TAT Part II Sep 2009 The Good, The Bad & The Ugly.

[Trailace]

The beginning!
Monticello UT
http://trailace.smugmug.com/photos/667787496_dVxWD-L.jpg

The End!
Port Orford OR
http://trailace.smugmug.com/photos/667774184_p6goz-L.jpg

[Mellow]

Are you talking about the bikes or the riders? :eek: P^

[Sharpie]

That's it?
;)

Glad you guys had a great trip.

[Trailace]

TAT Part II Sep 2009 UT to OR A new cast of Characters

After months of anticipation it was time to start the ride. Chief could not join me this year but there would be a few new characters along for the ride.

Ron
http://trailace.smugmug.com/photos/668969718_4egTq-L.jpg
Phil
http://trailace.smugmug.com/photos/668970006_rD7X6-L.jpg
Rick
http://trailace.smugmug.com/photos/668970287_3sWZF-L.jpg

Finished a few things at work loaded the bike and headed north to meet Ron and Phil. I was going to ride the entire trip but decided to just throw my bike in the truck with them and save some time.
http://trailace.smugmug.com/photos/668890679_i2rLp-L.jpg

Loaded up and on the road.
http://trailace.smugmug.com/photos/668891010_dnpLS-L.jpg

We stopped in Clarendon TX to catch a few hours of sleep. This would be Ron and Phil’s first dual sport camping off the bike ride and Phil still had a few things to work out.
http://trailace.smugmug.com/photos/668891331_X6rJS-L.jpg

There was a stray black cat hanging around our room, hope it would not be a sign of things to come. It kept meowing at our door all night and in the morning. As I was putting a few things back into the truck the darn thing ran up and bit me.
http://trailace.smugmug.com/photos/668891567_ZAiJg-L.jpg

It had tags on so I decided it had to have had it’s shots and left it at that. There was a strong smell of gas coming from the bikes. It was coming from Ron’s bike and we determined he had a bad gas tank seal that would need to be replaced. I also noticed that I left my camelback at home. So time to do a little shopping. We found everything we needed but the gas seal in Amarillo.

We would stop in Albuquerque at Motorsport Inc. to try one more time for the seal. The guys there were super nice and Shaw went above and beyond to help us out. He did not have the seal at the shop but was sure he had one at home so we followed him to his house and sure enough he had the seal. How cool it that!
Shaw
http://trailace.smugmug.com/photos/668892153_PHTAG-L.jpg

Store
http://trailace.smugmug.com/photos/668892548_3oT7Z-L.jpg
ABQ Motorsport (http://www.abqmotorsport.com/)


Ron’s driving was so bad Phil wears a helmet most of the time.
http://trailace.smugmug.com/photos/668891737_vLaGt-L.jpg

We made it to Monticello UT right at sunset and found a place to camp. We would leave the truck there for a few weeks.
http://trailace.smugmug.com/photos/668892966_Bnyp4-L.jpg

We camped at the RV Park on the north side of town. The site was $15 for 3 tents and the man running the place had a son that was a real pistol.
http://trailace.smugmug.com/photos/668893769_NJMbg-L.jpg

Set up our tents, took showers and off to bed. Oh no another cat!
http://trailace.smugmug.com/photos/668894825_JsdQk-M.jpg

It started to rain and the cat slept under Ron’s vestibule all night. Here he is checking out his new home.
http://trailace.smugmug.com/photos/668894285_NJgzf-M.jpg

I could not wait to get on the road and had a hard time sleeping.

[Trailace]

Day 1

We woke to a cold wet day with thunder and lightening. Not a get way to start the TAT so we went to have breakfast at a local eatery and met April.
http://trailace.smugmug.com/photos/669181841_6C4wh-M.jpg

She fills us in on all the local gossip and said it would stop raining when it stops. We could see the sky was clear just a few miles north so we broke camp in the rain and hit the trail.
http://trailace.smugmug.com/photos/669182407_2qW78-M.jpg


The rain was not all bad because it kept the dust down all day but it did give us about thirty miles of mud to deal with.
http://trailace.smugmug.com/photos/669182915_Nyw6c-L.jpg

Before long we would climb into Manti-la Sal National Forest and as always Sam would mix in a few cool paths.
This was nice.
http://trailace.smugmug.com/photos/669184205_dAyoD-L.jpg

Next we headed down to Moab past Slick Rock and the Lions Back.
http://trailace.smugmug.com/photos/669186658_hNCNH-L.jpg

In Moab we filled up with gas and grabbed a snack. Right next to the gas station was a car wash so we hosed off the 10 pounds of mud from the beginning of the day.

Just north of Moab we crossed 191 and climbed again, this time into red sand and rock ledges.
Looking back toward Moab.
http://trailace.smugmug.com/photos/669187261_PMyjY-L.jpg

A few nice pictures from the area.
http://trailace.smugmug.com/photos/669187610_upzQF-L.jpg

http://trailace.smugmug.com/photos/669188243_gZKHG-L.jpg

We met Dan and Ryk who were on XR650R. They were also doing the TAT. We would have dinner in Green River with them later that night. Sorry no pictures.

The roads turned to fast flat gravel with hills all around. Here are Ron and Phil having a little fun on the hills.
http://trailace.smugmug.com/photos/669189162_kCLDA-L.jpg

http://trailace.smugmug.com/photos/669190032_XLdcv-M.jpg

Both Ron and Phil are retired F15 fighter pilots. Lets just say it takes a lot to get their adrenalin going. As for me, I just hope to keep out of their way.

We made Green River State Park and set up camp.
http://trailace.smugmug.com/photos/669190683_rd5ZE-L.jpg
http://trailace.smugmug.com/photos/669191114_myUK5-M.jpg

We would have dinner at Tamarisk Restaurant (http://maps.google.com/maps?hl=en&client=firefox-a&ie=UTF8&q=green+river+ut+restaurants&fb=1&gl=us&hq=restaurants&hnear=green+river+ut&cid=9295254099511590621&li=lmd&ll=38.993489,-110.142188&spn=0.016277,0.027595&z=15) just east of the Green River on 6.

Not bad for a late start and rain.
http://trailace.smugmug.com/photos/669191424_uwsxy-M.jpg

Elevations
http://trailace.smugmug.com/photos/669179828_3zZ2F-M.jpg

[Sharpie]

Man, what a great trip so far. Looking forward to more of the great rr and pics.
:Popcorn

[Mr. Guy]

As always, a great report Rick.

Thanks, Guy

[motomac]

Good stuff Rick, now I really feel bad.

[Ironheadziggy76]

:Popcorn Looking great so far! P^

[bigTom]

That's a good looking report, Rick. Clearly worth the wait!

[Trailace]

Day 2
Well we had a little wind and rain last night but that did not hamper my sleep. Also, moving my tent as far away from Phil as I could sure helped. He snores but not near as bad as Chief. LOL Here is a picture of Green River where we camped.
http://trailace.smugmug.com/photos/671571413_PzLfy-L.jpg

Packed and ready to go well not everyone.
http://trailace.smugmug.com/photos/671570526_Cb6KZ-L.jpg

Today would be one of the best days of riding on the trip but first we had to stop for breakfast and coffee. I don’t drink coffee but Ron and Phil can’t get going without it. We stopped at the local donut shop for a quick meal. It was Melon Days in Green River and I’m not sure what a dog has to do with melons.
http://trailace.smugmug.com/photos/671573988_6ymJg-L.jpg

Here are the girls running for the Green River Melon Queen.
http://trailace.smugmug.com/photos/671573650_bxJtg-L.jpg

Ok back to the TAT and the great riding we would have today. While eating we saw Dan and Ryk ride past us heading for the trail. We would be just a few minutes behind them. The road out of town was paved but soon we would cut off onto an old dirt trail that went under a rail line. However, with all the rain, the pass under the tracks was full of deep mud so rather then going back we just went over. I always seem to forget to take pictures when the road gets hard or there is an issue on the ride. Sorry!
http://trailace.smugmug.com/photos/671574263_iiqwU-L.jpg

After jumping the tracks we ran down an old abandoned road next to the freeway.
http://trailace.smugmug.com/photos/671575139_jd3tR-L.jpg

Then through a gate to Black Dragon wash. The wash had lots of technical riding and the scenery was just unbelievable.
http://trailace.smugmug.com/photos/671576521_LvxvQ-L.jpg

http://trailace.smugmug.com/photos/671577098_ypJVy-L.jpg

The rain clouds were building all around us but we were lucky and never saw a drop. We heard later that Dan and Ryk got soaked and had to wait under a bridge for 30 minutes.
http://trailace.smugmug.com/photos/671577764_ZES6T-L.jpg

Stopped to check out Swasey Cabin.
Ron
http://trailace.smugmug.com/photos/671579636_RFq55-L.jpg

Rick
http://trailace.smugmug.com/photos/671579939_DymuV-L.jpg

Phil
http://trailace.smugmug.com/photos/671580557_jQB2b-L.jpg

Next we followed the wash under I 70.
http://trailace.smugmug.com/photos/671582349_bkHsU-L.jpg

There was a lot of deep sand but since it was wet from the rain it was a fun fast ride. I did go down in one corner but Phil has that picture. When he sends it to me I will add it.
Here it is.
http://trailace.smugmug.com/photos/675377998_qfzSg-L.jpg

http://trailace.smugmug.com/photos/671583982_eQPc8-L.jpg

The rest or the day was just great riding. Here are a few pics.
http://trailace.smugmug.com/photos/671585503_D9qwM-L.jpg

Where did the rocks come from?
http://trailace.smugmug.com/photos/671586139_gguPm-L.jpg

Fast Dirt.
http://trailace.smugmug.com/photos/671588026_LocF9-L.jpg

The plan was to stop in Salina but we arrived early so we pushed on to Richfield. We did run into Dan and Ryk again.
http://trailace.smugmug.com/photos/671588662_4PMpB-L.jpg

One of the roads on the way to Richfield and a cattle ranch we passed.
http://trailace.smugmug.com/photos/671588978_jE2xH-L.jpg

http://trailace.smugmug.com/photos/671589252_kr4sR-L.jpg

The weather has been great sun shining and cool most of the time.

Stats
http://trailace.smugmug.com/photos/671589585_Evbbe-L.jpg

Elevations
http://trailace.smugmug.com/photos/671566644_36Anq-L.jpg

[Sharpie]

Awesome!

[Mr. Guy]

I don't remember Chief snoring to loud, but I may not have heard him over my own. LOL Great report Rick.

Guy

[Chief]

I don't recall ever hearing myself snore!:D
Great trip guysP^

[greybeard]

great report and pics,makes me wish I could still handle dirt riding but those days are gone for me so I must live them now thru ya'll, thanx

[Trailace]

I don't remember Chief snoring to loud, but I may not have heard him over my own. LOL Great report Rick.

Guy
You only camped out one night with him.

[Mr. Guy]

It was probably the one lucky night to be around him. LOL

Guy

[Trailace]

Day 3

When I first posted about this trip I let it be known that I planned on camping most nights. However, Ron and Phil would be happy to stay in motel every night. Last night would have been 3 nights in a row of camping and they decided that $29 at a KOA was just too much and we ended up at the Richfield Quality Inn, I think. It was two against one and I lost. I refused to take any pictures. I think Phil has a few. Unfortunately this would not be the last motel stay.

Before we could got back on the trail we needed to stop by ACE hardware to look for something to put on Phil’s gas cap because it was leaking.
http://trailace.smugmug.com/photos/673823942_McbLb-L.jpg

Here is the first map of many today.
http://trailace.smugmug.com/photos/673824162_u8zSg-L.jpg

With the cap fixed it was time to hit the trail and in just a few miles we had climbed high above Richfield into Fishlake National Forest.
http://trailace.smugmug.com/photos/673824822_BmWkZ-L.jpg

This section was loads of fun. It was a small ATV type trail with lots of elevation changes. The road was hard packed dark dirt and I bet it would almost be impassable if it was wet.

The trees were starting to change and there were cattle all over the area.
http://trailace.smugmug.com/photos/673826176_PrUFk-L.jpg

Small cabin on the trail.
http://trailace.smugmug.com/photos/673826445_MbrDY-L.jpg

When you come down out of the forest you’re just a few miles from Kanosh so we stopped to fill up. Two things you don’t want to do on the TAT is pass up gas or water.

After Kanosh the roads were flat and fast. We did see this little guy crossing the road.
http://trailace.smugmug.com/photos/673827306_74dAH-L.jpg

http://trailace.smugmug.com/photos/673827894_iXfpK-L.jpg

Then we rode on Black Rock Rd past Sevier Lake to Crystal Peak Pass. You could see Crystal Peak 30 miles away.
http://trailace.smugmug.com/photos/673832465_eVVth-L.jpg

Kicking up some dust poor Ron is back there somewhere.
http://trailace.smugmug.com/photos/673829719_fYw4g-L.jpg

As you can see in the picture above, me and Phil road side by side 95% of the time. So you could say for us 95% of the TAT was single track.

We stopped and climbed about 1/3 of the why up. If you look close you can see Phil and the bikes in this picture.
http://trailace.smugmug.com/photos/673834615_kVoiv-L.jpg

http://trailace.smugmug.com/photos/673834081_WG3aH-L.jpg

Then it was back to fast gravel roads.
http://trailace.smugmug.com/photos/673835850_Qq3Xz-L.jpg

Right before we crossed the border into Nevada, Sam gave us a little foreshadowing of things to come.
http://trailace.smugmug.com/photos/673836479_RVg2m-L.jpg

Also right before the border you need to ride north to Hwy 50 for gas. If you don’t it will be a long way til the next stop. We met these guys at the station. I can't remember their names. They were following the Pony Express trail and took a bypass to ride down the loneliest highway.
http://trailace.smugmug.com/photos/673895951_beCHm-L.jpg

Welcome to Nevada (Hey Dr Rock your sticker is still there)
http://trailace.smugmug.com/photos/673896307_mXLj6-L.jpg

http://trailace.smugmug.com/photos/673896594_YHpBJ-L.jpg

I like this pic
http://trailace.smugmug.com/photos/673897158_Psyci-L.jpg

Now we were in the desert and we would see lots of this for the next few
days.
http://trailace.smugmug.com/photos/673897428_UexYh-L.jpg

One of many fences we would ride along and with washouts and sand it will keep you on your toes. Foreshadowing
http://trailace.smugmug.com/photos/673898588_BAfXT-L.jpg

We did not take the big bike bypass and it was off to the 5 miles of sandy single track through Cottonwood Canyon. I missed the turn and ended up in a box canyon and had to backtrack a half mile.

