After signing off last night I sat next to my fire and enjoyed a few more beers. I spend most of my day alone but it’s this time that’s the loneliest. However, it does give me time to remember and think about my past travels. Most of which haven’t been shared here yet.
My day started early, before dawn. The wind had picked up and was blowing my tent into my head. After shifting some of my gear into that corner, I was able to get a couple more hours of shut eye. I don’t use the stakes for the tent just because I generally don’t have to, but this morning was something else.
When I finally did roll out of my sleeping bag, the wind was still kicking. I got started on tearing down camp, it’s chilly but not cold. Temps are right around 60, but the sky is overcast. Tearing down the tent was a chore and wasn’t done as neatly as I’d have liked but it fit in the bag. By the time I was ready to hit the road it had started to sprinkle. I’d already thrown on all of my cold gear and decided to put my rain suit on as well. By the time I’d left town the rain had started. Nothing serious, just got the roads wet.
We jumped on the toll road and headed towards Wichita. Stopped in Emporia to fuel up and grab a quick breakfast, the first of the trip. It’s the same service station setup as the north east trip, gas station and a couple of options for food set right in the middle of the divided highway. I opted for a Dunkin’ Donuts breakfast sandwich. Not really within the rules but I just need something in my stomach and don’t need to sit down for a meal. I decided to keep the rain suit for now. Good choice, hit a bit of rain just after.
This part of Kansas is much different than what I passed through a couple of days ago. We started with a few of the same crop fields, partially hidden by trees. Before long the landscape turned to wide open plains of lush green grass, peppered with trees and cattle. The land was no longer flat either, this rolled just like I saw in Nebraska.
The toll road ended and after a few more miles we hit the Kilpatrick Turnpike – another toll road. This one was exact change only. The kind where you toss coins only into a funnel, no attendants. $1.50 at the first stop, luckily it has a change machine.
We stopped a little before lunch time for another fill up and I really needed to get out of all this gear. I’d made a stop a little bit earlier to remove the rain gear but kept all my cold stuff on. By now the sun was out and the sky was still mostly cloudy but it was getting hot. Took a few minutes, but I got everything off and loaded back on the bike, even rolled my sleeves back up for the first time in two days. Back to the turnpike. Now we have to pay to get on, $0.50. Luckily I’ve got it in my pocket, rarely do I have change on me. Apparently the car in front of me didn’t and just pulled off when I pulled up. Not sure what the penalty is for not paying 50 cents but the buzzer sounded.
After another $1.50 we made our last payment to the turnpike and continued south towards Oklahoma. We were cruising along nicely at about 85mph (limit’s 75) until we passed a state trooper. I saw the brake lights come on and waited to spot the red and blues in my rearview. It was time for a fill up again so I exited after a few miles to get gas. I don’t know if I eluded him or if he ever even found a place to turn around, but I wasn’t trying to hide, I really did need gas. A few miles later we hit the border of Oklahoma.
Not much changed. The land was still wide open fields of green grass, some yellowish. A few fields of round hay bales and even a few of the broncin’ buck oil pumps. Made it into Oklahoma City and started our way west on I-40. Definitely getting to be lunch time as it’s past noon. Don’t want to stop in the city so keep going, I’ll find something in the next few miles.
Saw a billboard not far outside of town for the Sugar Creek Canyons Sports Bar & Grill, exit 101. Sounded just right (cause beer, right?) so we set our sites on that, just about 20 miles away. We hit the exit and the only thing there is a hotel, gas station and a couple of casinos. Two food places listed here and both are in casinos. I’m not against gambling but I have no desire to eat in a casino today. We carried on.
Around 2:00 we arrived in Weatherford and looked for food. We found The Shed just about mile off the interstate. Small joint with a big patio. The sky was not looking friendly by this point and I was wondering if I was going to get wet again. Lunch was good, a simple chicken wrap, but the rain had come while I enjoyed it. Started to sprinkle again as I loaded up so I decided to throw on my rain jacket. There was thunder, but from what the weather maps showed the rain would be short, I can forgo the pants. I might get a bit wet but I’ll dry out quickly.
Holy sh*t was I wrong. By the time I got back to the on ramp it’d begun to rain again. By the time I’d gotten off the on ramp and back on the highway I couldn’t see, much less feel my face anymore. We’re talking a regular on ramp too, just a few hundred feet long. I was soaked instantly, but this only lasted about five, long miles.
The highway dried up but there were patches of rain in the distance. One so heavy it blended into the clouds that produced it. I hoped and prayed to miss it and ultimately did. I was just about 200 miles from Amarillo when I stopped for lunch at 2:00 and though I’d made it through the rain, I was nowhere close to out of it.
I’m back in red dirt country now. It’s visible every where, and by now, in the air too. The winds started to pick up to a point that I couldn’t get up past 60mph safely. I followed a semi for several miles just because I was afraid to pass him. Passing a semi in high winds is scary. They block the wind and sometimes even pull you into them, then you get hit with the wind once you clear their air stream. Passing under an overpass sucks too. Once you hit the overpass it pulls you to the right, then you get punched with a blast after you pass it. Going over an overpass is probably the worst. It’s back and forth a dozen times, even on the shortest bridge.
I stopped at the Texas border, not just for a photo but to get my rain jacket off and get my cold gear on. I’m shaking again. Took a good part of twenty minutes. I couldn’t let anything out of my hand or leave loose on the bike, including my helmet. Wind gusts were 50-60mph from what I was told. Had a couple pull off for their photo op and informed me that Amarillo is worse than right here. Didn’t ask how they knew since they were headed the same direction as me, was busy trying not to be blown into the road. Yes it was that strong, I was being blown back by the wind.
Decided Shamrock would be my destination for the day, a few miles into Texas and just under a hundred miles short of Amarillo. But I was not feeling safe on the road and it had taken me at least two hours to travel a hundred miles. Time for a room, a good shower and a warm bed.
Weather is not looking good tomorrow. Looks like more strong winds, cold temps and rain. Not a combo I’m comfortable with. I’m debating spending a day here in a hotel room. I will make that call in the morning but will do more weather research tonight. It’s not ideal, but the ultimate goal is to return home on two wheels. I won’t guarantee a post for tomorrow but please do check back.
Love you all!
Sorry, back in Texas now. Love Y’all!
The Motorcycle Diaries of an Easy Rider 