Soooo, as some of you may know, Desmolu's bike was totalled a couple of weeks ago. Search for a new bike began immediately. We saw a couple of prospects but no bike that fit what she wanted popped up. That is, no bike except mine. I've been itching for a little more power from the monster for a while but I would never sell my 695. I've become so attached to the bike that I would only let it go if I still had visitation rights. We are also in a bit of a time crunch, as we plan on attending Ducati in the Rockies in colorado, and we need two bikes for that.
So quickly we began a new search for an S2R1k. And we found one that matched everything we needed, except location. The bike is in Philly and we're in Houston. Should we ship the bike? That would be waaaay too easy. And if we are going to ride it, should we ride it straight home? Of course not, that would be way too easy as well.
A few minutes with google maps lets us know that we have some of the country's best roads on our way down. A plan was quickly hatched.
I must say, the romantic in me is excited by this trip, the notion of storming through the country on a new bike, riding the best roads it has to offer, taking no prisoners, and generally wreaking havoc appeals to me greatly. ;D
The plan is to ride the 695 to Dallas and leave it at a friend's place. From there, we would fly out to New York and meet with some friends, including He-Man. We will stay there one night and take the bus to philly (He man following us on his bike) where we would pick up the new monster. From there it would be a quick jaunt to DC.
In DC, we would try to stay with friends for the night or find a bridge to sleep under. In the morning, the Epic ride begins.
From Dc we will take Highway 66 to the start of the Blue Ridge Parkway and Skyline Dr. We would ride this all the way down to somewhere in Northern North Carolina where we will depend on either the kindness of strangers or cardboard boxes to find shelter.
After that, we will ride the Dragon ;D and proceed to Memphis. The next day we will ride to Arkansas where we will meet up with some friends and ride the mountains of southern AR. After some nice riding we'll continue on to Dallas to reunite the bikes. (We have yet to ask our friend on this but he hasn't failed us yet).
So far so good right? Well, any sane person would just continue on home, but not us. We are not sane, we are mentally divergent. The next day, our friend will pick us up in dallas with his truck and trailer and then on to New Mexico to spend the night at Lu's mom's place. Next stop: Ducati In The Rockies baby! Spending some quality time riding with some awesome folk seems like the perfect way to unwind from such a long trip.
Afterwards, the bikes are to be trailered back to houston where we will collapse and go into a catatonic state for the next 3 years.
The total travel time (excluding joyriding) amounts to about 48 hours.
http://maps.google.com/maps/ms?oe=utf-8&client=firefox-a&ie=UTF8&hl=en&msa=0&msid=109457116553795873354.00046f05388f93d3b300a&ll=35.545636,-85.869141&spn=3.213295,6.229248&z=8 (http://maps.google.com/maps/ms?oe=utf-8&client=firefox-a&ie=UTF8&hl=en&msa=0&msid=109457116553795873354.00046f05388f93d3b300a&ll=35.545636,-85.869141&spn=3.213295,6.229248&z=8)
If anyone along the way wants to join us for a ride or can help us by contributing a warm floor, they will be handsomely rewarded with Lu's cooking and the good luck karma of the platypus ;)
So expect partly cloudy skies and lots of rain through those areas. [cheeky]
The truck and trailer part will happen, I assure you.
The rest, well, good luck and get some rain gear [thumbsup]
It's only about 3 hours from Philly to DC. About 4 hours more could put you into Virginia Beach, and I'll happily put you up. It would mean missing part of the BRP, so you may want to pass.
Hopefully someone in DC will man up.
Keep us posted.
Quote from: Scottish on July 19, 2009, 09:57:13 AM
So expect partly cloudy skies and lots of rain through those areas. [cheeky]
[laugh] ya, no shit!
i promise to post many pictures of El Matador growling at the camera along the way.
We're coming [evil]
(http://www.thetakeaway.org/media/photologue/photos/cache/capitol-storm-2009-march-26-flickr-ennuiennui_large_image.jpg)
What are your dates?
Hopefully we-ll pick up the bike the 31
Sounds like good times. Have fun and be safe guys. Lots of pictures please. [moto]
Damn. I was going to pony up a warm DC floor (actually you may want a cool floor this time of year), but I'll be out of town.
[evil] everyday it looks like im closer to going with you guys. im doing my valve inspection, hopefully its not to terribly out of spec. also got new belts, fresh oil and filter. [evil]
im going to go from my 12k straight into my 18k lol
im planning on picking up a vholdr contour HD helmet cam, but ill be leaving when they are shipping it out. I'm hit you up later tonight to see if we can get it sent to one of our staying locations.
Keep me updated with date and time you will be going through Cookville,TN and i can meet up with and feed you. I'm only about 25 minutes away from I-40 in cookeville. Interstate drive has so many eateries on it they call it restaurant row.
Howard
Blue Ridge Parkway is good but slow and lots of [leo] especially on weekends. There are other roads through that area that are better. I know a few. There are others around who know a lot more.
You two should stop in Vegas and get hitched on the way to Colorado.
well, that was the plan....
until we realized Vegas is nowhere near on the way to Colorado coming from Philly.
we talked about it and decided that we just don't have enough tire left to get married on this particular trip. [laugh]
Quote from: DesmoLu on July 19, 2009, 02:15:44 PM
well, that was the plan....
until we realized Vegas is nowhere near on the way to Colorado coming from Philly.
we talked about it and decided that we just don't have enough tire left to get married on this particular trip. [laugh]
He hasn't asked yet. I can read between the lines.
I hope you're not waiting on a cowl, either.
:P
do it. its only 600 miles
i have 3300 more miles to get home!
Quote from: MrIncredible on July 19, 2009, 02:22:33 PM
He hasn't asked yet. I can read between the lines.
I hope you're not waiting on a cowl, either.
:P
[clap] [laugh] [clap] [laugh]
Not holding my breath for either any time soon that's for damn sure!
maybe I should tell him I'll marry him when the cowls are done and shipped?
Quote from: DesmoLu on July 19, 2009, 03:10:17 PM
[clap] [laugh] [clap] [laugh]
Not holding my breath for either any time soon that's for damn sure!
maybe I should tell him I'll marry him when the cowls are done and shipped?
And just like that, unveiling of cowls got moved from late next week to maybe in a few years but probably not.
wow sounds epic [thumbsup]
i'm out on long island but i'll deff stop by when your in the city and say hello and meet the platypus and you guys as well [moto]
Got your PM. We have you covered for the DFW stop and bike storage [thumbsup]
Quote from: androgynous on July 19, 2009, 03:14:38 PM
wow sounds epic [thumbsup]
i'm out on long island but i'll deff stop by when your in the city and say hello and meet the platypus and you guys as well [moto]
Awesomeness! We'll try to organize dinner, desmolu wants me to get Neapolitan style pizza
Quote from: Slag on July 19, 2009, 03:27:30 PM
Got your PM. We have you covered for the DFW stop and bike storage [thumbsup]
[bow_down] [bow_down] [bow_down]
;D
I might actually be in for this. I have to do a valve adjustment ASAP though. May have a place to stay @ Viriginia Tech. I was planning on going down to the dragon/blue ridge that weekend actually. I'm in the NYC area.
PMs on their way.
Quote from: HobokenHooligan on July 19, 2009, 04:42:48 PM
I might actually be in for this. I have to do a valve adjustment ASAP though. May have a place to stay @ Viriginia Tech. I was planning on going down to the dragon/blue ridge that weekend actually. I'm in the NYC area.
PMs on their way.
Awesome. Pm he man, he is doing his valves as well, and if you already have the shim kit and tools, I'm sure you guys could do them together. Heman is a pretty accomplished mechanic amd 2 pairs of eyes are always better than only one
I'll wait to hear from He-Man before I start tearing apart my bike, but I do also have a trailer so that is an option too. I don't want to encroach on whatever schedule he may have either. I have to order new belts too, probably from ca-cycleworks, hopefully it will arrive quickly.
I would be rolling with you through TN, then unfortunately I'd have to turn it around and head back.
-Sean
I honestly think that you guys are make the beast with two backsing crazy, but it does sound fun ;D
i just inspected my valves, they are at the outer limits of spec. at this point i am 100% down for atleast the dragon. im still not 100% sure on anything past that.
Quote from: HobokenHooligan on July 19, 2009, 05:34:35 PM
I'll wait to hear from He-Man before I start tearing apart my bike, but I do also have a trailer so that is an option too. I don't want to encroach on whatever schedule he may have either. I have to order new belts too, probably from ca-cycleworks, hopefully it will arrive quickly.
I would be rolling with you through TN, then unfortunately I'd have to turn it around and head back.
-Sean
Candice gets things shipped REALLY fast. if i call in and they arent shipping yet, ill usually get it day after next early at 8am. just make sure you use priority.
Quote from: Slag on July 19, 2009, 07:25:24 PM
I honestly think that you guys are make the beast with two backsing crazy, but it does sound fun ;D
of COURSE we're crazy! [evil]
thanks for the accommodations and looking forward to seeing you guys soon!
Quote from: DesmoLu on July 19, 2009, 08:57:16 PM
of COURSE we're crazy! [evil]
you planned this all along didnt you. that wasnt even that hard of a turn...you delibretely ran wide...so you could get a 695 and get el matador a new bike... damn slick shit...
Quote from: He Man on July 19, 2009, 09:00:31 PM
you planned this all along didnt you. that wasnt even that hard of a turn...you delibretely ran wide...so you could get a 695 and get el matador a new bike... damn slick shit...
sadly.....no :-\ but thanks for making me feel better mr. "that wasn't even that hard of a turn" >:(
Quote from: angler on July 19, 2009, 12:20:41 PM
Damn. I was going to pony up a warm DC floor (actually you may want a cool floor this time of year), but I'll be out of town.
No worries mate, thanks for the offer. I wish you could at least ride with us.
Quote from: DesmoLu on July 19, 2009, 09:43:25 PM
sadly.....no :-\ but thanks for making me feel better mr. "that wasn't even that hard of a turn" >:(
Don'tfeel bad, we all have our momments....because I did the EXACT (litterally) same thing 2 years ago the week i got my S2R1k...i just .... you know. didnt flip it over. ;D
heres my version of hte epic ride if i decide to continue pass deals gap. The more and more i look at it, how make the beast with two backsing insane is this trip going to be? my back is going to be broken.
http://maps.google.com/maps/ms?vps=26&jsv=166d&doflg=ptm&ie=UTF8&hl=en&oe=UTF8&msa=0&msid=101100676410496404650.00046f16f73dbaf6de6e5 (http://maps.google.com/maps/ms?vps=26&jsv=166d&doflg=ptm&ie=UTF8&hl=en&oe=UTF8&msa=0&msid=101100676410496404650.00046f16f73dbaf6de6e5)
Is there anyone looking to ride to NYC? lol its a lonely 2000 miles home....
Safe travels you guys. :)
Just saw this - if you need a DC place to crash for a night I've got space. As long as you're not horribly allergic to dog/cat it's a good spot.
Not hard to find, near the highways you want to take blah blah. Let me know.
Also - if you're looking for roads in this area - Pop into CAM and let folks know what you're planning and ask for suggestions for alternates. 66 sucks... at least to about 20 miles from DC. There's usually a ton of traffic, that's happy to run over bikers.
One other bug in your ear - based on going out 66 you don't pass too far south of Winchester VA. Duc Pond, the best shop in the area. Besides being the best shop,, they are known to be gracious hosts. if you've got the time, I'd suggest you stop by.. hell if you call ahead enough in advance they might be able to give it a quick, while-you-wait inspection while you drool over some of the flash hardware in the show room.
EL M, PM received and I'm sure that the trailer can accomodate another bike, Slag says one in the back of the truck too might work too. Need to check with him first though. The trailer though will have 3 Harbor Freight chocks and 3 Canyon Carver tie downs with flush mounted tie points on a brand new Best Yet trailer. (See "moto trailer" thread in DFWM for pics.) There is also one queen sized bed in my room I know for sure that is open in the Best Western I need to share with someone (Can't afford to sleep on two beds at the same time!) Don't know about Slag and Aero's room and the sleeping arrangements there, won't speculate either. ;D
This is certainly going to be one of the most exciting legs of your most excellent adventure. All the SoCo Dogs are phsyched for this I know. I know there will be Denver and Northern N.M. riders as well as have been confirmed some peeps in those clubs. I'm hoping that there will be West Coasties coming as well as East Coasties. Earlier this year I was hoping to get a more national event together for Ducs and this was the best solution for that. I for one am so stoked for this! Can't wait to hook with you guys and get this party on! [beer] [bacon]
Just to be clear, I'm turning around after the dragon guys...I'm not THAT crazy ;D
Quote from: DesmoLu on July 19, 2009, 02:15:44 PM
well, that was the plan....
until we realized Vegas is nowhere near on the way to Colorado coming from Philly.
we talked about it and decided that we just don't have enough tire left to get married on this particular trip. [laugh]
dont u worry we have 3 reverends in Ouray..
KingBaby, DDGM, Munch [thumbsup]
Well, if there was a drought anywhere, you could probably get the locals to pay you to camp there. ;D
Get married on Black Bear Pass. Trust me [thumbsup] I'll even drive ;D
DAmmit, I think both the timing and the route are off. Too bad, I'll be heading out to NYC the first week of September, but probably straight east from mid Missouri and I don't think I"ll be that far south. Let me know if you need a long detour in the midwest.
Quote from: Slag on July 20, 2009, 01:04:27 PM
Get married on Black Bear Pass. Trust me [thumbsup] I'll even drive ;D
He he...I get it...he he...Bridal Veil Falls...he he...I get it. Thas a good one. [thumbsup]
Quote from: Slag on July 20, 2009, 01:04:27 PM
Get married on Black Bear Pass. Trust me [thumbsup] I'll even drive ;D
what's black bear pass?
I hate to break it to you guys, but, for the record:
El Matador does NOT have a mountain. Desmolu is not moving to it. There will be no engagement and no marrying shenanigans! [cheeky]
Has all this talk made him cowl? Err scowl?
El Matador you and your girl are massively crazy, but i love it! I'm inspired. I'm excited that my bike will make this epic journey and you will be enjoying her in a way i cannot.
I wish i could come with you all! We'll see if the Dorsoduro gets in prior to this day, but i'm thinking it probably won't be here in time.
Plus.. track day at NJMP on Aug 2. so, i'd only make it to DC with you. But i'll try.
Quote from: DesmoLu on July 20, 2009, 09:55:04 PM
what's black bear pass?
I hate to break it to you guys, but, for the record:
El Matador does NOT have a mountain. Desmolu is not moving to it. There will be no engagement and no marrying shenanigans! [cheeky]
Black Bear Pass...a very short history and pic here...
http://www.flickr.com/photos/mountaintails/3622552484/# (http://www.flickr.com/photos/mountaintails/3622552484/#)
Quote from: DesmoLu on July 20, 2009, 09:55:04 PM
what's black bear pass?
I hate to break it to you guys, but, for the record:
El Matador does NOT have a mountain. Desmolu is not moving to it. There will be no engagement and no marrying shenanigans! [cheeky]
believe me, were at 7800 ft and a couple of beer and shots and u would think Vegas was bad [laugh]
wedding ring, Oion Ring, all the same thing [laugh]
;D
Quote from: DirtDiva on July 21, 2009, 09:48:27 AM
El Matador you and your girl are massively crazy, but i love it! I'm inspired. I'm excited that my bike will make this epic journey and you will be enjoying her in a way i cannot.
I wish i could come with you all! We'll see if the Dorsoduro gets in prior to this day, but i'm thinking it probably won't be here in time.
Plus.. track day at NJMP on Aug 2. so, i'd only make it to DC with you. But i'll try.
I got an invite to a really awesome track day at VIR that following Monday if you wanted to stick around the DC area - I wish we could go to it but it'd only give us two days to get from VIR to Dallas which would be kinda impossible.
We look forward to meeting you and we'll take care of your baby real good!!
Yep, the new bike will be living in Lu's living room in no time ;)
so, Airborne, are you in with us for sure? we need to finalize accommodations! yes, yes, we know, your sane ass will be turning back after the Dragon ;)
Quote from: swampduc on July 21, 2009, 01:40:06 PM
Yep, the new bike will be living in Lu's living room in no time ;)
well, the 695 is living here now and getting a badass new taillight!
thanks for the swift return of our Platypus, man. we were afraid you'd kidnapped him for "protection" [cheeky]
Quote from: DesmoLu on July 22, 2009, 09:12:05 PM
so, Airborne, are you in with us for sure? we need to finalize accommodations! yes, yes, we know, your sane ass will be turning back after the Dragon ;)
if his bike will start. it mysteriously locked him out.
and im waiting on parts for my bike.... :P
oh wow, ya'll need to get on that!
:'( i know. im waiting for my micrometer. i also picked up a back protector and new full gaunlets and got new ivory soap knee sliders [evil]
Pretty sure I'm in, I got the bike problem solved after much frustration until 2am...ground in the wrong place. I may just meet you guys in DC rather than leave the same time He Man does from NYC because of some family stuff I might have.
What are the dates again? 31st leave nyc for philly? Aug 1 - philly to dc? Aug 2 dc to VA?? Aug 3 VA to deal's gap?
I'll have a definite answer by Friday evening.
lol, I know exactly where you put the ground to wrong. That one had me scratching my head and throwing wrenches too. [laugh]
Right now the schedule is:
Friday, July 31st: Leave NYC for Philly, pick up bike, ride to DC
Saturday, August 1: Head out of DC, ride Skyline Drive and some BlueRidge Parkway, sleep somewhere near the Gap
Sunday, August 2: DRAGON [evil]
Monday, August 3: Across TN and sleep somewhere near Memphis
Tuesday, August 4: To the mountains of Arkansas
Wednesday, August 5: Dallas
Either August 5 or early August 6: Load up the bikes and trailer it to Abiquiu, New Mexico
August 6: Day of rest in NM/maybe some riding/ possible drinkfest slumber-party with NM-crew
Friday, August 7: Ride up to Ouray!
Saturday, August 8: DITR
Sunday, August 9: DITR
Monday, August 10: Drive back to NM
Tuesday, August 11: Long, miserable haul back to Houston/longer miserable hall back to Louisiana
Yes, that IS truly epic.
and if you come with me...it'll be....
Aug 12, onward to New Orleans and Tallahassee
Aug 13, finding a way home
expect to be home by the 15th. making it a 2 week trip....
I dont mind riding out with you to meet up with Desmolu and el matador on the 1st. would be more fun then watching a bus move at mach -1 and getting stuck in traffic once you reach the outer loop.
