Passes & Canyons Blog

When you start riding with a new bunch of guys it is incumbent on you to become acquainted with the ways of the group. For instance, the RMMRC is very focused on safe riding and thus, if you wish to ride with this group you need to wear a helmet and don’t plan to make any stops that include drinking.

Another thing the RMMRC is pretty serious about is that a time is set for kickstands up (KSU) and when that time comes you are expected to be geared up, on your bike, and ready to roll. On a day ride, if KSU is at 9 a.m. and you arrive at 9:05 you will probably arrive to find an empty parking lot.

On longer rides, however, such as this recent California trip, if you are signed up to come and you’re not there we’ll generally wait for you, but a late arrival will not be appreciated at all unless you have a really good reason.

So it was that KSU was set for 10 a.m. on this trip and the rest of us were ready at 10 a.m. but one guy–I won’t name names but will refer to him as HE–was not there. Alan called him and HE was at Hampden and University, which was still 20 minutes away from where we were. Not a good way to start off.

So we waited and HE finally showed up. But HE needed gas. Fine. We waited. When HE was done at the pump we hit our starter buttons but HE pulled over behind me, parked, and got off his bike, and started wandering around. That was too much, so we pulled away from our parking places and lined up ready to pull onto the road. HE was digging through one of his bags. We left. Later when we stopped in Idaho Springs, Alan called him again and HE was in Evergreen. Fine. We’ll see you in Eagle.

We regrouped in Eagle and rode on to Fruita, our stop for the night. We all gathered for dinner but HE did not join us. Your choice, but not particularly social. Nor did HE join us for breakfast but at least HE was there ready to go at the appointed hour the next morning.

HE did not join us for dinner in Loa, either, that night, and while HE did not have breakfast with the group the next morning, HE was there at the spot for KSU. Except as we all sat astride our bikes ready to roll, HE announced that he needed to go get gas. And off HE went.

This was when sickness engulfed me and I had to tell the guys to go on without me. The last thing I heard on my Cardo as I rode back to the motel was Dave telling the others that “I’m going to the gas station and glare at him while he gets gas.”

OK, he’s new to the group. If I had stayed with the group I’m sure I would have had a word with him about the significance of KSU. And perhaps Dave did later. Dave’s the sort of guy who would make a point to have that talk, perhaps in sterner terms than I might use.

But you owe it to yourself and to the others to learn the ways of the group if you want to fit in. And really, making everyone else wait is never a courteous thing to do in any circumstance. Just practice common courtesy, OK? What’s so hard about that?

Biker Quote for Today

As I turn off the pavement and onto the long stretch of dirt ahead, the rear tire spins and kicks up rocks through first and second gear. I click it into third, and that’s when she really opens up to breathe.

I spent a day sick in bed in Loa, Utah, while the other RMMRC guys continued on their California trip. By the next day I felt able to ride so I planned to turn back eastward, to Grand Junction, where my brother lives. I hoped I wouldn’t start out and then 50 miles along start feeling just as sick as I did just before we were set to roll the day before. But if I did I figured I’d just struggle my way to Green River and get a motel there.

From Loa I needed to take Utah 72 to I-70 and then go east on I-70. I had no idea what to expect on 72 but it was a lovely, somewhat cool, morning and a nice day to ride. Plus, this little two-lane was so unbusy that I think I saw three cars the whole time I was on it.

The road wandered through several small farming/ranching towns, through some very nice valleys, and then started climbing, but not a lot. At least it didn’t seem like we were climbing a lot. Already cool, it got cooler and with some alarm I wondered if my electric vest was starting to die. I’ve had it for a long time; nothing lasts forever. Then I came to a sign announcing the summit of Hogan Pass, at just a few feet under 9,000. Wow, no wonder I was cold.

They have several vista points on top of Hogan Pass and the vista is worth the stops. This is just beautiful country. And from here it was downhill all the way.

I ran on a ways and then very abruptly found myself at I-70, running parallel to the highway until we reached an interchange. Then it was I-70 to Green River. The wind was blowing pretty hard, promising a less than pleasant ride.

I stopped at a rest area before Green River because I was feeling a little rocky but 20 minutes of lying in the sun on a nice smooth rock helped me feel better. In Green River I ordered a bowl of soup in a restaurant but couldn’t get it down. I did drink a glass of milk, and then I lay on their lawn another while till I was again feeling good enough to ride. After that I made it all the way to my brother’s.

In fact, I was feeling pretty good when I got to Fruita, where I needed to leave the slab to take the more direct back road to my brother’s house. I considered going on as far as Eagle to where my friends Willie and Jungle live but decided while I might feel good now, another two hours on the road might not leave me feeling good at all. Let’s just take the wins when you’ve got them.

