15 States in 13 Days [Archive]

ChiTown

09-06-2007, 07:28 PM

The idea for this trip started when I was asked to come to L.A. to work for 2 days a few weeks back. Hmmm L.A. After looking at my schedule, and moving a few things around, I decided I was going to ride. I've been wanting to get out West on my bike all year for my insatiable need for nice twisty roads. I need an Adventure. The budget was going to be tight though....
So I had 5 days to prepare. I had just serviced my bike, so I was go to go for the first 6000 miles or so. I estimated the rear tire would need to be replaced in California. Fine. Since I'd already racked up 15,000 miles this summer with plenty of camping I knew my camping gear and spares list was good to go. I did however pick up a (used, thanks David ) Ztechnik touring screen, and a Air Hawk butt pad. Both proved to be an excellent investment, and without the Air Hawk.....
A quick trip to REI was all I needed to pick up some expendable's, CamelBak Elixer tablets, some freeze dried food, cliff bars, etc.
The plan was to leave on Tuesday and be in L.A. on Sunday. 2 days there, then ride up the coast to Portland, then home. Sounds like a good plan..
I decided I was going to get The Midwest over with and into the mountains in 1 day, slabbing it from Chicago to Denver. That would give me more time to wander my way down to So-Cal, and maybe do a little fishing on the way. This time I only brought a fly-rod with me... I'm not a good fly fisherman, but since I was going to be in Colorado.... well, when in Rome...
Let it begin! :clap

*disclaimer*
If you don't like stories of high speed runs , dirty off road thrashing of a R1200R, scotch drinking, or pictures taken while riding one handed then this isn't for you...

I ended up leaving Chicago around 10:30AM
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Mississippi River

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At least I could day dream about The Mountains
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The problem with going West across Iowa is knowing that you'll have to cross Nebraska when you're done here. At least it was a very nice day, around 85ºF
Once in Nebraska at least the speed limit is 75, so keeping with my no excessive speeding policy (for now) I settled in at a fast clip
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Looks like it could rain...
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Yep, it's gonna rain.

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Severe Thunderstorm Warning.
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This is what it was like close to the Colorado border for me, I can appreciate a good light show even though it's slightly scary. It rained hard for about 30 minutes, then tapered off to light rain for another hour or so. I was dry in my Frogg Toggs. :1drink

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I ended up in Loveland, CO the first night, just outside of the Rocky Mountain National Park, right where I wanted to be. I treated myself to a motel this night after such a day of riding. ( I had made a deal with myself to get one if I made it there in one day)

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The next day I was up early, unable to sleep in, excited for what was in front of me. So I hit the road around 7:30 riding on US34. I stopped in Estes Park to pick up a fishing license, and try and get some tips on fly fishing in the area.

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While in Estes Park I met a guy on a old BMW who told what fly shop to go to and some roads I should ride. He said to be sure and ride Old Fall River Road, if I don't mind gravel.

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It turned out to be excellent, just as he said.

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The first of many one lane road work area's I would pass. At least I was first in line, and got to chat with the lady here for the 25 minutes I had to wait.

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First night camp-spot, right next to a river in the SM NP.

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ChiTown

09-06-2007, 07:29 PM

The temp was a nice 68º, low's forecasted to be in the upper 50's. Great.
I break out the Johnny Walker black, get some ice out of my CamelBak, and settle in and relax.
It did rain this night, around 1 AM for a few hours. Again, more lighting and thunder. I slept good with the sound of rain on the tent.
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First thing in the morning I fished the stream right next to me and caught this. Too bad it's all catch and release here in the Park....

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After packing up I headed back onto US34.
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After some time riding some beautiful twisty roads I was ready to explore some logging roads and get a little dirty.

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Look Ma, no road!

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yep, there was motorcycles listed on this approved means of travel sign.
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So after about 6 hours of riding on unpaved roads, I start to notice a sloppiness in my bike. I stop and see that my rear tire is going flat.

* note to self, don't ride rough roads with sharp rocks when the tire is in it's later stage of life*

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So I'm thinking, fine, I finally get to try out this stop and go tire plugger thingy. ( one of 3 different kinds of plugging kits I have with me.)