Quote from: DesmoLu on July 22, 2009, 10:44:01 PM
crash somewhere near the Gap
Lets not do this shall we?
Quote from: El Matador on July 22, 2009, 11:27:45 PM
Lets not do this shall we?
post has been amended to eliminate very poor use of slang.
Quote from: DesmoLu on July 22, 2009, 10:44:01 PM
Right now the schedule is:
Friday, July 31st: Leave NYC for Philly, pick up bike, ride to DC
Saturday, August 1: Head out of DC, ride Skyline Drive and some BlueRidge Parkway, sleep somewhere near the Gap
Sunday, August 2: DRAGON [evil]
Monday, August 3: Across TN and sleep somewhere near Memphis
Tuesday, August 4: To the mountains of Arkansas
Wednesday, August 5: Dallas
Either August 5 or early August 6: Load up the bikes and trailer it to Abiquiu, New Mexico
August 6: Day of rest in NM/maybe some riding/ possible drinkfest slumber-party with NM-crew
Friday, August 7: Ride up to Ouray!
Saturday, August 8: DITR
Sunday, August 9: DITR
Monday, August 10: Drive back to NM
Tuesday, August 11: Long, miserable haul back to Houston/longer miserable hall back to Louisiana
Yes, that IS truly epic.
For sleeping near the Gap, try Franklin, NC. Me, yuu, and Lr8tr stayed there when we went and got to ride 28 to the Gap. 28 is a freaking awesome road and nowhere near as crowded.
If you want to stay closer to the Gap and miss half of 28, try Silva or Bryson City.
JourneyMan might have more suggestions, he lives outside of Asheville and knows the area.
Quote from: DesmoLu on July 22, 2009, 10:44:01 PM
Right now the schedule is:
Friday, July 31st: Leave NYC for Philly, pick up bike, ride to DC
Saturday, August 1: Head out of DC, ride Skyline Drive and some BlueRidge Parkway, sleep somewhere near the Gap
Sunday, August 2: DRAGON [evil]
Monday, August 3: Across TN and sleep somewhere near Memphis
Tuesday, August 4: To the mountains of Arkansas
Wednesday, August 5: Dallas
Either August 5 or early August 6: Load up the bikes and trailer it to Abiquiu, New Mexico
August 6: Day of rest in NM/maybe some riding/ possible drinkfest slumber-party with NM-crew
Friday, August 7: Ride up to Ouray!
Saturday, August 8: DITR
Sunday, August 9: DITR
Monday, August 10: Drive back to NM
Tuesday, August 11: Long, miserable haul back to Houston/longer miserable hall back to Louisiana
Yes, that IS truly epic.
and a 6pk will be ready at the end of the road ;D
Quote from: JBubble on July 23, 2009, 07:09:28 AM
For sleeping near the Gap, try Franklin, NC. Me, yuu, and Lr8tr stayed there when we went and got to ride 28 to the Gap. 28 is a freaking awesome road and nowhere near as crowded.
If you want to stay closer to the Gap and miss half of 28, try Silva or Bryson City.
JourneyMan might have more suggestions, he lives outside of Asheville and knows the area.
ooooh thanks for the suggestions, JBub! I'll PM JourneyMan right now for tips and we'll definitely try to ride 28. Cops are no good, although that one cop in the Gap on the Aprilia looks hot - I might just "have" to get pulled over and "get out of it" [leo] ;)
I was just wondering if it makes sense to stay at virginia tech at all. its not really near the gap at all, and its not too far from DC either. I dunno how that fits into the schedule. Let me know what you think.
Quote from: JBubble on July 23, 2009, 07:09:28 AM
For sleeping near the Gap, try Franklin, NC. Me, yuu, and Lr8tr stayed there when we went and got to ride 28 to the Gap. 28 is a freaking awesome road and nowhere near as crowded.
28? Wasn't that the Hellbenders? Epic road [evil]
Quote from: DesmoLu on July 22, 2009, 09:13:02 PM
thanks for the swift return of our Platypus, man. we were afraid you'd kidnapped him for "protection" [cheeky]
Believe me, I thought about it - especially considering my kickstand broke and rashed up Fenix the 1st time I rode without Platy :-[
Quote from: swampduc on July 23, 2009, 01:17:55 PM
28? Wasn't that the Hellbenders? Epic road [evil]
Indeed.
Me, yuu, and Lr8tr went through there and loved it.
The Goldwings in front of us tried to straighten the road out and ignore the lane markings. :-\
Be sure to stay in your lane! There's series of photos on killboy that show how 18 wheelers (and other cars) can hide in the corners.
vtech is out of the way. i dont think i can make it to colorodo, im pretty sure ill need to turn back after deals gap. One of my friends wnats to come along for the deals gap portion, so Airborne we might be three strong for that short ride, itll make for good company, wed be back by the 4th.
Tech is out of the way... and you'll not be able to make good time from there, going west - so keep that in mind. From Franklin back to DC via slab was 12 or so hours when you factor in gas, food, etc - and that was basically a slab run. Aside from the slab through the Smokies which was epically senic at sun rise (yes sun rise) it was straight and boring slab all the way back to DC and it was a full days ride.
Going via the BRP, it might be a two day trip *if* you want to be at the Gap early. If you're up early on the 1st and make it a long day, you'll probably be withing a couple hours of the gap by dusk.
Quote from: He Man on July 23, 2009, 02:48:37 PM
vtech is out of the way. i dont think i can make it to colorodo, im pretty sure ill need to turn back after deals gap. One of my friends wnats to come along for the deals gap portion, so Airborne we might be three strong for that short ride, itll make for good company, wed be back by the 4th.
FAIL. FAIL. come on, you know you want to go to DITR [evil]
Quote from: yuu on July 23, 2009, 02:56:09 PM
Tech is out of the way... and you'll not be able to make good time from there, going west - so keep that in mind. From Franklin back to DC via slab was 12 or so hours when you factor in gas, food, etc - and that was basically a slab run. Aside from the slab through the Smokies which was epically senic at sun rise (yes sun rise) it was straight and boring slab all the way back to DC and it was a full days ride.
Going via the BRP, it might be a two day trip *if* you want to be at the Gap early. If you're up early on the 1st and make it a long day, you'll probably be withing a couple hours of the gap by dusk.
nope, no Tech for us, we wanna stay with Yuu (he he, pun ;D)
Quote from: He Man on July 23, 2009, 02:48:37 PM
vtech is out of the way. i dont think i can make it to colorodo, im pretty sure ill need to turn back after deals gap. One of my friends wnats to come along for the deals gap portion, so Airborne we might be three strong for that short ride, itll make for good company, wed be back by the 4th.
I will loose all respect for you if you do this.
says the man the man who doesnt have another 1500 miles to ride in solitude....
and the one who didnt know his fuse was blown. :-X
Quote from: He Man on July 23, 2009, 04:24:50 PM
says the man the man who doesnt have another 1500 miles to ride in solitude....
Honestly, You'll regret not coming with us. This is probably the last chance you'll have to do something like this. You have one more summer left before you graduate and you'll probably spend that in some internship. When will you have the time and opportunity to do this again?
i wish i had only 1 year. i have 3 more years. lol three very long years. this is just very bad timing. lol
I should have my new monster by August 1st or 2nd. I can be an absolute last resort for a place to crash in the DC area.
I'll be down with riding Skyline with you guys, I'll show you some fun "west" roads in VA.
I'll be doing close to the speed limit though ;)
****ing cops.
I'm sure this is already covered somewhere in this thread, but ... what's the pickup date in Philly?
Adam
Quote from: DrDesmosedici on July 23, 2009, 06:27:11 PM
I'm sure this is already covered somewhere in this thread, but ... what's the pickup date in Philly?
Adam
31 st [thumbsup]
Quote from: He Man on July 23, 2009, 02:48:37 PM
vtech is out of the way. i dont think i can make it to colorodo, im pretty sure ill need to turn back after deals gap. One of my friends wnats to come along for the deals gap portion, so Airborne we might be three strong for that short ride, itll make for good company, wed be back by the 4th.
:'(
sucky!!
Quote from: DesmoLu on July 23, 2009, 04:48:00 PM
Honestly, You'll regret not coming with us. This is probably the last chance you'll have to do something like this. You have one more summer left before you graduate and you'll probably spend that in some internship. When will you have the time and opportunity to do this again?
its really all worth it in the the end, she is right!!
it maybe a long ride, but totally worth it [moto] believe me [beer]
Guys, and Lu,
I said I would give a definite answer by this evening, and unfortunately as everything stands right now I'm a no. I've been running with my belts off to see if I'm having the same problem with the edge of the belt rubbing the drive pulley and eating itself and it seems to be doing the same thing. [bang] Can see the thread here: http://ducatimonsterforum.org/index.php?topic=27024.0 (http://ducatimonsterforum.org/index.php?topic=27024.0) It might be an alignment issue as Qfactor suggested, I am going to need to have a tech look at it at least. I did finish doing the valve adjustment and everything is good on that.
Hopefully I get everything straightened out this weekend/next week and I can go. I don't think its a good idea to make plans around my being there as I don't want to hinder your time schedule or planning. I STILL HOPE I CAN FIGURE THIS OUT AND GO.
Late arrival, been working a local folk festival. When are you going to be through the BRP & Deal's gap area?
JM
Quote from: the_Journeyman on July 25, 2009, 05:46:15 AM
Late arrival, been working a local folk festival. When are you going to be through the BRP & Deal's gap area?
JM
Welcome back to the Board! local folk festival, eh?
we'll be coming into the Gap area next Saturday, August 1. You gonna be around?
Quote from: El Matador on July 25, 2009, 06:24:59 PM
Welcome back to the Board! local folk festival, eh?
we'll be coming into the Gap area next Saturday, August 1. You gonna be around?
Stop posting from my account woman!
>:(
I would never say "eh"
Quote from: Airborne on July 24, 2009, 01:18:32 PM
Guys, and Lu,
I said I would give a definite answer by this evening, and unfortunately as everything stands right now I'm a no. I've been running with my belts off to see if I'm having the same problem
. I STILL HOPE I CAN FIGURE THIS OUT AND GO.
How does it run like that? Probably not much top end, low end, or any end for that matter. ;D
Quote from: Ducaholic on July 25, 2009, 07:00:47 PM
How does it run like that? Probably not much top end, low end, or any end for that matter. ;D
good catch, I'm pretty sure I should have added the word covers in there somewhere!
Hey I am about 60 miles from DC and 40 minutes from skyline dr. so if you guys want to head up here after ypu pick up the bike, I have an extra room. (instead of under a bridge) then head out early morning for skyline dr. PM me if you want to. I am in Martinsburg, wv. Let me know. Cory is here now and will be here until Wed. So PM me. You are both more than welcome!!!
Please...
For the love of God...
DO NOT attempt to camp...
During any portion of this trip.
Quote from: Obsessed? on July 26, 2009, 07:04:36 PM
Please...
For the love of God...
DO NOT attempt to camp...
During any portion of this trip.
What will the rest of us do for entertainment if they don't camp?
Just lie under the bike, the heat will keep you warm, and sleep with a an arm through the wheel, so no one takes it. You'll be fine, trust me.
in DC they will saw through a chain in seconds and steal the bike.
Steel > Flesh so no thank you i tihink ill keep my hand to myself.
Quote from: El Matador on July 25, 2009, 06:24:59 PM
we'll be coming into the Gap area next Saturday, August 1. You gonna be around?
I'll be around, but we're having a post-marriage & combining two houses yard sale [laugh]
I'm just off US19 at Lake Junaluska, feel free to drop in for a quick break if you're needing one as you pass through [thumbsup] If you're passing through after 5, I might be able to ride :D
JM
Quote from: Obsessed? on July 26, 2009, 07:04:36 PM
Please...
For the love of God...
DO NOT attempt to camp...
During any portion of this trip.
you would think we would have learned by now, eh? But there be droughts we need to end, we HAVE to camp!
El Matador, and Desmo Lu. I got green light for ferrying you two into philly. [thumbsup]
Waiting patiently for your arrival [popcorn]
Hey guys!
We made it up to dallas and are now patiently waiting in the airport for our flight to take off.
The ride up to dallas was, for lack of a better word, interesting. We had a couple if issues with the saddle bags and ended up converting them to tank bags for a little while. Withe the clip ons on the 695 this made simple things like turning quite the adventure.
I have to give huge thanks to Slag. He not only provided us with amazing accomodations but also woke up at 430 to drive us to the airport. Waking up early for someone else is the true definition of friend.
Mileage so far: 350 miles
Next stop: NYC!!!!
^But at least no zombie squids so far.
[thumbsup] to Slag!
I am also 100% certain that this is the earliest Matador has ever been up.
And knowing you, I'm sure the saddlebag mod involved zip-ties. ;D
Quote from: swampduc on July 29, 2009, 06:50:37 AM
^But at least no zombie squids so far.
[thumbsup] to Slag!
I am also 100% certain that this is the earliest Matador has ever been up.
And knowing you, I'm sure the saddlebag mod involved zip-ties. ;D
Damn it! Maybe slag can takr pictures of the 6 ziptie carcasses it took....
In NY, still on the plane...
what no duc Tape?
Quote from: DucMouse on July 29, 2009, 07:43:16 AM
what no duc Tape?
That's redneck humor right? [laugh]
Quote from: DesmoLu on July 21, 2009, 01:29:03 PM
I got an invite to a really awesome track day at VIR that following Monday if you wanted to stick around the DC area - I wish we could go to it but it'd only give us two days to get from VIR to Dallas which would be kinda impossible.
We look forward to meeting you and we'll take care of your baby real good!!
As i am getting my track plastics back on friday night late or saturday, it will take 3 hours to drill and fit them (since they are brand new) And still wrenching on the track bike now the your Duc is oil changed and passenger pegs attached. Tires will be changed upon agreement of sale and you'll be on your way.
I have tire change guy meeting you with bike on Friday when you get here and he gets off work to get the transfer of bike squared away.
Of course i don't have a street bike yet due to all the prep work and the sale not being final.
But i know you all will have an amazing trip.
I hope to get down to Deals Gap in October to see the leaves change again this year!
Quote from: RED on July 29, 2009, 08:03:00 AM
That's redneck humor right? [laugh]
ya thats it, something like that [laugh]
We're stuck in FAO Schwarz, it's rainin too hard to go outside
Quote from: El Matador on July 29, 2009, 11:23:45 AM
We're stuck in FAO Schwarz, it's rainin too hard to go outside
And it begins...
You must have been planning to camp tonight [cheeky]
SRSLY, people. What'd I tell you? [roll]
Ooooh, that's right.
Quote from: Obsessed? on July 26, 2009, 07:04:36 PM
Please...
For the love of God...
DO NOT attempt to camp...
During any portion of this trip.
Only kidding. Hope it clears up for you. ;)
Hey i spoke to my friend. hes setting his bike up tomorrow, and im umm putting mine back together...
Wow, I know this is late, but man, is this EPIC! Grande! This should be an inspiration to all riders, to make History, and go for that EPIC adventure, that's why we ride... El Matador, I use to live in Houston, now residing in Boston.
Have Fun,
Afro
Quote from: El Matador on July 29, 2009, 11:23:45 AM
We're stuck in FAO Schwarz, it's rainin too hard to go outside
How long will you folk be here? How about a little get together?
Not all that long. The Gypsy caravan is due at my place by DC friday evening.
If you need a pit stop im just south of Baltimore off of 95.
Quote from: howie on July 29, 2009, 08:29:05 PM
How long will you folk be here? How about a little get together?
We will be having dinner tonight with some friends. We will be discussing squirrel slaying in depth. We would love to have you, and anyone else :)
I'll post up a little later with more details
pics???
Quote from: El Matador on July 30, 2009, 06:40:24 AM
they is a-coming
spankin!!
so u ready for long ride back?
We'll meet at Musical Box for drinks around 7ish:
219 Avenue B
(between 13th St & 14th St)
New York, NY 10009
Dinner is at 9pm at:
www.graffitinyc.com (//http://)
224 E 10th St # 1
New York, NY 10003-7739
(212) 677-0695
The wife and I will meet you, so add 2 for dinner. I'll wear something Ducati.
Thanks
So i just read the first post...derrr
when are you getting to philthy philly?
also, where are you getting the bike?
if you need, the train station is right nest to the bus station in philly, and i live a 3 min walk from one of the stops about 20 min downthe line.
i hope it's this weekend as i'm looking to get out of going somewhere with the g/f. ;D
ok, so i caught up ont he thread after i posted. picking up tomorrow, i can't get out of work =(
you are buying diva's bike...it's nice, sad to see her sell it off.
let me know what time you are rolling through and out. i might be able to meet up with you.
by the way, from personal experience, it will take a lot longer to go down 95 than out the PA tpk to 81.
also, be prepared for a VERY long day if you are covering skyline and the BRP. skyline is a 35mph rd and the cops do watch. BRp is 45mph and they watch more.
it'll be a blast. i might see if i can jsut leave for the weekend and ride until sun morn with you guys (if you dont' mind that is)
Quote from: howie on July 30, 2009, 07:41:37 AM
The wife and I will meet you, so add 2 for dinner. I'll wear something Ducati.
Thanks
Awesome, see you soon!
Looks like the yard sale is off for this weekend, daytime is good, need my later evening time though. Post up your route through the area and I'll see about meeting you somewhere ~
JM
Hey all, the bar we planned on meeting at is apparently closed so uh, join us for dinner at 9 or give me a call at 713-397-8695 to see where we end up tip then
Quote from: DesmoLu on July 30, 2009, 03:02:39 PM
Hey all, the bar we planned on meeting at is apparently closed so uh, join us for dinner at 9 or give me a call at 713-397-8695 to see where we end up tip then
Break the door in and drink. It's the NY way.
ill bring my crow bar.
dam i wish i could be there :-[
i have to go to my girlfriends birthday party @ her parents home
that means i have to be in good boyfriend mode in front of her parents and that means no drinks :'(
next time im in texas we have too meet up
have lots of drinks on my half [beer]
Okay, we're meeting up tomorrow at 10am my house. Then ill figure out how to get to philly from there.
Quote from: He Man on July 30, 2009, 08:59:26 PM
Then ill figure out how to get to philly from there.
Southwest man ;)
you read my mind. :P
I tried to call you guys (desmolu and el matador) there was a papaya dog 3 blocks from where we went off.
Needless to say, im stuffing my face with about 14 real pork buns.
edit: it would be great if i was make the beast with two backsign asleep right now. 4am. :/
Follow 95... then keep following 95 though Balto (don't bother stopping :P ) and on to DC!
if it's not too late...
