500!

Thursday, June 9th.

While I was in Seattle, I saw a TV show about how the states' borders were made.  On this particular episode, they talkd about the only spot in America where four states touched borders.  It was called the Four Corners Monument.  Utah, Colorado, Arizona, and New Mexico.  Perfect!  I'm heading to Texas next, and it's on my way!  I'll see the Four Corners Monument on my Four Corners trip!  A mere 1,200 miles southeast of Seattle!  So that's my next, unexpected destination. 

Although it was a bit overcast in the morning, not unusual for Seattle, it felt like it was going to be a great day.  I headed southeast with Clyde's headlight pointed toward Boise, Idaho, 500 miles from Seattle.  One of my minor goals for this trip was to ride a 500 mile day.  Washington was beautiful to ride through, green mountains, and a glass lake or two to test my ability to keep my eyes on the road.  To get to Boise, I got a taste of northeast Oregon as well, where I had a small hiccup.  In my efforts to reach the 500 mile mark, I was pushing it with how often I stopped for gas.  When my gas light comes on, I have about 30 miles before I run out.  The gas light came on.  A sign on the highway said the next exit had gas, and was about 15 miles away.  Perfect!  I exited the highway and happily got to the gas station, where I deflated like a balloon.  It was closed, and looked like it had been closed for quite a few years.  I stopped and checked my GPS, which said there was a Chevron gas station 6 miles down the road.  6+15=21.  Great!  I'll make it with 9 miles to spare!  I drove the 6 miles and where my GPS said there was a gas station, was a ranch.  But in the distance I could see a Texaco gas station.  I drove to it, and that was also closed too!  I thought that was it.  I am out of gas and am going to have to figure out a way to get gas.  The Texaco station looked like it was recently closed.  I walked up to the door and it had a hand-written sign that said, "Sorry we are closed.  For emergency repairs and fuel, go to Ben's Truck Repair accross the road."  I went across the road and saw Ben.  Ben looked to be about in his late 50's, and was a slow-moving kind of guy.  He didn't seemed to thrilled that I stopped by, and mentioned that some other guys on Harleys had gotten gas there earlier.  I wonder if Ben knew there was a sign directing people to him for gas.  He told me to pull around back to the other shed where he kept the pump.  I did, and he handed me the gas pump.  I put in 4 gallons.  He said 5 bucks a gallon and 5 bucks for his time, and that he thought that was fair because the next gas station is 30 miles down the road, and if I coulda made it there, I wouldn't have had to stop at his place.  I thought, "yup, that's true."  And paid the man.

As the sun took his bow for the day, and exited stage west, I reached Boise.  I completed my 500 mile day, with a 513 mile total, and got a room for the night.  After 500 miles and about 10 hours, I was tired!  Good thing I rested in Seattle.