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General Category => General Discussion => Topic started by: travelingbyguzzi on October 01, 2015, 10:26:06 AM
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Tomorrow night, I catch a redeye from Seattle to Little Rock. I have a 1200 Sport 100 miles north at Karl Werth's place. Loaf around for a few day's til the Oklahoma Campout.
From there, I head West. I have not been South of I-40 much at all, with the exception of the Prescott Rally a couple times.
As always, want info on good (cheap) motels, towns or breweries you have enjoyed. Any and all input is appreciated.
Possible overnight stops are Childress, TX Alamogordo, NM Silver City, NM. Beyond that, I plan to spend a day in the mountains of Eastern AZ.
It is still 100+ in Death Valley, so I won't be going there.
Bill Lovelady IS
Eskimo Spy
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Take a ride up to Santa Fe and further north to Taos if you have the time. Great twisties in the Santa Fe mountains and toward Taos. Jurgen
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Bill , the Caprock state park and Palo Duro canyon in Texas are worthwhile stops . Given the choice of only one , Palo Duro would win out .
Dusty
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Yep. Palo Duro Canyon is pretty badass. Mostly camping, but they do have a few cabins, if you can get one.
Canyon Texas has a nice prairie farming museum downtown.
Fort Sumner New Mexico is where Billy The Kid is buried.
Lincoln New Mexico has a very intact historic district. If you're into Old West range wars, it could be interesting.
Ruidoso New Mexico is kinda cool.
Google Map Link (https://www.google.com/maps/dir/Talihina,+OK/Lawton,+OK/Palo+Duro+Canyon+State+Park,+Randall+County,+TX/Canyon,+TX/Fort+Sumner,+NM/Lincoln,+NM/Ruidoso,+NM/Silver+City,+NM/@34.0674035,-114.3727798,5z/data=!4m50!4m49!1m5!1m1!1s0x87ca9ff5f9bc7a29:0xc6d47a9e55a79bc1!2m2!1d-95.0480162!2d34.7514893!1m5!1m1!1s0x87ad1ee259210d45:0x612cfac6f2724e52!2m2!1d-98.3959291!2d34.6035669!1m5!1m1!1s0x8701146102a464b1:0x1d91f4660724f974!2m2!1d-101.6552106!2d34.9322187!1m5!1m1!1s0x87015d66d3791481:0xc45cdef8e6f4f792!2m2!1d-101.9188024!2d34.9803342!1m5!1m1!1s0x871c52f1796219e3:0x7da335c97e422982!2m2!1d-104.2455304!2d34.4717332!1m5!1m1!1s0x86e1e088e70b10b5:0xf68105175c673147!2m2!1d-105.3838716!2d33.4920276!1m5!1m1!1s0x86e1d6eb8f489f21:0xfe8975402052ab66!2m2!1d-105.6588485!2d33.3672525!1m5!1m1!1s0x86d8c79afbd994d3:0xa5b32e281d78ab10!2m2!1d-108.280326!2d32.770075!3e0)
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With Silver City as a destination point, I'm sure you're aware of one of the best riding loops in the country, just to the west of there:
Google Map Link US-191 and US-180 (https://www.google.com/maps/dir/Silver+City,+NM+88061/Alpine,+AZ/Three+Way,+AZ/@33.2848244,-108.8543691,9z/data=!4m25!4m24!1m5!1m1!1s0x86d8c79afbd994d3:0xa5b32e281d78ab10!2m2!1d-108.280326!2d32.770075!1m10!1m1!1s0x87264861b59e65bf:0xdd97ef267290367c!2m2!1d-109.1432936!2d33.8483212!3m4!1m2!1d-109.3653797!2d33.4120081!3s0x8727c4b7f1825b03:0xa6c7f220891d8ce5!1m5!1m1!1s0x86d80b02627ad787:0x5e257e0ea1e092e3!2m2!1d-109.2267!2d32.945499!3e0)
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It's a 5 hour ride from Little Rock, but if you have time to kill this weekend, the motorcycle swap meet and vintage car/bike show at the Seaba Station Motorcycle Museum at Warwick, OK are usually pretty interesting.
