Blues Traveler
06-05-2010, 02:44 AM
Last weekend, May 28th. thru 31st. I attended the BMW 49'er Rally in Mariposa,CA. Was my 2nd time attending this event. First time was 2 years ago when it was held in Auburn, CA. Was a great rally that year and I expected the same this year.
This was to be the 2nd trip with my recently finished (well, almost) one wheeled trailer. Round trip is just short of 800 miles. This would be a good test and put a few more miles on it before heading to Redmond in July.
All packed the night before I got up early (4:00 a.m.) and headed north. By myself I decided to slab it all the way and meet up with friends who were already there saving me a camp spot.
First thing I noticed was a small problem with going past 75 mph. At this point the trailer would start to wag a bit so I held the speed down to about 68-70 mph. At this speed and stopping for breakfast I was at the event 8 hours later, 11:00 a.m.
Here I stopped just a couple miles away from the event I stopped for a picture on Ben Hur Rd.
http://i33.photobucket.com/albums/d59/ownst1100/IMG_0868.jpghttp://i33.photobucket.com/albums/d59/ownst1100/IMG_0869.jpg
Got to the event only to find my friends had taken a ride into Yosemite. I found the spot they had saved and setup. Afterwords I made me a nice lunch using the top of the trailer for a table.
http://i33.photobucket.com/albums/d59/ownst1100/IMG_0879.jpg
Afterwords I pulled a couple more items from the trailer and finished setting up. My new 16' X 16' Noahs Tarp was a GREAT addition to my camping gear. If used right I can get a lot of stuff under it if need be.
http://i33.photobucket.com/albums/d59/ownst1100/IMG_0912.jpg
A few more pictures as I strolled around the event.
http://i33.photobucket.com/albums/d59/ownst1100/IMG_0877.jpg
http://i33.photobucket.com/albums/d59/ownst1100/IMG_0876.jpg
http://i33.photobucket.com/albums/d59/ownst1100/IMG_0874.jpg
http://i33.photobucket.com/albums/d59/ownst1100/IMG_0873.jpg
Sunday an event was held outside the gate. A course was setup for those who wanted to best everyone else's time. We were more interested in the big blue building across the street. BIG sign read "MARIPOSA BREWERY". OH YEA! We spent a few hours across the street tasting and sampling the local brew.P^ Afterwords we headed back to our camp and after a few more bears everyone pitched in and we made a BIG taco feast.
The trailer was a BIG hit. I got to talk with many Uni-go owners and all had ideas on how to straighten out the wobble I was getting at speed. Not only did I have too much of the weight to the rear I had a little too much play (twisting action) with the hitch on the bike. All good info and I was very thank full for everyones input.
This is one of those nice and quite events where you can really sit back and relax. All camping was on nice clean grassy spots. The weather was perfect in the mid 70's to low 80's. Free, clean, hot showers, and bathrooms. My stay for the 4 day's was just $45. I believe it was an extra $15 if you wanted to be fed on Saturday night. Me, I prefer to cook my own meals and bring everything along to do so.
Up early Monday, made some coffee and sat in my full size Zipdee camp chair (thanks to the extra room in the trailer) and watch everyone around me break camp as I had my coffee.
Breaking camp with a trailer is just a bit different. With the box's on the bike and the room of the trailer packing is just a breeze to do. This time as recommended I moved more weight forward and low in the trailer. After suiting up I headed out towards Fresno.
Passing through Course Gold I couldn't help but notice the many bikes out on this fine Memorial Day. Trailer was pulling much better after the shifting of weight. Gave me another 10 mph over what I could get on the way there. Stopped just the other side of Fresno for Breakfast, gassed up one last time and headed home. For the last day of a three day I was glad that there was no traffic. Slowed down for a mile or two as I pressed on past Magic Mountain but then picked back up.
Even though I could get a little more speed with the trailer I still kept it down to a nice comfortable speed between 70-75 mph. Left the event at 8:30 a.m. and pulled into the garage right at 3:00 in the afternoon.
Have already figured out what needs to be done to strengthen up the hitch and have already started and made a couple of the parts.
