Well, after 3 days of 40 degree temps, I was getting the itch to get out again. Lucky for me, Crazy Uncle Larry had scheduled a visit to my neck of the woods.
So we were on..
(http://i250.photobucket.com/albums/gg264/hudlenutz/Laramie%20Lap%20Feb09/DSC04901.jpg)
You eagle eyes will certainly spot our new High-zoot aqualine-IMS-Ascerbis-Clarke extended range safari tanks on the back.
Here's the proposed route that I got shut out of a few weeks ago. At 111 miles, I didn't think the TT600 gas hog could make it on one tank.
(http://i250.photobucket.com/albums/gg264/hudlenutz/Laramie%20Lap/route.jpg)
[This is Crazy Uncle Larry; silly computer logged me in as Number Two!]Hey, hey, hey!!! Let's not forget the high-speed, low-drag Wally orld safety vests, the Camelback backpacks, and those stylish Ace Hardware custom-gray knee pads!!! Oh yeah...there's the gold satin scarf to ward off the frostbite of the chilly 7000+ feet Wyoming air!!!
Well, February is not normally great riding weather here in southeast wyoming. Did I tell my pops that it would be sunny and warm with blue skys and clear roads??? You bet. Did he believe me? Not for a minute, but he did trailer the old iron out to Laramie, and we've started attempt number 2 at the Lap.
(http://i250.photobucket.com/albums/gg264/hudlenutz/Laramie%20Lap%20Feb09/DSC04907.jpg)
I do have to admit thinking for a moment...if the old XT won't start, maybe I can get out of this "epic" trip. GUESS WHAT?! The doggone thing started on the third kick this morning!!![Way to go babyeeeeeeeeeeee!] So, trip is on!
One of the things I love about motorcycling...
(http://i250.photobucket.com/albums/gg264/hudlenutz/Laramie%20Lap%20Feb09/DSC04904.jpg)
Everythings going according to plan until the road turns to this:
(http://i250.photobucket.com/albums/gg264/hudlenutz/Laramie%20Lap%20Feb09/DSC04910.jpg)
We cruise on...
(http://i250.photobucket.com/albums/gg264/hudlenutz/Laramie%20Lap%20Feb09/DSC04909.jpg)
Along the way we pass the Hutton Refuge
(http://i250.photobucket.com/albums/gg264/hudlenutz/Laramie%20Lap%20Feb09/DSC04913.jpg)
Road continuing to get more and more...? Awesome?! At the worst, It seemed that about 2 inches of snow had fallen over night.
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More road
(http://i250.photobucket.com/albums/gg264/hudlenutz/Laramie%20Lap%20Feb09/DSC04912.jpg)
Nice road, right!!! Remember those high-speed, low-drag safari tanks we were sporting? A few miles down that snowy road, I wasn't sporting mine any longer. I was riding along and noticed a truck coming up behind me so I pulled over to let him pass since I was "Tail End Charlie". Up pulls one of Albany County Sheriff's Deputies. He says "Howdy" and we chit chat. Then he asks, "Did you boys happen to lose a red gas can and an orange tie-down strap? Sure enough my safari tank was gone from the back of my bike. OOps! Forgot to mention, I also lost my heirloom rug which had been folded up on the rack under the gas. But right here we come to a dilema. Do you think Albany Sheriff's Deputy, one of Laramie's finest bothered to pick the items up and drop them off to me roadside? No way...he left them right where they landed about 1 1/2 miles back up the road! Nothing to do but thank him and turn around and go secure the tank. Got more practice riding those snow-covered Wyoming roads. Finally reached the tank, rug and strap. Got everything extra-double secured and headed off once more on the "Epic Ride".
New packing job. This time, it holds for the rest of the trip.
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Just after our first intersection with sand lake road, and sportsman lake road, we get to this sign again.
[Crazy Uncle Larry] "Hold on a minute! Did I hear the words Yahoos and Beverly Hill Billys in the same sentence? Cut us some slack in the peanut gallery. We got some great looks on our way out of town."
