Friday, July 27, 2012
Tuesday, July 17, 2012
Back to our northern base camp....
OK, so I gave up...go ahead, spank me.
I hit my wall while camped in a nice little USFS campground on the east side of Hayden Lake just north of Couer D'Alene ID.
When I pulled in it was hot, humid and thousands of flies and skeeters, but a guy can take that for a while. I spent the afternoon in the shade, reading and brushing away flies.
Along comes the RV from Hell and pulled in two spaces over, idled his diesel engine for about a half hour, switched it off eventually and then fires up his generator. I never saw the owners but a couple teenage kids went outside, played catch for a while and then had a big fight while screaming at the top of their lungs. Time to get the earplugs out.
Well about the time the bozo shut his genset off...11:00 PM....I heard the rain start and I had to jump up and throw the tarp over Dina and the rig...I was in my Hennessey hammock and had the rain fly up for that, already.
When I woke up in the AM it was still raining, the sky was totally socked in and I realized that I was in for another 5 days of this kind of existence...rain and cold alternating with hot, humid buggy campgrounds with idiots in RVs and who was to say it wouldn't rain all through the rally I was waiting for.
I must say that it was a bottom for me. It took me back to the main reason I moved from Alaska...this was standard for summer bike touring there. Maybe if it hadn't came after nearly a month and a half of the same-o, same-o rain and funky weather.
I packed up the gear, hopped on the bike and even though I had paid for another night, I sped south.
No regrets today as I sit at my netbook in Durango having made it here for Kit and my 27th wedding anniversary yesterday.
So there you have it. No more trips to the Pacific Northwet on the moto.
More later when I have some perspective on it all. I will be here about a week and then be back to my main computer where I can download some photos and put them on the blog.
Hugs to all,
ManyWheelsBri
I hit my wall while camped in a nice little USFS campground on the east side of Hayden Lake just north of Couer D'Alene ID.
When I pulled in it was hot, humid and thousands of flies and skeeters, but a guy can take that for a while. I spent the afternoon in the shade, reading and brushing away flies.
Along comes the RV from Hell and pulled in two spaces over, idled his diesel engine for about a half hour, switched it off eventually and then fires up his generator. I never saw the owners but a couple teenage kids went outside, played catch for a while and then had a big fight while screaming at the top of their lungs. Time to get the earplugs out.
Well about the time the bozo shut his genset off...11:00 PM....I heard the rain start and I had to jump up and throw the tarp over Dina and the rig...I was in my Hennessey hammock and had the rain fly up for that, already.
When I woke up in the AM it was still raining, the sky was totally socked in and I realized that I was in for another 5 days of this kind of existence...rain and cold alternating with hot, humid buggy campgrounds with idiots in RVs and who was to say it wouldn't rain all through the rally I was waiting for.
I must say that it was a bottom for me. It took me back to the main reason I moved from Alaska...this was standard for summer bike touring there. Maybe if it hadn't came after nearly a month and a half of the same-o, same-o rain and funky weather.
I packed up the gear, hopped on the bike and even though I had paid for another night, I sped south.
No regrets today as I sit at my netbook in Durango having made it here for Kit and my 27th wedding anniversary yesterday.
So there you have it. No more trips to the Pacific Northwet on the moto.
More later when I have some perspective on it all. I will be here about a week and then be back to my main computer where I can download some photos and put them on the blog.
Hugs to all,
ManyWheelsBri
Thursday, July 5, 2012
Hmmmm, too much helmet time...
And because of that, I have come to think that maybe I actually worship the Sun! Yep, I said it....I am a Sun Worshipper! Without that puppy we won't even be here. I love it sooooooooooo much!
Dina and I made it to DMC in Enumclaw...spent a night in a crackhead motel to avoid a bad rainstorm...didn't sleep much as the tweekers in the next room were loud all night...spent the next two nights in a state park...Tenaskin-Palmer to be exact and the second night got freeking soaked to the bone as well as did everything we owned...so, the next morning we spent a couple hours in the laundramat to get stuff washed and dried and to go over my mistake that caused the drenching....no tarp up since I only expected drizzles. Hah! there are those pesky expectations again...and nasty assumptions. I didn't take it personal so that is progress with the Four Agreements...lol.