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It was pretty easy to use, not taking too long to use. I felt good about it, getting out my mini air compressor. I plug it in to the bike accessory outlet and it goes for about 20 seconds then stops. It must have pulled too much under load and the CAN-BUS system must have shut it down. ****. OK, I'll just move it to the standard cigarette light outlet I have hardwired in my tank-box. It works. After a minute of two there was no inflation of the tire happening. ****. I removed the nozzle, and push my finger against it, and sure enough, it wasn't holding pressure. ****. So I go to plan B, getting out the Co2 cartridges from the Stop n Go , and BMW kit's. I had 7 of them. I put one in, then two, barely seeing the tire inflate. Seems like they waste a lot of air while changing cartridges... After 5 of them I was able to see progress.... wait, what's that noise? air leaking? What?
BS. Well, I was looking for an Adventure right? :rofl
damn stop and go..... wait it's not leaking from the plug.... there's another hole! ****. So I get put another plug in the 2nd hole, losing a good portion of the air of course. I then use the 2 other cartridges, bringing my tire up to a measly 24psi. ****. No cell service of course, up on a mountain at 9,600 feet, many miles from pavement... So I take the compressor apart, trying to figure out what's wrong. Turns out it was leaking where the gauge goes into the compressor. A little e-tape and a couple zip-ties later I try it out.
Go, go, go, go , YES! it's holding and slowly building pressure. :clap

ChiTown

09-06-2007, 07:30 PM

I fill it up and head out, making my way back to pavement. After about 20 minutes on the (paved) road I could feel my rear tire losing air again.
So this is where I put in plug number 3. At least I was getting pretty proficient at it.

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Back on the road, rt 131
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I ended up replacing one of the plugs two more times, it just wouldn't hold for some reason.
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I made into Glenwood Springs, had some Sushi (good Sushi in the mountains? go figure.)
While eating I located a BMW dealer in Grand Junction, yes we have the tire, yes, come in the morning and we can change it sometime in the day. Sometime? I just ignored that, happy to have found a tire.

So I head down Rt. 133 looking for a camp spot.

Avalanche campground was the destination, unfortunately it meant riding 12 miles of this to get too. I had put enough plugs in by now that i was confident I could get out if things got worse....

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It was worth the risk, great campground, and had it mostly to myself. I few miles of dirt sure does keep out the RV's. :) There was I nice river right next to me that I was able to take a (cold) bath in.

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Again, out came the Johnny, listening to some Cash enjoying the nearly full moon. As I went to bed I saw lighting coming my way.... It stormed again raining like hell for about an hour or two, and was about 55ºF making for some good sleeping weather.
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Once again it was sunny in the morning, here's on my way out.
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So I made it to Grand Junction around 10:30AM, going to the Honda/BMW dealer. Key word Honda.
I go in to the service desk and tell them I'm here to get my tire changed. The guy says, oh, we won't be able to get to you until monday, sorry. What? You told me yesterday you could I said. You should have been here earlier he said. I explained I was riding cross country, and had 3 plugs in my tire.... He didn't care, with his Honda hat on...... I'll leave out what was said next to keep this clean, but I ended up buying the tire and leaving.

Worst Dealer Ever.
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So I ended up finding a trusty Harley dealer, going in and explaining my situation. The guy said, heck we're all ride'n on two wheels, so if you can take it off the bike, we'll change it for you and get you back on the road.

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Flame pinstripes in the ****ter even!
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I'm back on the road around noon, Utah here I come!

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ChiTown

09-06-2007, 07:31 PM

nce into Utah, especially with fresh rubber I couldn't resist. This is a road, right?
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I met this guy from Wisconsin in Utah, he was doing the same ride but in reverse, going north then down the coast, a few days work in L.A. and was on his way home heading into Colorado. It was nice to share routes and such with a fellow motorcycle traveler.

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It was hot. around 95ºF

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ChiTown

09-06-2007, 07:31 PM

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After going down 191 through Moab and Monticello I turned onto 95 towards Natural Bridges NP. Ending up on 275, I made it to the Park and was disappointed with the campground. No view, and the sites were real close to each other. So after riding so many miles of beautiful landscape with nobody around I decided I was going to find my own campsite.

After coming up a road like this

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I turned onto a "road" like this

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For a view like this

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Then onto this

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Then over here

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To find this spot

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The site was awesome. It had obviously been quite some time since anyone had been anywhere near here. Very neat spot, it was amazing how quiet it was.

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So everything was perfect. 65º, clear, full moon, a cold beer I had stuffed in my clothes in Blanding, some red beans and rice, a nice fire, etc. I was feeling on top of the world, at least until the coyote's started howling. First one to my right, then one to the left, then a few more howling behind me. I was all cool and tough till then... lol I mean, I'll admit it, I'm a city boy from the Midwest and this was new to me... lol
By this time I had finished the beer and moved on to the last of the scotch, so I'm sure that didn't help with my paranoia. So I moved my tent a little closer to the fire, made a bigger fire, and eventually yelled at them to shut up. They didn't, I laughed at myself and went to sleep.

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I woke up just fine, it was around 50º, packed up and hit the "road"
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ChiTown

09-06-2007, 07:33 PM

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An old Indian Grave
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I turned onto Rt 24 off of Rt 95
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then onto Rt 12
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A little more exploring
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Here's where I thought I could get around the locked gate, but ended up getting stuck and having to dig out some rocks, and remove my hard case to get through. I guess I could use a skid plate for the R.

