Beautiful start to the day.  I actually got out an hour earlier at 9a. I wanted to beat some of the heat build up. Up before 6, 3 cups of coffee, a granola bar, blog, loaded the bike and fueled up at the casino. 

Headed west.  Mr. Garmin showed travel time to Amarillo about 8 1/2 hours and 450 miles give or take.  Arrival at 440p.  Perfect.  I knew that wouldn’t hold. Never the less..  Sleep and a shower makes one confident.

Speed limits on rural roads in Oklahoma is at least 65mph.  That of course is at least 70 cruise.  It was the first day of school in many communities.  Not used to that.  In Michigan school starts after labor day.

Passed through an area with quite a few of Corps of Engineer reservoirs.  Some of them were pretty big.  Nice diversion from the usual flat landscape..

I kept up speed and the temp kept building.   I couldn’t figure out the GPS.  The destination time held pretty steady.  I had hundreds of miles to go.  Small towns along the way.  Most just barely hanging on.  Lots of big farms. Some livestock operations.  Fuel is not at plentiful as I thought.  It was there.  Strung farther apart at times.  Get off the interstates and this is the rest of the world.

Again, did not expect this but the GPS brought me into Oklahoma City proper.  It had to be in the high 90’s.  I was in Edmonds.  Nice area.  Appeared upscale.  Stop and go.  Construction.   Having to go 2 or 3 stoplight cycles to get through.  I was a mess..  🙂  The bike is nothing but a furnace between your legs when at a stop and its this hot.

It must have taken me a half hour or more to move through the town.  I was on historic US Route 66.  I decided to pull in and have my first lunch on this trip.  Pork and Dreams.  Had the brisket sandwich and a side of beans.  It was pretty good.  They also had a huge container of iced water.  Just the thing.  I was looking at my route and timing.  300 or so miles to go.  Now showing 530 or 6 arrival.  It wasn’t quite one.  I was feeling guilty.  I’m wasting time.

Back on the road and about 20 more minutes of construction and getting lost once I was westward bound.  Speed limit usually 65.  Again, means 70mph cruise.  I was racking up the miles.  Still very hot.  I passed a small church with a temperature sign – 102.  He is probably getting information from a higher source..  Kept speed up.  Traffic was very light.  Population centers decreasing.  Becoming more cognizant of fuel.  Water stops.  Every time I stop, its at least 15 minutes.  Pour water over my head.  Drinking 1 to 2 liters.

I was in oil and gas field country.  Miles between town.  Flat.  Barren.  Hot.  Straight roads. BIG operations.

Finally.  The state line.

100 miles to Amarillo.  I gotta tell you.  There is nothing out there in this part of the State, but as soon as I crossed, the roads had shoulder and the speed limit went to 75mph on a two-laner..  I obliged.  Speed was up and I was moving.  I needed to hit the first town for gas but there weren’t any.  Referring to day 1, I ran out of fuel again.  Cruising at 80 will do that.  I was actually getting decent range but just stretching the miles.  I had about 125 miles on this tank and was looking for the first town.  Anyway, I switched to reserve, pulled over and checked the Garmin for the closest fuel.  12 miles to the North and East.  I hit ‘go’, turned around and fueled up in Canadien, TX.  Back on my route, a hundred miles to go, fuel full, I brought the bike back up to speed.  I realized why the GPS was so optimistic about arrival times..

West Texas is very remote.  I will leave at that.  Great roads though.  I hit a few construction zones and they were long.  Big crews.  Long hours.  They were still putting down asphalt at 7 at night.  If there is light, I guess they work.

I was getting pretty tired.  Kept speed up.  Watching big storm cells ahead.  They looked to be moving to the north and east.  You can see them for miles.  Finally started to pull into Amarillo proper.  Found a great little place on Route 66.  Has all the essentials, wifi, A/C, shower..  The owner was great.  He made sure I got everything I needed.

Unloaded, showered and drank a bunch of water.  There’s a little bodega just across the street.  Went and got a little snack and one of those 24oz cans of beer.  Nothing quenches your thirst like cold beer.  Sat out in my chair and finished the evening with a cigar and scotch.  Looking at miles traveled.  1500 so far.  No idea of next routes.  I’m withing 450 miles of Denver.  I’m thinking probably Thursday.  I could use an easy ride day.  New Mexico on Wednesday.

Life is good