A motorcycle thread (gasp) Ride reports please .

[oldbike54]

 So folks , we are closing in on the end of another riding season for some , and the beginning of 2nd season for those of us in hot climes . Let's have some favorite ride reports , kind of like the "What did you do this Summer" . Pics welcome but not necessary , heck , I never take pics , and if I did the tech would be overwhelming .


 So come on , some of you never post , here is your chance to show off , tell us about your best local roads , destinations , places to eat .


  Dusty

[tazio]

Well, rode the Griso from ATL to Summit Point Motorsports Park in West Virginia for the first Giro D'Italia. Won the Long Distance trophy and another for Best in Class 2000-2016. Then over to D.C. for a Griso photo in front of the White House (took the Prez out back for a word of prayer..). Next was the Chesapeake Bay Bridge/Tunnel and then home. 1630 amazing miles on an amazing bike!

[twowings]

What I Did This Summer:

http://advrider.com/index.php?threads/the-three-lumbagos-plus-2-motor-west.1158204/

[normzone]

The end of a riding season? I'm just getting started - the high and low here today are projected to be 94 and 67.

My long range plans are to get a new front tire (September - October) and to ride it until it gets too cold or rains - that may be this century, maybe not.

My favorite ride is from Northern Escondido to the 15 South, into the HOV lane for 11 miles and fifteen minutes. At the close of day reverse the route and go home. That's all I do these days on the Bassa.

 

[stevet]

For the Upper Midwesterners, I'll endorse Alamakee County, Iowa, in the far northeastern corner of the state, with MN to the north and WI to the east, making one perfect riding region.  A few weeks back I spent a day coming into the county from the northwest area via Spring Grove, MN, on Alamakee CR A16.  Followed that a few miles to IA Hwy 76, and took 76 SE to the Marquette/McGregor area (which are just outside the SE corner of the county along the Mississippi River).  Then north again to MN on the Great River Rd route, crossing back into MN at New Albin, IA.  Here's a link to the county map in Google Maps.  https://goo.gl/maps/csZrEpPnBTq

Iowa River Dr. (probably has a county road name, too?) between New Albin and Hwy 76, south of Dorchester, is just wonderful, too, following along the Iowa River valley.  Lot of great paved and unpaved roads to explore here.  Up and down and left and right, then repeat.  Never a boring moment.

Steve.

[pyoungbl]

Peter Y's summer Walkabout 2016:
In early July (1, to be exact) I left Portsmouth, Virginia for Roanoke, Virginia, where I met up with Mark (Norge) and Steve (FJR).  Our destination was Quincy, California for the 2016 NORTON National rally. 
Packed and ready to ride!!

We started out on Interstate roads and did so through Tennessee, with a pretty steady drizzle most of the day.  Then we got on US numbered highways for the rest of the trip west.  We got as far as Poplar Bluff, MO (691 miles) when a strong storm front started to roll in.  The next morning we delayed departure while the worst of the storm went past. 

It's a challenge to decide what to wear...rain gear or hot weather gear.  In other words, wet from sweat or from rain!
When you get off the Interstate the trip becomes more interesting.  Here's a soda machine graveyard:

and a Big Well in Kansas

The well is in Greenwood.  About 10 years ago I was on a similar trip with my brother.  This town had just been leveled by a tornado a couple days before we rode through!

a windmill factory in Colorado..these suckers are huge!

Mark is a Vetrinarian so he is always ready to practice his trade while on the road

Silverton Colorado

Hwy 550, the Million Dollar Highway.  No summer trip is complete without road construction

My job in retirement

Met a new Norge owner at one of our stops

This sign understates the road condition....




That's a guitar made from a cigar box...we meet the most unusual people while on these trips!


You know where this is....we spent two nights at a casino hotel, getting cleaned up and rested from the hot days on the road

Finally got to Quincy and the rally.  This was at the county fairground.


That was the trip out, about 3500 miles.  The trip back will be another post....before my computer times out!

Peter Y.

[oldbike54]

 Now we're cookin'  Oh, and Peter , the "Big Well" is in Greensburg Kansas , haven't been there since the rebuild began . Thanks , the new facility looks amazing .

