tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4163647084778637162024-03-13T04:31:56.909-07:00This is me.I have a bunch of time off from work now so I've decided to ride my motorcycle across the US. Its a trip I've been wanting to take for a long time and with my inspiration coming from the series "Long Way Round" and my own passion for motorcycle travel and adventure this dream is about to become a reality. Boston, MA to Portland, OR and back. Brandonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03140358981435942230noreply@blogger.comBlogger84125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-416364708477863716.post-58163835701211766292011-11-20T21:58:00.000-08:002011-11-20T21:58:03.581-08:00shop Talk and final stats<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Well the final few days after the trip has been a great time to just remember how fantastic and lucky I've felt for the last month and half. I left Boston October, 1, 2011 and made it all the wall across the US and back, taking the long way around so to say for most of the trip and piling up 10, 201 miles. To travel that many miles I spent $843.39 on 218.69 gallons of gasoline. My cheapest fill up was $3.11 for a gallon of premium and my most expensive gallon of gas was $4.29. I stopped 38 times for gas and was on the road for 46 days. Not all the days I was traveling as I did spent a week in CA in the same spot and a few days in GA in the same spot. My longest mileage in one day was on my last day. I drove 896 miles from Cumming, Georgia all through the Smokey Mountains in TN then up through 81 North to PA. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">I figured it would be a good learning experience to review all my gear and what I liked and didn't like. That way if there is a next time I'll know what to bring and what to leave at home. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">To cook meals I carried with me an MSR Superfly back packing stove. I brought two fuel bottles of the 8oz. variety (they also sell smaller ones) and only used one of them to near completion. I was really surprised how much use I was able to get out of the fuel canister. I did cook my breakfast and dinner, which mostly consisted of boiling water to make oatmeal, mac n cheese (the store bought kind), backpacking meals and to make tea or coffee. I carried most of my cooking water in a 4 litre Camel back bladder. Overall the stove worked great except for when it was windy. The superfly stove doesn't have a lot of wind protection so it just took an extra minute or two to boil water. Otherwise it all worked great. The cooking pan set is a basic REI stainless set. I never used the frying pans or the coffee maker actually. The little green thing is the coffee maker. Just fill it with grinds and plunge into hot water. It works very much like a teabag. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-gdPgyzhPHyw/Tsg1Cb_Ov1I/AAAAAAAAFqA/xpP6DxK2uzU/s1600/image184.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="237" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-gdPgyzhPHyw/Tsg1Cb_Ov1I/AAAAAAAAFqA/xpP6DxK2uzU/s320/image184.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">I did bring tools with me figuring I'll never really know what I need until I look for it and I don't have it so I definitely packed more tools than I thought i would need. I used the tool kit three times on my trip. Once in Utah after I crashed to fix a turn signal that had popped out and zip tie a fog light back into place, to change the front tire, and to do an oil change at Hansen's Motorcycles in Medford, OR. </div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-2nRW5q2QeV0/Tsg1kQN1ywI/AAAAAAAAFqI/OrNsdhdmFac/s1600/image186.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="237" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-2nRW5q2QeV0/Tsg1kQN1ywI/AAAAAAAAFqI/OrNsdhdmFac/s320/image186.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">To carry my gear in addition to my panniers I had a North Face Base camp duffle bag which was 90L and three Sea to Summit dry sacs. One 15L for my netbook, one 3 liter that housed my electronics in my tank bag, and one 35L bag that all my clothes went into. The dry sacs never leaked and while I knew the duffle wasn't waterproof (the seems leak) it did actually keep most of my stuff fairly dry when it did rain. I only actually rode in two days of rain on the entire trip which I think is pretty amazing. </div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-ge9yhKdadlY/Tsg16Xu3BHI/AAAAAAAAFqQ/Pz_iRbVvd9g/s1600/image188.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="237" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-ge9yhKdadlY/Tsg16Xu3BHI/AAAAAAAAFqQ/Pz_iRbVvd9g/s320/image188.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">The back tire on my bike was brand new when I left. It's a Michelin Anakee 2 and after 10k miles it still has .3 tread depth (as measured by my local inspection station) and will still pass inspection in PA. Though it has definitely been squared off a bit from all the highway miles on the return leg. </div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-bzZ4qqkHh6E/Tsg2QnHyGJI/AAAAAAAAFqY/-vFXm9t3Mew/s1600/image189.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="237" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-bzZ4qqkHh6E/Tsg2QnHyGJI/AAAAAAAAFqY/-vFXm9t3Mew/s320/image189.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-FR1g2ULXN7k/Tsg2qrIJ7lI/AAAAAAAAFqg/nuGEc1f9-g0/s1600/image190.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="237" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-FR1g2ULXN7k/Tsg2qrIJ7lI/AAAAAAAAFqg/nuGEc1f9-g0/s320/image190.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Here you can see the square profile. </div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-rocjIjDfu14/Tsg2_HAeG1I/AAAAAAAAFqo/l1SssMB_LDc/s1600/image191.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="237" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-rocjIjDfu14/Tsg2_HAeG1I/AAAAAAAAFqo/l1SssMB_LDc/s320/image191.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">The front tire is also a Michelin Anakee 2 tire and it had to be repalced when I arrived CA. The tire was wearing very uneven and even formed funny pimples on each one of the raised tread patterns after 4,300 miles out to CA. </div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-XQOQF5SMVnY/Tsg3W9MHPGI/AAAAAAAAFqw/in9f8QokVok/s1600/image192.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="237" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-XQOQF5SMVnY/Tsg3W9MHPGI/AAAAAAAAFqw/in9f8QokVok/s320/image192.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">So far this is wearing better but I'm already starting to see the same thing happen again. The tire is balanced and inflated to 38 psi. Speaking of psi I also ran 41 psi out back. </div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-e1iZWjDjq4A/Tsg3sQA6lOI/AAAAAAAAFq4/eFv9R9ReT9k/s1600/image193.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="237" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-e1iZWjDjq4A/Tsg3sQA6lOI/AAAAAAAAFq4/eFv9R9ReT9k/s320/image193.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">This was perfectly polished before I left. You can now see the "jet wash" pretty good! </div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-UYZOHfCKsfc/Tsg38AmmWCI/AAAAAAAAFrA/IlEOpPYYA_0/s1600/image195.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="237" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-UYZOHfCKsfc/Tsg38AmmWCI/AAAAAAAAFrA/IlEOpPYYA_0/s320/image195.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">I used Fieldsheer jacket and pants which also doubled as my rain gear. On the days it did rain I didn't not get wet at all except for my feet and hands. I have a pair of Alpinestars gloves that are suppose to be waterproof but they got pretty wet after a few hours in the rain. I picked up the Gerbing electric jacket in Oregon with a thermostat and it worked great on the remainder of the trip. The coldest temps I hit were in Flagstaff, AZ were it was 22F degrees and the hottest was the Mojave dessert at 99F degrees. I have an Arai XD3 helmet that I wore on the whole trip and other than the visor vibrating (its a very soft plastic and it buzzes when its really windy) I have no complaints about the helmet at all. </div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-09rfy8dEx5k/Tsg4MoadwtI/AAAAAAAAFrI/cF6-XfS8AMo/s1600/image196.