George
02-02-2010, 05:06 PM
Well, I left home on Jan 31, but there's already a January Ride report. :D
The event: ST-Owners TireSTOC in Murietta, CA. Byron changed 5 pairs on various bikes (with some help from the attending muscle. :D) Solo did the balancing. Other work was performed on TWilson's 1100 and my newer 1100. Both jobs were succesful. Jay Sponger was host (he was the first to need tars so set it up.) About 20 folks attended from all over the area, from San Diego to farther to Ventura, plus me.
Food was great as Agnes stirred up multiple Filipino dishes in quantities adequate for an army.
The ride: I took my newer 2001 ABS ST-1100, south and west as far as Ocotillo Springs (just west of Salton City, CA.) It's about my favorite FREE camp spot, with amenities close enuff (8 miles) if needed. Road down old 66 and US-95 down to Vidal Junction, west and south again to Desert Crossing, west to Mecca via I-10 and Box Canyon RD. Box Canyon was officially "closed" (road block at each end) but figured it couldn't be that bad so continued on. Saw quite a bit of debris from the recent floods but it had all been plowed though not swept. Several groups of campers were along the way so no sweat. Thru Mecca and south on CA-86, west on S-22 to camp.
Fire was pick-up sticks, mostly palm fronds blown in during the recent storms. Strip the "grass" from the end as fire starter, then several stems as the bulk. Burns pretty hot 'n fast but adequate and readily available in the high desert. Dinner was chicken flavor yellow rice with a can of Tuna added, all heated on a penny stove. Plenty for one person. I always carry a couple meals like that for quick 'n dirty eats. Those packages of dried rice or noodles, available at the grocery, are much cheaper than the dehydrated "campers food" from the sporting goods dept.
Tent sat up, dinner eaten, sun long gone, I slept fine on my Cy-Max 9(?) mattress. Morning, sun coming up, b'kfast my standard oatmeal and coffee, plus orange juice. Tear down the tent as the water is heating. Carry on toward Murietta.
Had to take a detour, tho. Thru Borrego, up Montezuma Grade (where I saw the new VFR a couple weeks ago) and on to Palomar Mt. and the Palomar Store. Went up the South Grade road off CA-76. Just as I turned up, a group of 4 serious sport bikes pulled off before heading back up the grade. I knew it would be mere moments before I was passed with prejudice! :eek: I heard'em coming and pulled off just like the sign sez. They acknowledged the courtesy as the continued up the hill. Only other vehicle I saw was an old Chrysler Newport coming down. I scraped some peg but didn't challenge the (long gone!) sporters.
(Speaking of signs, CA has to the only place to put up sign saying "Unlawful to throw snow balls at passing vehicles". :rofl1:
At the top, hooked up with the sporties for coffee and danish. Our 5 bikes were the only ones there on a cold, slick Sunday morning. Several others arrived as we were finishing. I rode down the east side back to 79 then north to Murietta.
Read more about the maintenance at ST-Owners.
About 4 PM I headed north and west while trying to get 'hold of Gunnar 'n Trish in Simi Valley. From Perris, headed west to Lake Elsinore and Ortega Highway. I'd never done it in the dark but stock headlights plus a pair 55 Watt fog lamps lit the way. Not much traffic and NO deer so it was a nice ride. North on I-5 to Commerce City, gas up at the Chevron ($3.26!) and call Gunnar again.
No luck there (turns out he was on a ride too. :D) so east on 60 and I-10 back to Cottonwood Springs Road (south end of Joshua Tree Nat. Park) and camp just outside the park. No fees, no amenities, but only a few miles to Chiriaco Summit if I really needed anything. I'd stopped for a sammich on the way east so cold camp. It was already after 10, so really no need. Slept fine again.
Monday morning, packed quickly and got on the road. Only 140 miles since the last fill-up so continued past the ONLY gas for the next hunnert miles and continued backtracking. Thru Desert Center, Vidal Junction, and Needles to Fort Mohave, filled up at the Mystic Mountain Casino gas station (AZ is cheaper than CA) with 292 miles showing. Took 6.55 gallons for 44 MPG. Much better than the 39 I was getting before fixing the back brake.
From there it's an easy ride over the Black Mountains, thru Oatman, to Kingman.
Prolly 700 miles for the weekend and 2 more camping nights. Great ride, bike is doing good (more farkles to add!) Really enjoyed the company.
Dirt ride in three weeks down in South Arizona!
Here's a few pics from the weekend. Saturday evening camp:
2491
Sunday morning on my dual-sport ST:
2492
Mt. Palomar. Which of these bikes is not like the other?