 Dusty

[Chuck in Indiana]

Well ok, how about The Most Beautiful Road in America?
That would be 12, starting West of Zion N.P., and continuing to I70.
As Zion is a serious tourist trap.. (if you look carefully on the back of some of the buildings, you will see the pelts..)  :) we camped to the West at a high desert state park campground
1-20160712_065740 by Charles Stottlemyer, on Flickr
Watched the sun go down over the mountains and the stars come out.
The next morning, headed toward Zion,  there is a lighted flashing sign on 12 saying, "Motorcyclists use extreme caution. Sharp curves next 100 miles." Alrighty, now.
Entering Zion..
1-20160712_092154 by Charles Stottlemyer, on Flickr
1-20160712_093156 by Charles Stottlemyer, on Flickr
1-20160712_093229 by Charles Stottlemyer, on Flickr
You can't take pictures of this stuff.. just sayin.
After miles of twistys, we came to Bryce canyon N.P. a totally different experience. There were tourists, of course, but also miles of nothing. These rock formations are called Hoodoos.
1-20160712_115143 by Charles Stottlemyer, on Flickr
1-20160712_120459 by Charles Stottlemyer, on Flickr
We could have stayed and hiked the trails, there are many, but vacation was coming to an end.
Continued on the really lovely 12. Native American granary up there.
1-20160712_135952 by Charles Stottlemyer, on Flickr
Then 12 climbs over the fold caused by tectonic plates colliding. Dorcia said the van was saying "I think I can, I think I can.." the hardest climb of the entire 7000+ mile trip.
1-20160712_151552 by Charles Stottlemyer, on Flickr
1-20160712_153408 by Charles Stottlemyer, on Flickr
Nearing the top
1-20160712_153421 by Charles Stottlemyer, on Flickr
The (very loose) plan was to do a drive by of Capitol Reef N.P. too, but after seeing some of this stuff
1-20160712_180010 by Charles Stottlemyer, on Flickr
I decided to try to camp there. It was fairly late in the afternoon, but we were lucky and took one of the three spots left. Dropped the camper off and went exploring.
It was still really hot, so decided to explore in air conditioned comfort. :)
1-20160712_180054 by Charles Stottlemyer, on Flickr
The trail is right along the fold, and has some spectacular rock formations.
1-20160712_181503 by Charles Stottlemyer, on Flickr
For a nature freak it was almost a religious experience. Life is tenacious, indeed..
1-20160712_184004 by Charles Stottlemyer, on Flickr
1-20160712_185558 by Charles Stottlemyer, on Flickr
It had cooled down by now, so we ran back to camp, set up the camper and fixed dinner.
1-20160712_200754 by Charles Stottlemyer, on Flickr
1-20160712_202120 by Charles Stottlemyer, on Flickr
The campground is at the old Mormon town of Fruita. Some enterprising Mormon decide the river valley would grow fruit, and it did. Apples, apricots, etc. Some of the original orchards have been preserved, and you could pick all you wanted.
Leaving the park in the morning, petroglyphs were by the side of the road.
1-20160713_091212 by Charles Stottlemyer, on Flickr
1-20160713_091435 by Charles Stottlemyer, on Flickr
More miles and miles of twisties until it opened up to this..
1-20160713_094016 by Charles Stottlemyer, on Flickr
And the dangerous 100 miles were over. :) I/we've never had a more spectacular trip, and recommend it if you are in the area.
As an aside, we thought Fruita was a strange name for a town, but ate lunch at Fruita, Colorado. We also gassed up at the Kum & Go at Slit, Colorado. (!) You can't make this stuff up. :)
Last camp in Colorado before putting the chicken in the coop.. she wasn't happy..
2016-08-03_10-00-28 by Charles Stottlemyer, on Flickr
 and droning across the plains for two days and home.
1-20160713_201153 by Charles Stottlemyer, on Flickr

[pyoungbl]

Now, the REST of the story:
    The Norton National was a huge success.  I'd guess they had 250 attendees and lots of Nortons.  Since we were there for almost a full week we decided to take one of the scenic rides that were offered.

On this ride the return was supposed to be just re-tracing our steps...pretty dull stuff.  Mark looked at the map and declared that we could take a ride through some National Forest land ("See this little blue line...looks great!").  After about 10 miles of actual road things started to go south.  First it was just potholes, then large potholes, followed by a sign saying road construction.  We forged ahead as the 'road' turned to gravel and then to deep and unpacked gravel.  Finally we had to stop because the construction crew said so.  After a 45 minute wait for the pilot car we finally got moving on this soft and very squirrly crap of a road.  Man, getting back onto dirt was a relief.