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="237" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-09rfy8dEx5k/Tsg4MoadwtI/AAAAAAAAFrI/cF6-XfS8AMo/s320/image196.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">I have a pair of AXO Lancer sport bike boots. I rode with street boots because they offer a much better feel of the pegs and controls than big thick motocross boots. They did however start to fall apart. </div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-h31EJshtz-4/Tsg4lIDTfOI/AAAAAAAAFrQ/A3PbaF8j_jg/s1600/image197.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="237" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-h31EJshtz-4/Tsg4lIDTfOI/AAAAAAAAFrQ/A3PbaF8j_jg/s320/image197.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Here all the stitching on the left and right boot was falling out. </div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-3ZoLGHUgNBA/Tsg45KrxMrI/AAAAAAAAFrY/OKFcbrp7jKc/s1600/image198.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="237" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-3ZoLGHUgNBA/Tsg45KrxMrI/AAAAAAAAFrY/OKFcbrp7jKc/s320/image198.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">The left boot zipper broke. </div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-zqoOA_32aSI/Tsg5MH4fyrI/AAAAAAAAFrg/0igUrM7Ct8s/s1600/image199.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="237" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-zqoOA_32aSI/Tsg5MH4fyrI/AAAAAAAAFrg/0igUrM7Ct8s/s320/image199.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Otherwise they held up alright and were pretty comfy for most of the trip. I did put a pair of gel insoles in to help with the vibrations and overall fit. </div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-k3fce9L1EPA/Tsg5lFDO4sI/AAAAAAAAFro/usa9axuLqW0/s1600/image200.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="237" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-k3fce9L1EPA/Tsg5lFDO4sI/AAAAAAAAFro/usa9axuLqW0/s320/image200.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">I used a North Face Elkhorn 0F synthetic sleeping bag. The bag was always warm, which it should have been considering the coldest night I experienced was only around 41F degrees. I was not a fan of the zipper which always seemed to get caught and its pack size is really quite big at 9.5 by 18 inches and it weighs 4lbs 12 oz. I'm not sure how much smaller it would get with a compression sack but at around $100 dollars I was more than happy to deal with the bulk as long as I was warm. I have an older 3 season Big Agnes tent I used and it worked fine. In fact its from 2005 and still going strong! </div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-fGu1_4fztEA/Tsg545gUPrI/AAAAAAAAFrw/31RCscmVp0c/s1600/image201.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="237" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-fGu1_4fztEA/Tsg545gUPrI/AAAAAAAAFrw/31RCscmVp0c/s320/image201.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-4EXEbfxKM_8/Tsg6N11smNI/AAAAAAAAFr4/x_aD-kCKVZc/s1600/image202.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="237" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-4EXEbfxKM_8/Tsg6N11smNI/AAAAAAAAFr4/x_aD-kCKVZc/s320/image202.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">I'm not really sure if this should be the last post or not as I've felt over the last couple of days that I'm finally coming to grips with what I did and all my experiences. I will say though that I've never felt more at peace with myself or the world around me. </div>Brandonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03140358981435942230noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-416364708477863716.post-1032305206939157662011-11-15T19:11:00.000-08:002011-11-15T19:11:44.978-08:00Smokey Mountains and 790 miles home to Williamsport, PA<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Just outside of ATL on 20 East heading towards Cumming, GA. I'm still messing around with the shutter speed setting when I get bored with the usual still shots. I spent a few days with the Reids and then headed out. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-JCKLUV6nGnY/TsMfWYjiZ4I/AAAAAAAAFmU/rXdmkMZtME0/s1600/image137.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="178" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-JCKLUV6nGnY/TsMfWYjiZ4I/AAAAAAAAFmU/rXdmkMZtME0/s320/image137.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">This is the start of the 60 North from GA 400. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-8vEemDicROQ/TsMfw_keZgI/AAAAAAAAFmc/EJzyvdTr6jU/s1600/image139.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="178" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-8vEemDicROQ/TsMfw_keZgI/AAAAAAAAFmc/EJzyvdTr6jU/s320/image139.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Awhile went by before I started snagging any more photos including a gas station stop and rain. Funny how I get on to twisty roads and I just forget about what's around me and focus on riding. I literally have to force myself to look or at least stop. Probably regret that the most on the Pacific Coast Highway. I ripped up that heading North and hardly stopped for anything when I should have really been taking in the sights. Below are some pictures of the Smokey Mountains. This is a parkway that ran east from Tellico Plains, TN called the Cherohala Parkway. </div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-yLYEDSd0whE/TsMgF2oIb5I/AAAAAAAAFmk/OW_uuO1awjw/s1600/image141.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="178" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-yLYEDSd0whE/TsMgF2oIb5I/AAAAAAAAFmk/OW_uuO1awjw/s320/image141.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-aozxRS1qrGQ/TsMgeNWx5QI/AAAAAAAAFms/8awaNPh1CvU/s1600/image142.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="178" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-aozxRS1qrGQ/TsMgeNWx5QI/AAAAAAAAFms/8awaNPh1CvU/s320/image142.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">As you can see it was a bit wet at 4,500 or so feet. It seemed that anything below 1,500 was pretty dry that day. </div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-IpGzL-Joj70/TsMg6KXl09I/AAAAAAAAFm0/tgi60JVk10k/s1600/image143.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="178" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-IpGzL-Joj70/TsMg6KXl09I/AAAAAAAAFm0/tgi60JVk10k/s320/image143.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-KqfGWSyQi_s/TsMhK99OqKI/AAAAAAAAFm8/ho45u9vYZe4/s1600/image144.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="178" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-KqfGWSyQi_s/TsMhK99OqKI/AAAAAAAAFm8/ho45u9vYZe4/s320/image144.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-nmMSYaWk5Pw/TsMhhRtECvI/AAAAAAAAFnE/7EunvpoNuDE/s1600/image147.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="178" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-nmMSYaWk5Pw/TsMhhRtECvI/AAAAAAAAFnE/7EunvpoNuDE/s320/image147.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-qZLVSvNNkkU/TsMh3TvZGeI/AAAAAAAAFnM/jbdqzKtsN88/s1600/image151.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="178" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-qZLVSvNNkkU/TsMh3TvZGeI/AAAAAAAAFnM/jbdqzKtsN88/s320/image151.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-I41JlLq330I/TsMiPLhAHXI/AAAAAAAAFnU/oVJKlex4dS0/s1600/image153.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="178" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-I41JlLq330I/TsMiPLhAHXI/AAAAAAAAFnU/oVJKlex4dS0/s320/image153.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-52zzcYZvJ3E/TsMituCRrjI/AAAAAAAAFnc/D2qoeEPWvbc/s1600/image154.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="178" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-52zzcYZvJ3E/TsMituCRrjI/AAAAAAAAFnc/D2qoeEPWvbc/s320/image154.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">These are not opening scenes from Swamp Thing. Just a few shots of little place (the name is above on the sign) that I decided to make into a lunch destination. </div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-hkL10vyD_9o/TsMjH-3zyaI/AAAAAAAAFnk/v4mnVRdBLt4/s1600/image156.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="178" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-hkL10vyD_9o/TsMjH-3zyaI/AAAAAAAAFnk/v4mnVRdBLt4/s320/image156.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-5-hv1M0dLUw/TsMjjYft2LI/AAAAAAAAFns/FNBMddd78QM/s1600/image157.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="178" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-5-hv1M0dLUw/TsMjjYft2LI/AAAAAAAAFns/FNBMddd78QM/s320/image157.