Well, time is drawing near, plans are coming together, GPS is being loaded, bike is being tweaked. My big adventure this year will include the 75th Anniversary of Sturgis, a visit to my friend Bob in Evergreen, CO. Kaycee, WY to pay respect to Chris Ledoux and other stops. On Aug 5th, I will hook up with the CHMC in Red Lodge, MT to log a few more miles through Beartooth Hwy, Yellowstone, Glacier NP, and across the northern US toward MN/WI and then eventually back to NC. Stay tuned as I look forward to sharing this years big trip.
Wednesday, April 22, 2015
Wednesday, July 16, 2014
Catching up.....
Catching up....
OK, where do I start? Let's just say the last few days have
been a little wet! That is a lie....It has been a LOT wet!
I just have to say that I've noticed that more people "up
north" use their front porch. I can't tell you how many folks in the afternoon
we see sitting on their front porches. Some waiting to eat dinner, some relaxing
after dinner, some just relaxing! It was like the old days at home when people
still used their front porches!
Left Gettysburg in the rain. That was the majority of the
ride to Towanda, PA. We got in a lot later than planned due to the museum at
Gettysburg. I didn't realize they had a new museum. I was really disappointed
in the new program. It's become somewhat more of a "statement" vs history.
Then Mr Tour guide here got us turned around from the starting point for the
driving tour of the battlefield.
We did make it over to Good & Plenty. Committed one of
the seven deadly sins: GLUTTONY! But, man was it good!
Left again in the rain up to Towanda. We were river rats when
we finally got in! The Towanda Motel has really stepped up it's game.
Completely remodeled. Nice place to stay if in the area!
Towanda to Inlet, NY....
Again, left in the rain to ride up to the Curtis Wright
Museum. If ever close to Hammondsport, NY...you have to stop! The guy was the
Einstein of engineering!
Yep...left again in the rain from there on the way to Inlet,
NY and the Marina Motel!
It finally stopped raining about 100 miles out from Inlet,
NY. Had to stop at the WigWam Bar. It is still just an awesome stop.
Left there and was on to our humble abode for the night. What
a diamond in the ruff! The owner Jamie was just first class all the way! You
opened the door to your room and it smelled so fresh and clean. She couldn't do
enough for our group. Offered to take us to the laundromat. Offered to take us
to a restaurant and then come pick us up. Made a fresh pot of coffee for
Buckshot in the middle of the afternoon. Can't say enough about her
hospitality! I turned her oldest daughter into a "biker chick!" Another day,
and she would have been ready for her first tattoo!
One of the flowers hanging at the Marina Motel!
But, I will say this...if there, pass on the Screaming Eagle
Restaurant that is about a block away!
Inlet, NY to Stowe, VT
Finally...SUNSHINE!!
Great ride from NY to Stowe, VT Great roads. Hotel is just
OK. Nothing to dance a jig about. But, I think we are comparing it to last
nights digs!
But, I have to digress back to where we stopped for lunch.
Again, if you are ever in Lake Placid....DON'T STOP AT DEPARADO'S! You talking
about NOT WANTING BIKERS in the business!
Tomorrow....over to Gorham, NH!
Monday, July 14, 2014
Happy Man!
Well, spank my ass and call me happy! I have finally got my password issues resolved!
Let's play catch up for two days. Left NC right on schedule. Caught up with my brother and sister-in-law. And awayyyyyyy we went!
Logged in just at 400 miles the first day. I have discovered a new road in West Virginia. I'm nicknaming it: Deliverance Drive!
(aka WV Hwy 72)
Once I get better internet service I will upload that video. VERY interesting road!
Got to Davis, WV for our digs that night. I suggest if you need to stay in the area, DON'T stay at the ALPINE INN, and for sure, DON'T eat at the Sawmill Restaurant. Marsha and Randy were served ice tea. The waitress looks at me and says, "we don't have any more clean glasses, you will have to wait!" After two more tables were sat, and SERVED drinks, Randy finally went and said, "how about my brother's water?" It didn't get any better after that!
Next morning up and at it around 830. Stopped at a little diner on the way out of town. Just the opposite of the night before. Service was incredible. Homemade sausage!
