761.2 KM’s

I have to say this…after riding today and seeing so MANY cattle pens where I know they are being raised just for their meat, I hate the fact I like meat. I am not a left-wing nut about being vegetarian or anything but when I see hundreds if not thousands of cows living like this is kills me.

I Love all animals and wild life….not sure why I eat them?OK, that was my rant for the day.

I left Casper, Wyoming at about 0700 only to be warned of the impending dome I might face out of the roads today in all directions. One thing for sure you can see where to ride or not because you can see the weather ahead clearly.

This is what I saw when I first got going. I thought “UH Ooooo”. But, I was pleasantly able to navigate successfully around all the storm cells including the Tornado warnings that were sent out in and around Denver. I am so glad to see my SpotWalla and SPOT page showing tracking again…

if you need the links they are on the first page or here too..

SPOTWALLA LINK HERE

SPOT PAGE HERE

Not having my route planned is obvious. I am just watching the clouds now and trying to get from point A to B in a timely manner. I decided once I hit Cheyenne, WY that I would head South to Colorado for a back country ride and get off the Interstate.

Interstates are good for making up time, not good for a motorcyclist. Many of you know that. Plus, the x winds and head winds were out of control on the Interstate. Once I got off things calmed down a bit.

Temperature range for Day 5 were 5 C to 27 C. I read somewhere someone said I would not need my heated gear. I used it until I got to NB/CO border. It was cold actually and then HOT.

I think you all will be seeing many of these pics while out here. My Tires are starting to look worn. I am now wondering if they will last until Ontario?

I will take pics of them tomorrow. It’s not the sides it the rear centre tread. In any case we will see. Need to inspect my tire pressure tomorrow before I head out too. I just reminded myself.

Oh, I figured out why I have a rash on my neck and parts of my face. It must have been that cheap motel I stayed in the first night. I am very sensitive to fabric softener in sheets and I get literal burns. This is what I am seeing and feeling. Even showed my mother via FaceTime and she agrees. Sucks, takes a while to “heal” but I did use my buff around my neck today and it helped with the suit chaffing it more.

Can’t remember where I took this. I suck at journaling although I think of this RR as my journal in away. If anyone knows where this is and the next pic let me know

Love old/new towns. Riding in Colorado was great because I saw no one. The back roads are still not even full of bikers. Everyday I can count on maybe 2 hands how many bikes I see on the road. One hand for GS’ers.

Saw a guy named Stephen yesterday on the Interstate in WY. Stephen heading west me east and we gave one another a real GS wave. Later last night he sends me a facebook message and says….”Hey, I think I saw you today!” Sent me a pic of his bike and sure enough we did. Small world!

No one has said to me yet isn’t that bike too big for you? Except my mother just found out I can not get two feet down on my F8. She just said to me “OMG, then that bike is too big for you.” Funny, a little late mom!

In the above pic I am trying to show how easy it is to use a Hydrapack. Mine is from Klim but any will do. I don’t fill it up all the way because of my dry bag but let me tell you this. You know when you get those little headaches when riding especially in the wind? It’s usually dehydration and having this set up, a tube you just bite down slightly and sucking and gravity to the rest, has kept me super hydrated all day long. HIGHLY recommend this even in cooler temps.

I wanted to go to Yuma, CO. WHY? I like the name. I also wanted a donut, but to my surprise the place was out of business. I was once again hypoglycemic. I needed sugar. Thought a donut would do the trick but I had to resort to my Jolly Ranchers. Took two to get my sugars up. They drop so easily at times but I can tell the difference now between tired and low sugar.

I am trying to remember to eat a little snack every time I stop but I don’t. I know seems so logical and easy to do but I am working on it. I am learning all the roles of what used to be two people traveling thousands of KM’s together. I never really thought I would be the navigator but here I am. Again, seems easy but when you never had to do something there is a learning curve.

This was the weather in eastern Colorado today…NOT the Denver area that I avoided. I have friends in Aurora but will see them again in November on a business trip like I did in March. Friends that I have not seen before March of this year in 30 years from high school. Hi Lisa and Cory if you are reading these. Love your State.

Like I said I love cows, yes I eat them but this mom and two calves we so cute but ran away by the time I got my camera out.

I stop a lot to say hello to the cows

I was on all these County Roads today and no one was on them. I felt like I was in the middle of no where but I bet on a map the highways were not far. For hundreds of KM’s it was really just me dodging all the birds basking in the sun on the road. I unfortunately got hit by one on my shoulder and when I looked back it was not good. I was upset, but let it go.

So, let’s talk a little about the “white elephant” in the report. Cheryl. Each day I think about her and our last 17 years. But more specifically why did she marry me in August of 2013 and then leave 6 months later? Well? I am never going to get the answers to all my questions. Just the way it seems to be and will always be…no contact.

This trip has proven a few things to me so far. Even though it’s only day 5 I realize there are so many uncontrollable circumstances that go on everyday in everyone’s lives. This separation future divorce is one of them.

I can not for the life of me figure out what is going on in Cheryl’s head and I am going to stop trying. I realize it was me who had the adventurous side not her. I can tell by how I am really getting into this trip, wanting more time away to explore. I am the one with the bug.

I am angry for sure. Riding long distances is helping. Clearing the head. Letting go. I have been in such acute grief and disbelief that I have not begun to mourn the loss of my relationship. I have begun that process on my bike. That is a good thing and seeing scenery like this…

Open roads make it easier to digest. Still have a long way to go but I feel a change happening. I have received hundreds and I mean hundreds of messages, PM and emails with love and support from virtual supporters. This ADV world of ours, FB and blogs has been a huge support system for me. Blogging, riding and sharing are things I LOVE to do. Not to brag, not to show off…but to share my passion.

There is always a but though isn’t there? I got an email from someone who judges me for leaving and going on this “frivolous” trip when I should be fighting for my marriage. I can not even respond to this email nor will I. In any case there is always a few emails I get that are full of judgement themselves and I do respond to some but others I just can’t give the time of day. This is my life, and if I need to do something to keep my life alive and well I will.

After leaving Yuma I thought I could make it to North Platte, NB but I was a bit tired by Ogallala, NB. Went through a little town called Chappell and one campground there but it was almost on the train tracks. Thought I would camp tonight but the campground is out of business. Seems to be a theme here.

Staying at a Holiday Inn Express. I have not tented yet. Both nights I thought I would KOA gave me a cabin for a tenters rate. I will but not feeling too much pressure. My ADV can be whatever it wants right?

My final word for the evening is this…about another piece of gear. These socks which are sold by LDComfort ROCK. Been wearing the same pair for 5 days now…no odor at ALL and they are very comfortable in even in the cool weather and heat. Just get them big enough so there is rooms for your toes to move and breathe.

Amazing to have gear that fits well, can’t really tell you are wearing it….comfortable and safe. That is my gear. The Klim Altitude needs a few tweaks but for their first time out of the gate KLIM has really respected women riders. Make the collar a bit wider for layers, darken the colour, it gets way too dirty to fast, open the cuff a bit more so we can fit our gloves inside our cuffs and add real pockets to the pants and they are good to go..

That’s it for today. Hopefully will get out of NB tomorrow and into Iowa but with me you never know where I will go that is why you should follow my SPOT. Thanks for reading down this far if you did and for coming along.