Horizons Unlimited - The HUBB - Riding Across America - 1 girl, 1 Triumph Bonneville, 16 000km

05/27/2014

As usual… I left later than I used to but it happens when it’s hard to leave the place where you spent the night and you have met great people. So it was in Williams, where I’ve met Richard (motorcyclist and traveler). Great man whom I found through the portal Couchsurfing. Richard have also an amazing neighbor "Julcia" - which parents were born in Poland. When she saw that I decided to stay she made "golabki" and apple pie! You don’t even realize how moving are such a gestures, when you’re traveling for few weeks in a foreign land.
So after 10am I jumped on Bonni and for a moment we were not alone in this journey (Richard was riding with us). We rode together by historic road "Route 66" (the mother of all roads in the U.S.), then we parted in Seligman. And from that moment the sun began shine strongly! I felt I was getting closer to Nevada. I was melting under the layers of protective clothing. Sometimes I envied the other riders that they ride in jeans and t- shirts. Refilling fluids didn’t help, because after 20 minutes I felt as if someone threw me in the oven. There was no shade, in which we could hide with Triumph.
Last ounce of strength we pass the Hoover Dam and we got to Las Vegas, which was frizzle in the sun. You can believe me or not but it was “better" ride in a closed helmet than with an open visor.
This time I found shelter in Erik (Hungarian) house. A man who is a true host for many travelers. Besides me under his roof slept a couple of Germans and two Austrians who started few weeks ago their journey around the world. And what can do such a little "European Union" in Las Vegas ? Go to drive go-karts ! When the rest had already fallen from exhaustion, I decided that I’ll sleep in home - Poland... and with host I went to the city center.

I must admit that on the one hand, Las Vegas intimidating and on the other was overwhelmingly sad. I watched people playing the machines, and they did it so mechanically, as if they were working in a factory, no emotions. Somehow I prefer other forms of spending time... of course designer shops tempt with their new collections but the prices were staggering.
Leaving Las Vegas was not easy task… it was terribly hot - horribly! For the first time I thought I'll die. While riding rescued me viaducts, because only there I could find a bit of shade to escape from the scorching sun just for a few minutes. I looked in the mirror and I saw a ghost… not a man. The weather was inhuman. At that moment I envied others that are driving car with air condition, because with Bonni we were sick of Nevada.

And when I saw the green mountains of California… I could finally breathe. It got a little cooler.

Best,
Veronica & Bonni

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