Day 2:
Today's ride was taking us up to Flight #93 Memorial and then over to Gettysburg. All I can say about the Memorial, VERY SOBERING! To actually see Todd Breamer's name on the wall...WOW! Patty, I will post some pictures tonight.
Weather was perfect for the ride in from there to Gettysburg. Hwy 30 from Shanksville to Gettysburg was awesome.
Got to hotel, DJ & Deb were already here. I said I would get us here at 1500...was here at 1503! Buckshot rolled in around 1730.
Deb & DJ hit rain for about 45 mins first thing in the morning. Then they had a good ride in. Buckshot did about 500 miles to play catch up, but made it here all in one piece!
Quiet night with a few beers and pizza in the room. This morning...tour Gettysburg, Lancaster (Amish) lunch at Good & Plenty, ride by Yuengling in Pottsville and final destination will be Towanda, PA. About 200 miles today.
MONDAY, JULY
14TH
We will depart Gettysburg for Amish country. We will ride through, Bird-in-the-Hand, Lancaster and my favorite, Intercourse, PA.
Remember...click on pics to enlarge!
The plan is to have lunch at the "Good & Plenty" in Lancaster:
This stop will also include a visit to the Amish Market
After the stop to fill the bellies, and for both Deborah's to fill what little space may have been left on DJ & Tank's bikes (NO, I DON'T CARE IF I'M A BACHELOR...YOU CAN'T STORE CRAP ON MY BIKE)
...off we go....
KU...off to the metropolis of Towanda, PA and the
5 STAR:
TOWANDA MOTEL
383 YORK AVE
OMG...THEY HAVE A BAR
Coincidence? I think not! Park the bikes...wings and adult
beverages will be in order. Their pizza was good last time I was
here!
Wednesday, July 9, 2014
Wow, how time has flown by since my trip last year. I really need to retire so I can spend more time on my bike.
Well,
this years trips takes us "up north, aye!" Way up north! All the way
to Nova Scotia! My cohorts will be my brother Randy and his wife
Marsha. My friends DJ & Deb from WI, and my CVMA brother and friend
Buckshot.
OK, time is quickly ticking down to ZERO LAUNCH!
I hope everyone is as excited as I am! Looking forward to having DJ &
Deb join us for the first time on one of our debacles!
Just so we are all on the same page, let's review:
DAY 1 FROM WHEN THE WHOLE GROUP
MEETS:
Deb & DJ will depart WI on their own, I think DJ said on Friday. They
are visiting friends in OH before meeting the rest of the group in Gettysburg on
Sunday.
The NC/AL group will depart Saturday/July 12 as to be in Gettysburg,
PA
by noonish on Sunday/July 13th. Our humble abode for that night will
be:
SUNDAY, JULY 13TH
Super 8/Gettysburg
869 York
Rd
Gettysburg, PA
17325
(717)
337-1400
Gettysburg stop will include the tour of the visitors center
and the actual battlefield.
Wow, how time has flown by since my trip last year. I really need to retire so I can spend more time on my bike.
Well, this years trips takes us "up north, aye!" Way up north! All the way to Nova Scotia! My cohorts will be my brother Randy and his wife Marsha. My friends DJ & Deb from WI, and my CVMA brother and friend Buckshot.
Tuesday, July 9, 2013
I'M A SLACKER! OK, OK.....SO I HAVE BEEN A LITTLE SLACK!
WELL, I GUESS I NEED TO CATCH UP AND CLOSE OUT THIS TRIP. MY ONLY EXCUSE IS LIKE DARYL'S SINGLETARY SONG:
TOO MUCH FUN
"Too much fun? What's that mean?
It's like too much money, there's no such thing
It's like a girl too pretty, with too much class
Being too lucky, a car too fast
No matter what they say I've done
I ain't never had too much fun"
AFTER MY BROTHER AND TANK ARRIVED WE JUST WENT INTO
"RIDE MODE."
"RIDE MODE."
SUNDAY STARTED WITH A GREAT RIDE THROUGH ARCHES NATIONAL PARK. I KNOW I OVER USE THE WORD AWESOME. SO, I WILL PICK A NEW ONE:
MAGNIFICENT!
