Today we set out from South Lake Tahoe with the objective of riding some of the great mountain backroads that surround this beautiful place. Armed with maps and gps units we set out to follow the twisty roads we knew were there.
But things never go as planned. After a few nice runs we stopped at the Cozy Cabin Cage in West Point for a coffee break. We then deliberated and set out for the town of Arnold.
This is where technology failed us. Apparently roads look better on a gps than in real life. Or to put it another way, dirt and gravel don't show up on a gps like they should. So as we travelled along the pavement suddenly ended and we were facing the prospect of several miles of gravel -- something no motorcyclist likes to deal with.
As if that weren't bad enough, the short gravel stretch turned into a long gravel stretch, which in turn descended into a long dirt stretch, complete with grader and copious amounts of dust. In all we probably travelled an hour in the dirt and gravel and another hour trying to find out way out. We finally emerged in an unknown place and still had to ask directions for Arnold.
To make a long story short we did arrive finally, and enjoyed a fine milkshake to quell the 36 degree temperatures and wash down the dust we had eaten. We headed out from Arnold and arrived a little while later in Sonora. Wrestling touring bikes on dirt and gravel is tiring work!
Perhaps the moral of this story is don't always trust technology. It can be and often is wrong.
Wednesday, June 22, 2011
The Days of the Knights (Day 4)
We left Oroville and made several beautiful drives on mountain passes and park roads. Once again we were cut off by snow when we attempted to travel through. Who would have thought that we would still encounter snow at this late date?!
But this trip is all about the riding. It is not a sight-seeing trip. So if we see something we want to see better, then we'll have to come back! To understand what this kind of riding is like, think of downhill slalom skiing combinded with a roller coaster. There are curves and dips all driven to one's own inner cadence. Being fully focused on the road and engaged in the ride brings an escape unrivalled in my experience.
Temperatures began to rise today, hitting 100 degrees F.-- a foreshadowing of what is yet to come further south. The rides today were among the best any of us have ever done. You may wonder, what determines how good a ride is? The weather, the scenery, the road conditions, the amount of traffic, the layout of the roads themselves and how well they are built. Add in to that mix the psychological state of the rider and it can all be amazing. If the rider is psyched out by the corners, it can be a very hard ride indeed. If one is "in the zone" it is amazing.
So to wrap this up, eventually we arrived in beautiful Lake Tahoe, a place I've heard a lot about and now finally visited. It too is a place of contrasts, with expansive mansions owned by the rich and famous, right down to the ramshackled houses found anywhere. Nevertheless a beautiful place.
But this trip is all about the riding. It is not a sight-seeing trip. So if we see something we want to see better, then we'll have to come back! To understand what this kind of riding is like, think of downhill slalom skiing combinded with a roller coaster. There are curves and dips all driven to one's own inner cadence. Being fully focused on the road and engaged in the ride brings an escape unrivalled in my experience.
Temperatures began to rise today, hitting 100 degrees F.-- a foreshadowing of what is yet to come further south. The rides today were among the best any of us have ever done. You may wonder, what determines how good a ride is? The weather, the scenery, the road conditions, the amount of traffic, the layout of the roads themselves and how well they are built. Add in to that mix the psychological state of the rider and it can all be amazing. If the rider is psyched out by the corners, it can be a very hard ride indeed. If one is "in the zone" it is amazing.
So to wrap this up, eventually we arrived in beautiful Lake Tahoe, a place I've heard a lot about and now finally visited. It too is a place of contrasts, with expansive mansions owned by the rich and famous, right down to the ramshackled houses found anywhere. Nevertheless a beautiful place.
Tuesday, June 21, 2011
The Days of the Knights (day 3)
When we set out for Klamath Falls we had no idea what the day would bring. We rode some great roads around Klamath including some of the roads in the state parks. Hwy 15 was one of those roads. it was a great ride, winding through great vistas, offering challenging corners and beautiful straightaways. The road climbed as it wound so that soon we were high in the mountains. This road was a high mountain pass road, and was to bring us up and over and down further south.
It all looked promising until we had to stop abruptly. The road was blocked, rendered impassible by snow, still thick on the ground. We dismounted the bikes and were standing and joking around about trying to get through when suddenly two cars appeared and pulled up to us. In the cars, were what appeared to be two young Hispanic couples, one with a baby. Jim went and talked to them and they seemed game to try to plough ahead even though there was no chance they could do it, and it only got deeper up ahead. determined to carry on with their plan for a picnic, the fellow threw his Lincoln Continental in gear and plowed forward... about 8 feet until he was high-centered and stuck! (I have a movie of it I will insert here once I'm home). They spoke no English, we spoke no Spanish.
We tried to push him out but to no avail. At one point we asked if they had any rope, and he proceeded to open his trunk and produce a set of jumper cables. He only attached one clamp to one car before we told him it wouldn't work... After some digging and having everyone lift as the young wife apply the gas we were able to get him out and on their way. As for us, we retraced out steps back down and had lunch in the town of Weed, named after Abner Weed.
