Bob Mulcahy's
100CCC Ride Report
April, 2005
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Bob Mulcahy's
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This year Motorcycle Tourers Forum (MTF) 50cc/100ccc ride was organized and staffed by dedicated motorcycle enthusiasts, as usual. Jason Jonas had a great team and enabled the participants to concentrate on the ride. I was in last years 100ccc and had a mechanical failure on the return leg in San Antonio. I had all the gas stop waypoints from that attempt. I have been riding along I-10 enough that I know the stops by memory. I have come to rely on my GPS V more as a trip management tool to keep track of overall average speed, stopped time, etc., etc., than a “where am I tool”. The fuel cell was a marvelous addition that lets me take 300 mi. riding breaks between stops. XM radio is now broadcasting all major league baseball games and I note the White Sox game details for the days I will be riding. I filled the camelback with bottled water, recalling last years fowling of the water by adding ice from the Jacksonville, Fl. motel, making it smell like swamp water. I loaded a dozen cans of a generic “Slim Fast” meal substitute and chocolate energy bars. One of each at a fuel stop will keep me alert and satisfied. I will pick up a couple “Arbys” beef sandwiches along the way for a quick easily digested meal. I have never had a set place for rest, content to let conditions dictate distance. This year I decided to either stop at Junction or San Antonio. I found a Comfort Inn, the actual location is Universal City, TX on the 1064 bypass last year, and I thought that would be a good location for a rest stop. I would decide as I neared Junction. When I arrived in San Diego on Monday 4 April, I was anticipating some sightseeing and rest before the start on Wednesday. I immediately notice a fluid leak that seems serious. Carl Stark, in from Sheridan, WY and I ride to the H-D dealer and arrive at 8:00 a.m. on the fifth. The dealer squeezed my bike into their schedule and I was back in the hunt by the end of the day. The ride started on schedule with Dave Shealey witnessing my start and Jason adding his well wishes. I top off the tanks at the designated Shell station and set the countdown timer at 100 hours and off I go. I remind myself to enjoy the experience, soak up the sights, sounds, and smells. The cool morning air in the mountains and the wonderful sunrise while riding out of them is always enjoyable. As the sun was coming up dead ahead, I was using the new retrofit sun shield for my Nolan N100. It works great and thanks to the MTF thread that turned me on to its availability. It has solved a big problem I have had with changing faceshields and eyestrain. The day proceeded as planned and I put El Paso in my mirrors. As I approached the junction of I-20 and I-10 east of Van Horn, Texas I marvel at the acres and acres of wildflowers in full bloom. I would enjoy this springtime show the next morning from San Antonio to Houston. As I approached Junction, I decided to go on to San Antonio and the Comfort Inn. Arriving at 3:00 a.m., and leaving at 8:00 a.m. very rested. This timing put me through Houston at a nice time of day. I have had problems with the Houston HOV lane and this year decided 610N was my route du jour. It was still daylight when I arrived at the Pensacola bridge backup. Another MTF rider was also there on a goldwing. I apologize for forgetting your name and my only excuse is old age and failure to take notes. As the daylight fades, we stick together. I find the goldwings lighting of the road ahead a welcome change of pace. We gain one more rider along the way and pull into the Jacksonville Shell at 2:00 a.m.. Other riders were also at the station and I met David Bjork happily ending his 100ccc. I was off to the Best Western at I-95 and Fl-202 for some rest; my ride was half-complete. I asked the desk clerk to give me a wake up call at 7am and set the screamer. When it went off, I felt very tired. I did not remember feeling that bad last year. I was trying to do the math with start times, time zone calculations in my head and I just could not be sure. It then dawned on me that the countdown timer was on the bike. I pulled on pants and boots, went to the bike, and pulled the timer out of the lower compartment. I looked at it and I had two more hours to sleep. Going back to the room it clicked, this is a 50cc not a 48cc. Wonderful, thank you, two more hours of sound sleep and I wake refreshed, energetic, ready to go. Back from San Diego Jason witnessed my start and wished me well. I always think that I will have the time to meet all the riders and volunteers at the Jacksonville Shell station. Once again, I do not have the luxury to visit. Leaving Jacksonville about 10:00a.m. under threatening sky, I was amazed that I have not been rained on yet. I rate my chances of this continuing as slim. Heading west the cloud cover slowly clears and I make Houston around midnight. Midnight on the weekend is still a very busy time. I see the 610n is now closed for weekend maintenance and just shake my head. I shook my head again as I rounded a curve in the heart of the city and a car was cutting across three lanes of traffic trying to take a left exit, right in front of me. Yikes, Houston never is just dull. Back to the Comfort Inn on the 1064 bypass at 2:00 a.m. for a 7-hour stop. I have found the perfect split place for me with the 1300-mi. west and 1100 mi. east of here being equal in effort level for me. With this as a rest stop, I never found the need for an Iron Butt motel stop. As I readied myself Saturday morning to leave I flipped the weather channel on to see a map of Texas. Every city had a sun icon above it except San Antonio, which showed drizzle. Great, the whole world is sunny except where I am. It turned out to be a cruel weather channel joke and I never did see any drizzle, just clouds. As I went to start the bike I thought about this same time on last years ride when I hit the button and heard a backfire, the end of that ride. I glanced at the odometer, saw it ending in 777, and knew this would be a good day. A push of the button and the bike came alive, seeming to say, “let’s go”. Now I get to enjoy the scenery and wildflowers that I missed going east. It was an uneventful ride until after Van Horn when the wind picked up considerably. As I neared El Paso the wind was making a mess with dust and debris blowing all over the highway. I knew when I turned west at Las Cruces, NM that the wind would be on the nose and I should not be running into any zero visibility situations. Aside from using 9.56 gallons of my 10 gallons of fuel getting to Tucson, it was manageable. I stop at Yuma for fuel, energy drink and bar, electric vest and heavy gloves and I am ready for the after midnight mountain crossing. At the base of the mountains the road conditions sign has “HEAVY FOG IN MOUNTAIN PASSES” on it. With eyes open wider now, I’m looking for the taillights of a semi to follow. I pass slow moving trucks thinking I would find one ahead until I am all alone in heavy fog in a mountain pass. Who’da thunk it? I put the flashers on and slow way down and was out of it before very long. I never had anymore fog after that. The last few miles fell behind me and I pulled into a deserted San Diego Shell station. I filled the gas tanks and got the all-important receipt. I checked the countdown timer and it showed 5+ hours left. I took a picture of the bike at the pump and could not stop myself from calling my lovely Lina and waking her to share the moment. She was very happy to hear the news. I was back at the motel at 4:00 a.m. and putting the bike to bed when a fellow comes along and congratulates me on the ride. It was Mark Ryan who came to greet his friend Gerry Stanfield on his ride, but Gerry was already sleeping. Mark took pictures and was very happy to welcome someone and I am glad it was me. He is the best one man welcoming committee I have ever experienced. Thank-you Mark. After sleeping, I went to the parking lot and Dave Shealey witnessed my end of ride. At our post ride lunch I enjoyed hearing about everyone’s experiences. Jack Fowler changing a rear tire on his GW and hitchhiking 90 miles each way to do it has to top the list. Tom Dale and David Hicks told funny, funny stories. Michael Boge, Gerry Stanfield, Carl Stark it was great to have met you all. Aric, I missed you out there. Another day. Another ride. Remembering my mother, who passed away two days after arriving home I am reminded, as the song says, to “live like you were dying”. I hope to continue to challenge myself and have fun doing it. Regards, Bob Mulcahy 100ccc miles 4740 Total fuel gallons 129.08 Average mpg 36.72
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