When we left our Ruby-straddlin' duo, they were back on the road with Vidal Junction 10 miles in the rearview mirror and a quarter of a tank showing on the gas gauge --- back to first-person narrative.
So I start doing some calculations based on 45 miles to the next service station. Let's see, I've made it 163 miles on a tank once and we only have 110 on this fuel run so far (I also calculated in though that the 163 miles was with no windshield, no luggage and no passenger - hmmmm). I seriously considered turning around and heading back to Vidal Junction but Tracey's getting hotter and, once again, there's no place to pull off and turn around. Then I remember our friend Brianna's resort is on this road - Water Wheel Resort I think it's called. They have gas because I've gotten it there before. No worry, we'll stop there. I cruise along now knowing I have a Plan B fuel option. I still decide to slow down to conserve fuel though - Tracey'll have to hang in there in the heat a few extra minutes to ensure we don't run out. As we approach Empty, it dawns on me that Brianna's place is BEFORE Vidal Junction, not after. Plan B disappears and now my worry intensifies. Meanwhile, I'm talking to Tracey to keep track of how she's feeling. She tells me "fine," which for anyone who knows her means, "I feel like shit, but I'm not sayin." I got concerned enough about her that I told her if she feels faint to grab me quick so I can hold her on the bike until I get stopped...she only answers with "okay."
We finally make the Shell station and get her inside - still conscious - and I go fill up Ruby. Yep, 3.7 gallons she takes on a 4.1 gallon fuel tank - WHEW. I go inside and tend to Tracey - Gatorade, wet towels and a bandana filled with ice wrapped around her neck. We get her face back to a simple sunburn look, then off we go for the last 30 miles to Laughlin. Oh, did I mention it is now officially 111 degrees?
Only 30 miles left - we can do this, we can make it. What else could go wrong? I should know better than to ask that question. Well, we hit I-40 West to River Road and begin our 2-lane trek to Laughlin. Not a bad road, speed limit 50, not crowded, things are looking good. THEN, as I approach a curve I can see 3 cars coming from the other direction. I can only see them briefly through the tall grass and cacti but it sure looked like the white car in the rear just disappeared. A red flag flew in the air (figuratively-speaking only) and I grabbed the brakes and took to the shoulder and here comes the white car passing the other two RIGHT IN THE MIDDLE OF THE CURVE!!!! I should mention that the shoulder of the road on this curve consisted of a 1-foot wide section of asphalt and DEEP sand. I'm riding this little strip of safe asphalt praying the guy don't panic and turn into the cars he's passing. After all, we are on the outside of the curve and they would all come to us if they lost control. Luckily he decides to just keep going like he's done nothing wrong. Tracey said there was a woman in the car with him and she was screaming as they passed by - I don't know, I was concentrating on balancing on the 1-foot shoulder and not playing in the sand.
The good news? The rest of the ride was uneventful. Yep, 20 miles of riding without a single incident...felt like a record to us at that point.
We get to Harrah's, check in, kick back and breathe a sigh of relief we've made it alive and well. Tomorrow we'll go to Wally World (that's Wal-Mart for the uninitiated) and replace what was lost in the ship-jumping saddlebag. (stay tuned for Chapter 5).
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