Jump to content

Marbee40

Members
  • Content Count

    73
  • Joined

  • Last visited

Everything posted by Marbee40

  1. Marbee40

    Visiting in August

    All, I'll be flying JetBlue from Alaska to Long Beach on August 5th. I'll be coming down to San Diego to visit friends/family and heading over to Tempe/Phoenix to get my daughter back into ASU around the 11th. I'll be leaving Long Beach back to Alaska on or about August 15th. I'm looking for an old beater loaner bike to get from around Long Beach or San Diego out to Tempe and then back to Long Beach or San Diego. If I don't find something, I will rent a car (GAG). Ideas? Any CHEAP rentals out there? I'd rather ride than drive. I will provide/pay for maintenance, to include fluids/tires if needed. I'd like to stay a few days in San Diego to visit old buddies and do a ride or two. My daughter doesn't fly down from Alaska until the 11th, so I have some time to play. I'm open to suggestions. Thanks, Jim in AK
  2. Marbee40

    Marbee40 Update

    SDAR, Hope these aren't killing bandwidth. If so, let me know. One of our instructors rides a little Yammy XT225 to work every day. I'm scheming on how to swipe it for the w/e and go buzz the local trails. BTW, I miss riding SOOOOO bad it hurts. Only 9 weeks to go! My 650 is calling my name....."Riiiiiiide me!". Someone PLEASE send me a video! Marbee Outrun, Outspell, Outswim! Yes, these last two weeks were a doozy! The first week of September was spent at the firing range, learning how to get my flashy new Glock out of the holster without dropping it or loosing any toes in the process. Then came the dreaded Defensive Tactics. Each day started with the normal morning PT (running, swimming, death-aerobics, etc). Then a quick shower, breakfast and off to the mat-room for pounding the snot out of each other and learning new ways to politely ask someone to join you in the patrol car. Loads of new bruises and skill by Wednesday. On Thursday morning, 1/2 the class donned boxing gloves, whilst the other 1/2 donned padded head gear. Hmmmm....me thinks this doesn't bode well for us with the headgear. Eight hours later, my right thumb is in traction, but I'm still alive. Friday comes around: The previous 4 days of abuse all lead up to a final scenario with the instructor's wearing fully padded fighting suits. Not a good way to start the weekend. As mentioned in previous updates, before you can attempt a scenerio, the staff likes it when you are completely and utterly out of breath and energy. In turn, each of us was "cycled" for almost an HOUR before going upstairs to the scenario room. A staff-member is standing outside the door to brief you. He says "You've already been to Walt's apartment once this evening and explained that if he didn't turn the music down, you'd be back to arrest him. Go in and arrest him". Great....I hope Walt is 9 years old. I bang on the door and yell "State Troopers!" Walt yells back "C'Mon in, Trooper!". Sigh...."Walt, come outside so we can talk!" "Screw you, copper, come in!" So much for my initial plan. In I go. Walt is the biggest, ugliest guest-instructor they could find from Sitka PD. Plus, he's wearing all the padding and look's like some freak out of a Japanese super-hero comic book. I use my highly honed Verbal Judo to attempt to talk him into the cuff's. (You know how this goes, so I won't bore you with the vulgar script.) Walt and I end up scuffling on the floor for what seems like an hour, but, in reality, last's about a minute. I finally get the cuff's on and the evaluator yell's "RED". He says "Stand up, close your eyes and wait". ARE YOU CRAZY? "CLOSE YOUR EYES or fail part II". WHAT? Part TWO? I take two deep breaths on squeeze em shut: PART TWO: I'm in a room full of badguys and the lights just went out. Talk about Spidey-Senses going bonkers! Someone grabs me from behind and tries to yank my gun. He gets an elbow in the padded chops for his trouble. Two minutes later, I'm 110% out of breath, my guy is in cuff's and the evaluator says I did fine. If I hadn't been so beat, I'd have kicked him in the Wedding Tackle for good measure. For those of you who have ever wrestled with someone for more than 30 seconds, you'll know exactly how beat up I was. One of the evaluators is to be my future boss back in Wasilla/Palmer. When it's his turn to give comments, he smiles and says "I guess you can come to Palmer now.". I think that was a compliment??? I survived another day at the hands of the padded evil-doers, but seriously have LONG thoughts about the mistakes I made and how terrifying it can be to have someone get a hand on your gun. NOT a mistake I wanna repeat on the street where no one calls TIME OUT. (Hint: If you ever tap a cops' gun, expect a full and complete ass-whooping before he says "Oh, hey John, I didn't realize it was you!") Saturday was written testing in the AM and then off to Cold Water Survival again. This time not in a warm pool. Lovely Alaska salt water at the end of the Trooper pier. I actually LOVE chilly water, and the immersion suits keep ya purty near toasty. After we stripped out of those, on went the old school life vests (like Grandpa had on the boat in Idaho) and back into the drink. Ohhhhh, a little chillier without the immersion suit! After the initial shock and breathing returned, we swam around, hooted and hollered a bit. Good fun....then I remembered that Orca's swim around here somewhere. Time to get out. Thank the good Lord they gave us today (Sunday) off. Got the boots polished, uniforms ironed, and essentially squared myself away. Even caught up on a few emails. Life is good in Sitka. Hope all of you are doing well. Keep those post cards rolling in!
  3. Marbee40

