the throttle grip, my new bottle holder
mounted on the saddlebag guard provided extra water while riding, and even
though I dropped my helmet did no damage to anything. One casualty was my green American Tourister
duffel bag; it split at least two seams and no longer usable. The Tourmaster
Tail Bag is also looking rather weather beaten so an upgrade is in order. After looking on line and at duffel bags in a
sports store decided to buy a Kuryakyn Grantailgater luggage. It should be more
than adequate to handle everything eliminating a need for the duffel bag. It’s large, has multiple pockets along with a
pull handle and wheels so I will no longer have to carry all that stuff, just
roll it along.
The next trip with the group is
to Pismo Beach.
