Idiot ... err Geezer rides again..... [Archive]

silverD

06-03-2008, 07:08 PM

Had made the plan for a week or so, had the big nurse fooled and everything, but woke up to the sound of rain, lots of rain, should have paid heed.

By the time I was ready though it had stopped, so off I go at 9ish heading for Eastern Oregon.

Nice chat with the border guard, another Ducati owner ... He'd never seen a MTS before, asks what kind of Ducati is that... haha

Then the rain started again, and never friken stopped, it's still raining here in Clarkston WA. Bah hopefully tomorrow will be better, no pictures you've all seen rain before :laughing....

The new Olympia Moto gear held up well, more or less waterproof, but doing 80 mph for hours on end in a downpour is probably a bit much to ask, good thing the motel has a dryer....

The MTS has a very nice sweetspot, at 5 to 6 grand in 6th, 80 to 100 mph..... danger Will Smith danger.... gotta stay in 5th ....

J_Scott

06-03-2008, 07:13 PM

Looking forward to pics!

hijinxxx

06-03-2008, 07:22 PM

...you sure know how to break in a new bike!! LOL

heisenberg9

06-03-2008, 07:35 PM

jeckyll

06-03-2008, 07:38 PM

Don are you going to post up pics and make it a real report? :)

Ebicat

06-03-2008, 07:41 PM

I know this feeling...

The MTS 1000DS has that same nice spot I know it well.
Hopefully the rain stops, it's june? seriously? :laughing

greenboy

06-03-2008, 08:20 PM

The new Olympia Moto gear held up well, more or less waterproof, but doing 80 mph for hours on end in a downpour is probably a bit much to ask, good thing the motel has a dryer....

That's one way of field testing it. I might pick up a bright yellow set for winter, so good to know. :)

Look forward to your pics and more reporting.

silverD

06-03-2008, 08:35 PM

Don are you going to post up pics and make it a real report? :)

Is that sun I see... no not really just teasing me while I squeeze out the gloves....
http://www.logontothis.com/dond/eo2/tue1.jpg

Necessity really is the mother of invention, gotta keep the radar detector dry and functioning....
http://www.logontothis.com/dond/eo2/tue2.jpg

silverD

06-03-2008, 08:38 PM

That's one way of field testing it. I might pick up a bright yellow set for winter, so good to know. :)

Look forward to your pics and more reporting.

I was cursing myself that I didn't listen to you Steve and bring raingear to, but it really only leaked through the jacket zipper, all else was watertight....

I've got a green garbage bag at the ready if need be now that I know the weak spot..

silverD

06-03-2008, 08:40 PM

I know this feeling...
and it's a good one to...:evilgrin

silverD

06-03-2008, 08:47 PM

Don I hope you are going down for more than a few days, if so I would slab it to California. About an hour and a half into CA things clear up. The usual weather pattern. I'm not trying to be an ass just realistic.

Here is a the sat map (http://weatheroffice.gc.ca/satellite/animateweb_e.html?imagetype=satellite&imagename=goes_wcan_1070_m_..................jpg&nbimages=1&clf=1) I am looking at. The weather for the next few days is pretty consistent & I would think the systems are relatively stationary.

I was thinking about that, but I'm really only away for 2 or 3 days, so I'm going to tool around here. Showers I can handle but the downpour was a drag.

On the plus side I found some new reoads to play on here in in SE Wash and got a new treasure map of M/C roads in Idaho at the hotel.

Now I gotta plan time to spend in Idaho... Same format as the John Day area map...

silverD

06-04-2008, 05:15 AM

Yes that's blue sky, let's see how long it lasts......

http://www.logontothis.com/dond/eo2/wed1.jpg

silverD

06-04-2008, 06:02 AM

Central Idaho ... copies will be for sale on my return ...

http://www.logontothis.com/dond/eo2/wed2.jpg

BLADERUNNER 954

06-04-2008, 06:06 AM

hahaha Don, Rgm and myself just got back from a 6 day ride that included idaho. enjoy the exploring, and this crazy weather pattern. we really never saw warm temps til we reached utah, last saturday.

BLADERUNNER 954

06-04-2008, 06:13 AM

silverD

06-04-2008, 05:40 PM

Don, as i do not wish to hijack Gary's san fran thread. on my trip i took the couch fully loaded and man after this ride i see why most of the long distance bikes were twins. even with full luggage the bike handled pretty nice.

Yeah, twins rule!!!

Much better day today... no rain... in John Day, the center of the universe.

silverD

06-04-2008, 06:09 PM

Well the day started off like this..
http://www.logontothis.com/dond/eo2/wed3.jpg

and some of the miles contained this..
http://www.logontothis.com/dond/eo2/wed4.jpg

more to follow, think I'll stay another day and blast home on Friday..