THAT IS JUST AN EXCELLENT WORD TO DESCRIBE IT! A MUST RIDE!
TANK, RANDY & HERB
HOW DOES IT DO THAT?
WELL, OUR INTENTIONS WERE TO RIDE TO SANTA FE. BUT, WITH NEW BLOOD ON THE TRIP...BACK TO CO WE DECIDED TO GO! I'M GOING TO STOP HERE FOR NOW UNTIL I CAN UPLOAD SOME VIDEOS. LET'S JUST SAY ONE ROAD WAS SO NARROW THAT WHEN WE MET SOME ONCOMING TRAFFIC, I THOUGHT I HAD US ON A ONE WAY ROAD!
MORE TO COME!
I HAVE SOME VIDEO I WANT TO UPLOAD AS WELL.
I HAVE SOME VIDEO I WANT TO UPLOAD AS WELL.
Sunday, June 23, 2013
MADE IT TO MOAB, UT...SO DID MY BROTHER AND MY GOOD FRIEND TANK!
WHAT A GORGEOUS DAY OF RIDING YESTERDAY. PROBABLY THE BEST OF THE TRIP SO FAR. LEFT BRYCE CANYON EARLY (0730 HRS). DID A RIDE THROUGH OF BRYCE AND THEN UP HWY 12.
I HAD READ BEFORE THIS TRIP THAT HWY 12 WAS ONE OF THOSE ROADS THAT EVERY MOTORCYCLIST SHOULD RIDE IN THE US BEFORE YOU DIE. ALL I CAN SAY IS THEY WERE "SPOT ON!" IT WAS NOTHING SHORT OF SPECTACULAR! NOTHING I CAN WRITE WILL DO IT JUSTICE. AS SOON AS I CAN GET SOMEWHERE THAT HAS FAST ENOUGH WIFI I WILL POST A VIDEO. YOU WENT FROM TIGHT CANYON WALLS TO BASICALLY TIGHT WIRING A MESA WITH DROP OFFS ON BOTH SIDES WITH NO GUARD RAILS. JUST AMAZING! I'M READY TO DO IT AGAIN!
FROM HWY 12 WE MADE IT TO HWY 24 IN UTAH. JUST ANOTHER FANTASTIC ROAD! CANYONS, RIVERS, AND BEAUTIFUL ROCK FORMATIONS. THERE WERE SOME MOUNTAINS TOWARDS THE END THAT REMINDED ME OF SOME OF THE SMALLER PYRAMIDS I HAD SEEN IN EGYPT. JUST SIMPLY AMAZING! I PROMISE TO GET VIDEO UP LATER TODAY!
NOW THAT MY BROTHER AND MIKE IS HERE, WE HAVE DECIDED TO CHANGE RIDE PLANS! (I KNOW, CALL 911....RICK GOFORTH THE RIDE NAZI IS CHANGING HIS RIDE SCHEDULE) SINCE THE TWO OF THEM KNOCKED OUT OVER 2,000 MILES IN TWO DAYS I'VE DECIDED TO DO SOME SHORTER RIDES HERE IN UT/CO BEFORE POINTING TOWARD TO SANTA FE. TODAY WILL BE OVER IN THE DIRECTION OF CARBONDALE, CO. TOMORROW I'M TAKING THEM TO THE TOP OF MT EVANS! ON TUESDAY WE WILL FINALLY MAKE IT TO SANTA FE.
IT'S HARD TO BELIEVE THAT WE ARE STARTING WEEK THREE SO SOON! I JUST DON'T GET PEOPLE WHO SAY THEY GET BORED WITH RETIREMENT! I WILL NOT BE ONE OF THEM!
UNTIL LATER....
TRAVEL QUOTE OF THE DAY:
“If you reject the food, ignore the customs, fear the religion and avoid the people, you might better stay at home.”
Friday, June 21, 2013
TUBA CITY, AZ TO GRAND CANYON....THEN TO BRYCE CANYON
OK, NEEDLESS TO SAY, NO WIFI AT GRAND CANYON. AND I MIGHT ADD, RIGHTFULLY SO!
