Just as the saying goes, all good things must come to an end and in that vein, it's time to wrap up this report. Not that this is the good thing coming to an end, but the ride itself.
Here were are, Saturday morning, the sixth day of a planned eight day ride, 70 miles from the Jornada del Muerto and close to 1,500 my own hacienda. We decided that with the trouble mfletch was experiencing with his bike he needed to skip the trip over to Trinity and run down to Alamogordo to the Yamaha dealer to get the bike checked out. He headed South and I headed West. It was a beautiful morning but slightly chilly.
I was kind of thankful we had skipped the camping... but with the sun shining bright it warmed up quick and by the time I got here it was comfortable.
As I rolled up to security at the gate I had to decide whether I was going to fess up to having a firearm on board. Honest Abe admitted to the handgun in my saddle bag and that earned me a solitary walk into the desert to hide the side arm in the desert brush. I must have looked like a moron walking out in the desert but no sooner than I got back to the bike, another Honest Abe pulled his car over and made the same walk.
As I rolled towards the actual blast site (13 miles inside the gate), "Manhattan Project" a song by my favorite band Rush rolled on my ipod.
"Manhattan Project" (in part)
Imagine a time when it all began
In the dying days of a war
A weapon that would settle the score
Whoever found it first would be sure to do their worst
They always had before...
Imagine a man where it all began
A scientist pacing the floor
In each nation, always eager to explore
To build the best big stick
To turn the winning trick
But this was something more...
[Chorus:]
The big bang took and shook the world
Shot down the rising sun
The end was begun and it hit everyone
When the chain reaction was done
The big shots tried to hold it back
Fools tried to wish it away
The hopeful depend on a world without end
Whatever the hopeless may say
Imagine a place where it all began
Gathered from across the land
To work in the secrecy of the desert sand
All of the brightest boys
To play with the biggest toys
More than they bargained for..."
Then all at once, I was there.
The heads of the project considered eight candidate sites, including San Nicolas Island (California), Padre Island (Texas), San Luis Valley, El Malpais National Monument, and other parts of New Mexico. A Mojave Desert Army base near Rice, California was considered the best location, but was opted against because General Leslie Groves, military head of the project, did not wish to have any dealings with Gen. George S. Patton, commander of the base, whom he disliked. The site finally chosen was at the northern end of the White Sands Proving Ground, in Socorro County between the towns of Carrizozo and San Antonio, in the Jornada del Muerto.
This is what is left of
Jumbo
Birmingham is not listed on here, but if it were it would read somewhere around 1,400 miles.
I get a call from Mfletch and he says they have charged up a new battery and he's ready to roll. We decided to meet back in Carrizozo. On the way back, I stop in the Valley of Fires and check out the youngest lava flow in the lower 48. 1500-2000 years old. It's something like 25 miles long and 2-5 miles wide.
I get another call from Mfletch and now my new destination is
The news isn't good and he's having to pull the plug on the trip. It's 3 pm and I wave good bye to my partner in crime and strike out for home, only 1250 miles away. Off I go, solo...
For whatever reason, the camera didn't get used much on the next, and final leg of the trip. I guess because only a couple of hours into it I decided I would make this an undocumented / unofficial IBA Bun Burner 1500. I got very focused on making Abilene that evening, which would leave me with 850 miles the next day.
On the way home I passed through an Apache battleground, through the impressive oil fields near Artesia, NM and then the vast open spaces of West Texas.
When you ride long distances all by your lonesome you have plenty of time to reflect on many things. Among the millions of things I thought about over those next 1250 miles was just how fortunate I am to be able to experience the things I have been able to experience on this this trip. I also though about how fortunate I am to have such a lovely, understanding wife who selflessly allows me to wander around the country selfishly and enjoy myself. Many times I thought about just how bad *** the FJR truly is. I thought about how fortunate I am to I have the opportunity to get out and see many of the great places around this country of ours and meet many wonderful people in the process. For most of the trip I was able to make more memories with my best friend of almost 40 years dating back to my childhood days.
Of the many things I learned on this trip, I learned that this big, beautiful country sometimes has a way of making you feel a little small.
and I thought about getting home to my puppy dogs, Alex and Cassie.
But, most of all, I thought about how much I couldn't wait until the next time I get a chance to get out here and do it all again!
Thanks for taking the time to share in this awesome trip with me. Until then, I'll leave you with the official Pic of the Trip-
The Sport Touring Salute to you all.