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ChiTown

09-06-2007, 07:34 PM

I was trying to cut through Capitol Reef NP on this trail, but after a few hours the road became too rough for me, and I turned around.
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It was around 100º, so when I came across this stream I had to cool off.
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A u-pick orchard in Fruita, Utah

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ChiTown

09-06-2007, 07:35 PM

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Arizona!
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A little warm. I stayed hydrated and every hour or so would soak my shirt and helmet with water.
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I jumped onto I-5 on the other side of Hurricane, following these clowns at a high rate of speed for about 2 hours. Las Vegas here I come!

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Roughing it in Vegas
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Delicious dinner
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Dessert. I only donated $5 to the poker machine.
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The next morning I set out for Hermosa Beach California. I planned on jumping off the slab asap, going through the Mojave, and Joshua Tree.
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It was over 100ºF

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ChiTown

09-06-2007, 07:35 PM

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Yeah! It might rain. Flash Flood Warnings all over the place. It was real hot so I looked forward to some relief.
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So after seeing all these trails through the desert, I figured I should just take a shortcut across the Mojave.
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http://img524.imageshack.us/img524/4885/img2626ib3.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

The trail in the background is what I was on.
http://img266.imageshack.us/img266/7578/img2629qf0.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

http://img264.imageshack.us/img264/470/img2630iq0.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

This is a road right?
http://img250.imageshack.us/img250/956/img2631qf9.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

http://img206.imageshack.us/img206/4879/img2632tn1.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

Um, yeah...
http://img210.imageshack.us/img210/5254/img2633nl9.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

Salt
http://img210.imageshack.us/img210/9181/img2634vk8.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

http://img106.imageshack.us/img106/6288/img2635of3.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

I had to ride along these for miles to find a place to get over them.
http://img210.imageshack.us/img210/1184/photo6zz6.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

http://img517.imageshack.us/img517/2540/img2636ba4.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

Glorious rain! It felt so good. The only problem was the flooded roads to follow, good thing I made it back to pavement..

http://img210.imageshack.us/img210/4892/img2637dl2.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

Too bad the rain didn't last too long.
http://img237.imageshack.us/img237/1673/img2638zv8.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

http://img519.imageshack.us/img519/5556/img2642qz5.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

http://img512.imageshack.us/img512/363/img2643sh5.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

http://img488.imageshack.us/img488/9940/img2646ei3.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

ChiTown

09-06-2007, 07:37 PM

http://img512.imageshack.us/img512/5673/img2650zq1.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

I finally arrived to the coast in Hermosa Beach. I had friends here to stay with while I took care of business.

http://img166.imageshack.us/img166/5505/img2652ej8.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

This is the first half of the story, I need to let my eye's rest...

Isamemon

09-06-2007, 07:44 PM

wow keep it coming
this is great

jld2872

09-06-2007, 07:50 PM

Outstanding report on a really great trip. I am heading for Utah next week and will be covering much of the territory that you traveled. Your report has got me really looking forward to the ride.

cjack

09-06-2007, 08:06 PM

Wow. Great trip. Thanks for all the pictures.

Stuff2C

09-06-2007, 08:41 PM

DUDE! you're the man...I don't think I'd do those roadds alone on my GS :bow

Great Job :clap

Visian

09-07-2007, 05:12 AM

most excellent! :thumb

put some tourances on that pic... lower your tire pressures and bring along a cyclepump. yer bound not to fall over then. :D

thanks for taking us along.

ian

John Brase

09-07-2007, 06:48 AM

Fantastic! And brave. Very brave.:clap

John

Belquar

09-07-2007, 10:25 AM

kick a$$ ride report.:clap

Burnszilla

09-07-2007, 11:33 AM

Picture of the week...
http://img210.imageshack.us/img210/1184/photo6zz6.jpg

terham

09-07-2007, 01:26 PM

Most excellent report Are your eyes rested yet? Looking forward to the second half.

:lurk

jvanham

09-07-2007, 01:58 PM

WHOA!
As amazing as these photos look- I'm glad we didn't attempt this together!

Between the "offroading" elements and the weather, the outcome would have had a very "two men enter, one man leaves" kinda vibe!

Glad you had this adventure, though!

Smokies? Next month?

xoxo
jacqui van ham
Ton Up Club
MOA #130840

RTRandy

09-07-2007, 04:54 PM

Great report!! You really know how to rough it out there.

If I was camping and the temperature dropped below 65, I'd be reaching for my emergency search and rescue beacon.

We've crossed paths on some of those roads. I'll attach a couple of pics from some of the same spots. For a couple of those roads, you must have been riding in the opposite direction.

Interesting story about the Grand Junction dealer. On my way home in July, I called them on a Tuesday morning to get two new Z6's put on. They told me they would try to squeeze me in so I rode over. I had to wait a pretty long time, though they did manage to put a couple of new hoops on for me. Must have been some bad timing for you that day though riding with three plugs seems pretty urgent to me.