NICE RIDE UP TO GRAND CANYON FROM TUBA CITY. WIND WAS STILL STRONG, BUT NO WHERE CLOSE TO THE DAY BEFORE.
GOT AN EARLY START AND TOOK OUR TIME UP TO THE GRAND CANYON. GOT IN AROUND 2ISH. ALL I CAN SAY IS IF YOU HAVE NEVER BEEN TO THE GRAND CANYON....YOU ARE MISSING OUT ON LIFE!
IT'S AMAZING HOW MANY FOREIGNERS VISIT COMPARED TO ACTUAL AMERICANS. AND OF ALL THE PEOPLE I HAVE TO RUN IN TO AT THE GRAND CANYON, A NORTH CAROLINA STATE GRAD! ASKED HIM IF HE KNEW MY NEIGHBOR WALT, THANK GOD HE DIDN'T!
I SENT A COUPLE FRIENDS A QUICK PICTURE FROM THE DECK OF THE NORTH RIM LAST NIGHT. JUST PERFECT SITTING OUT THERE. TALKED TO ANOTHER RIDER FROM QUEBEC. HE RIDES A TON AS WELL.
A LADY MADE SUCH A VALID POINT. SHE SAID SHE HAD TO COME OUTSIDE. SHE COULDN'T BELIEVE HOW MANY FOLKS WERE TALKING ON CELL PHONES AND PLAYING ON THEIR IPADS VS ENJOYING THE GRAND CANYON. I WALKED IN TO GET A BEER (I KNOW...I DON'T KNOW WHAT CAME OVER ME TO WANT ONE) AND ONE COUPLE WAS THERE WITH TWO IPADS. ONE PLAYING SOLITAIRE AND THE OTHER CHECKING TEXT MESSAGES. BOTH LOOKING AWAY FROM THE CANYON. HERE ARE A FEW PICS I SNAPPED LAST NIGHT:
COLORADO RIVER
B&W OF COLORADO RIVER
HERB STANDING ON NAVAJO WALK BRIDGE
VERMILION MESA
MY CABIN MATE AT THE GRAND CANYON
SUNSET AT GRAND CANYON
(THANKS AGAIN TO MOPIC FOR SOME QUICK SETTINGS)
PROBABLY ONE OF MY ALL TIME FAVORITE PICS I'VE TAKEN
THIS IS ALSO A FAVORITE
MOON OVER GRAND CANYON
TODAY'S RIDE WAS FROM GRAND CANYON UP TO BRYCE CANYON, UT VIA ZION NATIONAL PARK AND BREAKERS NP AS WELL.
MORE PHOTOS TO FOLLOW ON THAT. AND VIDEO I HOPE!
TONIGHT WE ARE GOING TO A WESTERN SHOW AT EBENEZER'S SALOON IN BRYCE CANYON!
TOMORROW OVER TO MOAB, UT TO MEET MY BROTHER AND FRIEND TANK WHO WILL HAVE RIDDEN 2,200 MILES IN TWO DAYS!
TRAVEL QUOTE OF THE DAY:
I have wandered all my life, and I have also traveled; the difference between the two being this, that we wander for distraction, but we travel for fulfillment.
TRAVEL QUOTE OF THE DAY:
I have wandered all my life, and I have also traveled; the difference between the two being this, that we wander for distraction, but we travel for fulfillment.
Thursday, June 20, 2013
LOVELAND, CO TO DURANGO, CO, TO TUBA CITY, AZ
OK, TIME TO DO A LITTLE CATCH UP. THE RIDE FROM LOVELAND TO DURANGO WAS GREAT. NO RAIN, NO HAIL AND NO SNOW! THAT IS ALWAYS GOOD ON A BIKE TRIP!