(http://i250.photobucket.com/albums/gg264/hudlenutz/Laramie%20Lap%20Feb09/DSC04918.jpg)
The road is still good, and there's a bit less traffic now, but what lies ahead is a little more interesting; the kind of interesting that prevented me from keeping my camera handy. Let's just say I let the XT go first, and it was worth the show.
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You know you might be off the beaten path when the tracks dwindle down to only two!!! What you can't see here is what happen after this last photo. Number Two being the gregarious host that he was, let me take the lead knowing full well that a series of deep mudholes awaited us down the road!!! I came up on the first one and was sucked into it with no place to go but forward, ever forward!!! The only good thing...it was all frozen and no one else was around watching us. I rose to the occasion and cleared them all but the ole XT was doing the hula-dance all the way!!! It was so bad that is the reason why there are no photos...something about needing two hands on the handlebars!!!
My attorney can assure you all that nothing of the sort occured. The sailing was smooth, we were camping hapily. etc. :evil
See? Everythings great.
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We finally emerge onto US287 for a few hundred yards of blacktop before we get to Tie Siding. Tie Siding used to actually be a tie manufacturing and storage facility for the railroad, and at one point had something like 500,000 railroad ties stockpiled. Now, there's a fireworks stand, gas, and some antiques.
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Right across the highway lies Hermosa Road, wich will take us up to 8200 feet to Veaduwoo.
It's still getting cloudy-ish.
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Going up.
(http://i250.photobucket.com/albums/gg264/hudlenutz/Laramie%20Lap%20Feb09/DSC04925.jpg)
..and up.
(http://i250.photobucket.com/albums/gg264/hudlenutz/Laramie%20Lap%20Feb09/DSC04929.jpg)
...and up.
(http://i250.photobucket.com/albums/gg264/hudlenutz/Laramie%20Lap%20Feb09/DSC04934.jpg)
Nothing like a little ride off the beaten path. Are we in Colorado, yet?!
Just before we head under I-80, we hit the ames monument. Ames monument is a secret government facility used to communicate with extraterrestrials.... I mean... it's a memorial for the two brothers that were most responsible for constructing the first trans-continental railroad. This was the highest point of the original rail line. The first coast-to-coast highway, the Lincoln Highway also passes through this area.
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Just under the I-80 bridges lies the sherman granite of Vedauwoo.
(http://i250.photobucket.com/albums/gg264/hudlenutz/Laramie%20Lap%20Feb09/DSC04940.jpg)
Hey! Did I hear someone snicker about the mention of a "secret government test facility"?!!!! You just never do know what you may come across out here in America's great outback! But seriously, a shout out to the boys of "Union Pacific" for the work they accomplished laying rail down across our country. Vedauwoo or simply the "WOO" as it is known to the initiated is one heack of a place to go rock climbing!!! One more confession...right about here I was thinking, "What if I take a left turn and head on back to Laramie. I bet I can be at the bottom of the hill before he notices!" Okay, okay...it was just a thought, one that would come back to haunt me as we traveled down the Vedauwoo road.
At this point, I inform my Dad that this is probably going to be the make or break point of our trip. If we make it through the woo, we'll probably be able to finish the loop. The wind sweeps up large drifts, and the trees help shelter snow, long after it has melted away elsewhere... not that you've seen any melted snow on this trip.
(http://i250.photobucket.com/albums/gg264/hudlenutz/Laramie%20Lap%20Feb09/DSC04943.jpg)
What lies ahead...
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That left turn back to Laramie is looking mighty good at this point!!!!!!!!!
So now the trip takes a turn for the work. That's right, I said work not worse. What ensues is a melee of loose sandy gravel, ice-packed ruts, and a series of bobsled descents... like this one:
(http://i250.photobucket.com/albums/gg264/hudlenutz/Laramie%20Lap%20Feb09/DSC04948.jpg)
At one point, going about 3mph, I spin a cookie and dump the 600. I hoist it off the ground before it quits running, but it's too late, it's already flooded. I spend the next 15 minutes working off last night's texas-bacon-cheesburger trying to get started again. The big thumper finally fires off, and we're back in business, albeit minus part of my clutch lever and some pride. The barkbusters! Yeah, I know... They're on the list.