The Quincy museum was full of surprises...like this hearse

Back at the rally I got to see the balloon toss event

and the bike show

Then it was time to head home...but not directly home
Some of our East Coast friends had been at the rally.  Two guys from Richmond were on a 8 week tour.  They left the rally a day before we did.  Imagine our surprise when we bumped into them in a bar in Ontario Oregon

We stopped at Craters of the Moon National Park


About this time I noticed oil on my rear wheel, not a lot, but still enough to also coat my rear brake.  Turns out oil was weeping from the fill plug on the CARC

If you are ever in Alpine, stop in at the Bull Moose Saloon

We got a room at the No Tell Motel (not the real name, but you get the idea) and met our neighbors.  They turned out to be a fun bunch of guys working in Jackson Hole but they had to stay 45 miles away where it was affordable.

Then it was on to Grand Teton National Park

Followed by Yellowstone National Park

Mr Bison let us pass but he was pissed!

and then we were out of the park and heading for Cody Wyoming

There is a 'must do' museum in Cody

I'd allow two days for this museum

Then we on our way to Buffalo Wyoming to see our friend Gar Jorgensen....but first a stop in Ten Sleep


I finally found a horse that I got along with

Our friend Gar had a Norge, now rides a Stelvio...he is also a Norton guy

After Buffalo we Douglas Wyoming where we found a neat old hotel.  Wandering around downtown we discovered a bar owned by a couple from Florida.  They bought the bar off Craig's List and brought a 53' trailer full of 'treasures' to decorate the bar.  Amazing!


The next day we made it to Fort Collins, Colorado and thence back on two lane roads into Nebraska (where the speed limit was 55 and seemed horribly slow), then into Kansas.  The next day we found we were parked next to an interesting car...with a story.
The Dad told us that his daughter fell in love with an old Valient.  The restored the car and had just taken it back East to a MOPAR convention.  Now they were headed home. 

You cannot make this stuff up!

OK, now we realized that we are running out of time...Mark has to be home in a couple days and we have about 1700 miles to cover.  It's back on the slab...to St. Louis in 101F heat.  We stopped in Chesterfield and got to ride through St. Louis in the rain during rush hour the next day.  Bad planning!  It was downhill from there, so to speak, until Mark's bike decided to stop running.  His bike is a '15 that he bought new 10 months ago.  The symptoms pointed to bad gas.  We tried everything we could think of and managed to get almost all the way through West Virginia before we were finally stranded on the WV turnpike, about 1.5 hours from Roanoke.  My brother brought his trailer to pick up Mark and the bike.

I headed home for another 300 miles or so.
Total trip:  7500 miles, 18 states, good times...too many to count!

[nick949]

Rode a few miles (kilometres actually), mostly on older Guzzis. Nothing broke. A bit boring really.

Nick

[canuck750]

Been out just about every weekend for at least a half day on either my Eldorado or V7 Sport mostly in Alberta, nothing exciting but the National was a great trip and the longest the Eldo has done, about 2000 mile return trip. I have gotten about 800 miles on the Sport this summer, not too much the Eldo is just so much more comfortable.

In September I am taking my two sons for a loop tour of New Mexico (KLR 650s') from the Phoenix area to Clifton up the scenic route north then across to Albuquerque, Santa Fe, Roswell (just because the museum is  such a hoot), Alamogordo, White Sands and then time permitting heading south west to Bisby area, Tucson and back to Phoenix. My boys have never been and I really like NM.
We are going on search for the best burrito!

[oldbike54]

 Jim says "Going on the search for the best burrito" . Now that is a worthwhile quest 

 Thanks fellas , keep them coming 


 Dusty

[Jim Rich]

Twowings, great report, the writing was entertaining and the photos were good ones.  I was toodling around CO. camping for a week on a red Norge just like Gina about the same time you guys were on your odyssey.  Spent a few nights in Salida and love the place just like you.  I posted this to WG before but here is the link for the report if you have not seen it, we must gone to the same class to learn loading camping gear on a bike;

https://get.google.com/albumarchive/106160687717581012779/album/AF1QipOU4bCsfONo82_A9gJHv_iI4A3vsiAGynY1ybTs?authKey=CPOTg-Sj7N6PSQ

P.S.  Nick, I ordered one of your books, looking forward to it.

[tris]

I can't match the preceding, but here's what I did on Saturday



Met my oppo on his 14 plate Triumph for breakfast near Doncaster then decided to go for a loop around the Peak District with a general aim of going to Glossop via Woodhead Pass and back over Snake Pass with me following for a change

Off to Barnsley, followed by Penistone (got lost getting there)

Direct from there to Wigtwizzle on a mainly single track road (we're talking Original Mini sized) but it had the added features of 1:4 (25%) gradients, hair pin bends and blind corners,

Both of us were set up to the right of the road for a left hander over a blind bridge only to meet a car coming the other way - that certainly wakes you up!