FROM THE DAY BEFORE
(REMEMBER, CLICK ON PICS TO ENLARGE)
DURANGO'S ACCOMMODATIONS WERE NOT THE BEST AND I'M BEING KIND. I TOLD THE CHECK IN GIRL THAT THE PICTURE ONLINE VS THE HOTEL WERE DIFFERENT. HER RESPONSE, "LOOKS THE SAME TO ME." I ASKED TO SEE HER COMPUTER. I ASKED HER TO GOOGLE IMAGE SEARCH. POOF! DIFFERENT PICTURE. I TOLD HER I WANTED TO CANCEL. SHE TURNED AROUND AND LOOKED AT CLOCK AND SAID I MISSED THE CANCELLATION TIME BY 15 MINS. BUT, I COULD STILL CANCEL AND GET CHARGED. WE STAYED! WHAT A DUMP!
DID GO OUT AND HAD A GREAT DINNER AT STEAMWORKS BREWERY IN DURANGO. GO BY AND ORDER THE EUROPEAN (I REFUSE TO CALL IT FRENCH) DIP. THEY SMOKED THEIR OWN MEAT AND INCLUDE BEACON WITH IT. VERY GOOD.
WE ALSO NEEDED OIL CHANGES IN DURANGO. $125 FOR A BASIC FILTER AND FOUR QUARTS OF OIL. REMINDED ME WHY I DO MY OWN WORK AT HOME! GOT UP EARLY YESTERDAY AND WASHED THE SNOW AND DIRT OFF AND HEADED OUT FOR TUBA, CITY WITH A STOP AT MESA VERDE TO TOUR THE RUINS.
ALL I CAN SAY, THIS TOO NEEDS TO BE ON YOUR BUCKET LIST OF PLACES TO SEE IN AMERICA! BUILT AROUND 1050 TO 1200. IT'S SIMPLY AMAZING. PICTURES AND THE VIDEO I WILL POST LATTER DOES NOT DO IT JUSTICE. I THOUGHT I WOULD SPEND AN HOUR HERE. SPENT OVER THREE!
"HONEY, RUN TO THE STORE AND GET SOME MILK!"
THEY WOULD CARVE OUT FOOT AND HAND HOLDS WITH OTHER ROCKS TO SCALE UP AND DOWN.
THIS PLACE IS CALLED THE "HOUSE OF WINDOWS."
THEY LOOK LIKE WINDOWS, BUT ACTUALLY DOORS.
CLOSE UP OF THE HOUSE OF WINDOWS.
THIS IS THE CANYON WHERE MOST LIVED
THIS ROCK FORMATION IS CALLED "MEXICAN HAT." THE TOWN IS NAMED AFTER IT.
OK, OK...HERE IS A PIC OF ME! YES, I'M ACTUALLY ON THE TRIP.
THIS IS THE ROAD THAT LEADS TO MONUMENT VALLEY. YOU CAN SEE THE DUST STORMS OBSCURING THE ROCKS. I WAS A GOOD 10 MILES AWAY SO YOU HAVE AN IDEA OF HOW HARD THE WIND WAS BLOWING.
HOW DO I DESCRIBE THE RIDE YESTERDAY. IT WAS MORE LIKE BEING IN A WIND TUNNEL FOR FOUR HOURS. THE FIRST HOUR OUT OF DURANGO TO MESA VERDE WAS GOOD. AFTER THAT, IT WAS HELL! ALMOST 50-60 KTS OF CONSTANT WIND.
WE RODE SIDEWAYS 80% OF YESTERDAY'S RIDE. WHEN WE GOT TO MONUMENT VALLEY, THE WIND HAD KICKED UP THE RED SAND SO MUCH, YOU COULD NOT EVEN SEE 50% OF THE MONUMENTS. I WAS GLAD TO GET OFF THE BIKES YESTERDAY.
NOTE TO SELF....IF STAYING ON INDIAN RESERVATION (TUBA CITY) THEY DO NOT SALE BEER!
OK, TIME TO PACK THE BIKE AND RIDE OVER TO THE GRAND CANYON.
SIDE NOTE...GOT SOME GREAT NEWS AGAIN! MY BROTHER RANDY IS JOINING TANK FOR THE RIDE OUT TO MEET US AT MOAB, UT. THEY ARE RIDING 2,200 MILES IN TWO DAYS. TOLD THEM TO DOWNLOAD THE PAPER WORK FOR THEIR IRON BUTT CERTIFICATION!
QUOTE OF THE DAY:
The traveler was active; he went strenuously in search of people, of adventure, of experience.