Just so you aren't misled about this being the only steep, slick-as-snot part of the ride on the Vedauwoo road...notice that I'm missing one of my high-speed, low-drag Ace Hardware knee pads!!! I had gone through several of these areas, one or two so deeeeeeep that my knees drug and obviously that's how I lost the knee pad. Number Two/Aaron will make a trip back out come Spring thaw only this time he'll be driving the 4Runner. Hopefully, it will be laying somewhere along the road. There was abso-freaking-lutely no way we were going to make it back up the hill at this point. Foward-ever forward!!!
Hey guys,
Going to stop here for the night. We still have photos to download and the going is slow on photobucket tonight from this location. We will return tomorrow and finish the trip. Hope you had a good read so far.
The road finally opens up a bit and we wrestle our way out to the short stretch of highway.
(http://i250.photobucket.com/albums/gg264/hudlenutz/Laramie%20Lap%20Feb09/DSC04955.jpg)
I'm slightly suspicious of what's coming next. The heavy snows at vedauwoo are likely to be matched by Roger's Canyon as we cross back over the range into the Laramie valley.
(http://i250.photobucket.com/albums/gg264/hudlenutz/Laramie%20Lap%20Feb09/DSC04956.jpg)
Time to finish this report.
What you didn't see is the bobsled run called a road that we just came down! And, what you also missed is the minivan that was in such a hurry to get on down the road that we pulled over and let them go by. Nothing like sharing the backroads with people in a hurry!
Speaking of sharing the road...just down the road from Number Two's/Aaron's last photo we ran into another adventure/dual sport rider. Sorry no photo as we were underway at the time. As we were approaching the rise of a small hill, we came upon a guy in Carhart Overalls, no hat, riding a mini-bike. He was a big guy and looked like all arms, elbows and knees on that thing! We looked at him and he looked at us and we all rode!
Well, the skies are definitely getting darker. We just layed down a few slab miles with a bunch of traffic doing 10 over. It's getting much colder, too. We take a minute to regroup, gas up, and.... what's this???
We are developing a pattern here. The wife slipped me a few cookies as I was headed out the door. Refueled, we get ready to head north.
(http://i250.photobucket.com/albums/gg264/hudlenutz/Laramie%20Lap%20Feb09/DSC04960.jpg)
The road is a super-slab dirt highway, and we make some good time up to the forgotten mining town of Horse Creek, WY.
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We know Horse Creek is a real town, because it has a post office.
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(http://i250.photobucket.com/albums/gg264/hudlenutz/Laramie%20Lap%20Feb09/DSC04964.jpg)
We're about to get on Rogers Canyon Road, a county road with no winter maintenance. This is the most remote part of the lap, and cell reception is a convenience we left behind a few miles back.
(http://i250.photobucket.com/albums/gg264/hudlenutz/Laramie%20Lap%20Feb09/DSC04962.jpg)
The first obstacle is a formidable hill climb that had my rear tire spitting gravel back when this road was dry. We catch a break, and it turns out that hill is mostly snow free and we make it up without incedent. Maybe the trip back to Laramie won't be as rough as I though. At the end of this picture the road takes a right turn and the hill starts. Probably a 15% grade or better. RVs, and 5th wheels need not apply.
(http://i250.photobucket.com/albums/gg264/hudlenutz/Laramie%20Lap%20Feb09/DSC04966.jpg)
We transitioned from dirt to blacktop and then had about 10-12 miles to do before we stopped to fuel.
Everybody and their brother seemed to be driving a big Dodge 4x4 pickup and everyone seemed to be in a hurry to get to Cheyenne! Nothing like a little wind buffeting to make the ride interesting. Speaking of interesting...As we left the Vedauwoo area we could see over into the north range and there was nothing but a wall of gray hanging in there and guess what...that's where we were headed!!!
Nothing like heart-shaped valentine cookies to munch on! Dude...got anymore? Wanna pass me another?!
We topped the tanks off for the ride north and headed out into the unknown as Number Two/Aaron mentioned he hadn't covered this section of the Laramie Lap just yet. Nothing like laying down first tracks!!!