(http://www.seabastation.com/images/swap%20meet%20fall%202015.jpg)
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yeah. we need a meet up time at Seaba whether Saturday or Sunday.
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Rocker: US 191 & 180 are on my short list. Looks too good for words.
Caprock State Park is a possibility. Haven't been there since my Arkansas days waaayyyy back in the mid-eighties. Depends on how bedraggled I am after Talemina. I may want a motel and shower by then.
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I remember the showers from 2 years ago. I also remember a hell of a thunderstorm on friday night that left everything I had a cold wet mess!
It won't be the first time I have erected a tent in a motel room to dry out!
Everything is contingent, but I am as flexible as my visa card and a bottle of cheap wine will allow.
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US 82 going into Alamo is probably the prettiest of the drives in that area.
Fastest to Silver City from Alamo is US 70 to Las Cruces and I10 across to US180 to Silver.
But...try one of these
US70 to I25, north a little bit to NM152 then across to Silver.
Or US54 to US380, across and then down I25 for a little bit to NM152 to Silver.
If you want a little more of a ride going into Silver then off of NM152 take NM35 to NM15. If interested you could even take the side road down to the Gila Clif Dwellings. The road is great as are the views of the Gila River canyon.
Across US380 between Carrizozo and I25 there is the Valley of Fires, another big lava flow area.
If you reach San Antonio, NM on US380 near I25 stop at the Owl Cafe. Great, greasy burgers. :)
On NM152 stop at Hillsboro and have some apple pie :)
FYI, if going on US191 I suggest going S to N. It is more fun (for me anyway) to do twisties uphill instead of down hill :) NM78 from US180 to Morenci is also a nice road.
I used the recommend the Bear Wallow cafe in Alpine, AZ, but, last time I was there the service was not too good. Food was still good though. They also have a couple of cute little motels that are not much money in the off season (hunting season is not the off season so call first as they might all be full).
Oh, and if you are in Las Cruces for a meal and like good mexican food stop at Roberto's. It is a bit on the spicy side ;)
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Thanks, Charlie B. This is the info I am looking for. Now, how about taverns, brewies and nekid hot springs...
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Sorry, I was never one for drinking establishments and such.
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Bugga Reds in Springerville is a place we always stopped to and from Datil.
Great food and a hotel 8 nearby.
Tom
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Have spent the last 6 days on the ancestral farm in northern arkansas, drinking beer, eatin' catfish and seeing old friends.
Got the 1200 Sport out of Karl's shed. It is running great, once I ran out the 6 month old methanol.
Tomorrow, I head for the Oklahomie campout, then I get serious about heading west.
I am thinking about the North Rim of the Grand Canyon, weather dependant of course.
Had the best flight out of Seattle ever. Had a magic brownie at the Seattle terminal and slept all the way to Little Rock.
See ya in Talihena!
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Have spent the last 6 days on the ancestral farm in northern arkansas, drinking beer, eatin' catfish and seeing old friends.
Got the 1200 Sport out of Karl's shed. It is running great, once I ran out the 6 month old methanol.
Tomorrow, I head for the Oklahomie campout, then I get serious about heading west.
I am thinking about the North Rim of the Grand Canyon, weather dependant of course.
Had the best flight out of Seattle ever. Had a magic brownie at the Seattle terminal and slept all the way to Little Rock.
See ya in Talihena!
Better make sure the North Rim is still open. It's only summer seasonally open. :wink: OTOH, if you wanted to see the South Rim, we live on Rte. 66 west of there just before Kingman, Az. and could put you up, swap a few MC stories. :boozing:
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+1 on Rt 152 into Silver. The Palace, an old hotel in downtown Silver City is kind of a fun place to stay (as opposed to a M6), but you have to park on the street. There's a pretty good Mexican restaurant, the Jalisco Cafe, a few blocks from the Palace.