The tourist is passive; he expects interesting things to happen to him. He goes "sight-seeing."
Tuesday, June 18, 2013
AL GORE CAN KISS MY BUTT!
TO SAY YESTERDAY WAS AN INTERESTING DAY WOULD BE A BIG UNDERSTATEMENT!
WE LEFT LOVELAND RIGHT ON SCHEDULE. RIGHT INTO ROCKY MOUNTAIN NATIONAL PARK. JUST GORGEOUS. IF YOU EVER GET A CHANCE TO GO, DO IT! MY FAVORITE PART IS THE VERY FIRST PART WHICH REALLY IN NOT EVEN PART OF THE OFFICIAL PARK...."BIG THOMAS CANYON." YOU ARE LITERALLY RIDING RIGHT DOWN IN THE CANYON SURROUNDED BY AWE INSPIRING SCENERY AND RUSHING RIVER!
STILL LOTS OF SNOW LEFT ON THE GROUND AS WE ASCEND TO THE HIGHER ALTITUDES. I THINK THE SUMMIT WAS ALMOST 13,000'. IT GOT A LITTLE CHILLY, BUT THEN AGAIN.....STUBBORN ME REFUSED TO STOP AND PUT A JACKET ON. I WILL ADMIT I DID TURN ON MY HEATED GRIPS!
I HAVE SOME VERY GOOD VIDEO I WILL TRY TO GET EDITED AND ADDED ASAP!
I HAD TO LAUGH, HERB THOUGHT THAT WAS MT EVANS! JUST BECAUSE WE WERE ABOVE THE TREE LINE AND HOW COLD IT WAS. I TOLD HIM THIS WAS A "STARTER" MOUNTAIN COMPARED TO MT EVANS!
WE DEPARTED RMNP AND HEADED TOWARD MT EVANS. THAT IS WHEN THE WEATHER CHANGED! IT WENT FROM SUNNY TO RAIN. PLUS THE TEMP DROPPED FROM ABOUT 70 TO 45! THAT IS WHEN THE HAIL STARTED GOING UP THE MOUNTAIN. THERE WAS NO TURNING AROUND! LOTS OF HAIRPIN TURNS AND HAIL! PERFECT RIDING!
WE FINALLY DESCENDED OFF THAT MOUNTAIN. I CHECKED THE WEATHER AND DUE TO A STORM SITTING ON TOP OF MT EVANS AND WITH THE HIGH BEING ONLY 43 FORECASTED, WE HAD TO BYPASS THAT RIDE.
ON OVER TO LOVELAND PASS TOWARD A BASIN AND BRECKENRIDGE WE WENT. I HAD LEARNED OF LOVELAND PASS FROM MY FRIEND LYNNE A FEW YEARS AGO.....I COULD SEE RAIN RIGHT IN FRONT OF ME AND DECIDED TO JUMP ON THE LOVELAND PASS AND HEAD TOWARD BLUE SKY. IT WAS CHILLY SO WE STOPPED AND LEATHERED UP! GET YOUR MINDS OUT OF THE GUTTER! NOT THAT KIND OF LEATHERED UP! JACKETS AND GLOVES!
HALF WAY UP THE MOUNTAIN IT STARTED RAINING AGAIN. TEMP DROPPED TO 45. THEN THE RAIN TURNED TO HAIL AGAIN. TEMP DROPPED TO LOW 40'S. NEXT THING I KNOW, MY WHOLE WINDSHIELD IS COVERED IN SNOW! WE ARE CAUGHT IN THE MIDDLE OF A SUMMER SNOW STORM. THAT LASTED ABOUT 20 MINS. THEN BACK TO HAIL AND THEN BACK TO RAIN. WHERE THE HELL IS THAT GLOBAL WARM MR. GORE?
ON TO BRECKENRIDGE AND SOME HOT CHOCOLATE TO WARM UP. ONE MORE BIG PASS TO GO BEFORE DROPPING DOWN TOWARD PONCHO SPRINGS. YEP, YOU GOT IT.....ONE MORE HAIL STORM AND ONE MORE SNOW STORM!
