Never give me too much free time, or some crazy motorcycle adventure is inevitably going to happen!
The TLDR is simple. My KTM that I’m riding RTW is with a shipping company in Europe, but it isn’t booked to reach its new destination until the end of December, as it’s being shipped to a different hemisphere. So while I’m waiting why not grab another bike and ride a totally different ride. I’m going to ride 48 states on a CT125 postie bike.
Photo: rtwpaul
The long version is in planning threads, with over 70.000 views there’s a lot of detail if you are interested.
The ride starts
With 50 liters of my cheapest motorcycle gear loaded in a customized top box, an old rear tail pack sitting up front for hydration and a cycling bar mount bag for my camera and road snacks, I pull out of the driveway on Day One just after 7 AM in Phoenix, and it’s already over 90 degrees. The plan was to leave before 6, so I’m failing already.
I jump into rush hour traffic and select track 1 from this long red line, and its just a little daunting
Image: Google Maps
On Day 1 the plan was simple. Get to Chinle in the northeast corner of Arizona. Because of all the reservation lands between there and my house, there aren’t many wild camping options in between.
Also, between me and there, there’s lots of uphill riding and shifting between second and third… but I made it before sundown, so headed into the Canyon de Chelly park to admire the view before the sunset and setting up my tent.
Photo: rtwpaul
Woken by the sun, it’s time for a quick pack and do a little four corners riding, and all the fun stuff this area offers.
Photo: rtwpaul
Photo: rtwpaul
Photo: rtwpaul
Photo: rtwpaul
Photo: rtwpaul
Photo: rtwpaul
Photo: rtwpaul
Late in the afternoon a flash flood warning shows up on my phone and I grab a cheap motel; before I can ask, the lady tells me to put the bike inside in case it gets washed away!
Photo: rtwpaul
Sitting inside doing my second post to the ride report a PM drops into my inbox. Inmate @road trash tells me he’d read the planning thread and has a CT125 and would like to join the ride if I’m open for a riding partner.
We arrange to meet in Taos, New Mexico… I let him know another rider is also joining the ride in Texas. His response: “I’ll only tag along for a few days and then split when you’re near Louisiana.” This will change, he kinda got hooked and will miss that turn off.
My route is a mix of suggestions from literally dozens of inmates, lots of roads I’d ridden over the years and about four months of Google Street Viewing, looking for the tiniest paved roads I could find or easy dirt.
Out on Day Three, there’s a mixed bag of paved, easy graded roads and thick New Mexico peanut butter dirt (as the locals call it), and a little mountain pass riding.
Photo: rtwpaul
Photo: rtwpaul
Photo: rtwpaul
Photo: rtwpaul
Photo: rtwpaul
An invite from inmate Samalama in Taos arrives; he asks if I have any issues. I have one, the knobby tires and the weight of my luggage are almost making the bike lean over too far and fall when it’s on the side stand.
He has a little machine shop at his house and makes me a custom mini hockey puck to make the bike more level
Photo: rtwpaul
After a great evening @road trash and finally I meet for the first time, and head for eastern Colorado/north east New Mexico, including a fun little section of the TAT. Now there’s a combined 250 cc and 16 horsepower of raw power chugging eastbound!
Photo: rtwpaul
Photo: rtwpaul
Somehow we make great time and distance and cross into Oklahoma way sooner than expected and stay the night in a very cool location called the TAT Bunkhouse . It’s literally in the middle of nowhere… as we have the place to ourselves I call dibs on a patch of concrete inside to avoid the bugs outside!
Photo: rtwpaul
Photo: rtwpaul
Photo: rtwpaul
It’s panhandle day. Oklahoma has one and so does Texas; we ride some of both and then set the front wheels pointing southeast towards Route 66 and the little town of Shamrock, Texas.
It’s here we become three. One of my buddies and fellow inmate Smilin Joe had asked if I minded if his son joined the ride for all 48 states.
His name is Parker. He’s a 22-year-old pilot; this will be his first long motorcycle trip. He arrived in town a few minutes after we did and as it was his Day 1 we thought a night of comfort was in order, because it’s not going to happen too much in the coming weeks and miles.
… and he rolls up on a CT110 from 1981!
Photo: rtwpaul
Photo: rtwpaul
To be continued…
If you want to follow along, this ride is happening live right now, I’m updating it daily unless there’s no reception… the ride report is here Utter Ridiculousness With 8hp
