Gery XT-225

I will be riding my F650GS and leave San Diego this Friday morning to ride up Big Bear. I will be tent camping in front of Big Bear Convention Center parking lot. Hope to see you all at the event. Ride safe, Gery

Cheers for Tecate Beer... Jamul Circuit Race Track... Trophy Class... Buggy Class... Great dirt ride and fun to watch Baja 500 Race...

Rancho Ramona Fuel Station...

Compadres Trail... Technical downhill slope... Oh well, dirt fall doesn't count anyway...

I know it's late to report, but better than nothing... Four of us from San Diego took off Friday morning 5/30 @ 7 AM and crossed the Tecate Mexican border. We rode all the way to Hacienda Veronica for breakfast. Then we thrilled ourselves along Compadres Trail thru Parque Nacional Constitucion and Laguna Hanson. We spent the night at Mike's Sky Ranch and watched the Baja 500 race Saturday morning... Mike's Sky Ranch Parking Lot... Mike's Sky Ranch Swimming Pool is now blue and no longer green anymore... We could still park our bikes by the pool...

Special thanks to 2Wheels who set-up this ride adventutre last weekend. And of course to all adventurer riders who joined with us for a great expidition at Valle Dela Palmas along Baja Mexico. We met at the Starbucks parking lot along Olympic Parkway in Chula Vista last Sunday the 20th of April 2008 @ 9 AM. We started with a cup of hot coffee and introducing each other which bonds us prior the ride. At exactly 10 AM, we glide in moderate pace along Hwy 94 and to Hwy 188 which lead us to cross the border of Tecate Mexico. Within another 16 miles or so, we reach the intersection of Hwy 3 and Valle Dela Palmas where we took-off some air preassure on our tires before hiting the dirt. The entry of Valle Dela Palmas are smooth dirt to start. As we move along, the terrain varried from soft sand and more rugged surfaces. The mountain scenery was great as we squeez our throthel along the yellow wild flowers along our route. It was awesome... Unfortunately, somehow we got lost each other on the trail. We were separated into 2 groups that never see each other until the end of our adventure. I lost control and light fall a couple of times on some very technical trails. I can see now the advantage of a tall rider that could paddle both feet when it comes to technical deep powder dirt and big rocks terrains. One of our rider had a rear flat tire, unfortunately we didn't succeed fixing his tire. He ended up riding his bike 10 miles off-road and another 20 miles on the pave Highway. It was really scarry watching him sliding all over the place but his great dirt experiences made him through back to US. Next message are the pictures we collected during our Valle Dela Palmas Adventure. Enjoy... Ride safe, XT-225

Navigating the area Some rugged trail Got a flat tire We met a friend Ride safe, XT-225

Valle Dela Palmas Entry Roilling out the dirt Intersection where we lost each other after Awesome trail more pix coming up....

Meeting Place at Starbucks Coffee Shop By Olympic Parkway, Chula Vista Our group of 5 Adventurer Riders Entering Tecate Mexico Dirt Trike more pix coming up....

BTW, I was considering opening up another competition class for thumpers, but after riding behind Gery on his Yamaha XT-225, I say no way! That thing scoots along too darn fast!! But seriously, kudos to anyone that wants to do it on a thumper, you definitely won't make a poor showing with some of the bonus point locations lined up... (hint, hint) Just a suggestion.... maybe a "Geocatche Competition" for those riders that have a GPS units on their bikes could be a very interesting game we you could add on this event. We could hide some treasure hunt around San Diego County area in systhematic order of the following below: 1. Proctor Valley Trail, 2. Otay Border Trail, 3. Tecate-Campo Border Trail, 4. McCain Trail, 5. Coral Canyon OHV 6. Bear Valley Trail 7. Viejas Grade 8. Boulder Creek Trail 9. Oriflame-Rodriguez Canyon, 10. Fish Creek Trail 11. Black Canyon (bonus point) Think about it.... Ride safe, Gery

I sent you a PM....

