Long Way Up...and Over! 2011 Alaska Motorcycle Trip: July 2011

Tuesday, July 26, 2011

Day 32: The Last Miles

I would like to begin this post by recognizing the great contributions and great help Mick has provided in preparing each day’s blog post during this long trip.

Poor and slow internet connections, long days of riding, and the time required to select pictures and prepare the post content during the first few days of the trip, made it very apparent that keeping up the blog was going to be very difficult.

Mick suggested we split up the work. We both went through our respective pictures taken during the day, I had responsibility for making the final pic selections and preparing the content of the blog. Using his internet and computer skills, Mick transferred the content onto the website for publication.

His help was essential, and I could not have pulled this off without him.

Thanks Mick!

We spent the night in Terre Haute in the Econolodge Motel.

There is a reason they call them "Econo" lodge!

We're hoping they are not bullet holes.

Looks like Mick got an owie yesterday, too!

I wonder if she will ever shine again!

Road to Indianapolis. For the most part, we had good weather for the last day.

Mick’s last hat. He has lost two. This one was purchased in Alaska and has been pressed into service early.

Colt’s domed stadium in Indianapolis.

Contest:

Although there were a large number of responses to this one, no one guessed the exact identity. I’m glad the original, un-doctored picture, identifies it exactly. The electrical wires attached to the blade was the key clue.

There were no guesses on this one. I don’t know what it is either.

Nice rest stop in Indiana. I found shade. Mick . . . is only parking down hill . . . I don’t know.

The rest stop just east of Indianapolis that Mick pushed his dead CRV to a few years back. He donated the CRV to a charity that came to the rest stop to retrieve it. It took six hours to have his rental car delivered.

Made it to Ohio.

Almost got stuck in traffic in Columbus, but no one wanted to go to Cleveland.

Ohio Scenery

Our Last Supper at Subway, Mick’s favorite!

Thanks, Mc.

Its raining in Pittsburgh, but not on us.

Welcome to West Virginia!

Mc’s Last Shadow.

We must be getting closer to home!

Mick, leaving our last rest stop at the former Star Lake Amphitheater, where our routes part.

Looks very familiar.

My Welcome Home Sign!

My Neighbor's welcome home!

Ah! Home Sweet Home!

As is says in the Bible, God used 6 days to create heaven and earth, and on the 7^th day he rested.

My day is the 33^rd!

And at the end of the day . . .

. . . Riding out of the Sunset . . .

. . . one Last Time.

Today’s Stats:

Arrived Home at 8:30 pm

Today’s Riding Time: 7 Hrs. 29 Mins.

Today’s Miles: 433.2

Total Miles: 12,142

Today’s MPG: 49.9

Today’s MPH: 59.9

I’m planning a “prologue” post, but not right away. Check back in a couple weeks.

Day 31: Terre Haute or Bust!

We’re off to Terre Haute today, but first I spent a little more time visiting with my mom.

Mom likes BMWs too!

Herb and Mom. Aren’t they a cute couple!

We departed Branson around 9:30 am and immediately encountered some light rain.

Actually it felt wonderful and kept the temperature down nicely.

The rain cleared in an hour, but remained overcast and cooler through most of Missouri.

Is it cooler wearing a heavy black leather jacket in 111 F temperatures?

Kd and Alli both were correct. The answer is yes. And I proved it by taking my off for a mere 40 mins. I thought I was going to die! Felt like riding through a blast furnace. No cooling effect, and the only sweat I felt was in my eyes, mixed with sun block.

Coats are insulating devices. We usually wear them when its cold, allowing our body heat, 98.6 F, to form a pocket of warmer air inside the coat, keeping us warm. In theory, the warmest temperature inside the coat, assuming adiabatic conditions, is 98.6 F, over ten degrees less than 111 F! When temperatures are above 98.6, the temperature inside the coat, assuming it is “insulating”, must be cooler than outside. You still need some ventilation to allow your sweat to evaporate keeping you body temperature down. Hard lesson!!

Rode Interstate 44 to St. Louis.

This would have been a great rest stop a few days ago.

New road construction gave an option of which lane to ride . . .

. . . and presented a couple refreshing new views!

Of course, traffic picked up as we headed Northeast. The silver Prius ahead of me played leap frog with me 5 or 10 times. At least enough to attract Mick’s attention on a day blog material was hard to come by.

Mick’s odometer turned 53,131 indicating Mick has ridden one more mile on the K1200 then its previous owner, Ron. Yep. I’ll bet Mick dropped it one more time, too!