"Just two gals and our Harleys crushing miles."
Kit Morgan, the_wandering_kit
Some rides are about the scenery. Some are about the destination. And then there are rides like this one, where the whole point is to see if you can do it at all. Kit Morgan and her best riding partner, Tia, set out from Rifle, Colorado, at 6:30 AM with one goal: ride 1,000 miles before the day was done. What followed was 20-degree temperatures, brutal headwinds, a kamikaze bird, frozen fingers, and one gas station employee who told them exactly how they looked. They did it anyway.
The Start: Rifle to Golden in the Cold
The days leading up to the ride had brought snow, and Kit was checking CDOT road cameras right up until departure to make sure the roads were rideable. They were. Just barely.
Heading west over Vail Pass and through the Eisenhower Tunnel toward Golden, the temperature dropped steadily as the elevation climbed. By the time it hit 20 degrees Fahrenheit, staying warm was already a full-time job on top of riding.
Golden came at 173 miles in, and with it, a chance to shed a few layers as they turned east and the altitude eased up. Next stop: Limon, Colorado, at mile 276.
South Through Ranchlands and Into Texas
From Limon, the route swung south through vast stretches of Colorado ranchland, passing through Lamar at mile 396 and crossing into Oklahoma at Boise City, mile 495. Somewhere around here, Kit's 2024 Harley-Davidson Road Glide, Raven, ticked over to 20,000 miles. A milestone worth celebrating, right up until the moment things got interesting.
Out of nowhere, something hit Kit's leg hard.
She braked and looked back, watching whatever it was bounce directly into Tia's front tire. Her stomach dropped. Out in the middle of Oklahoma, miles from anywhere, something coming loose off the bike was the last thing they needed.
Then she saw it move.
It wasn't a part. It was a bird — a kamikaze bird, to be precise — that had flown in from the right, hit Kit's leg at speed, and tumbled into traffic. The relief of knowing the bike was fine lasted about half a second before the concern shifted entirely to the poor little guy. Once they confirmed everyone was okay, bird included as best they could tell, they kept moving.
The route continued south into Amarillo, Texas, where the Texas winds had been building for hours. By the time they arrived in Texas, riding had become a genuine fight. Side winds, headwinds, against two riders running on determination. They pulled over for a longer break, ate, rested, and then made one more stop before turning back north.
Cadillac Ranch and Route 66
Just down the road from Amarillo, Texas sits Cadillac Ranch, the iconic art installation of half-buried Cadillacs on the side of Route 66. It was a detour worth making, and the timing made it even better. 2026 marks the 100th anniversary of Route 66, and Kit and Tia got to say they rode it during its centennial year. Not a bad footnote for an already memorable day.
The Long Way Home: Darkness, Cold, and 400 Miles to Go
Leaving Texas, the return north retraced the route through Boise City and back into Colorado. That part they had expected. What they hadn't fully accounted for was what it would feel like to ride several hundred miles in freezing temperatures, in total darkness, with nothing but their headlights and each other's voices in the comms to keep them going.
They stopped in Eads, Colorado, to add more layers. It helped, but not enough. By the time they reached Limon again, they were, in Kit's own words, haggard. A gas station employee looked them over and said they didn't look great. He wasn't wrong. They only had 100 miles left though.
They kept going. Slowing down through the Denver metro, calling out hazards to each other through the comms, mile by mile, until they pulled into the last fuel stop in Wheat Ridge. Cards swiped, tanks filled, photos taken. Done.
Kit's Ride Notes
After a full day riding across Colorado, Oklahoma, and Texas, Kit shared her best tips for anyone considering a 1,000-mile day or any serious long-distance ride.
1. Safety is most important. DO NOT be afraid to stop, your life is more important than the challenge!
2. Bring drinks and snacks! They were able to save a lot of time by not waiting in line at gas stations or restaurants. They even had a tank bag with food they could snack on while cruising down the road.
3. When planning your stops, make sure that the fuel stations are open 24 hours in case you can't get a receipt at the pump.
4. Have a small bag (they used pencil bags) to keep some Sharpies and your receipts in, and mark the number of your stop with the mileage as you go to make filling out the required paperwork easier.
5. Go harder at the beginning so that you can give yourself more grace and rest as you crush miles and start to get tired.
6. Make sure to dress for the expected weather. If you're questioning heated gear or rain gear, just throw it on! Don't be like them with frozen toes and fingers!
7. Enjoy the ride! If you’re not enjoying it, you’re doing it for the wrong reasons.
From Colorado to Texas, this 1,000-mile adventure proved what preparation, teamwork, and determination can accomplish. Two riders who trusted each other completely and refused to quit. That's what this ride was about.
Kit documented the entire 1,000-mile day on her YouTube channel. If you want to see what a day like this actually looks like from the saddle, this is it.
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