Yes the infamous Rattlesnake pass, as I was going down, four sporty bikes were just booking it up,
lead by a ..... Multistrada, followed by another MTS,
then some other bikes..... :laughing ... but fak were they moving...

tractor

06-04-2008, 07:59 PM

I do that area for a week every year and it is great, that last picture looks like the road called the "rattlesnake" very nice. The map you show is really great, I have it and if you notice some of the roads are colored differently, they are paved forestry roads, well worth doing. Try the road that is named ,I think, 140 corners. Watch for cowshit on the roads as they are moving cattle on to the ranges and they walk them down the roads, hence the cow pies. I will be down there all of next week.
There is a restaraunt in John Day on mainstreet with old wooden seats and looks like a very old salon, try the Flat Iron steak, its like candy.

jeckyll

06-04-2008, 08:15 PM

That looks great Don. :)

scooter

06-05-2008, 04:02 PM

Great area Don !!

If you have more copies of that Idaho Map I'll purchase one.

J_Scott

06-05-2008, 07:58 PM

Great area Don !!

If you have more copies of that Idaho Map I'll purchase one.

I'll take one for free please. ;)

Gotta rack your brain on that trip Don if you have time over a coffee. :)

silverD

06-05-2008, 08:03 PM

I'll take one for free please. ;)

Gotta rack your brain on that trip Don if you have time over a coffee. :)

I like Brian's idea better ... :laughing

silverD

06-05-2008, 08:07 PM

Yesterday was great, this morning was to, now at home in the damp..

Will put it all together tomorrow, about 2,200 k, half of which is spent in getting to the good stuff and back, the other half on wonderfull roads, all in all not a bad deal.

greenboy

06-06-2008, 10:53 AM

silverD

06-06-2008, 11:17 AM

Don, rain eventually gets in everywhere even with a rainsuit. At least that's my experience with the budget gear I always buy. But I imagine your Olympia gear stayed drier longer than my stuff would have.

Yeah and more pics, please.

Actually I think the Olympia stuff is 100% waterproof. I screwed up doing it up the first time around. Yesterday was just as wet and I stayed dry.....

rest of the report to come soon... :)

teaser..

http://www.logontothis.com/dond/sitestuff/eo.jpg

http://www.logontothis.com/dond/sitestuff/thu1.jpg

silverD

06-06-2008, 01:21 PM

So wed started off nice and only got better..

Left Clarkston heading for Enterprise via Rattlesnake pass...

http://www.logontothis.com/dond/eo2/wed3.jpg

http://www.logontothis.com/dond/eo2/wed4.jpg

Great tight and not so tight corners.

http://www.logontothis.com/dond/eo2/wed5.jpg

Leaving Enterprise after a great breakfast at "Friends" highly recommended. I don't normally take pictures of food and this was no exception :)

Hwy 82 from Enterprise to La Grande follows the Wallowa river for the most part, like most of the roads around here, gentle curves along the river.

http://www.logontothis.com/dond/eo2/wed6.jpg

Then to one of my favorite roads here 244 to Ukiah, like most of them it follows a river complete with non stop bends
high tide on the La Grande Ronge river

http://www.logontothis.com/dond/eo2/wed7.jpg

never ending twisties

http://www.logontothis.com/dond/eo2/wed8.jpg

Then on to Heppner via 53.. sorry no pics this year, to many bends to stop, but there's cheap real estate

http://www.logontothis.com/dond/eo2/wed13.jpg

silverD

06-06-2008, 01:23 PM

The climb out of Heppner toward Ruggs on 207.

http://www.logontothis.com/dond/eo2/wed9.jpg

This then begins the decent into paradise ....
but first the high country around Heppener, the roads are all cut into the sides of the hills.

http://www.logontothis.com/dond/eo2/wed10.jpg

http://www.logontothis.com/dond/eo2/wed11.jpg

http://www.logontothis.com/dond/eo2/wed12.jpg

J_Scott

06-06-2008, 02:19 PM

Sheeeit Don! B E A utiful!

silverD

06-06-2008, 02:19 PM

Then from the high country of Heppner you descend through pine forests of 207 and 19 into lower canyon and river bottom coming out at 26 in a fantastic canyon gorge...

http://www.logontothis.com/dond/eo2/wed14.jpg

http://www.logontothis.com/dond/eo2/wed15.jpg

Endless 40 mph corners, take them as fast as your canjones are large..

http://www.logontothis.com/dond/eo2/wed16.jpg

http://www.logontothis.com/dond/eo2/wed17.jpg

left, right, left, right, I'm dizzy..

http://www.logontothis.com/dond/eo2/wed18.jpg

http://www.logontothis.com/dond/eo2/wed19.jpg

http://www.logontothis.com/dond/eo2/wed20.jpg

silverD

06-06-2008, 02:20 PM

into the canyon..

http://www.logontothis.com/dond/eo2/wed21.jpg

http://www.logontothis.com/dond/eo2/wed22.jpg

http://www.logontothis.com/dond/eo2/wed23.jpg

http://www.logontothis.com/dond/eo2/wed24.jpg

The MTS sure gets attention to, the Sporty bike guys want to talk, the Harley and Cruiser guys
want to chat, the Goldwing and Adventure folks all want to talk about it, I feel
like a celebrity....

http://www.logontothis.com/dond/eo2/wed25.jpg

http://www.logontothis.com/dond/eo2/wed26.jpg

silverD

06-06-2008, 02:46 PM

The forecast turned dark for Thursday so I decided to beeline for home, but not before another one of my favorite roads here, 395 going north from Mt Vernon to Pilot Rock. As with all the pictures here they really do not do justice to the area....