Forgot to take a postcard to mail here! Horse Creek is a wide spot in the road but it's the point where we started to make the turn for the final run back to Laramie.
Trust Number Two when he says RVs and 5th Wheeler need not attempt this hill climb. It was steep, sandy, and stepped all the way to the top! The bright thing was it was clear of snow and the skies looked like they could open up and snow at any time!!! Hope our luck holds.
Wish Number One/Stephen (our oldest son-lives in the Minneapolis area) could have joined us for this little jaunt. It would have looked like something else, two bikes and a four-wheeler trudging over the hills, across the prairie, and down through the canyon-lands. Sure wish he could have been there. Speaking of that...wish some of you guys could have joined us as well. Would definitely have been an interesting 111 miles!!!
Going to take a short break for lunch and then we'll return and complete the rest of the ride report.
Looks like a good time ;D
Whats with the woven rug on your backpack?
Ahhh, the rug.
Well, I had originally put the rug under the gas can to give it some cushion instead of sitting directly against the metal rack. The rug worked its way out from under the gas can, the can fell off and we put the rug onto the backpack for the rest of the trip. That was the only place to put it and have it stay out of the way.
Otherwise, it was a great ride, especially in Wyoming and in February!!!
Great ride, great report.
Great report. Maybe I'll have to venture out on my 500 if (when) I get it done.
Ahem, let's see now... where was I?
Oh yeah
(http://i250.photobucket.com/albums/gg264/hudlenutz/Laramie%20Lap%20Feb09/DSC04970.jpg)
This last section of dirt from Horse Creek pops out just a few miles north of Laramie. It covers some interesting terrain as you leave the high plains and table mountain terrain, which is mostly flat with breaks and sedimentary rocks. You climb the range back toward laramie, up into igneous formations that give good horizons. Finally, roger's canyon dumps you into the laramie through it's weathered limestone.
The views:
(http://i250.photobucket.com/albums/gg264/hudlenutz/Laramie%20Lap%20Feb09/DSC04973.jpg)
(http://i250.photobucket.com/albums/gg264/hudlenutz/Laramie%20Lap%20Feb09/DSC04974.jpg)
(http://i250.photobucket.com/albums/gg264/hudlenutz/Laramie%20Lap%20Feb09/DSC04975.jpg)
As we get back to the 8000 foot mark, we get into a bit more snow. Someone in a four wheel drive had broken trail for us, and we are able to ride around the worst of the drifts. The going is slow now. We have open road for a 1/4 mile or so between snow drifts.
(http://i250.photobucket.com/albums/gg264/hudlenutz/Laramie%20Lap%20Feb09/DSC04976.jpg)
About 2 miles before the blacktop back home, I come over a rise an see nothing but snow. The next drift is so long and so wide, that I'm not exactly sure how to attack it. As I get closer, I'm thinking along the lines of someone's signature line that I saw on advrider -
goes something like this, 'When it doubt gas it, it may not solve the problem, but it will end the suspense.'
I make about 50 yards into the snow drift on my momentum. Fully stuck-ed, I glance around for an easy way out, but there's nothing left to do but wrestle the bike through. I discover there really are benefits to being able to lift your bike, and I make it to the other side. Out of breath and sweating, I turn around and see this picture. The four wheel drive tracks dead end on both sides of this drift. No one has made it across for the last month at least. The good news is that the tracks ensure us that this will be the worst of it. You might be able to spot Crazy Uncle Larry on the far side, just getting into the mix. I bet he's wishing he stuck with the 4.5 rear rather than switching back to the 3.75 stocker.
(http://i250.photobucket.com/albums/gg264/hudlenutz/Laramie%20Lap%20Feb09/DSC04977.jpg)
A little zoom this time
(http://i250.photobucket.com/albums/gg264/hudlenutz/Laramie%20Lap%20Feb09/DSC04978.jpg)
We slide through a few more drifts and icy hardpack like a pair of reptiles
(http://i250.photobucket.com/albums/gg264/hudlenutz/Laramie%20Lap%20Feb09/DSC04979.jpg)
Back to the bitumen in Roger's Canyon
(http://i250.photobucket.com/albums/gg264/hudlenutz/Laramie%20Lap%20Feb09/DSC04984.jpg)
Limestone lines the walls as we head down. There are some bolted sport routes down through here, but I've only done dry-tooling here, no rock climbing.
