PastaPilot

Just an FYI for those of you with F-series trucks. Ford recalling 1.3 million F-series Super Duty pickups trucks, the best selling vehicle in America, for a problem with a door latch that could allow the door to open unexpectedly. The affected models include some of the model year 2015 F-150's, as well as some 2017 Super Duty pickups. In addition to the problem with the door opening while the car is moving, the latch can also prevent the driver from opening the door when they need to. Here are the models affected: *2015-17 F-150 vehicles built at Dearborn Assembly Plant, March 12, 2014 to Dec. 31, 2016 *2015-17 F-150 vehicles built at Kansas City Assembly Plant, Aug. 11, 2014 to Dec. 30, 2016 *2017 Super Duty vehicles built at Kentucky Assembly Plant, Oct. 8, 2015 to Sept. 1, 2016 Ford estimates it will cost $267 million to make the repairs. Ford said it is not aware of any accidents or injuries associated with the problem. http://www.wxyz.com/money/auto-news/ford-recalling-13-million-f-series-super-duty-pickups

I've finally got some free time to ride. I saw there are a few others that have some free time due to various career obligations, aka retirement (tntmo I'm calling you). I have to work Thursday through Sunday afternoon and then driving from Van Nuys to my favorite camp and ride spot in the Southern Sierra Nevada mountains. Lake Isabella. This is a get on the bike after most of the last year off the bike ride. So for me, this will be a slower pace and lower mileage than regular, but still plenty of good intermediate trails to fill the days. The plan is to ride a little on Sunday, All day Monday and Tuesday then drive home to hit the higher congested areas after the evening commute. I'm still undecided where to camp. Probably in Keyesville, but possibly in the mountains. https://photos.app.goo.gl/OgDpfR8dNtbm1AvF2

Dang, good catch. Saved yourself a bit of a headache.

HA haha, called out in a public forum. I'll be on a red sticker YZ. The dualsport riding riding would be incredible but until I have inclination for another moto it is about the singletrack in the mountains. There will be two track and dirt road and some paved forest road but mostly singletrack.

That is adventure riding. No debate.

Rincon Trail is a blast! I rode the entire thing a few years ago. I've been trying to get back for another run ever since. The FS mounts the saws to the back of the bikes but all private citizens I know mount their saws on the front fender. Either way when in the mountains it's a good idea to carry a saw. I keep a small folding hand saw in my backpack just in case.

Shiiiiiiiit. I'm sitting at the desk in my home office that I picked up from him. It is one of the retired items from his office in Ramona. We always talked about taking the YZ out for a flat track race and I always wanted to. I'm sad that he won't be there to coach me at my first race. Ride In Peace my friend.

Beautiful trails. Hopefully I'll ride up there soon.

My current home project is to replace the 30 year old, faded, blue vinyl siding. I'm still kicking ideas with what to do after the siding comes off. Stucco, boards, bubble wrap, etc. Does anyone here perform this type of work? Maybe another riding buddy. I'd like to get started in the next couple months. Jon

I only removed the bottom piece of the siding to prevent the rats from having shelter. It was a permitted addition in 196x but the bottom 6 inches didn't look like much effort was put into finishing that part. Maybe some rotten boards were removed and the blank space was covered with the vinyl whenever the siding was put on. I have no idea what's underneath the vinyl on the remainder of the house. I do have a feeling the garage door header may need to be replaced as that area gets waterlogged when it rains. If you don't mind check with who you know. I'm ready to start making plans.

Nope. There's an addition in back and I pulled a small section off where rats were nesting and there's not much underneath that.

Looks great. Thanks for sharing.

I spoke too soon. I wouldn't be able to get there until Friday.

Hmm I might be able to. I can't. If I can (can't), I'll be on my YZ but you're right to take a plated moto. How many in your party?

Another great trail in the Kennedy Meadows area is threatened by closure. Please call, email, pass it on. Siretta Peak is already a one way in and out trail due to land grabs by previous administrations. Let's not lose the entire thing.

