The question at hand, was my adventure a success or a failure? On one hand, I was able to ride 1800 miles in 2 days, through all different types of weather and was able to come out without physical harm to myself or anyone else. How many people can drive in a call 1800 miles in 2 days? However the objective wasn’t obtained, or was it?
What was the real point of the trip? Well I was supposed to embark on an adventure from Texas, to Alaska. Ride the Haul Road to Dead horse, Alaska. Then turn around and head to Key West, Florida. Then head home. I wanted to ride North America coast to coast. This was my objective and what my plan was. Obviously God had other plans for me. When you are riding along on a bike (especially with a full face helmet) you have a great opportunity to yell and scream all you want and no one can really hear you. Let’s just say there was a great deal of yelling and screaming going on, but I kept asking why.
Let’s go back to the beginning. I was slated to leave on Saturday morning. Well due to few issues, I was delayed until Sunday morning, so I was already having to adjust the route. At the time I was frustrated, but part of being an adventurer is that you have to learn to go with the flow. So I get up and leave on Sunday morning and I notice something wrong with the bike. I have a smaller gas tank on the bike (5.7 gal) so I should be able to go to 170-200 per tank including a little reserve time. Well at about 80 miles, the bike died and I had to flip to reserve. I thought ok, no biggie it might just be wind etc let’s keep going. However this pattern kept going and going. Also I noticed I didn’t have as much power as I should have in 4th and 5th gear, basically the higher rpms. So by Amarillo the uneasiness is staring to set up. However everything is still “working” so I kept going to the objective for the day, Cheyenne, Wyoming. When I got to Cheyenne I pulled into the gas station and top off the tank before heading to the motel for the night.
At the gas station, 2 guys JT and Bill came over and started asking about the bike. They really liked the hula girl and thought it was actually a Kawasaki Dakar version. We talked for a bit about their trip and mine and what we both had planned in the future. I asked if I could pray for their journey and they say sure. So we continued chatting and then they asked where I was staying. I let them know I was going to try get a room at the super 8 down the street. We parted ways and I hoped on the bike and rode down the street. After I checked in and took at a load of gear up to the room I came back down and see JT and Bill. They had followed me over to the hotel. We chatted for a few mins. I let them know I was going to head up and get some rest.
So now I go upstairs and call Brandi and Dad to explain the problems and see what the suggestions are. We have some long talks and ultimately it’s up to me what I need to do. Do I stay the course, or listen to my gut? It sounds like it’s an easy decision, but really it’s not. All the time and effort spent to prepare and now it’s wasted? Or is it? I also called and talked to Kevin who I would be meeting in Alaska to see what his timeline is like. Now, time for bed.
I get up the next morning, call Brandi and let her know it’s not worth continuing with the uneasy feeling. I also got a call from Matthew as well to make sure everything was ok (Thanks Matthew!) So as I am checking out and packing up the bike, I see JT and Bill. They wished me good luck on the next leg of the trip. I said thanks, and let them know I have decided to turn back. JT specifically had a very puzzled look on his face. I let him know of all of the problems I had yesterday and he responded with a big wow. He said he would do the same thing and echoed the same thought, when you are that far from home it’s best to take the safer route regardless of the cause. Granted I could have found a local mechanic to help with the problems, but with the uneasy feeling already in my mind I would now begin to second guess instinct which is where problems happen. We parted ways and I hoped on down the road without the power I should have.
So at this point I am already on my way back to Texas without power getting horrible gas mileage. If you followed online I chose to take the less freeway route as to not be a traffic hazard. As I am heading back to Texas, I am slowly getting better gas mileage, first 100 a tank, then 120 a thank, 130 a tank etc. Finally in Amarillo I stop and top off. Then I take off and the bike gets really loud. Wow I now I have lots of power now too. So I know I have another problem, but everything seems to be working I am tired and I just want to get home. However this next time I was able to make it about 170 miles before a fill up. I’ll take that. Well when I stopped I looked. My exhaust header has come off the engine. Oh great. So now I am looking at it crawling around the bike at the gas station. It looks like one exhaust flange nut had backed off, and possible a stud had broke off the engine block.
But the good news is… I have power and good gas mileage hehe. So I continue along zipping making great speed in the rain and yet another problem. Now it looks like the bike has an electrical short somewhere. Grumble…
Well I finally limp along and get home about 1:00am. It was a very rough trip, but it did teach me a few things about instinct and gut. I would have had the same problems if I continued, at least I was able to head home to deal with them.
So what does that do for your time off? Well I am going to fly up to Alaska this weekend and ride around for a week or so. Then I will fly back, and my dad and I (and maybe some other folks) will be heading east, hopefully to Key West. I would like to be able to accomplish 2 high points of the trip I had planned, even if I was not able to see all the other parts in between.
Sometimes in life our timing for things isn’t what God wants for us. However we need to be wise and mature enough to listen and react as he would like us to.
Was the trip a success or a failure? I’ll let you decide.
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