About A Half Day's Ride

At least that's what it was for Ernie who has ridden more than 1245 miles in 24 hours, just to get his "Iron Butt - World's Toughest Riders" plates.

Hadn't been on a bike since I sold mine last spring, and I was jonesing, and E has two, so we decided to do something with our Monday rather than wasting it working.  Got to his place round about nine and he says "You're driving the new one."  That's the 'Wing with just under 39 grand on it, versus the one with 244 large on it.  The "new" one is an especially swell ride.  1300cc, more than 100 hp with ABS, 6-speaker sound  -  more like sitting in an easy chair with the window open on a breezy day than motorcycling.

Headed out from his garage a bit after nine, northbound.  Took the 60 to the 10 to the 51 to the 17 to Happy Valley Road, turned west past Lake Pleasant, all the way to Wickenburg.

North out of Wickenburg, up the twistys of Yarnell Hill and eventually into Prescott where we had lunch, the temperature now at 48f.  North out of Prescott, up and over Mingus Mountain where, at somewhere above 7000 feet the temp dropped to 39 when last I checked it.  Hands cold, nose numb.  Down through Jerome, then Cottonwood, Verde Valley - God I love this state - hooked back up with the 17, got into the diamond lane and were back at the barn a little after four.

364 miles have rolled by.  I thank Der Ernstermeir and climb into the 'Burb and call the missus; tell her I know what I want for Christmas:  something to go with my GoldWing jacket.  Just like her, she pauses for about seven milliseconds, then says, "That's fine sweetie, what color are you thinking of?  Not yellow! And remember! We have to have matching helmets!" 

Ahhhhhhhh  My Life