The battle for Freeman Road

This past Monday was the worst day of my life so far..

My friend Lee really got into this show called "the Long Way Round" and soon got me hooked.. it's very addicting to see these two cats ride their Motorcycles from England to New York heading East.. they would just camp when it got dark, and then start it up again..
This past weekend I had the chance to do a fast trip to Tucson..
I packed my gear and away I went.. I had planned to just camp out at the SALTON SEA, but it was too late So a friend in Palm Springs let me stay the night. Morning came and I was soon back on the bike heading south on Highway 111 down to the 8, a beautiful ride on a bike. Once I hit the 8 I just headed east passing Yuma, and then Casa Grande. Once I got about an hour outside of Tucson i hooked up with a gang of riders. I tagged along with them until I found my exit..
Tucson was nice, saw some family, and of course the reason for the trip happened Monday.. (reason for the first sentence in this blog..)
I ended up not being able to leave until Monday, around 3:30 PM (way too late to leave) But I needed to get out of there. I made it almost to Yuma, but I soon needed to just find a place to set up camp for the night before it got too dark. I pulled onto Freeman Road. an old dirt road with a bit of tarmac.
But aside from the road this would seem to be the place, not too far from the freeway,
behind this tree/bush thing, I should be all alone. I doubt if anyone pulls off onto this lonely dirty road.. (that's what I thought at least)

I got everything set up and decided to check out my surroundings, you know take a walk around like you do.. I was about a hundred yards from my camp when I saw a Boarder Patrol Truck pull off and begin down my road. I made a horrible decision to turn away from him and head back to camp, thinking if he had any questions for me I should be at my camp. As I turned to walk back to camp, I hear the most awful sound of a Dodge Ram truck Gunning it! Not only is this officer putting this truck to the limit ,but as I turn to see what he was doing My stomach froze as I see him "off roading it" straight for me! over huge boulders and through the brush-
I had two options.. run for the boarder, or hold my hands up and feel like an ASS.. as he reached me he locked his brakes up and jumped out with his hand on his side arm.. "What's going on here" he says.. I proceeded to tell him I was just passing through and that I was going to camp here tonight and head out in the morning. just as I said this another unit had pulled up just as fast as he did. Well My luck.. this road,(My Lonely road) and a couple others are very high for Drug Smugglers, "but" the officer says.. "they wont bother you.. they really don't want to attract attention.. you'll be fine." perfect I thought.
Now I am a fan of the US Boarder Patrol, I think they have a very difficult job. I support them on my riding jacket with a Patch.. I think these men and women deserve more Company, better supplies, and just as much attention as the regular armed forces get. So it was an honor for me to see this first hand. However, I was alone and would have wanted maybe a better seat, if you know what I mean. away from danger? I was told not to worry, he offered me some water, and said that they had word of a vehicle that was going to be sneaking up this road or the next, and that he was going to be over here by some trees out of sight.

sounds great!

Sounds just fine...

I've said before that I have a great imagination.. well cram yourself in a tiny one man tent, and listen to what your ears have to say.. I've been afraid of wolves, bears, coyote's, all sorts of noises that come out only when the fire dies and you've snuggled into your sleeping bag ready for the sleep to come. But never have I been afraid of drug smugglers.....
So there I am, listening to every little noise outside my tent, it wasn't very hard. These guys were serious, they would roll up the road with no lights on.. pitch black! All you could hear were the pops of the rocks crushing under the pressure of the tires. I would look out every time and see nothing. but I could hear them. and they were there, along with helicopters, and a couple of K-9's

I was in the middle of a battle that never sleeps, a few heart racing moments where the Patrol trucks would gun it down the dirt road! no headlights, I saw no brake lights, just the revving engines and the dirt trying to escape the tires as they roared by.

I'm proud of what I have experienced, and of the US boarder Patrol. not only did they look after me that night, I know they wage that war every single night. on that lonely road called Freeman..

as for road tripping on the bike, this was the first of my adventures, and hope to be afraid of bears on the next camp out. (I never thought I'd say that..)

--Jim