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
Thursday, June 28, 2012
Still traveling...
Dang it, I have to be the world's worst blogger! I really don't feel like saying much while traveling and it is really difficult to get good connections for wifi...in California almost impossible to find a data enabled Verizon connection!...who knew???? I never found that anywhere I have traveled in the states...No wonder I avoid CA.
So: Cyndi...no pics...just haven't taken any...I get so absorbed by the moment, I forget to record things. I wish I felt like taking them but I just don't. Sorry to my followers...especially you my friend, C....
I will mention a few things though. I have been from Durango where I effectively started the trip, to the coast of California at Fortuna, all the way up to Lincoln City, OR , stayed with friends in Newport and met Susan from the blog MinnyMinerva for coffee in Lincoln City. Both really nice visits. Next stop was at friends in Vancouver, WA and then a run up to friends on the Olympic Peninsula where I spent a couple of nights. Next a stop with both of my sons and their families...first Isaac in Bremerton and then Jed in Port Townsend. A quick but nice visit with Sarah their mom, as well.
While at Jed's place in Port Townsend, WA I got fed up with rain and cold and I did a run back down south to the summer Rubbertramp Rondy in an area of the Sierra's near Dinky Creek/Shaver Lake. On the way south I rode on CA route 49 from Auburn to Oakhurst and it was spectacular! Many curves and hairpins and amazing country. My only complaint is that there are next to zero campgrounds the entire way...I think I counted about 4 and that included public and private. I don't get it...but that's the way it works there...a couple of them were exclusive gated RV parks for the folks who are used to gated communities I guess....weird but true...keeps the rabble like me out. lol
My stay at the RTR was perfect.... a bit cool at night but fantastic country, wonderful people and many good meals and campfires to sit around and get to know each other...lots of old friends and new ones I got to meet...one new friend Steve/Nol is a hair stylist and he gave several of us free haircuts, including me and I now have pretty short, easy to care for hair....cool.
Bob Wells once again pulls together a great event! I left after about 4 or 5 nights as I am not really prepared for that cool a night...it got well below freezing..cold enough to freeze Dina's water so I headed back north and am now in Redding taking I-5 north. I think about 10 or 12 rigs showed up throughout the few days I was there.
Usually I do not like superslabs but in this case I am using it to get to Enumclaw and Dauntless Motors by Monday the 2nd of July to have them re-align my rig and replace a rear tire. I left with a brand new tire on all wheels but I have worn the rear down way too much and in a strange way....I think it is due to the rig alignment changing somehow and I do not have the equipment to make the changes necessary. It is very important to have it done by a good, knowledgeable shop or by myself at home.
Jay has my tire ordered...kind of a rare tire...and it is expected by Monday.
If I can do it, I would like to still pop up to British Columbia for a few days before the USCA rally in Coer D'Alene, ID on the 19th of July.
That is about it....as long as I can stay out of the rain, I am having some very nice camps and good riding, but this old man is liking discomfort less and less as my joints and bones ache. I will go to great lengths to avoid wet camping. I am going to get after my new invention of an actual sidecar camper this winter...it would be a game changer for me...just pull into a Walmart or truck stop or rest area and pop the top and be sleeping by the time it took to find a campground and set up my tent cot...
More will be revealed!
ManyWheelsBri
So: Cyndi...no pics...just haven't taken any...I get so absorbed by the moment, I forget to record things. I wish I felt like taking them but I just don't. Sorry to my followers...especially you my friend, C....
I will mention a few things though. I have been from Durango where I effectively started the trip, to the coast of California at Fortuna, all the way up to Lincoln City, OR , stayed with friends in Newport and met Susan from the blog MinnyMinerva for coffee in Lincoln City. Both really nice visits. Next stop was at friends in Vancouver, WA and then a run up to friends on the Olympic Peninsula where I spent a couple of nights. Next a stop with both of my sons and their families...first Isaac in Bremerton and then Jed in Port Townsend. A quick but nice visit with Sarah their mom, as well.