If you're up in Santa Fe, feel free to get in touch.
Rich A
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Take NM15 from Silver City to the Gila Cliff dwellings. It is unforgettable...
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+1 on Rt 152 into Silver. The Palace, an old hotel in downtown Silver City is kind of a fun place to stay (as opposed to a M6), but you have to park on the street. There's a pretty good Mexican restaurant, the Jalisco Cafe, a few blocks from the Palace.
If you're up in Santa Fe, feel free to get in touch.
Rich A
:1: Good food all through NM. I was in Silver City one time for a bbq/NAR. A friend of mine, formerly from Phoenix throws a big bbq at his house for Euro bike riders. About 50 people showed up, from AZ, NM, and Texas! Great 3 day party.
Tom
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If coming to the area make it sooner rather than later. There has been some snow already in the San Juan mountains in CO.
If considering a trip to the Grand Canyon I recommend the South Rim. More commercial, but, the view is so much better than the North Rim. If you have the time I like to do both. Visit the North Rim and stay at the hotel up there. Have a drink out on the patio and enjoy the sunset view. Get up in the morning to have breakfast and see the sunrise, then ride over to the South Rim.
Or you can do what my brother does. Hike it. South to North to South all in 24hrs. :)
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Yes, the north & south rims are completely different views of the canyon and both beautiful in their own ways. The N. side is at higher altitude than the S. side and that's why it's only open for a few months every year. Great roads approaching the N. rim.
There's a hot springs @ Beatty, Nev. on 95 but don't know if it's nekid. Clown motel(biker friendly) is @ Tonopah too. Casino @ Hawthorne.
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A smaller crowd here in Talihena OK, but the weather is lovely. Yesterday, I rode thru the Arkansas Ozarks and the trees are turning color nicely. Had a good ride until the Arkansas river (Russelville) then the weather caught me.
Had one more round of catfish at the Mena supermarket deli. Pretty good for supermarket grazing.
Bill Lovelady IS
Eskimo Spy
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Better make sure the North Rim is still open. It's only summer seasonally open. :wink: OTOH, if you wanted to see the South Rim, we live on Rte. 66 west of there just before Kingman, Az. and could put you up, swap a few MC stories. :boozing:
Hey, man, I will accept that offer. Have not seen you or your much better half in many years. I am thinking Wednesday evening. PM me your phone number.
Today I crossed Oklahoma. The 380 miles I saw was pretty bland. The afternoon gave me 97 degrees and a 25 MPH crosswind. Stopped in Childress as planned.
My schedule is evolving. Skipping the Fayewood hot springs near Silver City. Probably ride thru there on Tuesday and stop in Springerville.
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Progress is being made. It be just short of 800 miles of prairie between the Ouachita mountains of eastern OK and the Sacremento mountains of central NM.
But that is behind me now!
Am in Alamogordo. Tomorrow western NM and Eastern AZ.
The weather forecast is nothin but sunshine!
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:thumb:
Keep em coming, Bill.. glad to see someone traveling this late in the season.
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:thumb:
Keep em coming, Bill.. glad to see someone traveling this late in the season.
Bill is tough , besides , it is in the 80s in our parts .
Dusty
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I'm enjoying it too.
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From Almagordo, find Hatch, NM. From Hatch, north thru Hillsboro, over Emory Pass, elev, 8K. Thru Mimbres to Gila Hot Springs, south thru Pinos Altos, to Silver City. From Silver, noth and then west thru Mule Creek. At Morenci, AZ, north over Hy-191 to Show Low.
It's all Nirvana in bituminous asphalt form!
Ciao,
Dick Casey
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Progress is being made. It be just short of 800 miles of prairie between the Ouachita mountains of eastern OK and the Sacremento mountains of central NM.
But that is behind me now! Am in Alamogordo. Tomorrow western NM and Eastern AZ. The weather forecast is nothin but sunshine!