(http://i250.photobucket.com/albums/gg264/hudlenutz/Laramie%20Lap%20Feb09/DSC04983.jpg)
A weathered reminder that freedom is not free.
(http://i250.photobucket.com/albums/gg264/hudlenutz/Laramie%20Lap%20Feb09/DSC04987.jpg)
Well, here we are back at the house. While I'd prefer to travel from one destination to another, the loop is definitely better than backtracking, and this loop was great!
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(http://i250.photobucket.com/albums/gg264/hudlenutz/Laramie%20Lap%20Feb09/DSC04992.jpg)
Before
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After
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A quick summary of what followed
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(http://i250.photobucket.com/albums/gg264/hudlenutz/Laramie%20Lap%20Feb09/DSC04995.jpg)
I had a great time on this ride. Southeast Wyoming has quite a bit of open country to explore. Next I'd like to head into the Snowies, up in the Laramie Peak/Natural Bridge National Forest, and down into northern Colorado.
Also, the D606s worked pretty well for a snow tire.
I'll let Crazy Uncle Larry wrap up with some thoughts, then it'll be time to plan out the next ride at his place.
- Number Two
Once we topped the stepped hill climb on Horse Creek road, the hill no RV or 5th Wheel should attempt, we were almost on top of the world! It began to look like we might actually complete the trip before dark, something we're not always known to do! Many of our past adventures even started well-after dark, like the time we hiked Harney Peak starting at 9 PM, returning to the Sylvan Lake parking lot at 1:10 AM! Steadily hiking along while snowflakes as big as quarters silently drifted through the sky.(We were testing out some lights and mountain climbing gear.) Or, the time we left Laramie at 7 PM headed to Leadville, CO. Arrived at mid-night, napped for 3-4 hours and then we headed up the trail to Mt. Elbert (14,433') at 5 AM> We spent 16 1/2 hours on the mountain, returning to the 4Runner at 9:38 PM (Lost 4 toenails on that trip!). So, you see, we are familiar with the dark. Can you say, "It is our friend?!"
Getting home before dark would have been a good thing. Suddenly, as we were stopped at the crest of the hill, enjoying the feeling of being on top altitude-wise, we also noticed a definite chill in the air! We could see our breath every time we talked or exhaled. It was a sneaky cold, the type that slowly creeps into your bones through the gaps in your coat, the legs of your pants, through the vents in your helmet! We looked around and also noticed a definite lack of protected camping sites on top of the plateau, not a place to spend the night, for sure! Sometimes, you just have to P.O.R. (press on regardless!).
Things continued well for a while, with one track of the road being open or us being able to ride around drifts and then get right back "on-track".
Then, we came to the point where there was waaaaaaay tooooooo much snow and not enough road! We came across a snow field drift that seemed like it stretched for about 150-200 yards.
Seems I also remember reading the same line, "When in doubt, give it the gas! It may not solve the problem, but it will end the suspense!"
About that time, Number Two/Aaron heads pell-mell onto the drift! Those 606's of his were spitting out a bea-you-ti-full white rooster tail of snow! They had spit gravel earlier.
Well, now it's my turn to start across the snow field. I chose to finesse it and go slower. BIG MISTAKE!!! As soon as my rear wheel hit the snow-pac, the Ole XT did the hula-dance and unceremoniously laid over on her left side. My left leg was trapped under her bulk, I mean slim, svelte frame. *Remember those times, as a kid, when your Mom was about to smack you or your sibling for something you had done when she told you not to? Do you remember that? Remember, how just a milli-second or two before her hand or the Pong paddle made contact with your behind, you or your sibling would automatically yell or scream and then you realized you hadn't even been hit yet? Remember that?! Well, I had one of those moments lying under the bike. There I am, the bike is laying on my left leg, I'm all stretched out on the snow and amidst the clouds of steam my racing mind is thinking, "The pipe is going to burn my leg! The pipe is going to burn...Wait a minute! You big dummy!!! The pipe is on the other side! Dude, get up! The bike is still running. Pick it up before it dies!!!" Definitely some crazy thoughts run through your mind at a time like this. **Big Thanks go out to Keith at BH Pwrsprts who convinced me to give the Moose Racing MX boots a try. I never even really felt anything but pressure on my foot when the XT went over. Told him thanks in person today when I saw at the shop.