    Marbee40 Update

    Thanks Carguy! I'll be out of here around the 7th of Dec (Pearl Harbor Day!). Keep in touch. Marbee
  4. Marbee40

    Marbee40 Update

    SDAR, Just another update that I send out every couple of weeks from the Trooper Academy. Family and Friends, Just a quick hello on a quite (finally) Sunday evening. The last two weeks were BUTT KICKERS. Last Saturday we got to enjoy a nice "TASER" to the back. I'd show ya the video but you'd likely call my Congressman to complain about abuse. Okay, some of you might call to say "Thanks". It is a PAINFUL experience that last's all of 5 seconds but a lifetime of memories. It was worse watching OTHERS go thru it. Last week my squad spent every day at the shooting range. QUICK DRAW McGRAW here! This ain't no Navy static qual course, folks. Speed shooting, from the holster, from already in your hands, long range, short range, etc. Nice combat shooting that left EVERYONE feeling confident and SAFE with the weapon. I qualified 210 out of 240 possible, so evidently I hit what I was aiming at...most of the time. I sincerely hope I never have to use those skills, but when I do, I'm coming home at the end of my shift. Yesterday (Sat) was Cold Water Survival training. Getting in and out of thick rubber suits, into and out of a little orange raft, etc. Good fun at the toasty warm pool. In a few weeks we get to do it again....in the ocean. If you don't get your suit on in less that 1 minute, they push you overboard to see if the nice Alaskan water hurries your pace a bit. Today was Emergency Vehicle Operators Course (EVOC). Drive a Crown Vic thru the cones at a brisk pace. A few of my fellow recruits sat in the back when I drove, with my Instructor in the front seat. On the first pass he said "Keep it at a steady 15-20mph". I liesurely strolled thru the cones. Next pass 20-25mph. Again, no sweat. Then he says "Streicher, I KNOW you can drive this car, GET ON IT!". Hmmm, okay.... I hammered it up to speed before the first cone, didn't bother to look at the speedo, and gave them poor gov't tires a work out. My buddies in the back seat were yelling "YEAAAAAAH" and the instructor says "You passed, good job.". The guys said my speed at the first cone was 35mph. I can't wait till next Sunday. I love my job. Next week is Defensive Tactics. We get to toss each other around the mat room for 4 days. Gotta watch my neck, but should be fine. Rolling along smartly! Sitka is BEAUTIFUL! Pine tree's and mountains everywhere. Loads of history. The locals are real nice. Not a bad place, but miss Lisa and the kids. 11 more weeks. Keep those cards and letters coming!
  5. Marbee40

    Update from Marbee40!