Got an update email. Siretta is OPEN and an adjacent trail may be reopening. To discover the Forest Service has closed the Sirretta Trail to the very folks who have volunteered to keep it enjoyable for everyone is a real blow for all forms of recreation. This illegal closure is totally unacceptable and a slap in the face to Stewards volunteers who maintain the trail. Ranger Al asked Stewards to wait a week so he and his staff could have closed door meetings about the Sirretta Trail issues. He would get back to me then with the documentation regarding the closure. We asked if Stewards could attend the meeting so we could better understand any issues with our Adopt A Trail and possibly help with solutions. Ranger Al insisted these needed to be internal closed door meetings I was concerned that Ranger Al and his staff might be working primarily with one sided information so Stewards sent him a detailed letter of objection to the closure also felt that he needed to hear from our members to better understand how much motorcycle riders loved the Sirretta Trail. I decided to send out an Alert to a small segment of our members. I want to thank the hundreds of you who emailed and contacted Ranger Al over the past few days. He appreciated hearing from you and did respond initially to some of you. As the emails and calls continued to pour in Ranger Al said he was upset by what he called vulgar, disrespectful and unprofessional language. Stewards always asks our members to be polite and we are sorry to hear people were disrespectful with Ranger Al. Respectful discussion is the best way to solve problems. There is nothing to be gained by disrespect or vulgar language. We continue to urge Stewards members to be polite and respectful when dealing with the Forest Service. Stewards also contacted Congressman McCarthy and his staff were immediately concerned about the closure of Sirretta Trail to historic motorcycle use and that the Forest Service had not followed procedure or notified the public about the closure and could not provide a documented reason for the closure. Yesterday I met with Congressman McCarthy's Legislative Director and other staff who fortunately were back in the District from DC this week. They promised to contact Ranger Al later in the week to find out why the trail was closed to motorcycles and to urge him to reopen it. Sirretta Trail Reopened Later that same morning McCarthy's office received an email from Ranger Al informing them that the closure was due to a false allegation by someone claiming there was unauthorized motorized use of the adjoining Machine Creek trail. Forest Service had gone out but found no evidence of motorized use on Machine Creek Trail. We are happy the Sirretta Trail is reopened, however we are troubled by the Forest Service keen jerk inappropriate closure and concerned about how they are handling trail issues. Stewards has asked Ranger Al the following and are awaiting answers- Shouldn't the Forest Service verify allegations prior to taking aggressive action such as closing a trail? Wouldn't enforcement be the first step to ticket alleged law breakers rather than closing a different trail to everyone? There are speeders on our highways but we do not close the roads. What is the threshold for violations prior to triggering the closure of a trail? When was the last time any other form of recreation was held to this high of a standard? When are non motorized trails closed based on an allegation without verification? Had Stewards members not contacted the Forest Service expressing their outrage would the Forest Service have field checked the allegation or just left the trail closed? Will the Forest Service be filing charges on the person who made the false allegation? Stewards have also requested any and all reports of the allegation including the name and information of the parties who made the false allegation. We want everyone to keep in mind that Ranger Al has been a friend to motorized recreation in the past. So we all need to give him the benefit of the doubt now. It may be that his hands were tied on the Sirretta Trail closure. We urge Stewards members to not make this personal. Lets stick to the facts as Stewards continues to get them. Some Stewards members may have posted our call to action on social media. With the trail reopened it is time to call off the dogs. Please remove those posts or add that the trail has been reopened due to protests by Stewards of the Sequoia, and there is no need to continue to contact Ranger Al. Machine Creek Trail Possibly Not Legally Closed The Forest Service is required by law to provide a Forest Order documenting the "extreme adverse effects" for the particular use being prohibited for any trail they wish to close. Many years ago, long before Ranger Al, the Forest Service illegally closed Portuguese Pass Trail merely by posting closed signs. Stewards worked for two years to get them to reopen that trail. With the recent closure of Sirretta Trail there appears to be a trend.of closing trails without procedure merely by posting closed signs on them. This got us to thinking was Machine Creek trail legally closed or just signed closed to motorcycles decades ago? This is the trail the Forest Service was using to justify the closure of Sirretta Trail due to motorcycles possibly trespassing on Machine Creek Trail. Stewards asked the Forest Service to provide the Forest Order closing Machine Creek Trail and the Forest Service informed us they have none. So it appears Machine Creek Trail was never legally closed. Stewards will continue to work for the reopening of Machine Creek Trail to historic motorcycle use, as well as urging the Forest Service to be more forthcoming in future regarding any trail issues especially those for Stewards Adopt A Trails. Your donations are what allow Stewards working and winning to keep your trails open. Stewards performs 83% of all trail maintenance in Sequoia to keep your trails open and enjoyable. Please consider doing you part by making a tax deductible donation to Stewards today. Please urge your trail friends to do their part by donating too.

