ID/WA Photo Run – Day One

It’s been a year already! Time to hit the road again. Last year we ran up to North Dakota to complete 48 states. This year Libby and I are headed back to Washington. I was unable to get state sign photos for Idaho and Washington on the west coast trip back in 2018. Photos were never really a requirement but last year a good friend of mine got me a really neat photo frame of the 48 states. Each state is its own photo and it should be filled up, but it’s not. There’s about 8 states I don’t have photos for so obtaining those will be the mission until I can figure out (and afford) Hawaii and Alaska.

Was up at the usual time, a little before 8am. Grabbed my last real shower for the next 10 days and finished loading up Libby. After hugs and kisses we were on the road by 8:15 and headed northwest under blue clear Texas skies. A few short miles brought us to the northern end of Fort Hood and Gatesville. Then through the town squares of Hamilton and Comanche, both holding their Labor Day weekend events. Bounce houses and popup tents with their various items for sale lined the street, a sure sign that small town USA is alive and well.

From Comanche we headed to Rising Star, another small town and not much to see. They did have banners on every telephone pole for the Class of ’21. Each banner featured a different graduated senior. Thought that was a pretty neat idea. Probably not cheap for the parents considering what yearbook pages cost. From there we headed north to Cisco and made our first gas stop. After topping Libby’s tank and grabbing a bottle of water we headed west on I-20. Headed through Abilene and then into Sweetwater where the giant wind turbines began to emerge. The day so far has been uneventful and, aside from a small cloud here and there, the sky is still blue.

Off the interstate and back onto country roads just after Sweetwater. Snyder, TX would be our next stop. It’s lunch time and I’m getting a little hungry. Found a pub in the town square and sat down for a quick meal and cold brew. GiVi’s Pub was the name of the place. Got myself a burger and it worked but frankly, not the best. We gassed up and carried on. Stopped just outside of Lubbock in a little town called Slaton, I was getting sleepy and needed some sunflower seeds to stuff in my vest pocket. I ran into a couple I’d passed a while back, Jerry and his wife (never got her name). We exchanged pleasantries and asked each other the usual questions, where ya headed? and such. They were on their way to Durango on their trike for a week long getaway. I bid them farewell and safe travels and got back on the road, pocket and cheek full of seeds.

By the time I got through Lubbock the sky ahead of me had started to get cloudy. Didn’t look like much, just cloud cover. It wasn’t until several more miles that I could see the rain fall in the distance. At this point it’s hard to tell if I’m going to run into anything, but the closer I got the darker it got. Eventually pulled into a picnic area to check the weather and opted to suit up. Good idea because just a few miles down the road the rain started. It started as stinging rain, the little bitty rain drops that feel like needles in your face. It’s hard enough to see with rain on your glasses but harder still when your eyes are watering too. Stinging rain soon turned to a full on downpour. There was very little wind and no lightning so it was nothing like the rain we hit the last time we headed towards New Mexico.

The rain didn’t last long, only a few miles, but it was here that I first learned we may be in trouble. Heavy rainfall and soaked roads will slow me down to 60mph. I won’t go above that until the rain lessens and roads clear up a bit and will go slower if conditions require it. We were moving along right at 60 when Libby began to fishtail, nothing major but enough scare me. I moved to the center of the lane, slowed a bit more and Libby stayed straight. The road dried out but I could see more rain in the distance.

I hit small patches here and there that would last a few minutes and made it into Sudan for another gas stop. Sudan must have gotten pummeled with an onslaught of water right before we came through because the outside lanes going through town were almost completely flooded. Even caught one small section were the entire road was covered. It was just outside of town when we hit our next big downpour.

I slowed to 60 at first and stayed in the middle of the lane as best I could. A small gust of wind pushed me into the left side of the lane and Libby began to fishtail again. Worse this time, it felt like Libby was almost sideways. I don’t know how but we slowed to about 20mph and stayed upright. One of the scariest moments on a bike for sure. I don’t know how I didn’t end up laying her down. Someone was definitely looking out for me.

The rain finally let up for good as we crossed into New Mexico and came to Clovis. It still loomed in the distance by my path would keep me away from it. From Clovis we cut north towards I-40 and old Route 66. Then west to Tucumcari, our home for the night. Not much here from what I’ve seen. It’s an old town, lots of closed up shops and motels. Had dinner a little place called Del’s Restaurant. Roast beef with gravy. Beef was a little dry but really hit the spot and I was out the door for less than 20 bucks.

I’m at home at the local KOA. It’s a nice night out. Sky isn’t clear but it’s not hot and rain chances are low. Even had a bunch of neighbors move in since I got back from dinner. Haven’t met any of them and they’re all already in for the night.

I’m hoping Libby’s fishtailing was just because of a new tire. She’s never had issues with wet roads before. I couldn’t get the same tire as usual due to shortages so maybe that’s why, I’ll research it before I go to bed. I’ve also decided that next years trip will require a new rain suit. Rain came down hard but I got soaked more than I should have, front of my pants are still wet.

The goal this trip is to get into Idaho and then Washington, after that my plans are pretty fluid. Getting there should be very scenic though. We’re headed to Flagstaff, AZ tomorrow then to the Grand Canyon and into the beauty of southern Utah. After getting the photos I need from Idaho and Washington I was thinking about heading into Montana and down to Yellowstone, maybe spend a day there. But who knows what’ll come up. My only time constraints this year are today and tomorrow. I had to make reservations at campgrounds just to make sure I had a place to stay. If you remember last year I was forced into “glamping” the first night because the place was full for Labor Day weekend and that’s all they had. Not glamping again, not for me. I’d rather stay in a cheap motel. Beds may smell like urine but they’re more comfortable.

More rain this trip is almost a certainty so plans may change depending on weather. I definitely don’t want to be on any mountain roads if rain is coming in and Libby’s still fishtailing. The end goal of every trip is for both of us to get home in one piece.

That’s pretty much it for today. I’m hoping to have plenty of photos and video in the coming days, starting tomorrow. Good night all!