I've been at my dealer here in Texas getting work done and told I've been bumped since they had someone riding through from out of town who needed work to get them back on the road. That always made sense to me helping someone in the middle of a long trip who was broke down.

RTRandy

09-07-2007, 05:14 PM

Here's a shot taken of the "Hole in the rock" whatever that is. It sure looks different even considering the construction going on in July. I was heading north here and obviously you were heading south.

http://img110.imageshack.us/img110/3259/img2363ih1.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

RTRandy

09-07-2007, 05:26 PM

Also another shot of that bridge on 95 in Utah. Can't remember what the river was that it crossed. The Colorado? Again I was heading north here and I think yours was heading south?

http://img294.imageshack.us/img294/3148/img2475xr2.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

empeg9000

09-07-2007, 07:32 PM

Great report dude! Awesome adventure. You have a serious set of attachments to be hitting those gravel roads. :clap

ChiTown

09-07-2007, 11:27 PM

Very cool RTRandy! I was heading south, looks like I was lucky to miss the construction...
:D

I'm working non-stop all weekend, so I'll be finishing the story soon...
I think the best picture's are still to come...

http://img452.imageshack.us/img452/10/img2857hy1.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

http://img452.imageshack.us/img452/5176/img0392tg2.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

2BikeMike

09-11-2007, 07:43 PM

ChiTown, you always have the coolest trip reports.:bow That really sucks about the Honda dealer, but it was great to see the flamed ****ter pic!:thumb

riderR1150GSAdv

09-12-2007, 08:32 AM

Very Cool report!! :clap
Looks like you had a great adventure too. :D

The dealer in Grand Junction was the one I went to for an oilchange and they were very nice. They lend me an oilpan as they were too busy to fit me in that day. Fortunately changing oil an a boxer is not hard at all.:D
You must have talked to the wrong guy I guess.....

cjack

09-12-2007, 09:03 AM

This is about the 5th time I have looked at these pictures. Great trip...roads I never would have seen.

KGT1200

09-12-2007, 07:50 PM

Wow. I'm not worthy!

What an epic journey.

This gets printed out four square a saved for the future!

Great job, what juevoses man!

rogermansfield

09-12-2007, 08:00 PM

Thanks so much for posting these. I was having a crappy day till now!

terham

09-13-2007, 09:09 AM

http://img452.imageshack.us/img452/5176/img0392tg2.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

My new screen saver.:thumb

ASPHALT

09-13-2007, 01:05 PM

Stuff2C

09-13-2007, 07:51 PM

Great report. You know, as I'm riding along I always tell myself to stop and take more pics. Usually thinking to myself, "Noone's gonna believe THIS!" Half the time I just keep motoring on absorbed in the ride. You, my friend, have taken the time to take the right pics that pull people into your story. Thanks for the write-up. Nice sense of adventure you got going there.:clap

For that same reason ("I just keep motoring on absorbed in the ride") . I have missed out on some great pictures and for some strange reason i just don't stop. Thanks to guys/gals like ChiTown!! Their pictures help me remember why I ride.:bow

jjlawrence

09-14-2007, 08:52 AM

Thanks for sharing your ride. Through your pictures, I saw parts of the country I will probably not see on my own. This was awesome:clap

Jim

bobs98

09-14-2007, 08:52 AM

Great report, awesome pics.

What a ride! And on an R!

You're a braver man than I........

nh7robmw

09-15-2007, 12:16 AM

Thanks for the inspiration!

Curious, how did you get the shots on the move---left hand handheld/grab shots or did you have the camera on a mount?

Jeff 1992 GSPD

NH7RO

ChiTown

09-16-2007, 11:00 PM

OK, so where was I?
I made it to LA, and had two days of work/training to do. Personally, I don't care for SoCal much, I lived there for a few years and remember the traffic in LA....
At the time that I lived there, I wasn't riding then so this was my first experience in the land of legal lane splitting. Don't get me wrong I split lanes everyday here in Chicago, but with untrained cage drivers ( that will cut you off on purpose, honk, block you in, etc.) I am always cautious when doing so. In LA splitting lanes at 75, with traffic moving 25 seems common, and I jumped right in, making good time most everywhere. For obvious reasons I have no pics of me splitting lanes in heavy traffic. :)
I arrived on Sunday night, worked until tuesday afternoon and then set out for San Fransisco, slabbing it up I-5. At the time it was around 100º F, hot and sunny. Plenty of stops to soak my shirt and helmet kept me comfortable.

http://img250.imageshack.us/img250/1627/img2653ul0.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

I made it into San Fran just before sunset( at rush hour ), the temp dropped about 25º as I got close to the coast.

http://img265.imageshack.us/img265/1897/img2658vd0.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

I did get off the highway and cut through the city, at least a little.

http://img213.imageshack.us/img213/1967/img2670ej2.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

Golden Gate Bridge
http://img114.imageshack.us/img114/5292/img2671jr0.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

http://img262.imageshack.us/img262/9849/img2672al1.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

After crossing the bridge I went to REI in Corte Madera to restock for my ride home. It was dark by now and I was looking for a place to camp. I ended up in Mount Tamalpais SP, camping at a walk-in site.