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">I couldn't resist just doing a few miles of the Blue Ridge Parkway again on my way so I spent about 40 mins just bombing along until I hit highway 19 North. </div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-t2h8gdJRCpY/TsMkJWDvNGI/AAAAAAAAFn0/nQsd8E8OphI/s1600/image158.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="178" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-t2h8gdJRCpY/TsMkJWDvNGI/AAAAAAAAFn0/nQsd8E8OphI/s320/image158.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">I love blasting through the tunnels. Something about the sound just makes it really cool. This actually reminds of something Allen told me while we are lunch at the Rooster in Oregon. He said its three things about riding "sound, vibration, and the wind" that just doesn't compare to anything else. (I hope I quoted him correctly, it feels ages since I've been back to Medford, OR). </div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-CoTBzexatB8/TsMkWUhSGKI/AAAAAAAAFn8/q3x4ajMFtD0/s1600/image159.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="178" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-CoTBzexatB8/TsMkWUhSGKI/AAAAAAAAFn8/q3x4ajMFtD0/s320/image159.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Then onto what is now being called Future Interstate 26 North. </div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-QvBl7067tHY/TsMkn13vYZI/AAAAAAAAFoE/74Y6YkG_CPQ/s1600/image160.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="178" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-QvBl7067tHY/TsMkn13vYZI/AAAAAAAAFoE/74Y6YkG_CPQ/s320/image160.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-yoydx8BvfsQ/TsMk0qebkxI/AAAAAAAAFoM/nC_5W6SoiVA/s1600/image161.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="178" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-yoydx8BvfsQ/TsMk0qebkxI/AAAAAAAAFoM/nC_5W6SoiVA/s320/image161.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">I kept reminding myself all day to snag a picture when I hit 30,000 miles on my bikes odometer. Well I totally forgot and at 30,017 I remembered and managed to snag one picture. </div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-fvG_OqVtwcU/TsMlDK8RJtI/AAAAAAAAFoU/nTYt-GZWfcI/s1600/image163.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="178" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-fvG_OqVtwcU/TsMlDK8RJtI/AAAAAAAAFoU/nTYt-GZWfcI/s320/image163.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">This is from a rest stop along 26 where you could stop and take in the view. Little did I know I'd be doing another 600 miles after I stopped here. Turned out I'd be doing very close to 790 miles for the day once I had arrived in Cogan Station, PA. That kind of mileage didn't seem all that hard to do but it was also the last day of my trip so I felt inclined to stop anywhere I had the feeling to be motionless so I did. This really ate into my ability to cover distance but hey it was up to me and all I wanted to do was "passe le temps" or just passe the time away with no real rush. Later I'd be on Route 15 North in a wet drizzle and fog going what time is it and why am I hear? I'll never forgot getting a coffee at a gas station and chatting with a guy that popped in for the same and when we parted he said "well I'm off to work." Looking at my watch it was nearly 5:30AM! </div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-7xdNmaz_hwc/TsMlVUC_OjI/AAAAAAAAFoc/cenUa729J14/s1600/image165.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="178" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-7xdNmaz_hwc/TsMlVUC_OjI/AAAAAAAAFoc/cenUa729J14/s320/image165.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Finally arriving home I pushed the bike into the garage and then called it a night. I didn't bother to unpack today and there is still stuff in the panniers that needs to get pulled out. A few things I'd like to cover before I wrap up this blog is a)total mileage and gas stats and b)a gear review. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Look for both of those in the next few days. </div>Brandonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03140358981435942230noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-416364708477863716.post-31457307823706445842011-11-15T02:22:00.001-08:002011-11-15T02:22:21.561-08:00Home!<p class="mobile-photo"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-5JEasIh4LY4/TsI9Xa6LY2I/AAAAAAAAFmA/SFBcKG4MykA/s1600/2011-11-15%2B05.15.07-741562.jpg"><img src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-5JEasIh4LY4/TsI9Xa6LY2I/AAAAAAAAFmA/SFBcKG4MykA/s320/2011-11-15%2B05.15.07-741562.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5675165953009869666" /></a></p><p>What a long, wet, foggy ride home that was! I left Georgia this morning (well yesterday morning actually) at 8:30 am. Hit up a bunch of roads before making it to the interstate. The Smokey mountains were well, smokey and so was the blue ridge parkway (yes I even hit up the tail end of it) which mad for slow going. Then when I finally did hit the 40 East I was already past the exit for 81 North so I had to cut up 26 North for about 80 miles before even getting to 81 North. It was good fun though :-) </p> <p>I have some more pics to upload tomorrow from the last few days. Then dare I say, this trip is over...</p> Brandonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03140358981435942230noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-416364708477863716.post-2188524328821673362011-11-14T19:37:00.001-08:002011-11-14T19:37:53.241-08:00260 miles to go!<p class="mobile-photo"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-LkcgV2pm7Ig/TsHekfJ8qRI/AAAAAAAAFkk/Ge7ZZBPzUZU/s1600/2011-11-14%2B22.32.24-773242.jpg"><img src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-LkcgV2pm7Ig/TsHekfJ8qRI/AAAAAAAAFkk/Ge7ZZBPzUZU/s320/2011-11-14%2B22.32.24-773242.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5675061723883415826" /></a></p><p>Left Cummings, GA this morning after a great weekend withe the Reids. When I get back I need to make some phone calls about the BMW off-road riding school. Warren seemed quite interested in doing some teaching. Beautiful night in Northern Virgina or wherever I am. 68 degrees and 3/4 of a moon guiding my way. </p> <p>Looking forward to being home but I'm also delaying my arrival and trying to live out the last miles. The open road has been so good to me. </p> Brandonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03140358981435942230noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-416364708477863716.post-40876966555680158212011-11-14T06:23:00.001-08:002011-11-14T06:23:44.374-08:00Lets see North Georgia ...<p class="mobile-photo"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-_pH2DkcmbDk/TsEkcLn8oLI/AAAAAAAAFkY/CjmXyWDogbY/s1600/2011-11-14%2B09.19.46-724375.jpg"><img src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-_pH2DkcmbDk/TsEkcLn8oLI/AAAAAAAAFkY/CjmXyWDogbY/s320/2011-11-14%2B09.19.46-724375.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5674857072038813874" /></a></p><p>On my way home. Only 800 miles to go! First I caught up with someone at a pizza joint who recommended so roads to take going north. So far so good! </p> Brandonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03140358981435942230noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-416364708477863716.post-67801819840570752202011-11-13T11:14:00.001-08:002011-11-13T11:14:55.823-08:00Mountain biking!<p class="mobile-photo"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-ZJ8jq1BQsWU/TsAXMEo1E0I/AAAAAAAAFkM/ynt8LqwSDqU/s1600/2011-11-13%2B14.07.10-795824.jpg"><img src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-ZJ8jq1BQsWU/TsAXMEo1E0I/AAAAAAAAFkM/ynt8LqwSDqU/s320/2011-11-13%2B14.07.10-795824.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5674561026657686338" /></a></p><p>Warren and I are off for a spin in the Georgia trails! </p> Brandonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03140358981435942230noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-416364708477863716.post-50671002461785491162011-11-12T20:31:00.001-08:002011-11-12T20:31:08.182-08:00Home brew!<p class="mobile-photo"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-4QtltEu9Ilo/Tr9IDbDPF3I/AAAAAAAAFkA/Yo4PnPAFtXA/s1600/2011-11-12%2B23.30.20-768183.jpg"><img src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-4QtltEu9Ilo/Tr9IDbDPF3I/AAAAAAAAFkA/Yo4PnPAFtXA/s320/2011-11-12%2B23.30.20-768183.