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Not too long ago we lost a dear friend, a true ADV rider, a staff member at West38Moto, and entrepreneur. Roamin' Joe. Joe left my house on a Friday after celebrating his fantastically good fortune landing a career dream job. The next morning he would head to to Salt Lake for the final drive to a new home and job. We were ecstatic and we all knew we'd miss him, just didn't know how much or how soon. That evening Joe checked into the VA hospital feeling off and then his aorta ruptured. He was about 55 years old I believe. Joe was a lesson in gratitude. He had suffered considerably (as many have and will) but never let on to the struggles he endured. He was always happy, encouraging, kind regardless of what challenge he was facing. I bought a baseball hat awhile ago thinking about Joe. It 'seemed' to be his motto. Gratitude. Kindness. An energetic problem solver and adventurer. Friday Afternoon: Joe received a burial with full military honors, and it was an incredibly solemn ceremony. The first like this I'd witnessed. We then went to Joes favorite cigar bar in Old Town and spent the afternoon and evening laughing and celebrating Joe's memory. Saturday Morning: There were six of us who decided to spend the weekend doing what Joe loved - - Riding! So we left La Mesa at 7 a.m. and headed for Pine Valley, and up Pine Creek road to Sunrise Highway. I love this broken up old lost road. It's such a fun roller coaster ride in so many places. We only met one Jeeper coming down and it was a safe and polite encounter. By the time we got into the pine trees most of us had swept the sleep out of our eyes and were getting throttle happy with some passing back and forth. At the top, helmets came off and of course, there were six huge grins and plenty of happy banter. We had really MISSED this trail while it was closed for much of Covid. Onto the highway and LEFT to Julian for breakfast! But first . . . . . The weather on the ride up so far was classic fog, heavy mist, coooooold, ... but as we topped out at the highway we broke into the most beautiful day! You know the days when there isn't a speck of pollution in the air and you can see farther then you ever thought possible. So I drug the group into Inspiration Point for a short look out over the desert, and the blue sky. It was unusually breathtaking. Then breakfast was had at the Miners Diner in Julian. Now I was really ready for my favorite stretch on pavement in SD county. Banner Grade. The bike was running like the well oiled german machine it is. The tires . . . I'm almost through my second set of RallZ's on this bike and absolutely love how they stick. There is no knobby drift when deep in the corners like so many others. Pick a line through the corners, throw in down all the way to the edge and stick your chin in the mirror. The thing rails, like it's on rails. At Banner we hit the skids and turned right on Rodriguez, flipped to Enduro Pro and rode up to the first gate. Oracle had tipped me off the gates were closed but unlocked as it was public roadway. He was right. He also warned me to make sure I didn't miss the hard left soon after that to take Rodriguez down and out Oriflamme. He emphasized that going straight down Mason might not be fun for everyone. In retrospect he was right. Even though the goal of the weekend was to ride hard, it did turn out to be 'more' than a couple riders anticipated. But alls well that ends well. We pre- walked a few spots, cleared a few rocks here and there, and one or two riders dead clutched down some baby head ruts here and there. The wash at the bottom of Oriflamme was spectacular! Very tight windy track winding through the brush with quite a bit of deeper loose sand, but it's kind of course so there's good traction (comparatively). I call it hero sand. All the fun of floating, slow drifting corners and hero roosting with just enough traction to let you get away with it on the 550lb'r. Turned left and explored Blair Valley, ate lunch and then blasted off for Grapevine. I think Roamin' Joe sent the grader in from the bottom ahead of us because the wash was in GREAT shape, and I'm guessing it was about as good as it gets. Braap Braap! We stayed left at the Y and kept going up toward Ranchita, making a late right turn to ride Culp Valley down and then into Borrego. We checked into the motel and walked next door for the usual Mex dinner. After dinner we rode out to Camp Dusty. Once or twice a year W38M collaborates with Bill Dragoo and he'll bring his class and tour to mesh with ours. Sat/Sun Adv bike training and then Monday off to Baja for 5 days. So we rode out to camp and told stories, drank a couple beers and toasted to Roamin' Joe. Good Times. Sunday Morning: Over breakfast at the Red Ocotillo we invoked the democratic process as each rider raised his sore arms to vote. . . . Baileys cabin fell to the axe... Lost Valley and High Point TT were in. The video below tells the rest of the story. Joe would have been pleased that we spent 'his weekend' this way. Life is Good. Embrace it, drink it in, go out and do whateverthehell makes you happy, and do it today. We did that weekend. And will continue to do as often as we possibly can.