YESTERDAY WAS NOT FOR THE LIGHT OF HEART RIDER! WAS GLAD TO GET TO PONCHO SPRINGS, CO. GREAT LODGING. OWNED BY A POLISH WOMAN. SPOTLESS AND NICE. ROCKY MOUNTAIN LODGE. WOULD STAY HERE AGAIN FOR SURE! JUST WENT TO GET MY COFFEE AND SHE CAME OUT TO MAKE IT FOR ME! (SEE, YOU WOMEN COULD LEARN SOMETHING!!) =-)
TWO GERMAN'S FROM FRANKFURT ARE STAYING HERE AS WELL. THEY FLEW OVER AND RENTED BIKES IN DENVER FOR EIGHT DAYS. BOTH ARE IN THERE 70'S! I LOVE IT. IT TAKES ONE ABOUT 5 MINS TO GET HIS LEG OVER THE SEAT, AFTER THAT HE IS GOOD TO GO!
OK, TIME TO SADDLE UP AND RIDE TO DURANGO, CO VIA WOLFCREEK PASS. IT'S OVER 14,000! PRAY FOR NO HAIL OR SNOW TODAY!
UNTIL NEXT TIME:
Monday, June 17, 2013
RECAPPING YESTERDAY AND TODAY.....DAYS 8 & 9
WELL, TIME TO RECAP YESTERDAY. (SATURDAY) GORGEOUS DAY TO RIDE. SHERPA AND HIS WIFE LOIS JOINED US FOR A 200 MILE PLUS RIDE.
YEP, THAT IS SOME OF MY HANDY WORK ON SHERPA'S LEFT EYE!
SHERPA VS GLASS WALL....WALL 1 -- SHERPA 0!
FIRST SEGMENT WAS SPEARFISH CANYON. OF COURSE THAT WAS AFTER ANOTHER BIG OMELET AT THE WHITEWOOD FAMILY RESTAURANT.
AS MANY TIMES AS I HAVE DONE THAT ROAD, IT WAS THE FIRST TIME IT WAS NOT BUSY. GOOD START.
DID THE LOOP DOWN BY BUCKHORN, WY AND OVER TO CUSTER STATE PARK. SHERPA HAD NEVER DONE THE NEEDLES HWY. IT WAS PERFECT. VERY LITTLE TRAFFIC AND GREAT RIDE.
HERB
JACK & LOIS AT ONE OF THE TUNNELS ON NEEDLES HWY!
(SHOULD I SAY SOMETHING ABOUT THE CAR?)
ON THE WAY HOME WE HAD DECIDED TO GO VISIT THE MOONSHINE GULCH SALOON. IT WAS AN HOUR RIDE RIDE VIA PAVED ROADS. WELL, AFTER GOADING BY SHERPA FOR NOT RIDING ON DIRT ROADS....I SAID, "WHAT THE HECK....SWITCHING TO FOUR WHEEL DRIVE." CLICK ON LINK BELOW:
CAN'T SAY MUCH FOR THE BURGER, BUT THE BEER WAS COLD! HAD A FEW BEERS AND TONS OF LAUGHS!
RODE BACK TO CABIN. PACKED UP THIS MORNING AND RODE TO LOVELAND, CO. RIDING TO PONCHA SPRINGS, CO VIA ROCKY MOUNTAIN NP AND MT EVANS... 14,440' RIDE TO TOP! HIGH TODAY WAS 46 DEGREES UP THERE.
I WILL END WITH SOME GREAT NEWS...MY BUDDY TANK CALLED TODAY...HIS VACATION WAS APPROVED..HE IS LEAVING NC ON EARLY FRIDAY MORNING AND MEETING US IN MOAB, UT SATURDAY NIGHT! ONLY A 2,100 MILE RIDE IN TWO DAYS!
Sunday, June 16, 2013
Sunday...HAPPY FATHER'S DAY to all of you!!
WILL WRITE MORE LATER! INTERNET SUCKS HERE. DIALUP AT BEST. RIDING TO LOVELAND, CO! YESTERDAY'S RIDE WAS CLOSE TO PERFECT!
MORE TO FOLLOW.........