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5674333279148250994" /></a></p> Brandonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03140358981435942230noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-416364708477863716.post-57129203770091985592011-11-12T08:13:00.001-08:002011-11-12T08:13:49.307-08:00Baja<p class="mobile-photo"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-HC82RjxpclU/Tr6bPsxQTJI/AAAAAAAAFj0/8PSRUzCSZpQ/s1600/2011-11-12%2B09.29.58-729308.jpg"><img src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-HC82RjxpclU/Tr6bPsxQTJI/AAAAAAAAFj0/8PSRUzCSZpQ/s320/2011-11-12%2B09.29.58-729308.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5674143274551495826" /></a></p><p>I'm in Cumming, GA with a friend of mine that used to live in PA. Warren and I used to do a bunch of mountain biking together. I stopped in GA on my way out and did some dirt jumping with his son Jared but Warren was off doing a 24 hour motocross race in California so I ended up missing him. So I figure on the return if he was going to be around I'd try and see him. He was just telling me a story of when he raced Baja in 1985 on a BMW R80 GS works bike. I always knew he did Baja but I guess I just assumed it was on a Honda. Check out this ad from Yamaha...</p> Brandonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03140358981435942230noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-416364708477863716.post-53712722400975154402011-11-10T22:01:00.000-08:002011-11-10T22:01:59.268-08:00Amarillo, TX to Brinkley AKAbout 650 miles. Bam. Texas, Oklahoma and half of Arkansas is in my review mirror. Speaking of rear view mirrors I snagged this shot the other day leaving the Arizona Divide.<br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Rolling through the vast area that is Oklahoma. The trains seem to be in full use here and in the west in general. Perhaps its the same in the east you just don't see them because they are hidden behind the hill sides. </div><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Heading East chasing my shadow along the way. </div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-9Mn3For3V4k/Try2_RlJECI/AAAAAAAAFjg/5jFvE19ho-A/s1600/image131.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="178" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-9Mn3For3V4k/Try2_RlJECI/AAAAAAAAFjg/5jFvE19ho-A/s320/image131.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Its tough to tell as I didn't take this shot standing still but that's the moon. It looked far more spectacular as I was riding. The moon was just working its way from my right to my left and to my right again as I was riding along I40 East. </div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-KIHnPZAnEjo/Try3DNfvd9I/AAAAAAAAFjo/wgbKEb7DzA0/s1600/image134.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="178" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-KIHnPZAnEjo/Try3DNfvd9I/AAAAAAAAFjo/wgbKEb7DzA0/s320/image134.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Quick story. I was just running into Loves after filling up for the third time today and this guy started chatting to me about my bike. Apparently he had hitch hiked his way from New York and was working his way to New Mexico to meet his wife. Who he said he had spent 3 years hitch hiking around the country with about 10 years ago. He said something that really stuck with me. He said "you know what I like about hitch hiking? It restores my faith in humanity." </div>Brandonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03140358981435942230noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-416364708477863716.post-57702845023789695882011-11-10T08:28:00.001-08:002011-11-10T08:28:53.806-08:00Flagstaff to Amarillo<p>Ill have to upload some pics later but right now I need to talk about the hotel I stayed at last night. Beautiful entry way and all seemed well until the receptionist asked if I wanted to stay out back or at the front. Well I was game for cheapest rate which meant I'd be in the back. As I walked backed to my room I began to feel as though I was in some sort of video game. The hotel began to feel like some sort of level on a first person shooter game you'd play on Xbox or PlayStation. Doors were bolted shut, missing or just looked like something you'd have to breach with a grenade to gain access. I didn't sleep well and was actually missing my comfy tent even if it was 34 degrees. I tried to loose myself in some tele but half the channels were fuzzy. I did manage to catch up on some news and lots of animal planet.</p> <p>On way through Oklahoma City and then debating on snagging 81 North and running it home. Still over a thousand miles from home....</p> Brandonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03140358981435942230noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-416364708477863716.post-39835720340675001202011-11-08T22:11:00.000-08:002011-11-08T22:11:23.091-08:00Geography LessonI left Lost Hills, CA and was greeted with sunny skies and the open road. Heading on I40 East I saw a road sign that said Wilmington, NC: 2,559 miles. What a great way to get motivated for the day!<br />
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I was messin with the shutter speeds on my Canon Powershot SX130 last night. Kinda some neat effects.<br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">A few shots riding along 58 East from Bakersfield, CA. </div><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Welcome to the dessert. Mojave one way and Barstow the other. </div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-jSZ3zMsaY1I/TroR86gipLI/AAAAAAAAFiA/epbUUV_wx9Y/s1600/image85.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="178" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-jSZ3zMsaY1I/TroR86gipLI/AAAAAAAAFiA/epbUUV_wx9Y/s320/image85.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-_uGFDvSTA8g/TroR-RroRiI/AAAAAAAAFiI/zKzDVOWS8_Q/s1600/image86.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="178" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-_uGFDvSTA8g/TroR-RroRiI/AAAAAAAAFiI/zKzDVOWS8_Q/s320/image86.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Sure is a lot of space out there. Next time I run through here it will have to be a more dusty trail and some knobby tires. Well at least that's what I'd like to think would have been more interesting. </div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-FlnS0diJTAw/TroSDF-Sq3I/AAAAAAAAFig/x6PHfH3640g/s1600/image91.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="178" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-FlnS0diJTAw/TroSDF-Sq3I/AAAAAAAAFig/x6PHfH3640g/s320/image91.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-F0qHE0dydE4/TroSJmFuiFI/AAAAAAAAFjA/J4OKBdR5t_4/s1600/image100.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="178" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-F0qHE0dydE4/TroSJmFuiFI/AAAAAAAAFjA/J4OKBdR5t_4/s320/image100.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">After blasting along 40 East for awhile I arrived in Flagstaff, AZ. About 50 miles from Flagstaff my geology lesson started. First it was a mountain range that went to 5,000 or so feet and then it was up onto the next mountain that took me to over 7,000 feet about 15 miles before I arrived in Flagstaff. Why I assumed Flagstaff was anywhere but at the top of the Arizona Divide was beyond me. Words like "idiot, moron, fool, and stupid" kept coming into my head as threw my flashers on and backed my speed way down to about 40 mph. The road was dry but I wasn't taken any chances. I also some elk along side of the road so they were another reason I slowed down. I didn't want to plow into Rudolph then Santa might not bring me anything. Although he might have more fun delivering presents if was on an R1200 GS Adventure :-) </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Thankfully traffic was very light. In fact I was starting to wonder if I had missed some sort of warning that there was a snowstorm or something. I though for sure that the coldest temperatures I would have faced would have been on Pikes Peak at around 35 degrees. Then came Siskiyou Pass which registered at 33 degrees. Now the Arizona Divide at 22 degrees. Nope, that's not a typo. It was 22 degrees at the top and stayed at 26 degrees for about an hour as I made slow progress to Flagstaff. I still can't believe I had no idea that Flagstaff was going to be at 6,800 or feet in elevation. I mean its a dessert that doesn't make any sense! Looking at topography maps now I see that is a high