Solstice Ride 2019

[emptysea]

0500

Heading out.

My original plan was to get up and going well ahead of the sunrise so I could ride to the top of Willow Hill; a good location, I thought for a sunrise photo of the CB1100 with the sun rising behind it. Unfortunately, work and other responsibilities on Thursday prevented me from prepping my bike for the day's ride. Rather than riding to Willow Hill for the photo, I was packing my gear, checking tires, and using The Ferret's "quick chain lube" technique (taught me at the Arkansas CB1100 Rally). Still, I managed to get on the road at almost exactly 5:00.


Note that, for purposes of improving the likelihood of returning home from motorcycle rides at the predetermined time, my CB1100's clock is set ahead by about 5 minutes. Since it is usually Cheryl that predetermines my return from ride time, setting the clock ahead tends to result in more pleasant post-ride evenings at home.

0515

Official sunrise.

I was on I-90 West heading to Belvidere, IL to rendezvous with Tony at 6:15. Since he lives about 1/2 hour south of me, we agreed to meet at the Belvidere Oasis. "Oasis" may make this sound like a beautiful park with palm trees and a pond, but in reality is what the Illinois Tollroad Authority names its gas and food travel plazas. Not very picturesque, but very convenient for motorcycle meet-ups. The sun popped into view while I was cruising along at a GPS-tracked speed of 70.45mph +/-.

I-90 from O'Hare Airport west to at least Rockford has been completely rebuilt. More lanes, better road surface, improved signage all make the "new and improved" Interstate 90 a relative pleasure on which to ride. I say "relative" because it is still a straight, flat, interstate highway, but it moves quickly and is now my favorite "get out of Dodge" route.


"Sunrise: A Rider's Perspective #1"


"Sunrise: A Rider's Perspective #2"

0620

Tony arrives at the Oasis.


He arrived on time. I was early. Neither is usual.


Warming up in the first glows of sunshine. "Oasis" is an overstatement.

Because I skipped the photo op at Willow Hill, I arrived about 15 minutes ahead of schedule -- Cheryl would have been pleased. I used the time to let the sun warm me a bit. The reported temp at my house at 5:15 was 51 degrees which is cold enough for the first day of summer, but some of the towns I was passing had temps only in the upper 40s. I had not backed my warmer gloves because, well, first day of summer.

I had already topped my tank so I waited for Tony to top his and off we went.


0628

Milestone

Somewhere near Cherry Valley and just after I-90 turns right and US20 continues west, my odometer clicked over to 20,000miles.


This 2013 CB1100a was purchased in July, 2017 with zero miles. It replaced my 2013 non-abs which had 30,000 miles on it. 30k in 4 years on the old bike. 20k in 2 years on the new bike. I'm liking the trend line.