And yeah, even hanging there at Rick’s, by the time two hours had passed I was not feeling good at all. Wise choice.

Feeling reasonably good the next day I came on home. The ride across the mountains on I-70 was uneventful with really nothing to report. And there I was at home 5 days after leaving on what was to have been a 15-day trip. But man was I glad to be home and it was another 4 days before I felt halfway decent again.

Biker Quote for Today

It’s a beautiful world. Get out there and discover it.

On the morning we were pulling out of Denver on this RMMRC California trip my body did not want to get out of bed. I forced myself and figured I’d get fully awake after a while. And I did. Then we rode to Fruita–not a hard day’s ride at all–and I was exhausted. I crashed before dinner and then after dinner crashed again, getting a good, long night’s sleep.

On Day Two I was glad we had a short day ahead because that allowed me to sleep late–because I was still not feeling wonderful. Then the ride to Loa was not at all hard but when we got there I crashed again. After dinner I was back in bed and during the night I had a fever and chills. Around 2 a.m. the fever seemed to break and I felt better but I did not get much sleep the rest of the night. But come morning I figured the worst was over so at 9:30 I was in the saddle ready to ride.

Just then I was overcome with a wave of sickness and sprawled across my tank, telling the guys via our Cardos that “I can’t do this. I’m going back to the motel.” This was no longer a 15-day trip for me.

Back at the Snuggle Inn I walked in and up to the desk and before I could say a word the guy at the desk looked at me and asked, “Is your heart OK? Are you having a heart attack?” That’s how bad I felt, and I guess it showed.

I was pretty sure it was not a heart attack because I had spoken to Judy the night before and she had told me that the same day I didn’t want to get out of bed to go on this ride, after I left she spent the whole day in bed, apparently suffering from the same thing I was. But these super kind folks at the Snuggle Inn were incredibly solicitous of my condition, offering to loan me their car to drive to a nearby clinic or even to drive me there themselves if need be. All I wanted at the moment though was to get back in bed.

And except for going down the street a block to the grocery store so I’d have something to eat, that was all I did the rest of that day. The guys went on to St. George as planned and my room in St. George was paid for but empty because it was too late for me to cancel. Meanwhile, later in the day as I was feeling at least a little better, I made a bunch of phone calls cancelling all my other reservations for this trip.

I considered mapping out a very different trip for myself that would bring me back with the group on their return but really all I wanted was to get home. Being sick on the road is the worst.

Biker Quote for Today

Any idiot can ride a motorcycle but it takes a special kind of idiot to ride 1,000 miles in one day.

On the second day of this RMMRC California trip we were in no rush leaving Fruita. We were only going to Loa, Utah, which if you go straight there would be only 197 miles and less than three hours. But it would also be almost all interstate.

That’s not something anyone’s interested in so we decided to get off I-70 at the Cisco exit in Utah and take Utah 128 south to where it goes into a canyon carrying the Colorado River down to Moab. This is a really nice ride and while I had been through that canyon many times, some of the guys had never done it. Plus, it only adds about 60 more miles to the day’s ride but you get off the interstate.

Gene had been talking about what good roads Utah has so he was a bit defensive when the first stretch of road off the highway was quite a bit less than smooth. Soon, though, we intersected the portion of the road coming from the next exit to the west and we turned south and then it was all nice, smooth asphalt. And it was quickly getting pretty darn beautiful.

We reached the canyon and went down into it and now the scenery notched up a big step. We’re in red rock country Utah. Utah, in my opinion, is one of the most beautiful states in this country.

At one point we’re coming down this road with high cliffs above us on both sides and there, dead ahead, was a snow-capped mountain rising right out of the center of the canyon. It was agreed we had to stop for pictures.

This was a nice thing about this trip. Five of the six of us were connected with our Cardo communicators so we could actually have these conversations. The last time I’d been on a long trip with this group there were only a few connected and nobody was stopping for what would have been great photos or simply to take a break. This is much more my style of riding.

There was talk of lunch in Moab but I cautioned about going very far into that overgrown mass of congestion so we decided to just take the right turn when we came out of the canyon (US 191) and immediately head north again to the interstate. Lunch in Green River.

After lunch we got back on I-70 just a short distance to where we headed south toward Hanksville (Utah 24). We were headed to Loa and Loa is on US 24 but between Hanksville and Loa is one big section of terrific scenery: Capitol Reef National Park. We had covered quite a few miles at this point and probably everyone wanted to take a break but finding a good spot was tricky. We pulled off at one place but I objected that shade would be preferable. It was a hot day. Yeah, but is there some place with shade or are we just going to keep riding? We went on and in about two miles came to a really nice shaded spot. Much better!