Stopped at the Strines Pub for a decision break and decided that it was too early for coffee.

Set off again - me still following with the aim to start to meander home and find a coffee later.

Only for my "leader" to keep turning left so that we ended back at the Strines Pub an hour later where it was now time for coffee

Headed for home now (me leading  ) and split up in Sheffield to go our separate ways home

I found a road I hadn't been down before so took it and got lost again

We had rain, sun, and strong cross winds and the bike is a complete mess over the 120 miles and 6 hours we were out

But we had fun - even if Triumph riders have a tendency to go around in circles 

[chuck peterson]

Health related cut short  trips for small brains, mostly day rides northwest ct and western mass...50 miles and I'm cooked, but I do know where all the good looking waitresses are....jump in the lake at Sandisfield State Forest, York Lake, Mass, with a night ride home on Rt8 Winsted to New Haven...

[ohiorider]

You folks had great riding seasons.  Your enthusiasm is evident whether you rode cross country or closer to home.  Enjoyed all your pics.  Thanks for taking time to post.

Bob

[Penderic]

Just the usual daily commute. 

[rocker59]

Unfortunately,  nothing to add. Most of my miles this year have been this kind:

[Testarossa]

Chuck, thanks for the great photos!  What a trip!

We've been doing short loops up into the mountains, solo or two-up, once or twice a week since the Mille joined the family. The big trip was the honeymoon swing in the van, with the Funduro aboard.

Out to the Bay Area to visit my dad and Gail's cousin.




North along the coast, camping on the sea cliffs.




Trinity Alps, carving up the twisties on the bike:




Crater Lake, which I'd previously seen only from above in the Comanche.




Yellowstone, where we got close to bison, saw a wolf, and watched a bald eagle catch a fish.




Tetons, where I spent some weeks climbing back in 1971.




And home after visiting my daughter in Jackson.

[oldbike54]

 Chris ,(Twowings) , you act surprised that it rained in Tulsa during June , a city that averages about 8 inches of precipitation every year in June  Hard to have a "Dust Bowl" when our yearly average is 45 inches a year here in "Green Country" 

 Dusty

[Chuck in Indiana]

Chuck, thanks for the great photos!  What a trip!

Thanks, Seth. I've been everywhere, man.. wrote a song about it.. but that 100 miles was one of the most memorable. I'd recommend it to anyone that's thinking about a trip in that area.

[rodekyll]

I took the trike for a ride.  It works.

[Chuck in Indiana]

I took the trike for a ride.  It works.

I took the AeroLario to the grocery store via the road that follows the river. It works, too. 

[Nic in Western NYS]

Been going once or twice a week to find the best roads for me in this wild part of the country.  Bike has been running strong and well and I'm getting to know it a bit.  Getting to know the roads around here will take some time.  I don't really enjoy blind switchbacks until I'm familiar with them, so there will be years of learning which rides are the most fun without being too much.

[rodekyll]

I took the AeroLario to the grocery store via the road that follows the river. It works, too. 

I took the long way around, too.  These things weren't made to go in a straight line.

[Cross-tie Walker]

Thanks Dusty for the impetus to finish up a ride story for this summer...it has been languishing but a ride coming up soon should also give it some renewed energy. In the mean time here is a few from summers past..

https://codyriver.wordpress.com

 

[oldbike54]

 Kevin , you have a nice turn of phrase 

 Dusty

[oldbike54]

 Come on folks , only 27 replies to an actual motorcycle thread . Surely we can do better than that.

 OK , here is a short tale from a few weeks back .

 Delrod ,his lovely wife , Guzzistajohn , Two Wings , and myself , met up for an evening on
Grand Lake "O the Cherokees . I stopped at the Dollar Store just before crossing the lake , and a newish Corvette  pulled alongside , window comes down , the passenger asks if there is a Guzzi rally going on somewhere near . My look of astonishment tickled the female passenger , and the driver . Anyway , they followed me to the "rally site" , hung around for a bit , talked motorcycles , then left us to our own devices . Our original intent was to attend a bluegrass festival in Neosho MO , but somehow we never left the comfort of a screened in porch overlooking the lake .
 There is more to the story , better told by the other folks there , surely John or Chris took some photos .

 Dusty
 

[PeteS]

Last year was our big cross country trip. This year only day and weekend rides so far. Last weekend we stopped at Zippo/Case Knife in Bradford, PA and saw this.
 


Pete

[twowings]