Anxious to ride on US 1, I was up just before sunrise.

http://img441.imageshack.us/img441/9997/img2684je0.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

Amazing road, very similar to Deal's Gap, but not one other vehicle for miles. After 2 days in LA, and a hot interstate run this is just what I needed.

http://img515.imageshack.us/img515/4618/img2688iv6.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

The coast!
http://img406.imageshack.us/img406/2775/img2690ll4.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

http://img70.imageshack.us/img70/8020/img2689va8.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

http://img248.imageshack.us/img248/9139/img2696xe5.jpg
Shot with Canon PowerShot A710 IS (http://profile.imageshack.us/camerabuy.php?model=Canon+PowerShot+A710+IS&make=Canon) at 2007-09-16

http://img299.imageshack.us/img299/3787/img2705ee1.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

http://img503.imageshack.us/img503/9596/img2709mc4.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

http://img112.imageshack.us/img112/2814/img2713tn4.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

http://img116.imageshack.us/img116/8539/img2717my8.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

http://img179.imageshack.us/img179/1606/img2716wz4.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

http://img48.imageshack.us/img48/4168/img2727ot1.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

http://img166.imageshack.us/img166/2153/img2728em7.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

Campsite just north of Crescent City

http://img370.imageshack.us/img370/7377/img2751gr0.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

Thursday morning I set out early again, wanting to see so much, the reality of time and distance and goals setting in. I needed to be home on monday night, 4.5 days away.

http://img207.imageshack.us/img207/8607/img2763zv9.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

ChiTown

09-16-2007, 11:11 PM

More traffic

http://img207.imageshack.us/img207/8607/img2763zv9.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

While riding on US 1 in Oregon, I saw a nice looking beach, to me this didn't seem that they really didn't want me to ride down to it.

http://img294.imageshack.us/img294/5579/img2774wj1.jpg
http://img507.imageshack.us/img507/4937/img2765yi0.f2a60cf595.jpg (http://g.imageshack.us/g.php?h=507&i=img2765yi0.jpg)

steep, loose rocks, but once I went around the gate there was no turning back..

http://img267.imageshack.us/img267/7809/img2773zg7.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

It was worth it once I was here

http://img207.imageshack.us/img207/2343/img2766yw6.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

http://img187.imageshack.us/img187/313/img2765gg2.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

the ride up was a little.... loose
http://img124.imageshack.us/img124/5117/img2768no5.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

plenty of these to beware of
http://img456.imageshack.us/img456/8915/img2775pv1.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

http://img210.imageshack.us/img210/6782/img2776qd3.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

Fire!
http://img211.imageshack.us/img211/8788/img2781om8.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

I jumped off of 101 after a few hours of heavy traffic. Time to turn East. ****.
http://img72.imageshack.us/img72/1628/img2787ef7.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

http://img111.imageshack.us/img111/4798/img2791md3.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

http://img507.imageshack.us/img507/8573/img2804lf7.jpg (http://imageshack.us)
http://img507.imageshack.us/img507/8573/img2804lf7.ba6533890c.jpg (http://g.imageshack.us/g.php?h=507&i=img2804lf7.jpg)

Lava fields
http://img507.imageshack.us/img507/6677/img2814zl4.jpg (http://imageshack.us)
http://img507.imageshack.us/img507/6677/img4zl4.7f9030ae3a.jpg (http://g.imageshack.us/g.php?h=507&i=img2814zl4.jpg)

I zig-zag'd my way through Oregon up to HWY 20

http://img205.imageshack.us/img205/9692/img2818re0.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

http://img253.imageshack.us/img253/4756/img2819yq9.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

will continue ASAP

carter

09-17-2007, 09:22 PM

Great photo's ! Terrific shots of the coast. I've been there, but it looks even better then I remember... and the picture of the elk with grass in his antlers, knocked me out. Thanks... and have fun.

wezul

09-17-2007, 10:36 PM

Dude! What stones! Good on you.
The first ride to the West (it was Iowa, wasn't it?) after you first bought your bike was really cool but you have outdone yourself this time.
You definitely have a good grip on what it is to which we all aspire (at least I think, for me, it is the "crux of the biscuit").
Keep doing what you do and I shall look forward to your future reports.
As we are in relatively close proximity, hope to meet up with you sometime.

:thumb :bow

Floppp

09-22-2007, 01:13 AM

Hmmm, did Chitown get lost or did he decide to stay in SoCal?

2BikeMike

09-23-2007, 03:50 PM

Hmmm, did Chitown get lost or did he decide to stay in SoCal?