We got on into Loa and though this is a very small town in the middle of just about nowhere, the Snuggle Inn proved to be an amazingly nice place. Talking later to some friends who have been there they said yeah, this place is renowned for being the best motel you’d never expect to find.

So we got settled in and later walked up the street to the only cafe for dinner. It was the only cafe for breakfast, too, so we agreed on KSU here at 9:30 the next morning. And then to top off the day, walking back we encountered this wonderful, big golden retriever who was thrilled to see his best buddies and who we were equally pleased to say hello to. Who’s a good dog?

Biker Quote for Today

And so it goes on those days when the demons begin to creep in. I pull the bike out of the garage and strap on my helmet. Slip on some gloves, adjust the goggles and start up the engine. I feel the roar of the beast beneath, rumbling and ready to carry me away to god-knows-where.

By the time we were taking off on this RMMRC California trip our numbers had risen to six, though two were only along for the first few days. Bruce would be with us just until St. George, Utah, while Paul was coming as far as Las Vegas, where he has family. The rest included me, Dave, Alan, and Gene.

I got to the meeting spot early so that Alan and I could pair up my new Cardo communicator with the group but despite everything we tried we could not get it done. For this day at least I would just not be connected.

Kickstands up (KSU) was set for 10 a.m. but come that hour we were lacking one person: Paul. At 10 after Alan gave him a call and he said he was at Hampden and University, on his way. That’s 20 minutes away. Not appreciated. He did get there and we did get off but not together. Paul got himself separated and we went off figuring we’d see him later. There’s more to this story and I’ll fill in the details later.

From the Phillips 66 in Morrison we generally go into town but then take the right fork that runs up Hog Back Road past Red Rocks and pick up I-70 at the top of the hill. We did that with no sight of Paul so by the time we got to Idaho Springs Alan decided to pull off and give him another call. We pulled into a parking lot, with me pulling in behind Alan.

Alan got Paul on the phone and he was in Evergreen. OK. We’ll just meet you in Eagle for lunch. Talking with the others via the Cardos, Alan was apparently unaware I was behind him and as I frantically tried to roll out of his way he backed into me. My bike went down, but no damage done. Alan helped me up and we were rolling again.

This first day had always been the one most likely to be a problem, what with changeable weather in later April. We got lucky and had a good day and while it was darn cold going up through the tunnel and then over Vail Pass, the roads were clear and dry. I was just glad to have all my electrics on.

At Eagle we went to this restaurant that, while easily visible, can be hard to find just how to get to it. We had all been there before but Paul had not so of course it was 10 minutes after we saw him before he came walking in. At least we got reconnected.

Then, leaving, we went across the street to get gas. Dave filled his tank and then rolled his bike forward so Gene could use the pump. And Dave’s bike went crashing to the ground. Seems he had unknowingly knocked his kickstand out of position rolling the bike forward so when he let go there was nothing to stop it. Again, no damage and there were people there to help him get it back up. As I said, things were not exactly going smoothly.

The rest of the ride was smooth, though. Leaving Eagle we were into summer and layers were coming off. And it continued to be a beautiful day. We were headed for Fruita and getting there was uneventful. Great. What time should we meet for dinner and where should we eat?

Oh, and after dinner we again tried to get me paired up with the other Cardos and this time it worked. Now I would be connected for tomorrow’s ride.

Biker Quote for Today

Motorcycle rides, ice cream, and beach sunsets . . . it must be summer.

Maybe you noticed I did something on Thursday I haven’t done in many, many years. I missed posting. I was traveling on this RMMRC trip I’ve been talking about but that’s no excuse.

I’ve posted every Monday and Thursday for almost two decades now and while early on I was very irregular, that has not been true for a very long time. Usually when I’m going to be traveling I’ll write a bunch of posts before I go and schedule them to publish. This time around I just didn’t get it done. So I figured I would post from the road for a change.

When I’ve done that before I’ve taken a laptop along but our laptop has gotten quite old and balky. I tried cleaning it up but still couldn’t get enough performance out of it so I figured I’d have to use my tablet. I also took my Sony camera because while pictures from my phone are good, I still get the best shots with the camera. Then to access the images I remove the memory card and plug it into a USB adapter and plug that into the computer. Bring all that stuff along.

Wednesday night in the motel I pulled it all out, ready to go. Removed the memory card, plugged it in the adapter, and . . . the tablet does not have a USB port. Dang.

OK, Bruce had posted a couple shots to the RMMRC Meet-Up site and I figured he wouldn’t mind if I borrowed one of those. And I knew you could load an app on your phone to post to your WordPress blog so I downloaded the app. Launched the app and said go open this site and got a message. It said that because this blog is not hosted on WordPress.com you cannot use this app to post to it. Double dang.

