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Ride Report: CA to OKC in 48hrs on a BMW
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<blockquote data-quote="Nanotech9" data-source="post: 822969" data-attributes="member: 676"><p>Carson National Forrest spills out into the Eagle Nest Lake area. As I’m rolling through town I spy another 1200GS and a 650X Challenge parked on the side of the street in front of a sign that reads (if I remember right) “Good Food” in large letters, but no easily visible establishment name. About 2 second after I pass by I decide I’m actually starving, and that two BMW’s outside a place that says “GOOD FOOD” on the sign might be an indication that they actually have food, and that its good. What a novel idea. So, as is customary with me, I flip a ***** again and park next to the other GS. A quick look over both bikes and I notice they’re well farkled, and one of the tags is from Texas. I figure that’s pretty close to home for me and that the riders are most likely from out of state just like me. </p><p></p><p>I walk inside and theres a couple of fellas at a table right inside the door that are already making a spot for me to sit&#8230; how’s that for a warm welcome? Turns out they’re both here on ADVRider and the 650X-challenge was just recently purchased from the classifieds (I remember seeing it up for sale actually). A few min. into conversation and they’re rattling off local routes in the area so fast I can’t keep up&#8230; even while pages back and forth on the well marked map in front of me. As it turns out, the burger I ordered is the best burger I’ve EVER had, hands down, and at only about 600 miles from OKC, its well worth the day-trip back out there for another burger&#8230;. Sometime. It was definitely good to see a friendly couple of faces on the trip, and although I had never met them before, the connection through ADVRider and being fellow BMW owners somehow made it feel like I had run into old friends. Good people, and I hope to run into them some day in the future on another ride. Thanks to their advice and general overview of the roads I would be hitting up after Eagle Nest Lake. As they mentioned, it was some really great riding.</p><p></p><p>Eagle Nest Lake</p><p><strong>[Broken External Image]</strong></p><p></p><p>Ziptie and Sailwing2003 (ADVRiders) leaving the burger joint. </p><p><strong>[Broken External Image]</strong></p><p></p><p></p><p></p><p></p><p>I headed out on Hwy 64 and rode through Cimarron Canyon State Park. This has got to be one of the prettiest areas of the country. The road followed a small stream down through the narrow canyon, and basically jumped over the stream about a dozen times all the way down&#8230;. At many times the water was within inches of being level with the road. Absolutely cool. I really don’t know how to describe it, but if you’re ever in the area, don’t miss your chance to ride through Cimarron Canyon State Park.</p><p></p><p>Just entering Cimarron Canyon State Park</p><p><strong>[Broken External Image]</strong></p><p></p><p>The widest part of the canyon</p><p><strong>[Broken External Image]</strong></p><p></p><p>Also the widest part of the stream / river.</p><p><strong>[Broken External Image]</strong></p><p></p><p></p><p></p><p>Unfortunately after the small town of Cimarron, the road flattened out again. I headed on towards Raton. It had finally warmed up and was time to get rid of the long johns and long t-shirt again. Here’s where I was wishing I had that 4th pair of socks. A short break in Raton, and a chat with a couple that had taken a month off and were riding back from Sturgis (I believe that’s what they said) and I was headed out on the last 500 miles of my trip, and incidentally, the most boring miles of the entire trip. </p><p></p><p>From here on out so much of the terrain is so similar that its all a bit blurred together in my mind. At one point there was a bunch of Safety Corridor and High-wind zones, with signs marking “lights on for safety” etc et. The random thunder showers in the distance were neat to watch and many times I thought I was about to run into one until the road changed direction just in time. Finally I ended up riding through one. As I approached It, I decided to keep riding instead of stop and dress up in the rainsuit again, but I had a plan. I had a south wind hitting the right side of the bike at maybe 30-40mph (in a high wind zone) and was running with the bike tilted over at a good angle to the right. I had already been sitting half of the left side of the seat and decided that I could simple kick my right leg over to the left side and put my foot on the passenger peg, crouch down on the left side of the bike, and basically ride out storm on the “dry side” of the bike. With the throttle locked in at about 70, my plan worked. I even tucked my right arm on the left of the tank bag, and the only part of me to get damp was the far left side of my left pant leg. I love when a good plan comes together and works&#8230; lol.