Saturday, June 15, 2013
DAY 7.......2,600 MILES LATER & THE MYSTERY IS SOLVED!
WOW! HARD TO BELIEVE SEVEN DAYS HAS ALREADY GONE BY! THREE YEARS AGO MY GOOD FRIEND STEVE CLARK AND I TOOK OFF CROSS COUNTRY FOR AN 11,000 MILE JAUNT. CLARK ASKED ME ONE DAY, "GOFORTH, HOW LONG WE BEEN OUT?" I ANSWERED, "A WEEK AND HALF OR SO." WE STARTED ADDING IT UP AND LAUGHED....IT HAD BEEN THREE WEEKS ALREADY WHEN HE ASKED. JUST PROVE TIMES FLIES WHEN YOU ARE HAVING FUN!
ANOTHER GORGEOUS DAY OF RIDING YESTERDAY. ON THE ADVICE OF THE CABIN OWNER, DAVE COLE WE PARTED FROM MY PRE-PLANNED ROUTE. (OK, I WILL GIVE SOME OF YOU TIME TO GET BACK IN YOUR CHAIR....YES, RICK GOFORTH ACTUALLY CHANGED HIS RIDE PLAN) HE TOLD US OF A GREAT RIDE NOT FAR FROM THE CABIN ON THE OUTSKIRTS OF LEAD/DEADWOOD. WE TOOK IT. WHAT AN AWESOME RIDE. OVER 30 MILES AND NO OTHER BIKES! HE TOLD US ABOUT A GREAT BAR/PUB WE SHOULD CHECK OUT. SAM ELLIOTT HANGS OUT THERE. THE MOONSHINE GULCH SALOON! UNFORTUNATELY IT WAS CLOSED YESTERDAY. GOOD NEWS, IT WILL BE OPEN TODAY AND WE ARE GOING BACK!
YESTERDAY WAS ALSO A "BATTERY" CHALLENGING DAY. I PUT MY CAMERA BATTERY IN THE CHARGER EARLY IN THE MORNING TO GIVE IT A LITTLE JUICE. A LOT OF GOOD IT DID ME WHEN I PULLED THE CAMERA OUT TO TAKE THE ABOVE PICTURE. THAT'S WHEN I REALIZED THE BATTERY WAS STILL IN THE CHARGER BACK AT THE CABIN. AT LEAST IT WAS A GOOD REASON TO COME BACK AND HAVE A SALAD FOR LUNCH!
GOT GOING A SECOND TIME AND HEADED FOR MT RUSHMORE. FIRST TIME HERB HAD BEEN. IF YOU HAVE NEVER BEEN, PUT IT ON YOUR BUCKET LIST. IT'S JUST AMAZING!
LEFT THERE TO DO MY TWO FAVORITE ROADS HERE IN SD. IRON MOUNTAIN HWY AND NEEDLES HWY. WAS SO PSYCHED ON THE GOOD VIDEO I WAS GOING TO GET. AND THEN THE HELMET CAMERA BATTERY DIED! I WAS PISSED. WE GOT BACK TO CABIN AND I WAS GOOGLING TO SEE IF ANYONE ELSE WAS HAVING PROBLEMS WITH THE BATTERY LIFE IN THE NEW GHOST CAMERA. I PLUGGED THE CAMERA IN TO MY COMPUTER TO JUST SEE IF I GOT ANY FOOTAGE AT ALL. WELL, I'M GLAD TO ANNOUNCE HERB IS NOT STEALING CEREAL AND PUTTING CRAP IN MY COFFEE! I REALIZED THAT I HAD TURNED THE CAMERA ON SITTING AT THE TABLE AND HAD VIDEOED OVER AN HOUR OF US HAVING BREAKFAST AND COFFEE! WHAT A DUMBASS!
SO, IT'S OVER TO SPEARFISH CANYON TODAY AND A TRIP BACK TO NEEDLES HWY TO GET SOME MORE GREAT FOOTAGE. TONIGHT IS LAUNDRY NIGHT AND TOMORROW WE WILL HEAD TO LOVELAND, CO AND ON TO GRAND CANYON.
Subscribe to:
Comments (Atom)