Austin MotoGP trip Days 6-8 & 9 Toronto, ON, Can to Austin, TX, USA Apr 2013

[PaulG]

Days 6-7-8 April 19-20-21, 2013
Austin and Circuit of the Americas


Day 6 - Fri. 19th, April 2013

After a load of laundry we arrived at the track to a state of confusion.  They parked us in the infield, and when we asked where we buy tickets they said "Somewhere over there."  So we wandered around and soon realized; why bother, we're already here!     The weather was a blistering mid 70's, sunny and breezy; in other words absolutely perfect and would remain that way all weekend.  The high octane fumes caught on the breeze from the Moto GP bikes sent a shiver up my spine, and I inhaled as much as I could. We checked out the long double apex right hander at the turn 17-18 combo, then up to turn 1, then eventually made our way to the chicane at turn 9 (I called it the Estoril chicane after the original in Portugal which it resembled).

The facility seemed top-notch, but the sight lines were somewhat limited due to how they sloped the terrain outside of the track.  From the Google satellite picture you can see all the bleachers from turn 2 to the hairpin at turn 11 (for that overpriced F1 race).  These were not installed for some reason, (they were stacked across the road), which would have raised your viewing angle and allowed you to look over the fence, not through it.  Most of the video screens were not installed either as was witnessed by the numerous naked towers on the infield.  Despite these limitations, it was an enjoyable day.

We stayed at the Holiday Inn Austin Town Lake right off the I35.  The best thing was a court of food trailers right beside the hotel, and a strip of pubs and restaurants along East Ave., just a few minutes walk/stagger from the hotel.  The food trailers included Mexican, Thai, and Chinese dumplings.  That's all we ate mostly for 2-1/2 days for $5-$8 per meal.  Many of the pubs on East Ave. served kraft brewed beers, and a few in particular had dozens to choose from, plus bottled.  The beers ranged from $7-$8 per pint which was no different than home but the quality was worth it.





Our night life consisted of a quick meal, a few beers, then back to the hotel.... zzzzzzzzzzzz...     I know.  Five days on the road after not riding for 6 months, and the hot sun (relatively speaking – since I had not seen it since the previous September as I work nights), left us lacking.  I was hoping to spend an extra day or so in Austin by arriving Wednesday or leaving on Monday (or both), but other my brother suddenly deciding that we should leave immediately after the race instead of Monday morning.  I kept my mouth shut... 

The people we met were welcoming and generous with their time and conversation.  Took a little getting used to after five days of the drone of the bike and wind.  It was almost like learning to talk a new language.  I had some tunes on my phone, but decided not to use it.  Almost a form of meditation I guess - didn't help much.  Austin seemed to be a great town despite the traffic headaches of better than average growth in the present economy and ageing infrastructure.  Given the chance I'd go back in a heartbeat but leave more time for some R&R.   








Day 7 Sat. 20th
Spent most of the day at the chicane at Turn 9 and took some bike pics and that's about it, ...mostly.  They wisened up and parked us outside the track.  Things seemed marginally less chaotic than Friday.  Now we had to buy a ticket which meant walking 3/4 mile to the main gate and then another mile back to the chicane or hairpin.  The food troughs were disgusting, $10 for a furburger, $8 for a can of light beer.  We were loaded up with Mexican breakfast tacos from the food trailer, and plenty of water so we were set for the day.








Day 8 Sun. April 21 Race Day
COTA to Bryan, TX, 180 km (112 mi)
Kellan Rd North – Pearce Ln East – Wolf Ln North – TX 71 East - TX 21 East

Spent all day down near the hair pin at Turn 11.  Nice'n'loud as they slow down then accelerated to 145 m.p.h for Moto 3, 175 for Moto 2 and 217 for the Moto GP bikes.  Left the track immediately (against my better judgement  ) and managed to get stuck in the inevitable gridlock.  We were hoping to make it to Crockett, TX (now the home of ex-Prez GW) that evening.  But it took us four hours to get to Bryan, TX, less than two hours away, (normally).  The video for race day is just arrival, slideshow, and departure.













VIDEO Day 8 Race Day


http://youtu.be/iD-yhOnQcpw



Day 9 Monday April 22, 2013
Bryan, TX – Pearl, MS, 728 km (452 mi)
TX 21 East – US 259 North – TX 315 East – US 79 East – I 20 East

Strictly mileage today.  Get as far as we can, as fast as we can.  Luckily it seems there is no posted speed limit in Texas less than 70 m.p.h.!  Not even two lane side roads with no shoulder.  Eastern Texas scenery was interesting with cows and oil pumps, and cows and oil pumps, and cows...  and much greener than in the westerns.  Somewhere between Crockett and Nacogdoches, a huge bird decided to do a Kamikaze dive right into my brothers bike.  I was behind him and it kinda' disappeared in a flurrie of feathers.  Once on the I20 it was a straight flat slab for 400 km. (240 mi.).  Oh the agony!  I have never been so bored in my life (though I have yet to cross the prairies).  Ten hours on the road that day and wouldn't you know it, the only thing that happened of interest, was the most interesting of the whole trip... but you'll have to watch the video for that.  Arrived in Pearl, MS in the early evening with sore legs, back, neck, and arms.  Like they say, every bit of joy comes with its share of pain.




VIDEO Day 9

http://youtu.be/lYPVvnSVJ9I


Next up - a blast through Alabama to the hills and mountains of north western North Carolina, Deals Gap/Tale of the Dragon.

[CanDman]

Paul.....you're kidding right??? seriously...your timing is a little off....by a million miles.......sit down bro...and post this in a month or so.......  

[CanDman]

Paul.....you're kidding right??? seriously...your timing is a little off....by a million miles.......sit down bro...and post this in a month or so.......  

Sorry Paul....let me rephrase that.......I would very much love to see and experience you travel report.....but Captain Ron has a great trip report on the go....and following the adventure is kind of like sitting down and watching a movie...so posting your trip report now.....would be like trying to watch 2 movies at the same time.....anyways...I am not trying to tell you what to do....I just know that I would be better able (as would many others) to become submersed in your adventure once Rons was finished...I hope that makes sense and I apologize if I sounded rude......look forward to your adventure too looks like a good one.....
CanDman   

[PaulG]

The posts aren't going anywhere.  View them at your leisure, I'm not doing this for a popularity contest.  It's taken me months to edit the videos, the written portion was done back in the early summer. I'm constantly re-editing the music to get around the Youtube BS, so as I complete them, I post them.

Just make a note to check them out later if you want. It's a long winter coming, and I just want to get this out of the way.

[Capn Ron]

Hey Paul,

I'm enjoying the trip report and certainly appreciate how much work it is to put it all together!  I like the maps...really puts the day's run into perspective!  Keep it up!   

Cap'n Ron. . .

[fj johnnie]

 Keep it up Paul!!  After having met you at the FJ clinic it is awesome to almost hear you talking when I read the script. I think what you and Cap'n and Zwartie and Paul W are doing/have done is real cool. It is not the average guy who has the where with all to start and or finish one of these reports. Kudo's to you all!!!

[CanDman]

Sorry Paul......I hope that makes sense and I apologize if I sounded rude......look forward to your adventure too looks like a good one.....
CanDman   


[/quote]

I guess no one read my apology...........  

[paulfj03]

Excellent report Paul,

Thanks for sharing .  I even watched the vid which I dont usually do.. 
Good to see and ride with you at the clinic....  You'll have to organize another Muskoka colour run next year, too.
...no pressure, though.... ... ok... carry on...