95S (NJ TPK) to exit 7 (195)
195W to 29N
29N to 1S
1S to 95S
that will save you a few dollars on tolls, but might be a bit sticky getting through trenton. that's how my g/f goes to and from work every day.
trenton is better than camden.
if the bike is still in west chester then it depends on what time of day you are getting in and heading out there. though i'm sure diva would have already give ya'll directions.
i just got gewared up its 1017 they were suppose to meet me at 1000. I figure they are stuck on the train.
The Zombies got 'em...
They were 2 hours late to my house. That is SOP for El Matador [laugh]
1129 am i am suiting up to go eat with my friend, they are still on the train. :p this will be my last transmission unless i can find another computer in philly. wish us luck!
Quote from: He Man on July 31, 2009, 07:33:38 AM
1129 am i am suiting up to go eat with my friend, they are still on the train. :p this will be my last transmission unless i can find another computer in philly. wish us luck!
good luck guys and be safe.....
so u going to end up riding the whole way out here and u bailing on us [cheeky]
Just a note guys, it's raining here in Western NC. You'll likely be in it even tomorrow.
JM
Skies just opened up here with a vengance... good luck all
Quote from: He Man on July 31, 2009, 07:33:38 AM
1129 am i am suiting up to go eat with my friend, they are still on the train. :p this will be my last transmission unless i can find another computer in philly. wish us luck!
Man-if you leave NYC who'll get tickets and rant about it? Someone needs to step up.
Quote from: KnightofNi on July 30, 2009, 10:11:52 AM
ok, so i caught up ont he thread after i posted. picking up tomorrow, i can't get out of work =(
you are buying diva's bike...it's nice, sad to see her sell it off.
let me know what time you are rolling through and out. i might be able to meet up with you.
by the way, from personal experience, it will take a lot longer to go down 95 than out the PA tpk to 81.
also, be prepared for a VERY long day if you are covering skyline and the BRP. skyline is a 35mph rd and the cops do watch. BRp is 45mph and they watch more.
it'll be a blast. i might see if i can jsut leave for the weekend and ride until sun morn with you guys (if you dont' mind that is)
We are about an hour away from our destination. Do you know where you wanna meet up?
You guys going to make it here before sun down?
Quote from: El Matador on July 31, 2009, 11:15:53 AM
We are about an hour away from our destination. Do you know where you wanna meet up?
sorry, just saw this.
hope you are on your way to DC by now.
Quote from: yuu on July 31, 2009, 12:54:04 PM
You guys going to make it here before sun down?
Probably not. We are in philly now. We will leave in about an hour. We still haven't seen the bike.
Damn...Jesus; best of luck on the trip.... [thumbsup]
Quote from: El Matador on July 31, 2009, 02:25:06 PM
Probably not. We are in philly now. We will leave in about an hour. We still haven't seen the bike.
shit...dude, give me a call if you need to.
Anyone know where they are? i talked to El Chipo at 6:30 and he said they were still on the way to see the bike and then would give me a call with an ETA for getting here. 9:30 now and radio silence...
nothing here
if you have his number and talk to him and he's still in the area he can call me, i've got room for all three of them and the bikes.
Called and left a message w/ him at 9:30... gettin' to wonder.
*edit
just heard from them.. man I don't know what they have been doing
so they are alright and down there?
They showed up damp and a bit bedraggled a little while ago. Safe sound and now eating tacitos
We have arrived at Yuu's. He has some pretty awesome accomodations.
We are tired, wet, and sleepy :)
Ill post up more tomorrow but the rideover was pretty eventfull.
Cheers!
jesus, pm me and I will hook up with you at skyline dr.
And they are off again. After some sleeping in, shade tree fixings/adjusting they are making their way SW. Headed for some pretty roads with lots of [leo]
Hopefully I'll know when they pass through the Deal's Gap area! I'd likely be able to catch up with them as they come on through ~
JM
I will give $50 to anyone who fabs up a fake wooden cowl and installs it to El Matadors bike during this trip.
Thanks again to yuu for being an awesome host! We're nearing skyline now after a smooth ride out of DC. Just checking on he-man's little mystery oil leak.
New bike is sweet so far and about to be tested on the first twisties!
journeyman, well be hitting your area tommorrow - pm your number so we can hook up!!
Quote from: DesmoLu on August 01, 2009, 11:19:00 AM
Thanks again to yuu for being an awesome host! We're nearing skyline now after a smooth ride out of DC. Just checking on he-man's little mystery oil leak.
New bike is sweet so far and about to be tested on the first twisties!
No problem!
Good to hear it's going well. Stiffening the rear shock should help things out a bit.
So how was today?
We're in southern Virginia now, got all the bikes in our days inn room- working on he-man's oil leak and trying to figure out how to post pics for you guys from this make the beast with two backsing iPhone
Some good twisties today- I was dragging a toe as pillion!
(http://emob290.photobucket.com/albums/ll273/lucreceb/Uploads%20via%20Pixelpipe/IMG_0146-1.jpg)
We HAD to bring the bikes into our hotel room
Then we had to drink a few beers and things digressed into this:
(http://emob290.photobucket.com/albums/ll273/lucreceb/Uploads%20via%20Pixelpipe/IMG_0160-1.jpg)
(http://emob290.photobucket.com/albums/ll273/lucreceb/Uploads%20via%20Pixelpipe/IMG_0156-1.jpg)
Hey guys!
We are now in Roanoke having a spot of lunch. We have been riding the blue ridge parkway all day, and of course it has been raining the whole time. We've been having a blast though.
He-man and The Russian parted with us this morning, they need to be at work on tuesday. We had such a good time together it was hard to part, we need to come back and finish the dragon run with them.
Total miles so far: 1024
Quote from: El Matador on August 02, 2009, 10:11:23 AM
and of course it has been raining the whole time.
So the rumors I have heard about you are true!
I checked the forecast to Ouray next weekend... Rain! >:(
(Our rain only happens in the afternoon, so plenty of good riding to be had before it hits.)
Quote from: Bick on August 02, 2009, 10:26:36 AM
So the rumors I have heard about you are true!
Chipo is a rain god...
The North Eastern states have been getting hammered with storms and the East Coast.
There has been NO Summer for the Great Lakes area , the Ohio Valley ( where I am ) and the North East.
Just one cold front with rain about every 24-36 hours.
Weatherman Dolph signing off . :)
QuoteThere has been NO Summer for the Great Lakes area
You can say that again. There hasn't been one single day this year where the sun shone all day. Rains almost every day at least once.
Small update:
We are now in asheville after having ridden for 11 hours today. Yup, 11.
We decided to take the entire Blue Ridge Parkway down instead of slabbing it. 600 miles of nonstop twisty goodness. Needless to say, we are seriously beat. I feel like someone took a sledghammer to my shoulders and thighs, but damn it was fun.
We had a very nice dinner with journeyman. We had an awesome time with him. We needto come back with more time soon. This guy has the best roads ever within a stone's throw, we're so jealous.
So tomorrow is the gap, wish us luck!
Total miles ridden: 1631
Good luck. May you have a few moments of sunshine. [cheeky]
Good to hear you guys got to your destination safe, wasnt sure what the weather was like on your end. but it was completely horrifying up here. I tried to call you guys, but when we parted, you may or may not have know how bad the weather got. it was a 20 feet fog and just a torrent of rain. My phone died and so did my camera.
Me and Yahen ended up logging I think 16 hours to get from Roanake to NYC ( i just got home about 30 mins ago) its 2:47am Eastern time now). I dont know how many miles because my gauges are displaying all these weird symbols. the rain got in them and make the beast with two backsed up the LCD display.
Hope you guys enjoy your ride and get to all your destinations safely.
And Yuu, thank you for opening your doors to us (and sharing your oil!) you have an awesome dog btw! Hope your leg heals quickly and you can get back out and try that new Vee-Two clutch!
Weather is beautiful here in WNC, looks like they've got an excellent day for the gap!
JM
rain on the BRP sucks..esp when it comes with fog and low visibility.
we lost a buell on that same ride chipo.
El Matador, got the fedex envelope you were talking about it. Want me to rip it up?
BTW, carrying your damn bags make the beast with two backsed up my exahust finishing. :-[ no exahust.
Quote from: He Man on August 03, 2009, 09:44:36 AM
El Matador, got the fedex envelope you were talking about it. Want me to rip it up?
BTW, carrying your damn bags make the beast with two backsed up my exahust finishing. :-[ no exahust.
Glad to see you made it back alive dude. Got a whole bunch more stuff to fix now? How many miles did you do? It monsooned here as well.
Quick update:
The dragon will never be the same
It has been succesfully siphylized.
From now on its a long boring ride to dallas.
Cheers!
Quote from: Airborne on August 03, 2009, 11:52:23 AM
Glad to see you made it back alive dude. Got a whole bunch more stuff to fix now? How many miles did you do? It monsooned here as well.
Yea my gauges are make the beast with two backsing retarded right now. I wouldnt be suprised if the gauges die completely and i get locked out of starting my own bike. I'm take try and clean the board and seal it with some silocne caulk. Bike has spent 8/9 weeks riding through rain. this trip might have taken it over the edge. :-X
Damn dude, sorry to hear about all that. I hope it's nothing major. Did you get that oil leak fixed?
We are spending the night in Nashville, Tn. The ride tonight was cut short bc of migraine. We should be arriving in dallas early Wed.
Cheers!
J
For those who are wondering what rlthe hell El Matador is talking about, siphyllis is the name of our pet platypus ;)
slabbing it all the way home
Hey guys!
We're having lunch in memphis right now. We'll try to make dallas by tonight.
Cheers!
Quote from: El Matador on August 04, 2009, 12:00:20 PM
Hey guys!
We're having lunch in memphis right now. We'll try to make dallas by tonight.
Cheers!
thats a long ass ride!!!
boooya to u guys...maybe a day of rest then drive to Ouray
Quote from: DucMouse on August 04, 2009, 12:20:00 PM
thats a long ass ride!!!
boooya to u guys...maybe a day of rest then drive to Ouray
Rest!?
THERE WILL BE NO REST FOR THE WICKED! We will be moving on to NM tomorrow! [evil]
Quote from: swampduc on August 04, 2009, 02:41:10 PM
Rest!?
THERE WILL BE NO REST FOR THE WICKED! We will be moving on to NM tomorrow! [evil]
so when d u plans to be in albuquerque?
or just moving on to abuquiu with desmolu
Well, they're ridin' with me - we'll be getting in in the middle of the night, I guess.
Wait, there's really a place called Abuquiu? I figured it was some kind of quaint local word for Albuquerque! [laugh]
Good thing you weren't near Louisville , Kentucky .
They had a historic flood there today and the storms are moving south.
Dolph :)
Swampduc, I'm guessing that the adventurous pair are well asleep at this moment of the morning (8:30 central). We'll meet at Slag's place this afternoon and head out ok?
We stayed up until 3:30. My phone started ringing at 8:00 [bang]
First off, Huuuuuge, huge thanks to Slag and Catie. They are the awesomeness! [thumbsup]
We made dallas last night at around 12:30, after having ridden since 9 in the morning. Needless to say, yesterday was hell. 785 miles [bang] [bang] [bang]
going out to bfast right now. Be back saoon with pics.
I guess that El Matador cannot see when he is logged in as someone else [roll] [laugh]
Quote from: Slag on August 05, 2009, 09:20:10 AM
I guess that El Matador cannot see when he is logged in as someone else [roll] [laugh]
Gotta love the auto-log feature. ;D
So after not a drop of rain all day, as soon as we hit the road, it starts raining
Quote from: El Matador on August 05, 2009, 04:32:21 PM
So after not a drop of rain all day, as soon as we hit the road, it starts raining
You truly have a gift--bringing us rain in north Texas during the month of August.... :P
Great to see you guys are making the adventure happen. Hopefully Andiamo is treating you well!
Fantastic meeting you all, wish we could have dried out your clothes a bit more. Did you get rain suits yet?
I was worried since i hadn't heard from you but then i jumped on the boards. I'm glad your all enjoying the trip.
hey guys!
I'm in Houston now. The drive back was killer, We ended up spending 24 hours in the truck. I'll be posting some pics tomorrow, but for now just some teasers:
(https://lh5.ggpht.com/_6Gj9mr-29Fg/SoDukwQ9OsI/AAAAAAAADMI/6Hl4sXODV6w/Picture%205.png)
(http://lh4.ggpht.com/_6Gj9mr-29Fg/SoDulMqj75I/AAAAAAAADMM/KP8OPFYb8oU/Picture%206.png)
(http://lh3.ggpht.com/_6Gj9mr-29Fg/SoDulE0imwI/AAAAAAAADMQ/WlxN4CY_noM/Picture%2012.png)
(http://lh4.ggpht.com/_6Gj9mr-29Fg/SoDulVTO2OI/AAAAAAAADMU/nKqOszW-TSg/Picture%2013.png)
(http://lh6.ggpht.com/_6Gj9mr-29Fg/SoDulpSHzGI/AAAAAAAADMY/Meb1AcISCBE/Picture%2014.png)
(https://lh5.ggpht.com/_6Gj9mr-29Fg/SoDvAvaWe2I/AAAAAAAADMc/Kv9h_w1jN-Q/Picture%2024.png)
(https://lh5.ggpht.com/_6Gj9mr-29Fg/SoDvA6gV9BI/AAAAAAAADMg/jBG1k4MBU4A/Picture%2028.png)
(http://lh3.ggpht.com/_6Gj9mr-29Fg/SoDvBFzSJPI/AAAAAAAADMk/akbDn6-6Sj0/Picture%2037.png)
Nice Dragon pics! Y'all are a great 2-up team. [thumbsup]
Looks good - photos take a little while to load up.. But looks like you might get a spot on the highlights page
I'm thinking this one:
(https://lh5.ggpht.com/_6Gj9mr-29Fg/SoDvAvaWe2I/AAAAAAAADMc/Kv9h_w1jN-Q/Picture%2024.png)
Quote from: JBubble on August 10, 2009, 08:38:43 PM
Nice Dragon pics! Y'all are a great 2-up team. [thumbsup]
She is the best pillion that I've ever had. After riding with her, there is no one I would rather have on the back :)
Quote from: yuu on August 11, 2009, 03:06:35 AM
Looks good - photos take a little while to load up.. But looks like you might get a spot on the highlights page
I'm thinking this one:
(https://lh5.ggpht.com/_6Gj9mr-29Fg/SoDvAvaWe2I/AAAAAAAADMc/Kv9h_w1jN-Q/Picture%2024.png)
That would be awesome ;D ;D ;D
Wasn't the one I though it'd be, but you made the highlights
http://killboy.blogspot.com/2009/08/teamwork.html (http://killboy.blogspot.com/2009/08/teamwork.html)
Quote from: yuu on August 12, 2009, 12:55:34 PM
Wasn't the one I though it'd be, but you made the highlights
http://killboy.blogspot.com/2009/08/teamwork.html (http://killboy.blogspot.com/2009/08/teamwork.html)
Hell yeah!!!!!
Yaaaay!! I'm proud of us! ;D
I've ridden with some damn good riders and el matador is the best by far! A lot if riders are afraid to let their piloion hang off but this guy just rides it like I'm not even there!
Thanks for letting us know, Ian!!
No problem. I thought one of the other shots was more likely (or would ahve been my selection) for the highlight page - but hey a wins a win. All of they were way better than my gap photos :(
Jesus, That kicks ass!
We can't see any of the ones here though :-[ (on the mac or pc)
Hey guys!
Finally we have rested enough so the time has come to do a full Matador-Style write-up. Except this time it will be a little different. Dueling posts from me and the lady so the perspective is not too one-sided. I will fully expect He-man to contribute. :)
Ok here goes....
First part: The ride to Dallas.
http://maps.google.com/maps?f=q&source=s_q&hl=en&geocode=&q=320+Jackson+Hill+St,+Houston,+TX+77007+to+9961+Blue+Bell+Dr+Fort+Worth+76108&sll=37.0625,-95.677068&sspn=31.509065,56.513672&ie=UTF8&z=7 (http://maps.google.com/maps?f=q&source=s_q&hl=en&geocode=&q=320+Jackson+Hill+St,+Houston,+TX+77007+to+9961+Blue+Bell+Dr+Fort+Worth+76108&sll=37.0625,-95.677068&sspn=31.509065,56.513672&ie=UTF8&z=7)
The day of our fateful departure we started like we start every other trip, running late and slightly ticked off at each other. I loaded up the 695 with the brand new saddlebags that we picked up earlier at Cycle Gear and noted, a little concerned that they seemed to block the passenger's reach to the pegs a little.
Our plan was to leave by 5, but my parents called in a favor and I got stuck picking them up at the airport at 4. Of course their plane was delayed and I ended up getting back home at 5:30.
While I was out picking up my parents, Lucrece was supposed to go pick up the license plate from her old bike from the shop that did the appraisal, so we could put it on the new bike when we rode it down. When I got home expecting everything to be ready; Well Lucrece wasn't ready, and hadn't picked up the plate. She said No Biggie, we'll pick it up on the way out. We ended up heading out at around 7
[bang] [bang] [bang] *breathe in deep, remember you are in this to have a good time, put a smile on your face* [bang] [bang] [bang]
When we got to the shop, of course it was already closed [bang] [bang] [bang] So I was faced with the prospect of traveling cross-country on a bike with no plates, Awesome!
Again, no Biggie, we'll have 'em shipped to NY. I was skeptical.
We got on the highway and I noted that the ride to the shop has made us pass the exit to the HOV lane, the result, having to navigate I45 rush hour traffic. By this point, I was in full El Matador scowl face mode. For those that haven't seen it, it is usually reserved for the mornings after sleepless nights in torrential rain. It looks something like this:
(http://img269.imageshack.us/img269/8826/img00153200905290906.jpg)
(http://img212.imageshack.us/img212/5980/cimg1172an9.jpg)
So far it hadn't been the best of starts to our adventure. It had only been a couple of hours into our adventure and I was already pissed off. Well, riding would soon take care of that.
Back on the highway, after about an hour of traffic it finally starts to clear up and I get to stretch the 695's legs a little bit. I hadn't really ridden it since I installed a new set of sprockets and a chain on it, the new 14t felt good, the bike felt good and soon my worries melted with the miles behind me.
They came back soon enough.
We stopped after about 100 miles to gas up and call Slag to tell him to expect to weary, smelly travelers. We had been making some pretty good time so I gave him an ETA. It turned out to be wildly optimistic.
Getting ready to remount the bike I do a quick visual inspection as usual. Something immediately catches my eye. Our brand new panniers were rubbing on the tire and it had eaten through on of the sides. GOD-DAMN-IT [bang] [bang] [bang] My spare riding shirt looked like it had been mauled by an angry bear.