I like to join the Mtn Biking activities. Unfortunately, I will be in Torrey Utah (May 16-18) exploring their desert moab wonder rocks. If you planning to do this excursion in the future, I can offer a free campsite with showers and swimming pool facilities at Thousand Trails & Campground located along Cuyamaca Hwy 79. Lots of Mtn bike trails can be access from the campground. Have a healthy excursion to all... Gery

Please enjoy more photo stories below... Congressman Duncan Hunter supporting the off-road community... Great turn-out... San Diego Adventure Riders giving best possible support to off-road coalition meeting... SDAR socializing at the parking lot after the meeting... We decided to have lunch and ride to Coral Canyon OHV after the meeting... Spark Arrester Required Trail Map... Getting ready... DigDug and his KTM... Craig and his DRZ400 Randy and his KTM Luke and his DRZ650 Los Pinos Road Tower You see my underbone XT225 with her 2 big sisters Spur Meadow trail Luke in action... Technical drop... Craig in action... Craig showing how to turn around bike on tight trails Craig & Luke in action... Trail ruts... San Diego Adventure Riders trail Craig & Luke recovering... Luke showing us an easy way to pump tires using his electric air pump Craig showing how to be in shape by using his manual air pump Ride safe, Gery

Thanks for sharing a great photo stories on your Thomas Mountain adventure. I always enjoy seeing group of riders having fun together to enjoy life. Buy I don't think I am ready to handle snow riding with my novice level skills yet. So what's special riding techniques you guys use when riding into snow? What kind of tires do you use for those type of terrain. What suspension set-up and gear ratio will work best to tackle getting thru snow? Novice riders like to hear from the Pro... Novice riders always wondering, Gery

I agree. The Johnson Valley issue was a good FYI... but it was beating a dead horse after about 20 minutes for me. In regards to the BLM, we are unrepresented in San Diego County and I thought this would've been a good time to hear more about our County resources. Granted most organized users go to the desert properties, but the focus on their issues also tend to shove attention of the little properties to the back burner, and hence we stand to lose them. Fortunately, the Dulzura closure was brought to their attention. Keep us posted on any follow-up you hear folks! I hear you all folks... we should stand all together to keep our playground wide open and safe to everyone of us. Speak now before we loose it... Nice to meet all of you first time in personal at the meeting and first time opportunity to ride with SDAR. Ride safe, Gery

Coral_Canyon_Tracks.txt It really made a big differents seeing our San Diego Adventure Riders participating and supporting to any Off-Road Coalition meeting. Once again, we showed to our Congressman Duncan Hunter our best supports. Great agenda... A lunch and ride to Coral Canyon OHV follows after the meeting. At first, I was really hessitate to join the ride after seeing massive enduro bikes and SDAR dressed like a Pro-Racers on the parking lot. Until Sandiegoland approaches me and ask me to join and promisses that novice riders like me are also welcome to ride with them. For now... all I can say is we all had a BLAST at the Coral Canyon single track trails. After all, not too bad for a novice riders for only scratching my left front fender on that technical high wall downhill ruts. We also had fun along Hwy 94 heading back to San Diego. Thanks so much for letting us to tag along. Ride safe, Gery

I will try to be in the meeting. But not sure if I can join the ride after the meeting...... unless they will be a novice group that I can tag along. See you all Saturday, Gery

