| Author | Message | ||
     Microchop |
Title says it all. Wife has filed, typical reasons, none of the 'Three A's'. To get away for a bit I am going to head west from DFW on or about 2/20, to Los Angeles where I have family. I plan to do it in about four days of riding. I will park the Uly at my folks' house, fly home, and then fly back to LA in March for my father's 75th Birthday, and then ride back to Texas, Leaving on the 17th or 18th, again, about four days ride back. Any tips, pointers, and anyone want to join for a leg? I will be firming up approximate nightly stops in the coming days. Thanks! | ||
| Aesquire |
Sorry to hear. Condolences. Tips... When you stop for fuel, get off and walk around. Hydrate, hit the can, wash your face & hands. Be alert to problems, but take a few minutes to let the vibration of riding muscle tensions ease. Clean your shield. Check the tires. Think Zen and The Art Of Motorcycle Maintenance... Enjoy it. Then back on the hammer. Good luck with weather. | ||
| 86129squids |
Tuff stuff, for sure. Good luck, do your best to preserve what's yours from the "Mweckage" (sorry, a phonetic mash-up from Princess Bride), and keep the rubber side down. Keep us posted. | ||
| K12pilot |
RIDE ON!!! BREATHE )) | ||
| Doz |
Very good plan, clear your head, get back in touch with family. But don't plan too much- enjoy the time, be flexible, don't rush. Breathe and enjoy the journey. | ||
| Crusty |
Divorce always sucks. My condolences. Good advice above. Relax and enjoy the trip. When one door closes, another always opens. | ||
| Nillaice |
don't confine yourself to the interstate. mix in some state highways and enjoy the ride. and yeah, make the gas stops worth it  | ||
| Jaimec |
Try to avoid chain restaurants and find local eateries. Depending on how far from home you are, your gear and license plate are guaranteed ice-breakers and conversation starters. If someone looks like they'd LIKE to say something but seem a little nervous, break the ice for them. As a motorcyclist, it's natural to make a comment about the weather so start with that. You'll be amazed how quickly the time SEEMS to pass (and how much longer you spent in one spot than you'd originally planned). This, I know for a fact! | ||
| 86129squids |
 Great advice Jaimec! | ||
| Mr_grumpy |
Happens to me every time I open my big mouth. Could it be my accent?  | ||
| Azxb9r |
Spend as much of the trip as possible on secondary highways instead of the interstates. Since you are riding out in february I would suggest looping through southern Az and NM on the way to LA as northern Az will be quite cold. | ||
| Strokizator |
The great roads may be impassable this time of year. If you haven't rode the "three sisters" yet, put it on your list, especially on a week day where you might have the roads all to yourself. I'm surprised by the number of Texicans who haven't ridden there. Highway 191 up eastern AZ is awesome but gets up to 9000ft so catch that one on the way back. Still, 1500 miles in 4 days doesn't leave you with much time to explore the back roads. If you want a good winter ride on your Uly and have a day to spare, work your way up from Las Vegas,NV to Beatty. Then take Hwy 374 towards Death Valley. Check out the ghost town of Rhyolite and then 2 miles further down the road is the dirt road turn off to Titus Canyon. It's a fun ride once you get to the hills (the first few miles are a little wash-boardy). When you exit the canyon, head south a few miles on the paved road and then west towards Stove Pipe Wells; they've got a motel, campground and restaurant there. Continue on 190 over the pass and hang a left on Panamint Springs Road about 4 miles from the bottom of the hill. This will eventually take you into Ridgecrest where you can pick up Hwy 395 or Hwy 14 depending on where in LA your final destination is. It's desolate country but there's no better place for being alone with your thoughts. Finally, Jaimec has it right - your not riding 1500 miles to eat at McDonalds. You can stumble onto some great places or use Yelp for some advice. Take your time - life ain't a race to the finish. Hang in there, Jason. | ||
| Jaimec |
HOWEVER, once you get to L.A. you HAVE to eat at In-N-Out! | ||
| Ratbuell |
Enjoy the journey (moto, and divorce). Went thru it myself a few years ago and I gotta tell you - my life was upside-down for a while, and I definitely had some dark days, but now? I'm so much better off than I ever dreamed of! Life will truly help you make lemonade...if you let it  | ||
| Microchop |
Wow, Thank you, friends, for all the responses. Amazing how alike we all think. McDonald's is definitely off the list, I am hoping to hit up the local eateries, and make the most out of a limited time to rack up the miles. Jamiec: In-N-out has made it to DFW, but I will have one under the LAX flight path for old-times-sake. I think the gap wit hte return trip should mean great spring riding on the way back...couls bre wet, but as long as there is no lightning, I will ride on. Thanks again, and if there is interest, I will post along the way. | ||
| Pwnzor |
In-n-out.... Meh. Eat at Tommy's Other than that, definitely make that leg of the trip through Ridgecrest. | ||
| Xb9er |
Good luck in your journey. I have been through a situation like this. I was with a girl for 2.5 yrs and out of that time we lived together for 2 years. We even moved to Oklahoma together and one day she decided to move back to Portland and I wasn't invited. It caught me totally off guard because we never fought and I thought we were both in love with each other. I ended up moving back to PA and we haven't spoken since. I was in a dark place for many many months. It will get better, much better. Keep your friends and family close and don't be afraid to communicate how you feel with your friends and family; they always have your back. And also remember you're not the only one that has been in this situation and everyone else has prospered since. Try to have fun and meet new people. A new chapter in your life has opened and it looks like you're starting this new chapter off in a very fun and exciting way. | ||
| Court |
>>>>HOWEVER, once you get to L.A. you HAVE to eat at In-N-Out! That's a fact . . . .packed here today . . . but the line moves quickly.    | ||