I quickly ran to the rescue with some zip-ties and E-tape that I had cleverly brought with me. Furthermore I had to move the bags forward, completely blocking the pegs for Lucrece. Uh-oh...
Highlights from El Matador's post:
Quote from: El Matador on August 16, 2009, 08:23:07 PM
slightly ticked off at each other
[bang] [bang] [bang] *breathe in deep, remember you are in this to have a good time, put a smile on your face* [bang] [bang] [bang]
I was skeptical.
I was in full El Matador scowl face mode. It looks something like this:
(http://img269.imageshack.us/img269/8826/img00153200905290906.jpg)
Quote from: El Matador on August 16, 2009, 08:34:27 PM
It had only been a couple of hours into our adventure and I was already pissed off.
GOD-DAMN-IT [bang] [bang] [bang]
He is just so positive and easy going. That is why I love being with him ;D
We leave off where I get back on the bike that no longer has passenger pegs. It's ok, I've done this before. So what if the last time it resulted in my being flung from the rear?
About an hour into suspending my holding my legs up, suspended above the saddlebags in an awkward tangle, El Matador pulls over. Apparently he's noticed that I'm in pain (my knee has been a little pregnant dog since the crash) and wants to save me with his characteristic heroic swagger. That is, he promptly installs the saddlebags over the tank and proceeds to ride, elbows out, straining himself over the full saddlebags to barely reach what I call the "clipons of death." Needless to say, all proper handling on the bike is lost. Fine, we only have another hour of slab until Dallas.
A "Dallas City Limits" sign appears and Matador and I do our usual Bill & Ted rock guitar indication of awesomeness at one another. We've arrived!
or not.
another 60 miles later, when we still haven't seen the exit sign for Slag's place, we pull over and call him. Oh, apparently Ft. Worth is REALLY make the beast with two backsING FAR from Dallas. another 30 miles...
When we finally pull into Slag's house around midnight he welcomes us with a garage full of bikes and comfy couch where he's smoking a cigar. El Matador and Slag decide to stay up for the rest of the night chatting and looking at guns and other fun things, but I succumb to a need for sleep in order to enjoy visiting with some old friends in NYC the next night.
It's 5am and we bid farewell to the 695 to hop a plane to NYC nourished with McDonald's sausage McMuffins.
Naturally, it's raining when we land at La Guardia. Hmmm, I wonder who could be responsible for that....
Quote from: DesmoLu on August 16, 2009, 08:51:18 PM
Naturally, it's raining when we land at La Guardia. Hmmm, I wonder who could be responsible for that....
[laugh] [laugh] [laugh]
Whatever!
So we head into the city and find the nearest Fedex. We take out some clean underwear and shirts and put them inside our camelback. The rest we ship to Kui. Wait what? yes we shipped our luggage overnight from Manhattan to Brooklyn. It was cheaper than a cab ride, and we wouldn't have to miss a day in the city to take the Underground. ;D
We had a wonderful day. The first thing we did was go to the Time-Warner center to get some good grub for a picnic at the park:
(https://lh5.ggpht.com/_6Gj9mr-29Fg/SojUscUz5KI/AAAAAAAADNk/3VRtfmlT_CM/s640/IMG00043-20090729-1223.jpg)
(http://lh3.ggpht.com/_6Gj9mr-29Fg/SojUuh7w1PI/AAAAAAAADNs/zz0ka1FyJlY/s640/IMG00042-20090729-1223.jpg)
The Platypus saw a golden Penis, so of course It got excited and wanted to Syphillize it.
(http://lh6.ggpht.com/_6Gj9mr-29Fg/SojUxd8g_2I/AAAAAAAADNw/WjebRlzi4hs/s640/IMG00041-20090729-1208.jpg)
Lunch at Central Park:
(https://lh5.ggpht.com/_6Gj9mr-29Fg/SojU6dpPsFI/AAAAAAAADN4/1WkmyRH8dh8/s512/IMG00046-20090729-1246.jpg)
By the end of lunch, it started sprinkling. Oh shit! I think NY suspects I'm here. By the time we started moving, the city had realized I was inside it. We had to run for our lives dodging tourists with umbrellas who ran into us because the rain was so hard we could not see 5 feet in front of us.
We took refuge at FAO Schwartz. Lucrece found a good way to take out her frustration:
(http://lh4.ggpht.com/_6Gj9mr-29Fg/SojU9tcd8lI/AAAAAAAADN8/9U-X-JdtXiM/s640/IMG_0154.JPG)
Yes, that is me kicking a baby. It was so life-like and expensive. I just HAD too!
I had spent quite some time planning our couple of days in NYC. I hadn't been to the city in two years since I lived there, had a lot of old friends to catch up with, but really wanted to show my Matador my version of the City. Alas, I should have know it would just rain and rain and so little of what I had planned would be possible. Rooftop picnic? Fail. Empire State? Fail. Greenwich stroll? Fail. Well, at least we got a little picnic in Central Park in.
Once every toy in FAO Schwartz had been Syphilized beyond repair, we venture out into the rain to the Met. By the time we arrive we are so soaked and pathetic looking the entry staff makes sure to tell us the donation is "only suggested" and we can "pay whatever we can afford to enter." Nice.
Our Platypus loved syphilizing the great Sphinx:
(http://lh4.ggpht.com/_6Gj9mr-29Fg/SojVQNmLyeI/AAAAAAAADOY/A7Q-hBw8H-s/s400/IMG_0155.JPG)
Stealing a kiss inside a pyramid:
(http://lh3.ggpht.com/_6Gj9mr-29Fg/SojVGSIBnAI/AAAAAAAADOI/2V3U2O3QUT4/s400/IMG00057-20090729-1605.jpg)
We close down the Met and head out to do what everyone in NYC does when it's cold out: pay way too much for a cup of hot cocoa. As the rain begins to let up, we head over to Lincoln Center to sit out by the fountain and people-watch at an old favorite spot. However, Lincoln Center also found out El Matador was coming and boarded up the entire place for construction. It's about 5 second after we get there and the downpour resumes:
(http://lh4.ggpht.com/_6Gj9mr-29Fg/SojVTVdmKJI/AAAAAAAADOc/XrvvhwSnt7U/s400/IMG00058-20090729-1750.jpg)
There is only one thing left to do: find a giant New York style pizza. We devour the pizza and settle in for the night at my friend's place in Forest Hills, Queens.
Quote from: DesmoLu on August 16, 2009, 09:15:59 PM
There is only one thing left to do: find a giant New York style pizza. We devour the pizza and settle in for the night at my friend's place in Forest Hills, Queens.
God that pizza was glorious. Damn It! i'm hungry.
It is Day 2 in NYC and we awake in search of the neighborhood pastry shop. I've been out of East Coast for nearly two years and my blood craves authentic cannolis and black and white cookies like a Twilight Vampire craves fat teenager blood.
Our pastries are heavenly. El Matador scowls at them in delight:
(http://lh6.ggpht.com/_6Gj9mr-29Fg/SojWYmonpNI/AAAAAAAADPk/oSNPKFAJP-s/s400/IMG_0137.JPG)
While I promised El Matador a "typical Lucrece in NYC leisure day" we also had to take our Platypus to see all the major tourist spots as it is his first visit to New York. We're meeting for drinks with a group of friends at 7 that night and try to make the most of our day:
Our Platypus is not please with Times Square. He was looking forward to the old version full of sex shops and seedy bars.
(http://lh6.ggpht.com/_6Gj9mr-29Fg/SojVkZB0wuI/AAAAAAAADOw/NVT-a_7cUVY/s400/IMG_0122.JPG)
I can't visit Times Square without checking out the Toys R Us there. Even if it is less than 24 hours in NYC and we're onto our second toy store:
(http://lh4.ggpht.com/_6Gj9mr-29Fg/SojVyyb4vkI/AAAAAAAADO8/b1eJtoEhijs/s400/IMG_0126.JPG)
I route the walk to our destination lunch spot to pass by the Empire State Building:
(http://lh6.ggpht.com/_6Gj9mr-29Fg/SojV6ApRMLI/AAAAAAAADPE/Nvo840KRfVE/s400/IMG_0129.JPG)
We lunch at one of my favorite restaurants, Artisanal Fromagerie. Manchego fondue with Chorizo oh yes yes [bacon]
(http://lh4.ggpht.com/_6Gj9mr-29Fg/SojWDoxxlsI/AAAAAAAADPQ/SfKnFQI4yOs/s400/IMG_0132.JPG)
Syphilis enjoys hanging with the cheese:
(http://lh6.ggpht.com/_6Gj9mr-29Fg/SojWIAj1SQI/AAAAAAAADPU/zHaeCCyQryo/s400/IMG_0133.JPG)
We were supposed to stop by the restaurant where my friend works as a pastry chef to eat desserts, but were running late and missed the kitchen hours. Sigh. Well, off to the East Village to meet up with some old friends and a few local DMF'rs at a bar that my friend had chosen.
We'd invited everyone to the bar at 7:30 but when we arrive just before 7pm there is absolutely no indication of any bar existing at that address. WTF? I call my friend but get voicemail. Damned subway [bang] I post up in an eager attempt to warn anyone that might be coming the bar is closed, but we have to use the Wifi at a nearby cafe. When we return, from out of nowhere, a large sheet of metal covering the building has lifted and a door emerged as if by magic - it is our bar. Turns out they open at 7:30.
My friend is waiting for us and tells us that another couple had been standing outside the address looking confused. They had said they were supposed to meet someone there. Shit. it's Howie and his wife! We felt pretty terrible.
After a couple hours of dive bar beers, we stroll over to a restaurant called Graffiti that was recommended by a couple friends and had gotten great reviews. Luckily, many of my friends from the bar had to leave because there is no way the restaurant could have ever fit us. The place is the size of my closet in Houston (yes, it is bigger than most NYC apartments but still) and somehow they cram 6 tables and a kitchen inside. The good news is that Howie finds us here and we manage to find He-Man as well!
Apparently, the restaurant assumes that if you can actually fit inside, you couldn't possibly eat much. The plates are so small we have to search for street hot dogs after dinner. Well, at least I set their menu on fire [evil]
We close down the place, find some hot dogs, bid farewell to everyone and make our plans to set off from He-Man's place in Brooklyn the following morning. It should only take us a couple hours to Philly to pick up the S2R...."should"....
dont forget u were 3 hours late to my place. [laugh] F train. wtf
Quote from: He Man on August 16, 2009, 11:39:59 PM
dont forget u were 3 hours late to my place. [laugh] F train. wtf
Whaa whaa whaa... you were all 6+ hours late to my place... but I'm skipping ahead in the *adventure*
[popcorn]
Quote from: yuu on August 17, 2009, 02:51:19 AM
Whaa whaa whaa... you were all 6+ hours late to my place... but I'm skipping ahead in the *adventure*
Well, you're just going to have to ask DirtDiva about that one....
Im in San Antonio for work. Driving to Austin tomorrow. Come visit?
Kingbaby, we WERE in the process of a detailed writeup. Now you ruined it for everyone by spoiling the ending - i.e. that we all made it back to Houston alive.
That's a weak excuse... we know you made it back... you already posted that little factoid. Quit stallin'
It's Matador's turn. I'm waiting on him!
Ahem..
That's a weak excuse... we know you don't wait for him. Quit stallin'
hahaha, HEY! I waited almost a whole year for him to turn 21!
as an fyi, I have been on the phone with the Arkansas police department where we got our ticket (it will come in the story) for about 20 minutes now as an old woman with a long southern drawl continues to make failed attempts to use a computer. So far, she has
1) Asked how to spell Jesus and yes, I did say "as in Christ"
2) created four different iterations of the number "20932"
3) accidentally dropped her phone twice
They don't make them quite the same round those parts, do they?
I wish he would drop matador and just go by Jesus
it makes me smile
Quote from: kingbaby on August 18, 2009, 09:49:51 AM
I'm sorry everyone, was just playin'. and I'll refrain from clicking on your thread (novel) again .
See ya down the road.
Hey now! we just playing too. This thread would be no fun without huge amounts of sarcasm and wit. Where are we supposed to get that if you leave :'(
So we head out to He-man's place where we're supposed to rendezvous with Kui and THE BIG-ASS RUSSIAN. To get there we're supposed to take one train and transfer. Only about half an hour. Two hours and 5 trains later, we arrive.
Last check over the bike, we're ready to head out:
(http://photos-b.ak.fbcdn.net/photos-ak-sf2p/v5203/168/105/14900443/n14900443_31454409_711193.jpg)
(http://photos-a.ak.fbcdn.net/photos-ak-sf2p/v5203/168/105/14900443/n14900443_31454408_2880316.jpg)
Yes that is me behind THE BIG ASS RUSSIAN's bike.
For perspective purposes, I am 5'10 and 195lbs. I look tiny next to that guy.
We leave the city via the Joisy Turnpike and spend 40 freaking dollars in tolls. yes 40. Let me repeat that 40 FREAKING DOLLARS. Each. That is crazy. No wonder people don't leave the city and go insane and shoot each other.
At the first toll, He-man and Desmolu go through the wrong lane, a police officer comes out in full Swat gear to demand payment or "be prepared to be make the beast with two backsed by the long dick of the law". Or something like that. But when he sees He-man's custom helmet paintjob, he gives them a discount and wishes them a good day. Apparently the guy is a Giants fan like Kui. I guess that bring up the total count up to 2.
About half an hour after we leave we start hitting some pretty heavy traffic. This is no problem for BIG ASS RUSSIAN. This guy like to lane-split with a 200lb guy on the back and saddlebags. Crazyness.
We spy some clouds on the horizon and decide to pull over to put the rain gear over our saddlebags. When we do this we realize that the bags are still rubbing on the tyre [bang] [bang] [bang] Out of nowhere BIG ASS RUSSIAN produces a roll of ductape, and with the quickness that can only be obtained through years of practice taping bags of dismembered body parts or kidnapping victims, he proceeds to do a tape job that left us all wondering whether we should take turns guarding the others during the night.
(http://photos-c.ak.fbcdn.net/photos-ak-sf2p/v5203/168/105/14900443/n14900443_31454410_5673787.jpg)
As soon as we hit the road again I get a text from Dirtdiva:
"There's some pretty nasty weather here, are you guys ok?"
Damn.
Pretty nasty weather turned out to be a downpour of matador-camping proportions.
We're talking people going 25mph on the highway downpour.
Of course BIG ASS RUSSIAN rode through a blizzard on a Ural with a flat tyre, in the tundra, while dodging landmines once, so he took everyone else going slower as a chance for him to go faster. "Because cops don't pull you over when it is raining" Or something like that.
Well, we finally get to Philly and Call Dirtdiva. It turns out we're meeting her at her place of business, a further 30 mins away. We get there and meet with her,
Finally the bike! Well, not just yet.
We still have to go pick up the bike, a further 1 hour away, but hey, at least we get to ride in Dirtdiva's wonderfully dry car, at least 2 of us anyways. [bang] [bang] [bang] By this time it was 6 in the afternoon, and we hadn't eaten anything since the samples they gave us at the restaurant the day before. On the way over to pick up the bike, Beth and her SO figure out something is wrong with us, we are too weak to form sentences. Lucrece looks mildly Ethiopian.
Mercifully, they stop at a gas station that has the most wonderful food I have ever had inside a gas station. We order a philly cheese steak (of course, when in rome...) And it turns out to be the best damned cheesesteak I have ever had. As soon as we got it, we inhaled it. I don't think I ever even chewed during the whole process. Some children near us started crying. Concerned parents hurried them away while saying "don't look, don't look". I gave them a furtive scowl and dove back into devouring my prize. Damn straight, get the make the beast with two backs away from my sandwich. Being broke, we only bought one and "shared". Have you ever seen two hyenas fighting over meat? We looked like something straight out of the discovery channel. I think Beth started having second thoughts about selling us the bike and letting us back into the car when she saw us eat.
When we got to the place with the bike, the transaction was fairly straightforward. Separating soaked bills and counting them is no fun, lemme tell ya. We were itching to get back on the road, and did so as soon as possible, by this time, it was 7:30 and we still hadn't left. We had told Yuu that we would be rolling into DC at 7. Ooops.
At the first gas stop on the new bike:
(http://photos-d.ak.fbcdn.net/photos-ak-sf2p/v5203/168/105/14900443/n14900443_31454411_8136317.jpg)
An uneventful ride to Dc followed. By uneventful I mean, we got lost 6 times. As stated somewhere before we ended up getting there 6 hours late [bang] [bang] [bang] By the time we got to his place, we were so tired that words weren't coming out. It was more of a slur combined with Arameic. Kui got to the kitchen and exploded all over the floor. BIG ASS RUSSIAN fell on a couch and wasn't to be disturbed.
Lu and I had a bed set up for us were we crashed. I think I mumbled something resembling "thanks" to Yuu before I went into a coma, but I'm not sure.
Quote from: DesmoLu on August 18, 2009, 09:14:27 AM
1) Asked how to spell Jesus and yes, I did say "as in Christ"
[laugh] [laugh] that is rich
Quote from: El Matador on August 18, 2009, 10:23:49 AM
Kui got to the kitchen and exploded all over the floor.
Wow, because THAT doesn't sound wrong at all.....
As all of you have noted by now, as clearly demonstrated by Matador's last post, he obviously does not exaggerate at all. Ever.
Quote from: kingbaby on August 18, 2009, 09:49:51 AM
I'm sorry everyone, was just playin'. and I'll refrain from clicking on your thread (novel) again .
See ya down the road.
NO!!! Come back!!! We didn't mean to scare you away with our bitter sarcasm. Besides, I thought we all liked that characteristic in one another?
[clap] [clap] [clap] [clap] [clap]
I've been having a less than stellar week (and it's only Tuesday! [bang]), and this thread has saved my mood. Keep it going!
Quote from: DesmoLu on August 18, 2009, 10:38:04 AM
NO!!! Come back!!! We didn't mean to scare you away with our bitter sarcasm. Besides, I thought we all liked that characteristic in one another?
[laugh]
when we leaves the cave he tends to stir the pot 8)
Reminds me vaguely of Cetme's adventures .
Dolph :)
(Please note, He-Man didn't actually "explode" all over the floor, rather, he just unpacked an infinite backpack in his characteristic frenzy that later resulted in the question we heard so many times during our trip "Guys, where's my wallet?")
I don't remember things quite like my Matador.
