Airtime over Topas
Nov 19 - Ensenada to San Quintan - Airtime over Topas
Still recovering from the race I got some much more needed sleep. The cold I have is really sapping my energies. I did get some errands done and headed out in the early afternoon for the next phase of my journey.
I rode with casual but quick pace as I needed to re-adjust to the bike and the roads after not riding for awhile, also some of the scenery was really. One thing abot motorbikes and big cruisers is, when you chill out and enjoy the ride on scenic country roads, there are few things finer. Vik likes to say "4 wheels move the body, 2 wheels move the soul".
Having said that, hitting topas at about 30miles per hour makes everything soar. Fast Eddie was the topa spotting master and in the race he was the one calling them out to the other trucks. I imainge he{s already started laughing as he reads this cause he knows the story already.
Topas - for the uninitiated, is mexican for deadly oil pan liiling demonic speedbumps. Not so much bumps as small paved foothills in the road. Now, some have signs warning of their imminence, others are painted, others still are camouflaged for locals entertainment value I guess.
Now, I have spent plenty of time airborne on a motorbike or bicycle so its familiar territory. However, suddenly realising you are fully flying on huge huge bike is not a sensation I recommend. The bike actually flies pretty well. It feels light, keeps its balance both vertically and attitudinally (tilt front wheels versus rear) and has a pretty good semi standing position for the pilot. Its about this time my Dad and Brother, both pilots, ask the question "Did you check you altimeter?" (for altitude). No, but I have always enjoyed flying through clouds.....
BUT, like most flights in non-flying vehicles, the actual flight can be nice, quiet, serene, scenic, calming even. Then one is reminded of the old saying "the flying is not hard.....its the landing that's a bitch".
Well, I can testify that nearby mexicans completely stop everything they are doing when they hear an 800lbs road touring motorcycle slam to the ground upon re-entry of normal airspace. KERUNCH!!!!! It hit haaaard, but landed straight and true, no wobbles, no crashes.
I stopped to inspect the bike, no problems, airride suspension seemed intact (Honda), no saddlebags or feirings broke off and my shorts were still clean, sooo..... on on.
After about 200kms of riding, maybe 3 hours, I was in an area of dusty little towns, it was starting to get dusk and I started looking at motels for the night. The thing about that Baja dust is that it is super fine, you don{t even really notice it even though you can see it in the air. However, after riding in it for an hour or so with an already scratching and irritated throat and nose it bothered me even more. With low energy and dire thirst I launched the bike into the parking lot of a suitable looking roadside motel.
Now when I say launch, i do mean launch. The roads in the towns are paved, the shoulders all but none existant and when the pavement ends there is just sand. Well, after many vehicles bouncing on and off the road through that sand it errodes to the point that in many areas there are 12 inch drops off the road. If you are not careful when exiting the road into the parking lot of a suitable looking motel you end up with a gut wrenching free fall drop and subsequent BANG as the land-yacht of a bike I ride reconnects with terra firma. On my other even more street oriented bike, the VFR, this would result in certain undercarriage damage as it scraped the pavement.
With all bike and rider recovered from the drop-in to my accom for the night I checked in, grabbed a few tacos at the local stand and hit the bed for some tv and early nights sleep to help nurse the cold. A few sips of tequila (for medicinal reasons) may have been consumed as well.