Searching For America

Just bought a plane ticket to Dublin, bouncing around Europe for seven weeks, this is what's happening.

Sunday, June 07, 2009

Is that....SNOW?!?! What month are we in again?

June 7th, that's right, June 7th.

Leaving Sheridan around 8:15 this morning, we headed towards Billings, expecting rain, but truly hoping for the sun too peek it's way through the dreary clouds that surrounded the hills. About 20 miles later I noticed that my windshield was icing up, that's nice to know, guess I'll slow down a bit. Five miles after this and the ground was covered in white splotches, my face shield was quickly making everything around me unrecognizable, and to cap it off our head sets were on the fritz, sending wave after wave of static through my headphones. Isn't it great when you start off the morning with a bang?!
Slowing down I radioed back to my dad to make sure he was O-K, and wiped as much snow off my visor as I could. 10 miles later there was so much ice build up on my windshield and visor that I was forced to lift the face shield on my helmet completely up in order to be able to see anything.
*Side note: Bare skin against snow at 60 mph feels like tiny needles of pain on a mask of numbness.

30 miles later the snowing had relented somewhat, allowing green to peek through on the side of the road, however the ice had finally encrusted itself to my glasses and I was forced to stop on the side of the road to clean them. That's when dad took this:



Yes, I am wearing a bright orange, one piece rain suit. And yes, it really is from 1980! What appears to be fog on the windshields of the bikes is actually ice.

We coasted into the nearest gas station, (it was about time to fuel up anyways) and talked to a couple from Denver awhile about their trip to Portland, and in turn, ours to Alaska. Hitting the road again we made it to Billings within the hour, cold, wet, but very happy to see a Cabela's where maybe I could find some over-gloves to remedy my freezing hands (summer gloves+27 degrees, you get the idea) and some gaiters for dad's leaking boots. We finally tracked down gaitors, but no luck for the gloves. Cold hands it is! We found a hotel (Travelodge this time, no granite!) and settled in, begging a box off the receptionist in order to ship back some un- needed supplies we brought along. Now it's time for some laps in the pool (a good sized one for a hotel), read a bit, then bed!


Good night world!

Zack

4 Comments:

Blogger Lauren Jaynes said...

Zack Hodgin!! I cannot believe you! lol you are such a daredevil! but you must come by it honest.. seeing as your daddy is on the road with you!! I hope the trip is safe and full of adventures!
P.s. you should have found a route that went AROUND the snow lol we get enough here as it is! I bet it sucks to have to endure it in JUNE! :)

June 7, 2009 at 7:37 PM  
Blogger Brett Shomaker said...

Glad you and you're Dad are having a good time and are still safe man. Prayin for ya.

June 7, 2009 at 8:25 PM  
Blogger Grace said...

Hahaha, I'm loving your retro rain onesie! That ice doesn't look like much fun though. At least you guys were somewhat prepared! Sending lots of love! :)

June 8, 2009 at 10:02 PM  
Blogger mandypants said...

It was great to see you last week. I hope you guys are safe, warm and having the time of your lives! It's so fun to read this blog every morning and see what you've been up to!

June 9, 2009 at 7:14 AM  

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