    Gang, Howdy! Thanks for the kind words! Before I ran off to the Academy, I had 2-3 months of BLISSFUL riding. Is it the same as dez riding? No, but different and challenging just the same. I've ridden to a glacier and up serious mountains. I can ride to the store on dirt or around town on trails, hitting asphalt only crossing driveways, etc. DREAMLAND, brothers! I can carry my .357 in a holster over my chest protector or sling my flashy new 45-70 over my back! LIFE IS GOOD! If ANY of you ever decide to come up, please send Gunner Chief a PM for my email as I don't get to check this too often. I'll graduate from the State Trooper Academy on Dec 7th and hopefully be back in Palmer/Wasilla for my first tour of duty. Wasilla sits in the BEAUTIFUL Matanuska-Susitna River Valley. We have MILES AND MILES of trails and open river bed to ride! You can rent bikes in Anchorage for a reasonable price, ride with me, or even take the Haul Road north to the Slope. Best of health and many thanks to all of you! My fondest memories riding in SoCal were from SDAR and my trips to Baja! PS: Chief Gunner, THANKS very much for the kind thoughts and updating everyone! Keep in touch! Marbee
  6. Marbee40

    Another crash compliation

    #1: This is the first motorsports video where the crappy music was actually APPROPRIATE. Turn it UP and pretend the horrendous screaming is coming from the helmet of the bum that just wiped out! #2: If the Bobcat crash doesn't make you pee your pants and cringe in pain, you are MUCH tougher than me. #3: THIS video illustrates why my Honda is NEVER more than three feet off the ground. The good lord didn't provide me with wings upon birth and I would definitely be on part II of this video if I tried ANY of that! #4: The term "Nucking F**Z!" comes to mind (sorry Randy!) #5: Gummer Chief: Thanks for the NIGHTMARES right before beddy bye time! OUUUUUUCH! Jim
  7. I'll be bringing the D606 I just pulled off my XR. I believe (w/o looking) that it's a 100/100/18 or something close. It's about 65%. I'm riding with Gummer Chief. I just looked at his "what I'm bringing" list and realized that I might be riding on the damn roof rack with my tire in my lap! See ya'll in a few hours! Jim
  8. One of my LASTING memories of this fine state, dual-sporting, and YOU clowns will be that AWESOME picture of your pig swinging merrilly from that helo! That's what legends are made of. What I would REALLY like to do is make a FULL SIZE flippin poster of that very shot and hang it in my new garage in AK so folks can say "WHAT IN THE .....???" Thanks for the memories! Sorry for off-topic. Jim
  9. Marbee40

    Buying a GPS, any opinions out there?

    Hey Bum, I have the RAM mount that works both in my truck and on the bike. (One "ball" in each, just move the GPS.) Jim
  10. Marbee40

    Not so loved in AK?

    http://www.advrider.com/forums/showthread....d=1#post4070451 Looks like using ol' KTMrad was a "bad" idea. KTMrad: Thanks for the tip, seriously! Jim
  11. Marbee40

    at last a detailed GPS Worldmap & it's not from Garmin!

    Well dadgummit, where the HECK was this when I needed it??? Baja, Kuwait, Iceland, Alaska? SHEESH! Now I'll have to buy it before I go on my trip North. I'll keep ya posted. Jim
  12. Brother Barb-Wire (Aka: BBDUB) , As mentioned over the phone, I'm 100% free next week (a few days worth) and you just need to say WHEN! If you want "bike" mileage, I can bring my SixFiveOh, but would rather be "safe", as previously discussed. Have GPS and Laptop, will travel! Jim
  13. As some of you may know, my time here is growing shorter by the minute! I now depart on the 1st of March for Alaska (insert orchestra movie music here). I've always wanted to see that LONG railroad trestle that everyone talks about. Big wooden thing that is out of commission, somewhere over just above S2 in the mountains? If anyone know's where it is and if it's ride-able, I'd be interested in going along. Just a one-day thing. I can't go next weekend as I'm heading up to Chino for the w/e. Lemme know! Jim
  14. Marbee40

    Basic Rider course, Dirtbike School

    Ditto what he said! Jim MSFRC#117339 L8tr
  15. Marbee40

    OHV areas UT, ID, MT?

