I haven’t seemed to find the time, energy or interest to update things on my blog over the last couple years. There always seems to be something to do and this has fallen to the bottom of the list.
I’ve learned a lot about various aspects of life from reading other people’s personal experiences through blogging – health, sanity, motorcycles, family, occupational hints, etc. I’d like to swing back to more regular contributions in hopes of providing information to others that may help them out.
Summer 2015 Ride
One of the longest trips in in comparatively less time again. The getting out camping thing seemed pretty weird at first. It had been so long since I’d actually camped and never had I done it alone. It turned out to be exactly what I needed – quiet time and time outside. I was fortunate that it only sprinkled rain on one occasion and was otherwise perfect weather for camping out from -5 celcius to 30 celcius (hot to be in a tent). After a couple of days I developed a routine and setting up and taking down camp became a piece of cake. It also shortened the riding day on most days to try and finish up before dark, get situated, and set up camp. I really enjoyed it. Good for the soul.
Some of my favorite places to ride along the way are in the photos below.
The Varadero was an absolutely perfect touring bike and did very well off the beaten path and gravel (even some tracks – which was pushing things too far loaded up).
I’ll let the photos and comments speak for themselves.
I took very little time to stop in towns, very little time for photos, and a whole lot of time just quietly contemplating and rejuvenating.
Highlights
Staying in Fire Lookout – $25/night to stay in some of the most amazing places in the US – Gotta do it again
Sawtooth Mountains, Idaho – great riding both on and off-road, tons of secluded and remote camping
Side roads outside of San Francisco – Wow! Plenty to explore on a future trip
Camping and riding in the Big Sur area – lots of ‘goaty’ trails to ride with no one around
10 days to ‘chillax’ in Stinson Beach – one of my favorite beach places ever
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What a great tourer this bike is. I did trails I had no business riding, 10-12 hour days. And about 50 MPG (5.5 l/100K) with a range of 400+K per tank. Easy to get far out and gone.
Minutes before leaving on the trip
First night in a fire lookout station. What a great and unique experience. Even if I did crap my pants because of the lightning storm and flooding. Made it out safely.
An absolutely unreal wind in the day. Calmed down to nothing at night and camped in a lava field.
Day trip to Silver City. Pretty good road on the way in and out. Quite a ways off the beaten path. Neat little out of the way tourist stop. Lunch at the ‘hotel’. Which is being ‘restored’.
Day trip to Silver City. Pretty good road on the way in and out. Quite a ways off the beaten path. Neat little out of the way tourist stop. Lunch at the ‘hotel’. Which is being ‘restored’.
Had the whole road to myself heading towards NE Oregon – hot, dry and dusty.
Steen Mountain Range – Quite beautiful old mountains
Had the entire campground to myself. Free split wood and peace and quiet. The temp. dropped to below zero and frosty during the night. Cool for sleeping.
Fellow rider that I chatted with took a picture of me. Great camping around Lassen but a lot of tourists and traffic.
Family in SF
Stinson Beach, CA
Every day at the beach for 10 days. Really a great way to unwind. Relatively quiet on most days, not a lot of tourists.
Monitor Pass, CA – short fun ride that traverses the mountains. Beautiful high altitude view from the top of the pass.
Three Frogs Campground, MT. A great little campsite. Lake Como, MT.
The Sawtooth Mountains of Idaho. Stunningly beautiful and just pop up when you round the corner to Stanley. Great riding, great camping, and a place I’d like to return and spend more time.
Day’s riding outside of San Francisco. Brilliant short roads of twistiness, remote and forested, and goat trail terrain. Brilliant.
Leaky water bottle. Days of heat and no change to dry turned my glove into an unsalvageable mess of mold.
Finally broke 90,000 on the VFR after 10 years. What a fantastic bike. Hard to part with after this summer.
Summer 2015 Ride to San Francisco, the Varadero, and Absence from Blogging I haven't seemed to find the time, energy or interest to update things on my blog over the last couple years.