While at Jed's place in Port Townsend, WA I got fed up with rain and cold and I did a run back down south to the summer Rubbertramp Rondy in an area of the Sierra's near Dinky Creek/Shaver Lake. On the way south I rode on CA route 49 from Auburn to Oakhurst and it was spectacular! Many curves and hairpins and amazing country. My only complaint is that there are next to zero campgrounds the entire way...I think I counted about 4 and that included public and private. I don't get it...but that's the way it works there...a couple of them were exclusive gated RV parks for the folks who are used to gated communities I guess....weird but true...keeps the rabble like me out. lol
My stay at the RTR was perfect.... a bit cool at night but fantastic country, wonderful people and many good meals and campfires to sit around and get to know each other...lots of old friends and new ones I got to meet...one new friend Steve/Nol is a hair stylist and he gave several of us free haircuts, including me and I now have pretty short, easy to care for hair....cool.
Bob Wells once again pulls together a great event! I left after about 4 or 5 nights as I am not really prepared for that cool a night...it got well below freezing..cold enough to freeze Dina's water so I headed back north and am now in Redding taking I-5 north. I think about 10 or 12 rigs showed up throughout the few days I was there.
Usually I do not like superslabs but in this case I am using it to get to Enumclaw and Dauntless Motors by Monday the 2nd of July to have them re-align my rig and replace a rear tire. I left with a brand new tire on all wheels but I have worn the rear down way too much and in a strange way....I think it is due to the rig alignment changing somehow and I do not have the equipment to make the changes necessary. It is very important to have it done by a good, knowledgeable shop or by myself at home.
Jay has my tire ordered...kind of a rare tire...and it is expected by Monday.
If I can do it, I would like to still pop up to British Columbia for a few days before the USCA rally in Coer D'Alene, ID on the 19th of July.
That is about it....as long as I can stay out of the rain, I am having some very nice camps and good riding, but this old man is liking discomfort less and less as my joints and bones ache. I will go to great lengths to avoid wet camping. I am going to get after my new invention of an actual sidecar camper this winter...it would be a game changer for me...just pull into a Walmart or truck stop or rest area and pop the top and be sleeping by the time it took to find a campground and set up my tent cot...
More will be revealed!
ManyWheelsBri
Sunday, June 10, 2012
Excellent travels...
Hi all, I am now at Nelda and Jerries for a night or two....and having a
great trip ....In the last week or so I rode over to the coast at
Fortuna, CA and up to Newport, OR where I stayed at one of my old Navy
buddy's and his family and attended a home school eighth grader's
graduation with them. Lots of nice chats and good times. Then today I
stopped and had coffee with Susan of Minny Minerva blog fame and it was
great to see her.....I had camped with her, another woman Robbi and
Steve the wild Texan from our very own ranks at City of Rocks CG in New
Mexico much earlier this year...
It is so cool to see my friends Nelda and Jerry! We hit it off at the first RTR and have been good friends ever since....
They are very kind and gracious and it is nice to spend some more time with them.....
Next will be Suanne and John if they are home and accepting guests.
More as we go...
ManyWheelsBri
It is so cool to see my friends Nelda and Jerry! We hit it off at the first RTR and have been good friends ever since....
They are very kind and gracious and it is nice to spend some more time with them.....
Next will be Suanne and John if they are home and accepting guests.
More as we go...
ManyWheelsBri
Monday, June 4, 2012
A little further along...
So after a good night in Cold Spring CG camped with some young bicyclists on their way across country, I headed off at 7:30 AM without coffee to get a jump on what promised to be a hot day....
I had a good ride until just after Reno and the ride up the pass....Here is the post I put up on Yahoo and CRL...:
Hmmm, well time to make an admission....shamefacedly... Dina and I got absolutely blasted with cold rain coming over the Sierras and since there is a lot of construction on I-90 over the pass, I wasn't able to get ready for rain and batten all hatches....I did finally get the rain gear on, the cover on the sidecar and then rode for literally hours with both boots full of cold water, gloves soaking wet and cold and a stupid tinted dark smoke face shield .....it got us by surprise!
So that is the lead up to the admission of a night in Motel Six in Oroville, CA to dry off and get warm again. It works good for that...LOL
Now! the bonus to a dry night is that when I was walking Dina Dog, I discovered Taquiria Estrella! A little store front taco joint...20 years in the same spot and if there is one thing I like as well or better than my Arrey Cafe Huevos Rancheros Rojo, are "street tacos" carne asada and/or carnitas! I polished off 4 and am a happy, very grateful ol' dry phart!
We'll see what tomorrow brings for route...not Fort Bragg like I originally thought it would be.
OK, now back to the weather channel....