For one, we didn't go right to sleep upon arriving in DC. That would have been the responsible thing to do. After all, we only planned on riding all of the Big Ass Russian-equivalent of a state of Virginia the next day so that He-Man and Russian could do the Dragon and make it back to NYC for work on time. Instead, Yuu made the mistake of informing our companions that a 7/11 is open down the street. Naturally, they made off in search of the types of foods that only such metabolically gifted creatures as this giant russian and asian of infinite energy can afford.
Yuu, Matador, Yuu's awesome dog and I are sitting on the couch chatting when they return with two oozing hot dogs, complete with REAL cheese substitute, a pack of taquitos that had been fried in the used up oil no longer suitable for fast food chains and god knows what else. Then, only THEN could we call it a night.
Matador and I had it easy that night as we were segregated from He-Man by a door and an entire flight of stairs. You will see why this is important later.
The night is glorious. The bed is comfy, the dog is cute, the silence is as golden as duck tape is silver. When I awake, the brand new Arai that I ordered to replace my crashed one has arrived from Fedex!!! (I'd been wearing Matador's old powderpuff Shark that was way too big for me). Even better, the house is empty when I go upstairs. Only the Russian remains.
"Where is everyone?" I ask?
"They are working on bikes," he answers, "but I have Honda so I have nothing to work on."
Soon we head out for breakfast/lunch in Yuu's restaurant filled neighborhood. Before we can say "lets look at the menu" Russian says "We eat here" and promptly walks in to get us a table. The restaurant is filled with so many $14 scrambled eggs, civil rights movement era poetry and liberal propaganda that I fear for all of our safety - surely Matador is going to make some offensive comment that will get our expensive eggs poisoned! Alas, we survive the meal with only a battle to the death over precious few sweet potato fries.
Bellies full, suspensions adjusted, we bid farewell to our most gracious host and set off for Skyline Drive. Twisties, oh twisties at last!
(http://lh4.ggpht.com/_6Gj9mr-29Fg/SojWcaZSlhI/AAAAAAAADP8/7JAyDFcvRcA/s400/6176_944890849053_5257313_53766503_8202493_n.jpg)
Now, in every story there comes a point where we introduce the ill-fated twist and the plot thickens. Here, about half an hour outside DC, we introduce our plot twist: He-Man has been leaking oil since we left New York!! Dun, dun, duuuuuunnnn!!! :o :o
We don't let it stand in the way of our twisties. Even before we reach Skyline, our route transforms from suburban slab into tangling mountain passes. As soon as the road tightens, the Russian's throttle opens. His CBR is tearing through decreasing radius turns with the same fearless, unstoppable fervor with which communism swept across eastern Europe. we manage to keep up even though we are riding two-up. however, my toe slider must be sacrificed. The Exxon Valdez trails behind us.
This is just on our way to put gas! When we double back on the pass to actually enter Skyline (it is a national park with an entrance fee) we notice something missing. Yes, it is Exxon Valdez aka He-Man that just blew past the entrance. The Russian sets out to retrieve him. We wait anxiously for ~10 minutes, dreading passing each group of Harleys that we watch enter the park. Worried, Matador sets out in the opposite direction to make sure He-Man's oil leak did not go catastrophic. Seconds later, Russian and He-Man return from the other direction. Failure to coordinate.
By the time we enter Skyline for 105 miles of glorious mountain switchbacks, it is nearly sunset.
Skyline Drive twisties:
(http://tbn3.google.com/images?q=tbn:4YtrgZ_XJowyUM:http://www.blueridgeparkway.org/map1_350.gif)
The map doesn't do it justice because you can't see all of the elevation changes. The road is so beautiful and fun I had previously insisted doing it in a mini-van with a mattress tied to the roof during my move from NYC to TX a couple years ago. I loved it then and I loved it so much more again.
When we arrive in Roanoke we are satiated, exhausted and starving - all of those same post-twisties or post-sex sensations. An enormous man at a gas station recommends an all-you-can-eat Chinese buffet place down the street that is "the best in town." For some reason, we trust him. Perhaps our senses are dulled. Regardless, we avoid the sketchy sushi, have our fill of fried MSG and take the next logical step - buy copious amounts of beer. The Russian balances our case of beer perfectly on his lap for the ride home. It is almost as if he has done this before?
Tonight we decide it is worth it to "invest" in a "luxury" hotel room like the Days Inn so that we can get the bikes into the room for the night and work on He-Man's leak. Something tells me Days Inn does not want us back:
(http://lh4.ggpht.com/_6Gj9mr-29Fg/SojWrKOX1nI/AAAAAAAADQQ/LJ59_smjhMk/s800/IMG_0146.JPG)
(http://lh4.ggpht.com/_6Gj9mr-29Fg/SojW0Rl-9MI/AAAAAAAADQY/wLZL5_IRbAU/s800/IMG_0148.JPG)
The rest of the night unfolds as could only be expected - 3 guys, 3 bikes and a case of beer in one small hotel room....
(http://lh6.ggpht.com/_6Gj9mr-29Fg/SojW8SnQNcI/AAAAAAAADQg/bIATo3sFjlc/s800/IMG_0156.JPG)
(http://lh3.ggpht.com/_6Gj9mr-29Fg/SojXHVetkmI/AAAAAAAADQs/VYIe390Y1TA/s800/IMG_0160.JPG)
I crawl into bed and attempt to sleep, the sweet smell of man sweat, carby bike and spilled beer lulling me away into sweet dreams. But He-Man will not let it be so....
QuoteBut He-Man will not let it be so....
insomnia!
[popcorn] Your audience is waiting...
Funny SH$T guys. I can`t wait for more.
[popcorn]
heres a teaser pic.
also this is me right before i get a side choke on El Matador....of course me being a lofty 150lbs, he body picked me up and body slammed me a
The Russian, as you all know this myterious character.... is actually a friend of mine from school. Yahuen, hes actually from Belarus. Heres a pic that I know El Matador will be drooling over later tonight (sorry Desmolu, there was a reason why he wanted to switch
Sidenote: That is a 1990 Honda F2i with 44k miles.
Alright, I guess it's time for me to post.
So He-man was jumping up and down with an amount of energy usually only reserved for five year old children that have been given massive amounts of speed and coke. He had a little flashlight toy that he was using to draw penises on the ceiling. Being almost 3 AM and having drunk a case of beer, none of us was in the mood for putting up with this.
We asked him politely to stop but his only answer was "giggle, giggle". Drastic measures had to be taken. Desmolu went over their bed and beat He man with a pillow until he surrendered his toy. Peace at last, or so we thought. Even then, the annoyance persisted. Having battled with insomnia all my life I understood where he was coming from, but he was taking it too far. Something had to be done for our collective sanity.
I did the only thing I could do. In the time he took to breathe in between a fit of giggles I said (and this is a direct quote, I shit you not):
"Kui, if you don't cut it out, the oil leakage from your bike will be the least of your problems, it will be the anal leakage from the violent rape that will concern you."
After that, not a single word was spoken and we all drifted into peaceful sleep. Well I did at least. I have the nagging suspicion that He-man stayed awake with a knife by his pillow in case I decided to make true on my threat.
The morning came too soon. We woke up tired and red eyed, but ready to ride. As soon as we stepped outside though, we saw trouble. Trouble came in the form of rain clouds. Anyone here ever watch The Perfect Storm? Remember the scene when the boat is first going into the storm and everyone in the ship is watching apprehensively? that's exactly what the sky looked like.
At this point BIG ASS RUSSIAN decides that he wants to turn back. We try to convince him otherwise, but once a russian has made up his mind, there is no un-making it. Seriously, look at how long communism dragged out.
It was with very, very heavy hearts that we parted that morning. I don't think that I have ever had such a good time riding with other people, with maybe the exception of Swampduc, Slag and Kingbaby. They are part of the very few people that are crazy enough to attempt to do this trip with us, and the rest of the trip wasn't the same without them. I am tempted to ride back up there just so I can hang out with those guys again. Seriously, if anyone is ever in the NYC area, hit them up. You will laugh harder than you have in a very, very long time. It's funny how riding together can create a bond between people that barely know each other that is as strong as a friendship of many years. If any of those guys were to ask me for help at any given moment I would drop whatever it was and fly across the country to do anything they needed.
Ok, enough with the sentimental BS. back to riding.
When we got back on the road, we felt a little down. It was a mix of leaving our friends and the fact that it was raining hard enough to consider pulling over for safety kind of put a damper on our moods. But soon enough we hit the blue ridge parkway. And that changes EVERYTHING. If anyone here hasn't ridden the BRP in it's entirety, stop whatever you're doing and start planning NOW.
Let me explain. 600 miles of twisties. Yes you read that right. 600. Miles. Yes. It is hard to believe but it is true. And I'm not talking nice little lazy sweepers either, 600 miles of bonafide, hardcore, awesome twisties. It was glorious. It was more than glorious, it was Epic. It was mile after mile after mile of climbing mountains and coming back down. Some of the most spectacular views I have ever seen. And it was dry ;D
Somewhere in between the scenery and the awesome curves I seem to forget that I'm riding a monster. And monsters only have a very limited fuel capacity. About 130 miles to be exact, which brings us to the only drawback of the BRP, It has no gas stations. Yeah, that sucks. So at about 130 miles into it, the gaslight comes on. I pull over and ask Lucrece if she has seen a gas station. She has not. We pull out the map and find out there are no gas stations on the BRP. Oh, and the next town is 40 miles away. SHIT.
Shitmake the beast with two backsmake the beast with two backsshitgawdamnmake the beast with two backsmothermake the beast with two backsmake the beast with two backsingmake the beast with two backss.
Yeah, I just quoted Boondock Saints.
Well, we'll go as far as we can. We happened to be at the top of a mountain at the moment, So I get the bright idea that the best way to conserve fuel is to put the damned thing in neutral and coast. Well, coast we did. To conserve momentum I kept braking to a minimum, we were hitting 60 miles an hour at some points. We would put the bike in gear to go upwards, and as soon as we hit downhill we would coast again. Somehow, we managed to make the 40 miles. We got 180 miles out of an S2R1000 tank while 2up. That must be some kind of record.
The rest of the ride continued much like the ride before we started running out of gas, epic views and epic twisties. We stopped to snap some pics and relieve the bladders:
(http://lh6.ggpht.com/_6Gj9mr-29Fg/SojXiraDP8I/AAAAAAAADRU/TZxG7HIPr-4/s640/IMG_0163.JPG)
(http://lh4.ggpht.com/_6Gj9mr-29Fg/SojXltR1bZI/AAAAAAAADRY/-TSrVTVCaLU/s512/IMG_0164.JPG)
(https://lh5.ggpht.com/_6Gj9mr-29Fg/SojXqnye0GI/AAAAAAAADRg/PSOYuKLKCQY/s640/IMG_0166.JPG)
(http://lh3.ggpht.com/_6Gj9mr-29Fg/SojXo7KDYdI/AAAAAAAADRc/4wVJZePCT_0/s640/IMG_0165.JPG)
And then we rode on. And on. And on. Turn after turn after turn after turn. I truly cannot express how awesome it was. We rode only twisties for 13 hours that day. It was some of the best riding I have ever had.
Finally, we arrived at Asheville where we would meet Journeyman for dinner. He turned out to be as awesome as his posts led us to think. He showed up on a painfully beautiful yellow 900SS. It has to be one of the cleanest examples I have ever seen. At this point, you can probably infer that we were pretty damned hungry. We had survived the day by eating poptarts that we stole from the continental breakfast in the morning, but by the time it was 10 Pm we were starving. JM came to the rescue and took us to a place called Cheddar's where we quickly devoured our food and flirted with the waitress.
I wish we had been better guests but we were so tired we must have been some pretty boring dinner dates. Nevertheless we had a great time in Asheville and if any of you is ever in town you should buy JM a beer purely on account of his sheer awesomeness.
After dinner, JM had to go back home to tend to his sick wife, but pointed us in the general direction of a motel, in which we promptly fell into a coma. Not before the bike was tucked in besides us though. ;)
Oh yeah, I forgot to say, as we were coming into Asheville, we saw a freaking BEAR cross the road. Screw deer, Bears are not something you want to hit. If they survive, they make the beast with two backs you up and eat you.
Key items left out of previous post:
1) Immediately after Matador threatens He-Man with anal leakage, the Russian emerges from bed and puts on jeans. Seriously. There is no sleeping in boxers when anal leakage is a threat. The Russian tosses and turns in the bed. "I don't know which side to turn my back to," he says in fear.
2) The next morning when our companions ABANDON (just teasing guys) us, I am charged with quickly packing our tail bags to be shipped by He-Man in the nearest city to Slag's place in FT Worth. I am so busy trying to stuff our tiny camel back with everything we need for the next few days, this mainly consisting of all of the pop-tarts and bananas we took from the free continental breakfast (budget has been reached and we don't plan on staying at a breakfast serving hotel again - we need to live off of this shit) that I completely forget that the freezer bag of new duc documents containing our Bill of Sale is tucked under a bundle of moist Matador jeans and other foul smelling things. This will come into play later.
3) I sincerely second all of Matador's rave reviews of the BRP. Genuinely awesome. Not only the twisties, but the beautiful views (see the pics). That being said, at only one particularly scenic overlook did Matador stop. I was astonished when he pulled over. Was he ACTUALLY stopping to admire the view? Take a picture? Enjoy a romantic moment now that we were alone for the first time in a week? No. It can't be! Oh yes, it can't. Before I can begin to take my helmet off and prepare for a possible kiss, he is standing with his back to me, leaning into the side of the cliff. Apparently he needed the bathroom. Well, obviously. What other reason would someone possibly pull over?
4) Coasting down the mountain to conserve gas gave us both a memorable glimpse into the lives of cruisers. Unable to rely on the throttle for proper handling, we had to take those corners with minimum lean. It was so upright, so much slower than it should have been and yet, still remarkably faster than any of the cruisers we'd seen.
5) The last stretch of the BRP before you come into Asheville, NC is mostly a bridge built into the side of the mountain, connecting the different mountain passes. IT IS INCREDIBLE:
(http://coolrain44.files.wordpress.com/2009/07/blue-ridge-parkway.jpg)
the BRP is awesome. we rode down it in may to get to the dragon.
lynn cove viaduct (pic above) is really pretty. if you get the chance to stop there do it. there are a few trails that leave fromt he parking lot too. the NC section is much better than the VA section too :)
This write up with pics is so awesome it almost feels like im there, so thanks for letting me tag along on your adventure.
Quote from: DesmoLu on August 20, 2009, 10:09:22 PM
(http://coolrain44.files.wordpress.com/2009/07/blue-ridge-parkway.jpg)
Oh. My. GOD. :o
Why, whyyyy do I live in Louisiana? :'(
Quote from: El Matador on August 18, 2009, 10:23:49 AM
We leave the city via the Joisy Turnpike and spend 40 freaking dollars in tolls. yes 40. Let me repeat that 40 FREAKING DOLLARS. Each. That is crazy. No wonder people don't leave the city and go insane and shoot each other.
At the first toll, He-man and Desmolu go through the wrong lane, a police officer comes out in full Swat gear to demand payment or "be prepared to be make the beast with two backsed by the long dick of the law". Or something like that. But when he sees He-man's custom helmet paintjob, he gives them a discount and wishes them a good day. Apparently the guy is a Giants fan like Kui. I guess that bring up the total count up to 2.
May I ask good sir, which NFL team do you root for? >:(
Nice write-up BTW!! [beer]
Quote from: swampduc on August 21, 2009, 12:08:14 PM
Oh. My. GOD. :o
Why, whyyyy do I live in Louisiana? :'(
The Creole cooking?
Can't think of any other rationale. ;D
Quote from: Bick on August 21, 2009, 01:13:41 PM
The Creole cooking?
Can't think of any other rationale. ;D
Yep, the food, but I guess the beautiful women and laid back lifestyle too ;D
Damn sure it's not the weather or landscape >:(
Quote from: rockaduc on August 21, 2009, 01:06:20 PM
May I ask good sir, which NFL team do you root for? >:(
Nice write-up BTW!! [beer]
I dont. I refuse to watch any sport called football that is played with your hands. ;D
^^^Damn commies [roll]
Monday, August 3. It is the moment we have been anticipating. These will be the last enjoyable roads for us before we have to endure 800 miles of slab across TN, AK and TX in one single day. It better make it worth while. It better not be over-hyped, over-crowded, teaming with gravel or cops. It better be 316 turns in 11 miles:
(http://lh4.ggpht.com/_6Gj9mr-29Fg/SojYFNkXtXI/AAAAAAAADSE/VfgpVxOcRJs/s400/IMG00082-20090803-1714.jpg)
This morning we prepare ourselves for the Dragon. I call to insure the new bike. We fuel up on more stolen poptarts and the leftovers of a deep fried sandwich I'd ordered the night before (this thing was seriously deep fried - we're talking a club inside a friggin' funnel cake). The entrance is only an hour away from our hotel but the anticipation combined with a tight road destroyed by endless RVs and boat trailers makes this ride seem to go on forever. We stop to ask for directions at a local dairy barn where we meet the family of awesome: Daddy on an old school bmw with mommy on the back and a little girl in the side car. They confirm that the Dragon is only a few more miles away.
At the moto resort in the entrance we stop to ask a few responsible looking riders about road conditions. They tell us the coast is clear for cops and the pavement smooth. It is a Monday afternoon and not too crowded either...by Dragon standards at least. The Platypus poses for some photo ops and we get distracted for a while by the shiny with no forks:
(https://lh5.ggpht.com/_6Gj9mr-29Fg/SojYCTGPk7I/AAAAAAAADR8/CKpvIdIzT6Y/s400/IMG00078-20090803-1709.jpg)
(https://lh5.ggpht.com/_6Gj9mr-29Fg/SojX8ffzLTI/AAAAAAAADR4/qK2XrdydlKc/s400/IMG00077-20090803-1709.jpg)
I admit, I was skeptical about whether or not this road could live up to the hype. All of those pictures of cruisers and upright squids on the website. I was wrong. The road is everything we wanted it to be and more.
Our first pass through we take it easy so Matador can learn the road. I say one thing to him before we ride out:
"I love you and remember, no dragging a knee or a girlfriend." Neither of us have gear with knee sliders on for this trip.
This pass is a bit cluttered and we have to pass a lot of cruisers and cars. We are still feeling out the hanging off and the lean between the two of us on the tighter turns. Matador runs wide in one particularly cruel corner. Next time I give it a little more input on my end and he takes it beautifully.
We stop after the first run at the overlook where everyone turns around.