This is the big rock that stopped us.
http://trailace.smugmug.com/photos/673899033_Qac2q-L.jpg

Not sure how I missed this road.
http://trailace.smugmug.com/photos/673899262_2QV5L-L.jpg

We blazed through the single track in no time but I want to give a big thanks to whoever hung the yellow tap in the trees along the confusing area.

We covered a lot of miles today and the sun was getting low so we just camped out on the trail.
Here is where we camped.
http://trailace.smugmug.com/photos/673899565_2NYGr-L.jpg

I think we ran a few cows off of their sleeping area but we needed it more than they did.

Sunset.
http://trailace.smugmug.com/photos/673900465_VBNi9-L.jpg

Ron cooking dinner
http://trailace.smugmug.com/photos/673901600_RCNg7-L.jpg

Rick in his cool Tot Spot chair.
http://trailace.smugmug.com/photos/673902842_kcW69-M.jpg

Nice Fire.
http://trailace.smugmug.com/photos/673902441_kLPs9-L.jpg

Off to bed.
http://trailace.smugmug.com/photos/673903618_diZrr-L.jpg

Stats
http://trailace.smugmug.com/photos/673901144_7CCif-L.jpg

Elevations
http://trailace.smugmug.com/photos/673822426_GyaHk-L.jpg

[bigTom]

Good stuff, Rick. Keep it coming!

You have now seen a 'line shack'. A place for the cowboy(s) to bunk in a remote part of the ranch. Not everybody has seen one:) Fewer know what they have seen!

[Sharpie]

Good stuff, Rick. Keep it coming!

You have now seen a 'line shack'. A place for the cowboy(s) to bunk in a remote part of the ranch. Not everybody has seen one:) Fewer know what they have seen!

That's a dang fine looking shack ;)

:Popcorn

[Chief]

I want more details on Rick falling down!:D I didn't think that was possible.:confused:

[Trailace]

I want more details on Rick falling down!:D I didn't think that was possible.:confused:

I fell 2 times and dropped the bike 4 or 5 times but there is only one picture. :D
http://trailace.smugmug.com/photos/675377998_qfzSg-L.jpg

[Trailace]

Day 4

We woke to a cool dry desert morning after a great night’s sleep. It was still dark but all the stars were gone and the sun was starting to rise. Again I was the first one up and about. These pilots sure liked to sleep late. Since they would want coffee before hitting the trail I decided to restart the fire. It would be breakfast bars and coffee/hot chocolate by a warm fire this morning.
http://trailace.smugmug.com/photos/675588008_a2Aer-L.jpg

The roads on this day were a mix of everything, rocks, sand, double track and no tracks, but it would all be fast fun riding. There were some gates but with our system they were no big deal. I would open them and leave them halfway in the road and Ron would close them.

The road leaving camp.
http://trailace.smugmug.com/photos/675588405_QuazD-L.jpg

Soon we could see Sawmill Peak, which we would ride up and around.
http://trailace.smugmug.com/photos/675588592_EWmwt-L.jpg

On top of Sawmill Peak.
http://trailace.smugmug.com/photos/675589347_hT9Y9-M.jpg

This is how most of the day would go, climb over a pass and ride the basin bottom till the next pass. We stopped in Preston for gas and much needed water. Phil’s front tire looked a little low and after checking we added some air.
http://trailace.smugmug.com/photos/675590628_i9mDo-L.jpg

You can see in this picture what I’m saying about riding the basin between passes.
http://trailace.smugmug.com/photos/675589923_rUc3v-L.jpg

At one point Phil and I were just riding along enjoying the view when Ron passes us and waves. We thought he was just having fun because he didn’t stop at first. He finally pulls over and starts looking at his bike. Seems one of Ron’s bungee straps had come loose and was tangled in his chain.
http://trailace.smugmug.com/photos/675591868_raSoJ-L.jpg

We all broke out our old man glasses and took a look. The strap had broken the case guard and the case but it was no big deal. A few tie straps later we were back on the road.
http://trailace.smugmug.com/photos/675592042_M4ex2-L.jpg

We stopped here to make sure Ron took the right road.
http://trailace.smugmug.com/photos/675592420_C4bLK-L.jpg

One of the coolest things on the whole ride was when we saw these wild horses coming our way.
http://trailace.smugmug.com/photos/675592805_YiRSf-L.jpg

They crossed right in front of us. Ron couldn’t believe his eyes. I have to say it was an amazing sight.
http://trailace.smugmug.com/photos/675593025_4xxLA-L.jpg

My side kick Phil
http://trailace.smugmug.com/photos/675593842_quLG2-L.jpg

Lots of double track like this.
http://trailace.smugmug.com/photos/675593419_t9eiy-L.jpg

I routed us past the abandoned mine where Dr Rock had camped. However, it was too early to stop so we pushed on.
http://trailace.smugmug.com/photos/675594554_bg3zf-L.jpg

Here is what I call no track.
http://trailace.smugmug.com/photos/675595479_zLVh6-L.jpg

Not sure if we were on the right trail at this point but you could tell there had been a road there once. A half-mile later we were back on a gravel road that followed the telephone poles in the photo.

We could see Battle Mountain off in the distance but Sam would run us thought a bunch of talcum power sandy roads just for fun. Sorry no pictures.

Just a cool Pic
http://trailace.smugmug.com/photos/675595846_P8Frm-L.jpg

It was a long day, 255 miles, so the guys wanted to stay in a motel so a motel it would be.

Stats
http://trailace.smugmug.com/photos/675596230_Li62X-L.jpg

Elevations
http://trailace.smugmug.com/photos/675604174_Kzf8x-L.jpg

[Chief]

I fell 2 times and dropped the bike 4 or 5 times but there is only one picture. :D
http://trailace.smugmug.com/photos/675377998_qfzSg-L.jpg

Thanks! I feel better.:D
Looks like I would have been on my butt about half the time!:rolleyes:

[lddave]

Great Rick keep it coming.

[bigTom]

That's the kind of stuff I grew up on! Those pictures of the Mustangs is really cool. I mean way really cool.

Keep it coming, Rick, and Thanks!

[Mr. Guy]

My side kick Phil
http://trailace.smugmug.com/photos/675593842_quLG2-L.jpg




I don't feel so bad about all the stuff I carry now.

Great report Rick.

Guy

[Sharpie]

I don't feel so bad about all the stuff I carry now.

Great report Rick.

Guy+1 :eek:

[Trailace]

Day 5

After a great night of camping in the desert, staying in a motel stank. However, the sleep late team agreed to an early start the next morning. We loaded the bikes, grabbed breakfast at McDonald’s and hit the trail around 9:30. Great early start guys!

This would be a day of talcum power sandy roads, gates, rock gardens and a cool pass bypass.

Off into the unknown
http://trailace.smugmug.com/photos/676926843_ok4ep-L.jpg

We crossed some more tracks today, looked right, all clear.
http://trailace.smugmug.com/photos/676927156_Wc82J-L.jpg

Then left.
http://trailace.smugmug.com/photos/676927298_cRiLz-L.jpg

Sam loves to send you off perfectly good roads onto sandy two tracks just for fun.
http://trailace.smugmug.com/photos/676927444_Z2p5f-L.jpg

The bad thing about doing this with a group is the dust. Phil and I would run side by side and Ron would wait for the dust to settle. Sometimes the section of dusty, sandy two track would only be a few hundred yards long. In that case we would have to wait for Ron, man what a time killer.

Where’s Ron?
http://trailace.smugmug.com/photos/676927595_hJuuu-L.jpg

These guys were always looking for something to climb.
http://trailace.smugmug.com/photos/676928463_zBFx6-L.jpg

Not so wild horse
http://trailace.smugmug.com/photos/676927906_8SpcD-L.jpg

Here is a cool water crossing and if you ever did the TAT in Nevada you know where we were at.

Click for Video
http://trailace.smugmug.com/photos/676288293_YigJi-O.jpg (http://trailace.net/Videos/TAT II 2009_4070.AVI)

That’s right the old abandoned farmhouse.
http://trailace.smugmug.com/photos/676928733_sAVNh-L.jpg

Soon after the farmhouse we were running though some deep dusty sand and when I looked to my left Phil was gone. It was a nice road so I wasn’t sure where he could have gone.
http://trailace.smugmug.com/photos/676929278_9X4xn-L.jpg

I was stopped at a gate and could see dust off in the distance so I just waited.
http://trailace.smugmug.com/photos/676929399_skcpf-L.jpg

First it was left.
http://trailace.smugmug.com/photos/676929652_bqBoW-L.jpg

Then right and back left but closer.
http://trailace.smugmug.com/photos/676929820_RzkYi-L.jpg

Then it was coming right at me.
http://trailace.smugmug.com/photos/676930112_6jzRA-L.jpg

Seems my almost 2 ex friends missed a turn and were looking for me. Sorry but I would have gone back to get ya if you hadn’t eventually show back up.

Phil told me to make sure I stopped at all the turns. I think he was scared. LOL

Water and cattle out in the desert.
http://trailace.smugmug.com/photos/676929520_kuzxQ-L.jpg

The plan was to eat lunch in Paradise Valley and its fast gravel into town.
http://trailace.smugmug.com/photos/676930270_TeK8e-L.jpg

Phil decides to stay in front of me for a while.
http://trailace.smugmug.com/photos/676930537_KpfLQ-L.jpg

How’s this for a cool old building as you turn into town?
http://trailace.smugmug.com/photos/676930688_RaH7n-L.jpg

Ron’s new friend
http://trailace.smugmug.com/photos/676931029_Lxf3a-L.jpg

He knows a good bike when he sees one.
http://trailace.smugmug.com/photos/676931350_8AS5d-L.jpg

Lots of dollars hanging in the Paradise Valley Bar.
http://trailace.smugmug.com/photos/676932040_85U8B-L.jpg

We found where others on the TAT had put their dollars and would add ours after we ate.
http://trailace.smugmug.com/photos/676932233_3C92m-L.jpg

This wonderful young lady told us the town history and made us the best burgers I had ever eaten. Right Ron? Her name was Jackie.
http://trailace.smugmug.com/photos/676932389_bK2oH-L.jpg

Our dollars added.
http://trailace.smugmug.com/photos/676932525_7tWde-L.jpg

Phil at the bar
http://trailace.smugmug.com/photos/676932648_JZLGW-L.jpg

This is the Paradise Valley hotel that burnt to the ground and was never rebuilt.
http://trailace.smugmug.com/photos/676932795_RR8NF-L.jpg

Paradise Valley Bar
http://trailace.smugmug.com/photos/676932935_thRFB-L.jpg

With our stomachs full it was back to the trail. Now you can back track back to the TAT trail or you can ride over Hinkey Pass. To me it was a no brainer and it was up and over the pass.

Here is the road toward Hinkey Summit.
http://trailace.smugmug.com/photos/676933243_RzK2m-L.jpg

Ron on the way up.
http://trailace.smugmug.com/photos/676934186_JBsvJ-L.jpg

At the top there is a jeep type trail you can take to the Summit.
http://trailace.smugmug.com/photos/676934969_WJfqD-L.jpg

Ron and Phil said let’s go so off we go. Everything was going great until about 200 yards from the top. The trail became steep and had lots of loose rocks. I sure missed the 20 pounds I had lost in the last year. I could not get enough traction to get the GX up the trail. I might have been able to go back down and take another run at it but I decided to just ride back down. The GX is about 2 inches too tall for me and that didn’t help the issue. I saw Phil also having problems just a few yards in front of me. It’s funny now that I think back on it I should have just continue on up but when I’m on a long ride away from home I always seem to ride a little cautious. So far it has worked out well for me but I have bypassed on some fun riding.

Ron and Phil both made it up and you can see them on the way down the trail in this pic.
http://trailace.smugmug.com/photos/676934651_XFmc4-L.jpg

Back on the trail.
http://trailace.smugmug.com/photos/676935264_2uS3A-L.jpg

A little further up the trail was a rock garden that went on for miles.
http://trailace.smugmug.com/photos/676936800_fg6aA-L.jpg

About half way through, on a steep down hill, the bike started to feel funny. I stopped on a level spot to find the front tire going flat. I bet you’re thinking pinch flat but no, it was a puncture. With the Nuetech TUbliss (http://www.nuetech.com/reviews.shtml) tire system, it took longer to find the leak then it did to plug it. Five minutes later we were back riding.

We came to a set of gates that were right next to each other and were not sure which one to take. We went with the one on the right but in the end it didn’t matter because they both went to the same place. This picture is looking back toward the gates. The side we came out on had a no trespassing sign. So if you’re doing the trail take the gate on the left.
http://trailace.smugmug.com/photos/676937121_L8deT-L.jpg

We stopped for the night in Mcdermitt and camped at Mitchells Stateline RV Park for $5 a tent. Look what Phil found in my rear tire. When I pulled it out it didn’t leak.
http://trailace.smugmug.com/photos/676937611_5a2ty-L.jpg

I kept my eye on this cat, she looked hungry.
http://trailace.smugmug.com/photos/676937933_geEUa-L.jpg

We set up camp, took showers and went to dinner at a Casino Café in town. After dinner we did our laundry in the sink and hit the bags.

Stats
http://trailace.smugmug.com/photos/676938079_AhiLN-L.jpg

Elevations
http://trailace.smugmug.com/photos/676925990_ynaAJ-L.jpg

[Sharpie]

This is a great trip report. P^
I'm intrigued by the TUbliss system.

[Trailace]

Day 6

Here are a few pictures of the RV Park we stayed in on day 6.
Ron's tent
http://trailace.smugmug.com/photos/679018209_wfxJ7-L.jpg

Phil's Tent
http://trailace.smugmug.com/photos/679018614_6uZcV-L.jpg

This was the hottest day of the trip but there would be a nice surprise at the end. There were a few long steep climbs and a few bike issues.