dessert. I probably sound pretty stupid but I guess just looking at map doesn't really show you what is going on with the mountains. Could have been a lot more serious if the roads were damp or if weather had moved in. Checking the weather and some topo maps it looks like I'll be out of the elevation on my way to Texas tomorrow. Hopefully no more geology lessons on the way. </div>Brandonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03140358981435942230noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-416364708477863716.post-1066586692272050702011-11-07T22:43:00.000-08:002011-11-07T22:43:58.626-08:00Medford, OR to Lost Hills, CASo first off the bat today is Monday. I figured this out when arrived at Hansen's Motorcycles to see if I could get an oil change. The current oil has about 6,000 miles on it and its definitely time to change it out. Hansen's is closed on Mondays (as are most shops) but thankfully and with lots of luck Craig was there (the owner) dropping off some items and he came walking out. There was no one around when I arrived but I just figured there wouldn't be until they open at 9:00am. I arrived early and figured I'd just hang out until they open. Craig was a rockstar and invited me in to buy some oil, gave me a few rags, an oil drain pan and made sure I had everything before I left. I picked up a gallon of Spectra Platinum 4 and a BMW filter and was ready to go. Craig set me up out back of the shop and I happily pulled out my tools and hopped to it. I met Craig when my bike broke down on the way up and his shop took care of me so I could continue me trip.<br />
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I laid out my jacket to lay on, figured I put that CE approved armor to good use. After a few bolts came out I pulled off the filter and drain plug (not in that order) and out came the used oil. Yummy. Some of you following the blog and are die hard boxer fans will probably gawk at the Fram filter sitting there but it was all I had access to at the time of the previous oil change. I put a proper bmw filter on there as it has a pressure valve and I'd like to think its a better filter.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-LBeeNoOUgeU/TrjKQO6j-TI/AAAAAAAAFfY/LJpenIXWxg4/s1600/image44.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="237" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-LBeeNoOUgeU/TrjKQO6j-TI/AAAAAAAAFfY/LJpenIXWxg4/s320/image44.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Next up on the list was Siskiyou Pass in Ashland, OR. Below is the view I had crossing the top. It was sunny and 50 degrees at the bottom. Not so much up there! It was really quite spectacular to see the landscape become white all around me as I went up the mountain. Thankfully my electric jacket was keeping me toasty :-) </div><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Over the top and it was clear sailing. </div><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">This is the view of Mt. Shasta from a few miles away. Not much to see here as the cloud cover wasn't agreeing with my camera lens. I had no idea I'd get a better view later down the road. </div><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-3BviyTsOzs8/TrjKgH4jvzI/AAAAAAAAFgY/rqy5jGMd-1M/s1600/image54.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="178" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-3BviyTsOzs8/TrjKgH4jvzI/AAAAAAAAFgY/rqy5jGMd-1M/s320/image54.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Much better view this time! Pretty much wrote off any more views of anything when I decided to take major highways back to the East coast but man I was so happy to see I was wrong! </div><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Interstate 5 then proved to get pretty flat after Sacramento. Nothing but high desert for the next 5 hours. </div><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-NodLyqbRYCo/TrjKrJtF1dI/AAAAAAAAFhA/8a_mHKQ78zk/s1600/image63.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="178" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-NodLyqbRYCo/TrjKrJtF1dI/AAAAAAAAFhA/8a_mHKQ78zk/s320/image63.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Here I am concentrating on the road ahead...</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-shHGS4fcrRw/TrjOLD607OI/AAAAAAAAFhI/E48sc5RU010/s1600/image64.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-shHGS4fcrRw/TrjOLD607OI/AAAAAAAAFhI/E48sc5RU010/s320/image64.jpg" width="178" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">the road ahead...</div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-3kSzUZ2Dz_s/TrjONcX1y0I/AAAAAAAAFhQ/H9--Dhw062U/s1600/image68.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-3kSzUZ2Dz_s/TrjONcX1y0I/AAAAAAAAFhQ/H9--Dhw062U/s320/image68.jpg" width="178" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Tomorrow its off to Interstate 40 East. Crazy to think that I've traveled nearly 580 miles today just to get South enough to avoid the bad weather. I was thinking if I could have just taken 84 East I'd be in Salt Lake and actually closer to home. No worries though. I'll be on the way soon enough. It was also hard driving past the signs for Yosemite National Park as well. Really would like to have seen that one as well. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div>Brandonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03140358981435942230noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-416364708477863716.post-21133797157872419632011-11-07T11:44:00.001-08:002011-11-07T11:44:57.066-08:00Sisikyou pass: complete!<p class="mobile-photo"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-3Y0M6OIBbP8/Trg1OYjQurI/AAAAAAAAFfQ/e_n0MVk2WKQ/s1600/2011-11-07%2B11.04.25-797068.jpg"><img src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-3Y0M6OIBbP8/Trg1OYjQurI/AAAAAAAAFfQ/e_n0MVk2WKQ/s320/2011-11-07%2B11.04.25-797068.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5672342251897928370" /></a></p><p>Just north of Yreka and almost home free (sort of). No shortage of snow if anyone is thinking of going skiing on Ashland Point! </p> <p>Here is a shot on the backside of the mountain overlooking the valley on I5 South. </p> Brandonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03140358981435942230noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-416364708477863716.post-5302561893349013942011-11-07T07:58:00.000-08:002011-11-07T07:58:50.853-08:00Back to MedfordWell after sitting on my bike and just thinking for a few hours I arrived at a rest stop just north of Medford, OR. Calling 511 to check on road conditions passing Sisikyou summit. Snow flurries and patches of ice was not what I was hoping to hear. Today the weather is looking better and by 10am or so the weather should be warm enough that any patches of ice should have dried out. After grabbing breakfast I already spoke to some people who came from that way last night and they said the roads are dry and it should not be an issue. Sisikyou pass is about 4,000 feet not all that high but given that snow level is now around 2,000 feet I'm sure it will be chilly. Its already 38 degrees in Medford so given what meteorologists call "lapse rate" in general for every 1,000 feet in elevation the temperature drops 3.5 degrees. Of course other factors effect this generalization but its nice to have this in my head to do some mental math on the road.<br />
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Leaving Portland, OR I was feeling good. I had finally completed my goal of going "BOS 2 PDX" but it wasn't without a feeling of "why of I am leaving again?" As someone who really has the opportunity to move I can't help but think what a few weeks, a month, or a year would feel like living on the west coast. I suppose I can think about this on the way home.<br />
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So far its been an amazing trip. I'm not sure I've learned anything new about life but there is greater feeling of being connected to the country you live in when you see so much of it all of once. I'm really fascinated with how I've remembered what I've been through already. My mind can't seem to recall certain places I ate, campsites I've stayed but I call sections of road, views from the side of the road and people I've met along the way.<br />