    O' Knowledgable Ones, As most of you know, I'll soon be departing the land of the Riding Sun for the greener pastures (tundra?) of the Last Frontier. My departure date is March 1st (just around the corner). My old mentor and good buddy Jack Conrad is flying down from AK to make the trip with me. He's a bit "older" in body only. His mind says "HAUL A**!" but his body doesn't always agree. We are taking I-15 up thru MT into Canada, and then over to the ALCAN highway into AK. I've been on the ALCAN twice before, and I'm very familiar with it. I-15, on the other hand, is a bit of a mystery. I've got a GMC 3/4t p/u and a 33' toy-hauler. I've got the two d/s bikes and two atv's that we're hauling up. My GOAL is to do between 300-500 miles a day. We have TEN days to make the entire trip. EASY! So, with that being said, I'll get to my point: 1. We'd prefer to dry-camp near the I-15 corridor all the way up. (My trailer is self-sufficient) The VIEW outside the trailer is important! 2. I'd like to stop near 3 or 4 OHV area's along the route. 3. We'd like to spend about 4 hours riding at each OHV area. Nothing hard-core, just dual-sport/nice views. I've already spotted two places I'd like to stop at along the route. One is Dumont Dunes outside of Baker, Ca. The other is Little Sahara Recreation Area (BLM) north of Cedar City, Utah. If ANY of you have any advice for GOOD places to camp/ride that might fit the bill, I would REALLY appreciate it! THANKS! Jim
  16. I think a get-together for some structured drills, technical practice and some group riding techniques would be a great idea. For any of you that are really "new" to dirty riding, I HIGHLY recommend seeking the Dirt Bike School (DBS) from the Motorcycle Safety Foundation (MSF). I have the Instructor Guide here at home, but missed the course this year, so I can't "legally" teach it. It might seem silly for someone who's "been riding all my life" to take a course like this (or ATV, or BRC), but you'd be SURPRISED at what details you pick up. I've been riding ATV's for years and then decided to add Instructor to my resume. I took the instructor course back in Dec up at Camp Pendelton with Kevin Frantum. Kevin has been teaching dirt, street, and ATV for over 15 years to military and civilian alike. He's been riding and racing for much longer! Right about the time you think you know something, he schools you in an ever-so-polite way! Kevin also teaches PRIVATE courses out at Ocotillo Wells. He's got a nice white trailer with his logo all over it (sorry, can't recall the name). Unlike us spoiled military folks, you taxpayers will have to pay for this type of course. Cost is MINIMAL and worth every penny. If you're truly interested, let me know and I'll get the info. Ride SAFE! Jim
  17. Gunner, I'm out! I just woke up! Long night. Sorry bro. I told ya Sunday was a better day for me! :-) Have fun! Jim
  18. I just walked in the door and it's 26* in Bonita at 11pm. My lips hurt. Some of the gang is STILL on the road to Encinitas. I'll post more tomorrow, but as usual, another GREAT SDAR ride! Seven hearty fools showed up and seven hearty fools made the entire trip! We have a new name for the little hill behind the Olympic Training Center....."Push-em-Up-Hill!" More tomorrow! Thanks for the support on this one, fellas! Jim
  19. Gunner Chief, I'll be there! I'd like to repack my exhaust and spoon on a new tire, so I'll bring my tire tools and 5gal bucket if anyone else wants to do tires. Funny, that BBQ doesn't look anything like the one we brought home from the cleanup!
  20. OUCH! I feel kinda "bad" about that hill. Guess I over-simplified the pre-ride description..... Glad everyone had a good time and truly hope this spurs more night rides. Anyone wishing to revisit ODT Hill again during daylight hours, give me a PM and check your knobby! See ya'll soon! Jim
  21. Okay, since we didn't have a camera, just imagine this in the DARK! (Sorry, spyder, I hijacked your thread!)
