KTMrad

And kudos again to Kevin, for helping us out with Desert Dash GPS stuff !!

Here is LINKIE to D37 Newsletter......it's better online....in color. The article about the 15 year young girl completing all the hard ways on the Big Bear Ride.....that's my friend GPS Kevin's daughter Missy........that is so cool she got the plaque !!

Hey all, I have a flatbed trailer that rarely gets used......the wheel bearings need to be exercised, so if anyone wants to borrow it anytime, call me or send PM. It has a 4 prong pigtail trailer connector and a 2" hitch.

I think I will ride on Sunday.....sorry I'll miss this one.

Thread TITLE changed :bomb: all in good fun..........that's what it's all about.........lighten up everyone, PRETTY PLEASE ??!!

I'm joining a group of about 5 others to do the Trans America Trail (best parts of it) from somewhere near Pueblo Colorado to the Oregon Coast. I'm riding the 950 out, going to take a few days to get to Pueblo, maybe have some friends as tour guides for dirt near Flagstaff. Then we start the TA Trail on August 17th, head over the Rockies, then drop down into Utah. We'll do the White Rim Trail thru Canyonlands N.P. Then going across Utah and Nevada is going to be friggin' HOT, HOT, HOT !! Should get a little cooler at some point in Oregon, should take a couple weeks to reach the coast. Then I'd like to take about a week to ride down from Oregon, hitting dirt through Northern Cal and the Sierra, then home. Got a few little things to do on the 950 for prep.....I'm gettin' psyched !!

Guess it depends on one's tolerance to extremes. I rode all day on Sunday, and it was pretty hot out near Campo. You just need to use your judgement and know your own limits and tolerance to heat.

After seeing a certain SDAR member's signature and realizing they lived near me, I sent him a PM inviting them over for a brewski anytime.....especially this weekend. We're neighbors.....just a few blocks apart !! So, got a call a little while later.....I said, "perfect timing, I just popped open a cold one". So, a few minutes later, Brianna and Brad stopped by..... Brianna pulling up without a helmet.......what a Hooligan Brianna (Spaugh's better half), Brad (Spaugh) and Cody Boy......Brianna's 400, Brad's Monster..... The three of us, enjoying some refreshments at my house (me, Brianna and Brad) Not only did we realize we had all met before and never knew it when they previously passed by walking their dogs and met Cody Boy out front of my house........but Brad's favorite is also Sierra Nevada Another awesome surprise and good time on our Independence Weekend !!

John, you are due for an Adventure Bike now........perhaps a Buell Ulysses, 950 or BMW ?? You need more than a thumper now, since you got bitten by the bug !! Or perhaps we can find you a Ducati 900 Elefant Awesome trip and photos !! Thanks for sharing. I know how it feels.....you don't really want to get home...but once you do, it feels good to be home, relax, and see your best friends (the dogs).

Hey Bagstr, since you're well known on ADVrider, I also posted the write-up there, called "Just a Little July 4th Weekend - Sunday Ride".