The roads out of Mcdermitt were pavement for a few miles.
http://trailace.smugmug.com/photos/679020155_kzS3U-L.jpg

It turned into fast easy dirt.
http://trailace.smugmug.com/photos/679020911_icPpC-L.jpg

Soon we came to Zimmerman Ranch. There is a guard on duty so you better slow down.
http://trailace.smugmug.com/photos/679021266_ykTsc-L.jpg

Since you have to slow down anyway you also need to stop and say hi to Arly and Kayla (NOT Arnie and Kaylene like the TAT roll chart says). Arly was out selling some horses but Kayla came out to say hi.
http://trailace.smugmug.com/photos/679021766_xCfxk-L.jpg

She told us a few stories and also that she was allergic to some plant that was in bloom. It seemed that Phil was also allergic to something because his eyes were red and swollen. He was taking all kinds of med’s with no real success. He should have tried Kayla’s remedy, a chew of tobacco.

We told Kayla thanks for her time and moved on.

Just a few miles later my bike just stopped running. It was only a blown fuse but it took us a few minutes to unpack and repack my bike.
http://trailace.smugmug.com/photos/679062401_cupUx-L.jpg

Back to riding.
http://trailace.smugmug.com/photos/679063358_m7fbe-L.jpg

For being out in the desert there sure was a lot of water around. We followed this stream for miles.
http://trailace.smugmug.com/photos/679064389_Ejogr-L.jpg

Water crossing
http://trailace.smugmug.com/photos/679071435_gLLXV-L.jpg

We stopped to check out this hunting camp.
http://trailace.smugmug.com/photos/679071690_VzBDn-L.jpg

Since were stopped, I looked down to see my temperature warning light was on. I unpacked the bike to check the fuses but they were all ok. The fan would turn when we hot-wired it so the sensor or relay must be out. I did not have what I would need to run temporary power to the fan so I just kept moving and turned off the bike when we stopped. There will be more on this issue later.

We pushed on to Denio Junition for gas and to see if we could find something to wire the fan with. The next gas station was 180 miles away so we needed to get gas here. The gas station was so small I road right pass it and Ron had to stop me. There was no wire at the store but I did wash all the mud and dirt out of my radiator. I thought this might help out some because it was very dirty.

We were having other issues as well, Phil’s eyes were so swollen and watery he was having a hard time seeing. We decided to eat an early dinner and give Phil’s eyes a break and let my bike cool down a little longer. We checked out the maps and decided to shoot for Virgin Valley Campground about 40 miles away.

Someone had some time and talent to make this.
http://trailace.smugmug.com/photos/679073360_J4BuJ-L.jpg

We were going to try a little bypass to make up some time but the road we found on the GPS was not really there.
No road here.
http://trailace.smugmug.com/photos/679074151_LgAor-L.jpg

So we backtracked to were we left the trail.
http://trailace.smugmug.com/photos/679074341_RdaqP-L.jpg

More fun 2 track.
http://trailace.smugmug.com/photos/679074530_bcPTQ-L.jpg

Saw a few donkeys
http://trailace.smugmug.com/photos/679075230_iJ6x3-L.jpg

The bike did ok until we had a few climbs in these mountains.
http://trailace.smugmug.com/photos/679076255_6pVNY-L.jpg

With my concern for the bike, I forgot to take any pictures of the hill climb. It was about a 2,000 feet climb in 6 miles, which consisted of loose rock and sand. I had to stop 4 times to let the bike cool and it always seemed to be on the steepest parts. I was running it as fast as I could to try to keep air moving through the radiator. Once we made it over the top, the bike made it to camp without any more stops. This just made the ride a little more stressful for me and I don’t handle stress very well.

Here is a picture on top of the climb.
http://trailace.smugmug.com/photos/679076431_3NZvE-L.jpg

We made it to Virgin Valley Campground and set up camp.
http://trailace.smugmug.com/photos/679076608_fnT2k-L.jpg

There was a surprise waiting for us here. There is a pool that is fed by a warm spring that keeps the water at 86° year round. So of course we went for a swim.
http://trailace.smugmug.com/photos/679079780_g9pPy-M.jpg

Ron and Phil enjoying the pool.
http://trailace.smugmug.com/photos/679077317_VArMJ-L.jpg

Here is an underwater shot.
http://trailace.smugmug.com/photos/679078050_J5gL7-L.jpg

Although the pictures look dark, we had lots of daylight to do a little work on the GX. I was going to try to bypass the relay and let the fan run continually. I used my air pump cord to power the motor, it ran but it seemed a little slow even after we lubed it. Not wanting to burn it out by letting it run all the time, I decided to wait on the bypass until I could find a switch to turn it on and off.

Since I had the tank off we drained some gas into Ron’s tank because his range was right at 180 miles. Since he was running sweep, one wrong turn could cause trouble.
http://trailace.smugmug.com/photos/681305432_4WUw5-M.jpg

http://trailace.smugmug.com/photos/681306605_95yLA-O.jpg

Moon over our camp.
http://trailace.smugmug.com/photos/679079491_YcpxC-L.jpg

Stats (Only 120 miles today)
http://trailace.smugmug.com/photos/679080438_KdKao-L.jpg

Elevations
http://trailace.smugmug.com/photos/679090147_8hSmN-L.jpg

[Mellow]

LOL.. underwater shots, I love it... great stuff Rick.

[Rydah]

Great report, Rick. Damned, I sure wish I could be there! Say hi to Ron for me, and you guys be safe.

[Trailace]

DAY 7

Today would be our last day in Nevada and I think all of us needed a change. We still had a hundred miles to go but we knew the end was near. Today would be more sandy 2 tract, rock garden and a diamond field.

I was up before the sun and started to heat the water for coffee because I wanted to get on the road before the weather turned hot. While I waited for Ron and Phil I checked out the shower area near the pool.
http://trailace.smugmug.com/photos/682204637_GUVoC-L.jpg

http://trailace.smugmug.com/photos/682204913_qxnRs-L.jpg

I met these two rock hounds and they gave me a few rocks to show my daughter who is a geologist and loves rock. These two were great when I told them about the gas issue on this section they offered me a few gallons.
Josh & Maria
http://trailace.smugmug.com/photos/682204405_s2UaL-L.jpg

The road right out of camp.
http://trailace.smugmug.com/photos/682205129_V7Cbo-L.jpg

Next a water crossing that had a rocky slimey bottom.
http://trailace.smugmug.com/photos/682205387_kbnYg-L.jpg

Last year I took a picture of my shadow while riding and used it as the cover for TAT Part I so this year I wanted one of me and Phil riding together for Part II. But we could never get the sun or the roads to cooperate. So while we were stopped and waiting for Ron, we took this one.
http://trailace.smugmug.com/photos/682205694_BJFhG-L.jpg

More fun roads
http://trailace.smugmug.com/photos/682206663_kaj7k-L.jpg

We were moving at a good pace and just enjoying the ride when the next thing I knew Phil was gone again. We did go up a few steep hills with wash outs so he was not right next to me all the time but after a little ways of flat fast roads and no Phil I knew something was up.

I turned around and started back up the hill I had just come down. I met Ron at the top and he said it might be a while because Phil had gone back to look for the worlds biggest diamond. Say what? Phil was going back to look for a diamond that he swore was right in the middle of the road. I told Ron I saw a bunch of Obsidian (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Obsidian) along the trail and I’m sure that’s all it was. Ron and I found a few pieces of it while waiting.


In a few minutes later Phil shows up with a softball size black rock. So much for retiring and touring the world on our bikes but we all had a good laugh. I saved a small piece for my bookshelf but can’t recall if Phil kept his bowling ball size rock. LOL

Phil and his rock.
http://trailace.smugmug.com/photos/682207840_Fj2KZ-L.jpg

Seems no matter where we went we could not shake this cat jinx.
http://trailace.smugmug.com/photos/682209909_zVpf6-L.jpg

Little more fast 2 track.
http://trailace.smugmug.com/photos/682210430_5siyH-L.jpg

We had been riding up and down on top of a mountain range most of the day until this point. You can see in this picture it was time to drop down into this valley. I think this is what’s left of Calcutta Lake.
http://trailace.smugmug.com/photos/682212341_n9mQq-L.jpg

Passed the Old Fox Ranch
http://trailace.smugmug.com/photos/682212562_YBXzL-L.jpg


We were now very close to the California border but Nevada had one more section of deep talcum sand left for us. The faster you go the easier it is but mess up and it hurts a lot more. Phil and I ran it side by side and poor Ron eats our dust. Right near the end as we were turning on to a fast gravel road, Phil’s throttle stuck wide open. He had been dealing with the issue for the past several days but today it was not coming unstuck.

Here comes Ron
http://trailace.smugmug.com/photos/682212855_eMiLX-L.jpg

Phil’s bike before we did the carburectomy.
http://trailace.smugmug.com/photos/682213320_CBsDh-L.jpg

30 minutes later we’re ready to ride.
http://trailace.smugmug.com/photos/682213552_fnoo2-L.jpg

The road starts to turn red and we start seeing trees.
http://trailace.smugmug.com/photos/682214015_aNSEM-L.jpg

We went into Fort Bidwell to see if we could find a drink and a snack but not only do they not have gas there is not even a store there. We did find a real nice park with running water so we took the opportunity to fill our camelbacks. Again no picture, I think we were just happy to be out of Nevada.

Next stop the Oregon border.
http://trailace.smugmug.com/photos/682214283_Xyjwk-L.jpg

Lots of fun easy riding with a few switchbacks on the way to Lake View.
http://trailace.smugmug.com/photos/682215202_QENoF-L.jpg

http://trailace.smugmug.com/photos/682215440_ANURk-L.jpg

http://trailace.smugmug.com/photos/682215970_kLfJa-L.jpg

We stopped in town at the Lake View True Value for much needed supplies. I picked up wire fuses and a switch for my fan. Phil and Ron purchased items needed to clean and oil their filters. Also, some lube for our chains.

We asked the nice ladies at the counter where we could gab a bite to eat and they recommended a place called Polar Bear just a few blocks away.
http://trailace.smugmug.com/photos/682216167_FAEyy-L.jpg

That was a great call, the food was very good and they had over 120 flavors of ice cream. After all that sandy hot riding we could not pass up ice cream. Our waitress was a real nice young lady who filled us in on the restaurant’s history. I’m not sure when it opened but it was a carhop back in its hay day.
http://trailace.smugmug.com/photos/682216395_yDr5L-L.jpg

We were going to keep riding but after all the food we decided to just stay the night. There was a RV park/campground a few miles north of town but they wanted $15 a tent and the Hunter's Hot Springs Resort (http://www.point-travel.com/lakeview-or/hunters-hot-springs-resort-lakeview-or.htm) was only $60. There was also the outdoor hot mineral water pool that is maintained at about 104 degrees.

After we checked in we started on the bike maintenance and repairs. Again no pictures but maybe Phil took some. Ron did a great job with a few tire irons and clamps on his broken rear rack. Phil started in on his air filter and once he took the cover off we knew why the carburetor was giving him trouble. Lets just say if Phil had ever oiled his filter, it must have been during the time oil was $170 a barrel because it was bone dry and there was a pound of Nevada dust on the wrong side. Ron’s and mine were fine.

I wired in the fan only to find that the motor was now dead. It was working the night before so I left it hooked up hoping it might start to work. I guess it was the motor failing all along and I would just have to complete the TAT with no cooling fan. As we were working on the bikes Bob from the room next to ours came out and gave us a beer. He was on his way home from a 4-wheel drive trip in his new Jeep Rubicon. That was the best beer I ever had. Right Ron?

The proprietor or manager’s name was Chris and he was the nicest guy in the world. He brought us rags to use on the bikes and let us do our laundry in his machine for free. He even gave us laundry detergent. It’s an older hotel but the rooms were clean and they were nice to biker. If you’re in the area give them a try. I’m sure they could use the business and the pool felt sooooo good.

Stats
http://trailace.smugmug.com/photos/682216627_Cawzb-M.jpg

Elevations
http://trailace.smugmug.com/photos/682822570_nhzAv-L.jpg

[Sharpie]

:wow1:

[Arlo]

Ok boys it’s time I started fleshing out the ride report with what REALLY happened. I should have written before now, but I’m um, um, terminally lazy. There – now I’ve said it. You know my dark secret. As you know Phil and I accom – accomp , er went with Rick on TATOO (as in not TAT one which he did last year). By the way – if you count off for spelling or grammar this is going to be one long English paper to grade. Prelims out of the way, let’s start with the most important thing …..

RICK LED AN AWESOME RIDE !

He spent 20 dogyears planning, researching and preparing for this ride. He got an honorary degree from MIT for his computer work on programming the GPS. The GPS is hearafter referred to as “computer” - like the computer in STAR TREK. (till the last day when we renamed it HAL). He had notes and work arounds for the whole trail. He had a Pentagon analysist research ALL ride reports and he could, and did, quote them. He is a blast to ride with and you should if you get the chance. Our hats off to him and a BIG thank you for taking us.

Rick didn’t know what he was getting in to by taking us. We started by helping Phil, motorhome IS roughing it, Gable pack. He emptied his motorhome into giant packs and strapped it to his bike.

http://trailace.smugmug.com/photos/686607504_8LcAC-O.jpgre

In all that stuff he wound up with the worlds smallest leaking one man tent, kingsize blowup mattress and an inflater as big as a jet engine that we used to power his bike later in the ride(fun story). No cooking gear, 6 changes of clothes and bags of Sams snacks.
Rick was appalled at us for the first of many times.
We load up and head out singing “on the road again”. Phil and I get tired like ‘normal’ human beings when we learned one of the two weird things about Rick – HE DOESN”T SLEEP! I can not prove that Rick slept the entire trip. He supposedly went to sleep after we did and woke up before us. I can’t prove it. He tells the story of pulling over on his GS (with 159 million miles on it) putting his feet on the bars and leaning back on his pack to grab a couple of hours. Too hardcore for me.

Maybe he sleeps in doghours.

