Author Topic: Beverly Hills to Lancaster PA with Stornello and Stelvio (The Finale) (Read 11355 times)

huklbery · « **Reply #30 on:** July 13, 2018, 02:16:26 PM »

This the one to avoid? http://www.argoinnandsuites.com/

rtbickel · « **Reply #31 on:** July 13, 2018, 02:45:51 PM »

I've stayed at the Argo. Not too bad, but I usually stay in fleabags when on the road. He said don't stay at the Alta.

nick949 · « **Reply #32 on:** July 13, 2018, 03:50:20 PM »

Great trip

Love some of those roads

Nick

Green1000S · « **Reply #33 on:** July 13, 2018, 06:13:15 PM »

Quote from: huklbery on July 13, 2018, 02:16:26 PM

This the one to avoid? http://www.argoinnandsuites.com/

YES, The mattress was torn open on sides, having a 10" HOLE on it....sheets most likely from previous night.
I've see bad places, but this took the cake. Never again.

Green1000S · « **Reply #34 on:** July 13, 2018, 06:52:44 PM »

Let the climbing of Mt. Evans begin.....

But first bacon and eggs at big city of Idaho Springs.

Climbing starts at 8000ft and on 14 mile stretch goes up to 14.000ft.

For a landcrab like me, the altitude started to take its toll, although we had been many days above 6-7K, the sudden lack of oxygen seally supriced me.
For this picture I had to climb about 15 yards away and on relatively steep incline. Got up, took the pictures and when I got back on my bike I was panting like a old dog. and we were only about 10K now... UGH.

I must have fallen on my face in search of oxygen, since I took pictures of the ground

Still snow at this altitude...

and nose in the ground again,

Summit Lake Park Lake at 13002ft

...and here we are, at 14130ft, the highest paved road in North America.
We saw tens of bicyclists and even one runner tackle the mountain. and here we were, gasping air like a flounder inside the bassboat.
Honestly, I just wanted to get off this rock....

But..... the views arent shabby.

Down towards the THICKER air, woohaa!!!

alanp · « **Reply #35 on:** July 14, 2018, 06:14:54 PM »

Wow, what a trip! Thanks for posting. You had a great weather day for Mt. Evans looks like. It's all downhill from there!

Green1000S · « **Reply #36 on:** July 14, 2018, 07:35:24 PM »

Quote from: alanp on July 14, 2018, 06:14:54 PM

Wow, what a trip! Thanks for posting. You had a great weather day for Mt. Evans looks like. It's all downhill from there!

Maybe, but we absolutely loved Kansas. Wonderful (although somewhat flat) place.
More about it in next post.....

Bulldog9 · « **Reply #37 on:** July 16, 2018, 07:01:37 PM »

Loving this thread for multiple reasons. In addition to seeing a great trip, and awesome scenery, it was instrumental to introducing the idea that I need a Stornello to my wife. Me: "Hey hun, check out these pics of this MC trip..... I've always wanted to ride this way.... I've only owned street bikes and would love to do trips like this" Her: "Wow that ooks really coo... ohhh, what is that little white motorcycle, I like it" Me: "Thats called a Stornello, they rode cross country and could go on dirt, gravel and fire roads, or long distance on pavement" Her: "Very cool" Hook set ;-)

Fast forward 2 weeks........ "Remember that thread on that little bike you liked?" I think I want one......" I think I'm going to buy one.........

Short end, I hope to pick up my Stornello on Saturday

Of course there was some negotiation in between, and I will have to give up something, likely one of my older Yamaha's I've been keeping for posterity and a project car I was selling anyway, but...... I'm stoked...

I also told her (which may or may not be true) "If I really like the Stornello, and it satisfies my naked bike fix, I may sell the Griso, but that wont be till peak selling season next spring" heh heh heh....

Green1000S · « **Reply #38 on:** July 16, 2018, 07:36:44 PM »

You'll love the Stornello, I have a Stelvio and for anything shorten than 500 miles a day, I REALLY, REALLY like to take the Stornello.
It is truly a wonderful little bike, which is comfortable even for me, being 235lbs and 6ft tall.

The Guzzi dealer in Accident MD has then still under 7K, only $100 fee for papers. Go for it!

Green1000S · « **Reply #39 on:** July 16, 2018, 08:14:57 PM »

After sucking a week of thin air, we were happy to arrive to "boring Kansas". Most just take the I70 hell outta here. We took it in the beginning just to get outta Denver and a bit into Kansas.
It was the best way to gain some time, after all, we had only two weeks and still a boatload of miles to get Lancaster PA.

I bet most of you know Kansas as THIS:

or this....

but..... If you take side roads, it is so much prettier...

We hit Colby KS and from there RT24 and RT 18 towards east, which is more or less a straight road, but lots of little cool cities to stop in.
We stopped at many gas stations, just to eat ice cream, chat with locals and check some of the "deserted" tiny towns. The amount of agricultural fields in Kansas is staggering.