Got Ole Betsy/XT right-side up, she got temperamental and died on me. I had a few words with her and she started up on the first kick! Just got to know how to talk to 'em! (Baby please don't leave me stranded here! I don't want to die! Come on babeeeee, I'll change your filter and put in some of that high-test oil you like so much, if you get me through this![Who was it that said in a song..."I ain't too proud to beg sometime!"?] After sweet-talking the XT, she started right up on the first kick (luv you babe!) and I proceeded to ride, duck-walk, push, ride and shove her through this monstrous snow field! We were so caught up in the P.O.R. state of mind, we forgot to take a photo of this roadside aerobic activity. Did I say something about getting cold earlier? We were plenty warm after this bit of exercise! That section of road spanked us big-time! However, I hung in there, reveved her up and made it across with some greatly appreciated assistance from Aaron. Thanks dude!!! You were a life-saver!
I almost wanted to stop and kiss the pavement when we finally reached Rogers Canyon! Oh yeah, that's right! Kind of hard to get off the bike and smooch the pavement when your kickstand is broke! (Update-2/11/09-won a used stand off of Ebay today!) No kickstand also made it interesting when I needed to stop and take a leak along the trail. I was usually able to find a post or tree to lean it against when I needed to pause for the cause. ***Speaking of pausing for the cause...isn't it interesting how you can be out in the middle of nowhere just about ready to write your name in the snow, not a soul in sight, when all of a sudden fifty-zillion cars and trucks show up!!! It's like someone called them and told them what you were about to do! Then, when they've all finally passed by, you have trouble getting things started again! Man, I tell you.
We pulled up together and were congratulating ourselves on having made it through the drifts, when what do we see?! A Toyota Prius comes around the corner and heads towards the snowfield area we just passed through. We simply shrugged our shoulders and pressed on.
It was spectacular to ride further down the road and come upon "Ole Glory", flying proud and free! HOOORAHH! Aaron snapped a photo and I snapped a salute (25 yrs, 2 months, 19 days USAF; old habits are hard to break!). We both offered up a quick prayer to the big "Ranger" in the sky, asking him to watch over our (past and present) military brothers, sisters, and their families.
A few more miles of pavement finds us back in town. Put a fork in the Laramie Lap, all 111 miles of it and call it done!!! In February no less! The ride took us 7 hours and 20 minutes. We averaged 15 mph. We filled up once and no one was left behind! A couple "End of the Ride" photos and it was time to tuck the old iron inside the garage for the night. Can you believe it?! A 28 year old XT500 and a 26 year old TT600 did the deed!
Postscript: The "before" and "after" photos remind me of the adventurers of old. The "before" photo shows them flush with bravado and esprit de corps!
The "after" photo emphasizes the physical weariness from the trip. But the eyes, the eyes speak of wisdom gained, folly paid, and satisfaction earned from succeeding in that which few others would even dare do! But we few. We merry few. We band of brothers and sisters, we dual sport adventure riders, we simply put our noses to the wind, our knees to the breeze and do these things forthwith! We ride boldly forward, seeking adventure and fellowship wherever the trail or road takes us. We are giants among other members of today's society!
Why? Why, then, do we eagerly face such challenges and strive forward, always forward? Do we do it to live life to the fullest? Are we foolhardy? Do we do it to come sliding into home plate at the end of our meager lives all scratched up, wore out, with one ear hanging loose? Why do we do it?!!
Turn to the last two photos. I don't know about you or about all of these high-fluting words, but Aaron and I do it for the grilled ham sandwiches, the green chili stew, and the 800mgs of Ibuprofen waiting for us at the end of the ride!!!