So anyway, we get tired. Then Rick learns another appalling thing about us - we belong to MotoMotelers.com. Rick looks up as Phil pulls into a motel and cries – noooooooooo…….. Phil and I ziptie his hands and feet and carry him it to a room. He whines so much we put a sock in his mouth and duct tape it (being gentlemen we use one of his socks – it could have been worse). Still the whimpering is so bad we have to setup his tent and sleeping mat in the corner and put him in it to get any sleep!
You Motocampers must do horrible thinks to members who slink in to motels.
In the morning we release him and he bolts for the door. I’m thinking maybe we should have given him a bathroom break during the night and he is desperate.

Rick is promptly attacked by a 180 pound mountain lion.

He staggers bleeding back in to the room. I look outside and all I see is that weird acting cat I was teasing earlier, but I like his story better.

http://trailace.smugmug.com/photos/686607468_tCNPE-O.jpg

Here is where we learn the other weird thing about Rick. Cats have this crazy ‘thing’ for him. Really. Everywhere we go cats pop out from nowhere and rub on him. They CLIMB on his motorcycle and rub on his tankbag. They act like DOGS for goodness sake. Pet me. Pet me, as they meow all over him. I’m embarrassed for these cats. You’re cats! Show some aloofness!
I did some research and found the answer. Rick eats licorice NONSTOP. One of the ingredients in licorice is catnip. Another less known and completely untrue fact is - the name Rick is derived from the Cyrillic name for catnip. Coincidence, I think not.

http://trailace.smugmug.com/photos/686607471_LDerw-O.jpg

You wonder why he was so long in writing his report? He was working up his nerve to tell you about the motel. He REALLY sweated it the whole trip. “But guys – how am I going to tell my friends?”.
Then comes another of the many appalling things Rick learns. We might be late sleepers, but at least we are slow packers. After rising, taking a shower, packing, having coffee and going out for a sitdown breakfast we are on the road by 9 am. Phil and I are soooooo proud of ourselves. I’ll bet Rick is not used to getting on the road so early is what we are thinking. He’ll be impressed with us. One morning on the trip we were actually on the trail by 8:30 am !!!! I later learn some people don’t even consider 8:30 early!?!? Rooster Rick would usually start crowing at sunrise. Good thing we didn’t throw that sock and duct tape away.
So anyway , we start driving to Monticello to begin the big adventure. Along the way I give them my little brother Bryon’s definition of adventure as it applies to motorcycle riding.

“For adventure to occur” says Bryon, “there must be some uncertainty in the outcome. For if there is no uncertainty in the outcome – fun may occur, excitement may occur, even enjoyment may occur – but ADVENTURE will not occur”.

I repeated this so much I had to hide the duct tape.

We were on our way – and adventure did occur!

[Chief]

Great report guys! I sure wish I could have gone but I'm kinda glad I didn't. It looks like some of that sand would have eaten my lunch.

I know what ya'll mean about Rick not sleeping.:eek: I was scared to death last year about holding him up and I even got up at daybreak!

Keep the report going!!!!

[bigTom]

Now we're talking, a ride report with duct tape and hatred! Yahoo.

(I like it, keep 'em coming)

[Mellow]

LOL.. that was hilarious and I know EXACTLY what you mean.

When riding.. Rick will go 3 or 4 days straight with no sleep if necessary then just stop and fall over like the old guy in Laugh-In...

I remember him calling me while he was working on the routes... would say something like "I've been working on this 5 mile section for 3 days"... I told him it will take him longer to make the route than ride it... he just laughed...

[Black and Blue]

Arlo
Forget about spelling and grammar. That report told it all.:D Great report and glad to hear everyone had a good time. We think Rick is an "EXTREMIST" type rider based on the last two guys he took along on TAT One. One guy, we won't mention his name, didn't last that long.:p The other guy decided one TAT with Rick was enough.:D Okay, all kidding aside, thanks for the GREAT reading.P^

Ernie(Blue)

[Arlo]

On the way to Monticello we stop to gas the truck and the Bikes. Ricks bike holds more gas than my truck and gets like 70 mpg! I think he only needed to stop twice on the TAT.

http://trailace.smugmug.com/photos/686607467_EsHaN-O.jpg

My old prehistoric xr600 with cast iron piston and analog fuel metering device (carb) has to stop often, but I bring a hose to fuel up from the mobile BMW gas station. Don’t tell Rick, but I only spent 23 cents on fuel the whole trip. “What, you need gas again? Seems like you just got some” . “Naw – that was a while back” I say wth a siphon hose in my hand. He bought it the whole trip. Must have been sleep deprived.

I notice my fuel cap leaking and find the rubber insert torn. The thought of gas leaking on my privates for 2 weeks scares me. Rick and Phil, great buddies that they are, say "too much time lost – suck it up dude- you’re not going to use them anyway!". Hmmmm , but EVENTUALLY I would -I start the search for a replacement which leads us to Shaun at Motorsports inc in Albuquerque. He looks thru EVERY cap in stock, and finally says “ I think I have one at my house”. His boss lets him off and we go to his house where he produces an IMS cap insert. Crowd cheers, wife cheers, Ron cheers. “How much do I owe you?” “Nothing” say Shaun. “Glad I could help” I had to tackle him and force money on him. Incredible.

(insert Shaun photo here. Photoshop in Halo.)
http://trailace.smugmug.com/photos/686607503_Jkr99-O.jpg

The deal with Shaun reminds me of what’s RIGHT with bikers. I don’t think Bikers are better than other people ( politically correct statement - so rendered). Ok , disclaimer issued, we all know Bikers ARE better than other people. But what makes them different and better? They are not better looking, taller, etc (myself excluded of course).

So what is it?

Rick tells the story of looking at Adv Rider on a holiday weekend and seeing a plea from a KLR rider. Rick calls his KLR buddy who has what they need, so they go fix these guys. Neat. I crashed my Ducati in the last practice(actually, one of my brother Bryons Ducati’s – see what I mean) at round 2 Of the WERA National Challenge series races in 2000. Everybody jumped in and helped me get the bike ready for the race. These are guys I’m going to race against! By helping me most, er. some, er er, a few will move down a spot in the standings. They all take the chance. Why would they do that?

It’s what makes Bikers different.

Do people in pickups waive at each other? Why do Bikers? It’s who they are. You can’t be broke down on the side of the road too long before a Biker will stop. My friends say “ You are going to spend 2 weeks on a dirtbike out in the middle of nowhere. Sleeping in a tent at night? ( OK I downplayed the motel thing – tents in the desert sounds soooo much cooler). And you call that fun????” They just don’t get it. And that’s the point – they are just not Bikers, and they don’t get it.

Bikers do. Guys like Shaun with a gas cap.

Whoa , so,,,, philosophical ! Old age making me ramble.
Well we get to Monticello where the guy who owns the campground says we can leave the truck there for a couple of weeks – no problem. Great guy! Turns out he is a biker too. Should have known.
Here it is, Phil and I look at each other, we are going to stay in a tent. Rick cheers (for a different reason!). We start to unpack Phils bags. Did it bucket brigade style to save time.

It starts to rain!!!!!

Wow, this tent off a bike thing is great. In the rain. Now I see why Motocampers love this. In the rain. Phils little tent promptly fills with water. Because it’s raining. The only saving grace is Phils giant blowup air bed. It floats - keeping Phil above the water line. Ahoy mate – see you in the morning. Keep bailing.
I wake up in the middle of the night as the bladder overpressure light goes from flashing to steady. I unzip my tent and feel around the vestibule for my flip flops when - SOMETHING GRABS MY HAND!!
I jump back and grab my pistol so fast Dirty Harry would have been proud. It’s a cat! He won’t leave cause, guess what, it’s raining. I have to shoo him off with a flip flop. Stupid cat. He’s confused - Ricks place is next door.
I go stand by a tree (some primal dog thing) and look at my tent, and my bike, and the rain, and the lightning flashing. And it’s cool. I like it. You miss all this in a motel!
We awake to - rain. But we did it. We stayed in a tent. We go to an eccentric coffee shop next door and meet a nice gal who serves great coffee and breakfast. We look like we slept in tents.

(Insert sleepyfaced coffee drinking pictures here)
http://trailace.smugmug.com/photos/686607502_42RiX-O.jpg

Well, Phil and I drinking coffee. Can you imagine putting coffee in Rick! It reminds me of that whole ‘nuclear mass going critical’ thing. There are some things the world is NOT ready for.
Rick says he can’t wait any longer and starts to pack up. “Hey” I tell Phil “Ricks never going to be able to find the Pacific Ocean without US!”. We start to pack up. Did I mention the rain?

(Insert eagerfaced bright and chipper ‘before’ picture here)
?

We’re off.

ADVENTURE

[Mr. Guy]

Arlo
Forget about spelling and grammar. That report told it all.:D Great report and glad to hear everyone had a good time. We think Rick is an "EXTREMIST" type rider based on the last two guys he took along on TAT One. One guy, we won't mention his name, didn't last that long.:p The other guy decided one TAT with Rick was enough.:D Okay, all kidding aside, thanks for the GREAT reading.P^

Ernie(Blue)

Rick is a GREAT ride leader, but you had better be ready to RIDE. LOL

Great report guys.

[bigTom]

You know what I like best about your reports, Arlo? The pictures:)

Great reports. I don't need no stinking pictures. Why, I read a book once didn't have a single picture in it. 'Course I was a lot younger then...:)

[Trailace]

Ron great report I like the way your sticking to the FACTS! :rolleyes:




On the way to Monticello we stop to gas the truck and the Bikes. Ricks bike holds more gas than my truck and gets like 70 mpg! I think he only needed to stop twice on the TAT.

(insert weird X-wing fighter picture of BMW tank here)

My old prehistoric xr600 with cast iron piston and analog fuel metering device (carb) has to stop often, but I bring a hose to fuel up from the mobile BMW gas station. Don’t tell Rick, but I only spent 23 cents on fuel the whole trip. “What, you need gas again? Seems like you just got some” . “Naw – that was a while back” I say wth a siphon hose in my hand. He bought it the whole trip. Must have been sleep deprived.

I notice my fuel cap leaking and find the rubber insert torn. The thought of gas leaking on my privates for 2 weeks scares me. Rick and Phil, great buddies that they are, say "too much time lost – suck it up dude- you’re not going to use them anyway!". Hmmmm , but EVENTUALLY I would -I start the search for a replacement which leads us to Shaun at Motorsports inc in Albuquerque. He looks thru EVERY cap in stock, and finally says “ I think I have one at my house”. His boss lets him off and we go to his house where he produces an IMS cap insert. Crowd cheers, wife cheers, Ron cheers. “How much do I owe you?” “Nothing” say Shaun. “Glad I could help” I had to tackle him and force money on him. Incredible.

(insert Shaun photo here. Photoshop in Halo.)

The deal with Shaun reminds me of what’s RIGHT with bikers. I don’t think Bikers are better than other people ( politically correct statement - so rendered). Ok , disclaimer issued, we all know Bikers ARE better than other people. But what makes them different and better? They are not better looking, taller, etc (myself excluded of course).

So what is it?

Rick tells the story of looking at Adv Rider on a holiday weekend and seeing a plea from a KLR rider. Rick calls his KLR buddy who has what they need, so they go fix these guys. Neat. I crashed my Ducati in the last practice(actually, one of my brother Bryons Ducati’s – see what I mean) at round 2 Of the WERA National Challenge series races in 2000. Everybody jumped in and helped me get the bike ready for the race. These are guys I’m going to race against! By helping me most, er. some, er er, a few will move down a spot in the standings. They all take the chance. Why would they do that?

It’s what makes Bikers different.

Do people in pickups waive at each other? Why do Bikers? It’s who they are. You can’t be broke down on the side of the road too long before a Biker will stop. My friends say “ You are going to spend 2 weeks on a dirtbike out in the middle of nowhere. Sleeping in a tent at night? ( OK I downplayed the motel thing – tents in the desert sounds soooo much cooler). And you call that fun????” They just don’t get it. And that’s the point – they are just not Bikers, and they don’t get it.

Bikers do. Guys like Shaun with a gas cap.

Whoa , so,,,, philosophical ! Old age making me ramble.
Well we get to Monticello where the guy who owns the campground says we can leave the truck there for a couple of weeks – no problem. Great guy! Turns out he is a biker too. Should have known.
Here it is, Phil and I look at each other, we are going to stay in a tent. Rick cheers (for a different reason!). We start to unpack Phils bags. Did it bucket brigade style to save time.

It starts to rain!!!!!

Wow, this tent off a bike thing is great. In the rain. Now I see why Motocampers love this. In the rain. Phils little tent promptly fills with water. Because it’s raining. The only saving grace is Phils giant blowup air bed. It floats - keeping Phil above the water line. Ahoy mate – see you in the morning. Keep bailing.
I wake up in the middle of the night as the bladder overpressure light goes from flashing to steady. I unzip my tent and feel around the vestibule for my flip flops when - SOMETHING GRABS MY HAND!!
I jump back and grab my pistol so fast Dirty Harry would have been proud. It’s a cat! He won’t leave cause, guess what, it’s raining. I have to shoo him off with a flip flop. Stupid cat. He’s confused - Ricks place is next door.
I go stand by a tree (some primal dog thing) and look at my tent, and my bike, and the rain, and the lightning flashing. And it’s cool. I like it. You miss all this in a motel!
We awake to - rain. But we did it. We stayed in a tent. We go to an eccentric coffee shop next door and meet a nice gal who serves great coffee and breakfast. We look like we slept in tents.

(Insert sleepyfaced coffee drinking pictures here)

Well, Phil and I drinking coffee. Can you imagine putting coffee in Rick! It reminds me of that whole ‘nuclear mass going critical’ thing. There are some things the world is NOT ready for.
Rick says he can’t wait any longer and starts to pack up. “Hey” I tell Phil “Ricks never going to be able to find the Pacific Ocean without US!”. We start to pack up. Did I mention the rain?

(Insert eagerfaced bright and chipper ‘before’ picture here)

We’re off.

ADVENTURE

[Rydah]

Ron, you're even funnier on paper than around a campfire; didn't think that was possible! That's a great ride report, guys. Glad you had fun, got converted, and made it back safe.

