The Golden Age of Me

Here's a laugh for you from a conversation with a friend.

I remember when I owned nothing, had a hot girlfriend and a beat up Triumph sports car, and thought that if I had enough money for a case of beer I was rolling in dough. Not a care or a problem in the world !!

Now I have a great wife, a beat up Miata, and a bottle of Buffalo Trace. In some ways nothing changes.

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The Golden Age Of ...

When was the golden age of motorcycling? 

It was when you were 20.

Kevin Cameron, in the March 2017 issue of Cycle World

Sage as always, Kevin nails it. The best times for most of us was when we were young and everything was new.

It's the new that made it all so special. Most always awkward, many times frightening, and sometimes heart breaking, life was a big shiny ball of discovery. Exploring the world around us and testing the limits of what we could accomplish.

Or at least what we could get away with ...

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My heros

Everyone has a hero or two. I found two of mine along the White Rim Trail at the Gooseberry campgrounds last week.

Andrew & Kevin

Why are these two my heroes? They're two college students from the Univ of N. Dakota. Kevin studies PoliSci and Andrew is a C.S. major. They were on their spring break from Fargo ND and decided to go for a hike. Hmmm ...

I can see them thinking, "Let's go someplace we know little about that's 1200 miles away and go camping. Nah, that's too easy, let's throw in a 60 mile hike to make it interesting. That's it !! What could go wrong?"

So they did.

We met them on our White Rim Trail bicycle trip. (More on that next post) We had cleverly brought our food, tents, and sleeping bags but had neglected to bring matches for the stove. My stove has a self lighter but we brought Diane's which is old school and requires fire to make fire. We were looking at 3 days of cold beans and oatmeal. This is know as The Bad Plan.

There was nobody around except two people we could see about 100 meters from us. Diane went to ask them if they had any matches to spare so we might cook our dinner.

Better than that, they had a couple of disposable lighters that they we willing to give us so that the rest of our trip wouldn't be spoiled.

After dinner and watching the sunset over the mountain ridge we struck up a conversation with Andrew and Kevin. We found they had with amazingly vague plans for hiking the trails in Canyonlands NP. They had gotten a back-country permit and were winging it!

We all talked for over a hour before the cold told us it was time to creep into our sleeping bags. Looking up I could see the Milky Way clearly. The Big Dipper was rotating around the North Star, eternally telling time if you had the sense to read it.

The next morning we thankfully had hot water for coffee and oatmeal thanks to our generous benefactors. We packed our gear for the next leg of our trip and chatted with Kevin and Andrew before they walked off into the distance ready for whatever came.

They are the very definition of adventurers. Going with what they had and not waiting for everything to be perfect. Plans, sure, but not so many that they couldn't take it as they found it. Easy going, gregarious, humble, and generous.

That's why they are my heroes. Every day is another chance to find what is new in the world. They may be back with their books by now but I have every confidence that they are already planning their next trip. I hope to run into them again.

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A walk in the mountails

The Oquirrh Mountains are right next to my house. I look at them every morning as I have my coffee and see them out my bedroom window as I go to sleep.

The highest peak is 10,620' and my house is at ~5,050' so there is a mile of elevation to be conquered. Doesn't appear to be anything technical, just a hike to the top. You know where this is going don't you? The hills and mountains of Utah have an abundance of old, abandoned mines that have left trails and and old wagon tracks. Perfect for a day hike - if you can find them.

The first part was to get into the area and just bushwack across country to see what I could find.

The first artifact I encountered was an old drain pipe coming down the hill. It was crude concrete that was lined with a wire bound wooden pipe. Or, maybe, it was a wooden pipe that was encased in cement. Very odd. 

Finally I found what looked to be an old road and started following it uphill. 

It was snowy in parts and muddy where the sun had melted the snow. Although it was only 40F in the shade I was sweating in the sunlight. A beautiful day for a hike.

I didn't make it to the top on this trip but I did make it about a third of the way up. I now know where to connect with the old mining road and with an early start I'm sure I can achieve my goal. 

The great part of living here is that everything you see is only minutes from my home. When I look out the window I can hear it calling me back for another try.

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Thoughts

I came across this on my computer while looking for something else. I don't know if I wrote it or copied it from somewhere else. I'd like to think I was this eloquent but I can't be sure. Either way the words still ring true.

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I could drown in the dew on my face.

I live in a desert

A drop is like a pool

A cup is like a river

The dew on my face would be like an ocean but I have never experienced either

I would leave but I know no way out.

Waking

I'd rather wake up in the middle of nowhere anytime

than in the middle of someplace.

I'd rather be uncomfortable in a place that had wonder

than wonder about someplace that was comfortable.

If it was warm, and comfortable, and easy

there would be a thousand gerbils to mess things up.

Steps

The first step is the hardest.

No, maybe it is the 12^th, or the 27^th.

With the first step you have resolve

And with the second you have determination.

The fourth and fifth you greet with elation.

By the ninth you have momentum,

It all looks so good.

But then there is some little glitch,

A reason to break your stride.

A crack in that first resolve,

A waver in your determination,

A loss of confidence.

A beginning of the slide.