This explains why the old ratty bikes are selling for so much. A few years ago I was trying to find a project to become a local errand bike. After exhaustive research I gave up on old bikes and decided to buy a Royal Enfield. Has the old look and a used one would be less than parts and labor on a resto. Still haven't bought it but it's on the list.

Are you sure that's the drain bolt and not a water pump housing bolt? I know. Sounds simple and all but you did say it was your first dirt bike.

Me too. Thanks for posting.

After paying for a local shop to install the tires I had on a street bike I swore I'd change the next pair myself. $120 for the change disposal and balance was almost what I paid for the tires. I'd buy the tools and balancer if I didn't sell that bike.

I just sent my emails. Just in case the links in the email don't work for you. District Ranger Al Watson: awwatson@fs.fed.us Dear District Ranger Watson,I am greatly disturbed at your attempt to close the Sirretta Trail 34E12 to historic motorized trail bikes. Motorized volunteers and OHV funds have maintained the trail for decades, without them the Sirretta trail would soon be impassable to everyone.The Forest Service has yet to complete the ongoing Sirretta Trail plan to determine future management of the trail. I am dismayed you have signed the trail closed without completing that plan or engaging the public or your partners like Stewards of the Sequoia who have adopted the trail. The Sirretta Trail closure was done without required documented justification. Furthermore this is not a unique occurrence as there have been several similar examples of motorized routes being closed without proper process and without a Forest Order. This kind of thing destroys public trust in the Forest Service and brings into question the need for the public to comply with Forest Service regulations if the Forest Service picks and chooses when to follow their own regulations.The Sirretta Trail is one of the last scenic trails left to motorized trail bikes in the area and is in great condition. The Forest Service needs to help keep existing motorized trails open to disperse use, reduce environmental impacts and provide a great trail experience. The Sirretta Trail needs to remain open to motorized trail bikes.Please let me know what I can do to help. Congressman McCarthy: caseworkca23@mail.house.gov Dear Congressman McCarthy,I am greatly disturbed by Sequoia National Forest's attempted closure of the Sirretta Trail 34E12 to historic motorized trail bikes without following their own process for a Temporary or Emergency Trail Closure. Motorized volunteers and OHV funds have maintained the trail for decades, without them the Sirretta trail would soon be impassable to all.The Forest Service has yet to complete the ongoing Sirretta Trail plan in order to determine the future of the trail. I am beyond dismayed that the Forest Service would sign the trail closed without completing that plan or engaging the public or their partners like Stewards of the Sequoia who have adopted the trail.The Sirretta Trail closure was done without required documented justification. Furthermore this is not a unique occurrence as there have been several similar examples in the recent past of motorized routes being closed without proper process and without a Forest Order. This kind of thing destroys public trust in the Forest Service.The Sirretta Trail is one of the last truly scenic trails left to motorized trail bikes in the area. The Forest Service needs to help keep existing motorized trails open to disperse use and reduce environmental impacts. The Sirretta Trail needs to remain open to motorized trail bikes.Will Congressman McCarthy please contact District Ranger Al Watson to stop the illegal and inappropriate closure of this important trail for motorized trail bikes?

I'm heading up to Lake Isabella area next weekend, August 19-20. I'll get there Friday afternoon. It'll be an intermediate level hunt for singletrack. Depending on who's joining me I may spend a day in the Greenhorns and a day in the Piutes. Teaser

I know schmo. Stayed at his house back in Feb.

It hasn't been mentioned but be sure to be using the same size tube for your size tire. I had a 90/100 front tire that I couldn't find a proper tube for and after 3 torn valve stems I put it on the shelf.

I've stayed at that campground. I rode the Greenhorns just a couple months before the fire. The road in is open but all the trails in the burn area are closed. I just want to take a look around.