On Monday I showed up at DMC and spent the morning there with the fine folks who own it and work there....the tire came in by 1 PM and it was installed and the rig buttoned up by 2 or 2:30. Jay and Barry said that the rig is set up fine and that car tires wear a lot faster than bike tires....too soft for bikes is the problem, I guess. I had thought they would last longer...bad info. Plus my tire/wheel was out of balance.
I also took a long look at a BMW 1200GS with a DMC M-72 sidecar on it and fell desperately in lust.....my Gawd, I must HAVE ONE! Almost enough to go get a job to put together the many bucks it would take to own one. Not quite though and my aching body says Thank You Bri for not being quite that stupid. I will say that if anyone wins the lottery and feels like sharing the love....I want one in silver/grey just like what sits in Jay's shop....
If you are interested in sidecars, a stop at either Jay's shop or the website Dauntlessmotors.com is a treat....they are currently my favorite builders....
Then I came over the mountains on 410 through Ranier National Park and it was cold, cold, cold....38 degrees and raining of course so I did take a couple shots of the rig next to the snow banks...brrr.
We camped in a USFS campground by the name of Cottonwood for the last two nights and it was blissful...sunny, warm and quiet with only the river and the birds....really sweet and especially good over the fourth of July...no fireworks...Dina is doing fine!
Today in Yakima to do business, get a BC map and an automatic tire balancing product so my rear tire wears evenly.....I want DynaBeads but they have a knock-off only so I hope it is as good or better....
More later but now it is north to BC and a bit of the lake country before my International insurance card runs out....
Stay in the saddle and be aware!
ManyWheelsBri
Dina and I made it to DMC in Enumclaw...spent a night in a crackhead motel to avoid a bad rainstorm...didn't sleep much as the tweekers in the next room were loud all night...spent the next two nights in a state park...Tenaskin-Palmer to be exact and the second night got freeking soaked to the bone as well as did everything we owned...so, the next morning we spent a couple hours in the laundramat to get stuff washed and dried and to go over my mistake that caused the drenching....no tarp up since I only expected drizzles. Hah! there are those pesky expectations again...and nasty assumptions. I didn't take it personal so that is progress with the Four Agreements...lol.
On Monday I showed up at DMC and spent the morning there with the fine folks who own it and work there....the tire came in by 1 PM and it was installed and the rig buttoned up by 2 or 2:30. Jay and Barry said that the rig is set up fine and that car tires wear a lot faster than bike tires....too soft for bikes is the problem, I guess. I had thought they would last longer...bad info. Plus my tire/wheel was out of balance.
I also took a long look at a BMW 1200GS with a DMC M-72 sidecar on it and fell desperately in lust.....my Gawd, I must HAVE ONE! Almost enough to go get a job to put together the many bucks it would take to own one. Not quite though and my aching body says Thank You Bri for not being quite that stupid. I will say that if anyone wins the lottery and feels like sharing the love....I want one in silver/grey just like what sits in Jay's shop....
If you are interested in sidecars, a stop at either Jay's shop or the website Dauntlessmotors.com is a treat....they are currently my favorite builders....
Then I came over the mountains on 410 through Ranier National Park and it was cold, cold, cold....38 degrees and raining of course so I did take a couple shots of the rig next to the snow banks...brrr.
We camped in a USFS campground by the name of Cottonwood for the last two nights and it was blissful...sunny, warm and quiet with only the river and the birds....really sweet and especially good over the fourth of July...no fireworks...Dina is doing fine!
Today in Yakima to do business, get a BC map and an automatic tire balancing product so my rear tire wears evenly.....I want DynaBeads but they have a knock-off only so I hope it is as good or better....
More later but now it is north to BC and a bit of the lake country before my International insurance card runs out....
Stay in the saddle and be aware!
ManyWheelsBri
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About Me
- Brian Many Wheels
- well, I am a 70 year old married man with a couple of sons and 4 grand kids and am currently wending my way around the planet in any way that I find interests me. I am a retired mechanic, certified motorcycle nut, ride a sidecar rig and practice living in the moment. I am a 31 year friend of Bill and Bob and have lived a life beyond my wildest dreams.