Hacking West by West: The TAT….

Thanks DirtyDog... Your TAT solo was one of my must read in planning my TAT. OKlahoma is indeed my kind of State; big sky, friendly people, lots of cattle...big steaks. Ah, I found this here in Bartelsville...See that round green logo over there..



So much better than the Motels bildge water...

You happen to remember the coordinates of the cowboy cemetery along the TAT as well as that big blue TAT sign created by the Town folks of Freedom, OK These are often missed as we TAT'ers zoom by in a cloud of dust.

It would be difficult to contact you in time of need, cannot use the phone due to my ..and most often I don't get reception via pager out there!

Cheers Amigo, stay well...

Actually, I don't know where these are. "Zoom by in a cloud of dust" is an understatement for my OK TAT experience.

Looking good there Elmer. Having a great time following your trip.

Been tracking this guy also, Kyled1--http://www.advrider.com/forums/showthread.php?t=804107

From what I could gather--- he's approx 5 days out from you in Moab.

I still can't get over how quickly you TAT'ers are crossing the great US of A!!!

It seemed like only yesterday you guys were in eastern US and the next thing I know---you're flirting with the western section of the US!!!!

Dang....you guys are quick...

Tom

Howdy TOM..."howdy" is how we greet each other in these parts? Can't hear em' but read in Cowboy comics that's what ya' greet a stranger and make friends out West..Oklahoma!

Yes, I've been pushing...wanted so bad to get outta the rains...been mildewing...more able to ride the TAT when it is dry..remember got a SUV of a rig...anything slick, deep mud I'd be in deep doodoo.

Sitting here with the Bartelsville ST'Buck girls for a morning Bun and dark roast Java....ah, am ready to hit the trail but gotta give the bike and myself some TLC and do laundry. So spending another night here and ready to tackle the rest of Oklahoma tomorrow. Ken, my sidekick has left the team and is on his own! Might rendezvous with him somewhere along the distant stretch...!





Yo TOM...your favorite bike converted into a Cafe Racer.



Cheers....

Oh, oh....so good to see a snapshot of you! Glad you are getting some R+R. I want you back in tip top shape . Now that you're going to ride solo....don't get reckless! From your woman on the hard

"Ken, my sidekick has left the team and is on his own! Might rendezvous with him somewhere along the distant stretch...!"

Ken solo trip been delayed. Came back with this...got a TAT nail....









Pulled out a 1" finishing nail. Changed inner tube, will patch the old tube. Going to Gas Station for better compressor. Motel's compressor not strong enough to set the bead.

So that's what he's been carrying in those pelicans.
Explains all the crashes in the previous string of pics.

PAPA,

This is a great thread. I am deffinately going to use it when I make an attempt at the TAT with some friends of mine.
I know HondaChopper is definately missing out on a trip of a life time. Ok its off to work for me as it is 0630 Wednesday morn here in the land of the rising sun.Love ya

Left Bartelsville at 0745 hrs, expecting a searing hot day on the praires and fields. It was roughlly 100 in th shade and 106-109 in th fields depending on who you ask!

True to its name....it was dusty,sandy, rocky..barren, stark, beautiful, big sky, mostly flat, forgiving..but no way was it boring! It's a geat ride and by the time you reach Colorado believe me you will have earned your offroad credentials:eek1.

Sorry for the poor exposure...but I was amazed when I dined at the Golden Corral unlike in the East; they have all kinds of beef that I dont see back east. Super pork, super beef, super lamb, great chicken and more beef...sure OK is a beef State but wow..what quality and portion size.



ON THE ROAD..









First dirt gravel road ever seen....

KAW Nation Casino...



ah, this was covered before by I think "Coast to Coast"....

Bridge out along the TAT, just divert. Coordinates are N 35 53.897
W 079 16.405





Here's the sand that created so much havoc to many TAT riders..



This one used to be a mudfest for TAT'ers if it rained sufficiently..but today and this week I hope it's been baked by 105 degree heat..



Baked Mud..



Getting hydrated while rollin'



Oklahoma is a long State name....goes with these roads..long..







Currently resting in Alva, OK..was lucky to get a room as the whole Town has been invaded by the oil and gas convention guys. My Motel filled all rooms. This is why I like to arrive around 1600hrs for possible room..always been lucky. Ken has gone on his merry way West.

Supposed to be another searing hot day tomorrow. Might head for Liberal, KS, a St'Bucks fix and some R+R!

cheers..