</p><p></p><p></p><p>Rainstorm </p><p><strong>[Broken External Image]</strong></p><p></p><p>Pointy!</p><p><strong>[Broken External Image]</strong></p><p></p><p>More Rain</p><p><strong>[Broken External Image]</strong></p><p></p><p>Just rode through it. </p><p><strong>[Broken External Image]</strong></p><p></p><p></p><p></p><p>To fight boredom riding along I couldn’t help but to find ways to entertain myself, so playing along with some “air” instruments to the songs in my helmet seemed to fill the bill. Air guitar, air drums&#8230; well, that was about it really. I don’t have much of an imagination I guess, and have no idea how to play drums, but I was rocking out. Basically, anything to keep my blood flowing, arms moving, and fight fatigue and sleepiness w/o downing any energy drinks.</p><p></p><p>I’m sure the random people driving near me thought I was crazy, especially the one car that was behind me for over 100 miles, but its OK as I stayed awake. </p><p></p><p>Somewhere near Clayton I snapped a few pics of a really long train. Not like I don’t see trains on a daily basis in OKC, but it looked massive out there all alone.</p><p></p><p>Wooo Woooo!</p><p><strong>[Broken External Image]</strong></p><p></p><p>yeah, its a fricken train.</p><p><strong>[Broken External Image]</strong></p><p></p><p></p><p>Finally, Texas, and a state line sign. Not sure how I missed all the rest, but I was determined to get a picture of at least one state line, so Texas it was. </p><p><strong>[Broken External Image]</strong></p><p></p><p></p><p>Again with the rail road tracks&#8230; every couple of miles a little dirt road would take off from the highway into a field and across the tracks. Made for a nice couple of pictures. The gravel is looser than it looks and when I went to turn the bike around I almost got stuck. The tire was just kicking the gravel out instead of moving the bike forward. Nothing a little rocking back and forth couldn’t fix though.</p><p></p><p>Westbound on the tracks. Given the bike is the exact width of a set of tracks, i would recommend NOT trying to bounce over a set on a non-crossing area. Would seem like an easy way to get your bike stuck. </p><p><strong>[Broken External Image]</strong></p><p></p><p>closer</p><p><strong>[Broken External Image]</strong></p><p></p><p>Looking eastbound... rolling a little way back down the hill is what got me stuck in the gravel. Oops.</p><p><strong>[Broken External Image]</strong></p><p></p><p>The book of Face.... Wait, who's driving this thing?</p><p><strong>[Broken External Image]</strong></p></blockquote><p></p>
[QUOTE="Nanotech9, post: 822969, member: 676"] Carson National Forrest spills out into the Eagle Nest Lake area. As I’m rolling through town I spy another 1200GS and a 650X Challenge parked on the side of the street in front of a sign that reads (if I remember right) “Good Food” in large letters, but no easily visible establishment name. About 2 second after I pass by I decide I’m actually starving, and that two BMW’s outside a place that says “GOOD FOOD” on the sign might be an indication that they actually have food, and that its good. What a novel idea. So, as is customary with me, I flip a ***** again and park next to the other GS. A quick look over both bikes and I notice they’re well farkled, and one of the tags is from Texas. I figure that’s pretty close to home for me and that the riders are most likely from out of state just like me. I walk inside and theres a couple of fellas at a table right inside the door that are already making a spot for me to sit… how’s that for a warm welcome? Turns out they’re both here on ADVRider and the 650X-challenge was just recently purchased from the classifieds (I remember seeing it up for sale actually). A few min. into conversation and they’re rattling off local routes in the area so fast I can’t keep up… even while pages back and forth on the well marked map in front of me. As it turns out, the burger I ordered is the best burger I’ve EVER had, hands down, and at only about 600 miles from OKC, its well worth the day-trip back out there for another burger…. Sometime. It was definitely good to see a friendly couple of faces on the trip, and although I had never met them before, the connection through ADVRider and being fellow BMW owners somehow made it feel like I had run into old friends. Good people, and I hope to run into them some day in the future on another ride. Thanks to their advice and general overview of the roads I would be hitting up after Eagle Nest Lake. As they mentioned, it was some really