And, what a tremendously great ride it was! Thanks to our ladies for the "kitchen passes" and "Hey!" Number One/Stephen, "We missed you, dude!" Nephew JW and Randall Dean, you better get ready for a Black Hills ride later this Summer. We are for sure going to see us some sights!
To the rest of you, thanks for being a part of this forum! Remember...warmer days are coming!
Post-Postscript: Oh yeah...if anyone makes it over by Vedauwoo this Spring or Summer, please keep a lookout for my gray Ace Hardware kneepad. I'd appreciate the assist if you happen to find it. I so hate to lose or leave gear behind.
Catch you later in the Spring and Summer. Until then, ride what you got! Ride when you can! Share it with us here and take lots of photos!
Adios!
GREAT report! You guys have the right attitude for our group, that's for sure! ;D
Makes me kinda feel like a wuss with my new(ish) bike, the latest protective gear, GPS, Spot, etc......even with all the latest dual sport doo-dads, I don't think I woulda had the balls to take that ride this time if year in the ice & snow.
You guys just go to show, it ain't about the bike or the gear, it's all in the attitude of the rider! My hat's off to ya!!!
Thanks for the kind words, Alan.
I'd bet with a couple of 606-type tires you'd of done fine on the trip. We definitely thought about you and the guys during the ride!
Don't discount the "tools". We've already discussed the gps, spot (we are familiar with its cousin the avalanche beacon) and other goodies like bark busters, etc. We are just taking it a little bit slow and steady, getting a part here and there. If the guys in black from the lottery decided to bring me the "big check", then we'd pick up a few more things! We'd gussie up the old iron, get a few TW200s for newbies and visitors to ride, and put up a decent storage shed for all of this. Then we'd find us a couple of cherry Honda XR650Rs (mine would need the 2" lowering kit) to customize for the trail and road. We did look into the KTM 650 or 690 Enduro but figured there be more shops out on the road carrying Honda parts if we needed some. Oh well, we can dream and ride the old iron for now.
It's now my turn to string together a 2-day ride on trails/roads from RC headed west to Black Fox Campground. Then north or south along the state border for another day's ride; back to Black Fox and home the next day. We will be a caravan of 2-3 four wheelers tucked in between Aaron and I on bikes. Will be glad to have other members of our family join us for the ride. Plus, anyone else who's interested in a ride would be more than welcome to tag along. Our tentative date is sometime in early May. I'd like to get in touch with you later in the month or next to get your input on possible trails and go from there. In the meantime, Aaron and I are working with a new guy from Custer, Adam 12, getting his XT350 to the point of running. Aaron is thoroughly cleaning the carb this week and we should be seeing if we can get it to turn over and start sometime in the next two weeks. Adam 12 is originally from the Mitchell area and he was telling me the other day that he remembered some of the guys riding XT500's around there in days gone by. Said he might even know of a guy there who might have one stored in a barn or in a garage that might be talked into letting someone "adopt" it. So, it will be interesting to see how things roll through the spring and summer.
Thanks again for having this forum. It's been great to have a chance to find other dualsport riders and share in their experiences! I've been used to being the "lone ranger" for so long that it is great to be included in a group where there is strength in numbers and everyone is encouraged to "ride what you brung". Looking forward to the rally and other rides as the weather and hills permit!
Catch you later!
What is the range on the XT500? That is a great report guys.. hope to see more.
Hank,
Speedo is broke, so hard to tell. We topped the tank in Laramie before we left. XT holds 2.38 gal. Gas can is 2.5 gal. I had about half a can left coming back into town and had probably a good half tank left on the bike. As best as I can figure without more definitive measurements, I probably got about 40-41 Mpg using approximately 2.78 gal to travel the 115 miles.
I will be doing a fuel test later and will definitely post the results. Thanks for your interest and good luck putting yours together.
Larry
Quote from: Crazy Uncle Larry on February 12, 2009, 01:12:34 PM
We've already discussed the gps, spot (we are familiar with its cousin the avalanche beacon)
I hope not from personal experience... :o
QuoteIt's now my turn to string together a 2-day ride on trails/roads from RC headed west to Black Fox Campground.