Nah, he's probably finishing off that bottle of scotch. :whistle

nh7robmw

09-28-2007, 07:01 PM

Curious as to how you got these great shots, particularly the ones obviously taken on the move. Did you just whip out a small digicam and grab shots over the windshield or do you use a helmet-mounted camera?

I hope to do a bunch of on the road shots when I go all the way down Baja in November.

Thanks again for the super ride report---truly memorable!:thumb

---Jeff

1992 Euro GSPD

Stuff2C

09-29-2007, 03:11 PM

If all goes as planned you'll be able to ask Chitown questions "live". He's scheduled to be on the side stand up radio show on ESPN Florida October 6th. Mark your calender!

rkasal

09-30-2007, 01:08 AM

Nice trip, and thanks for the pictures. Not to self; carry a spare tire. Thanks again.

Regards,

Randy Kasal

Stuff2C

10-05-2007, 04:15 PM

final conformation

Joe aka ChiTown will be on the show to tell us in his own words about his adventure.

www.sidestandup.com www.espnflorida.com 1080 listen live

ChiTown

10-05-2007, 06:44 PM

Sorry for the delay in the trip report.
I'm not rich, or retired so all this time I spent putting the 22,000 miles on my bike this summer is coming back at me through intense work weeks.... The way I see it, working 16+ hour days back to back just help me train for my next trip.....
I will post the rest asap.

I hope some of you will tune in tomorrow.....

Stuff2C

10-06-2007, 09:10 AM

Well it looks like ChiTown's story is set for another day...that hour time difference reared it's ugly head. :doh

RandallIsland

10-06-2007, 10:56 AM

Great Job!

I admire all of it. Thanks for the dedication to share the experience, the pics and the commentary.

You've set quite a standard for us all to emulate. :thumb

Cheers!
-RSS

BubbaZanetti

10-07-2007, 10:32 AM

whoa! very noice man!!!

more street bikes in the dirt!!!!

that moose had grass all over it's head!!!

Beemer01

10-08-2007, 12:53 PM

You brought a lot of us along on a trip many would like to take!

Another ChiTown rider.

franze

10-21-2007, 08:14 AM

You have the pioneer spirit. Good on 'ya. FYI those "roads" going nowhere in the Mojave are what's left of Patton training his tank corps prior to heading off to Africa and Italy. Loved the shots of my home state. You've inspired everyone. Gotta go get my R1100RT dirty!:clap

ChiTown

10-21-2007, 09:58 AM

You have the pioneer spirit. Good on 'ya. FYI those "roads" going nowhere in the Mojave are what's left of Patton training his tank corps prior to heading off to Africa and Italy.

Thank you very much for that info, riding through a piece of history! Cool.

Here's a link with all of the full size pics and a slide show.
Beware the slide show is a large file and about 20 minutes long.

http://web.mac.com/joefinn/iWeb/ChiTown/

ChiTown

10-21-2007, 10:58 AM

I realized I never finished the report, getting all caught up working...

Oregon
http://ChiTown01.smugmug.com/photos/210904506-X3.jpg

http://ChiTown01.smugmug.com/photos/210904513-X3.jpg

http://ChiTown01.smugmug.com/photos/210904526-X3.jpg

http://ChiTown01.smugmug.com/photos/210904538-X3.jpg

http://ChiTown01.smugmug.com/photos/210904562-X3.jpg

http://ChiTown01.smugmug.com/photos/210904570-X3.jpg

This guy must have fell asleep.... not a curve or cross road for miles

http://ChiTown01.smugmug.com/photos/210904587-X3.jpg

More construction

http://ChiTown01.smugmug.com/photos/210904605-X3.jpg

Thank God for this place, I was running very low on fuel.
http://ChiTown01.smugmug.com/photos/210904615-X3.jpg

http://ChiTown01.smugmug.com/photos/210904626-X3.jpg

Very tasty burritos here

http://ChiTown01.smugmug.com/photos/210904636-X3.jpg

http://ChiTown01.smugmug.com/photos/210904683-X3.jpg

More shortcuts...

http://ChiTown01.smugmug.com/photos/210904695-X3.jpg

http://ChiTown01.smugmug.com/photos/210904712-X3.jpg

http://ChiTown01.smugmug.com/photos/210904727-X3.jpg

http://ChiTown01.smugmug.com/photos/210904739-X3.jpg

http://ChiTown01.smugmug.com/photos/210904755-X3.jpg

http://ChiTown01.smugmug.com/photos/210904777-X3.jpg

ChiTown

10-21-2007, 10:58 AM

http://ChiTown01.smugmug.com/photos/210904798-X3.jpg

Lava fields

http://ChiTown01.smugmug.com/photos/210904807-X3.jpg

http://ChiTown01.smugmug.com/photos/210904822-X3.jpg

http://ChiTown01.smugmug.com/photos/210904836-X3.jpg

http://ChiTown01.smugmug.com/photos/210904842-X3.jpg

I can't stand to ride behind anyone, no matter their speed, so I passed him and he followed me for quite a run. I didn't know these bike's had it in them... He just finished a 5 day ride, and wanted to shake the hand of the only guy who passed him. :)

http://ChiTown01.smugmug.com/photos/210904855-X3.jpg

Kind of a weird town, I take it that all those numbers are football players numbers??