Dry conditions combined with plowed fields resulted in several "dust storms".

Found this big fat guy in the middle of the road and helped him across the road. Was a bit pissed off, but better be pissed off at me, than get run over by 18 wheeler,,,
Lots of fams here and this one is a good rat catcher.

I think we just screwed up the GPS location.... We are in Switzerland already?

How about some straight roads again?

Excellent Kansas food and cold birra! Take a wild guess which one my brother grabbed first?

All Kansas girls loves a Finn!!!

I decided to have a frozen drink too, as dessert.

More damn stickers on my top box! Eight new states.

and the locals kept staring us until we left the state....

Next... KANSAS CARS!!!

Bulldog9 · « **Reply #40 on:** July 16, 2018, 08:18:11 PM »

Quote from: Green1000S on July 16, 2018, 07:36:44 PM

You'll love the Stornello, I have a Stelvio and for anything shorten than 500 miles a day, I REALLY, REALLY like to take the Stornello.
It is truly a wonderful little bike, which is comfortable even for me, being 235lbs and 6ft tall.

The Guzzi dealer in Accident MD has then still under 7K, only $100 fee for papers. Go for it!

Yep, thats where I'm going.....

Green1000S · « **Reply #41 on:** July 17, 2018, 05:47:25 PM »

and now the Kansas-Missouri-Indiana Crusty Cars!!!

I love rusty old junk cars, so while in Kansas, I started to take pictures of them, This is a small portion of what we found on side of the road.

This could be a lovely motorcycle hauler.

I used to have a good looking smile...

Who would not want one of these in your garage? With boat and everything. Ran when parked.

This is the team bus used by the Dubois County Bombers, a collegiate summer league baseball team. The bus is a repainted "crown motor coach school bus" which features artwork commemorating the Rockford Peaches, an All American Girls Professional Baseball League team, which played between 1943 and 1954. The Rockford Peaches and the league were featured in the film "A League of Their Own", which was filmed at the Bombers' home ground, League Stadium, in Huntingburg, Indiana.

Georgetown IN drive in

I think its gonna crash real soon?

I feel good!!!
Even brushed my teeth this morning!

My older brotha did not brush his teeth this morning...

Everybody likes good looking butts!

Race box Chevy

If thats the ball.... I wannna see the pooltable!

Another vintage iron rusts quietly.....

Poncho in weeds.

Comes with spare parts...

and the question of the week... Who knows what car this is? My brother used to have one in Finland.
A clue. It rews like a motorcycle.

Aaron D. · « **Reply #42 on:** July 18, 2018, 06:21:20 AM »

Honda N600, my first car.

Great trip, hard to believe you did it in 2 weeks!

Green1000S · « **Reply #43 on:** July 21, 2018, 07:54:07 PM »

Aaron, a raisin pie is baked for you. It is a Honda N600. My oldest brother had a N360, a screamer and could climb alpine roads like silly, without heating.

Fried onion rings was new American Cuisine item for my brother... He lives most of his time in Italy, so there is no fuckin way I can compete with food or wine on American turf.
But,,,,,,,
We have the BEST fingerfood in the world, like fried pickles, okra, hamburgers, sweet potato fries... So, he fell in love with fingerfood and American micro breweries. Mission accomplished.

I.... on the other hand..... love ketchup, the more the merrier...

In Buena Vista VI,. we took the Robinson Gap Road up to Blue Ridge, then under and into the woods on eastern side. Took few hours to find our way out of there...
On our way we filled gastanks at local station and a girl asked:

"Where were we going?"
We said no where particular,

"Did you come from west or east"?

Propably from east, not sure.

" Do you have a map"
Yes we do.

She looked at my tankbag and said....
"That's a Colorado map and it has Denver on it."

Well... I'll I'll be damned, were no longer in Colorado????? Oh well....

We stopped at Silverback distillery in Virginia, excellent Gin. Highly recommended.

http://www.sbdistillery.com/

Next some wineries, Veritas Winery in Afton Virginia. Nice stuff.

http://www.veritaswines.com/

Last time we were on Skyline it was like this....

Now we were enjoying life to its fullest!

and just like that...â€¦.

Two weeks were gone, so were the 4811 miles, all sunny. Like REALLY sunny.

My brother hopped into an airplane and headed to Finland.

and I headed to work for another year.

Only memories stay.

until we tour again....

https://spotwalla.com/tripViewer.php?id=18fd05b02198998d1b

RinkRat II · « **Reply #44 on:** July 21, 2018, 11:28:51 PM »

Thanks for the travelogue Lauri!!!!!

Paul B

Mr Pootle · « **Reply #45 on:** July 22, 2018, 03:57:35 AM »

What a great trip. Did you plan the route in detail before you set off, or did you keep it vague?

pebra · « **Reply #46 on:** July 22, 2018, 09:26:24 AM »

Crazy Finns......

Thanks for a great travelogue - inspirational!