2493
Monday morning sunrise, lights in the background on big rigs on I-10 headed west:
2494
Cafe at Vidal Junction (currently closed.) I used this pic on the Tuesday morning coffee thread at ST-Owners.Com. :D
2495
The event: ST-Owners TireSTOC in Murietta, CA. Byron changed 5 pairs on various bikes (with some help from the attending muscle. :D) Solo did the balancing. Other work was performed on TWilson's 1100 and my newer 1100. Both jobs were succesful. Jay Sponger was host (he was the first to need tars so set it up.) About 20 folks attended from all over the area, from San Diego to farther to Ventura, plus me.
Food was great as Agnes stirred up multiple Filipino dishes in quantities adequate for an army.
The ride: I took my newer 2001 ABS ST-1100, south and west as far as Ocotillo Springs (just west of Salton City, CA.) It's about my favorite FREE camp spot, with amenities close enuff (8 miles) if needed. Road down old 66 and US-95 down to Vidal Junction, west and south again to Desert Crossing, west to Mecca via I-10 and Box Canyon RD. Box Canyon was officially "closed" (road block at each end) but figured it couldn't be that bad so continued on. Saw quite a bit of debris from the recent floods but it had all been plowed though not swept. Several groups of campers were along the way so no sweat. Thru Mecca and south on CA-86, west on S-22 to camp.
Fire was pick-up sticks, mostly palm fronds blown in during the recent storms. Strip the "grass" from the end as fire starter, then several stems as the bulk. Burns pretty hot 'n fast but adequate and readily available in the high desert. Dinner was chicken flavor yellow rice with a can of Tuna added, all heated on a penny stove. Plenty for one person. I always carry a couple meals like that for quick 'n dirty eats. Those packages of dried rice or noodles, available at the grocery, are much cheaper than the dehydrated "campers food" from the sporting goods dept.
Tent sat up, dinner eaten, sun long gone, I slept fine on my Cy-Max 9(?) mattress. Morning, sun coming up, b'kfast my standard oatmeal and coffee, plus orange juice. Tear down the tent as the water is heating. Carry on toward Murietta.
Had to take a detour, tho. Thru Borrego, up Montezuma Grade (where I saw the new VFR a couple weeks ago) and on to Palomar Mt. and the Palomar Store. Went up the South Grade road off CA-76. Just as I turned up, a group of 4 serious sport bikes pulled off before heading back up the grade. I knew it would be mere moments before I was passed with prejudice! :eek: I heard'em coming and pulled off just like the sign sez. They acknowledged the courtesy as the continued up the hill. Only other vehicle I saw was an old Chrysler Newport coming down. I scraped some peg but didn't challenge the (long gone!) sporters.
(Speaking of signs, CA has to the only place to put up sign saying "Unlawful to throw snow balls at passing vehicles". :rofl1:
At the top, hooked up with the sporties for coffee and danish. Our 5 bikes were the only ones there on a cold, slick Sunday morning. Several others arrived as we were finishing. I rode down the east side back to 79 then north to Murietta.
Read more about the maintenance at ST-Owners.
About 4 PM I headed north and west while trying to get 'hold of Gunnar 'n Trish in Simi Valley. From Perris, headed west to Lake Elsinore and Ortega Highway. I'd never done it in the dark but stock headlights plus a pair 55 Watt fog lamps lit the way. Not much traffic and NO deer so it was a nice ride. North on I-5 to Commerce City, gas up at the Chevron ($3.26!) and call Gunnar again.
No luck there (turns out he was on a ride too. :D) so east on 60 and I-10 back to Cottonwood Springs Road (south end of Joshua Tree Nat. Park) and camp just outside the park. No fees, no amenities, but only a few miles to Chiriaco Summit if I really needed anything. I'd stopped for a sammich on the way east so cold camp. It was already after 10, so really no need. Slept fine again.
Monday morning, packed quickly and got on the road. Only 140 miles since the last fill-up so continued past the ONLY gas for the next hunnert miles and continued backtracking. Thru Desert Center, Vidal Junction, and Needles to Fort Mohave, filled up at the Mystic Mountain Casino gas station (AZ is cheaper than CA) with 292 miles showing. Took 6.55 gallons for 44 MPG. Much better than the 39 I was getting before fixing the back brake.
From there it's an easy ride over the Black Mountains, thru Oatman, to Kingman.
Prolly 700 miles for the weekend and 2 more camping nights. Great ride, bike is doing good (more farkles to add!) Really enjoyed the company.
Dirt ride in three weeks down in South Arizona!
Here's a few pics from the weekend. Saturday evening camp:
2491
Sunday morning on my dual-sport ST:
2492
Mt. Palomar. Which of these bikes is not like the other?
2493
Monday morning sunrise, lights in the background on big rigs on I-10 headed west:
2494
Cafe at Vidal Junction (currently closed.) I used this pic on the Tuesday morning coffee thread at ST-Owners.Com. :D
2495