Nice riding Bill...you're so near Cloudcroft and the road to Mayhill...that makes for some fun riding if you've got time. Stopping at the old saloon there is a nice spot too. I take it you are going to be stopping in for a piece of pie at PieTown along the way?? :) Bon voyage!
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Nice riding Bill...you're so near Cloudcroft and the road to Mayhill...that makes for some fun riding if you've got time. Stopping at the old saloon there is a nice spot too. I take it you are going to be stopping in for a piece of pie at PieTown along the way?? :) Bon voyage!
Paul, I came over Cloudcroft today, then down the hill to Alamogordo.
Tomorrow, it is up the west side of NM with a sidetrip to pietown.
Was last in Pietown in April of '98. It was snowing. I might have told you that story last weekend.
Gail's first m/c trip? We had to push the Cal II into the motel room to warm it up before it would start? Ha! Ha! Good times!
Bill Lovelady IS
Eskimo Spy
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Excellent! Indeed...that was a great story...hope the weather gods favor you on this trip and provide great riding weather...always a fun stop at the VLA along the way as well...
Post up some pics!! :)
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Today was the best day so far. Left Alamogordo when Dawn showed her crack and hit US70 running. Once I got out of town, it was triple digits for a good distance and really fast the rest of the way to Las Cruces.
Had a green chile breakfast burrito in Hatch NM that had just the right amount of heat.
From Hatch, 26 & 27 were good roads, but 152 from Hillsboro was better. Really tight for 30+ miles but a good surface.
The best of the day, the best of the trip was NM32 that ties US180 to US60.
40 miles of fast sweepers with no traffic and an excellent surface.
My new favorite road.
I took a 20 mile detour to Pie Town and ALL 3 pie cafes were closed.
Saw a Griso southbound on US180 about 40 miles south of Springerville.
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:thumb:
Thanks for the tip. I've added NM-152 to my list!
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A pity about Pie Town...I suppose they had sold out already and gone home to take a siesta!
Sounds like a great trip...I'm sure the Sport is loving it at triple digits on those wide open roads!
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A pity about Pie Town...I suppose they had sold out already and gone home to take a siesta!
Sounds like a great trip...I'm sure the Sport is loving it at triple digits on those wide open roads!
I still say we should have an NAR at Pie Town , we have discussed this before .
The Pie Town Million
Because that's about how many calories will give up their lives .
Dusty
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Well, there is an 'official' rally at Datil that is only 15min away.
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Well, there is an 'official' rally at Datil that is only 15min away.
True , but Datil is always in the dog days of summer which requires two days of riding in face melting temps across the plains.
Dusty
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Well, there is an 'official' rally at Datil that is only 15min away.
But it's in August. And riding to it from over here is mighty hot!
Why don't they have it in September ?
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Mid December should work just fine then for a Pie-o-NAR!!!
2 long days of riding, or an "almost IBA" and we might consume every single pie they produce...we better call in advance and forewarn them!!
Seriously this would be a fun ride!!! Could be a sort of Western States NAR...
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Mid December should work just fine then for a Pie-o-NAR!!!
2 long days of riding, or an "almost IBA" and we might consume every single pie they produce...we better call in advance and forewarn them!!
Seriously this would be a fun ride!!! Could be a sort of Western States NAR...
Hmmm............... ...Pie town is @ 7,778ft...........yeah let's hit it in mid December. That's the ticket. :popcorn:
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Hmmm............... ...Pie town is @ 7,778ft...........yeah let's hit it in mid December. That's the ticket. :popcorn:
Wayne , I'm thinking a desert dweller like you might NOT like anything below 70 F .
Dusty
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Wayne , I'm thinking a desert dweller like you might NOT like anything below 70 F .
Dusty
I have visions of snow, ice on the road at that elevation in December, not to mention need of heated grips, etc. Maybe the place isn't even open that time of year too. Just trying to be a realist.
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I have visions of snow, ice on the road at that elevation in December, not to mention need of heated grips, etc. Maybe the place isn't even open that time of year too. Just trying to be a realist.