We eventually ended up in Oroville and encountered an interesting family at the hot tub. But that is for another blog.
It all looked promising until we had to stop abruptly. The road was blocked, rendered impassible by snow, still thick on the ground. We dismounted the bikes and were standing and joking around about trying to get through when suddenly two cars appeared and pulled up to us. In the cars, were what appeared to be two young Hispanic couples, one with a baby. Jim went and talked to them and they seemed game to try to plough ahead even though there was no chance they could do it, and it only got deeper up ahead. determined to carry on with their plan for a picnic, the fellow threw his Lincoln Continental in gear and plowed forward... about 8 feet until he was high-centered and stuck! (I have a movie of it I will insert here once I'm home). They spoke no English, we spoke no Spanish.
We tried to push him out but to no avail. At one point we asked if they had any rope, and he proceeded to open his trunk and produce a set of jumper cables. He only attached one clamp to one car before we told him it wouldn't work... After some digging and having everyone lift as the young wife apply the gas we were able to get him out and on their way. As for us, we retraced out steps back down and had lunch in the town of Weed, named after Abner Weed.
We eventually ended up in Oroville and encountered an interesting family at the hot tub. But that is for another blog.
Saturday, June 18, 2011
The Days of the Knights (Day 2)
The name, The Knights of the Open Road had it's origins with some of the group being dubbed that while on a cross Canada trip in 2008. It has stuck ever since. You can also follow this trip by reading Bob Kuhn's blog at http://positivelyparkinsons.blogspot.com/2011/06/journey-begins.html
The day started out raining as we walked back to the Almost Home restaurant for breakfast. There was a cardboard cutout of John Wayne. I should have had my picture taken with him just as I did with Clint Eastwood last year. (See older blog post).
After stuffing ourselves we waddled back to the Motel 6, packed up our stuff and put on the rain gear. I came to find out later that I left part of my CPAP machine (electrical transformer) in the room. *sigh* I must be getting absent minded.
I donned my fluorescent orange HelleHansen rain gear, making me look like a road construction cone, and after gassing up, headed for Roseburg. In Roseburg we stopped to refuel our bikes with gas and our bodies with coffee. From there we continued on toward Klamath Falls and my "divine encounter."
It was continuing to rain as we wound and wove our way through the twists and turns of Umpqua National Park. I was following Bob and Jim, and being followed by Ben as we snaked along the 30 and 45 mph. curves. As I entered one 30 mph corner I ws hugging the center double line. Suddenly my back wheel slid out from under the bike tipping me onto my left side. I turned the front wheel slightly to the right as I felt the slide and both heard and felt the grind of the footpeg and the peg on the highway bar as they ground into the pavement. Sparks flew out behind as the metal momentarily met asphalt. But the turn of the wheel and the hitting the pegs as the bike went over were enough to put me upright again, and straightening out, I continued on. I called it my divine encounter because later, Ben who saw it from behind, said it was like the hand of God just reached down and straightened me back up after going onto my side. I'm grateful God was there.
We continued on through more rain, climbing to an elevation of 5900 ft., seeing snow on the sides of the road as we traveled past Crater Lake to our lunch at Diamond Lake Junction. there we met Arlene and had had the hand-pressed, homemade bacon cheeseburger.
We finally arrived in Kalamath Falls at about 3:30, got unpacked and soaked our old weary bones in the hot tub. Yes folks, life doesn't get much better than this... (once I figure out how to load pics from my iPad I'll post them)
The day started out raining as we walked back to the Almost Home restaurant for breakfast. There was a cardboard cutout of John Wayne. I should have had my picture taken with him just as I did with Clint Eastwood last year. (See older blog post).
After stuffing ourselves we waddled back to the Motel 6, packed up our stuff and put on the rain gear. I came to find out later that I left part of my CPAP machine (electrical transformer) in the room. *sigh* I must be getting absent minded.
I donned my fluorescent orange HelleHansen rain gear, making me look like a road construction cone, and after gassing up, headed for Roseburg. In Roseburg we stopped to refuel our bikes with gas and our bodies with coffee. From there we continued on toward Klamath Falls and my "divine encounter."
It was continuing to rain as we wound and wove our way through the twists and turns of Umpqua National Park. I was following Bob and Jim, and being followed by Ben as we snaked along the 30 and 45 mph. curves. As I entered one 30 mph corner I ws hugging the center double line. Suddenly my back wheel slid out from under the bike tipping me onto my left side. I turned the front wheel slightly to the right as I felt the slide and both heard and felt the grind of the footpeg and the peg on the highway bar as they ground into the pavement. Sparks flew out behind as the metal momentarily met asphalt. But the turn of the wheel and the hitting the pegs as the bike went over were enough to put me upright again, and straightening out, I continued on. I called it my divine encounter because later, Ben who saw it from behind, said it was like the hand of God just reached down and straightened me back up after going onto my side. I'm grateful God was there.