Fine. I turned back to the tablet and launched my browser, then navigated to the blog. Because I’ve never done this with the tablet before it did not have the login and password memorized, but I have an encrypted password app on my phone. Open that app.

I was amazed. Somehow my blog user ID and password never got entered into the password app. Strike three, I am out. No Thursday post this week.

Obviously I’m in now but I won’t get ahead of the story. On Thursday the tale of this ride begins.

Biker Quote for Today

On a motorcycle, you’re immersed in life and everything is louder, brighter, quicker, and ridiculously dangerous. — Jon Robertson

So I got that new front tire put on the V-Strom. And while I was at it I had them go ahead and do an oil change. Now I’m ready for a 3,200-mile trip.

This was Fay Myers where I took it. I got there early on Friday and was able to go straight to the desk and get the whole thing arranged. The guy I dealt with was great and the whole thing took about an hour and a half.

As a plus, when I got the invoice and paid, I saw that they had basically done an overall check of the bike, which is a good thing to do before a trip. I know they do these things because if they find anything else they thing needs doing they want to bring this to your attention so you can presumably pay them to handle it.

So:
Inspect steering and suspension–check
Check battery and charging system voltage–check
Check operation of lights/switches/meters–check
Inspect/adjust control and cables–check
Inspect/top off cooling system–check
Inspect brake pads–check
Inspect brake fluid level/condition–check
Inspect/top off final drive oil–check
Inspect chain–check
Set tire pressure–check

Hey guys, thanks. I think I’m good to go here.

The funny thing was that then the next day I went for this ride with the RMMRC and mentioned to Bob that I had had the work done, and at Fay Myers. He asked me, “Do you trust them?” That took me by surprise, and as I told him, I had never heard anything to suggest that I shouldn’t. He didn’t elaborate but I thought that was odd. So yeah, I do trust them. Why shouldn’t I? Odd.

Now I need to start pulling things together and making a number of pre-trip decisions. And as departure day draws nearly the forecast keeps looking better and better. April can be tricky but it looks like we’re in luck. Oh boy.

Biker Quote for Today

How many motorcycles do you need? N-1, where N equals the number needed for divorce.

Man, you think it’s going to be so simple and then it’s not.

I concluded I ought to get a new front tire put on my V-Strom before I leave on this California trip in a couple weeks, so I checked around.

Performance Cycle sells tires but they only mount them if you bring the wheel in off the bike. Of course I could get a tire there and take it to One Down Four Up to be mounted but that would require an appointment. I checked with Fay Myers and they sell tires and their website said you could come in and mounting would be first come, first served. So I decided I would do that on Tuesday.

Just to be sure I called on Tuesday morning. Following the phone tree I headed to service and . . . got disconnected. I called back, same phone tree, and . . . disconnected. Dang.

So I called again and this time I asked for parts. I got to parts and inquired about a tire, which they had, and the guy told me the price. Quite a bit higher than I expected but oh well. Then he took my name and number and said he would have service call me.

They called soon after and it turns out the website is technically correct but a bit incomplete. On Tuesday, Wednesday, or Thursday you need an appointment to have a tire mounted and you have to leave the bike there. No mount while you wait option. You can come in on Friday or Saturday and it’s first come first served, mount while you wait. OK, I’ll probably see you on Friday morning early.

Probably. If it’s going to be other than I expected let’s see if there is a better way, particularly since the price is unexpectedly high.

I called Performance to see what tires they had at what prices. I figured then to call One Down Four Up and see about getting the bike in to have the work done while I wait.

I called Performance, the phone rang and was picked up with a quick “Please hold.” I then sat there for 10 minutes or so listening to the list of things Performance offers and the assurance that “A fellow rider will be with you shortly.” Now and then that would be interrupted by ringing, which would only be replaced with the spiel again. I hung up.

I considered calling One Down Four Up and asking when they could get me in but I hesitated to make an appointment until I was sure I would want to get the tire from Performance. So I called Performance again.

This time I got right through. And despite what their promotional spiel says, the prices they were asking for all but one of the tires we discussed were higher than what Fay Myers had quoted me. The one cheaper one was a Shinko, which I have run before. Because this is an 80-20 street/offroad tire and I pretty much just ride on the street this tire has not worn well for me.

Bottom line, I decided I’ll just run over to Fay Myers Friday morning. I’ll need to adjust my schedule to make it work but oh well. Sure would have been nice if I could have done this Tuesday morning.

Biker Quote for Today

My motorcycle takes me places my car never will.