(http://lh3.ggpht.com/_6Gj9mr-29Fg/SojYJawJcEI/AAAAAAAADSM/2OruUayij4k/s400/IMG00070-20090803-1616.jpg)
The other riders had informed us that the cops only come in from the TN side since the NC clip is so short, so if you don't see any cops on a run headed into TN, you can pretty much rest assured there will be no cops on your pass back through. Ok then, so here's where the real fun begins [evil]
(http://photos-a.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc1/hs139.snc1/5940_527833919580_14900443_31456288_661903_n.jpg)
(http://photos-e.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc1/hs159.snc1/5940_527833999420_14900443_31456300_5535712_n.jpg)
(http://photos-b.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc1/hs139.snc1/5940_527834288840_14900443_31456345_3336376_n.jpg)
After our first complete pass we are so completely synchronized that it simply appears Matador is just riding with an extra leg:
(http://photos-f.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc1/hs159.snc1/5940_527834009400_14900443_31456301_1423829_n.jpg)
We discuss taking turns for each of us to take a spin on the bike alone but decide to stick together. After all, we can go much faster with both of us hanging off, not having knee sliders and all. And for me, I can go much faster in general.
The ride is smooth and a complete blast. I only have one small scare when, because my gloves are two sizes two big for me (really little hands), I go to hang off and the extra finger of glove attached to my hand bends in and gets caught causing me to slam my knuckles into the tank as we turn in hard to enter the corner. Matador is all about the late apex entry and he turns in hard. The jam catches me off guard, hurts like a mofo, and I near slip off the bike during the lean. The strength of my left leg hugging the bike from the outside is all that caught me. Matador is a bit startled but I give him a thumbs up and we're back on!
It's nearing sunset and we realize that we have to leave this most wonderful place and get some miles into TN if we are to make our deadline. The time for our last run through the Dragon has arrived. We discuss that we'll take the last run nice and easy since we've pushed our luck enough for the day. However, about a quarter of the way into the pass I notice Matador pick up the pace at an alarming rate. He is passing absolutely everyone on the road. I'm a bit surprised, since we had discussed taking it easy, but hell, I'm having fun and I guess he just wanted to really enjoy the road one last time before we hit all that slab. A few of the passes are questionable - not stupid, and safe enough for an experienced rider, but pretty damn aggressive. It certainly wasn't anything Shakey wouldn't do anyway.
We pass four cruisers, one by one, while flying into a decreasing radius downhill. "Wow," I think to myself, "I guess he really just could not stand missing that particular corner."
We continue to fly past the Dragon down the still windy and beautiful road. I notice Matador keeps glancing behind to look at me. Hmm, maybe he is wondering if I am ok with the pace? I give him a thumbs up. When we finally stop at a gas station about an hour into TN he has a paranoid grin all over his face.
PM one of us if you want to hear what Matador says to me just then. Or ask someone who was at DITR. Or hell, just infer from the last paragraph.
http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=2042986&id=14900443&ref=share (http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=2042986&id=14900443&ref=share)
The album should be open to the public for anyone interested in more of our Dragon pic highlights.
Awesome post ;D
Let me just say that every single pass we did was completely safe and only when we had a clear, unobstructed view of the road ahead. Also, most of our passes were done after the riders in front of us signaled us to pass them.
The only other thing I have to add is that that Tesi has got to be the most beautiful bike I have ever seen. Just the quality of the craftsmanship and detail that went into every single piece of that bike left me astounded. It also looked very uncomfortable. I will own one of these one day.
(http://lh4.ggpht.com/_6Gj9mr-29Fg/So9-GRdfd4I/AAAAAAAADTM/PWr_kencAzo/s640/IMG00079-20090803-1710.jpg)
(http://lh3.ggpht.com/_6Gj9mr-29Fg/So9-JXQ-zcI/AAAAAAAADTQ/DDQuqEiKg7E/s640/IMG00080-20090803-1710.jpg)
(http://lh3.ggpht.com/_6Gj9mr-29Fg/So9-NEuz32I/AAAAAAAADTU/YqsT1lvsj4A/s640/IMG00076-20090803-1708.jpg)
I can't wait to get back to the Dragon. I'm already planning my next excursion. ;D [beer]
Quote from: El Matador on August 21, 2009, 09:17:45 PM
Let me just say that every single pass we did was completely safe and only when we had a clear, unobstructed view of the road ahead. Also, most of our passes were done after the riders in front of us signaled us to pass them.
[laugh] [laugh] oh baby, I was just teasing you. Everyone knows I'd never date a squid. No need to get your knickers in a twist. ;)
Quote from: DesmoLu on August 21, 2009, 09:21:15 PM
[laugh] [laugh] oh baby, I was just teasing you. Everyone knows I'd never date a squid. No need to get your knickers in a twist. ;)
Are we british now? or are you just getting your maddonna on?
Quote from: El Matador on August 21, 2009, 09:23:33 PM
Are we british now? or are you just getting your maddonna on?
eww baby I don't think either of us are interested in me getting a madonna on in any way whatsoever.
"We pass four cruisers, one by one, while flying into a decreasing radius downhill. "Wow," I think to myself, "I guess he really just could not stand missing that particular corner."
We continue to fly past the Dragon down the still windy and beautiful road. I notice Matador keeps glancing behind to look at me. Hmm, maybe he is wondering if I am ok with the pace? I give him a thumbs up. When we finally stop at a gas station about an hour into TN he has a paranoid grin all over his face.
PM one of us if you want to hear what Matador says to me just then. Or ask someone who was at DITR. Or hell, just infer from the last paragraph. "
Lemme guess, "Pardon me, do you have any Grey Poupon?"
Quote from: El Matador on August 21, 2009, 04:39:21 PM
I dont. I refuse to watch any sport called football that is played with your hands. ;D
That's b/c you live in a state where your only choices are the train-wreck cowgirls or the pathetic texans. [laugh]
Quote from: rockaduc on August 22, 2009, 03:21:53 AM
That's b/c you live in a state where your only choices are the train-wreck cowgirls or the pathetic texans. [laugh]
and the Almighty Longhorns >:(
;D
Quote from: rockaduc on August 22, 2009, 03:21:53 AM
That's b/c you live in a state where your only choices are the train-wreck cowgirls or the pathetic texans. [laugh]
even the MLS teams in TX suck with houston having the edge.
ohh wait, i'm a cowboys fan...SHUT UP YOU JERK! [cheeky]
Quote from: KnightofNi on August 22, 2009, 09:19:54 AM
even the MLS teams in TX suck with houston having the edge.
ohh wait, i'm a cowboys fan...SHUT UP YOU JERK! [cheeky]
MLS is a Joke. Futbol just doesn't have enough breaks to make it television friendly in the states. Hence the lack of support.
Quote from: El Matador on August 22, 2009, 08:20:23 PM
MLS is a Joke. Futbol just doesn't have enough breaks to make it television friendly in the states. Hence the lack of support.
stop bullshitting now. it's your turn to post!
Now from the moment we left the Dragon, we basically just had a looong, boring, straight ride to Dallas. Since it was to be the hardest part of the trip, we had originally planned to break it up in three days. He-man's oil leak and Delays in getting the bike had delayed our schedule a full day. This left us with a little over 900 miles to do in a day and a half.
It was about 8:30 when we finally got on the worst make the beast with two backsing highway in America: I-40. The only way I can accurately describe I-40 is basically playing frogger at 90 mph between strung out Semi's that are ALL RUNNING RE-TREADS. Every few hundred yards you would see the carcass of a blown out tyre. Seriously, 95% of the traffic on that highway is composed of Semi's. At one point I thought I was trapped in some greek legend; I-40 was my Hydra and every time that I would pass a Semi, two more would spring in its place.
We had already been riding all day. The physical and psychological toll of riding the Dragon several times was pretty apparent. Also the knowledge that We had to make it to Dallas by the next day was beating on me like a hammer. When you add crazy semis and blowout paranoia, you get the recipe for a killer headache.
I suffer from migraines, but this one was one of the worst I have ever experienced. I made it as far as Nashville before the migraine was inhibiting my eyesight so much that I couldn't go on. Lucrece thought I falling asleep, but when I pulled into the parking lot of the cheapest motel I could find and collapsed on the floor, she knew something was up. I had to spend about 20 minutes lying on the asphalt of the parking lot before the pain was bearable enough that I could walk to where we had to check in.
I had picked a really classy joint. The place was called Knight's Inn, and was 30 dollars a night for the room. I could barely speak, so I just nodded while the receptionist took my ID and Credit Card to process. The whole lobby smelled of stale cigarettes and acetone, and the receptionists nasal tone of voice was forcing a jackhammer through my eye socket. Worse still was the rhythmic smacking of the bubblegum it was chewing, it smiled at me with cigarette stained teeth and fuchsia painted eyes that failed to convey an aura of youth it no longer had. All I could do was stare blankly at it. To it, I'm sure I looked like the rest of the crackheads that stay there for drug induced binges. I contemplated putting it out of it's misery, but the migraine was still going strong, and I didn't have the capacity to do it.
I somehow crawled to the room she assigned us and promptly went into a comatose state, the last thought in my head before it all went black was that it was still 750 miles to Dallas.
You forgot the part where you collapsed on my chest and I petted you, lovingly, to sleep.
Now it is true that Matador did, indeed, pick the classiest of inns. As the daughter of a trucker, I have stayed at my fair share of raunchy highway motels, but this one was particularly seedy. It had been a long time since I'd stayed at a place that charges by the person where the front desk personnel sits behind a locked cage of bullet proof glass.
But, as long as we could get the bike into the room, it would have to do. Matador was certainly hurting. The smell of sweat and exhaust that permeated from his whole body was nothing compared to what lay in his boots. Still, I took them off, lay him down, pumped him full of tylenol and didn't say a word. Now THAT is love.
Quote from: El Matador on August 22, 2009, 08:20:23 PM
MLS is a Joke. Futbol just doesn't have enough breaks to make it television friendly in the states. Hence the lack of support.
i get this argument from the eurosnobs about it all the time.
if there were more support then the league would be able to grow, but without the support, the money isn't there to make the league better and attract the talent like european leagues.
it's also only 16 rs old where other leagues are playing with teams that have been around for 3-4 times that.
ignore the fact that soccer is actually gaining a foothold in this country, turn your nose up at it all you want. i enjoy watching and supporting my home league.
Jesus I was having some rowdy headaches for a long time. I went to the chiropracter for a shoulder problem and after the x-rays the doc asked if I got headaches. She fixed that too along with my shoulder as it was related. After seeing the clip ons on your 695 it may not be a bad idea to get checked out. I still get an occasional headache but not nearly as bad as before.
Quote from: Ducaholic on August 23, 2009, 06:46:02 PM
Jesus I was having some rowdy headaches for a long time. I went to the chiropracter for a shoulder problem and after the x-rays the doc asked if I got headaches. She fixed that too along with my shoulder as it was related. After seeing the clip ons on your 695 it may not be a bad idea to get checked out. I still get an occasional headache but not nearly as bad as before.
Thanks for the advice. Having taken over the 695 with the death clipons and doing the DITR run on it, I can feel that pain. However, if you want to understand the source of Matador's migraines, you will have to learn a bit about his ex-girlfriends and meet his mom [laugh]
Quote from: Ducaholic on August 23, 2009, 06:46:02 PM
Jesus I was having some rowdy headaches for a long time. I went to the chiropracter for a shoulder problem and after the x-rays the doc asked if I got headaches. She fixed that too along with my shoulder as it was related. After seeing the clip ons on your 695 it may not be a bad idea to get checked out. I still get an occasional headache but not nearly as bad as before.
I know why I have migraines. I don't sleep. It's always worse when I'm not sleeping. Also fatigue brings them on.
Related to the shoulder thing, I have a shoulder that loves to pop out at the most inopportune moments, Like Valentines day.
[bang] [bang] [bang]
Quote from: KnightofNi on August 23, 2009, 05:43:05 AM
i get this argument from the eurosnobs about it all the time.
if there were more support then the league would be able to grow, but without the support, the money isn't there to make the league better and attract the talent like european leagues.
it's also only 16 rs old where other leagues are playing with teams that have been around for 3-4 times that.
ignore the fact that soccer is actually gaining a foothold in this country, turn your nose up at it all you want. i enjoy watching and supporting my home league.
Don't get me wrong, I love the sport and enjoy the fact that it is finally getting some attention in this country, but I think that the MLS doesn't treat the sport like it's supposed to and basically makes it become a laughingstock. Also I think that it will never enjoy the popularity it does in the rest of the world because it just doesn't lend itself to commercialization.
Quote from: El Matador on August 23, 2009, 07:52:19 PM
I know why I have migraines. I don't sleep. It's always worse when I'm not sleeping. Also fatigue brings them on.
Related to the shoulder thing, I have a shoulder that loves to pop out at the most inopportune moments, Like Valentines day.
[bang] [bang] [bang]
Matador,
I know the pain of Migraines.
I get them at least 3-4 a month.
My Neurologist has me on Topomax, increased my Blood pressure medicine ( Verapamil ), and I take Maxalt when I get a Migraine.
So far this combination has worked the best of any that has been tired over the years.
I was getting at least 1-2 a month that lasted for 4 days at a time.
I don't know why but 4 days is the number.
Since I've been on the increased dosage of Verapamil I haven't had a 4 day Migraine.
Not sure of all the triggers but sometimes they just come out of the blue.
Dolph :) Topamax-100 Mgs. 2 xs a day, Verapamil-30 mgs. 2 xs a day, Maxalt-10 mgs.w, the onset of a Migraine, can be repeated 2 hours later, no more than 3 in 7 days.
Quote from: El Matador on August 23, 2009, 07:52:19 PM
I know why I have migraines. I don't sleep. It's always worse when I'm not sleeping. Also fatigue brings them on.
Related to the shoulder thing, I have a shoulder that loves to pop out at the most inopportune moments, Like Valentines day.
[bang] [bang] [bang]
Iv'e got the shoulder popping out thing goin on too. Usually happens when I have my arm stuffed up a 911s arse with a handfull of tools. [bang]
Quote from: DoubleEagle on August 23, 2009, 10:24:41 PM
Matador,
I know the pain of Migraines.
I get them at least 3-4 a month.
My Neurologist has me on Topomax, increased my Blood pressure medicine ( Verapamil ), and I take Maxalt when I get a Migraine.
So far this combination has worked the best of any that has been tired over the years.
I was getting at least 1-2 a month that lasted for 4 days at a time.
I don't know why but 4 days is the number.
Since I've been on the increased dosage of Verapamil I haven't had a 4 day Migraine.
Not sure of all the triggers but sometimes they just come out of the blue.
Dolph :) Topamax-100 Mgs. 2 xs a day, Verapamil-30 mgs. 2 xs a day, Maxalt-10 mgs.w, the onset of a Migraine, can be repeated 2 hours later, no more than 3 in 7 days.
I dunno man, thats a lot of drugs. Are you sure your doctor isn't trying to kill you? No angry ex-wives that knew your doctor or something?
Quote from: DesmoLu on August 24, 2009, 08:36:53 AM
I dunno man, thats a lot of drugs. Are you sure your doctor isn't trying to kill you? No angry ex-wives that knew your doctor or something?
The Topomax is a Prophylaxis, ( meaning to prevent-Migraines ), the latest from the Neurologists suggests Blood Pressure has a major role in triggering Migraines, thus the Verapamil Blood Pressure medicine ( I have high blood pressure anyway but the dosage has been raised by 20 mgs. a day from my normal dose ), and the Maxalt is to abort a Migraine if one does happen to just come on ( the Maxalt works about 75% of the time for me ) .
No Ex wives.
Lot's of Ex G/Fs.
Dolph :)
[popcorn]
C'mon folks, the writeup's taking longer than the ride.
Quote from: Bun-bun on August 25, 2009, 03:50:34 PM
[popcorn]
C'mon folks, the writeup's taking longer than the ride.
[laugh] [laugh] [laugh]
They
may be off on a new adventure before they finish writing up the last one.
Quote from: swampduc on August 25, 2009, 05:54:24 PM
[laugh] [laugh] [laugh]
They may be off on a new adventure before they finish writing up the last one.
It
didrain buckets here a few days ago . . . [cheeky]
[popcorn]
As is to be expected, the hardest part of the journey is also the most difficult to write about; that's why it's taken so long, we've been putting it off.
When we left off, we were still 750 miles from Dallas, and I was in somewhat of a migraine induced comatose state. The next morning, we woke up to a frightening thought. We had 750 miles to cover and a day to do it. We were mentally exhausted even before we started. We put on our earplugs and took off. I usually like to listen to Led or Muse when I'm riding, but I needed something that would take me on a long haul, so I decided that some classical was in order. A Beethoven's 5th pandora station later, we were on the move.
The route we took basically said one thing, take I 40 until you reach little rock, then turn left. That's exactly what we did. That was the only turn the entire time. It was make the beast with two backsing terrible.
We had a quick stop in Memphis to eat, we had some pretty good BBQ and kept on going, from now on it would be no stops until Forth Worth and Slag's place. I40 is the single road that I hate the most on this planet it goes on FOREVER, and there is not a single turn in the entire thing.
Mile after mile after mile after mile afer mile afder mioler aftrmile afmile asfmeirlsmafouashfiun.
That was the process of my brain's basic functions shutting off in order to be able to endure it. Everything became a thing of repetition: Stop, lift gas cap, put in gas, close gas cap, thumb starter, turn right wrist, get on highway, go 150 miles, repeat. It really was that simple. Have you ever had insomnia? I usually don't sleep. When I get to about the 3rd day without sleeping everything turn a little surreal. Chuck Palahniuk explains it best in his book: Everything is a copy of a copy of a copy. That is exactly the way this felt. It was scary to think of how much my brain was turned off.
At some point we entered Arkansas, but I'm not really sure when or where it was. There was a point where Lucrece was getting really tired behind me, at a gas station I offered to zip tie her to me so she could sleep. It was getting to the point where really stupid ideas start to sound good.
Somewhere in Arkansas I pull over for some gas. Right behind me a pulls in a cop with his lights on. He immediately gets out and comes over.
Cop: Son, did you not see me with the lights behind you?
El Matador: Uh... No....
C: License and Insurance.
EM(As I hand over my license): We just got this thing and the insurance as well, but we don't have a hard copy of the insurance papers. I can get an electronic one on my Iphone if you wish.
C(As he walks to his car): Go ahead and do that.
1 minute later the Police officer comes up with a very concerned look on his face: Son, where did you get that license plate?
(I need to make a quick intervention here. Do you guys remember how Lucrece never got the plates from the mechanic? Well, we never got around to shipping them to NYC either. When getting ready to leave He-man's place, I jokingly asked if he had any others. He came out with three of 'em and told me to pick one and don't ask questions. Better than riding without a plate I thought at the time.... )
EM: Eeeerm, it came with the bike?
