Day 4: Leap Year ride was a bust

Leap Year 2024 = 💩💩💩. 🤬ing weather.

I started out great, right on my planned time of 0500. Straight up on I-40 and off I went in the 30°F chill. I made my first two Ride To Eat stops in Shamrock, TX, before dawn, refueled, and tore out again. Unfortunately, only three hours after I left, I hit snow. Thirty minutes after that, I was 15 miles east of Amarillo drinking coffee in a gas station while I waited out a frigging blizzard. It didn't stop snowing for FOUR hours. So, no Iron Butt for me today 😭😭😭.

Here are the good things about today:
- I made myself stop before I hit ice (I got a little concerned about the road when I started passing snow plows 😳)
- The gas station folks were super nice, the bathrooms were clean, and I had a table to hang out at and a power outlet to charge my phone and music player
- I was back on the wet road at 1300, but there was no ice. In fact, the roads were completely dry about 20 miles further west
- By 1430 the sun had come out
- By 1530 it was 45°F and I had to turn off my heated gear 🤣
- I was able to pay for my hotel room in Gallup tonight with points (but I'm still paying for my room in Kingman since it's for tonight and tomorrow night 😞)

I plan to leave Gallup around 0430. I've cut out all the HD and RTE stops after the snow today and all for tomorrow to save time. I should get to Kingman in around 6.5 hours, then I can unload the bike into the hotel I'm supposed to be at tonight and still make my 1230 service appointment at Mother Road HD. I hate being late, particularly when they made room for me in their full schedule.

Right now, I'm off for a long hot shower, followed by more TheraFlu, which seems to be working well enough. I think the rattling cough is drying up and I know the runny nose has slowed down significantly. With a short ride tomorrow and no reason to get up early on the 2nd, I'll get some good rest in Kingman.

So long [for now], and thanks for all the fish! ✌️

HD Dealership Challenge: 0 (total 22)
RTE-X-USA: 3 points (total 16)
MCGTTX 2024 Stops: 0 (total 0 of 50)
10 Rides for 2024: 0 (total 0 of 10)
IBA Lap Around the 48 Stops: 0 (total 0 of 9)Read more