Oh I wasn't disagreeing with you , in fact Rocker's suggestion of Sept seems to be a good idea . Of course , the last few Septembers out here where Mike and I live have been a bit hot , so this might all be moot . Once again , my emos aren't working which renders me almost mute . LOL .
Dusty
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Hmmm............... ...Pie town is @ 7,778ft...........yeah let's hit it in mid December. That's the ticket. :popcorn:
Ah...well I was thinking you guys didn't want to wait almost a full year here, seeing as September is a LONG ways in the future and folks might be tuckered out from the MGNOC Nat'l, the Washington and Idaho campouts and maybe not able to make another huge trip west. But of course this could be an opportunity to buy some studded tires! :)
Ah well...it's good to have plans and dreams! I suppose it might be a bit chilly near the Continental Divide...
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Not yet. 7000ft around here is still 70 during the day and mid 50's in the morning. Not even cold enough for heated gloves yet :)
Of course, each year is different. Sometimes we get snow in Oct. I've been out on Halloween in tshirt one year and next year in a heavy coat and gloves.
Matt plans the rally in Aug for a number of reasons. One is that it is nice up there that time of year and most of the AZ folks are ready to escape the heat. Another is cause it's always been that time of year, so why change :)
If you would like it on a different date send him a note. Or if an NAR is what you want then anyone can organize one. There's a get together in July too.
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Charlie , no one wants the Datil rally moved to a different date , it's just that it is REALLY a long hot ride for those of us out here in the middle . Just like we have our stuff in the Spring and Fall to escape the heat and humidity , Datil is when it is .
Dusty
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This evening finds me in Pangutch UT. I couldnt face the heat and traffic of Las Vegas so I hung a right at Flagstaff. The weather continues to be amazing and. the red rock mountains are gorgeous
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This evening finds me in Pangutch UT. I couldnt face the heat and traffic of Las Vegas so I hung a right at Flagstaff. The weather continues to be amazing and. the red rock mountains are gorgeous
Good choice.. :thumb:
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This evening finds me in Pangutch UT. I couldnt face the heat and traffic of Las Vegas so I hung a right at Flagstaff. The weather continues to be amazing and. the red rock mountains are gorgeous
In the near past there have been some Guzzi rallies in Panguitch. Did you or are you going to see the North rim of the GC from there? There's also Bryce Canyon and Zion nearby. Rain coming in my neck of the woods soon thru the weekend and maybe Las Vegas since they usually get rain when we do. If you want to dodge rain might be best you head north from Panguitch. :wink: Maybe hit Ely or Battle Mtn. next.
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My next stop is Winnemucca, thru Ely, Austin and Battle Mountain. First, I ride thru Beaver UT, but if my experience in Pie Town was any indicator, I am boundto be disappointed. I think I am going to find rain before I get home, probably at the WA state line.
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My next stop is Winnemucca, thru Ely, Austin and Battle Mountain. First, I ride thru Beaver UT, but if my experience in Pie Town was any indicator, I am boundto be disappointed. I think I am going to find rain before I get home, probably at the WA state line.
Wait , disappointed in Pie Town :huh: Say it ain't so :cry:
Dusty
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Today was the third good day in a row. UT21 is what 6th gear was made for, as is US50. I have ridden US50 in Nevada several times, but never without my wife on back. What the hell was I thinking?A totally different experience. Rolled into Winnemucca as planned. Tomorrow will be my last day of open country. By evening, I will be back in the megalopolis.
Bill Lovelady IS
Eskimo Spy
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Bill , as you were rolling out of the Okie I had the strongest urge to tag along :bike-037:
Dusty
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Bill , as you were rolling out of the Okie I had the strongest urge to tag along :bike-037:
Dusty
The call of the open road is strong...always a temptation ( in the best sort of way of course!).
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My last full day on the road.
Left Winnemucca at dawn with the thought that if everything went well, I would push the full 700 and get home tonight.