Was a GREAT weekend and will be back next year as the event is already scheduled for the Mariposa Fairgrounds next year.
This was to be the 2nd trip with my recently finished (well, almost) one wheeled trailer. Round trip is just short of 800 miles. This would be a good test and put a few more miles on it before heading to Redmond in July.
All packed the night before I got up early (4:00 a.m.) and headed north. By myself I decided to slab it all the way and meet up with friends who were already there saving me a camp spot.
First thing I noticed was a small problem with going past 75 mph. At this point the trailer would start to wag a bit so I held the speed down to about 68-70 mph. At this speed and stopping for breakfast I was at the event 8 hours later, 11:00 a.m.
Here I stopped just a couple miles away from the event I stopped for a picture on Ben Hur Rd.
http://i33.photobucket.com/albums/d59/ownst1100/IMG_0868.jpghttp://i33.photobucket.com/albums/d59/ownst1100/IMG_0869.jpg
Got to the event only to find my friends had taken a ride into Yosemite. I found the spot they had saved and setup. Afterwords I made me a nice lunch using the top of the trailer for a table.
http://i33.photobucket.com/albums/d59/ownst1100/IMG_0879.jpg
Afterwords I pulled a couple more items from the trailer and finished setting up. My new 16' X 16' Noahs Tarp was a GREAT addition to my camping gear. If used right I can get a lot of stuff under it if need be.
http://i33.photobucket.com/albums/d59/ownst1100/IMG_0912.jpg
A few more pictures as I strolled around the event.
http://i33.photobucket.com/albums/d59/ownst1100/IMG_0877.jpg
http://i33.photobucket.com/albums/d59/ownst1100/IMG_0876.jpg
http://i33.photobucket.com/albums/d59/ownst1100/IMG_0874.jpg
http://i33.photobucket.com/albums/d59/ownst1100/IMG_0873.jpg
Sunday an event was held outside the gate. A course was setup for those who wanted to best everyone else's time. We were more interested in the big blue building across the street. BIG sign read "MARIPOSA BREWERY". OH YEA! We spent a few hours across the street tasting and sampling the local brew.P^ Afterwords we headed back to our camp and after a few more bears everyone pitched in and we made a BIG taco feast.
The trailer was a BIG hit. I got to talk with many Uni-go owners and all had ideas on how to straighten out the wobble I was getting at speed. Not only did I have too much of the weight to the rear I had a little too much play (twisting action) with the hitch on the bike. All good info and I was very thank full for everyones input.
This is one of those nice and quite events where you can really sit back and relax. All camping was on nice clean grassy spots. The weather was perfect in the mid 70's to low 80's. Free, clean, hot showers, and bathrooms. My stay for the 4 day's was just $45. I believe it was an extra $15 if you wanted to be fed on Saturday night. Me, I prefer to cook my own meals and bring everything along to do so.
Up early Monday, made some coffee and sat in my full size Zipdee camp chair (thanks to the extra room in the trailer) and watch everyone around me break camp as I had my coffee.
Breaking camp with a trailer is just a bit different. With the box's on the bike and the room of the trailer packing is just a breeze to do. This time as recommended I moved more weight forward and low in the trailer. After suiting up I headed out towards Fresno.
Passing through Course Gold I couldn't help but notice the many bikes out on this fine Memorial Day. Trailer was pulling much better after the shifting of weight. Gave me another 10 mph over what I could get on the way there. Stopped just the other side of Fresno for Breakfast, gassed up one last time and headed home. For the last day of a three day I was glad that there was no traffic. Slowed down for a mile or two as I pressed on past Magic Mountain but then picked back up.
Even though I could get a little more speed with the trailer I still kept it down to a nice comfortable speed between 70-75 mph. Left the event at 8:30 a.m. and pulled into the garage right at 3:00 in the afternoon.
Have already figured out what needs to be done to strengthen up the hitch and have already started and made a couple of the parts.
Was a GREAT weekend and will be back next year as the event is already scheduled for the Mariposa Fairgrounds next year.