Ride Journal

May 30 2009, Day 18 Home at Last

There was not a continental breakfast at this motel and the coffee pot did not work in the room. I hoped that this was not a hint of the type of day that I was to have. I filled up with gas 20 miles later in Vale and was told that there was no gas stations between there and Burns. 114 miles was pushing my limitations with my present fuel situation. I rode in full fuel conservation mode. 55 mph most of the time and trying hard not to grab too much throttle and keep the accelerator pump from injecting extra fuel. I was expecting to run out of fuel at any time when I saw a station on the left. An 18 wheeler was right on my rear so I was hoping that he was not going to try to pass me as I pulled over to the left. The small store was just opening up and they had to unlock the pump. I put in 2.64 gallons in the 2.5 gallon tank. I guess that I was just about ready to have the lines run dry!

I was now able to do my normal 70 to 75 speed the rest of the way to Burns. I stopped at a McDonalds for a quick breakfast and was able to wait for fuel for another 26 miles in the town of Riley. I was once again told that there was no fuel between there and Bend so back on fuel conservation mode again. In the small town (one building) of Brothers, there was a gas pump in front of a quaint looking cafe. I talked to a couple of real nice gals (owners?) who said that they just got the gas tank filled and the pump working about three weeks ago. They took a couple of pictures and I was off again.

I went through Bend and stopped in La Pine for fuel again. It sure was great to be back in very familiar territory again. My next fuel stop was at the junction of 97 and 138. I headed down the 138 North Umpqua Highway and almost thought that I could make it to Glide, which was 80 miles away. Something told me to stop at Dry Creek for fuel instead, which was only 11 miles more down the road from where I was at the time. It turned out to be the right decision. When I put my screwdriver to the solenoid to start the bike, it only spun the starter over and did not engage the Bendix gear. I had been having trouble with that in the past and have had to replace the Bendix gear more often than I should. It just happened to go bad at a perfect location. A place on a hill where I could roll the bike and start it and at my very LAST fuel stop as I was only about 50 miles from home! I stopped at Oregon Tool & Supply and said hi to Mark and Dale and did not stop the engine. My next stop was HOME where I was met with a very welcome and loving family.

Approx 7200 miles in 20 days with NO MAJOR PROBLEMS! Thanks again to God for getting me back to my family safely so I can do it again (but not right away!)

Stay tuned for more rides that will be posted as they happen. Thanks for following along with my rides and I hope that you all enjoy reading about them as much as I enjoy doing them!!!!

Until next time when I see you out on the road; this is Ratbike Milo, signing off... for now.