Happy Trails,
ManyWheelsBri
I had a good ride until just after Reno and the ride up the pass....Here is the post I put up on Yahoo and CRL...:
Hmmm, well time to make an admission....shamefacedly... Dina and I got absolutely blasted with cold rain coming over the Sierras and since there is a lot of construction on I-90 over the pass, I wasn't able to get ready for rain and batten all hatches....I did finally get the rain gear on, the cover on the sidecar and then rode for literally hours with both boots full of cold water, gloves soaking wet and cold and a stupid tinted dark smoke face shield .....it got us by surprise!
So that is the lead up to the admission of a night in Motel Six in Oroville, CA to dry off and get warm again. It works good for that...LOL
Now! the bonus to a dry night is that when I was walking Dina Dog, I discovered Taquiria Estrella! A little store front taco joint...20 years in the same spot and if there is one thing I like as well or better than my Arrey Cafe Huevos Rancheros Rojo, are "street tacos" carne asada and/or carnitas! I polished off 4 and am a happy, very grateful ol' dry phart!
We'll see what tomorrow brings for route...not Fort Bragg like I originally thought it would be.
OK, now back to the weather channel....
Happy Trails,
ManyWheelsBri
Sunday, June 3, 2012
On the road....
Hi all, I am currently at the Burger King in Beaver Utah for brekkie and wifi...mostly coffee and gas....lol
I spent the night before that in a little bowl up against some cliffs underneath a gorgeous Pinon pine tree that looked like a Bonsai plant...stunning! And free....it was just west of Capital Reef National Park where the CG was full....hah, their loss, our gain!
Then yesterday the ride over Utah Hwy 12 which may be in the top five best rides in America in my opinion. Found a sweet little place called the Burr Trail Trading post where the locals were conducting a tiny little Farmer's Market and I got the most amazing loaf of fresh baked whole wheat bread! Got some good coffee there as well.
My destination for last night was the Beaver Canyon CG in Beaver, UT...yep, no lie!) and Maria's Cocina...where the CG owner's wife cooks some very excellent Mexican food for dinner every day....pork Chimi for me....cheap at $12 for one old phart on a bike. And a nice evening and camp on grass with a great shower and dog walking area...
I will have to wait to put up photos as they are on my phone and camera and it is a pain when I have only a few minutes of wifi....
Today hoping to be well into Nevada and on highway 50...a long and lonely stretch of road...one of the originals though...will upload a pic of that...the rest are on my camera so will put them on my blog when I have the opportunity....
I am going to put in a plug for Utah...a state you don't see talked about on here or on vandwellers forum and I don't know why....there are thousands of acres of free camping and dirt roads to explore and the red rock and sandstone cliffs are mindboggling...
Do yourself a favor and come and enjoy them. If you are mobile enough to. If you are living in a vehicle to live really cheaply of course you won't move it much but, if like me, you live in one to travel and see the country, and I know seveeral of you are...don't pass up Utah....they even sell good coffee these days...lol
Bri
I spent the night before that in a little bowl up against some cliffs underneath a gorgeous Pinon pine tree that looked like a Bonsai plant...stunning! And free....it was just west of Capital Reef National Park where the CG was full....hah, their loss, our gain!
Then yesterday the ride over Utah Hwy 12 which may be in the top five best rides in America in my opinion. Found a sweet little place called the Burr Trail Trading post where the locals were conducting a tiny little Farmer's Market and I got the most amazing loaf of fresh baked whole wheat bread! Got some good coffee there as well.
My destination for last night was the Beaver Canyon CG in Beaver, UT...yep, no lie!) and Maria's Cocina...where the CG owner's wife cooks some very excellent Mexican food for dinner every day....pork Chimi for me....cheap at $12 for one old phart on a bike. And a nice evening and camp on grass with a great shower and dog walking area...
I will have to wait to put up photos as they are on my phone and camera and it is a pain when I have only a few minutes of wifi....
Today hoping to be well into Nevada and on highway 50...a long and lonely stretch of road...one of the originals though...will upload a pic of that...the rest are on my camera so will put them on my blog when I have the opportunity....
I am going to put in a plug for Utah...a state you don't see talked about on here or on vandwellers forum and I don't know why....there are thousands of acres of free camping and dirt roads to explore and the red rock and sandstone cliffs are mindboggling...
Do yourself a favor and come and enjoy them. If you are mobile enough to. If you are living in a vehicle to live really cheaply of course you won't move it much but, if like me, you live in one to travel and see the country, and I know seveeral of you are...don't pass up Utah....they even sell good coffee these days...lol
Bri
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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.