My Version of Desert Dash 2011

[KTMrad 512]

Got out there around 3:20pm to Butterfield Ranch. We had a kick ass dinner that Tracy cooked, Carne Asada with Thresher Shark Tacos (shark from Bluefin2na, thanks Tommy). After dinner we started stuffing rider packets with maps, rollcharts, ride info sheets. Everything went smoothly, including registration.

Friday night was wet and cold at the campground.

Saturday morning registration was light and also went smoothly. I called Lisa at Johnson's Landing (lunch stop on Saturday) to see what the weather was like at 8am...she said it might rain again, so John P. and I loaded up my truck with 3 tarps to take down to Salton City to set up over the picnic tables to keep the riders dry at the lunch stop there, in case of rain.

On the way out from Butterfield, we saw this rainbow across the valley on S2....rare you see both ends of the rainbow.

As soon as we got passed Borrego Springs, we realized it was going to be a sunny day out at Salton City, and we wouldn't have to setup the tarps. When we got to Johnson's Landing, the first 2 bikes who got there just before us about 10:45am, were Crusty and Schwinn.

Here's Schwinn in his Pink TuTu....the waitresses at Johnson's Landing were laughing their asses off when they saw him, and had to get photos

Our SDAR Mascot, Cody the Codemeister keeping an eye on the scene.....

The Schwinn Cruiser with custom TuTu....

The Manly Schwinn riding off...

Johnny Airtime on the right, I believe his buddy Kenny on the left....

Aaron from SDBMW Motorcycles, putting plastic bags on his feet to TRY to stay dry after riding thru rivers flowing in the washes

Inside Johnson's Landing....good 1/2 pound burgers, chips and drinks were on the menu (included in ride entry)

More to come..........

[KTMrad 512]

One of the guys from Japan was back for his 3rd Desert Dash...his other buddies from Japan didn't make it, but his Japanese friends from San Jose came down to enjoy their first Desert Dash with him....from their looks in the photos, I think they were enjoying it !

Here I'm posing with them....

Some of the Orange County Dualies Crew....

Left to Right, KLX Ben, dsfox, and someone else...

Left to Right, Rexr, tntmo, Steelrain ?, and Tree

The waitresses, owner Lisa and helper at Johnson's Landing...

The cooks at lunch...they did a great job of keeping the burgers flying off the grille !

Joe Povroznik and Peter Ellis, they've been making every year of the Desert Dash since our first or second ride !

[KTMrad 512]

Sunday morning, registration was really light, and then had to get Schwinn's refrigerator with all the sandwiches, ice chests, water and drinks into my truck. tlking6, dsfox, and Cablejockey drove the truck out to the lunch stop at Christmas Circle.

My friends Maddog Mike, and Anker from Vegas (and Denmark) were waiting for me, but I knew I would get out late today. Then Mike asked if anyone had a clutch cable that would fit Richard's XR650L and I realized Carguy was not riding so John loaned us his cable. Richard had to take off his double bar risers and stabilizer in order to get the stock clutch cable on, which was too short for his custom high bar setup.

By the time the 4 of us hit the trail it was about 10:30am. Richard on his XR650L, Mike on his BMW R1200GS, me on the KTM 950, and Anker on the Ducatio E900 Elefant. Richard sure was glad he didn't have to pass up today's riding. We got to the Pinyon Mountain turnoff, and on the way to the Squeeze it started snowing. Epic scenery with snow blowing and wet trails. Anker had not done much off-roading with the Elefant yet, but he did great thru the Squeeze and down the Dropoff.

At Fairchild Hill, Maddog Mike rode his R1200GS up with no problem, clearing it as usual. I was next, and tried sitting down as I rode up...that was a mistake. At the first hump, I lost my balance and down I went into the big bowl on the right side. The 950 crashed down hard as I did also, luckily bike didn't land on me. I got up, adrenalin flowing and a little dizzy for about 30 seconds. Mike and Anker helped me lift the bike and I turned it down the hill for another shot. Meanwhile, Anker rode up on the Elefant and cleared it, no problem. I tried again, this time standing up and cleared it. Richard also cleared the hill.

We had a blast hauling thru the washes down to the Blu In, which was packed with people on President's Day Weekend.

Afterwards, we headed on the main route back to Borrego Springs and got there at about 3pm. Nobody at the lunch stop, we knew we were too late. Had lunch at the Taco Shop. Then up Culp Valley and Jasper Trail, which was real snotty and slippery mud. Got back to Butterfield Ranch at about 5:30pm.

A great day of riding, with snow, mud, wet washes and trails, warm then cold temps...making it truly an epic day.

Richard has some photos from Sunday's ride, when he uploads them I'll post them.

Here's some from back at camp, and also Monday morning.

The mighty, dirty 950...

Codyboy, waiting to go home after a really long weekend for him....

John and Robin...

The Laguna mountains above Butterfield....

Until next time.......

[dirt dame 561]

Very nice. Looks like it was the best Desert Dash yet!

[Roco 0]

Randy, did you get those pic from me?