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I'm going to check in to the local moto dealer here in Medford. Hansen's Motorcycles did a great job when my bike was dropped of at 3am about a week ago with a fuel pressure pump controller that failed and left me sitting in the Redwood National Park. So I'm going to check in and see what we can do about an oil change. I'm due for some fresh fluids in the motor and the clutch is also getting soft again. I think it just needs some fresh fluid but I've also read that there is a small part that can develop a leak which may need replaced. I think its the slave cylinder that develops the leak but we'll see.<br />
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Alright its time to rock and roll on with this trip :-)Brandonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03140358981435942230noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-416364708477863716.post-31440067808137446422011-11-05T22:17:00.001-07:002011-11-05T22:21:12.524-07:00Touratech handguard spoilers mod<div class="mobile-photo"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-ffQpRpKIT5M/TrYYVI6Dj7I/AAAAAAAAFeg/9260lpwXfIY/s1600/2011-11-04%2B16.40.26-727352.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5671747532167024562" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-ffQpRpKIT5M/TrYYVI6Dj7I/AAAAAAAAFeg/9260lpwXfIY/s320/2011-11-04%2B16.40.26-727352.jpg" /></a></div><div class="mobile-photo"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Z7RXyhOmhnA/TrYYVSTE3UI/AAAAAAAAFew/gFO7U8mMcjU/s1600/2011-11-04%2B16.40.03-729401.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5671747534687886658" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Z7RXyhOmhnA/TrYYVSTE3UI/AAAAAAAAFew/gFO7U8mMcjU/s320/2011-11-04%2B16.40.03-729401.jpg" /></a></div><div class="mobile-photo"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-I32y8R9Esvg/TrYYWKt5zCI/AAAAAAAAFe4/8R9tgGys74A/s1600/2011-11-04%2B16.39.49-732398.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5671747549832793122" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-I32y8R9Esvg/TrYYWKt5zCI/AAAAAAAAFe4/8R9tgGys74A/s320/2011-11-04%2B16.39.49-732398.jpg" /></a></div>While I at David's house I took a few minutes to modify the Touratech handguard spoilers for the 2007 and older BMW GS Adventure bikes for my 2009. While I at Touratech I did a quick fit outside and decided with a quick mod I could adapt them to fit my stock BMW adventure handguards. Below are the pics showing the small amount of plastic I removed to allow the Touratech spoilers to fit quite without any issues. In case anyone else is thinking of doing this mod the TT part number for these is: <span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: white; color: #606060; font-family: helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 10px; line-height: 15px;"><a href="http://www.touratech-usa.com/Store/PN-040-1701/Spoilers-for-BMW-R1150GS-and-R1200GS-up-to-2007-pair-for-OEM-Handguards" target="_blank">Part Number: <span id="pn">040-1701</span></a>. </span>Brandonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03140358981435942230noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-416364708477863716.post-23016260605801842682011-11-05T21:34:00.000-07:002011-11-05T21:34:53.696-07:00Widmer Brewery and Forest ParkI'm staying with a friend of mine that I grew up with. He lived a few houses down the street from me and after nearly 10 years we've reconnected. Last night we just had a beer or two and talked about our time as a youth. It was great to laugh together over what almost seemed to be long lost memories. Aaron works at Widmer Brothers Brewery in Portland, OR and was nice enough to give me a quick beer tour. <div><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">I'm looking forward to rocking the shirt and putting the sticker on my panniers to go with my collection. Next it was off to downtown Portland. We toured around in the car for a bit and it was a great way to just sit and be a passenger for once. Riding around a city on your bike is fun but there is so much to watch out for I hardly ever notice anything since I'm so busy paying attention to the road. Plus Aaron was a good tour narrator. We then hit up <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Forest_Park_(Portland,_Oregon)" target="_blank">Forest Park</a>. Forest Park covers over 5,100 acres and is just minutes from downtown Portland. How awesome is that! </div><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Ckc-7h0yUxc/TrYJoFcVjJI/AAAAAAAAFeM/gdApV6rdHuc/s1600/image41.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Ckc-7h0yUxc/TrYJoFcVjJI/AAAAAAAAFeM/gdApV6rdHuc/s320/image41.jpg" width="237" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">I wanted to take a few minutes to update the blog as tomorrow is a little more sigh seeing including Adidas headquarters and then its off on my journey East. As of right now I'm planning to work my over to 395 South from Portland and head all the way down to Reno, Nevada before cutting over to grab 40 East all the way to North Carolina before heading North into PA. </div><br />
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</div>Brandonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03140358981435942230noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-416364708477863716.post-87417607473655996882011-11-05T21:04:00.000-07:002011-11-05T21:04:03.596-07:00Forgotten PicturesWell its finally happened. I've found a few pictures and I can't recall where they are from! Hopefully after I return home I'll figure it out! I'm pretty sure they are on the Oregon coast but I could be wrong...<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-r2rwRbvfWR8/TrYGnQbxMkI/AAAAAAAAFcs/iccclPdsuNg/s1600/image639.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="178" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-r2rwRbvfWR8/TrYGnQbxMkI/AAAAAAAAFcs/iccclPdsuNg/s320/image639.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Cr1NJvMVL6c/TrYGoNlL8aI/AAAAAAAAFc0/gTBY6hhnqOQ/s1600/image642.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="178" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Cr1NJvMVL6c/TrYGoNlL8aI/AAAAAAAAFc0/gTBY6hhnqOQ/s320/image642.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Xs95FSDJj2c/TrYGpJDRfzI/AAAAAAAAFc8/Vvp-woMtqPY/s1600/image643.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="178" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Xs95FSDJj2c/TrYGpJDRfzI/AAAAAAAAFc8/Vvp-woMtqPY/s320/image643.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-VZh3r_T88Mw/TrYGp1rUH4I/AAAAAAAAFdE/27dAbExp7yY/s1600/image645.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="178" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-VZh3r_T88Mw/TrYGp1rUH4I/AAAAAAAAFdE/27dAbExp7yY/s320/image645.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>Brandonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03140358981435942230noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-416364708477863716.post-3921443451537849402011-11-05T18:37:00.000-07:002011-11-05T18:57:13.010-07:00From the last few nightsSo I've been blessed to say the least that over the last few nights I've been able to stay with people I've met along my trip. I've also had a chance to hang out with David who offered up his very nice heated garage so I could install some Touratech parts on my bike.<br />
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Here is a picture of the very kind Rick and Kelly in front of "old blue." If I recall correctly this is a 57 Chevy truck that has been in the family for awhile.<br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">I completely forgot the name of their horse but when I walked up I was quite surprised to see this sequence of tricks....I suppose it was time for a back scratch! </div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-UjwBDYlmOcw/TrXe5WMc4CI/AAAAAAAAFac/euKzNPUIfx0/s1600/IMG_1001.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-UjwBDYlmOcw/TrXe5WMc4CI/AAAAAAAAFac/euKzNPUIfx0/s320/IMG_1001.JPG" width="237" /></a></div><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-QDj6v91Hh8U/TrXe95dKcCI/AAAAAAAAFa0/TlkTOCsjcBc/s1600/IMG_1004.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="237" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-QDj6v91Hh8U/TrXe95dKcCI/AAAAAAAAFa0/TlkTOCsjcBc/s320/IMG_1004.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">This is the road that leads to house...</div><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">And a few pictures of the this perfectly still pond allowed me to capture some great images of reflection on the still water...</div><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Leaving Rick and Kelly's place on route 101 north rain clouds were hoovering above but thankfully never let get go of any precipitation.