I Hope GalenKP Allows Me To Post Here
I mean, I've been such an asshat with attendance lately,
Last Thursday I got on my bad motor scooter and rode to Cottonwood Arizona. My relatively new (to me) trailer followed me all the way there and back.
It was the first real outing with the trailer and Deadhorse Ranch State Park the destination. Spoiler Alert: The trailer worked perfectly-about 550 miles all told.
This is the route I took both ways. Keeps me out of the swirl around Phoenix AND puts me on one of the most engaging motorcycle roads in Arizona. From Yarnell on it is beautiful and more or less curvy. It's a fun ride without the trailer and a really good place to give the trailer the real test. It's up and down with some real technical corners. At the worst, I felt a very little push from the trailer under braking on steep downhill sections. At best, I forgot it was there,
This is what the place looked like at sun up Friday. There is some smoke, a fire is burning about 40 miles south of here. By this time I had made coffee and was getting ready to go for the day. I hit Tuzigoot and Montezuma Castle National Monuments both that day. A pair of related but different archeological sites. I'll have more on them in later posts.
This was my first time using the new tent and cot. Both worked exactly as advertised. I set the tent up in well under 5 minutes with nearly all that being spent setting tent spikes and guy lines. Pretty stiff breeze when I set it up with NO problem. What a joy.
The cot is even easier. Ready to sleep on in less than one minute. Did I mention that it is 6 feet 8 inches long (2.03 m)? I can sleep on it very comfortably. My big boy sleeping pad is also big enough that it was a very comfortable sleep.
All in all it was a wonderful, relaxing weekend. The first test went incredibly well for everything. I can't wait to get back at it!
Some of you may have missed my subtle allusion to a classic rock and roll song in the first paragraph, So here is Montrose with "Bad Motor Scooter" Yeah, that's a skinny, young Sammy Hagar with Ronnie Montrose,,,
Thanks for stopping by!
All words and photos in this post are mine. For better or worse,
Video courtesy of YouTube
Dear @bigtom13 , I would be very afraid to sleep alone in a tent at night in an uninhabited wasteland, listening to a coyote cry.😅
In particular, it would be very dangerous to ride a motorcycle and run alone in an uninhabited wilderness.
I think the reason Americans want big, sturdy cars is because of the vast, dangerous wilderness!
I felt you were very brave and reckless!
I've spent much of my life being away from the crowd. The back country is a place I know well. I am comfortable there.
I've spent days and nights listening to coyotes like I do old friends. I've actually heard wolves howl. A completely different and adrenaline producing sound!
I am actually much more frightened when I am in the city. I know it far less intimately than I do the country.
Motorcycle riding any time or place is about risk assessment for me. It's an easy trade for the good feelings I get when riding. Even though I know that there is a Buick somewhere with my name on the bumper :)
Dear @bigtom13, Do you remember movie Easy Rider 1969?
The film follows the now deceased Dennis Hopper and Peter Fonda riding motorcycles across the North American continent.
Many SK men like me have dreamed of riding a motorcycle across the vast continent of North America after watching the movie.😄
However, it is extremely difficult to ride a motorcycle in the harsh wind and the scorching sun.
Perhaps you know the pain and fatigue of riding a motorcycle better than I do.
It would be terrifying for a person living in a small country like me to ride in an open vehicle such as a motorcycle and drive through that vast desert alone!
I'd rather cross the North American continent in a big, safe Buick.
Americans who cross the North American continent alone will be fearless people like you!
I hope your healty and long life!
Do I remember? I was a freshman in college and a friend (non rider) scored tickets for opening night in a big theater (things were different then-the theater seated 1500 and was opulent). I saw it 3 more times on the big screen... and hard telling how many times at home.
I'm sort of planning a trip across US 50 from Ely NV to Reno, NV. It's called the Loneliest Highway in the US, US50. I'll plan to camp in the National Forest around Austin, NV. It is gorgeous. And quiet :)
I stop in Reno every year to see a friend who works for Tesla. So 50 is a viable route.
Dear @bigtom13 , First of all, I hope you understand that I have English conversational skills comparable to that of an American elementary school student.😄
I understood that you watched movie Easy Rider in the theater when you were in your freshman year of college.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/U.S._Route_50_in_Nevada
Wow, Are you planning to ride your motorcycle through America's hottest and most dangerous Death Valley?
I remembered that it was a dangerous and lonely area with the lowest level of civilisation in America. The vastness of the North American continent always overwhelms me.😅
Aren't your children worried about your lonely journey?
I'll not ride Death Valley this trip. Although it isn't a great deal warmer than Yuma, AZ where I live the extreme temps take a lot of the enjoyment out of a place I really love. It is wild and beautiful all at the same time.
Yep. Fall 1969 I was a freshman in college. I don't have children, and my brothers just shake their heads at what I do. When my mother was still alive I had to show her the pictures from every trip. She was a big supporter of my riding.
I plan to camp somewhere near the petroglyph site near Austin. There's a general store/gas station there that ALWAYS has the coffee pot on. Last time I was there it was snowing-not a good condition on a motorcycle.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Death_Valley
Dear @bigtom13 , Have you ever been to Death Valley on a previous trip? I thought there would be aliens, ghosts, criminals, and wild beasts in Death Valley.😅
You must have a really strong heart when you spend a few days alone in an uninhabited wilderness.😄
I also want to go to Death Valley someday.
I remember that from the 19th century, many American pioneers heading west lost their lives in Death Valley.
However, if theycross Death Valley, you can reach the heavenly Oregon. I was able to meet @valued-customer and @joeyarnoldvn at Hive, two wonderful American friends living in beautiful Oregon.
