Logan’s Run & Three Flags Classic – August 31, 2018

Awake at 3:00am. Hmmm? What’s with that. Larry is already awake. What’s with that also. I think it’s called being excited. Doughnuts and coffee for breakfast and the countdown begins. The energy in the room was palpable. 9, 8, 7, 6, 5, 4,3,2,1.

The start of the rush to drop your starting ID tag in the start-box has started. (Sorry, I just couldn’t resist that one). On the motorcycles… Go. This isn’t a race. There are no first, second or third finish records kept, ever. The only record kept is that you finished.

It was quite the honour, I got to lead my people and some tag alongs out of the desert. Well, more accurately, out of one desert, into the next. In a city I don’t know, in a foreign country, over rough roads with little or no street lighting, a group counting on me and the temperature was already 32.5C No pressure uh?

All went well and in no time we were at US customs. A half hour later and hundreds of us were in the USA. North to a place called Why, Arizona (I had to agree), then east to Tucson. By 8:30am we had done over 350km plus, we had crossed an international boarder. All of our efforts the night before were rewarded as we glided smoothly through Tucson (pronounced ‘Two soon’ not ‘tuck son)

Riding north from Tucson on hwy 77 brought us to a spectacular series of curves and switchbacks that took us first up then down an area called El Capitan Pass. It was challenging leaning the motorcycles to about 35 degrees through the curves while trying to pay attention to the road, your group, citizens in cages (people in cars and trucks) and trying to admire the scenery all at the same time. Exciting, exhilarating, and breathtaking all at once. Almost a sensory overload.

Stops were kept to a minimum amount of time by fueling up, a quick potty break, run around the motorcycle a few times while woofing down a couple of nutrition bars. Most of us have hydropacks that we fill with water and a powdered electrolyte replacement so we can keep ourselves continuously properly hydrated.

Distance ridden today; 870km.

Today’s route.