http://ChiTown01.smugmug.com/photos/210904868-X3.jpg

http://ChiTown01.smugmug.com/photos/210904884-X3.jpg

http://ChiTown01.smugmug.com/photos/210904899-X3.jpg

http://ChiTown01.smugmug.com/photos/210904911-X3.jpg

http://ChiTown01.smugmug.com/photos/210904925-X3.jpg

ChiTown

10-21-2007, 11:10 AM

http://ChiTown01.smugmug.com/photos/210904933-X3.jpg

Going into Yellowstone in the morning

http://ChiTown01.smugmug.com/photos/210904942-X3.jpg

http://ChiTown01.smugmug.com/photos/210904957-X3.jpg

http://ChiTown01.smugmug.com/photos/210904976-X3.jpg

http://ChiTown01.smugmug.com/photos/210904990-X3.jpg

http://ChiTown01.smugmug.com/photos/210905002-X3.jpg

http://ChiTown01.smugmug.com/photos/210905012-X3.jpg

http://ChiTown01.smugmug.com/photos/210905031-X3.jpg

http://ChiTown01.smugmug.com/photos/210905047-X3.jpg

http://ChiTown01.smugmug.com/photos/210905076-X3.jpg

http://ChiTown01.smugmug.com/photos/210905106-X3.jpg

http://ChiTown01.smugmug.com/photos/210905123-X3.jpg

http://ChiTown01.smugmug.com/photos/210905136-X3.jpg

http://ChiTown01.smugmug.com/photos/210905149-X3.jpg

http://ChiTown01.smugmug.com/photos/210905167-X3.jpg

http://ChiTown01.smugmug.com/photos/210905179-X3.jpg

http://ChiTown01.smugmug.com/photos/210905200-X3.jpg

http://ChiTown01.smugmug.com/photos/210905207-X3.jpg

http://ChiTown01.smugmug.com/photos/210905215-X3.jpg

ChiTown

10-21-2007, 11:31 AM

http://ChiTown01.smugmug.com/photos/210905224-X3.jpg

http://ChiTown01.smugmug.com/photos/210905240-X3.jpg

Mt. Washburn

http://ChiTown01.smugmug.com/photos/210905258-X3.jpg

http://ChiTown01.smugmug.com/photos/210905269-X3.jpg

http://ChiTown01.smugmug.com/photos/210905287-X3.jpg

As I was taking the previous shot, this guy jumped out of the forest behind my and just walked on by...

http://ChiTown01.smugmug.com/photos/210905304-X3.jpg

http://ChiTown01.smugmug.com/photos/210905319-X3.jpg

http://ChiTown01.smugmug.com/photos/210905352-X3.jpg

http://ChiTown01.smugmug.com/photos/210905374-X3.jpg

I took a walk out on the waterfall, really neat place to find yourself standing...

http://ChiTown01.smugmug.com/photos/210905397-X3.jpg

http://ChiTown01.smugmug.com/photos/210905405-X3.jpg

Traffic

http://ChiTown01.smugmug.com/photos/210905418-X3.jpg

http://ChiTown01.smugmug.com/photos/210905434-X3.jpg

This is about the point when I had already been to about 5 of the campgrounds in the park looking for a site. I was frustrated by now. I had it in my head that I was going to camp in Yellowstone, picturing my tent on some plateau overlooking a valley with buffalo in it... Boy was I wrong. I was so frustrated because I had just rode through many miles of some of the most beautiful scenery, such vast open spaces, and all the campgrounds sites I had seen were stacked right next to each other like apartment's here in Chicago. With ALL this space why on earth did they have to make the campgrounds so dense. I had already been warned about the traffic, and RV's so that didn't bother me, I understand why so many people would want to come here...
I started making my way out of the NE part of the park, going to ride the Beartooth HWY, a road that the guy I met in Utah told me to take.

http://ChiTown01.smugmug.com/photos/210905448-X3.jpg

ChiTown

10-21-2007, 12:00 PM

http://ChiTown01.smugmug.com/photos/210905467-X3.jpg

http://ChiTown01.smugmug.com/photos/210905484-X3.jpg

http://ChiTown01.smugmug.com/photos/210905497-X3.jpg

I donated a sticker.....

