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ECDave

sand trials and cookies

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I have been enjoying ride reports on this forum for a couple of years now, and seeing that there is a need for new ride reports, I have decided to start doing some. I am sure it will be rides that most have taken so maybe seeing them from another perspective will be entertaining. A little background on me. I have owned a Yamaha Super Tenere for about 7 years now, wow time flies. I purchased it with the intent of torturing myself off road with it, just for the challenge. I fell into the commuting thing and never really went on many off road trips. I did all of the easy stuff-Bear Valley,Black Mountain,easy stuff incase I neeeded assistance since I didn't have any riding buddies.  I decided it was time to ride some sand to see how I will do. I have been riding skinny bikes in sand for about 35 years and feel that I am fairly capable with them. Now time for the 600 pounder.

My plan was to visit Blair Valley road as a member of SDAR recommended it as a good beginner to sand road. So off I go. I8 to Japatul, up to Julian and down Banner. All easy stuff except when I passed under the bridge at Japatul, a group of beemers was preparing to embatk on their ride. next thing I know, I am the unoficial leader of the group (in my own mind). not wanting to slow them down, i pushed a little harder than I normally would and made it to Julian in no time at all. After my new riding buddies blew past me on the lat straight away before town, I was back to riding solo. Thats fine, I was planning to ride alone anyway!  So down Banner to the north entrance to Blair Valley. ride1020-1.jpg.8da8ee37cdcb9d7d5357c636da38fce1.jpg

  Looks fun! Off I go. I found this road to be quite scenic, but not challenging, I guess I underestimated my own abilities. It is pretty interesting to see that all of the campers were all packed together in one area instead of spreading out to enjoy the outside world. Maybe they should buy motorcycles. Maybe not!  anyway back to the ride report. I exited the swap meet looking campground and headed south, I had a thought about a trail down near Ocotillo that I have always wanted to try. Just down the road from where I entered, I see a group of Jeeps on the side of the foad. Looks like a trail head, perfect spot to look at a new route. As I zip past the Jeepers , they look at me like I was some kind of alien! Whatever, doesnt look too hard for Jeeps out here. I look ahead and see a sign that says Deep Sand Ahead. Perfect!! Game on. I found out later that this is Vallecito Road. This amazing road had me feeling like a champion, 5th and 6th gear full speed ahead just look out for boulders! I came to a trail intersection that I think I have seen pictures of so I decided it was time for a rest.

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So I guess I can ride sand? I know, not the bad stuff yet. By now, I was getting a little hungry, Cookie time!706631602_ride10203.jpg.541a9e63b47031977758514119f29c70.jpg

Not really knowing the best way out, I decided to turn around and ride back out the way I came in. Once again, thinking I am special I was in 5th and 6th gear all the way out, feet up railing turns never feeling the nervous head shke or any other sand issues. So back at S2, I head south for Ocotillo. I know where I am headed, just before town, but I see the row of towers crossing the road and notice that there is a nice road following them. I make the left turn, still a ways from where I knew to turn. This road was extemely good for my sand ego! deep sand, rocks and woop de doos. Awesome, got a little squirly a number of times but my skills kicked in and I never dumped it!!763158390_ride10204.jpg.d70e833170a5ff7d919d518fb1b69fdd.jpg

If you look hard enough you can see the road under the power lines(I need to work on my photogtaphy skills) Back to the ride report. I made it to the route that I had originally intended to fide, and let me tell you, this is one of the best trails for big bikes that I can think of. It has everything you could ever want and more! fun flowy sand, rocks big enough to wreck your day, siltty uphills, bermed feet up corners , big wash outs and not alot of traffic! I only passed 3 people and there is good enough vision to see them coming. at the end of the trail, I decided to head north and visit the entrance to painterd gorge, I have always liked this spot, good scenery but too much trash from the visitors. Guess What?1351820928_ride10208.jpg.98cc2d9a83b1f4c40241d174d9a59741.jpg

COOKIE TIME!!!!