I guess I am destined to make friends easily with Americans living in Oregon.😄
I assume you are probably 71 years old now. I am 47 years old. you are my father's age.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hickison_Petroglyph_Recreation_Area
I also want to go to the petroglyph site near Austin in the future. I hope you have a safe and comfortable trip.😄
The bike and tent have a matching color scheme. I like the tent. It's attractive and well made. I'm wondering why you didn't bring your big boy or just post some pictures of him. We miss him and hope he's doing well.
Glad you had a fun ride and relaxing weekend :)
There is Sam hard at working guarding my house!
Sam doesn't get to go with me on the motorcycle but do not weep for him. He has coparents that love him as much as I do and he is really happy for his time there with them. It ends up being a good life for all of us.
Look at those cute eyes! I'm glad he has co-parents who care for him as much as you do. He deserves it :)
Montrose is awesome! I got to see Sammy a while ago and he sang some songs from his time with that band. Plus a bunch of his songs from that more famous band :) It was a good show. It looks like you had a really great time! I am glad that everything worked well for you especially the new trailer.
I've been a Hagar fan since about the time of this video. I was really happy when he took over from David Lee because of his voice and ability. I was also really happy when he went back to being the front of a band.
It really was a test trip and there were no testing moments. Well except for some light difficulty with the trailer. The dickhead that re wired the thing (me) left a couple of suspect connections that are already fixed. Otherwise it was a low stress good time. I really did enjoy the whole trip.
That is really awesome! If you ever get a chance to see the red rocker with his new band it is well worth it. I think they have a new tour coming up.
I'll watch out for them. Phoenix has a couple of (rumored) great venues that I've never been to.
Big T! Nice to see you out on the beast! That tent looks a fine place to sleep
It was a great trip, and the tent really worked well. I can actually get upright in it (meaning I don't have to lay down to change pants) and did surprisingly well in the wind. Looking at it set up in my yard I thought it might have a weakness there. Silly me, I had neighbors at the campsite whose tents collapsed but mine stood strong. I'm really looking forward to MORE :)
Hehe, that's the thing that is often overlooked. It's really hard to get your pants on in an average tent. So that is a huge bonus!!
Particularly when I'm in a campground. Normally I'm out in the pucker brush and crawling out of my shelter with out dressing has no impact on anything. But in this case, neither will stepping out of the tent rather than crawling out (as has been the case in the past). It's all good!
Thanks for stopping by!
Curious, how does the cot work? Looks like it's suspended like a hammock?
Hey ya! Really good to see you.
The cot is almost rigid but does have a suspension frame underneath it. And it folds up to less than 40 inches long in seconds. Literally seconds. In just one trip it has become my favorite piece of camping gear!
Not only will I allow you to post here, I'll give you a score out of ten for your post.
WoooooHooooo I'm back in the saddle again!
The campground had specific raised spaces for your tents-along with a quaint 'no moats allowed' prohibition on them. The idea of it! I did have my entrenching tool with me (really) but just not allowed to dig in the place.
And I agree with you absolutely on the location and your reasons for it. If it was a target score, I shot 46/50. Not bad considering I pulled that one shot high right...
No moats?
I suppose they had rules against a trebuchet or two, boiling cauldrons of oil, ramparts, barbicans, parapets and other such defensive structures. And they call it a camping ground!
I'd say your score was respectable indeed. And, I'd also say, it's good to see you back here.
I promise that next time I'll camp in National Forest Service dispersal camping. The rules there require a shovel (hence the auto pack entrenching tool) an axe (mine is more of a hatchet sort of axe-they'll cut you some slack on a motorcycle) and a bucket. I've always gotten by with a couple of gallon jugs of water.
NFS doesn't have any restrictions on trebuchets so long as you don't cut any living trees to make it. I do carry a couple of lengths of para cord that would probably do to lash the thing together...
It's really good to be back, brother.
I'd say you're well on the way to being able to lay seige to a castle or two. When the seige happens give me a holler, I'll help storm the drawbridge berserker style, just because I can.
Motorbikes 💚
(Do I need to say more?)
Becca 💗
Are you my kind of girl or what?
My profile says I'm a motorcycle junkie-I've ridden for 57 years and owned some pretty cool bikes over that time. I have a sign posted on my wall right near by (I just looked, it's still there) that says:
All I want is to ride!
When I want
Where I want
How I want
It's over 20 years old.
Thanks for stopping by. I really appreciate it.
I like bikes...I've never had my own, but I love them. I think it's the freedom I feel when on one, the way I feel part of the world, actually within it, rather than on it like in a car. It's difficult to explain.
Becca 🙃
I know precisely what you are saying. I love that I can smell the world, and feel it. I say often 'Every hour I spend on a motorcycle includes a 59 minute vacation'.
Always nice to meet a kindred spirit.
Oh so nice a saying, the 59 minute vacation.
It's so difficult to gain any interaction here so I really feel grateful for yours.
Becca 💗
On the road again, trailer rig looks good, making yourself comfortable in tent and cot, enjoy destinations as you decide to head out.
Hey Joan! Really good to see you. Thanks for stopping by!
I'll do at least one more test trip before I leave for a long ride in late June. I hope to be gone for near a month with at least 10 nights camping, maybe in 10 different National Forests. A little of that will depend on the inevitable fires. But that's my plan for now.
This looks like a great trip, like your bike!!
!BEER
View or trade
BEER.Hey @bigtom13, here is a little bit of
BEERfrom @rynow for you. Enjoy it!Learn how to earn FREE BEER each day by staking your
BEER.