Hi gang! Say, I'm wondering if you all wouldn't terribly mind voting for this thread as the biggest, most uncoordinated mess to have hit our forum, especially the ride reports section. It's taken quite a bit of effort, but I really think that I've created something quite extraordinary here, extraordinarily bad of course!
Let's do a quick review, shall we?. . .
February: I decided it would be fun to show you pictures of my dirt bike in my living room. Not exactly a ride report, but you were all quite kind.
March: I posted about some mods I did to the wr250r. Still not a ride report - - but you all humored me, especially because i posted pictures of a cute puppy.
April: No posts. I left you all in the dark on my non-ride, non-report
May: Not so much as a peep.
June: I announce the impending start to an ACTUAL RIDE, one that will be magnificent and wonderful and worthy of all your kind attention.
July: I leave to start on the TAT, wipe out on the first day, cry and moan about my troubles and slink home undetected.
August: Ah Ha! I think that August will be good!!! Read on my friends, read on. . .
Hello now from Park City Utah where I am staying at the swanky Marriott, with my GS parked in the very best spot out front. But let me tell you how I got here. . .
After returning home from Tennessee with a bruised & swollen leg and battered riding confidence, I milled around Arlington for a couple weeks, catching up on some odds and ends (including my resume - - anyone need an AWESOME employee?). As I tinkered away with hobbies and personal finance items, I kept thinking about how I had done a ton of maintenance on the GS over the winter and how it would be a shame not to give her a good test ride this season. So I decided to hit the road again.
A Fast Dash WestOn August 1, I took off. The (very lose) plan was to bee-line it out to the rockies, then take some time milling around in the mountains. It took me three days to make it to New Mexico. And those were three HOT, HOT, HOT days! Temperatures were hovering around 104 all through Missouri and Oklahoma where there is nothing but the sun, the blacktop and you. It was the type of heat where opening the helmet's face shield really only increases the amount of searing heat that rushes past flesh. I'd post pictures but I didn't stop long enough for that sort of thing.
New MexicoBut then I reached New Mexico where the first stop was to get a new rear tire in Albuquerque, then head over a mountain to the east to Cedar Crest where my friend Rob lives. The tire operation went a-okay and the service manager suggested a scenic route over the mountain. Rather than taking the highways to circumvent the mountain to the south, he told me about a dirt road that runs up and over, a bit to the north. Perfect! As I left the dealership, several of us noticed a brooding sky to the west. Those with local wisdom advised that the rain would head south and the my off-road adventure would be dry and flawless. So I rode north and then headed toward where the pavement turned to sand (Neil Young lyrics stolen shamelessly). SO, take a look at the photo below. Guess where my dirt road is. Yep, my mud road is on the left, under the storm. . .
I finally made it to Rob's house and all was healed by a meal, a beer and good company. Rob moved from DC to the Albuquerque area a couple years ago. We want him to come back east, yet we really do like that we can visit him out west! Here is a shot of Cooper-the-dog and his human Rob. . .
DurangoThen it was up into Colorado - here are a couple shots from that leg. . .
The first Colorado stop was Durango where my friend Jeff lives. Having had SW Colorado as "a second home" for a while, Jeff moved from the DC area to Durango for full-time living a couple years ago. A bunch of "the gang" has visited him to enjoy winter sports. Not liking the cold, I saved up my visiting rights for the summer! Being a wise man, Jeff recommended that I stay over on Friday, but then join his local hashing group for their annual campout. Trusting that he knew what was best for me, I was in no position to argue. Not all can be told about the campout (mostly because not all can be remembered) - but here is some "evidence" of a good time. . .
it starts with a run. . .
and then some tubing. . .
and then a beer or two. . .
and then a campfire . . .
and then who knows what!
Up Through ColoradoAfter an extra recovery day, I hopped back on the bike and headed north. The road from Durango up through Silverton and Ouray is legendary for its stunning views (and tricky, tight switchbacks!).
Then I made my way up to Rocky Mountain National Park. I'd never been there before so it was good to make that "check mark" on life's list. Some shots of the ride:
There is quite a bit of road work in the park and at one point when I stopped I decided to hop off the bike to take a photo or two. Unfortunately I misjudged the camber of the road. My bike leaned so far to the left that it just kept going. Yep, she toppled right over. Two upsides: 1) my leg did not get snapped and 2) I met some great fellas who ran to help me pick up the bike. Here is a shot of me after the bike is up - - note a little scuffing of the pavement; i think the pavement got more beat up than my bike! (yes, one of my big PIA lights is out - - that will wait for now)
Last night I stayed in Steamboat Springs. While milling around at the hotel, I said hello to another traveler who said he was in town supporting a group riding the Continental Divide Trail. I had heard that Jim Hyde's group was doing a similar ride so I asked if he was associated with that. Sure enough, same group. (Note: Jim Hyde teaches off-road riding and leads tour groups - - I took one of his classes in California back in 2007 and have kept somewhat current on his school since then - - he is now officially sponsored by BMW). Sadly, Jim had broken his leg in a bike accident recently, so he would not be in town - - heal up quickly Jim!
Here is a shot of Steamboat Springs at dusk. . .
Today I rode west on rt 40 to Park City Utah. My friend Joan is a Marriott employee and has kindly set me up with very nice lodging on the cheap - thanks Joan! Anyway, here are some shots from today's ride. . .
And for no good reason, I end up with three spooky photos from today's ride. . . which scares you the most?
1) skull thing:
2) eagle rampage:
3) dino in a box:
Okay, that's it for today. And possibly for August, maybe September too!
Remember: Vote for this thread as THE WORST EVER!!! (thank you)