[Mellow]

You know what I like best about your reports, Arlo? The pictures:)

Great reports. I don't need no stinking pictures. Why, I read a book once didn't have a single picture in it. 'Course I was a lot younger then...:)

Haaaaaaa, that's some funny stuff right there.

[Arlo]

I'm like big Tom -Facts, we don't need no stinking facts. I read a ride report once and it didn't have a single fact in it. No, wait, I wrote that report.

Hey Rick, can you put pictures from smugmug in my report? The placeholders tell which ones to use to really distort the facts. Also, FEDEX should be delivering Phils pictures on Tue.

[Trailace]

Picture added!:p

[Black and Blue]

Okay. This stuff is getting way too hilarious.:lol

[Mellow]

Picture added!:p

he he he.... hey, those are better than some of the pictures I take... man, you guys lost some weight on that trip.

[bigTom]

This is just too much fun. Those pictures are wonderful. Except, my cat is white. I know, I know, it's hard to draw a white cat on white paper....

Good stuff. Thanks!

[Mellow]

This is just too much fun. Those pictures are wonderful. Except, my cat is white. I know, I know, it's hard to draw a white cat on white paper....

Good stuff. Thanks!

It's there... you just have to look real hard.

[Arlo]

Yo Rick,

Those 'pictures' are so much better than 'actual pictures' - just like my 'facts' are so much better than 'actual facts'.

When you were bragging about what a wonderful artist you are, I had no idea you were serious!

Like Jimmy Dean says "It ain't braggin if you can do it".

TOUCHE'

[Mellow]

Yo Rick,

Those 'pictures' are so much better than 'actual pictures' - just like my 'facts' are so much better than 'actual facts'.

When you were bragging about what a wonderful artist you are, I had no idea you were serious!

Like Jimmy Dean says "It ain't braggin if you can do it".

TOUCHE'

You misunderstood... he said 'fartist'.

[Arlo]

Actually, before we leave Monticello I had a couple of random brain neurons fire and remind me of 2 more things.

1) The Nobel prize for camping should go to the makers of the Exped Synmat! What incredible camping engineering. It kept the ground side of me so warm and comfortable. However, the Slumberjack Telluride 30 degree bag gets 2 big thumbs down. Thing must be rated at 30 degrees CELSIUS! So here is how it goes – top cold bottom warm – turn over, top cold bottom warm – turn over. Human rotisserie. All night long.
2) Phil gets in his tent and before I can zip mine there is snoring from his tent. Not just snoring. Sounds like a Harley with straightpipes firing on only 2 cylinders. Great sound from a bike – lousy sound from a tent.
http://trailace.smugmug.com/Miscellaneous/Miscellaneous/Camp/691883161_WVkgF-O.jpg

So here we go. Human rotisserie wakes up to baste other side – listen to Harley. Again and again. All night long. In the rain. The next morning at breakfast (nice sitdown breakfast before riding – Rick LOVES those) Phil, aka Buzzsaw, says “Man, I didn’t sleep a wink last night”. Rick and I give each other the look and die laughing ….. Phil – you are the only one who DID sleep last night.
http://trailace.smugmug.com/Miscellaneous/Miscellaneous/Breakfast/691890470_DFFVA-O.jpg

Rest of the trip went like this “geee Phil, I don’t know. Ranger said it just worked out like this. Rick and I are in spot 2 and you’re in spot 189. Some kind of Park rule”.


Now we can go riding, and I can’t wait to see the Pictures

[Arlo]

Hey Rick, Where is the rest of the report. As I recall the next day in your report is a red letter day. Er, red toe day?

[Trailace]

I'm working on it but have lots going on at home, work and farm.

Don't let the cat out of the bag.

[finalchecker]

Great story! How does one find out more about the TAT ride? I have a friend in my shop that would enjoy this ride. He is an avid trail rider.P^

[TOE JAM]

I'm working on it but have lots going on at home, work and farm.

Don't let the cat out of the bag.

Looks like you're still worried about those darned cats!

[Mr. Guy]

Great story! How does one find out more about the TAT ride? I have a friend in my shop that would enjoy this ride. He is an avid trail rider.P^


Hi finalchecker,

Start here:

http://www.transamtrail.com/

Then go to ADVRider:

http://www.advrider.com/forums/

And search the site for "TAT" or "trans america trail" and you'll get more than you bargined for.

Guy

[finalchecker]

Thanks for the info Mr. Guy, I will pass it on.:)

[Mr. Guy]

Your welcome, Guy

[Mellow]

Or... Just Ask Rick... :eek:

[finalchecker]

Or... Just Ask Rick... :eek:
He didn't answer, maybe this is his day to sleep.:rolleyes:

[Mellow]

He didn't answer, maybe this is his day to sleep.:rolleyes:

He's probably still working on his trip pictures.. always takes him a long time to post those for some reason.P^

[Trailace]

Great story! How does one find out more about the TAT ride? I have a friend in my shop that would enjoy this ride. He is an avid trail rider.P^

Sorry but unlike Joe I have to work for a living.

I will start to work on the report again soon but thing just keep coming up.

Yesterday I worked then road 300 miles round tip to the farm to replace the starter on the tractor and bail the hey I cut this weekend. (long Day) It has been like this since I returned for the trip.

[Black and Blue]

Hey, Farmer Rick
Don't let them squeeze you. Take your time. We want the whole story, with Arlo's rebuttal.:D

[bigTom]

Hey! I say squeeze away. I have no patience.:)

[TOE JAM]

Because of the void of information coming from Rick, I feel compelled to fill it with this gratuitous photo of Rick being forced to suffer through our first motel night in Utah!

[Mellow]

There's something VERY wrong about that pic. Not that there's anything wrong with that.

[Black and Blue]

There's something VERY wrong about that pic. Not that there's anything wrong with that.

We agree, Joe. We have never seen a picture of Rick without a ball cap or helmet on.:confused:

[Mellow]

We agree, Joe. We have never seen a picture of Rick without a ball cap or helmet on.:confused:

I'm going to just leave that alone.

[Rydah]

Wow, now I'm kinda glad I didn't go. :tent7:

[Arlo]

OK boys and girls, I guess I better get back to writing before the ‘information void’ tempts Phil into posting the rest of the pictures.

This is going in no particular order. Rick has the day by day covered pretty well, so I’ll try to post how TATOO felt, and the fun we had.

TAT - Trans America Trail. It starts in Tennessee. Shouldn’t it be the Tennessee America Trail? Folks in Tennessee must have big ego’s. “Shucks, them thar United States agins har an skullys out westard”.

So we skullied out westard.

On 1900 miles of single track. That’s right, Rick and Phil rode 1900 miles of single track! He didn’t plan it that way. Phil rode beside him. A 2track becomes 2 singletracks. When I say ‘beside him’ I don’t mean up far enough up to stay out of the dust, but with nose/tail clearance - I mean beside him. As in elbow to elbow. I think Phil spent too much time watching ‘CHIPS”. A Pauncho wannable. Even on desert 2track that is so rutted and filled w/ talc that you have to hammer it to get into 3rd and on top then let it wiggle. You know the trail. “Hey Paunch - don’t get out of formation there”.

Insert formation pictures here


Now lets talk about fun stuff - crashing!
I say this quote at a bike shop in Carefree Arizona (carefree highway - you know the song). It says “The desert is not inherently dangerous, but like the sea is extremely unforgiving of any mistake”. Sums up most motorcycle riding pretty well, but desert riding in particular.
Black Dragon canyon was the funniest (I’m not kidding - that is the name). We are still getting used to riding these loaded, top heavy bikes. Top heavy with a waaayy aft CG (center of gravity). When I was going straight in the loose sand I could turn (not wiggle - TURN the bars back and forth). The front tire would throw sand on my boots, but the bike would go straight! Didn’t even upset it much. I finally got out of the cruising mode, put my privates up by the gas cap (which, thankfully, doesn’t leak anymore. Wife cheers) and started riding attack. Note: w/ aft CG it even helped to drag a little rear brake to stick front end in corner turn-in. Rick was a little slower in adjusting to this. I was behind him enjoying a show a ‘circus de soleil’ acrobat would have been proud of. For 22 corners it went like this. “he’s down - no way he can gave it”, “dang, that rock he hit knocked him upright!”, “wo, I think his bars are touching the ground”, “man, his leg is goinging to hurt after pogoing THAT back up”. Finally - POW. He does it. He lets it slide down. I pull up beside him laughing so hard I drop my bike on the ground beside him.

Insert ‘bikes on the ground picture’ here.

Later in the ride we are going down a trail w/ trees fallen across it. Rick is off trail going around a tree when he hit’s a big rock he didn’t see in the grass and highsides. I’m laughing again and go around him to show him how it’s done. Rookie. “He doesn’t know stuff hides in tall grass” I’m thinking. Suddenly I notice my goggles are full of grass. Odd. Where did that come from. My speed seems to be down too. I might even be laying on my side. I push some of the grass out of my goggles and my vision clears up enough to see a 6” log laying at a 30 degree angle to my direction of travel. Rookie. Get up quick to see if they saw. I don’t think they did. If they didn’t see - it didn’t happen. Quick, wheelie thru grass between those 2 trees and on to the road. Look like a hero. Didn’t see the big rock BETWEEN those 2 trees, but at least it threw me into both of them before depositing me in a pile on the road. Dang again - I think they noticed me laying in a pile in front of them.

I love stories people tell about crashing. They go something like this. “I went into the corner a little hot. Tried to trail brake but started losing the front. Let up on the brake to settle the front end and started to lose the rear. I saw the line was getting wide so I got back on the front to get it to slide with the rear and tighten the line … blah blah blah“. Story usually ends in a ditch. My little brother Bryon is a road racer and has spent his fair share of the time on the ground. One day he and I were listening to one of these stories and we turn to each other and laugh. We know the way crashes REALLY happen. Like this. “Dang, I’m too hot into this. I think I’m being electrocuted - big adrenalin hit. My hands and feet seem to be doing something on their own. It ain’t working. Here comes a big brown thing. POW! That hurt. There goes a nice blue thing. Oh no, here comes the brown thing again. POW! Earth, sky - earth, sky - earth, sky - earth, sky - earth, sky -earth, sky -earth, sky - earth, sky - earth, sky. Silence…………
There’s a face in my visor….. “Duuuude - are you all right? “Yea I’m fine” say’s the adrenalin and cortisone flooding you body. You’d say that even w/ bones sticking out - adrenalin and cortisone are wonderful things. “Just give me a minute” Over about the next hour the story will develop! “Yea, I tried to…….”

The other end of the spectrum are some V-twin buddies of mine (not hatin on the bike, just these riders are funny).
“Had to lay her down!”
Translated means. I was cruising absentmindedly and didn’t notice the traffic stopped. Looked up, shrieked, and stabbed the rear brake! Don’t know enough about motorcycles to even try to make up a good story. Hence - “Had to lay her down”.

So we’re off. Rick and Phil singletracking and me riding tail end Charlie.

[Yamifj1200]

Thanks for the ride report, loved the photo's and drawings it made me laugh out loud. It's always nice to hear both sides of the story...

Eric

[Arlo]

One more funny crash (fall over?). Rick leads us down a dead end trail. This is VERY unusual as Ricks mapwork and GPS are perfect and we hardly ever backtrack. All seriousness aside – he led a perfect ride. So we need to turn around on a shelf trail. Being the excellent rider that I am, I do a ‘T’ turn by turning the front end uphill and stop to let it roll backwards. Only it doesn’t. And my feet are 2 feet off the ground. Stopped. I did what any owner of a 1945 xr600 would do – I jumped. Bike fell had on its side. Nice thing about an old dirtbike is each scratch makes it look better, tougher – adds character. Kind of like a knife scar from a bar fight.
Speaking of bar fights – RICK DID NOT GET INTO A BAR FIGHT!
Newspapers can print what they want. Phil and I didn’t have to pull Rick off anybody. That’s the truth. I’ll tell it to any Nevada jury that wants to subpoena me. IT DIDN”T HAPPEN.
However, this really did happen - I saw a REAL mirage today. I’m not kidding – a real one.! We had done a 650 mile day (don’t let Ricks photoshopped GPS displays fool you – I’m sure it was 650 miles). We pushed thru the town where we were going to stay and were looking for a place to stay in the desert. Rick wants to ride more (duh) but Phil and I are hot, tired and exhausted. We are in the middle of nowhere in the great basin desert, but the map shows ‘Virgin Valley campground’ ahead so we go for it. And it’s really there. A campground in the middle of nowhere. Who would put a campground here. I’m driving around looking for a place to put our tents when…. I SEE IT! A pool of water 100’ in diameter with steam coming off from it. IN THE DESERT! And a girl in a WHITE TANKTOP swimming in it. A mirage I tell myself. Rick says we need to set the tents up before dark. Am I the only one seeing this? Any one notice the mirage? I stagger toward it in full riding gear and jump in (the only reason I’m alive is it’s only 5’ deep – you can’t swim in boots and body armor!). Girl shrieks as ‘Creature from Black Lagoon’ jumps in. And leaves. Taking WHITE TANKTOP with her. Crowd boo’s. But still it’s awesome! That’s an overused, but in this case correct, word . It’s a hot spring in the desert big enough to swim in. Crystal clear water. Grass for the tents. If this is a dream – do not pinch me. If you do the TAT – STAY HERE!.

insert WHITE TANKTOP photo’s here (not underwater shots – WHITE TANKTOP shots)

But this is not a dream - I finally found where Ricks energy and enthusiasm runs out. Working on his bike in the desert. First his bike suddenly quits. After unloading and troubleshooting it we find a blown fuel pump fuse. Ominous sign. Then his cooling fan quits. We unload again and start troubleshooting again (side note – Rick is very particular when working on his bike). Rick’s mood seems to be dropping, so I try to cheer him up with my Grandfathers favorite saying:
“You can tell the size of the man by the size of the things that bother him” he would say. If the person continued he would say “It takes a big thing to bother a big man, but liiiitle things bother liiiitle people”. Insert your Grandfathers voice. I said it to Rick a lot. Maybe too much. I didn’t like the look in Rick and Phil’s eyes as they reached for the duct tape and sock. No fair Rick – at least I used YOUR sock on you.

