Day 30: HOT!!!

We departed Pratt, Kansas at 9:00 am Central time, hoping to get into Branson early to make a surprise visit to my mother. 

I was going to visit her in Colorado Springs, but they had planned to attend her new husband’s family reunion in Branson.

Yep.  Still in Kansas

 

By noon, central time, it was 104 F, a new record high . . .

. . 106 F, another record . . .

 

. . . no, one more, 109 F at 1:30 pm . . .

 

. . . no, here we go, 111 F, no kidding, at 1:42 pm, and it stayed there for hours!

When stopped, the temperature sensor would go above 120 F and would no longer register. At 109 and higher, it took almost 10 minutes of riding to drop below 120 F.

It’s hot!

 

Turn around Mick so I can get your “hot” picture! 

He wouldn’t turn around.

 

yeh,  hay

 

a bridge

 

Don’t know where to go!!! 

The GPS doesn’t like the heat either.

 

Gosh, I’m having fun!

 

Mick is having fun, too!

Last Contest Question (no picture): 

When riding in 111 F heat, will you be cooler wearing a heavy leather jacket or not wearing a jacket, and why?

Yes.  We did finally make it to Branson. 

This is my mom in the Sunshine Room. 

Everyone knows I’m coming, except her.

The big surprise. 

Looks like I snapped the picture just before she recognized me! 

Maybe it was the sweat!

 

And there we are . . .

Herb, Mom, and Mc!


 

 

And at the end of the day . . .

            

. . .  oh go away.

Today’s Stats:

Arrival Time in Branson:  9:00 pm

Riding Time:  7 Hrs. 7 Mins.

Today’s Miles:  394.8

Total Miles:  11,275

Today’s MPG:  48.4

Today’s MPH:  57.7

Tomorrow’s Destination:  Anywhere cooler
423 Miles

Mc

Day 29: We must be in Kansas, Toto!

We stayed at America’s Best Value Inn in Salida.

The proprietor owned this shining chromed up Harley. 

He asked if we had rode through the rain. 

No.  That dirt’s from Alaska.  He’s a Sturgis fan.

Caught a few bugs last night, eh Mick? 

He calls it his “bug cemetery”.

We left Salida at 9:22 am. 

It was already 86 F. There was some nice scenery for a little while, but not much shade to beat the heat.

Looking for shade in all the wrong places!  (notice the lack of shadows)

I turned into a bar/restaurant gravel parking lot for a rest. 

Instead of finding shade around back, I found 9 inches of deep loose gravel.  Almost had it turned around, then boom. 

That’s two drops a piece.  As Mick would say, were tied at 2 in the ninth inning . . .

Some neat bridges in Pueblo, CO. 

Enjoy while you can, here comes southeast Colorado!

Welcome to Southeast Colorado.

To the right . . .

. . . to the left . . .

. . . and behind.

Hey, our first tree!

Hey, our second tree!  This one has seen better days! 

Can’t wait to get to Kansas!

Kansas! 

The bank sign (just below the traffic lights) reads 106 F.  My bike read 105 F. 

Yes.  We must be in Kansas.

I don’t think Mick is ready to leave the shade yet.

The pump kept saying, “press the start button to begin fueling”.  Other people guessed it was the green button too - but that cancelled the transaction.

I had the same problem on my side of the pump!

It was 103 F at 70 MPH at 4 pm Central time.

Still 103 F at 6:15 pm. 

We must be in Kansas.

Looks like a storm is brewing!!! 

ALRIGHT!!!

Pic of the Day! 

Mick said it was really hard to photograph lightning. 

Piece of Cake!

Its getting Windy!!

Remember the Kansas strorm in the Wizard of Oz.

It finally let loose on us. 

A strong prairie storm out of the South with cross winds that felt like 60 MPH. 

They blew off Mick’s hat strapped down with two bungees to the tank bag. 

He didn’t want to stop and get it.

When we came out the other side, the sky was the deepest blue I have ever seen. 

Almost eerie looking.

Its just as blue using Mick's camera.

And at the end of the day . . .

            

. . . Riding out of the sunset.

Today’s Stats:

Arrival time in Pratt, Kansas:  10:21 Central Time

Riding Time:  8 Hrs.  30 Mins.

Today’s Miles:  444.5

Total Miles:  10,880

Today’s MPG:  51.4

Today’s MPH:  54.0

Tomorrow’s Destination:  Branson, Missouri

396 Miles

 Mc

Day 28: Road to Salida

Last night we didn’t have our evening meal because we arrived too late and all the restaurants were closed.  We dined on our emergency snacks.

When I awoke the next morning, Mick was gone.  He indicated he may run to McDonald’s in the morning to get some food and not to worry if he was gone.

He actually rode back to our last pit stop the night before and retrieved my Air Hawk.  41 miles each way. 

Just about the time your ready to ring his neck, he goes and does something really sweet!!  What a guy!!

Mick saved my butt again, literally!

The road to Salida, CO started out pretty much the way yesterday ended.

We saw a few dust devils . . .

. . . some cross winds . . .

. . . and a cute tool truck . . .

. . . some neat road signs . . .

. . . a navy corsair on a stick. . .

. . . and a suicide runaway truck ramp. 

Notice the end of the ramp is a stone wall!

We rode through a number of cool rock formations, mostly before reaching Grand Junction.

More rock formations

Mick’s monoliths.

Mc’s monolith.

Mick’s shadow.

Mc’s shadow.

Mick’s pyramid . . .

                 

. . . I don’t have a pyramid . . .

. . . but I have a new angle!

Scenic view from one of our rest stops

Mick taking pictures of weeds at the scenic view rest stop.

Record high temperature registered at 5:10 pm Mountain time:  103 F.

As was yesterday, finding a rest area in the shade was of paramount importance, and sometimes you must take desperate measures.

Our last rest stop of the day, just 50 miles from Salida, CO.  

What we didn’t realize at the time, Monarch Pass lay in those 50 miles.

Monarch Pass, Rocky Mountains, after sunset.

And at the end of the day . . .

             

. . . Riding out of the sunset.

Today’s Stats:

Arrival Time in Salida, CO:  9:41 pm, local time

Riding Time:  8 Hrs.  22 Mins.

Today’s Miles:  466.2

Total Miles:  10,436

Today’s MPG:  52.6

Today’s MPH:  56.9

 

Tomorrow’s Destination:  Pratt, Kansas

444 Miles

Mc