You whip up your courage,

And take another step.

But it's no good.

You've broken your stride

It began so well when you said,

I will throw a pebble into the river every day

You were doomed when you said,

I am in a hurry (or was it too tired )

I will throw in two tomorrow

14 Oct 2004

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And now for something a little different ...

Take a perfectly good BMW, add third wheel with a casket and it turns into a beast. Or perhaps I should say, It hardly turns at all.

The sidecar rig means that you have to be aware of the extra 3' hanging off of the right side so that you don't clip cars and pedestrians. There is no leaning into curves, it goes around corners more like an automobile before the invention of power steering. 

Yet I have to say that no motorcycle has recently put a smile on my face the way this thing did! 

It's a 1940's BMW R75 from the German Army in World War II. Not a replica, it's the real deal. For all I know it may have been part of Rommel's Afrika Korps which were all painted that tan color to blend in with the desert sand. To deal with the desert or the rough country on the Russian front it has 2-wheel drive. The wheel on the sidecar can be engaged by pulling a lever so that both rear wheels push the bike forward. It even has a high and low range like a Jeep. I wish there had been time to try everything out.

For more excitement the transmission has 4 speeds forward and 1 in reverse. Push the button on the tank mounted shift lever, pull it back into R, and backwards you go. Move the lever forward and you have 1, 2, 3, and 4 at your command. There is also a foot shifter but I never got the hang of it. Besides, it was too much fun winding up the engine, pulling in the clutch, and then grabbing the lever to move it to the next notch.

I only got about 10 miles under my belt but I can't wait to try it again. I would love to do a little off-roading with it to see just what it would do. They have quite a reputation as a go anywhere vehicle. If it were mine I would ship it to Tennessee and tackle the TransAmerica Trail again.

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Getting ready for the next one

My friends Kevin and Diane want to bicycle the White Rim Trail in March and I've offered to use my pickup as the support vehicle. Why anyone would want to pedal when you can just twist a throttle is beyond me but they are good friends so I'll just smile when they complain about blisters.

We are planning on a 3 day trip which means camping out under the stars and eating trail food. There are no stores once we leave Moab so we will need to bring everything we need. I decided to start the prep this morning by getting out the camp stove and making breakfast on it.

The stove worked perfectly and the pancakes were delightful. I admit that I didn't perk my own coffee but I usually just boil water and use Cafe Bustelo instant when I'm on the road. Much less gear and mess to deal with. An important detail when you're on a motorcycle instead of a 1 ton, long bed pickup

The truck, minus the trailer, will carry the bicycles, spare parts, and gear. I'll just follow along and take pictures while they work up a sweat. And cook pancakes ...

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Home is the sailor, home from the sea

Travel is fun but eventually it ends and you end up with this. 

Super Moon

Out for a late night walk to enjoy the view.

Merry Christmas

A Christmas walk in Connecticut. To be followed by hot chocolate beside the fireplace.

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J. Braun: Finally got the tree lit. Ho Ho Ho  View video You received this mail because J. Braun shared these photos with you. If you no longer wish to receive email notifications of shared photos, unsubscribe here. Get the Google Photos app Google Inc. 1600 Amphitheatre Pkwy Mountain View, CA 94043 USA

Why I keep going back

This is the Hurrah Pass road heading to Basecamp Lodge and the Colorado River

Where earth and sky combine

Where earth and sky combine

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J. Braun: Colorado River west of Moab. What a sight wake up to!!  View photo You received this mail because J. Braun shared these photos with you. If you no longer wish to receive email notifications of shared photos, unsubscribe here. Get the Google Photos app Google Inc. 1600 Amphitheatre Pkwy Mountain View, CA 94043 USA

J. Braun shared 1 photo with you

J. Braun shared a photo with you  View photo You received this mail because J. Braun shared these photos with you. If you no longer wish to receive email notifications of shared photos, unsubscribe here. Get the Google Photos app Google Inc. 1600 Amphitheatre Pkwy Mountain View, CA 94043 USA

Trip Prep

Everyone knows that a great trip begins with great stickers!

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Death March Tours goes to Skull Valley

I admit that I haven't been good about keeping up a log of my adventures this past summer. First, there wasn't many of them. And second, they were merely mini-adventures. However, it's time to get back on the trail and start writing again.

My friends Jill and Brian joined me for a day of riding on the high desert south of Tooele last weekend. We started on the Pony Express trail and followed it up and over Lookout Pass. 

Brian wanted to find out if a cruiser guy could learn to love a dual-sport bike and Jill, well she's just all attitude and eat my dust!

The little black dots are horses.

From there we kept a lookout for the wild horse herds that live in the Onaqui Herd Management Area to the west. They are completely wild and are in a fairly isolated area that gets few visitors. We didn't get too close so that we wouldn't disturb them. The area didn't look too managed to me except for the sign saying that the horses would bite and kick silly tourists.

A canyon looked interesting so we tried exploring it but found it to be a dead end. You never know until you try.

We got back on the road and just followed Jill as she blazed across Skull Valley. We finally turned around when we were starting to think about the approaching darkness. We had gone far enough west that we decided to head farther north and pickup UT 199 to save some time. UT 199 is Utah's version of the "Tail of the Dragon". Even more fun on knobbies!