Up at the Lookout, Norm took a couple pix of us, said he's starting his own guest Photo Album for the tower. I told him next time I'll bring him an SDAR sticker for the tower. After a good visit with Norm, we got back on the bikes and I followed Jeff and Mimi on Espinosa and the long loop around Corral. The long downhill grade with water bars on Espinosa is slightly challenging on the 950, having to keep the speed down because it's harder to slow the big beast with all that weight. We passed a few quads coming our way who were hoggin' the road a bit, then we got to the Wrangler Trail turnoff. Mimi said I might have to turn back on one section if it was too tough......I said "I don't like to turn back, if it's tough, I just need you both to back me up". Fun trail, then we stopped at the big rock slab for a break and pix...... FYYFF The rock step / turn where Jeff helped me was not really difficult, I just screwed up the approach because I didn't gas it enough and lost momentum. I'll have to do it again next time. Each time I get through a tough spot, it just makes me want MORE !! I'm sick and it's a sickness Then Mimi took us on a short single track that was so narrow the brush was rubbing both sides of the 950......glad I don't care how pretty it is (isn't) anymore We split up at 4 corners, where Mimi said she wanted to ride pavement back to the truck, and Jeff went with her. I had to go back down our section of Kiernan, then rode out to Buckman Springs to La Posta Cafe for lunch. After lunch, I took the dirt road behind the new Border Patrol Station from La Posta towards 94. I explored a section along some powerlines that I had not done before, then did the section with the Woops along the powerlines. I explored an old section of trail to see if it was still fenced off at the southern end.....the trail only had one set of old tire tracks on it and was pretty washed out in sections. I followed it to the private property fence, found a gate, but it had multiple padlocks on it. Saw that the trail might parallel the fenceline, so I took it east and it dead-ended quickly, then rode it west and continued where the fenceline turned south. Saw a dirt road in the distance and thought I might get to the end of the fence and connect to the dirt road.......but NOT. The brush and bushes got too thick. Here's a pic of the overgrown trail along the fenceline.... Where I had to turn around I had to bulldog the 950 to turn it around......ground was soft and the front tire was digging in, so it was a workout and took me a few minutes As I was working to turn it around, the front wheel got wedged against the wire fence, pointing downhill......as I was struggling, I saw one homeowner watching me....he yelled "Need a hand?" I said no, and continued struggling. I took off my jacket and helmet, because it was damn hot. . He watched me struggling to turn it around and asked if I needed any water. I had my Camelback replenished from lunch, so I said "no, but if you can get over the fence, I'll take you up on your offer to help me turn the pig around". He came over, hopped the fence and pulled the front tire and we quickly spun it around in the direction to head out the same way I rode in. I thanked him and He asked, "what are you doin' out here?" I said "just exploring to see if I could get around the fences and hopefully I don't piss people off along the way". I said my pipes are quiet and I respect people's property......he said he never had a problem with motorcycles, just that he gets "a lot of unwanted visitors in the area" (mostly illegals wandering through). I continued back out north, found a couple more trails for later exploration, then headed to Cameron Corners for beverage and stopped to see this guy again After a brief visit with John, I took the twisties back to Jamul and onward towards home. A good 9 hours or so, of riding, with SDAR folks, exploring on my own, and visiting friends......just another good day in paradise !!

Hammer's just razzin' me........like he usually does to everyone.....and it works !! He caught me off guard too

Here you go, Mimi My addition to the ride....... Met up with Bagstr on his 950, Todd (N2TM) and Greta on the ST1300, and KLRoger on his Harley, then rode out 94 to Lyons Valley....tried seeing Ride Orange's house to stop for a minute to say a quick HI, but didn't remember which house........then stopped at the Lyon's Valley Store for a quick street shot....... Waiting for the rest of the crew to regroup before heading down Kiernan Cycle Trail.... PapaAlex and Spaugh, leaving the lower Corral campground....a little early Brianna on her 400 Bagstr.....my 950 Compadre I was not ready to head back, and when Mimi and Jeff said they were riding more, I said I've ridden a few trails in Corral on the 950, but never Sperm Meadow and when they said they wanted to ride that up to the Lookout Tower, again Sperm Meadow was in good condtion, sometimes the tight corners are washed out and rutted.....Mimi and Jeff were carrying a good pace up the trail.......I couldn't ride quite their pace on the big pig. Then we got up to the top and jammed up the short distance to the turnoff for the lookout tower, went up to see Norm, he yelled down excitedly, "That's a big one". Mimi said, "You just made his day" Up on the tower, Norm said my 950 (he knew what it was) was the biggest bike he had seen up there Dirt Dame and Jeff, heading up the stairs to lookout More to come soon......

Now THAT is really funny. Hammer, I'm glad you think everyone rides slow all the time. I know, you ARE the best, I wish I was just like you, and you ARE my hero Now, Pollo might end up being my hero, so you better continue to live up to your rep Hammer If anything, some of us love the entertainment.

Oh, now we got another bragger Hey, it's all good !!

I did a bunch of riding after leaving DirtDame and RoostingU.......I just got home about 6:30pm......oh, only about 11 hours riding Will try to post pix tonight......I'm a little beat, muscling the big pig around in the heat and exploring special places

I don't know if that's a good or bad thing ?!