INSERT Rick slaving over hot motorcycle photo’s here

After his fan quit Rick would SPEED UP in the rough parts. He was embarrassed to make us wait while his bike cooled, so he wouldn’t slow down. He was flying up big hillclimbs and thru rockgardens. He got a flat that wasn’t a flat – It was an impact tear in his front tire. He runs these hi-tech tubless tires, so it was a cinch to fix once we found it. Note: I ran ‘flatproof’ tires for TATOO. Simply put bike on a stand and suck out all the air from the tubes. Refill the tubes with silicon, and in 24 hours you have ‘flatproof’ tires. Hope my patent comes thru.
Phils bike also had a problem. His throttle stuck wide open. While riding on a knarly 2track next to Rick (2 singletracks?). I didn’t see it, but from the look in Ricks eyes – it must have been exciting. We started troubleshooting (Rick calls it a caurbectomy) and find a stuck slide. Funny, what could be making the slide stick. Xr600’s have a push/pull bellcrank operated slide. Not very prone to sticking. We decide (Phil decides) to clean airfilters that night and we find what it is. Half the great basin desert is on the wrong side of Phils airfilter. The carb intake boot looks like a dusty cave. NOTE: WD40 is not an approved airfilter oil for the TAT. Thinking the dust may have bored the motor out - we check his oil. “Hey Phil, shouldn’t the oil at least touch the dipstick”. We put 1.5 qts of oil in. It only holds a little over 2 – soooooo maybe it’s using a little now. Fortunately it’s hard to kill a xr with a cast iron piston , so we can keep going. Oil consumption now at about 1 qt per tank. No problem.

Insert Phil’s ‘air nonfilter ‘ shots here

I know you’re getting tired of reading this stuff, so I’ll end this session with one more short story. If Rick inserts the pictures (I would do it but I don’t know how) you’ll see what I got my Academy Award for. Best use of a milk crate in the motorcycling division! I was trying to stuff 3 pigs into my 2 pig Revpack. I had it sitting on a milk crate in my room. Wait a minute – see how good that milk crate fits it. WOW. I have a Scott Summers rack on my XR. May not be up to the task of holding a 40 pound pack bouncing down the TAT. But what about that milk crate. 2 hours, 1 jigsaw, 6 hoseclamps, 10 feet of duct tape and some good old asbestos later I have the ultimate homeless person looking rack. I like it. Sort of goes with the character of a 1945 xr600.
http://www.motocampers.com/forums/attachment.php?attachmentid=2245&d=1256437914



You decide.

[Trailace]

OK Just returned from the farm for the third time this week. Had to put the hey up.

Maybe tomorrow I can get back to the report after I mow my Dads yard fix his heater and install a new dishwasher. :D

[Chief]

You better hurry Rick. I think you're losing control of this trip report!:D

[Trailace]

Some pic added.

[Trailace]

Day 8

Time to take on Oregon’s 575 miles of mixed up dead end trails. I spent countless hours plotting the trails into the GPS and up to this point we had no issues to speak of. Sure, we might have miss a turn or 2, but once the GPS showed us off track we just did a quick u-turn and we were back on track in no time. I was not too sure about Oregon or if all the bypasses I plotted would work. I did have some help and want to give Dr.Rock some thanks for helping me with the mapping. We both did our own maps and then compared notes. I think we only had a few small differences in the whole 575 miles. Thanks again David!

Back to the ride. The hot pool must have relaxed us because we all were up early and ready to go before 7:00. Said goodbye to Bob and his dog.
http://trailace.smugmug.com/2009/Motorcycle/TAT-2009/TAT-II-20093897/692365904_zRiaN-L.jpg

Today we would see a new variety of roads, most of them fun and fast. There was gravel, washboard, railroad bed and fallen trees. But first, we needed coffee. Chris told us a good place in town to have breakfast and he was right.
http://trailace.smugmug.com/2009/Motorcycle/TAT-2009/TAT-II-20093902/692367496_5yzAb-L.jpg

http://trailace.smugmug.com/2009/Motorcycle/TAT-2009/TAT-II-20093904/692368157_h9iwP-L.jpg

Little Cool
http://trailace.smugmug.com/2009/Motorcycle/TAT-2009/TAT-II-20093901/692367070_T36eH-L.jpg

During breakfast Ron and Phil decided they needed something from the True Value store but I can’t recall what it was. Maybe it was just the thought of hitting the trail before 10:00 a.m. that was killing them. While waiting for the True Value to open, our long lost friends Dan and Ryk, came riding up. It seems they also had a few bike issues. They had to have a new stator shipped to Lake View. They trailered from Eureka NV to Lake View and waited for the part so they could complete the trail. We parted ways and were sure we would see each other out on the trail.

I knew from reading other TAT reports that there was an issue with a gated road as you left Lake View. The name of the road is McDonald Rd and if take the next turn, County Road 2-18, it will bring you onto McDonald Rd without going around the gate. However, there is also a gate at the north end of McDonald Rd which we road around on the left. Some other TAT riders have been stopped on this road and told it was a private road. If I were to do it again I would just bypass this 1.3 miles of the trail, you wouldn’t be missing much. Here is a pic of the road.
http://trailace.smugmug.com/2009/Motorcycle/TAT-2009/TAT-II-20093905/692368436_LoRPW-L.jpg

Most of today would be fun fast riding. Here are a few pictures of the roads.

Almost 2 track
http://trailace.smugmug.com/2009/Motorcycle/TAT-2009/TAT-II-20093907/692369124_CCx8p-L.jpg

Fast but not too fast, there were cars on these roads.
http://trailace.smugmug.com/2009/Motorcycle/TAT-2009/TAT-II-20093908/692369455_uSKFH-L.jpg

Phil having fun
http://trailace.smugmug.com/2009/Motorcycle/TAT-2009/TAT-II-20093909/692369763_fkWdw-L.jpg

The trees in the area had really bright green moss on them. Here is Phil taking a picture of the moss.
http://trailace.smugmug.com/2009/Motorcycle/TAT-2009/TAT-II-20093912/692370504_BEtmk-L.jpg

This road was full of washboard even on the straight a ways. If you look closely you can see them in this picture.
http://trailace.smugmug.com/2009/Motorcycle/TAT-2009/TAT-II-20093914/692371219_ByBYf-L.jpg

Then it was on to the power lines and there was some fun technical riding.
http://trailace.smugmug.com/2009/Motorcycle/TAT-2009/TAT-II-20093915/692371512_evybf-L.jpg

Right after that we would jump down to the old Weyerhaeuser Timber Co Railroad bed. We might have gone a little too far East because we had a few trees to deal with.
Ron showing the way.
http://trailace.smugmug.com/2009/Motorcycle/TAT-2009/TAT-II-20093916/692371855_BkPkd-L.jpg

Think it will fit?
http://trailace.smugmug.com/2009/Motorcycle/TAT-2009/TAT-II-20093917/692372199_bD2nx-L.jpg

Well it did.
http://trailace.smugmug.com/2009/Motorcycle/TAT-2009/TAT-II-20093918/692372599_SgpBL-L.jpg

There would be two dirt berms and another tree to go around on this first section of the railroad bed. Here is the end of what I think might have been the wrong RR bed road.
http://trailace.smugmug.com/2009/Motorcycle/TAT-2009/TAT-II-20093919/692373046_3Xucm-L.jpg

The rest of the RR bed was fast and fun.

Somewhere between the end of the RR bed and Silver Lake we took a wrong turn on one of the most fun roads of the day. When I made the turn I saw two bike tracks. I was thinking either Dan and Ryk were in front of us or maybe they were from Dr.Rock and LDF from last week. In hindsight I know it was one bike riding in and the same bike riding back out. It was not long before we came to the first downed tree on the road but we just jumped it. A few hundred yards later a bigger tree was down and we just went around it on the left. This went on for about 15 trees but like I told you early in the report this group does not like u-turns and we just kept going. Finally, the road opened up and we picked up the pace a little. As I came toward the end of the road there was a gate that was pushed over and I road right through it. Thank god my front tire pushed it down and the rest of the bike did not grab it. I was lucky. I did a quick u-turn to open it for Ron and Phil.
All this and not one picture. This always happens when you’re having fun.

Next we stopped in Silver Lake for gas and a snack. As we are about to leave Dan and Ryk showed up.
http://trailace.smugmug.com/2009/Motorcycle/TAT-2009/TAT-II-20093921/692373729_TYPdE-L.jpg

Phil's Pack job.
http://trailace.smugmug.com/2009/Motorcycle/TAT-2009/TAT-II-20093922/692374026_bdn8J-L.jpg

The next few miles are pavement and then gravel. On the six miles of dusty gravel we road 3 across to keep Ron out of the dust.
http://trailace.smugmug.com/2009/Motorcycle/TAT-2009/TAT-II-20093925/692374841_Wgipw-L.jpg

We turned left onto a sandy 2-track type road and Phil hung back and let me run on my own. About 2 miles in, I came to a fork and waited for the others to catch up. After waiting a few minuets and no Phil or Ron, I headed back to see what was going on. As I came around a corner I saw Phil sitting on the ground and Ron standing over him. Both bikes were up so I wasn’t sure what was going on. Once off the bike I could see that Phil’s boot was off and he was bleeding. There was a small tree down over half the road and Phil hit it with his foot. The cuts were really deep and bleeding heavily. Phil said just tape it up and let’s ride but Ron and I knew better. He would be hurting after his adrenaline came down.

If you have a weak stomach you might not want to look at the upcoming pictures. You have been warned.

DR. Ron
http://trailace.smugmug.com/2009/Motorcycle/TAT-2009/TAT-II-20093926/692375332_7kcMB-L.jpg


Ron cleaned the cuts and I took pictures.
http://trailace.smugmug.com/2009/Motorcycle/TAT-2009/TAT-II-20093927/692375647_AYkJk-L.jpg

Time to make new plans for the day and find Phil a hospital. I checked the GPS while Ron taped up Phil’s toes. The nearest hospital was in Klamath Falls. Phil however, wanted to head back to Silver Lake to see if there was an emergency clinic closer. While Ron helped Phil put his boot back on I rode ahead to Silver Lake and started making calls. There were a few clinics closer but they were closing or closed. Klamath Falls hospital was 80 miles away and we were burning daylight. Ron talked Phil into heading for Klamath Falls and I lead the way.

The ride to the hospital seemed to take forever. This might have been because I kept the speed down to about 55 MPH. I did this for a few reasons one was safety. I didn’t know how an 80-mile ride would affect Phil. Also, his bike was making some new noises since he cleaned the air filter.

As we pulled into the hospital parking lot, Phil’s bike just died. Ron quickly gives him his bike and Phil and I drove to the emergency entrance. Ron shows up a little later and Phil’s bike is barley running.

Let the fun begin. As we enter the hospital I noticed that it wasn’t too busy and hoped maybe Phil would get a few stitches and we would be back on the road. Yea that would be wishful thinking on my part. In my heart I knew Phil’s ride was over, as did he, but we were still joking and kidding around about everything. I could write a book on our time at the hospital from the very cute ex flight attendant (Hmm Pilots) to the four young punks who thought the world owed them something. Instead I will just keep it to the facts about the injury and Phil’s diagnosis. Considering the circumstances, we had lots of fun at the hospital, with each other and the great staff.



Here is Phil on his new ride. (What could Ron be looking at?)
http://trailace.smugmug.com/2009/Motorcycle/TAT-2009/TAT-II-20093930/692376202_inaJt-L.jpg

It was time to make a few decisions on how to complete the TAT and get Phil and his bike home. The plan we came up with was for Phil to rent a U-haul and drive west on pavement and we would ride the TAT. Each night we would meet up at a hotel in a prearranged town. This way Phil would be with us at the end of the ride and join us in the photo. We called U-haul and reserved a 10-foot box truck that we would pick it up the next morning. With a plan coming together we still needed to get Phil out for the hospital.

Here is where all my medical training came into good use. I knew watching House would payoff someday. You know how busy hospitals can be and seeing Phil lying there about to bleed to death I needed to take some action.

First I needed to remove the bandage that Dr. Ron so skillfully applied on the trail. This was no easy task and Phil was feeling a lot of pain at this point.

http://trailace.smugmug.com/2009/Motorcycle/TAT-2009/TAT-II-20093933/692376970_vG5mf-L.jpg

http://trailace.smugmug.com/2009/Motorcycle/TAT-2009/TAT-II-20093932/692376720_XmNd3-L.jpg

With the bandage off you can see that the nail would need to be removed.
http://trailace.smugmug.com/2009/Motorcycle/TAT-2009/TAT-II-20093934/692377251_dwHhJ-L.jpg

As you can see here in the x-rays there were a few more issues than just cuts.
http://trailace.smugmug.com/2009/Motorcycle/TAT-2009/Untitled-1-1/692418814_SXQUA-O.jpg

At this point the nurse suggested I scrub up and change before operating on Phil’s foot. She also thinks a little painkiller is in order. I tried to be gentle but sticking a 2-inch needle into anyone’s foot is going to cause some pain. Phil’s took it like a man and only cried a little.
http://trailace.smugmug.com/2009/Motorcycle/TAT-2009/TAT-II-20093935/692377559_SHLWM-L.jpg

http://trailace.smugmug.com/2009/Motorcycle/TAT-2009/TAT-II-20093936/692377817_LEYuX-L.jpg

Off with the nail.
http://trailace.smugmug.com/2009/Motorcycle/TAT-2009/TAT-II-20093937/692378149_HWNLH-L.jpg

Few stitches and all Done.
http://trailace.smugmug.com/2009/Motorcycle/TAT-2009/TAT-II-20093938/692378415_t3wRV-L.jpg

I know it still looks bad but there was not a lot to work with. After looking at the boot below you can see there is no hole and this means the damage to his foot was from it being smashed between the bike and the tree. Trust me, it’s very hard to stitch up a smashed toe.
http://trailace.smugmug.com/2009/Motorcycle/TAT-2009/TAT-II-20093939/692378695_p9opN-L.jpg

While Phil waited to be discharged Ron and I went to find a place to stay. We found a motel only a few miles away. Ron drove me back on my bike to pick up Phil and his bike. Ron was having a hard time getting Phil’s bike to start so he decided to push it down the hill and jump-start it. The bike however had other plans. Ron kept trying until he ran out of hill and was now stuck in an intersection with an uphill in all directions. I drove Phil to the hotel and then went back and pulled Ron and Phil’s bike up the hill to the motel.