  22. SDAR, Ahhh, another "adventure" on the books. This little ride was originally kicked off so that an out-of-town visitor by the name of 625SXC could go for a local ride. Needless to say, he was otherwise detained and we left at 7:20ish. We had 7 riders show up, including three from "up north". Bosman, 2Wheels, Kevin, Pyro, Bum, and a newbie that rode a clean XR650L like his butt was on fire! If I missed someone or got the screenname wrong, my bad! Considering it was hovering around 32* when I walked out the door, I'm again surprised by the number of folks that showed up for what was originally touted as an "easy" ride. Well, okay, it WAS easy, but I'll get to that in a second. We took off down Proctor Valley about two miles in to the concrete wash, hooked a right heading back west and bounded up my favorite little trail that overlooks Upper Otay Res. The downhill section can be a little boogery for new folks, but everyone hammered right along. We then transitioned to the next valley over that parallels Lower Otay. I was going off "daylight" memory. The trail was SUPPOSED to come out over near the Skydiving school just east of the lake, but we ended up doing a loop and back to the road. LESSON ONE FOR NIGHT RIDE TRAIL LEADERS: If you haven't been on the route at night, PRE-RUN first! If I had just marked my GPS with a few simple waypoints, we'd have been fine. OH WELL! Onto the asphalt for a nice starlit ride going East on Otay Lakes we went. Our next stop was at the Thousand trails campground and onto the Otay Truck Trail from the North side of Otay Mountain. At about 2500' of elevation the wind kicked up and the temperature dropped 10 degrees! We stopped at Doghouse junction for a minute to look at the city lights and chew the fat. One of the SMART riders had brought a thermos of coffee! (HINT HINT for the next trip!). I heard a few "THIS is why I bought my bike" comments. Also noted was that this is the location I sometime bring my kids to watch the fireworks on the 4th....which led to "Hey, we should do an annual ride up here on the 4th!" Next stop was the cell tower's only a 1/2 mile away. After watering a few plants and gawking at the "Border Lights", numb fingers all agreed it was time to get off the windy mountain. We dropped down the west side of Otay to Keubler ranch road, waving to a few BP folks on duty along the way. (THANKLESS JOB!) Once to the bottom of the hill, we turned right towards the prison and dropped down the "fence chute" into an area just south of the Olympic Training Center. I stopped everyone to warn that the toughest section of the trip was up ahead and to "stay right, give 'er hell!" I've been up this little climb in daylight about 4-5 times. I remember my first time was a bit scary, but I made it....on a new D606. The first three bikes flew up with only a bit of effort. Then someone on a VERY shiny white Beemer 650 dumped it and I thought "OH CRAP!". With a LOT of pushing and fine clutch work, we got the last three bikes up the hill. By now, everyone was sweating like draft horses. Trust me, this hill is NOT fun at night on a 80/20 tire! Also, I took off my balaclava and glove liners cause I was too warm. MISTAKE! 1/2 way home I got REAL flippin cold. Overall, I'd say it was a pretty good ride. I would like to see more night rides....after it warms up! Sorry, no pix as the cell cameras are semi-useless in the dark! Finally, if you've been lurking on this site or just have a trail ride you'd like to lead, DO IT! Most folks on this list are just looking for a reason to get out. The little trip we did last night wasn't really "exciting" or new ground, but the night aspect throws a wrench in. Signing off....
  23. I'll be out the door and going for gas by 6PM. Call if you need something. I'll be at the meeting point by about 630 and we'll leave by NLT 715ish. Mangler, glad to hear you had a good ride! See you on another ride, you sexy thang! Jim
  24. SDAR, As requested by 625SX (in the previous thread called Jan14th), I'd like to lead a local night ride. He is visiting and working on a local project that allows him to get out of work and meet by 7:PM. Meeting location: Corner of Proctor Valley Road and Hunte Parkway, Chula Vista, 91914 Use Mapquest to find it using this as your intersection or PM me. Meeting Time/Date: Monday, Jan 15th, 6:45PM Route: Upper Otay Lake, Otay Mountain, Keubler Road, Alta Road, back roads back to Olympic Parkway. Difficulty: 80% graded roads, 15% rough roads, 5% rocky rutted full-width trails. Seriously, this is an easy trip that I take newbie's on all the time. One rough downhill and one challenging uphill. Time: 3 hours MAX. Should be back to Olympic Parkway/Hunte Parkway by about 10PM latest. Depends on how much goofing around. Finally, due to the fact that this is a NIGHT RIDE through "wild country", this will NOT be a haul-arse ride. Just a relaxed ride through the weeds. With any luck, we'll have no clouds and PERFECT views of San Diego night lights. The forecast calls for chilly, so pack heavy and make sure you've got a fresh cup of joe in your cupholder! (That was for the BMW guys) Hope you can all make it! My cell for this trip is 619-726-5432. Jim
  25. I own a jacket to and a scarf – I'm showing up. (Ski pants optional.) Yeah, and you better bring your snowshoes, too! Jim
×

Important Information