And it WORKS......... big thanks to Crawdaddy & Dig Dug

Mike's Sky Ranch Tour March 8-9, 2008 445 total miles round trip (mostly on dirt) A great day in Baja Mexico for a dual-sport… The weather temperature in Baja is almost perfect this time of the year. Two dual-sport riders from San Diego California decided to spend a weekend in Baja Mexico to take advantage of this fabulous climate. Our quests are to check-out some of the secluded area in Baja and ride some of their best dirt trails. We started early Saturday morning on the 8th of March 2008 @ 6:45 AM. Rolled onto Freeway I-15 South, I-8 East, Hwy 125 South, Hwy 94 East, Hwy 188, and crossed the Tecate Mexico Border. We continue to cruise on Mexico Hwy 2 leading to El Hongo and had brunch at Hacienda Santa Veronica. El Compadre’s trail was the first dirt trail we explored. Our dirt jaunts from Santa Veronica to Laguna Hanson offer so much great scenery that kept our digital collection rolling especially when we pass the “Parque Nacional Constitucion de 1857” which tour us along their pine woods. We reach Hwy 3 midday and re-fuel at Valle Trinidad. Our second part of our journey trails us to a motorcycle heaven known as the “Mike’s Sky Ranch” which is in isolated area of Baja. The dirt trails becomes more extreme as terrain varies from deep soft sands, loose big rocks, water crossing, dirt mud, steep climbs, and lots of technical downhill. We accomplish to arrive in Mike’s Sky Ranch an hour before dark which gave us plenty of time to settle in our room and toss for a couple cold beers prior to our dinner. Said ranch is a motorcycle friendly place where most vivid and professional Baja dirt riders congregate. It’s a grand for us to meet in person the ranch owner Mike and one legend rider Chris Steward who took first place in the Baja 1000 race in year 2004. Mike’s Sky Ranch is resting on a hillside with overlooking of the Arroyo San Rafael Mountains . Said ranch offers motel-type accommodations for $60 per night including a home cooked steak for dinner and a Mexican omelet for breakfast. There is a small bar that is open nightly where most visitors socialize and exchanges their great Baja adventure stories including their previous race experiences. Said ranch generator that supplied room electricity only operates from sunset to bedtime and it’s a wow when that generator goes off. Poof ... the stars come on. Photo stories below will ralate our 2 days adventure in Baja Mexico. Enjoy... Dirt trail entrance to Hacienda Santa Veronica Having breakfast at Hacienda Santa Veronica yum... yum... My friend Luke having a great service during our breakfast Water crossing along Compadre's taril Mud... mud... and more mud we chanlenged Some loose rocks we trailed Entering the Parque Nacional Constitucion de 1857 Laguna Hanson on the background Refuel at Rancho Ramona Premium gas paid $5 per gallon Junction to Mike's Sky Ranch along the Mexico Hwy 3 Trail ruts heading to Mike's Sky Ranch Some downhill slope Desert flower Desert cactus Lots of deep soft sands along the route Arrive at Mike's Sky Ranch Saturday before dark Swimming pool at Mike's Sky Ranch Our bikes allowed to park by the swimming pool patio Mike the owner and my friend Luke The bar at Mike's Sky Ranch Cold drink for a toss Cheers for a great dual-sport adventure Till next time... Ride safe, Gery

Baja_Mexico_Tracks.txt I have attached my Garmin Mapsource with modified data file on .txt format. This is my actual GPS Tracks I did when I rode "Hacienda Santa Veronica via Mike's Sky Ranch". Hope that this will work this time... Please note how to open the file (as per Crawdaddy): To open a file from a forum posting: When you go to open a ".txt" file the procedure is exactly the opposite.......you must first "right" click the ".txt" file to open it/save it......you'll see a dialoge box that says "Save Target As".......change the ".txt" at the end of the file name to ".gdb" in the upper "File Name" box and in the lower "Save as Type" box you'll see an option to change the description from "Text Document" to "All Files"....do this and you're done.....now you've converted the useless ".txt" file to a Garmin ".gdb" file that Mapsource will recognize/open..... Ride safe, Gery

I agree, Mike Jr was a friendly and very quite old man. I tried to chase him on his ranch for an interview but he was a very reserve guy. Ricky the bar tender man do all the talking on the ranch. Ice cold Tecate beer for $2 a bottle in the middle of no where.... not bad at all for a visit. Just don't dream for the pool... Gery

Anyone been to Utah's Moab Desert Trails? You will be in love with their natural red rocks formations and your camera will never stop rolling... Gery

For those who wants to see the GPS Tracks, just send me your e-mail address and I will privately send it to you. For the mean time, we will continue to figure out how to attach a Garmin MapSource data file on our forum. Sorry for the delay... Ride safe, Gery

Where did you met Luke? Did you met him on the trail? He called me yesterday and he was eager to ride but I was very busy at work. He probably spin around. Ride safe, Gery

I cannot open it too... Gery