Green1000S · « **Reply #47 on:** July 22, 2018, 09:34:59 AM »

Quote from: Mr Pootle on July 22, 2018, 03:57:35 AM

What a great trip. Did you plan the route in detail before you set off, or did you keep it vague?

The first days from Beverly Hills to Las Vegas were carefully planned, (places to see/stop, roads to take, max mileage per day etc).
From Las Vegas forward, we had only certain places to visit (like Monument Valley, Moab, Telluride) and chose the roads while having a cold beer night before.
Between Denver and Virginia we freewheeled, simply just taking any road heading to east.

JediMasterII · « **Reply #48 on:** July 22, 2018, 09:42:36 AM »

Thanks guys for the great trip report,

How did the Klim gear perform overall? I have their mesh jacket and like it a lot.

Green1000S · « **Reply #49 on:** July 22, 2018, 09:51:53 AM »

Quote from: JediMasterII on July 22, 2018, 09:42:36 AM

Thanks guys for the great trip report,

How did the Klim gear perform overall? I have their mesh jacket and like it a lot.

Surprisingly it performed well even at 118F in Death Valley, naturally I had a hydration vest (Hyperkewl Eporative Cooling Vest, $38, best money ever spent...) under it and all flaps open.
The jacket is heavy, but I like it. Got it second hand (basically unused, since the previous owner on ADV forum wanted something lighter).
Very good protection and well made. Certainly not cheap, but its worth every penny.

Tom H · « **Reply #50 on:** July 22, 2018, 11:49:56 PM »

Thanks for taking us all with you!!!

Tom

Trevor G · « **Reply #51 on:** July 23, 2018, 10:53:29 AM »

Quote from: Green1000S on July 16, 2018, 07:36:44 PM

You'll love the Stornello, I have a Stelvio and for anything shorten than 500 miles a day, I REALLY, REALLY like to take the Stornello.
It is truly a wonderful little bike, which is comfortable even for me, being 235lbs and 6ft tall.

What speeds was the poor little Stornello doing, in general, on the open road?

What do you think is a comfortable touring speed?

Thanks

Trevor G

Aaron D. · « **Reply #52 on:** July 23, 2018, 07:48:20 PM »

I loved the ride report. Now where do I collect my pie?

Green1000S · « **Reply #53 on:** July 24, 2018, 06:41:21 PM »

On highways we kept speed around 70-90. Stornello had no trouble following the big Stelvio.
The truly sweet spot for Stornello is 75MPH, hums like a welltuned german Miele vacuumcleaner.

Lauri

Quote from: Trevor G on July 23, 2018, 10:53:29 AM

What speeds was the poor little Stornello doing, in general, on the open road?

What do you think is a comfortable touring speed?

Thanks

Trevor G

Paul Brooking · « **Reply #54 on:** July 24, 2018, 07:13:25 PM »

Quote from: Green1000S on July 24, 2018, 06:41:21 PM

On highways we kept speed around 70-90. Stornello had no trouble following the big Stelvio.
The truly sweet spot for Stornello is 75MPH, hums like a welltuned german Miele vacuumcleaner.

Lauri

LOL

are you saying it "sucks"?

Green1000S · « **Reply #55 on:** July 24, 2018, 07:43:03 PM »

Blows.

Quote from: Paul Brooking on July 24, 2018, 07:13:25 PM

LOL

are you saying it "sucks"?

Bulldog9 · « **Reply #56 on:** July 24, 2018, 07:50:51 PM »

Great ride and report! I noticed your led lights on the Stornello. What did you do and how did you attach?

Green1000S · « **Reply #57 on:** July 24, 2018, 07:58:00 PM »

Quote from: Bulldog9 on July 24, 2018, 07:50:51 PM

Great ride and report! I noticed your led lights on the Stornello. What did you do and how did you attach?

ADVMonster lights, cheap and good. I had them on my Quota and also on the KTM Duke. Model 20.

Their brackets suck and I wanted to mount them somewhere "invisible", so I tucked them under the lower triple tree. Made brackets myself of heavier steel.

Bud · « **Reply #58 on:** July 24, 2018, 08:41:09 PM »

Thanks very much for posting! I'm always whining that I would need 5 or 6 weeks to take a trip out west but you have given me hope!

Green1000S · « **Reply #59 on:** July 25, 2018, 07:30:01 PM »

Quote from: Bud on July 24, 2018, 08:41:09 PM

Thanks very much for posting! I'm always whining that I would need 5 or 6 weeks to take a trip out west but you have given me hope!

Well.....
I HAD only 15 days, so it had to get done in that timer. Several days were 12-14 hours on seat, 300-500 miles a day.
I love riding nonstop and my brother is a nut too, so this works for us very well.

IF I had more time, it really, really would have been so much more fun. Stop for a day or two to drink beer and spend a day in Telluride, rent a Jeep for a day in Moab and so on...

That being said, I wish I had a whole month to do it. But we did not, so we made best of it and loved every second!

News:

Author Topic: Beverly Hills to Lancaster PA with Stornello and Stelvio (The Finale) (Read 11355 times)