</div><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-15fCHLpaOPQ/TrXiw7kwSOI/AAAAAAAAFbk/mPxVwAs9HFw/s1600/IMG_1029.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="237" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-15fCHLpaOPQ/TrXiw7kwSOI/AAAAAAAAFbk/mPxVwAs9HFw/s320/IMG_1029.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">A few sections were of forest had appeared to be cleared of timber by a local company but after reading some of the signs it become more clear that this was caused by some server weather. </div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-40-tdLnJSK8/TrXiyKbpRnI/AAAAAAAAFbs/OS_um32qXGk/s1600/IMG_1031.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="237" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-40-tdLnJSK8/TrXiyKbpRnI/AAAAAAAAFbs/OS_um32qXGk/s320/IMG_1031.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">I eventually made it Seattle after stopping at Touratech. Touratech imports adventure touring motorcycle accessories so it was a must see on my trip. They were even nice enough to toss me a free T-Shirt and post a pic of me in front of me at their shop! After arriving in Seattle I didn't seem to keep in mind that I should get gas at one point. It just seems when I'm in a city area I don't bother to worry about it but before I knew it I was almost out! The tank on my bike holds 8.7 gallons and this was an 8.585 gallon fill up. Pushing it a bit huh? :-) </div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-KqhP9x7wEUU/TrXiy82PtUI/AAAAAAAAFb0/NDot_KEvM6E/s1600/IMG_1033.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="237" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-KqhP9x7wEUU/TrXiy82PtUI/AAAAAAAAFb0/NDot_KEvM6E/s320/IMG_1033.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Every Thursday night a group of adventure riding guys get together to chat about life, motorcycles, mud and whatever else comes to comes and it was great sitting down with such a nice group after being on the road for awhile. Lots of laughs and one of the guys was even kind enough to let me stay the night with him. Much appreciated! </div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Y49WVsDgEpo/TrXjKVouRpI/AAAAAAAAFb8/rOcxirhuiKw/s1600/IMG_1035.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="237" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Y49WVsDgEpo/TrXjKVouRpI/AAAAAAAAFb8/rOcxirhuiKw/s320/IMG_1035.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">The next day I headed South from Seattle and stopped at South Shore BMW Motorcycles. I was just hanging out at the shop taking in the free coffee and wifi when I started chatting with another customer named David. We were talking about travel and my trip a bit and he offered up a place to stay and/or a garage if I needed to do any work on my bike. I delightfully accepted as I had picked up two parts from Touratech that I was looking forward to getting installed. I had picked up a anti-glare shield as I was running Touratech's headlight protector but the glare produced from the light hitting the guard was awful to say the least and after dealing with it for the last 5,000 miles or so I decided it was time for a purchase. I also picked up the handguard spoilers that help to deflect wind over your hands and block some of the elements. These were actually designed for the 2008 and older models but with a quick test fit I was able to make a small modification to the left and right guard and voila! They now fit the 2009 and newer model :-) I'll post up pics as soon as I find where they are. I'm sure they are either on my phone or my camera! David was nice enough to give me a tour of his bike and man, here I thought I was cruising in comfort when he showed me all the amazing features of his ride. I was just thinking how much more comfortable I would have been on his ride! I wonder if I could get a set of TKC 80s on that awesome rig????? :-) </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-c9RtxSqw3qc/TrXmT4EW3VI/AAAAAAAAFcE/Xse__XKSHFc/s1600/image692.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="237" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-c9RtxSqw3qc/TrXmT4EW3VI/AAAAAAAAFcE/Xse__XKSHFc/s320/image692.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">After leaving David's place and forgetting a few small items on his workshop bench I headed down to Portland. My last planned stop on this adventure across the country. What a great time its been too. I can't say enough about how nice everyone has been over the last few days. Its been a real treat to have made some friends and met some new people. I suppose it just goes to show that there really are nice people out there and you should never worry about finding help. Just looking back over the last week from my break down in Redwood National Park and meeting Mark who happily drove 4 hours in the middle of the night, to the great guys at Hansen's Motorcycles who had be back on the road, a wonderful lunch with Allen who I met at the dealer, making the ride up to Rosburg, WA to connect with the very delightful Rick and Kelly (who also by the way took me in even though I was soaked from riding in the rain all day!), to meeting up the friendly group of adventure riders in Seattle, to David who was great company while I installed some new parts. Its people like this that you meet and you just can't help but feel good about the world again. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div>Brandonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03140358981435942230noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-416364708477863716.post-31192381225470013312011-11-05T10:39:00.001-07:002011-11-05T10:39:20.454-07:00Portland!<p>I'm here! </p> Brandonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03140358981435942230noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-416364708477863716.post-81664245161559555952011-11-03T12:11:00.001-07:002011-11-03T12:11:34.977-07:00Thanks!<p class="mobile-photo"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-w75IpIwOUZg/TrLnZ7zEecI/AAAAAAAAFZU/_N-QLptsT5s/s1600/2011-11-03%2B12.09.27-794978.jpg"><img src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-w75IpIwOUZg/TrLnZ7zEecI/AAAAAAAAFZU/_N-QLptsT5s/s320/2011-11-03%2B12.09.27-794978.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5670849313547516354" /></a></p><p>Rick and Kelly have been fantastic hosts and great company! On the road to visit Touratech near Seattle and then south bound to Portland. The last destination on my trip. I couldn't think of a better penultimate day then being here in Astoria (Washington side). Thank you very much! </p> Brandonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03140358981435942230noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-416364708477863716.post-48194515397025310422011-11-02T18:01:00.001-07:002011-11-02T18:01:24.723-07:00This looks like fun on a bike doesn't it?<p class="mobile-photo"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-1IbvU3eYfeQ/TrHn5Ug_hWI/AAAAAAAAFTk/S1Ydw3lwS8k/s1600/2011-11-02%2B17.57.29-784723.jpg"><img src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-1IbvU3eYfeQ/TrHn5Ug_hWI/AAAAAAAAFTk/S1Ydw3lwS8k/s320/2011-11-02%2B17.57.29-784723.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5670568377781814626" /></a></p><p>I'm actually in great spirits even though I'm beyond soaked. I think the rain here is wetter or something. Almost to Ricks house where its time for soup! I met Rick and his wife Kelly in Utah and couldn't pass up an offer to stay with them. </p> Brandonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03140358981435942230noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-416364708477863716.post-29475435470690944792011-11-02T16:03:00.001-07:002011-11-02T16:03:03.021-07:00Three more hours...<p class="mobile-photo"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-3ncYifUpID8/TrHMJ0h8FlI/AAAAAAAAFTY/4WXyF3HhTe8/s1600/2011-11-02%2B14.52.16-783022.jpg"><img src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-3ncYifUpID8/TrHMJ0h8FlI/AAAAAAAAFTY/4WXyF3HhTe8/s320/2011-11-02%2B14.52.16-783022.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5670537874928047698" /></a></p><p>Then Astoria! Hopefully rain will hold out but the locals say its already raining there. I havent had rain since Mississippi! Thats a good record :-) </p> Brandonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03140358981435942230noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-416364708477863716.post-83509390150224930412011-11-02T09:35:00.001-07:002011-11-02T09:35:14.488-07:00Microtel mess<p class="mobile-photo"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-sRFInUV4LGk/TrFxQ_fUHDI/AAAAAAAAFS0/J669W311eVc/s1600/2011-11-01%2B22.50.13-714490.jpg"><img src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-sRFInUV4LGk/TrFxQ_fUHDI/AAAAAAAAFS0/J669W311eVc/s320/2011-11-01%2B22.50.13-714490.