Started out on schedule at 8:30 this morning with an air temp of about 30 degrees. I-25 was all messed up this am so I hopped right back off and took surface streets to get out of town.
After 150 miles, I pulled into Truth or Consequences for gas and a break and I peeled off a few winter things. This was one of my longest freeway runs. I got about 37 mpg while keeping it at about 75. Temp there was much more tolerable.
Next stop was on the other side of El Paso. The temp was almost summer-like here so I shed the rest of my winter gear (except for my insulated boots.) I forgot to record my mileage here so don't know my mpg on this run. I used about 3.4 gals though.
The speed limit on I-10 from El Paso to Van Horn and on to Ft Stockton is 80 mph. I kept it at about 78 most of the way. I'm not a speed demon on the Vulcan and I'm still watching my gas mileage.
Van Horn. What can I say, it's a gas stop. Got 37 mpg again. This is pretty good. I was counting on at least 33 and my hi-speed freeway runs are better.
Pulled into Ft Stockton about 6 PM and cruised the main drag a couple times to scope out the eateries and find that roadrunner Merrilou wanted a picture of. Checked into the motel, got food, got my Internet running and settled in. Had a brief scare when I thought I didn't have the driver for my WiFi card but then realized that card is for a different laptop...this one has built-in wifi and I just had to turn it on. Doh!
This first day was a shakedown cruise. It gave me a chance to get used to a full day in the saddle and test my packing. All went well. I wasn't too tired at any of the stops and I'm still felling pretty hyped this evening. Nothing fell off the bike and all my bungies held. I did pack some straps in case my bungies broke or weren't enough but all was good.
Here are some pics. Not much to look at today, it was all superslab and truck-stop towns.
Pulling out of the garage:
I-10 between Van Horn and Ft Stockton:
The Roadrunner in Ft Stockton:
What do they feed the roadrunners in TX?
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