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Monster Ride home!

Didn't realize that Woolworth was still in business. :laughing

Couple of shots riding north of Hermosillo. The border is within reach, and now I'm toying with the idea of actually making it to Tucson tonight. I saw a pack of about 40 harleys and huge trikes hauling the mail south with a few chase vehicles and a few bikes being trailered.

4th photo is of a military checkpoint I was checked at. I turned the flash off, propped the camera on the tank bag and left it long exposure. Not really a great idea to take pictures of the military roadblocks in a visible manner. :teeth

Then I stopped for gas, and this dude rolled trotted up. :laughing I let him know I would take a picture and he just laughed and nodded yes.
 

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Finally arrived at the border around 8pm. Was a long road to get to the actual US/Mexico border, and I cancelled my tourist permits so that I wouldn't have to hassle with it, if I didn't make it back in less than 180 days.

Stopped in the throughway and shot this photo.

Next one is inside Nogales, Arizona for a gas stop. Some dude in a radio station van stops me to chat about bike. I must have looked like hammered dog shit, cause first thing he says is "man, you look beat!". Thanks man. :laughing but he keeps yammering away. Something about tossing his harley down the road in a corner, cause it didn't corner well. So he got an R6 and then tossed that one. :laughing don't think the bikes are your problem man.

then he said my bike needed to be washed. :wtf :mad don't you be talking about her like that mofo. :laughing I left after that. and booked it for Tucson.

my gloves are officially fucked. I'm pretty sure I know what I want for my upcoming birthday. :teeth

Found a notell motel on the north side and crashed out for the night. Sore as hell too.
 

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Got up early this day to make the final push into San Francisco, it's Monday, October 20th. (Day 10 of riding) Tucson, Az. to San Francisco = roughly 874 miles

The morning sky out of Tucson in the first shot. Heard some noise from the front end, and realized that the right side of my front fender was missing the two screws. dammit! removed one from the left and fixed that shit.

2nd photo is somewhere near Lake Havasu, Arizona. I went north to IH-8 and then west to Gila Bend, from there I went north to IH-40 and then west, and cut north towards to Lake Havasu (land of huge, opulent trailers, boats, rigs, hummers and private buses)

stopped at Lake Havasu dam for a few quick photos.

Last photo is in front of the London Bridge. I've always wanted to swing through here, and finally had the opportunity.
 

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Stopped off and to get off the bike. For some reason I'm flipping sore as hell today. It's fun to realize too that I've done this entire ride solo on the bike.

A couple shots of the original London Bridge, purchased and disassembled in London brick by brick and reassembled here in Lake Havasu.

3rd photo still shows some of the numbers tags used to label the bricks/stones to be reassembled.

I am definitely tired today and sore. I'm like a horse to stable...just want to get home and relax. Tucson to San Francisco was todays trip.
 

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Quick shot of the Colorado river as I came back into California.
and the welcome sign. Finally, the home stretch.

Past Barstow and on...

Made my way northwest, through the wind farms and bypassed Bakersfield (thankfully :laughing) and dropped down into the central Valley. Took some photos along the way on my favorite route to drop into the central valley.
 

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Well, it was an awesome run. I think these are the last few photos I have. After this, I ran up to IH-5 and just made my way north. Was definitely tired, and just wanting to make time. It got dark about midway up to the 152 where I would turn off towards Gilroy. I latched on to a few cars along the way who were going at a decent clip. One vehicle I saw out there had "Infineon Raceway" logo on the side. He was definitely doing the speed limit. :) so I latched on to him.

I got home about 10pm. I looked like shit, tired, and beat. Showered, ordered a pizza and passed out.

Thanks for looking. I'll try and post up sectional maps of my routes.

In the end, I calculated 5,605 miles total from San Francisco to Texas, south into Mexico and back to San Francisco.

1 new tire in Austin, Tx.
1 quart of oil in Austin as well, that I added oil on occasion in Mexico.
And one helluva solo ride that I was desperately in need of for some time.

I think next year, I will ride another long trip like this, but the Ducati (my 99 Monster) is definitely retired from these long journeys. I'll see what I find for my new adventures.

Thanks for looking. And don't ever think a trip like this can't be done with whatever bike you own. ;) I love my Ducati. :teeth

cheers
 

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Now, DH, get back to work and bring home some bacon. ;) :laughing :later

the bike is currently at 63, 228 miles on the odometer. :teeth
 
Absolutely awesome trip! I'm glad to see that my bike could do something like this. :laughing
 
machete said:
Now, DH, get back to work and bring home some bacon. ;) :laughing :later

the bike is currently at 63, 228 miles on the odometer. :teeth
Click to expand...


only 23,228 to catch up!
 
Ride Report of the Year. Thanks for putting this together. I really enjoyed it.

And that is a beautiful bike.
 
LuckyStar387 said:
Are those kangaroo gloves you were wearing, Rick?

Wow, what a trip. That hardcore!
Click to expand...


:) thanks Kristi. and yes, the Kangaroo gloves. Racer Gloves 2xl. :( They saw a lot of miles.

Dogboy, thanks man. I love that bike.

Now I want to go out on a trip again...soon!
 
masameet said:
How did you manage to do all those thousands of miles, with the wind buffeting you, and not go CRAZY!

:laughing
Click to expand...

:laughing I've been riding without a visor/windscreen since I started. Got used to it, and some might actually call me....stubborn. :teeth It's not bad actually.
 
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