Riding The Horizon: ALASKA AT EIGHTY

Tuesday, July 8, 2025

ALASKA AT EIGHTY - RIDE DAY 3-4

Time to play catch up with the trip...

RD -3 The tire had a roofing screw in it. Monday AM the local auto mechanic located and pulled it out, inserting worm plugs. Rode to Taos, bought a scissor jack the I hope to never use... and a bottle of Slime. The guys at the tire shop could not get much of the Slime into the tire. Left Taos at noon heading west on RT 64. Here the High Plains west of Taos reminds me of US-50 crossing Nevada.

Checked the weather radar once in Chama, decided to stay south of Southern Colorado and avoid the afternoon mountain rains, Could see all the dark storms in Southern Colorado but stayed dry in northern New Mexico.

In Farmington, turned north to link up with CO-491 near Cortez that will take me to Monticello, Utah where I spent the night.

RD-4, since I lost a day due to the flat rear tire. made a foolish decision to try to ride two days worth of the planned route. Instead of the 350 +/- days, gp for 600 miles.

Left the motel at 1:30 AM. Temps a cool 58 degrees. 50 miles north Moab is 81 degrees at 2:30 AM. From Green River to Spanish Fork, you cross mountains, the temperature dropped to 42 degrees, had to stop and pull out a top I brought to use in Alaska.

Morning rush hour traffic from the south going into Salt Lake City was white knuckle time. Once past SLC, the day warmed up, and up and up. Near Ogden, it was in the 90's. By the time I reached Boise, it was a sweltering 100, tagging 104 at times. The hotter it got , the more frequently I stopped to wet done the clothes. I had shed the heavy riding jacket back in Utah.
Every one has their own ideas on how to stay safe and comfortable when temperature are this hot. I subscribe to the desert Arab method, wear light colored, loose fitting, breathable clothes that protect from the sun rays, allow moisture to evaporate, drink lots of electrolytes and water.

Having read all of Hubert Kriegel's sidecar tales, I learned you dress for the weather. Your chances of sliding across the pavement are much less likely than they are you getting sun burnt or frost bite.

By the time I reached Ontario, Colorado on the Idaho border, had ridden 679 miles, with a 62 degree temperature spread.

p.s. RD = Ride Day