C: I'm gonna need to see the bill of sale.
Em: Baby?
Desmolu: OH SHIT! It must have stayed with the luggage that we shipped to slag.
C: What about that insurance?
DL: Im sorry, but I'm trying to pull up the document and it's not working :-[
C: So let me get this straight, you guys are riding a bike with no bill of sale, no proof of insurance, and a fake plate? What do you expect me to do?
EM: Eeerm (Visions of butt-pounding federal prisons in my head.)
C: do you know where the VIN is?
(I show him and he goes to his cruiser to check it out)
EM: make the beast with two backsshitshitgoddamnmake the beast with two backsingmothermake the beast with two backseryaaaaaargh
Officer come back from cruiser with a steel-eyed gaze, looks me straight in the eyes and says: Ok the VIN checks out, I'm not gonna write you for the speeding, but I will have to write you for the no proof of insurance. Since you say you have it and I don't doubt you do, all you have to do is mail it here and we'll take it off. Oh, and I'll have to confiscate that plate of yours. Consider it a gift. You'd be in jail if it was any other officer. Have a good night and ride safe.
EM: Huh?..... thanks....good night...
Damn that was a close one.
Pumped full of adrenaline, we ride the five or so remaining hours to Dallas pretty wired. Slag receives us at around 2 AM, with a big smile and says we're insane. I have never seen a more welcoming sight. I get off the bike but remain bowlegged. We have been riding for 17 hours. :o [bang] [bang] [bang]
Of course, I was too tired to sleep that night. [laugh] [laugh] [laugh]
Quote from: El Matador on August 26, 2009, 07:44:02 PM
Mile after mile after mile after mile afer mile afder mioler aftrmile afmile asfmeirlsmafouashfiun.
Repeat after me - I am the zen master, I am the zen master, I am the zen master. [laugh]
Doing this will keep you from going insane for approximately 11 minutes. How you occupy yourself for the other 737miles is up to you. [thumbsup]
Great write up, by the way... and the pics in 'action pics' are awesome!
you left out the part about the pads :'(
So yall rode the rest of the way without a plate? ??? Pads? [popcorn]
Quote from: Ducaholic on August 27, 2009, 04:25:08 AM
So yall rode the rest of the way without a plate? ??? Pads? [popcorn]
I have to let Matador tell that part.
Quote from: Ducaholic on August 27, 2009, 04:25:08 AM
So yall rode the rest of the way without a plate? ??? Pads? [popcorn]
Only to dallas.
Pads... Yeah about that. I have these things called balls. At around the 12 hour mark, they started to hurt. Bad. Every bump in the road felt like someone was taking a sledgehammer to my "cash and prizes". At a gas station, I tell Desmolu about my situation. She quickly comes up with a great idea.
Five minutes later, I was riding down the road with my "cash and prizes" being sweetly nuzzled with love by two heavy-flow maxipads. Yup. I admit it. It works like a charm.
I know there are some guys out there laughing, and then going Huuuuumm, makes sense.
I wear Castelli bike shorts on every long ride, or the track. I figure if I can ride 500mls a week on a bicycle in those damn goofy looking things, they can't not work on the moto.
Wait, you do 500 miles a week on a bicycle? When do you have time to do anything else?
Quote from: swampduc on August 27, 2009, 08:29:44 PM
Wait, you do 500 miles a week on a bicycle? When do you have time to do anything else?
he's just THAT fast :P
Quote from: kingbaby on August 27, 2009, 08:14:25 PM
I wear Castelli bike shorts on every long ride, or the track. I figure if I can ride 500mls a week on a bicycle in those damn goofy looking things, they can't not work on the moto.
[thumbsup] [thumbsup]
Quote from: swampduc on August 27, 2009, 08:29:44 PM
Wait, you do 500 miles a week on a bicycle? When do you have time to do anything else?
You have to do it in a hurry. [laugh]
Managing a dealership took up a bit of the day.
I think the average was more like 310/wk (average a year) 500 during the season.
It's still miserable regardless.
Alright, looks like its my turn!
So El Matador mentioned the pads, but what he failed to articulate was the look on Slag's face when we arrived in his garage, begin to strip off our gear and a couple of Maxi pads fall out of Matador's pants onto the floor. Note, he had taken these out of the wrapper - they looked almost used. The best part? Slag doesn't say a word. Just smiles.
That night in Ft. Worth we got to sleep with the comfort that we do not have to go anywhere on a Monster the next day. It is glorious. We even get to do laundry and put on CLEAN clothes for the first time in over 3 days. Clothes not caked in sweat and the rain of 4 states!! While we wait for Swampduc to arrive with the truck and trailer, Slag takes us out to lunch. Yes, only Slag will take you OUT to lunch when you are staying at HIS place. Damn generous guy he is!
(please note that as I am writing this, El Matador just accidentally ziptied his toes together. this is what you get when you keep a lot of zipties around the house)
Our plan is to leave Ft. Worth around 4pm and roll into my mom's house in New Mexico around 2 or 3am. Naturally, this plan is completely thrown to the wayside when we leave Ft. Worth after 7pm, miss our exit and take a nice 2 hour detour towards Oklahoma City. The detour puts us through a few of the characteristic west Texas towns - you know the type - the type of towns where Quentin Tarentino movies take place, the type where the cops prey on passers by for revenue so badly that the State had to pass a law capping the amount of money they can get from speeding tickets. Of course, we get pulled over. Its a nice speed trap coming into one of the W. Bumbmake the beast with two backs, TX main streets where the speed limit suddenly drops from 70mph to 25mph and the sign is strategically tucked behind a bush. Luckily, the cop just checks us out and since we "seem" like decent folk, lets us off with a warning.
"It was the Platypus," swears Swampduc, gratefully petting the furry creature on the seat next to him. He swears by the luck of the Platypus.
At 2am we are barely arriving in the thriving hot spot of Amarillo. We pull in for breakfast at a truck stop, the only place in town that looks open. This was a bad idea. Heavy breakfast makes for sleepy drivers. It's Matador's turn to drive and I am in the passenger seat keeping him company so Swampduc can take a nap in the back. Somehow we get the brilliant idea of having a sing-a-long to help stay awake. We are used to each other's terrible singing and don't think anything of it until it hits me, "Oh God, that poor soul is back there having to listen to this!" I think we climaxed with our Joe Cocker rendition of "A Little Help from My Friends" complete with all the "WAAAAAAAHHHH." It is bad. Real bad.
In the wasteland of Eastern New Mexico, all the gas stations are closed. We literally coast into a truck stop at Clines Corners on fumes. The sun is rising over Santa Fe when we enter the city and damn Slag is sending us texts saying "Greetings from Ouray!" - how the hell did they get there so fast ???
When we finally turn into the road that leads to my house, the boys are relieved that the trip is over. Until they see the road. Our private road is a mile of dirt holes!
We collapse into bed at 7am and don't move again until the afternoon. I want to take the boys for a ride up to one of my favorite mountain twisty roads but by the time we mobilize, it is getting late and the weather has started to turn to a desert summer storm. Time has a habit of passing that way every time I'm home in New Mexico. I sit outside on the porch, enjoy the sound of the hummingbirds and nothing more, smell the wind from the cotton woods, munch on something fresh from the garden and then damn, the day is gone. So by the time we pull up at the base of the mountain to fuel up the wind is furious, blowing the bikes around and kicking up all kinds of painful things at us. The mountain pass I was planning on taking has a couple of steep and narrow parts that would be a bit too easy to just get blown right off the cliff, so we decide to forget the ride and just spend the evening prepping the bikes for DITR.
That plan is also foiled when my mom gets home from work and offers to take us out for Margaritas! Delayed bike maintenance occurs in the midst of New Mexican food coma.
Bright and early the next morning we meet the rest of the NMMR crowd at a *very* local joint for breakfast on the road to Colorado. The site of over a dozen Ducs rolling into this small town hole in the wall gets everyone off their seat. I am almost certain that they have posted a picture of our group on their wall at this point. The highlight of the meal is that the menu differentiates burritos between "handheld" and "smothered" (as in chili). As you can imagine, the "handheld sausage" jokes were endless. When we arrive in Durango we are still making "bet you are still full of that handheld sausage from earlier, eh? was it spicy?" jokes.
Matador has made the incredibly generous offer to drive the truck and trailer so that Swampduc and I can ride up with the rest of the crew. As we pull out of Durango and the road starts to look like this:
(http://photos-h.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc1/hs159.snc1/5940_527835810790_14900443_31456503_2879042_n.jpg)
he is regretting that decision.
Pics don't do the road justice. For anyone who hasn't ridden the Million Dollar Highway, DO IT NOW. Stop everything. Your kids don't need a babysitter. Your boss doesn't need to approve. Just drop everything and go ride this damn road:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/U.S._Route_550 (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/U.S._Route_550)
When you do ride it though, make sure that your clutch isn't being finicky. Pulling out of the Silverton fuel stop, I had nothing but play in my clutch. After fiddling with it for a few, it seemed ok and since the entire group was gone, I just said screw it and tailed off after them with DucMouse who'd noticed my look of horror and stayed behind with me. Just as I pull out, my Matador has come back to check on me of course - what a hero. Now, clutchless downshifting isn't really something I had learned to do. I'm still a bit of a newb with less than 10K/2 years under my belt, no track time, and no elevation changes aside from 4 or 5 awesome hill country trips a year. Needless to say, an 8,000 ft descent of switchbacks into Ouray with a playful clutch was one hell of a rush.
When we finally pull into the lodge in Ouray everyone is admiring the view and getting to know one another. Everyone except for Matador. He doesn't say a word, just jumps out of the truck, unloads the S2R and gets his ass up the 550 pass as soon as he can!
Quote from: El Matador on August 27, 2009, 07:49:21 PM
Yeah about that. I have these things called balls.
MINE!!!! ;D ;D
To further illustrate just how bad our singing is, in response to our sudden burst out into a rendition of Elvis's version of "You've lost that love and feeling," my computer just committed suicide. Yes, it actually leapt off of the couch into hopes of an early hard drive grave.
[clap]
Quote from: DesmoLu on August 27, 2009, 09:20:29 PM
It's Matador's turn to drive and I am in the passenger seat keeping him company so Swampduc can take a nap in the back. Somehow we get the brilliant idea of having a sing-a-long to help stay awake. We are used to each other's terrible singing and don't think anything of it until it hits me, "Oh God, that poor soul is back there having to listen to this!" I think we climaxed with our Joe Cocker rendition of "A Little Help from My Friends" complete with all the "WAAAAAAAHHHH." It is bad. Real bad.
The Horror... the horror... <rocks back and forth>
That ride up and down 550 was amazing. There is a set of curves coming into Ouray that are some of the most glorious turns I have ever ridden. My version of heaven includes those curves attached to the dragon and riding them all day long. I'm counting down the minutes until we can do it again [evil]
My little solo adventure took me about a half hour. I had not really ridden the S2R1K without a pillion, so everything was amplified. The bike was amazing, it felt so good. I wasn't going insanely fast, just a comfortable pace, but goddamn that bike is fun, even with the 30% power loss up at the mountains. Sadly, I had to head back because it was going dark, fast. I headed back into town and we went out for dinner at a small english pub where guiness and bangers and mash were had. I finished getting acquainted with everyone and the platypus took some naughty pictures with the girls [evil] [evil] [evil]
Paging Ducmouse to post up pics
The NM and CO crew are awesome, We had a great time but we were too tired to hang out. Around 9 we went into the room for a "nap" and didn't come out until the morning.
[popcorn]
We seem to be losing interest here :P Well we're almost done anyways....
We awoke in the morning better rested than we had been in over a week. If you've never been to Ouray it'll be hard for you to understand the utter epic-ness of the place. It truly is as though god had reached down from the skies, pointed his finger at it and commanded: "Thou Shalt Be Awesome". Truly.
The mornings are incredibly cold. In August, the temperature at 9 in the morning was around 50 degrees. That is, until the sun rises over the mountain. When this happens, you feel every single ray of light hit you and warm your body. It is an almost religious experience. While I was off having a religious epiphany, the rest of the crew got suited up and left for the gas station. We quickly did the same and found that the rest of the group had already left. all of them except for Ducmouse and Plumber.
So the four of us it was, since Mouse had been here before, she was leading, and we took a very nice, calmed ride through some spectacular scenery. The only problem was that I had been riding a very nice calmed pace on a new bike for over a week, so I was itching to really let her out. Nevertheless, I wasn't about to leave them behind, especially not with Lu riding with them as well. (Whenever I ride with her, I go into protective mode.) So we continued this ride through some awesome canyons and twisties for a couple of hours, planning to intercept the main group at their stop.
At one point we got on a road where we wouldn't have to turn for about 50 miles. This road was like riding through the grand canyon with the most inviting 100 mph sweepers I have ever been on. I couldn't resist. I took off and behind me Lucrece followed. Due to some sprocketing errors, Plumber's bike was limited to about 85 mph, so they started falling behind a bit. The road was glorious, but I kept it in check for Lucrece. I was only taking the curves at a respectable 90/100, which was hard enough, the scenery was so beautiful and otherwordly that it was hard not to stare at the lines of the canyon all and run off the road.
Eventually, nature started calling. I picked up and told it to go make the beast with two backs off and wait until we stopped later. But it was not to be denied. It kept calling like a late credit card collector. Things got bad, so I decided to just pull over and get it over with. The womenfolk on the forum will probably not understand, but there are few things as satisfying as taking a good long piss. By the time I was done, I heard the unmistakable sound of a v-twin railing it through the canyon walls. I expected Mouse and Plumber to show up, but to my surprise, kingbaby and Beemergeek showed up. Just FTR damn that beemer is make the beast with two backsing fast. Eventually Mouse and Plumber show up and we take off, but not before taking some pics:
(http://photos-f.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc1/hs139.snc1/5940_527835586240_14900443_31456469_2628079_n.jpg)
(http://photos-g.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc1/hs159.snc1/5940_527835591230_14900443_31456470_1376489_n.jpg)
Kingbaby's yawn here tells all. He is obviously displeased at the lack of speed all this "standing around" implies.
(http://photos-h.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc1/hs159.snc1/5940_527835601210_14900443_31456471_1375370_n.jpg)
Mandatory picture with the platypus:
(http://photos-b.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc1/hs159.snc1/5940_527835611190_14900443_31456473_7399175_n.jpg)
Getting ready to go:
(http://photos-c.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc1/hs139.snc1/5940_527835616180_14900443_31456474_5883703_n.jpg)
Kingbaby and Beemergeek take off at warp factor 11tyb and I follow them for the first three corners and sadly have to tell my right hand to back off. Soon enough...
We pressed on and about 10 minutes later we stumbled upon the rest of the group in Gateway having lunch. We Stopped and had some well deserved refreshments as well.
(http://photos-d.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc1/hs139.snc1/5940_527835621170_14900443_31456475_3929166_n.jpg)
There were some amazing cars as well as bikes there, A GT40 and a Vanquish IIRC.
Well on the way back we got separated again, a part of the group went to do another ride and the other was going back to Ouray. I really wanted to ride with Kingbaby so I decided to head back to Ouray the way we came. At first, we were all following Zaster and his wife, who was riding pillion. For those who don't know him, Zaster is a very experienced rider and was setting a very nice moderate pace. I felt comfortable following him and is one of the few riders who I trust to lead Lucrece. I make i sound like Desmolu is a bad rider, Let me assure you that she is anything but. Nevertheless, the way I felt when I came over the hill and saw her lying in the ground after her accident is not something I ever want to feel again, so I've become a little protective of her.
All of a sudden Beemergeek blows past us. Godec follows suit. My right wrist twitches in anticipation. I tell it to calm down. I haven't finished trying to tell myself that I don't need to go faster when Kingbaby takes off after them. Damn. I look back and motion Lu to follow Zaster. I give in to the Dark side. Those 90 mph sweepers on the way over turn to 120 on the way back. I'm having to pin the throttle completely to keep up with Kingbaby's 1098s. This is the first time that I really felt the effects of the altitude on the horsepower; but I didn't care I was having a blast. That ride back to Ouray was the most fun I'd had since the dragon. When we finally stopped I couldn't wipe the shit-eating grin off my face.
Here is Keith's version of it:
Quote from: kingbaby on August 23, 2009, 01:42:44 PM
I second that.
I wish you could have been with ElMatador & DesmoLu for the Colorado leg. Saturday from Gateway back to Ouray was a blast. Beemergeek & Goduc took off on the group, I stayed in front for a while then could no longer hold back, aaaand off I go. After a few corners I see a headlight in my mirror ??? must be the bull fighter...BINGO. I back out for a bit, he locks on, we pace up to the other two (very skilled riders on water-cooled four valves). I'll let him tell the rest in his novel, but will say if anyone knows how to ring out a 2 valve (on a road that looks more like a video game), he does. [thumbsup]
Yes part of why I'm quoting is to stroke my ego [laugh] [laugh] [laugh]
All too quickly we reach Ouray :-[ But we had the night and hanging out with the guys to look forward to ;D
This is how we looked when we got back:
(http://i216.photobucket.com/albums/cc120/bonfygloria/DiTR%202009/DucPhotos023.jpg)
We were ready for some cigar and hot tub for sure.
Keep it coming buddy [thumbsup] Wish I was up there with ya'll. I am very very jealous. [clap]
Quote from: El Matador on August 30, 2009, 06:34:06 PM
That ride up and down 550 was amazing. There is a set of curves coming into Ouray that are some of the most glorious turns I have ever ridden. My version of heaven includes those curves attached to the dragon and riding them all day long. I'm counting down the minutes until we can do it again [evil]
My little solo adventure took me about a half hour. I had not really ridden the S2R1K without a pillion, so everything was amplified. The bike was amazing, it felt so good. I wasn't going insanely fast, just a comfortable pace, but goddamn that bike is fun, even with the 30% power loss up at the mountains. Sadly, I had to head back because it was going dark, fast. I headed back into town and we went out for dinner at a small english pub where guiness and bangers and mash were had. I finished getting acquainted with everyone and the platypus took some naughty pictures with the girls [evil] [evil] [evil]
Paging Ducmouse to post up pics
The NM and CO crew are awesome, We had a great time but we were too tired to hang out. Around 9 we went into the room for a "nap" and didn't come out until the morning.
i never got any pics, i was cameraless yet again :P i wana say those pics of the Platypus were on Mojos camera...
very nice write up
Quote from: El Matador on August 31, 2009, 09:11:28 PM
We seem to be losing interest here :P Well we're almost done anyways....