For a day that started out so good it didn’t end very well. Ron and I would continue the TAT but it wouldn’t be the same without our sidekick Phil.

http://trailace.smugmug.com/2009/Motorcycle/TAT-2009/TAT-II-20093869/692379122_xti7D-L.jpg

http://trailace.smugmug.com/2009/Motorcycle/TAT-2009/Untitled-1-1/692384487_GJQqJ-L.jpg

[Mr. Guy]

Man that really stinks for Phil, but much worse has happened on the TAT. I'm glad he wasn't hurt worse.

Guy

[Arlo]

Now you see where Phil got the callsign Toejam.

Here's what I remember. I come around a tree and Phil's bike is laying on the ground. XR's are bear to start when they've been on their side, so I get it up and get it started for him. Finally I look at Phil. Phil, Phil - you in there son? Lights on at an empty house. We get his boot off and his foot is bleeding. I get my med kit out and get an alcohol wipe out. Blood seems to be coming from betwen his toes, so I look - BAD PLAN.
What the Doctor later calls 'open fractures'. Litterly translated - 'see bones'. So I'm mopping up the jelly (jam) coming out of his toe with a 91% isopropyl alcohol wipe and I say "I know this really stings". Phil says "no, it doesn't really hurt. Just tape it up and lets ride". Hmmmm. I'm thinking his bell is rung pretty bad.
Rick is much quicker on the uptake on this than I am. Within 1 minute he has hospitals pulled up on his GPS. He knows where this is going already.
The emergency was a blast for Rick and I. I never knew Rick was a Doctor (among his many other talents). Even Phil was laughing a lot. The Doctor wasn't having as much fun trying to sew that mess back closed. He finally said "This is like trying to sew jello together" and got a scalpel out. He pulled off the rest of his toenail and cut away a bunch of stuff. "Look" he says "the end of his big toe is almost broke off, and you can flip it down and look in it". And he does. And I looked. Another bad plan. Knees get weak. Voices sound like adults in a Peanuts cartoon. Is it getting cold in here? You guys got an empty bed - I think I need it. And it' not even my toe. Felt real sorry for Phil.
But we did get to meet "JULIE". Say it real slow "JUUUULIIIIIEEEEE". To me and Rick it was worth it.

I'm not so sure about Phil.

[Arlo]

They say a picture is worth 1000 words..... I chose the 1000 words.

GREAT pictures Rick! Now I know why the rest of the ride report is taking so long.

[Trailace]

Because of the void of information coming from Rick, I feel compelled to fill it with this gratuitous photo of Rick being forced to suffer through our first motel night in Utah!

Thank God I have the real hot tub picture before Phil messed with it. :mad:
http://trailace.smugmug.com/2009/Motorcycle/TAT-2009/Babe-1/694198364_jUXdr-L.jpg

[Arlo]

Thats exasctly the way I remember it !!!!! Ya'll know from my reports that I strictly stick to the facts. Don't trust Toejam (Phil). He is known to stretch the truth>

[Arlo]

Rick's ride report mentioned Phil's 'dust bored' xr was making a 'funny noise' when it died pulling into the hospital. I gave him my bike to get to the emergency room, and fired his back up (eventually) and rode to the emergency room.

Rick tends to understate - "funny noise'.

Imagine this sound. Put a bowling ball in an empty 55 gallon drum and let King Kong shake it really fast!

Exaust valves being closed by the piston.
Expensive sounds.

[Ironheadziggy76]

Thank God I have the real hot tub picture before Phil messed with it. :mad:
http://trailace.smugmug.com/2009/Motorcycle/TAT-2009/Babe-1/694198364_jUXdr-L.jpg

You know Rick, I was going to razz you a little with one of my smart alec funny remarks, but I had better keep my mouth shut now that my cousin in on here (Cowboy 5). He has a picture of me at a rally setting in a Coleman inflatable Love Seat next to a buddy of ours. :o :mad:

[Arlo]

So I guess Rick is never gonna finish this ride report?? I don’t know if anyone is still reading this, but I’ll finish my part anyway.

A GREAT trip that had it all. Some trips are good and some are great – this one was great! You know what I mean. All of you reading this have been on a truly great trip.

Good company, killer views, technical challenges, sore butts, excitement, adrenalin, good food and cold beer, NO BAR FIGHTS, a trip to the hospital, souvenir X-rays, and most of all – ADVENTURE.

I started this report not to tell you what happened, but to tell you HOW IT FELT. So one last story and I’ll try to do that.

DUST. Dust. DUST. Dust.

Incredible, epic amounts of DUST.

Not just DUST – TALC DUST. Fine as the Monkey –Butt powder you put in your riding shorts (Rick is a new convert). Phil and Rick rode up front (2 singletracks) and I rode behind. In DUST. The great basin desert should be called the great TALC DUST desert. I felt like the Israelites in the desert for 40 years being led by the cloud during the day. I was following a cloud of DUST. Depending on the wind I would be several MILES behind. Lead by a cloud – DUST. At every turn I would just follow the direction of the cloud. Problem is – every now and then they would ride onto tracks with no dust. NO DUST = NO CLOUD. No cloud and several miles behind made following them tricky(they would stop every hour or two to see if I was still there). I became as good as any Indian tracker who ever lived. I had to follow their tracks by TASTE at times. This track no good(insert favorite stereotype Indian voice) Taste like Kenda track. KEMOSABI only ride Dunlop 606. Tonto must find Dunlop.
If you’ve been offroad in the great basin desert –well, getting lost would be what we call a BAD THING. So after one of these ‘Creepy, shiver up the spine’ lost adventures I spot them 7 dogmiles away and light the afterburners and catch them. They are looking for the trail. I ride along and then we SEE THEM.

Magnificent.

Wild Mustangs

A herd crossing from left to right. In the middle of no where. Across virgin desert, running full bore. Manes and tails blowing out behind them. Being led by a Stallion who gets between me and the mares. Just looking at me. ‘Don’t be messing with the women’ – he is warning me. They cross 50 yds in front of me. I was so thrilled I burst out in some John Denver song.

Magnificent.

We saw lots of horses on the trip. Standing around looking bored behind a fence. ‘Hey, where’s the feeding guy? Didn’t make me sing.

But Oh, those wild Mustangs – can I say magnificent again.

We stopped in lots of towns for fuel, food etc. On our gritty, packed down dirtbikes. Grimey faces in riding gear. Tired (me and Phil anyway) and a little stiff. And a funny thing happens. You’ve all had it happen. People walk over and want to talk. “Where you going?” “Where’d you come from” “How long have you been gone”. “Wow” Then they talk about all the things they want to do.

You are living the dream they dream.

And they look at you from behind their fence. Like the wild mustangs.

I know this whole thing sounds cornry. Sounds shallow. But that IS the way it makes me FEEL. I don’t ride for any other reason than the way it makes me feel – but that’s it. That’s the way it makes me feel. I like that feeling.

Till last year (for the last 15 years) my brother and I have kept xr600’s in Arizona or Colorado. We go out for 7 -9 days. We get off the plane and say “OK. 8 days from today we have to be back at the airport – which way do you want to go?”. And we blast off in no particular direction. No plan. When it gets dark we find a motel and a beer. Serious dirt. The more technical the riding the better. Mostly no phone, off the grid and out of sight. It is an incredible freedom. And I like it.

So that’s it. Great ride that makes me feel great.

Why do you guys ride????????????????

[bigTom]

Well, Arlo. That's the best limited picture ride report I've ever read. Really good.

I grew up in 'the great talc desert' (Northern Division:)) and understand the dust. I am completely convinced that is the reason for the horsepower wars on dirt bikes. Only one guy rides clean...

If you need to ask why I ride, I can't explain. If you know, I can't add any. I can say it's 5:00am local, Friday and I am just about ready to walk out the door and go about living for the next 3 days. I get to do so every now and again. I NEVER miss a chance that I can control.

I reckon Rick might get around to his ride report after the geese fly and he's got all of next years routes done.....

[Trailace]

So I guess Rick is never gonna finish this ride report?? I don’t know if anyone is still reading this, but I’ll finish my part anyway.



I will finish my part this weekend but with out Phil along it was not the same. :(

[Arlo]

Yea, I thought so too ?????

[TOE JAM]

I will finish my part this weekend but with out Phil along it was not the same. :(

Thank goodness! I thought I was going to have to post some more hot tub pics!

[Arlo]

BLACKMAIL ! _ now the suck-up post makes sense.

[Arlo]

While we wait for Rick I thought show you an interesting picture (no really - a real one).

What makes it interesting is I'm going by Phil (Toejam) at approx 50 - 60 mph (no spedo) in 5th gear to make a 'DUST' picture. Look closely at the angle of my front tire. I'm actually going straight in the tire rut. The 2 tire ruts don't really stand out since they fill with soft, powdery talc (boiling up behind me in a strong x-wind). It makes the ground look level, but there are 2 VERY pronounced ruts. I've ridden a lot of sand, but this talc is all different. You really have to let go of the bars and let them flop around! Start off straight and quickly get in at least 3rd gear (4th or 5th is better). Get some smash up and just let the bars flop!

Gives new meaning to Phil and Rick riding side by side!

[Trailace]

Day 9

With Phil’s mishap and injury things would not be the same for the rest of the TAT. Riding the trail without one of the team just took a lot of the fun out of it. There was also the weather to consider, it’s late in the year and the area’s first real cold front would be hitting in 2 days. The news was reporting freezing rain and snow with lows in the thirties and highs in the forties. Enough crying and feeling sorry for Phil, Ron and I have some riding to do. Besides, the worst day on this trip was still better than any day at work.

Like every other morning on the ride we were up and moving before 10:00AM but we had a few things to take care of before riding. Phil was on the phone with U-Haul, seems U-Haul will not let you carry motorcycles in the back of their trucks so on the second call Phil did not mention motorcycles. To avoid any issue with U-Haul Phil took a cab from the motel to the U-Haul office while Ron and I headed to Wal-Mart for some tie downs.
Phil on the phone with U-Haul
http://trailace.smugmug.com/2009/Motorcycle/TAT-2009/TAT-II-20093872/707165291_QgNWW-L.jpg

Two bikes ready to go.
http://trailace.smugmug.com/2009/Motorcycle/TAT-2009/TAT-II-20093871/707164980_gswWC-L.jpg

We bypassed a lot of the trail to get to the hospital yesterday so Ron and I decided to go check out Crater Lake on the way back to the trail. The roads going into the park were beautiful and straight but the last few miles up to the rim were fun. Maybe a little too much fun because the park police flashed us with his emergency lights and gave us the slow down look. Ron is such a bad influence on me.
http://trailace.smugmug.com/2009/Motorcycle/TAT-2009/TAT-II-20093874/707165892_GdhZD-L.jpg

We did our best National Lampoon's Vacation Grand Canyon scenes at Crater Lake.

Ron
http://trailace.smugmug.com/2009/Motorcycle/TAT-2009/TAT-II-20093878/707166968_8E6JT-L.jpg

Rick
http://trailace.smugmug.com/2009/Motorcycle/TAT-2009/TAT-II-20093880/707167468_AcTbR-L.jpg

Then it was back on the TAT.
http://trailace.smugmug.com/2009/Motorcycle/TAT-2009/TAT-II-20093885/707168868_B65jp-L.jpg

Ever since we entered Oregon the ride seemed to change and now that Phil was no longer with us it really felt different. While in Utah and even more so in Nevada it felt like a real adventure, you could ride all day and not see a town or another person. Here in Oregon the roads were easier going and we were seeing trucks, cars and towns along them. It just took some of the adventure out of it and made it feel like a weekend ride though the woods. I guess it’s a nice way to finish the TAT but it did not fit the flow. By flow I mean the TAT trail was a little harder in each state as you headed west. Oregon needed to be between NM and CO. There were a few technical sections but nothing compared to UT and NV and most of the riding was fast running gravel roads. Maybe the section we bypassed due to Phil foot would have been more technical.
Few more pictures.
http://trailace.smugmug.com/2009/Motorcycle/TAT-2009/TAT-II-20093889/707170040_Tgipw-L.jpg
http://trailace.smugmug.com/2009/Motorcycle/TAT-2009/TAT-II-20093891/707170664_HLUBn-L.jpg

Don’t get me wrong the area and weather was beautiful but sometimes it was hard to see the forest for the trees.
http://trailace.smugmug.com/2009/Motorcycle/TAT-2009/TAT-II-20093890/707170335_RjBPV-L.jpg

With just two of us riding, along with the weather situation, we did not stop much for anything including pictures. That is why we have very few pictures for these two days. Sorry! Where the trail crosses I5 we turned left and slabbed it down to Grants Pass 10 miles to meet Phil for the night.
http://trailace.smugmug.com/2009/Motorcycle/TAT-2009/TAT-II-20093894/707171540_2NEDG-L.jpg

Stats
http://trailace.smugmug.com/2009/Motorcycle/TAT-2009/TAT-II-20093783/707172383_d6ggU-L.jpg

Elevations
http://trailace.smugmug.com/2009/Motorcycle/TAT-2009/Untitled-1-1/707154203_NJXZv-L.jpg

[Trailace]

Day 10

Today would be the last day of riding on the TAT and without Phil it was hard to get going. First things first we had to stop at Denny’s for coffee and breakfast.
http://trailace.smugmug.com/2009/Motorcycle/TAT-2009/TAT-II-20093786/707194721_8DZaF-L.jpg

http://trailace.smugmug.com/2009/Motorcycle/TAT-2009/TAT-II-20093788/707195585_BAmSu-L.jpg

It was the coolest morning of the ride and you could really feel it on the 10 miles of interstate we had to ride to get back on the trail. A quick stop so Ron could get ready for the dusty trail or to pull off a bank heist.
http://trailace.smugmug.com/2009/Motorcycle/TAT-2009/TAT-II-20093789/707195922_HCtou-L.jpg

Although the area does not feel as adventurous as NV and UT it sure was beautiful.
http://trailace.smugmug.com/2009/Motorcycle/TAT-2009/TAT-II-20093790/707196272_MWbUi-L.jpg

We would again be bypassing a few miles to save a little time so we would not keep Phil waiting too long. Doesn’t this look like a dirt road you could make some time on and we did.
http://trailace.smugmug.com/2009/Motorcycle/TAT-2009/TAT-II-20093794/707197673_QoE8q-L.jpg

Soon after this we were on a narrow almost single-track trail that was a lot of fun. As we climbed a long steep hill the GPS cuts off. There was no place to go but up so I just kept going. At the top of the hill I reset the GPS and it would come on for a few seconds and then go right back off. I tried this several times with no luck and thinking it was a power issue I dug out the battery to see if this would get it working again. No luck. Ron dug out his GPS which looked older them me and tried to find where we were on the map. I’m not sure if it had a hand crank or tubes in it but after 15 minutes we were still waiting for the first satellite signal. So here we sit 70 miles form the end of the TAT on top of a hill not sure which way to go with a dead GPS. We were sure we could use the maps the rest of the way if we only knew where we were on the map.