great riding. Eagle Nest Lake [b][Broken External Image][/b] Ziptie and Sailwing2003 (ADVRiders) leaving the burger joint. [b][Broken External Image][/b] I headed out on Hwy 64 and rode through Cimarron Canyon State Park. This has got to be one of the prettiest areas of the country. The road followed a small stream down through the narrow canyon, and basically jumped over the stream about a dozen times all the way down…. At many times the water was within inches of being level with the road. Absolutely cool. I really don’t know how to describe it, but if you’re ever in the area, don’t miss your chance to ride through Cimarron Canyon State Park. Just entering Cimarron Canyon State Park [b][Broken External Image][/b] The widest part of the canyon [b][Broken External Image][/b] Also the widest part of the stream / river. [b][Broken External Image][/b] Unfortunately after the small town of Cimarron, the road flattened out again. I headed on towards Raton. It had finally warmed up and was time to get rid of the long johns and long t-shirt again. Here’s where I was wishing I had that 4th pair of socks. A short break in Raton, and a chat with a couple that had taken a month off and were riding back from Sturgis (I believe that’s what they said) and I was headed out on the last 500 miles of my trip, and incidentally, the most boring miles of the entire trip. From here on out so much of the terrain is so similar that its all a bit blurred together in my mind. At one point there was a bunch of Safety Corridor and High-wind zones, with signs marking “lights on for safety” etc et. The random thunder showers in the distance were neat to watch and many times I thought I was about to run into one until the road changed direction just in time. Finally I ended up riding through one. As I approached It, I decided to keep riding instead of stop and dress up in the rainsuit again, but I had a plan. I had a south wind hitting the right side of the bike at maybe 30-40mph (in a high wind zone) and was running with the bike tilted over at a good angle to the right. I had already been sitting half of the left side of the seat and decided that I could simple kick my right leg over to the left side and put my foot on the passenger peg, crouch down on the left side of the bike, and basically ride out storm on the “dry side” of the bike. With the throttle locked in at about 70, my plan worked. I even tucked my right arm on the left of the tank bag, and the only part of me to get damp was the far left side of my left pant leg. I love when a good plan comes together and works… lol. Rainstorm [b][Broken External Image][/b] Pointy! [b][Broken External Image][/b] More Rain [b][Broken External Image][/b] Just rode through it. [b][Broken External Image][/b] To fight boredom riding along I couldn’t help but to find ways to entertain myself, so playing along with some “air” instruments to the songs in my helmet seemed to fill the bill. Air guitar, air drums… well, that was about it really. I don’t have much of an imagination I guess, and have no idea how to play drums, but I was rocking out. Basically, anything to keep my blood flowing, arms moving, and fight fatigue and sleepiness w/o downing any energy drinks. I’m sure the random people driving near me thought I was crazy, especially the one car that was behind me for over 100 miles, but its OK as I stayed awake. Somewhere near Clayton I snapped a few pics of a really long train. Not like I don’t see trains on a daily basis in OKC, but it looked massive out there all alone. Wooo Woooo! [b][Broken External Image][/b] yeah, its a fricken train. [b][Broken External Image][/b] Finally, Texas, and a state line sign. Not sure how I missed all the rest, but I was determined to get a picture of at least one state line, so Texas it was. [b][Broken External Image][/b] Again with the rail road tracks… every couple of miles a little dirt road would take off from the highway into a field and across the tracks. Made for a nice couple of pictures. The gravel is looser than it looks and when I went to turn the bike around I almost got stuck. The tire was just kicking the gravel out instead of moving the bike forward. Nothing a little rocking back and forth couldn’t fix though. Westbound on the tracks. Given the bike is the exact width of a set of tracks, i would recommend NOT trying to bounce over a set on a non-crossing area. Would seem like an easy way to get your bike stuck. [b][Broken External Image][/b] closer [b][Broken External Image][/b] Looking eastbound... rolling a little way back down the hill is what got me stuck in the gravel. Oops. [b][Broken External Image][/b] The book of Face.... Wait, who's driving this thing? [b][Broken External Image][/b] [/QUOTE]
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