72 miles of dirt trails with a little pavement plus a few wild horses made for an enjoyable day with good friends.

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Death March Tours Application Form

Following up on my last idea here's the application for joining a Death March Tour

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Death March Tours

Tour Application and Profile

Name ____________________________________________

Address __________________________________________

City State Zip ____________________________________

Phone/text ______________________________________

Tell us about yourself:

1. Knowledge

 I'm a young punk and I think I know everything.

 I'm a millennial hipster and I know I know everything.

 I'm an old fart and I've forgotten more than those ice holes will ever know.

 I'm just starting and have a BMW GS 1250 so I'm cool.

2. Experience

 I've been to Baja.

 I've been to Bushwick and Berkeley.

 I've done the TAT and was bored.

 I just park my Beemer and stand around looking cool.

3. Favorite Tires

 Whatever knobby is on sale.

 Continental TKC80.

 Dunlop 606

 The ones that came with the bike. They still have those cool little spiky things sticking out.

4. Favorite Destination

 Nearest enduro

 Nearest Starbucks

 Nearest woods

 Nearest biker hangout that's cool this week.

5. Current bike

 KTM 1290 Super Adventure R

 Triumph Tiger Explorer XCa

 Honda Africa Twin (RD07)

 I told you it's a Beemer. Be cool!

6. Road food

 Mickey D's

 Brew pub

 Denny's

 I don't eat. I might get some on my jacket and that wouldn't be cool.

7. Gear

 MSR - sturdy stuff.

 Rev'It - all my friends have it.

 Something I picked up on Craigslist - cheap.

 Klim - I want to look as cool as my bike.

8. Helmet

 Shoei (red / white / blue)

 Arai (flat black)

 Bell (white with scratches)

 Bilt (cool graphics that look like a P-51)

9. Store

 Twisted Throttle

 Street fairs

 Rocky Mountain ATV

 Cycle Gear has cool stuff cheap.

10. Maintenance

 I take it to the dealer

 I take it to an independent shop in Red Hook run by organic, vegan, free range, artisanal, fair trade, lesbian and trans-gender holistic mechanics.

 I change the oil every winter and spark plugs on odd numbered years.

 I haven't gotten enough miles to get the cool free first check.

11. Beer

 PBR

 Panty Peeler IPL

 Rolling Rock

 Wine cooler

12. Non-bike activity

 Nitro Circus dvds

 PS4 - MXGP 3

 No such thing

 Cool vampire biker chick movies

13. Pet

 Pit bull named Honda

 Cat named Dog

 Dog named Wrench

 Hamster named Mr Cool

14. Food

 Burgers

 Sushi

 BBQ

 Fruit salads with Cool Whip

15. Color

 Honda Red

 Artisanal Flat Black

 20-50 Brown

 Kool Lime

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Tourism 101

My new tourist idea. Pick up a couple of dirt bikes, and let other people pay for my fun. No frills, no fancy dinners, posers will be left to fend for themselves.

My tag line:

Fly in, get beat up,
and fly home with bruises and memories you can't get anywhere else!

Let me know if you want to sign up for the Beta group. Suggestions for a name will be gratefully accepted.

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Go with what you got

I used to teach a beginner's photography course at the Ocean Beach Free School. At the first class I would lay out several large 16x20 prints and my Canon SLR with some lenses. They would have their Nikons and Pentaxes proudly sitting in front of them. Everything they needed to start taking perfect pictures.

I would let them ooh and aah over my prints and then I would pull out an old Kodak Brownie from my camera bag and explain that I had taken the photos with it, not the fancy pro equipment. I then took out more of the cameras that I had found in yard sales and passed them out. I explained that for the first third of the class they would be using these to take their pictures. I explained that it was the eye and the heart that took pictures. The cameras were merely electro-mechanical devices that recorded their feelings.

Some of them got it, some of them handed back the cameras and left.

What has this got to do with motorcycles? No much but everything to do with the spirit of adventure. A fancy camera will produce only snapshots in the hands of a person who does not know what they are looking at. A person with the best adventure motorcycle will fail to find the experience they are looking for without an open heart and mind.

What is the perfect adventure bike? Simple, the one you are riding right now! One guy rode a Kawasaki Ninja to Alaska and back with only a sleeping bag tied to the seat. I know a crazy 17 year old kid who rode a Honda 50 from San Francisco to LA down US 1. then on up to Yosemite, and topped it off with a return to the Bay Area. Lois Pryce rode solo from Alaska to Argentina on a Yamaha XT225. And is still going ...

 Adventure doesn't mean far away places and months long trips. It starts by taking a different route home from the grocery store to see what is down that road you've never taken. Stopping for coffee at a place that looks nothing like the usual places you stop at. Setting aside Google Maps and Siri and looking at a paper map to plot your next trip. I look at bikes loaded down with gps and nav gear and wonder where the adventure is in being told what to do by a robotic voice. 

You're never lost, just misplaced. Look at the world with your eyes and your heart. The world is waiting for you.

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