After a little rest and some water, I turned back the same way with the intention of finding a future camp spot, I still need to do that too! I need to get out more. I found a very interesting looking valley with some cool little rock canyons that I will return to. 

 

 

 

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Time to go. I decided to super slab it up to the top of the hill, Jacumba, to visit the aliens on the side of the road. I have always seen them while passing by but never stopped to admire them. I was kinda let down by the condition of them. I intended to have my last cookie with them. now it is just alot of junk on the side of the road. I got over it and headed into Jacumba to do some looking around. I found some really old trains and had a cookie with them. 1214435693_ride102013.jpg.89115dee4ed92bdfca65e63eb51e56f6.jpg

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After that, it was time to go so I rode old highway 80 back to Japatul, then super slabbed it to home. 250 mile day. 

Thanks for enduring this report, hopefully they get better as I go!

 

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Cookie Monster! Nice write-up and pics...thanks for sharing!

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5 hours ago, ECDave said:

Always!!!

Gonna hold you to it bro. 
great report and thanks for sharing with us. 

+ 1 for the big bike boys!

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Anyone willing to say exactly where the train cars are and how to get there? I love seeing old things like that.

 

thanks

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On 11/22/2021 at 12:12 PM, ECDave said:

Always!!!

No secret on the train cars, I found them sort of by accident. I have seen some videos of the old hot spring resort in Jacumba, and since I was riding by I thought I would stop. I noticed a bunch of people past the building with paddle boards! That's odd seeing how we are pretty much in the desert. turns out that they are pumping the hot spring water into a big pomd behind the building. Seeing how it was time for a cookie, I continued up the road that turned off of Old Hwy 80 past the pond and it onnected with Railroad st. which dead ends at the tracks. The trains are located just west of the road. This is where it gets wierd. I dont go past no tresspassing signs. there are many located around all of the trains. There was a group of teenagers that were poking around in the train cars and I waited for them to finish before I took my pictures so I wouldnt be "that guy". They actually came over to talk to me and asked if I knew anything about the Institute of Perception that apparently owns the trains. They informed me that the institute allows people to "tresspass" as long as they do it respectfully? My take on it is that it is a long way to ride home with  bullet wound! Thats why I dont tresspass! It is amazing the odd little things you find when you stop and smell the -- cookies? did I just come up with something new?  

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I don't know, but I sure-as-hell am gonna go check those out next month.

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8 hours ago, Zubb said:

I don't know, but I sure-as-hell am gonna go check those out next month.

 

I'll take the Tiger out Friday

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9 hours ago, ECDave said:

No secret on the train cars, I found them sort of by accident. I have seen some videos of the old hot spring resort in Jacumba, and since I was riding by I thought I would stop. I noticed a bunch of people past the building with paddle boards! That's odd seeing how we are pretty much in the desert. turns out that they are pumping the hot spring water into a big pomd behind the building. Seeing how it was time for a cookie, I continued up the road that turned off of Old Hwy 80 past the pond and it onnected with Railroad st. which dead ends at the tracks. The trains are located just west of the road. This is where it gets wierd. I dont go past no tresspassing signs. there are many located around all of the trains. There was a group of teenagers that were poking around in the train cars and I waited for them to finish before I took my pictures so I wouldnt be "that guy". They actually came over to talk to me and asked if I knew anything about the Institute of Perception that apparently owns the trains. They informed me that the institute allows people to "tresspass" as long as they do it respectfully? My take on it is that it is a long way to ride home with  bullet wound! Thats why I dont tresspass! It is amazing the odd little things you find when you stop and smell the -- cookies? did I just come up with something new?  

Thanks. 

 

I've seen other pics of trains and nobody was willing to say where they are.

 

I'm slow off road so I dont want to slow anyone down by asking to be shown.

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I have always admired the riders that go flying by at full throttle, but the riders that slow it down a little get to enjoy the experience in a different way and see the world around them.

Happy Thanksgiving everyone.

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Jimbo's Keto Kookies.  You should be selling that chit!!

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