Won't take you 2 days to get to Black Fox from RC, unless you take the REAL long way 'round. ;D Do you mean that you intend to base at BFCG and ride that area for 2 days? Whatever your intentions, you can count me in for a ride-along!
QuoteI'd like to get in touch with you later in the month or next to get your input on possible trails and go from there.
Heck, you can just wander around in that area, and you'll find some great trails....but I'm more than willing to show you a few of my favorites in that area. Don't expect me to lead you into any rock gardens or anything too tough...for that, your gonna need Flexlarson (he's crazy, y'know). ;)
Wow!! :o Great report guys!! Good to see someone can do some riding.
Avalanche beacon-not from personal experience! Thank goodness. We did some winter climbing on Mt. Elbert (14,433') and Quandry Peak (14,265') one year and had looked into those devices.
We were planning to stage out of BFCG and then go up and down the western boundary of the hills.
No worries about the "rock gardens", we are definitely looking at trails like the ones in the Victoria Lake, Slate Creek Dam, Castle Creek/Castle Peak, Flag Mt. and Silver City areas. Will need to get 4wheelers through the area too. Now, I wouldn't mind watching ole Flex do his stuff in such a place, but I'd have to take a long look at the specific rock garden before deciding that I needed to attempt going through it. But, like I said, I sure would be a willing observer to the mayhem visited upon, I mean technical expertise exhibited by Flex. Besides, it's never too late for an old dog to learn new tricks!
Looks like it will be "garage time" this weekend. Got a long list of things to do to the bike. Need to see what else needs to be added to the list without rushing. Replace wheel bearings, refurbish swingarm, change chain, replace clutch and brake levers, find and install suitable barkbusters, check out the electrical system, get the turn signals and mirrors put on, give some thought to building panniers for both sides, and so on and so on. Or, on the other hand, since it is Valentine's weekend...I might ought to get finished with putting the final trim on the downstairs bathroom. I hate working with trim boards in a non-square setting! Oh well, anything for domestic tranquility!
I just remembered, the other KTM we looked at was actually a 525 or 535 up at Rice's. Still waiting to see if the lottery boys bring me the big check on Saturday. I don't know why they haven't been by in the past...I leave the light on every Wednesday and Saturday nights! Then again, someone said you had to buy a ticket. That might be the hang-up right there!
Here's looking to a great weekend and bike parts arriving in today's mail! Maybe...Hopefully...Please!
Thanks for the comments, Dustin.
It was a good time all around!
I hope everyone understands that we approached this ride with our eyes wide open. We're not devil-may-care riders. We carefully considered all safety aspects and requirements of the trip. I guess you could say we carefully planned the ride and then road the plan. Kind of like prepping and executing a flight plan for small/personal aircraft, not that we're pilots, but our travels have led us through the company of such individuals and I guess their adherence to safety standards have rubbed off on us when we ride, kayak, rock climb, mountain climb, and in almost everything else we do. I just didn't want to leave people with the impression that we flung caution to the wind, far from it. Still, it was a great ride!
See you around.
Quote from: Crazy Uncle Larry on February 13, 2009, 01:02:46 PM
give some thought to building panniers for both sides, and so on and so on.
if you want hard panniers, versus soft bags, check out mermite cans. cool, functional and CHEAP panniers from your local army surplus store. i picked up 3 of them for 20 bucks (total). more info here.
http://advwisdom.hogranch.com/Wisdom/Mermite%20side%20case%20project.html
-bret
Always good to see a couple of fellas out in the "off season" mixing it up.
I'm making plans to get in on a spring/summer trip with you. When I get the logistics($$$) worked out I'll let you know.
It'd be good to have you out. Just remember that my number 2 is due June 20th. Best to plan a ways before or after that. I was thinking about hitting the Spring DDSR ralley if it falls after number 2's birthday by a reasonable margin. Let me know though, we'll find some adventuRe for sure. We could do the Colorado and Wyoming parts of the Divide trail, or hit moab, or something.
DDSR June rally is 6/18-6/21 this year.
The thing is that only 5% of kids are born on their due date. My number one was two weeks early, which would almost make it so that I could show up for a day of the June Rally.
Great trip report.!! Makes aperson want to go riding, even if it is a little snowy.