Aye, my Native son. Oh, how so much I wished that we could do these things together: You, me and Liam, all of us on DRZ400s...! Hurry back to the USA!

Papa-san

love the field of purple flowers and other sights....as for the muddy/dirt/gravel roads, ahem...I'll leave that to you I'm enjoying pics and glad to see you hydrating yourself on TAT and not getting lost in the woods

Howdy kraut Elmar!

Making great progress across the state which is as long as its name!

I see you are finally entrering the panhandle.

Appears that Ken has jumped ship for good??

Alas the flowers!! betcha your woman is mighty happy to see them!

Way to go Elmar out to west via many visits to Sta'bucks! Good luck and I am with you all the way.

I hope to join you in whatever endeavors may have you next summer if things go well for me!!

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I've been exposed..eh, not riding ATGATT..Hmmn...come on I am on a sidecar rig..but..! This is my standard dress when running through the high desert. All white long sleeved wicking shirt; open helmet; piggyback water pouch(90%water/10% gatorade)...bicycle open finger riding gloves with keflar pads; BMW long summer riding pants; BMW knee height riding boots. If I seem to drink more than needed I revert to putting on my full ATGATT BMW Rallye Pro 2 jacket with vents open; this is to retain body moisture. How do I know: ask the Arab tribesmen in the Sahara..works everytime!

Basically it's a 178-200 mile trip depending which TAT route(s) you've taken or having to re-route which I had to do.
I am in no hurry, am on vacation and wanted to smell the flowers, divert to some towns, visit historical places. The actual route I designed was to run from Alva, OK to Boise, OK- which is a distance of 305 miles...hot weather and personal interest made me break the route in half..thus a stop in Liberal, KS land of Oz! And to my amazement they have NO St'Bucks.

More Faces of the Oklahoma TAT-Day 3

Even encountered traffic .



Then this is what I have been seeking. Obligatory stop for a TAT'er. Located at: N 36 57.996; W 099 08.985

THE COWBOY CEMETERY










Forgot to take the coordinates of this re-route. Since I carried the old Oklahoma TATmaps that's probably why. I also normally ride and look if I can squeeze through of whatever the "closed" or "dead end" has to show. I saw a truck coming up and asked the guy what was down there. It's fully closed and he himself had to turn back..so I did follow him to a re-route: #64.





A short re0route onto #64 led me to this Town..forgot the name...aarrgghhhh...
















Senorita Laurie no habla Ingles! Sign language did itUniversal language of the world





Back on the TAT..



More traffic...



The high desert of Oklahoma...notice the terrain and vegetation. Not far away from the western section: New Mexico



Survival food ?? No idea what it is...maybe some Okies can chime in..





Gotta do some laundry today but the laundromat is closed...sniff, sniff



Tribute to the old girl "Brunhilde" that has carried me far and wide....

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That video where you turned camera on to yourself was cool beans. To see a live person on bike barreling down the TAT is different than seeing nothing but miles of roads and land. That human touch was a cool idea!

Elmer---you're a bad influence on all of us armchair dreamers!

Ride on my friend---what your doing at this moment is the stuff that dreams are made.

Tom

Hi, thanks Ginger Beard for reading my blog. Remember my rig can do about... hmmnn...say =75% of the TAT. Colo should be reasonably OK, Utah too..! New Mexico's "Long Hill" is out. Have to re-route from Bosie, OK > Branson, Colo...snatch . My goall was to reach Colorado...will I try to scale some of the passes..this also remains to be seen. It's a big rig..a la Jeep but only one power drive.:eek1 Do do the TAT..it's awesome..at times taxing..take your time and do your home work well...

Cheers..

Hi Tom...hear Maryland is hot as hell...BUT you gotta feel the heat here, ya get baked, ya get cramps, ya get monkey butts if you don't stand up occassionally to cool your nuts you'll sterilize em' . My goal was to reach Colorado, period! Go half way and do the other half another time with a proper group...is that you guys?? .

Yeah like you said above about dreams..

<?xml:namespace prefix = o ns = "urn:schemas-microsoft-comfficeffice" /><o></o>My adventure has no doubt left me with great memories for life and stories I can tell my children and grandchildren. I can feel the trails are leaving me wiser, more patient, and with a tiny bit more focus on the things that matter.



And now to do this..................



To do this trip you will need...



1-a sense of ridiculousness
2- buns of steel
3- the occassional desire to get away from people
4- at least a month
5- not much else I can think of..$$$, maybe!



Cheers