Then we catch a break, while Ron is cranking on his GPS a truck pulled up and asked if we needed help. The driver whose name escapes me works for the national forest service and knows right where we are and leads us to our next turn. Things get even better as we were following him my GPS came back on and worked the rest of the ride.
http://trailace.smugmug.com/2009/Motorcycle/TAT-2009/TAT-II-20093795/707197996_NzEsj-L.jpg

Here is Ron with his GPS.
http://trailace.smugmug.com/2009/Motorcycle/TAT-2009/TAT-II-20093797/707198294_TsJM8-L.jpg

I would have to say; as we got closer to the coast the scenery was amazing. We were going up and down small mountains hoping to see the cost.
http://trailace.smugmug.com/2009/Motorcycle/TAT-2009/TAT-II-20093807/707201210_TdJpH-L.jpg

http://trailace.smugmug.com/2009/Motorcycle/TAT-2009/TAT-II-20093806/707200991_wwuLE-L.jpg
The bridge was out at mile 568 so we would not see the ocean until we are on US 101. The last 11 miles on County Road 208 were on a nice twisty black top. Ron and I decided earlier to go meet Phil at the Circle K (Our planned meeting spot) before going to the beach.

As we were heading south on 101 we saw the Circle K with a big U-Haul parked in front with Phil’s broken foot sticking out the window. Phil followed us to the beach so we could end this ride.

Here is Ron trying to start Phil’s bike so we don’t have to push it down to the water. After a few hundred tries it comes to life one more time.
http://trailace.smugmug.com/2009/Motorcycle/TAT-2009/TAT-II-20093810/707202088_q4pFQ-L.jpg

We park the bikes and start the celebration.
http://trailace.smugmug.com/2009/Motorcycle/TAT-2009/TAT-II-20093827/707206090_77uN8-L.jpg

Phil picked up champagne while he was waiting for us. We toasted each other, the trail and the new friendships we forged along the ride.
http://trailace.smugmug.com/2009/Motorcycle/TAT-2009/TAT-II-20093818/707204278_ZPULe-L.jpg

Ron
http://trailace.smugmug.com/2009/Motorcycle/TAT-2009/TAT-II-20093833/707207597_Kgapa-L.jpg

Phil
http://trailace.smugmug.com/2009/Motorcycle/TAT-2009/TAT-II-20093838/707208713_KSvnT-L.jpg

Rick
http://trailace.smugmug.com/2009/Motorcycle/TAT-2009/TAT-II-20093840/707209135_JKYo6-L.jpg

Here is Phil with part of his broken bone sticking out of his foot.
http://trailace.smugmug.com/2009/Motorcycle/TAT-2009/TAT-II-20093845/707210269_QVR5T-L.jpg

Ron doing wheelies down the beach
http://trailace.smugmug.com/2009/Motorcycle/TAT-2009/TAT-II-20093850/707211261_MyVGn-L.jpg

I was both happy and sad at this point. It was a great ride and we completed the western and hardest part of the TAT. But, Phil was injured and missed most of Oregon and all the planning and riding was over for me. Phil and I talked about coming back and doing Oregon again and I’m sure we can talk Ron into joining us. Hey guys maybe we can do Oregon and then turn around and do the TAT West to East.
http://trailace.smugmug.com/2009/Motorcycle/TAT-2009/TAT-II-20093824/707205315_9o2Cq-M.jpg

The original plans were to complete the TAT and then ride back to Monticello, which would have been fun, but now we would just load the bikes in Phil’s U-Haul.

Here they are loaded and ready to go.
http://trailace.smugmug.com/2009/Motorcycle/TAT-2009/TAT-II-20093852/707211989_kBR4h-L.jpg


Stats Total miles on the bikes 1,909.
http://trailace.smugmug.com/2009/Motorcycle/TAT-2009/TAT-II-20093868/707322082_U2Kon-L.jpg

Elevations
http://trailace.smugmug.com/2009/Motorcycle/TAT-2009/Untitled-1-1/707151995_iERpa-L.jpg

I don’t have a lot to say about the trip home but we did make the most of it. Maybe Ron will chime in here with some info.

I would like to thank everyone who helped me with this ride and there are a lot of you. Special thanks to my wife Vicky who listened to all my plans and issues and always offered encouragement. Then there is Ron and Phil who put up with me for 2 weeks and that is hard to do. These two guys are so easy going and nothing seems to bother them. Ron gave me a new mantra to live by and it helped me during the ride and still does to this day. “You can tell the size of the man by the size of the things that bother him”

I stayed in more hotel/motels on this trip than I have on all my previous trips put together and I still don’t like them. I’m sure Ron and Phil will agree that the best nights were the ones we just camped in the middle of nowhere under the stars.

Here are a few others I want to thank in no particular order.
Joe (Mellow) Thanks for all the mapping help
David (Dr Rock) Lots of mapping help and updated trail info
Josh (jkrup47) Did pre-ride to CO with me
Mike (Chief) Completed part one with me.
Scott (Flingshot) Did pre-ride to CO with me.
Guy (Mr. Guy) Started part one with me.

I’m sure I missed a few and I will add them as I think of them.

[Arlo]

Hi Rick. ------ Great wrap up! -------

I agree that Nevada is a "right of passage" kind of thing on the TAT. If you can do the Nevada part you can do anything on a bike.

Cool mantra thing - it's mine too.

[TOE JAM]

Hey Rick,
Good to see the rest of the report. The toes are looking somewhat better after six weeks. I can get my left foot in a shoe now, and I've flown a couple of times. I haven't pulled the top end off of the XR yet but I hope to get to that this week. I'm looking forward to the bike show in Dallas next weekend so I can narrow down the search for a new toy! Thanks for all the effort you put into this ride. It was a dream come true for me even with the broken toes. I've been thinking about doing the rest of the TAT since the first day back home including going back to clean up Oregon. Thanks again for planning and leading the ride. I look forward to the next one. Phil

[bigTom]

That's just spectacular, thanks for sharing with us.

It was worth the wait, in the long run!

[Mr. Guy]

Rick I should thank you, even the short bit I rode with you is in the top 3 best rides of mine. I had a LOT of fun riding with you and Chief. Great ride report.

Guy

[Arlo]

My brother, Bryon, called last night after reading the ride report. He was commenting (Translation: laughing his butt off) on Phil's x-rays and it reminds me of how TOEJAM gets his name.

Ron (pulling Phils boot and sock off) "Hey phil - you don't store strawberry jam packets in your boot, do you?"
Phil "No, why"
Ron "OH, um, no reason" Gag Gag Gag.....

[TOE JAM]

SOME RANDOM THOUGHTS:
I thought I had spent enough time climbing to the top of the food chain (too old) to sleep on the ground again unless it was an emergency. However, I really enjoyed the whole experience. I have camped several times over the years off of street bikes with saddle bags and such, but never tried to pack two weeks worth of stuff on a 12"x12" rack on an XR-600. It was an interesting trip to try this experiment for the first time.
When we first got to Nevada, Rick had one of his spills in the silty ruts. He must have tried to crash for about a hundred yards. I was just sitting there in my normal position in the other rut about half a bike length back watching. As he got more and more out of control I said to myself, self, you better get out of the way, he's going down for sure! So I gassed it (more fun than braking and running over Rick after he hits the ground) and passed the crash just in time. After Rick picked up his bike and pulled up beside me he said, I kept waiting for you to go by so I could crash! I don't care who you are, that's funny.
Anybody else been missing those homemade potato chips from that bar in Richfield Utah?:D

[Trailace]

SOME RANDOM THOUGHTS:
I thought I had spent enough time climbing to the top of the food chain (too old) to sleep on the ground again unless it was an emergency. However, I really enjoyed the whole experience. I have camped several times over the years off of street bikes with saddle bags and such, but never tried to pack two weeks worth of stuff on a 12"x12" rack on an XR-600. It was an interesting trip to try this experiment for the first time.
When we first got to Nevada, Rick had one of his spills in the silty ruts. He must have tried to crash for about a hundred yards. I was just sitting there in my normal position in the other rut about half a bike length back watching. As he got more and more out of control I said to myself, self, you better get out of the way, he's going down for sure! So I gassed it (more fun than braking and running over Rick after he hits the ground) and passed the crash just in time. After Rick picked up his bike and pulled up beside me he said, I kept waiting for you to go by so I could crash! I don't care who you are, that's funny.
Anybody else been missing those homemade potato chips from that bar in Richfield Utah?:D

That was funny however Toe Jam forgot to mention that my rut was a foot and a half deep and his was only 6 inches deep. The only reason I was in the rut was because I could now switch lanes due to him being right next to me.:well
There was so much silt in the air Ron who was behind us did not even know I went down.

[Arlo]

WHAT????

You went down, ssssay it ain't so!!!

No one on this site will believe you went down. It must be a publicity stunt - baloon boy.

[Trailace]

Just wanted to update the thread with a link to all of Phil's and mine pics.

Phil's pics (http://trailace.smugmug.com/gallery/10299553_Xts88#711579297_QtUzc)

Rick's Pics (http://trailace.smugmug.com/2009/Motorcycle/TAT-2009/9664379_ndLcw#652369246_pzGwN)

[bigTom]

Those are some great pictures, thanks, guys!

[Mellow]

Duuuuuude!!! What are you doing to that cat!

No wonder they follow you around.

http://trailace.smugmug.com/2009/Motorcycle/Phils-TAT-II-Pics/98-081/711586930_ryeF4-M.jpg

[Arlo]

Mellow, you're killing me!!!! That is soooo funny - I'm picking myself up off the floor to write this. Funny!!!!

Proposed new call sign for Rick:

"CATDADDY"

What do you think?

[Mellow]

It almost looks like he's giving birth to it... whaaaaaaa... .whaaaaaaa... daaa daaa.

[TOE JAM]

HOW QUICKLY THEY TURN. With friends like us, who needs enemies.

[bigTom]

Quote by Mellow
It almost looks like he's giving birth to it...

And catching it himself! Don't need no stinking OBGYN or Vet or nothing....

[Trailace]

Just remember two things paybacks are hell and cat's lie. :eek:

[Mr. Guy]

I don't know what's worse, Rick and the cat, or Joe taking it in THAT direction.

Funny pic though.

Guy

[Black and Blue]

It almost looks like he's giving birth to it... whaaaaaaa... .whaaaaaaa... daaa daaa.

Ouch!:lol2

[Mellow]

It almost looks like he's giving birth to it... whaaaaaaa... .whaaaaaaa... daaa daaa.

Ouch!:lol2

No kidding... Cats have claws. :eek:

[Ironheadziggy76]

Duuuuuude!!! What are you doing to that cat!

No wonder they follow you around.

http://trailace.smugmug.com/2009/Motorcycle/Phils-TAT-II-Pics/98-081/711586930_ryeF4-M.jpg

Now that is just wrong! :p

[Arlo]

Just remember two things paybacks are hell and cat's lie. :eek:

Well I sure hope that cat lies!

[TOE JAM]

I got the XR torn down yesterday. OUCH! Other than the 1/4 inch ring gap from sucking up half the silt in Nevada, it also jumped time and all four valves were hitting the piston. The amazing thing is that it would still run! I should have it running without the loud knocking noises soon.

[bigTom]

Wow. Did you ever consider that you might have been lucky with your "toe jamming"? It looks to me like that piston was really close to failure...The 10 o'clock notch looks like it might be through already. A hole in the piston does remarkably bad things for your power band. DAMHIK

[Arlo]

Knock a hole in the piston?????

You can't knock a hole in a cast iron XR600 piston!!

[Trailace]

I got the XR torn down yesterday. OUCH! Other than the 1/4 inch ring gap from sucking up half the silt in Nevada, it also jumped time and all four valves were hitting the piston. The amazing thing is that it would still run! I should have it running without the loud knocking noises soon.
Any update on the foot?

[TOE JAM]

The toes are looking much better. I am walking normally in any shoe or boot. I went to the doc last week and took new x-rays. Amazingly all but one of the bone chips had consolidated and re-attached to the end of the toes. It's still a mystery what the big toe nail will eventually look like.
On another note, I rented an f800GS yesterday and really enjoyed it, right up until I pitched it into a corner and the front end felt kind of squirrelly. I pulled over and took a look, and the front tire was completely flat! No nail through the tire or any obvious damage. I had some co2 but that was it, and it went right through. So I called the rental guy and about an hour and a half later he showed up with a 1200 GS to swap out for the 800. He had to come find me about 60 miles from his shop. He tried to give me a little grief for of all things, a little mud splashed on the 800. I said It's a GS man that's what it"s for! I liked the 800 a lot more than the 1200. If the new Ducati doesn't turn out to be a winner I just might be looking at the 800 GS to finnish up the TAT in the spring.
p.s. I suggested the rental guy look into your tu-bliss system. It had obviously torn the tube somehow or a patch had come loose, even though it had good pressure when I left.