We continued on through more rain, climbing to an elevation of 5900 ft., seeing snow on the sides of the road as we traveled past Crater Lake to our lunch at Diamond Lake Junction. there we met Arlene and had had the hand-pressed, homemade bacon cheeseburger.
We finally arrived in Kalamath Falls at about 3:30, got unpacked and soaked our old weary bones in the hot tub. Yes folks, life doesn't get much better than this... (once I figure out how to load pics from my iPad I'll post them)
The Days of The Knights (Day 1)
These are the days of the Knights of the Open Road June 2011
I left home at about 7:00 am and headed to Lynden to meet the rest of the guys. I arrived there at the appointed gas station at 8:00 and proceeded to gas up and get a coffee. It turned out I got. It for free because when I went to pay with my credit card the clerk informed me that they didn't accept debit or credit for under $5. I had no cash, so she gave it gratis!! Good start.
Bob, Jim and Ralph showed up at about 8:25, gassed up and we were on our way!
The next time we stopped for gas my card was declined, so Jim paid and while enjoying a coffee at Starbucks I called the credit card company and got things sorted out. Traffic was good and we arrived at the Motel 6 in Salem Oregon at about 4:30. We were told there would be a cot. When I phoned I was told there were no cots here. Ben and Bob will be sharing a double bed. Can you say Planes, Trains, and Automobiles?
Ben arrived at about 6:00 and we went for supper to the Almost Home restaurant. We also discovered that it is against the law to ride without helmets in Oregon, something we had done for the short jaunt to the restaurant.
At the restaurant we were joined by two friends of Jim's from Calgary, Martin and Jerry. Jerry broke the news over dinner that had dumped his bike in a corner. He was a little sore and the bike got a little banged up, but it is still driveable.
So our total today from the border was 554km. From home was another 30 or so for about 600km today. The plan is to do about 500 tomorrow. Bob and Ben get to sleep in the double bed. Let the good times roll!!
Thursday, June 16, 2011
T'is Another Night Before The Days of the Knights
This is like deja vu all over again. My first blog post a year ago was the night before my long anticipated motorcycle trip. Today is the day before I leave again on another trip, this time through Washington, Oregon and California.
I've been looking forward to this for a long time... about a year... or, since the last trip ended. I'm anticipating wonderful scenery, lots of fun and laughs, and good camaraderie with the rest of the aptly named "Knights of the Open Road." We lose one knight, George, and gain another, Ralph. George will be missed, but Ralph brings his own brand of unique Ralphness.
It will be fun... The adventure awaits...
I've been looking forward to this for a long time... about a year... or, since the last trip ended. I'm anticipating wonderful scenery, lots of fun and laughs, and good camaraderie with the rest of the aptly named "Knights of the Open Road." We lose one knight, George, and gain another, Ralph. George will be missed, but Ralph brings his own brand of unique Ralphness.
It will be fun... The adventure awaits...
Sunday, November 28, 2010
Moosecumentary (Part 3, The Materiel)
Materiel: n. "the aggregate of things used or needed in any business, undertaking, or operation"
Over the years since we have been hunting, our materiel has evolved, advanced, enlarged, accumulated, adapted, and quite simply become more accommodating to our aging bodies.
To give you an idea, that first year we hunted together I had moved from BC, land of lotuses and rain, to Northern Alberta. The only boots I had were rubber. So they were the boots I took when we left to hunt that last week of September, 1989.
The three of us slept in a 3-man nylon tent with our boots outside because there was no room inside. There was no room for anything besides us in the tent. And when we got up in the morning, the boots were frozen and putting on frozen boots is not fun. My feet stayed numb till noon. We had to light a fire every morning after we got up to try to get warm.
We each took two 2-litre bottles of water for the week and if remember correctly, a two litre bottle full of pancake batter. That was for our drinking and cooking. For the week. We must have had other food...but the pancake batter is what sticks.
In the years that followed we stayed in a camper, then a tent trailer, and eventually the wall tent that we have now.
(more pics and content to come... stay tuned)
Over the years since we have been hunting, our materiel has evolved, advanced, enlarged, accumulated, adapted, and quite simply become more accommodating to our aging bodies.
To give you an idea, that first year we hunted together I had moved from BC, land of lotuses and rain, to Northern Alberta. The only boots I had were rubber. So they were the boots I took when we left to hunt that last week of September, 1989.
The three of us slept in a 3-man nylon tent with our boots outside because there was no room inside. There was no room for anything besides us in the tent. And when we got up in the morning, the boots were frozen and putting on frozen boots is not fun. My feet stayed numb till noon. We had to light a fire every morning after we got up to try to get warm.
We each took two 2-litre bottles of water for the week and if remember correctly, a two litre bottle full of pancake batter. That was for our drinking and cooking. For the week. We must have had other food...but the pancake batter is what sticks.
In the years that followed we stayed in a camper, then a tent trailer, and eventually the wall tent that we have now.
(more pics and content to come... stay tuned)
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