Carguy showed up bright and early at my house around 7:20am on the fourth. I opened the garage door and yelled, "gimme a minute, just got out of the shower"......it was DAMN early !! Came out to the garage to see John, then had to find a mirror to put on the bike, since I broke off my left one couple weekends ago. Also mounted the tankbag, then we hit the road to get down to Pacific Beach to meet HondaPilot. We got there, and Schwinn was also there on his Harley. We left Jon's place and headed to breakfast at the Eggery, facing the boardwalk in PB. We sat down outside, only to experience the first "crash" of the day. HondaPilot sat down in a green plastic chair.....I guess it had been out in the sun too long because the chair broke apart and he fell on his ass Too bad nobody got their camera out quick enough. Luckily, it was the only crash of the day. The manager came out all apologetic and asked if he was OK. I said, "we're gonna sue" He offered to buy Jon breakfast, then Schwinn said, "only him?" So, the manager offered to buy us ALL breakfast. We didn't expect that, but took him up on it anyway. Had a great July 4th breakfast, tipped the waitress real nice since breakfast was free, then headed out to our bikes to start the ride up the coast. L to R....Schwinn, Carguy & HondaPilot After some relaxing riding along the coast, which was nice and cool due to some lingering fog, we stopped at the Torrey Pines Glider Port, with nothing to see due to the fog. Then we headed up the coast on Hwy. 1 to Solana Beach for some refreshments at Kraken, one of Schwinn's favorite hangouts......damn, he knew everyone there L to R....Steve (Schwinn), Jon (HondaPilot) and birthday boy John (Carguy)....Carguy kept saying it was a special day for him, I didn't know the 4th was his B-day until at the bar....so, HAPPY FREAKIN' B-DAY to the old fart I'm holding the camera takin' the pic.........I look like I'm half asleep, it wasn't because of my breakfast smoothie (bloody mary) Maddog Mike showed up on his 1200GS, then we continued on up Hwy. 1 and stopped in to see XR 650L Bum, who lives a few blocks from the beach. The bikes out front at Bum's house....... Here, 650 Bum's new pup is attacking my leg Now the pup is gnawing on Schwinn's leg.....Oh, the Agony !! Finally, he sat still for a second Both Mikes posing....650 Bum (Mike) on left, Maddog Mike on right Mike's 17 year old doggie Everyone in Mike's newly built garage, wondering why his Honda looks like it has just been ridden, but has been sitting there for months.....well, because last time Mike rode it, he hurt his shoulder pretty good on the Beach to River ride a few months ago, and his shoulder is still healing. After a brief visit (Mike was glad to see us), we posed out front before heading up the coast for the party.... L to R....Carguy, Maddog Mike, HondaPilot, Schwinn and XR650L Bum Same crew, I'm on the right Whew after all this typing and posting pics, I need a brewski......be back soon to finish with more pics.

Got plenty in the fridge, just call and come by !! That goes for anyone who's in the area or passing by !!

Yep !! Anyone else, feel free to join us at the 76 Station at corner of 94 and Jamacha at 7:15am.....even if you're on a street bike, feel free to ride street with us to Pine Valley, then we'll be meeting others to do dirt.

I don't know that trail, so I'd like you to turn me on to it sometime soon.........got plans tomorrow. Thanks,

Met Maddog Mike Sunday morning in Jamul, another friend Tony (WSMC99) showed up on his DRZ400 Supermoto and we rode to Potrero for breakfast. Then Randy Wynant showed up on his street bike. After breakfast, Mike and I headed east, while RW and Tony headed home for other commitments. Heading east on 94, we decided to stop to see if Mr. Cross Country was home......he came out a few minutes later after I knocked on his door....... The black Cross Country bike....... Of course, we had to celebrate John's return from his trip, with a cold one.... Carguy declined the invitation to go for a ride, so we headed out 94 to the dirt road along Buckman Springs to La Posta Rd., then heading up the mountain on dirt from La Posta to Thing Valley. Go to Member's Only Post under same write-up for info about gates on Laguna. After Thing Valley, we headed up Sunrise to the Mt. Laguna store for liquid replenishment. CHP and Sheriff's were out on Cuyamaca and Sunrise, luckily a friend warned us by calling us while we were at breakfast. From Sunrise, we headed down Pine Creek, the narrow, twisty broken pavement road.....and turned off a little side trail to a dead end overlook

Ah, we found that hill, but avoided the rutted uphill since we were on the big pigs. We found a little dirt road with a street sign, which proceeded around the west side of same hill, then up the south side......but it got real rocky and dead ended.........where I dropped it hard trying to turn around Have to check out the seismic-thingy next time I'm in the area.

How was Hawaii ? Will you be sharing some pix I hope ? I would love to see some pix of the only state I haven't been to yet Did you get to do any riding over there......I know there are 1 or 2 dualsport rental places, but know they're hard to get a hold of sometimes. Later......

I'm leaving my house around 7:00am near Navajo and 125, riding out 94 to Lyons Valley to Japatul Rd. to Pine Valley to meet up with everyone around 8:00. It doesn't matter if you're fast or slow.....we're trying to get everyone out there by 8:00, but keep checking here to see if others will be leaving the Cul De Sac at 8:30....not sure about Spaugh, DDame, and RoostinU