You could learn from
Scheherazade (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Scheherazade) - one installment every night. ;)
Anyway we're still paying attention, good stuff. [thumbsup]
I have no idea what he's talking about ???
Speed limit is 40-55 through there, we might have broken it a couple of times [roll]
Remember the first rule of fight Club: never talk about fight club :-X
Seriously, I do agree with everything you said about Ouray & that unbelievable road.
I am so glad you chose to ride bike in with me also.
Keep up the great story...The audience is on the edge of their seats. [popcorn]
[popcorn]
[moto]
best thread in months.
[popcorn]
Quote from: Statler on September 01, 2009, 04:22:32 PM
best thread in months.
[popcorn]
Wow. compliment of compliments...and from Statler too!! As Matador and I always say to one another,
Bill &amp; Ted (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cJ_Lh_EezVM#ws-normal)
Alas, it is my turn to post and now I shall write the end to our most excellent adventure. If anyone has not picked up on the Bill & Ted reference at this point and seen that horrible and ridiculous movie, I suggest you do it now.
We began our last night in Ouray the way we begin most great nights - with some delicious local brew and a Cuban. The hot springs was a bit crowded with families and kids so we decided to invent a new rule for our hot tub - "Sorry, kids, but you have to be at least 16 or have your parents present. Those are the rules." Most of the kids left without questions but I nearly got into a fight with one unruly teenage girl with particularly huge breasts. This made for a somewhat peaceful repose, well, aside from Red's 14 year old son lecturing us on how to make a proper Pina Colada - "You are supposed to put TEQUILA in it, that is the right way!" He actually argued with us when we told him the correct liquor would be rum. [laugh]
After some hot tubbing and gorging on bbq, the group gathers around the fire to share stories. The Colorado idea of bbq was interesting. It included burgers and brats. There wasn't a single bottle of bbq sauce. Clearly, they need to come to Texas.
Although Matador and I have hung out with the NM people a few times, this was our first time meeting the Colorado folk and we were, as is so often the case when meeting people from the board, amazed at how close we felt to the group after only a day's ride.
The Colorado peeps had decided to make the awesome move to give t-shirt awards out for "special" people. Matador and I were then "forced" to tell our story, the one we have told throughout this thread, to everyone sitting around the fire. It was story time at camp all over again. Except with more cursing...and with motorcycles...and cops. Ok, so slightly different from your average campfire story.
Always delighted to have an audience, we told our story in detail to the unruly crowd that both mocked us and showed true appreciation. Yes, we even told the part about the pads. At the end, we were presented with two t-shirts marked with the "Farthest Traveled" award. Someday, these will hang on the walls of our garage!
After the t-shirts were awarded, Kingbaby followed up with a stack of blue prize ribbons. The group decided to award us with a "Best Efforts" ribbon. Many of the ribbons given out were sincere, and many were not, including a few people who may have woken up to find "I'm Special" ribbons fixed to their triple clamps...
Shortly after midnight the hotel turned off our fire and it looked like we were being sent to our rooms for the night. We said goodnight and set off to dream of the next day's roads. Unfortunately, those roads were not to be. Just before bed, Swampduc received a phone call that would change our plans. Due to this unexpected unfolding of events, we decided it would be best to leave Ouray and return home first thing in the morning.
Here are the bikes, loaded up and looking sad:
(http://photos-f.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc1/hs159.snc1/5940_527835681050_14900443_31456485_2263393_n.jpg)
As we say goodbye to the crowd that is gearing up to head out for a ride, the Platypus poses for his last few:
(http://photos-c.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc1/hs139.snc1/5940_527835661090_14900443_31456482_7607868_n.jpg)
(http://photos-f.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc1/hs159.snc1/5940_527835800810_14900443_31456501_535961_n.jpg)
Matador drives the truck out of Ouray up 550 and we are all busy planning next years trip. You can't help it when the roads you leave behind look like this:
(http://photos-h.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc1/hs159.snc1/5940_527835810790_14900443_31456503_2879042_n.jpg)
THE END.
EPILOGUE:
I had to take care of some family things, so Matador and Swampduc set out for Houston that night while I stayed on in NM. This comforted Swampduc, because it meant no more karaoke.
That night, Matador sent me a pic of their dinner - an empty McDonald's bag - so I sent him back a picture of the rib eye steaks my mom was grilling out on the porch. [cheeky]
I just want to take a moment to thank both Swampduc and my incredible boyfriend for making that long trip back without me and letting me stay home for a few more days. I was able to surprise my dad and spend his birthday with him for the first time in six years (I used to live a lot further away than TX) and was able to see another very close family member before she started chemo - all very important things to me. So thanks guys, for making the trip back with my bike safely in tow. Love you both!
When I returned to Houston, I noticed immediately that both the Platypus and Matador were listless. They both moped around the apartment all day. I felt myself saying to Matador all the time "Don't you have some fiber glass you can be playing with?"
And the Platypus? Syphilizing. Everything.
In no time at all, I realized there was only one solution - we had to begin planning our next cross country moto trip.....
Quote from: DesmoLu on September 01, 2009, 06:23:50 PM
We began our last night in Ouray the way we begin most great nights - with some delicious local brew and a Cuban.
I thought Jesus was Venezuelan? :o
Quote from: Bun-bun on September 01, 2009, 06:57:18 PM
I thought Jesus was Venezuelan? :o
I said we BEGAN the night with a Cuban. Trust me, a Venezuelan was had too. [evil]
Epilogue II:
I have to say, during this trip there were moments where I got pissed off, cursed the day I was born, kicked a gas pump, and hated the fact I was alive. Nevertheless, it was one of the best times I have had in my life; this would have never been this way without the people that made it special:
He-man: It was awesome to finally meet you, I consider you a good friend, and I won't stop bothering you to come live in Texas. I can't wait to ride with you again, or fight you ;)
Howie: Thanks for coming out, I loved talking to you and seeing your perspective on things. Death to squirrels!
Yuu: I can't thank you enough. You went above and beyond what any friend would do. Thanks so much. I hope your knee heals up quickly so you can get back on two wheels. If you're ever in Texas, you have places to stay and bikes to ride.
Journeyman: thanks for your company during the dinner. It takes a special kind of guy to show friends around when your new wife is sick at home. I wish we could have ridden together. Next time [moto]
LYD: I'm sorry we missed ya. Hope to see you soon ;)
Slag: Anything you need. Anything. Just say the word.
Kingbaby and Dusty: No trip to NM is complete without hanging out with you guys. We're riding coast to coast next year. You guys are coming with [evil]
Mouse and Plumber: Thanks for putting up with rooming with us. Sorry for the awkwardness ;)
The whole NM and CO crew: Thanks for making DITR awesome for us [thumbsup] We will ride with you guys again soon :)
Swampduc: What can I say? Ive seen you a handful of times in my life but you are like a brother to me. Love you man. Thanks for everything. I hope someday we can be as unconditional to you as you are to us. The platypus says it all [beer]
To everyone in the board: Thanks for your support and encouragement. We wrote this for you guys. Hope you enjoyed it.
And finally to Desmolu: You are the most amazing person I have ever met. I am the luckiest person in the world just to be able to share my days with you. I love you :)
Wow, did that come out like an award ceremony speech or what? This trip really was one of the best times I have ever had. So much that we're doing most of it again in a couple of weeks. I can't wait to get back on the road. I wish there was some way of making a living out of doing this.
Till next time, Ride on [moto]
Fantastic writeup, peoples. Can't wait to see you both next week, and see you off on the next adventure [beer]
And thank you both for two of the best trips I've taken. I've had a blast getting to know you, and I'd love to take another journey with ya'll. Wish I could join you on the upcoming trip.
I enjoyed this story from start to finish. [thumbsup] Let me know when ya'll are going to be around my side of Texas.
Wee! That was a fun read. Sorry I could take part in more of the adventure.
- And if you ever get back this way, and actually want to see any of DC besides the 7-11 down the block at 2 am you've got a place to stay
Quote from: yuu on September 02, 2009, 05:24:56 AM
Wee! That was a fun read. Sorry I could take part in more of the adventure.
- And if you ever get back this way, and actually want to see any of DC besides the 7-11 down the block at 2 am you've got a place to stay
Nice [thumbsup] We might be calling you in a couple of days ;D
Quote from: swampduc on September 01, 2009, 08:58:02 PM
Fantastic writeup, peoples. Can't wait to see you both next week, and see you off on the next adventure [beer]
And thank you both for two of the best trips I've taken. I've had a blast getting to know you, and I'd love to take another journey with ya'll. Wish I could join you on the upcoming trip.
Whenever you get some Vacation Time again, we'll go on a an adventure together for sure.
Quote from: Ducaholic on September 02, 2009, 04:11:27 AM
I enjoyed this story from start to finish. [thumbsup] Let me know when ya'll are going to be around my side of Texas.
Same here. We'll be doing a HC run in October with some of the dallas crew. I think there are some spots available in the cabins if you wanna come. You should join ;D
[moto] [moto] [moto]
That was thoroughly entertaining, you guys!!!! [thumbsup] Thanks for posting it up! If you have a blog, I will subscribe to it. I'm glad I got to meet you finally after missing you a couple times in Albuquerque.
I nearly wet my leathers when the Ducati Brigade pulled into the brewery in Durango. I hadn't seen some of my homies in at least a couple months so it was like a big homecoming. And meeting the new folks like yourselves, SwampDuc, and Z-Ducski made it all the better. So glad that Count Desmo made it up, too.
The campfire scene right out of Blazing Saddles was one of my fondest memories of Ouray. Your tales had us rolling! My particularly favorite parts were the Big Ass Russian putting on his jeans and the maxipads flying out of El Matador's leathers. OMG, make sure to post up your future adventures!
P.S. Lance says thanks to Platypus for the syphallizing. He's probably had most STD's known to man in his long, sordid past, but there's nothing like picking up a little more love from a fellow icon! (Right, Mr. Bacon??)
Looking forward to many future rides and hilarious stories with the two of you!
Agreed. [clap]
As for Mr. Bacon, he's been held hostage by a Mouse for a while now. I let him go on a trip with her and now she has kept him and NO pics. WTF, Mouse?! Did he even get the opportunity to become syphilized? >:(
Sorry, I posted this in the local thread a while back, had no idea you didn't get to see Mr. Bacon in San Francisco!
(http://paularickert.net/albums/userpics/normal_Mr_bacon.jpg)
Awesome pic! [thumbsup] I know he went to San Fran several months ago and even to Ouray (I believe). Just have no current pics of him (much less with the Platypus). :-\ Is Mr. Bacon MIA??
The early years
(http://i226.photobucket.com/albums/dd164/dustykitska/07-24-08_1653-1.jpg)
(http://i226.photobucket.com/albums/dd164/dustykitska/P7260005.jpg)
(http://i226.photobucket.com/albums/dd164/dustykitska/P8310035.jpg)
(http://i226.photobucket.com/albums/dd164/dustykitska/P9180003.jpg)
Bullfighter & Lu... LETS RIDE.
El Matador and Desmolu,
That was like a movie that you don't want to end !
El Matador , I think you have a future in Motorcycle Journalism.
You 2 are truly special.
Dolph :)
Here here! [beer] I totally agree. You two should submit your story to one of those magazines that publishes these adventures. You both have a knack for entertaining writing. [clap]
Quote from: dusty on September 02, 2009, 06:53:09 PM
Here here! [beer] I totally agree. You two should submit your story to one of those magazines that publishes these adventures. You both have a knack for entertaining writing. [clap]
;D
Dusty, you guys will have to come along with us on some epic ride so we can write about you too.
Thanks guys! We'll let you know when the book comes out ;)
Never fear. It's not over, we'll be posting about the upcoming journey.
Quote from: DesmoLu on September 03, 2009, 05:22:56 PM
;D
Dusty, you guys will have to come along with us on some epic ride so we can write about you too.
Thanks guys! We'll let you know when the book comes out ;)
Never fear. It's not over, we'll be posting about the upcoming journey.
Someone you know might have just gotten an '07 K1200S and may be hankering for a journey *cough
Adam [evil]
It would be a coincidence if said person lived in Bahstin and we happened to know him well.
Quote from: El Matador on September 03, 2009, 07:13:21 PM
It would be a coincidence if said person lived in Bahstin and we happened to know him well.
That, my friend, would be a constellation of events so fantastical it would likely result in space and time collapsing upon themselves like a neutron star.
In completely unrelated news, I saw this POS parked in my ... neighborhood and felt compelled to take a pic:
(http://i283.photobucket.com/albums/kk291/mediascope/Bikes/k1200s.jpg)
I bet the owner is probably one of those BMW guys who ordered luggage and is going to have it delivered next week - what a tool bag. Heated grips, ESA, ABS ... pssh, what a tosser. Might as well take a car at that point.
Threadjack over ... for now [evil]
Cheers,
Adam
Nice bike there Adam.
Dolph :)
Quote from: DoubleEagle on September 02, 2009, 06:47:31 PM
El Matador and Desmolu,
That was like a movie that you don't want to end !
El Matador , I think you have a future in Motorcycle Journalism.
You 2 are truly special.
Dolph :)
Quote from: dusty on September 02, 2009, 06:53:09 PM
Here here! [beer] I totally agree. You two should submit your story to one of those magazines that publishes these adventures. You both have a knack for entertaining writing. [clap]
Awww shucks... Thanks guys...
Quote from: kingbaby on September 02, 2009, 05:56:11 PM
Bullfighter & Lu... LETS RIDE.
Hell yeah. Oregon to DITR is the plan for next year ;D
Quote from: DesmoLu on September 03, 2009, 08:26:19 PM
Awww shucks... Thanks guys...
Hell yeah. Oregon to DITR is the plan for next year ;D
Damnit! I keep doing this and posting under her. [bang] [bang] [bang] [bang]
Is finding yourself under her really so bad? ;D
If you guys head back this way - give me some notice and I'll stop F'ing with my bike long enough to gimp around on it for a bit.
Quote from: El Matador on September 03, 2009, 08:30:22 PM
Damnit! I keep doing this and posting under her. [bang] [bang] [bang] [bang]
Under her, on top of her, what's the difference?
;D
Quote from: DesmoLu on September 03, 2009, 05:22:56 PM
;D
Dusty, you guys will have to come along with us on some epic ride so we can write about you too.
Thanks guys! We'll let you know when the book comes out ;)
Never fear. It's not over, we'll be posting about the upcoming journey.
Kingbaby and I would love that.
Quote from: DrDesmosedici on September 03, 2009, 07:00:45 PM
Someone you know might have just gotten an '07 K1200S and may be hankering for a journey *cough
Adam [evil]
Nice bike Adam! Looks like you are ready for an epic journey as soon as your bags are in. Awesome! Ride safely and can't wait for the next writeup. [thumbsup] [popcorn]
Quote from: DrDesmosedici on September 03, 2009, 07:43:42 PM
I bet the owner is probably one of those BMW guys who ordered luggage and is going to have it delivered next week - what a tool bag.
You mean people take cross-country moto trips with MORE than just a camelback? LIES! It cannot be. sounds way too easy.
seriously, sweet bike. come along, at least to the Dragon!
Quote from: swampduc on September 04, 2009, 05:08:49 AM
Under her, on top of her, what's the difference?
;D
variety is the key. [evil]
Quote from: yuu on September 04, 2009, 03:49:45 AM
Is finding yourself under her really so bad? ;D
If you guys head back this way - give me some notice and I'll stop F'ing with my bike long enough to gimp around on it for a bit.
Yay! We will come through DC if you promise to come ride some Skyline with us!
[clap]
Alright, Jesus and Lu. I know you just got home today, but I believe it's time to get started on the writeup of the newly completed adventure ;D
Chop Chop
[popcorn]
Not so finished, are you? "El Matador's and Desmolu's most excellent adventure 2", "El Matador's and Desmolu's most excellent adventure, the sequel"...new thread? Doesn't matter. I'm with KB and swampduc. Chop chop! [popcorn] [bacon]
I just read this thread from beginning to end... Mesmerizing. Most Excellent Adventure, indeed.
The one thing that grabbed me was the quality of the writing- expressive, immediate. Pulled me right in.
More....
dusty & I had dinner with DesmoLu & Audrey last night here in Albuquerque on their fly through on their way north for the weekend & got to hear a bit of the story of the "Package delivery".
Hope all is going smooth on the homefront El Matador, you were missed.
The new bike looks great Shiv. [thumbsup]
I may have missed it already in the thread but....
I think you made Killboy AGAIN.
http://killboy.blogspot.com/2009/09/tire-shaver.html (http://killboy.blogspot.com/2009/09/tire-shaver.html)
(http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_LxZ4Mi3rR3Q/SrpXdE8zUaI/AAAAAAAAbcw/vrE6YlkgeT8/s400/img_2855.jpg)
No you didn't miss it, and thats the $ shot [thumbsup]
Quote from: DrDesmosedici on September 03, 2009, 07:43:42 PM
That, my friend, would be a constellation of events so fantastical it would likely result in space and time collapsing upon themselves like a neutron star.
In completely unrelated news, I saw this POS parked in my ... neighborhood and felt compelled to take a pic:
(http://i283.photobucket.com/albums/kk291/mediascope/Bikes/k1200s.jpg)
I bet the owner is probably one of those BMW guys who ordered luggage and is going to have it delivered next week - what a tool bag. Heated grips, ESA, ABS ... pssh, what a tosser. Might as well take a car at that point.
Threadjack over ... for now [evil]
Cheers,
Adam
Nice missile. [evil]
Referring to the Killboy pic, is the sidewall rubbing against the pipe?
Quote from: kingbaby on September 25, 2009, 07:21:18 AM
dusty & I had dinner with DesmoLu & Audrey last night here in Albuquerque on their fly through on their way north for the weekend & got to hear a bit of the story of the "Package delivery".
Hope all is going smooth on the homefront El Matador, you were missed.
The new bike looks great Shiv. [thumbsup]
I wish I could've been there [bang] [bang] [bang]
New story is a-comin'
Quote from: Airborne on September 25, 2009, 03:36:21 PM
I may have missed it already in the thread but....
I think you made Killboy AGAIN.
http://killboy.blogspot.com/2009/09/tire-shaver.html (http://killboy.blogspot.com/2009/09/tire-shaver.html)
(http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_LxZ4Mi3rR3Q/SrpXdE8zUaI/AAAAAAAAbcw/vrE6YlkgeT8/s400/img_2855.jpg)
I only wish they would've gotten us when we were actually dragging, which did happen, a lot ;D. Alas. we were only able to only do one and a half passes before it started raining and we had to leave :-[
You have to come next time ;D