395 is great, it has everything, high plateaus, twisty river bottoms, treed forests, just fantastic....

http://www.logontothis.com/dond/eo2/thu1.jpg

http://www.logontothis.com/dond/eo2/thu2.jpg

Tons of these yellow daisy like flowers all over the place.

http://www.logontothis.com/dond/eo2/thu3.jpg

http://www.logontothis.com/dond/eo2/thu4.jpg

http://www.logontothis.com/dond/eo2/thu5.jpg

http://www.logontothis.com/dond/eo2/thu6.jpg

Along the "scenic corridor" between Dale and Ukiah..

http://www.logontothis.com/dond/eo2/thu7.jpg

http://www.logontothis.com/dond/eo2/thu8.jpg

http://www.logontothis.com/dond/eo2/thu9.jpg

Thumper 8

06-06-2008, 03:09 PM

The MTS sure gets attention to, the Sporty bike guys want to talk, the Harley and Cruiser guys
want to chat, the Goldwing and Adventure folks all want to talk about it, I feel
like a celebrity....

Same thing used to happen on the VFR quite often. With the single-sided swing arm - and my tank bag covering the Honda emblem on the tank, folks thought it was a Ducati and started asking questions. When I told them it was a Honda, they lost interest in a hurry :laughing

The KLR on the other hand - universally ignored.... luckily by law enforcement too:rockon

BTW Don, nice ride & report - I may be pickin' your brain sometime soon.

silverD

06-06-2008, 03:23 PM

and the rest..

http://www.logontothis.com/dond/eo2/thu10.jpg

http://www.logontothis.com/dond/eo2/thu11.jpg

http://www.logontothis.com/dond/eo2/thu12.jpg

http://www.logontothis.com/dond/eo2/thu13.jpg

all in all a pretty good trip for three days, half of which were raining.....

silverD

06-06-2008, 05:00 PM

I may be pickin' your brain sometime soon.

Be gentle big guy, Scott's lined up to and there ain't much to pick at... :laughing

mooove_over

06-06-2008, 05:49 PM

simply awesome....wonderful scenery and kickass roads

J_Scott

06-06-2008, 07:59 PM

Be gentle big guy, Scott's lined up to and there ain't much to pick at... :laughing

I'll buy you breakfast if you're up for it Sunday. ;) If not that's cool... I'll just stay at home and look at prices of used Multi's :laughing

Breakfast for you too Tony, but you're limited to an Egg mcmuffin :D

silverD

06-06-2008, 08:03 PM

I'll buy you breakfast if you're up for it Sunday. ;) If not that's cool... I'll just stay at home and look at prices of used Multi's :laughing

Breakfast for you too Tony, but you're limited to an Egg mcmuffin :D

Muchas Gracias Senor, but this Sunday won't work, sorry.

Pending weather and riding plans, next Sat or Sun should be doable though..
I'll even splurge for hashbrowns for Tony.. :laughing

Thumper 8

06-07-2008, 07:19 AM

Breakfast for you too Tony, but you're limited to an Egg mcmuffin :D

:flip :flip

jeckyll

06-07-2008, 07:52 AM

Don't tell Steve about any free breakfast, you'll never get rid of him :D

Purplekawi

06-07-2008, 01:25 PM

awsome pics. Idaho and me didn't get along so well first trip but i'm always game for a 2nd attempt!!

ridenaked

06-07-2008, 01:49 PM

Great pictures & nice ride report thanks for all the info!

dog44

06-07-2008, 04:10 PM

Nice new ride you have there, Don ... is that the 2-wheeled equivalent of an Italian leather couch? :confused

If I ever get back there I'm just gonna follow you around, you always find the best roads! :thumbup

greenboy

06-07-2008, 09:00 PM

Don't tell Steve about any free breakfast, you'll never get rid of him :D

What!!??? Where? Count me in. :evilgrin

Ebicat

06-07-2008, 09:54 PM

I want a free breakfast!
Pics are great Don! I see you got the hard luggage quick too. Which tank bag is that? It looks good. Hope all is well :D

hijinxxx

06-07-2008, 10:12 PM

again, ..you SURE know how to break in a new ride!

say hiya to Riley for us when you get home Tee hee.

awesome ride report!!

greenboy

06-08-2008, 06:54 AM

If you are meeting up let me know. Seriously, I want to do this route. I'll even buy you all a glass of water (to share). :eek

silverD

06-08-2008, 07:36 AM

again, ..you SURE know how to break in a new ride!

say hiya to Riley for us when you get home Tee hee.

awesome ride report!!

Oh it was broken in a couple days after I had it... :laughing

Rylie says hi back at ya to .... :)
She's currently protecting me from the vicious birds on the other side of the window .....