http://ChiTown01.smugmug.com/photos/210905508-X3.jpg

http://ChiTown01.smugmug.com/photos/210905528-X3.jpg

Back off road, running parallel to 212

http://ChiTown01.smugmug.com/photos/210905543-X3.jpg

This "shortcut" started to get more challenging, after I had passed a group of ATV rider's I wasn't about to turn back...

http://ChiTown01.smugmug.com/photos/210905552-X3.jpg

http://ChiTown01.smugmug.com/photos/210905571-X3.jpg

http://ChiTown01.smugmug.com/photos/210905591-X3.jpg

http://ChiTown01.smugmug.com/photos/210905600-X3.jpg

This picture doesn't communicate how steep this was, or how big and loose the rocks were... I was a few hours down this path so there's no turning back.

http://ChiTown01.smugmug.com/photos/210905639-X3.jpg

http://ChiTown01.smugmug.com/photos/210905659-X3.jpg

212
http://ChiTown01.smugmug.com/photos/210905675-X3.jpg

http://ChiTown01.smugmug.com/photos/210905692-X3.jpg

http://ChiTown01.smugmug.com/photos/210905705-X3.jpg

http://ChiTown01.smugmug.com/photos/210905719-X3.jpg

http://ChiTown01.smugmug.com/photos/210905736-X3.jpg

http://ChiTown01.smugmug.com/photos/210905778-X3.jpg

ChiTown

10-21-2007, 12:29 PM

http://ChiTown01.smugmug.com/photos/210905798-X3.jpg

http://ChiTown01.smugmug.com/photos/210905842-X3.jpg

http://ChiTown01.smugmug.com/photos/210905887-X3.jpg

http://ChiTown01.smugmug.com/photos/210905911-X3.jpg

Badlands
http://ChiTown01.smugmug.com/photos/210905937-X3.jpg

http://ChiTown01.smugmug.com/photos/210905971-X3.jpg

http://ChiTown01.smugmug.com/photos/210905995-X3.jpg

http://ChiTown01.smugmug.com/photos/210906015-X3.jpg

http://ChiTown01.smugmug.com/photos/210906043-X3.jpg

http://ChiTown01.smugmug.com/photos/210906068-X3.jpg

http://ChiTown01.smugmug.com/photos/210906100-X3.jpg

http://ChiTown01.smugmug.com/photos/210906123-X3.jpg

http://ChiTown01.smugmug.com/photos/210906145-X3.jpg

Yep, it finally happened. In Wisconsin, practically in my back yard... IL plates doesn't help either.

http://ChiTown01.smugmug.com/photos/210906162-X3.jpg

Home sweet home. But why am I so sad to be here?

http://ChiTown01.smugmug.com/photos/210906209-X3.jpg

http://ChiTown01.smugmug.com/photos/210906197-X3.jpg

http://ChiTown01.smugmug.com/photos/210906222-X3.jpg

The thing I love the most about my bike, take all the crap off, give it a good wash, and I'm back to having a great city daily rider.... :)

The day after.

http://ChiTown01.smugmug.com/photos/210906185-X3.jpg

-Joe

cjack

10-21-2007, 01:24 PM

Thanks very much for all. I enjoyed the trip too.

hairsmith

10-21-2007, 01:41 PM

Great Report:clap
It take lots of time to load and put it together, and those like me that have a tuff time getting away from work that long truly appreciate the effort.
Thanks For sharing !

franze

10-21-2007, 02:21 PM

YO bro, you got the right stuff!!! :clap

Grumpole

10-22-2007, 12:00 PM

Great trip, great pix, great report. There's a lot of valuable information packed in here, and I sure appreciate that. After you've had some time to reflect - anything you'd do dramatically differently that you haven't commented on? What tire repair kit would you bring next time? Many thanks. Peter

Bob_M

10-23-2007, 09:45 PM

My wife and I spent about 40 minutes going through your ride report. It was time well spent. Thanks.

and you got more than 2500 views on the report. You are famous!! :clap

sonnata

10-23-2007, 10:07 PM

Thanks for the great ride report. Great photos. You should do a book!

ChiTown

10-23-2007, 10:47 PM

After you've had some time to reflect - anything you'd do dramatically differently that you haven't commented on? What tire repair kit would you bring next time? Many thanks. Peter

What I would do different...
I just took a short 5 day trip into into TN, NC, VA, WV, OH, IN last week. What I learned from this trip is I don't really need as much crap with me. I didn't even have my side bags with me. More tools, less clothing, less stuff for cooking, just a jetboil. Granted this was a much shorter trip, but my goal is to reduce my load on the next big one. I really liked how my bike handled having no panniers....
The stop n go plugger works good enough, getting me 150+ miles on numerous plugs. I'd imagine having a cheap string type plugger will go in my tool kit, just in case.
Next trip I take when I know I'll be doing a tire change I'll carry the spare with me, along with some irons, torque wrench, and a balancer.

A photo of my recent light-weight setup.
http://ChiTown01.smugmug.com/photos/212239243-X3.jpg