Had a fast 230 miles of open sage desert in Nevada amd Southern OR. Get out your atlas and find NV140. Then find OR201 thru Fields and French Glen.
When you turn off of US95 onto NV140, there is a sign that says 'next gas 149 miles'. Not quite true. Usually there is gas in Fields @ 90 miles.
Anyway, Got to Burns OR. Gassed up and headed North on US395.
This is a great road. 70 miles North of Burns is John Day, which you will all see next June.
Continued North. US395 is a fast road and I was making good time. As I got closer to the Columbia Plateau, the wind picked up as it often does.
It can be brutal and I decided to stop in Pendleton.
I will hit it earlt tomorrow when there is no wind.
One of the best things about Pendleton is that they have a revitalized downtown and there is a brewery right behind the Rodeway.
Tomorrow finishes it. I expect to hit rain at the top of Snoqualmie Pass, 50 miles from home. This is nirmal
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No snow , no snow , no snow , no snow , no snow , no snow , no snow , no snow , no snow , no snow , no snow , no snow.
Dusty
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No snow! Chinook Pass on WA410 is still open and this keeps me off I-90! Hurray!
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No snow! Chinook Pass on WA410 is still open and this keeps me off I-90! Hurray!
I like peanut butter cookies Bill , but a good oatmeal would be fine also :laugh:
Dusty
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Well, cookies are cookies, but riding in and around Seattle is more like a shit sandwich. I hope to hold my nose and nibble a bit of crust, not take a big ol' bite right out of the middle.
Seriously, you guys who live in AR and OK don't have a clue. Lucydad does, living in Houston.
After 14 days of riding in the wilderness, I have to adjust my habits fot the city.
Spend more time watching my 6. And my 3 and my 9.
Home in a few more hours.
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Well, cookies are cookies, but riding in and around Seattle is more like a shit sandwich. I hope to hold my nose and nibble a bit of crust, not take a big ol' bite right out of the middle.
Seriously, you guys who live in AR and OK don't have a clue. Lucydad does, living in Houston.
After 14 days of riding in the wilderness, I have to adjust my habits fot the city.
Spend more time watching my 6. And my 3 and my 9.
Home in a few more hours.
Uh Bill , you obviously missed the Fayettville/Springdale/Rogers/Bentonville Metro , Tulsa and OKC . Trust me , we know all about 90 MPH SUVs and minivans running nose to tail . One of the main reasons we have CV and the Okie as far away from those places as possible :laugh:
Tell the other Cookie we said hello , and be safe , six months until CV .
Dusty
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Gome again, home again, jiggedy jig! Got back about 1:00 this afternoon. The famed Seattle rain was absent.
In 8 days and 3225 miles, there was only one slightly damp afternoon around Mena AR.
Ate a lot of good food, from cajun to tex-mex to steak and potatoes. Visited a couple breweries.
Only one interaction with the Fuzz, a discussion only.
Lots of highspeed fun in the Great American West!
Bill Lovelady IS
Eskimo Spy
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I guess we'll have to use our imagination to visualize Eskimo Spy's run thru some of those great roads! Glad it all went well!!!
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Gome again, home again, jiggedy jig! Got back about 1:00 this afternoon. The famed Seattle rain was absent.
In 8 days and 3225 miles, there was only one slightly damp afternoon around Mena AR.
Ate a lot of good food, from cajun to tex-mex to steak and potatoes. Visited a couple breweries.
Only one interaction with the Fuzz, a discussion only.
Lots of highspeed fun in the Great American West!
Bill Lovelady IS
Eskimo Spy
Glad you're home safe. See you next time! :thumb:
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I guess we'll have to use our imagination to visualize Eskimo Spy's run thru some of those great roads! Glad it all went well!!!
Yeah, I rarely stop to take photos. Cookie complains about that, too.
But visualize this: A herd of cattle in Southern OR. 10 A.M. The cattle are scattered out a bit. In the middle of this herd is a very large coyote, crouched down and creeping. Up to absolutely no good.