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 again in Chama, NM, decided to stay south of Southern Colorado and avoid the afternoon mountain rains. Could see all the dark storms on the horizon in Colorado while I 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, I made a foolish decision to try to ride two days worth of miles from 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, took Utah-6 across the mountains, the temperature drops to 42 degrees at dawn up there. Had to stop and pull out a thick top I brought to use in Alaska.
Morning interstate 15 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 higher. Near Ogden, it was in the 90's. By the time I reached Boise, Idaho it was a sweltering 100, tagging 104 at times. The hotter it got , the more frequently I stopped to wet down the clothes. I had packed away the heavy riding jacket back in Utah.
Every one has their own ideas and theory on how to stay safe and comfortable when temperature are this hot. I subscribe to the desert Arabian method; wear light colored, loose fitting, breathable clothes that cover the skin to 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 bit.
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
Iron Butt or Sore Butt?
ReplyDeleteA little of both
DeleteI agree re your hot weather riding protocols, especially when on 3 wheels. That water soaked clothing is blissful but doesn't last long does it?
ReplyDeleteEach has their preferred method to stay cool. The wetting down has worked well for me, plan to stay with it. Have tried cooling vests, but not with good results.
Delete