This is what the thermometer looked like for most of the day. I got a late start this morning. The coffee was good and I waited for Dan to get back from work before taking off around 9:15. From a rest area along I5, I made a hotel reservation in Los Banos which turned out to be over a hundred miles south of Sacramento. So today ended up being a 428 mile day. A bit longer than planned. Tomorrow, I'm just headed to Campbell which is south of San Jose so it should be a pretty short day. I Ended up going through Sacramento around 4:00 and it wasn't as bad as I had anticipated though it was pretty crowded between Sacramento and Stockton.
I just blasted down Interstate 5 and for anyone not familiar with this road, It's hot, dry, flat and boring. The reservoirs in the Shasta area are almost full! I don't remember them being so full in a long time. No handy turnout to take a snapshot near the lake. I stopped in Red Bluff for lunch, or more accurately, to sit in the air conditioned dining room. Many stops for sugar-free Gatorade as I want to avoid the leg cramps I got in Washington. 8 liters of liquid today. This snapshot was taken at a scenic viewpoint a bit south of the Oregon-California border. It didn't strike me as scenic...
I just ordered an evaporative cooling vest off of Amazon today to be delivered to the hotel in Santa Cruz. I hear that eastern Oregon is going to be hot. Who picked eastern Oregon for the IMBC2012?
Posted with Blogsy
"It's hot, dry, flat and boring."
ReplyDeleteHaving been there, I second that!
You seem to be making good progress. See you soon!
I was dreading this section for that very reason. I thought about heading down the coast but didn't feel like tackling the bay area traffic.
DeleteA cooling vest you say - sounds like a plan as I look forward to predicted 105F temps ahead. Frequent breaks!!!! Lots of water!!! See you in Oregon.
ReplyDeleteToo bad it didn't occur to me earlier. The Motocyclw Superstore is located in Medford, OR, and they show it in stock. Oh well, hopefully it gets to the hotel on time.
DeleteYep, made myself stop at least every hour or so and drink more liquid. I knew it was going to be hot on this day. The mesh doesnt really help if it's over 98.6°F I'm told.
I rode through Red Bluff last year when I rode 36 to the coast. I couldn't wait to get back in the hills. It was HOT, and it wasn't even noon yet.
ReplyDeleteIt always seems to be really hot in Red Bluff. I remember vividly going through there as a kid and it was always hot.
DeleteRichard:
ReplyDeleteLast June I passed through Sacramento on the way to Lake Tahoe. We didn't like the gambling scene so we headed back to the coast where the thermometer was over 100°F most of the day. lucky we were in our rental car with the A/C on.
Don't you remember at the IMBC2010 in Bend two years ago it was 100°F for the whole weekend, but you were in your truck, so you probably didn't notice. We rode to Lincoln City after and it was much cooler around the High 60's°F. On our bikes we were sweltering
bob
Riding the Wet Coast
My Flickr // My YouTube
Last June as in last month?
DeleteThis is the first time I've ridden for an extended period at these temperatures. I thought that the mesh gear would help. Below 100°F, it helps. Above 100°F, not so much. Plus, the engine is like a blast furnace aimed right at my legs.
Our friend "Irondad" suggested Eastern Oregon for the IMBC; once we started making plans he opted out to teach in Medford instead. It's going to be hot, glad we got air conditioned rooms.
ReplyDeleteActually, I remember the discussion. It was more of a rhetorical question...
DeleteAir conditioning = good!
Richard:
DeleteAir Conditioning would be good IF WE HAD IT. according to the website where we are booked, it says something about cool breezes with mountain view. If we want A/C we have to visit the Troubadours and they will have to throw us out if they want us to leave . . .
bob
Riding the Wet Coast
My Flickr // My YouTube
Good point! I forgot about that...
DeleteLast time I check the weather forecast for Baker was in the high 80's and low 90's so we should not get to 100, I hope.
ReplyDelete8 liters of water - good for you. I don't think I could drink that without a lot of bathroom breaks.
I read somewhere that mesh gear after a certain temperature actually works against you and causes dehydration, and you should zip vents up, but I don't remember where I read it. Maybe Proficient Motorcycling.
Brad has a cooling vest but hasn't tried it out yet, he might have to do that for the trip. Rick swears by his. If you have a thin neck buff soak it in water every chance you get as it will help to cool you off (until it dries)
See you in a week.
8 liters is less than it sounds as I finished one liter everytime I stopped. The worst part was that many times it would be warm. Not quite as thirst quenching in my opinion.
DeleteI think going through central CA again to eastern Oregon will be a good test of the evaporation vest.
Trobairitz & Richard:
DeleteHey 98.6 it's good to see you back again, Laaa, laaaa. You know that song . . .
98.6°F is the Magic number. As long as it is UNDER cooling can be managed "MO better", than OVER 98.6°F
read this link:
http://www.advrider.com/forums/showthread.php?t=354313
we should be okay. It's only going to be low 90's or 80's
bob
Riding the Wet Coast
My Flickr // My YouTube
Let me know what you think of the vest. I just purchased one too, but am not taking it on this trip.
ReplyDeleteHave fun!! I'm gonna miss you all!!
I've heard mixed reviews of these vests such as they're useless unless the humidity is low. Perfect for out west, maybe less usefull on the east coast. Sorry that you two weren't able to make it out...
DeleteI've used cooling vests, they last a bit longer than just soaking your t-shirt down on hot days....trouble is, once it's dry, it's another insulating layer.....FWIW, I quit using mine on hot days.
ReplyDeleteI also had a neck scarf that contained that water absorbing crystals, that helped a lot, but once it dried....
dom
Redleg's Rides
Colorado Motorcycle Travel Examiner