Attempting To Reach Eclipse/COTA

[oldironnow]

IMG_9887.mov

[oldironnow]

[hacksaw]

My friend near Austin is going to this…
https://thetexasfandango.com/
Where I would be if I was in the area

[oldironnow]

[Fatfatboy]

I’m glad you got to the top of the tower.
How long do they let you stay?

[oldironnow]

No time limit.
But it’s one trip per $22 fee.

[oldironnow]

hacksaw wrote

My friend near Austin is going to this…
https://thetexasfandango.com/
Where I would be if I was in the area

Dang !
I just came out of that region !
Sounds great. I wonder if i can make there and back tonorrow…

[whatarush]

oldironnow wrote

Thanks for that tip!
I’ve haven’t even attempted the pits.
Are you here?!!?

Nope…wasn’t able to make it this year

[oldironnow]

IMG_9996.mov

[oldironnow]

Saturday was a good spectating day.
Walked to the far terminus of the track.
Sipping on coffee and tromping through the spring flowers.
Met up with a high school friend and spent time at the track together. We had finish-line seats for $50 each.
Ended up moving down to the starting line area.
Walked him through the factory displays.
Ate track food.
Watched the Qs and discussed life and racing.







“The Loneliness of the Long-Distance Umbrella Shaded Fan




.

[oldironnow]

IMG_9976.mov

[oldironnow]

Friday -
Errands.
Bought a new tent for cold weather.

Went to the Handbuilt show.
Waited for the bats.

Stayed out late on South Congress in Austin.










.

[oldironnow]

[oldironnow]

.

[oldironnow]

[Fatfatboy]

I’m still jealous.

It was a great race. Turn 1 had shoulder to shoulder and paint trading that threw Vinales way in 11 from first. I knew he’d pass some of the riders but not all of them.  
Good job on him.
I was really hoping for Marquez to land top step was about knocked into the chip dip when he lost it in the turn.
Aucosta has great last second braking and I think he can outbreak all the Ducati’s.
Lots of good maneuvers by so many of the top riders.
This guys are fantastic.

Very cool you got to meet up with an old friend and catch up. Good memories are so much a part of us and who whe are.
I hope your ride home is filled with sunshine and smooth tarmac.

[oldironnow]

.

[hacksaw]

Nice Indian!

[oldironnow]

hacksaw wrote

Nice Indian!

Yea! So very clean !

[oldironnow]

Sunday is raceday,
But Saturday’s hosting activities put off some test rides.
So I sacrificed most of Moto3 and Moto2 to riding a Moto Guzzi V7 Stone and Kawasaki ZX-4R.
Both are very good in their ways.
More on that later.
Got a look at a cutaway of the Ducati single.
Ultimately hoofed it all the way out to Turn 11 to watch MotoGP.
Broke camp.
Took a photo of Ratana with it’s new red tent swelling the load.
Finally understanding the byzantine Austin road numbering system and often lack of road signs, I got Ratana through the city and into the west on 290.
Between Johnson City and Fredericksburg, there are herds of wineries, a few breweries and maybe a distillery.
The landscape changes. Less scruffy Tamarisk trees (?) Taller oak (?) with more grassland and no prickly pear clumps - although this may all be groomed.
There’s also a motorcycle museum in Johnson City which I missed being open by 30 minutes.
Into the sun.
Into the fatigue.
Attempted to reach Ft. Stockton to turn a partial day (left the track at five) into a decent distance day.
It occurred to me that since it’s not freezing at night, I can ride deep into the late hours in comfort, and also feral-camp with less distinction.
Junction, Texas offer a real old-school bbq restaurant - Cooper’s, and an outlet to charge the phone for awhile at a gas station.
The first attendant had an electric moto-bicycle and no driver’s license. 20 minute commute each day, 25mph, “and I never have to pedal.” I ask the next attendant coming on shift at 10 pm (who has still has a driver’s license) how long it would take him to get to Ft. Stockton right now.
“Oooooophhh… three hours?  That’s long. And you gotta watch out for the deer. They’re big. Mule deer. Watch out.”
So out onto the highway.
Run for awhile with a tractor trailer from my home city.
I don’t think he understands my beep and wave when I pass on a grade and when he later repasses Ratana and me.
Nearing Sonora, Texas - where I bailed out inbound to land for the eclipse - I see his brake lights flicker for a second.
Then there’s a moving shadow on the outside. A silhouette of a deer’s head against the oncoming headlights inside.
A deer standing in the fast lane in my headlights.
We brake and gas and pass, and shaken, pull off within a mile into Sonora. Decide, that’s enough night driving for now, and today’s distance will be fine. Eventually settling down behind the Love’s truck stop in an appendix of the auto parking area where the employees park.
I buy a shower, and ask the attendant if i can sack out for awhile to go out-of-service and reset my hours. He says sure.
It’s a good spot, should’ve got out more blankets, but the child’s cot from walmart I’ve been using continues to be great. It’s rated at 110 pounds, but my 165 doesn’t seem to be destroying it.
Sleep comes, but only after some worker/ manager got off at 11:30 and proceeded to jackhammer talk 20 feet away from me for 90 minutes.
Sounded like she was missing half her consonants and several teeth. Talked straight through for an hour and a fricken half with someone. Maybe a cell call. Maybe the store’s possum.