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5670437942570785842" /></a></p><p class="mobile-photo"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-3X9_rYbalJY/TrFxRC2K_2I/AAAAAAAAFTA/b-jI77ZK7Z8/s1600/2011-11-01%2B22.49.51-716531.jpg"><img src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-3X9_rYbalJY/TrFxRC2K_2I/AAAAAAAAFTA/b-jI77ZK7Z8/s320/2011-11-01%2B22.49.51-716531.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5670437943471964002" /></a></p><p>It took about 5 minutes to go.from a neat hotel to a mess! My tent was soaked from Bodega Bay so it needed to dry out and I just had stuff everywhere from unpacking. What fun :-) </p> <p>PS: microtel is the name of the hotel I'm at. I don't like the name either. </p> Brandonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03140358981435942230noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-416364708477863716.post-25878873505849063102011-11-02T08:31:00.000-07:002011-11-02T08:31:30.670-07:00Crater Lake<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-qtrSSnrfvyA/TrDZnJdXWdI/AAAAAAAAFQg/penLxgrJ8I4/s1600/image3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="237" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-qtrSSnrfvyA/TrDZnJdXWdI/AAAAAAAAFQg/penLxgrJ8I4/s320/image3.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-3ZIl4zOc91w/TrDZpTC7aXI/AAAAAAAAFQo/cEjJD3TE2hw/s1600/image5.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="237" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-3ZIl4zOc91w/TrDZpTC7aXI/AAAAAAAAFQo/cEjJD3TE2hw/s320/image5.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br />
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So yesterday after my lunch with Allen I headed towards Crater Lake National Park. Taking route 62 Easts out of Medford I followed this road all the way to Crater Lake. The temps were quickly dropping though and it was getting chilly! It went from 53 degrees to 34 at Crater Lake. brrrrrr! Crater Lake is the deepest lake in the US too!<br />
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Here is the a link for this attraction: <a href="http://www.nps.gov/crla/index.htm">http://www.nps.gov/crla/index.htm</a><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-lzqbM-YsuA4/TrDZq3RZa5I/AAAAAAAAFQw/c8wuq5vBeh8/s1600/image7.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="237" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-lzqbM-YsuA4/TrDZq3RZa5I/AAAAAAAAFQw/c8wuq5vBeh8/s320/image7.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Ke7AOcoH1Io/TrDZrqkbOUI/AAAAAAAAFQ0/J6QnKJLiqOY/s1600/image8.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="178" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Ke7AOcoH1Io/TrDZrqkbOUI/AAAAAAAAFQ0/J6QnKJLiqOY/s320/image8.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-mGD2RfsSaAY/TrDZurHYF0I/AAAAAAAAFQ8/IMhdpoax-2Q/s1600/image10.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="178" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-mGD2RfsSaAY/TrDZurHYF0I/AAAAAAAAFQ8/IMhdpoax-2Q/s320/image10.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br />
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These poles (actually tree limbs) aren't for making sure you stay on the road. They are for measuring snow accumulation.<br />
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So this along the West Diamond Lake Parkway.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-ehLYZ9J1doI/TrDZyqtCA_I/AAAAAAAAFRQ/zsKM0PgvD6k/s1600/image15.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="178" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-ehLYZ9J1doI/TrDZyqtCA_I/AAAAAAAAFRQ/zsKM0PgvD6k/s320/image15.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-cIZ-r0QXmwc/TrFf1gekyNI/AAAAAAAAFSQ/uUudlbURzls/s1600/image21.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="178" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-cIZ-r0QXmwc/TrFf1gekyNI/AAAAAAAAFSQ/uUudlbURzls/s320/image21.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-PjkJSAe5leM/TrFf2-HvPXI/AAAAAAAAFSY/oz0bXDCV3w0/s1600/image23.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="178" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-PjkJSAe5leM/TrFf2-HvPXI/AAAAAAAAFSY/oz0bXDCV3w0/s320/image23.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br />
And bam! This pops out of the trees. Simply unreal.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div>Brandonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03140358981435942230noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-416364708477863716.post-10504275353940416712011-11-01T14:31:00.001-07:002011-11-01T14:31:03.114-07:00OK, so here's the lowdown<p>Last night in the National Redwood Park I stopped to.snag a picture of an Elk. Hopper off the bike and when I went to ghetto back on it wouldn't start. Pushed the bike to a Ranger station about a mile up the road and at this point it was getting dark which mad for a fabulous Halloween experience. Nothing like creeping around someones house on the 31! Isn't this how horror movies start? </p> <p>Luckily after a little poking around I found a guy while told me the campsite was just up the road and I could leave my bike here if I wanted and camp out. Yea right! I love that bike too much to leave her so I eventually found a spot at the visitor center and a pay phone! Which I was more than happy to welcome into my sights! No cell service and no one around. I suppose you could it an adventure moment :-) </p> <p>So I started making a phone call or two and ended up.chatting my parents who made some calls on my behalf. Of course I don't think they got any sleep but I'm grateful my dad made a few calls for me. Eventually I ended up calling for a two truck. After waiting in the most erie fog like meadow next to this visitor station for about 5 hours a two finally arrive. All in all I have to say I was quite mellow about the situation. It could have been way worse I supose but let's not go there today :-) </p> <p>So when the two truck arrived I welcomed by a very nice guy named Mike. He was super nice and I'm so lucky to get a guy who knew what it was like to be stuck somewhere. We loaded up the bike onto the flat bed which was a small equivilent to an amusement park ride. First he lowered the bed and then angled it to the ground. We pushed the bike up and I hopped on while he raised it and slide the bed forward again. A mini adrenaline rush for sure. Sitting on a steep incline then feeling the bike and I leave the ground was a weird feeling even if it was only 5 feet up! We strapped the bike down, locked down my gear and it was off for a 158 mile trip to the nearest BMW dealer in Meddled, Oregon. We chatted about life and here is a guy that has 5 kids, two of then foster kids, and works 60 hour weeks to make it all happen. Happy as could be doing what he does and was as chipper as a guy could be driving 4 hours on small back roads in the middle of night to get me to help. After we dropped off the bike at the BMW dealer around 3 in the morning he took me to a Motel 6 where I think I.slept about 3 hours. I awoke to phone call from Craig, the BMW dealers owner. I had left a note on the bike to give me a call in the morning and what happened. He sent a guy to pick me up and when I arrived I was asked for the key, pointed towards the coffee maker and told to just hang out for a bit. They took over and after a few updates the bike was ready by noon. I ended up chatting with this guy Allen for awhile and we swapped stories of adventure traveling while he waited for his bike to get a new tire and chain. Turns out there was some wiring that was performed by the previous owner (or repair shop) that had rotted because it was done incorrectly. So they replaced the wires, the fuel pump regulator switch which bad also corroded because of the poor wiring job and the battery. All under warranty! So no expense to me! Yea! And to boot the flatbead ride there was paid for my BMW too! BMW Roadside assistance to the rescue! </p> <p>Allen and I just had lunch and he took off for home and I'm just hanging tight for a few checking out some options for tonight. </p> <p>What a night! </p> Brandonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03140358981435942230noreply@blogger.com0