Summer Trip I

"...its about the journey, not the destination..."

My 6 year old grandson Charlie standing next to Black Beauty as I get ready to leave for my trip.

     This summer I decided to "...go west young man, go west..." I have ridden all the way to California, and ridden the coastal highway there. Beautiful! However, like many others, I missed a lot along the way. While I have been to Colorado, mostly on interstates, I had never ridden to the top of Pike's Peak. Seems like a plan! Last summer I took my BMW R1150GS, this summer it would be the Honda ST1100, affectionately known as the Black Beauty.

The Eat 'N Park at New Stanton PA.

     Unlike last summer, when I went to Alaska, I didn't think I would have to worry about the cold. I would be dealing with summer heat going out and coming back. For riding gear my rain suit

 would do. I would take a fleece, and a leather vest, but the major thing I needed to take was lots of sunscreen.When riding in hot weather you need to stay hydrated, use lip balm, and lots of sunscreen. Getting sun burned on the first couple of days of a trip can really take some of the joy out of the experience. As I thought about the trip I decided to do two 500 mile days just to "get out there." After that 200 or 300 miles a day. I enjoy riding the old US highways, in and out of small towns, getting a feel for life there. 

Black Beauty looking out through the window in New Stanton.

     The first day I got up at 6, had breakfast at home, said goodbye to my wife, daughter, and my grandchildren. I have developed a habit of giving myself two hours to get up, packed, eat breakfast and get on the road. In this case I was on the road bye 7:45. Today I would be doing a ride I had often done. My in laws lived in Galion Ohio, and my plans were to go past Columbus to Springfield Ohio, about 527 miles on the first day. 

Rest area on I 70 in Ohio. When its hot its important to stop more often to rest and hydrate.

     The first part of the trip took me on familiar roads, 896 to Lancaster, then 283 to Harrisburg PA, then west on the Pennsylvania Turnpike. Again, the idea for the first two days was to get west, out to Missouri. After that little interstate driving. With the 300 mile range of the ST1100 I rode out to New Stanton PA, where I had lunch at the Eat N' Park, and got gas. Then back on the bike, to Wheeling WV, then on into Ohio, past Zanesville, around Columbus, then on to Springfield. Day one, 530 miles or so, at the motel by 6:30 PM. Dinner at a local restaurant, back to the room for some TV, then asleep by 10:30.