| Desertdan |
I drove from long Island to San Diego last October. I stop in Dallas to visit Girl friends family. If You have the time double the amount of days You plan to drive and stay as far away from the Interstate (10) as possible. It is a long boring ride across Texas , WINDY ! New Mexico , Cold/WINDY , including a section before you get to Demming NM that has posted Sand Storm signs ?and Yes I got into one and all the saved Me was it started to rain , It blew hard enough to have Me stopped on the side of the road holding on to the bike to keep it from being blown over and that was on the side stand ! Arizona half the way will be cold, and good chance of high winds there also. You will get Rain ! Best Dam rain gear You can buy and helmet with face shield is top priority . The others here that said take the back roads are 100% on point and listen to them . If Your going to do the trip in a limited amount of time I would rethink it, 4 days = 350 miles per day isn't my Idea of Fun , been there done that , Good luck , B safe and there's more Women to Break Your heart so no worries :-) | ||
| Jaimec |
Ah yes. My friend warned me about the Santa Ana winds in the autumn in the Southwest. I guess that's what you ran into. One other thing (while we're still on the subject of "fast food"): Jack in the Box left my area long ago and I miss those semi-sober nights of "talking to the clown." I also miss those disgusting, mystery meat tacos they used to sell. Whenever I'm out on the west coast I have to indulge in a little nostalgia and hit up a Jack in the Box. I no longer "talk to the clown" in a heavily slurred voice in the wee hours of the morning but I still do have to have those disgusting, greasy tacos. It was YEARS before I learned those shells were supposed to be CRUNCHY! | ||
| Tankhead |
Ok........ Divorce sucks ass. NO DOUBT. I went on an incredible four corners journey right at the spear head of my divorce. ON MY CITY-X from NJ. I wrote about it here somewhere. It was by far the most incredible JOURNEY I have ever had in my entire life. I wrote about it here. Be careful what you wish for.... you could actually have a life changing event like I did. (Message edited by tankhead on January 25, 2015) | ||
| Tankhead |
Here it is. This was post trip. Again be careful what you wish for. I am, to this day, haunted by my forever yearning to be that free again............. I miss you my dear freedom I miss a lot in one year's past The packing up for the day The fuel that was too high but too bad The setting of the bungee cords to strap it all in. The filling of the auxiliary gas tank. The fitting of the gear and the heat of the helmet The new The reflection of old The missing my girls and you, so badly I never thought to see you again. Focusing on the road with the tears that rolled big back across my temples in my face shield The incredible mind blowing scenery that haunts me today: still. The vast crack in the earth known as the Grand Canyon The mammoth rock formations of Zion and Bryce. The smells of the red rock and fragrant fresh air. I was free for that time. A slave to nothing but the sun I bleed for the time again Once more I want to be free. I was part of the picture I was freedom I was brave I was living I was testosterone I was moving I was the motorcycle My friend, I miss you You were true and loyal to me I want you again, my dear freedom I could have melted into you I could have forgotten it all I could have lived for the day; forever I could have been the forever lone traveler I am home I am lost without you I am withering on the vine I am missing your roar in the morning I am looking for an out I need to move: Again You will be mine once more Flowing throughout my helmet Capturing what it means to be ALIVE I am thankful that you wait for me I will not leave you too much longer You and I will explore the earth again I promise Bye, for now, my dear freedom | ||
| Tankhead |
Never got there again. Doubt if I ever will. Sucks. Cherish your new time. If for a few weeks.... It clears the head........ Best of luck | ||
| Tankhead |
Here ya go I just wrote this and tears come about. I was part of the picture I was part of the picture For once, it was me, my picture The waking, packing, throttle on I was part of the picture Knoxville in one day East side of Oklahoma the next. The long hot straight 100mph sleepiness To New Mexico I was part of the picture That orange, red, and blue That sun that pierced my soul Winding sinew of asphalt Leaning to the left and to the right. Up and down again and again…. I was part of the picture Miles of new land: all more beautiful than the next The rumble of man vs the stillness of nature I was part of the picture | ||
| Microchop |
You all 'get it'; but Tankhead got it more than anyone else. Thanks again, all, I hope to see you on the way: | ||
| Fltwistygirl |
So sorry. Ride. Process. Vent. Mourn. Sing and dance if it helps. Breathe. Rest. Repeat. Divorce sucks. Worse with kids. As far as the ride, stay at lower elevations and watch the weather. Best wishes for it all to blow over fast. | ||
| Jaimec |
I'm no poet, but for situations like this, NOTHING beats a long, multi-day motorcycle journey. I can't think of anything else that allows you to be alone with your thoughts when you want, but so quickly allows you to immerse yourself back into humanity at a moment's notice. After some interesting conversation and smiling faces, you're alone with your thoughts again to reflect on your most recent experience. Eventually you come to the conclusion that life DOESN'T suck, and people (on a whole) are pretty "okay." | ||
| Doz |
Wish I could make the ride with ya. No one understands better than someone that has gone through it already. In fact if you advertised such a ride it would look like the "he-man-women-haters" ride. Or to on-lookers, a gay parade...don't do that! | ||
| 86129squids |
Tank, what a Head! Gonna make me break out my book of Louis L'Amour poetry, "Smoke From This Altar"... not everyone knows he wrote poetry too. GREAT book, BTW... Would fit easily in a saddlebag, along with your road journal. | ||
| Tankhead |
Thanks Squid. My father was a published poet and an aspiring writer. Unfortunately he died at 27 in a MV crash. Mom says I get it from him...... |
