Archive for the ‘motorcycle touring’ Category

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Off The Prairie, Into The Trees

Friday, July 13th, 2012
At a park on the Minnesota side of a river that divides that state from Wisconsin.

At a park on the Minnesota side of a river that divides that state from Wisconsin.

Three days of riding across the prairie and I reached Minneapolis. Picked Judy up at the airport and the next day we headed into Wisconsin. Suddenly it was no longer flat, and we were totally struck by the beauty of the landscape. Judy has never been to Wisconsin before and though I lived there for several years, it has been so long I had forgotten.

After a night in Gordon, NE, with some Motorcycle Travel Network people, I had stayed with a high school friend in Sioux Falls, SD. Then I rode on to the Minneapolis area and Judy and I stayed with another Motorcycle Travel Network person. Then it was on into Wisconsin where we are staying a couple days with friends from college. Tomorrow it is on to Michigan’s Upper Peninsula, where we have a B&B set up.

The roads here are good, well paved, and on a grid, so if you don’t want to stay on a busy highway you just take any turnoff and get on the lesser roads. The amazing thing was how many bicyclists we encountered on some of these lesser roads. Is Wisconsin really a bicyclist’s paradise?

The weather has been hot but dry, though we really notice the humidity. As long as we keep moving the breeze through our mesh jackets keeps us comfortable, but stop for a few minutes or slog through city traffic and it gets hot very quickly. I’ve hardly seen anyone else in jackets–it’s all T-shirts.

Our UCLEAR communicators are working wonderfully. Being able to talk is terrific, and when it comes to following directions, having a navigator who can say “Turn right here” is very helpful. I’ve even found that the communicators work fine if I’m wearing ear plugs so that’s even better.

This is all new ground for us. We’ve never been up here before so it’s adventure time. We like that.

Recent from National Motorcycle Examiner
Boredom totally lacking in ride across the prairie

Biker Quote for Today

“I rode a lot of dirt bikes when I was younger, so I trust the chain and sprockets more than that newfangled voodoo shaft stuff!” –DolphinJohn

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Finding Curvey Roads In Nebraska

Monday, July 9th, 2012
Nebraska Route 250

A pretty stretch of NE 250, though not the curviest of that road.

The most direct route looked pretty darn straight. But off to the east a bit was a squiggly line on the map that had some promise. A no-brainer. I took Nebraska 250 from a bit east of Alliance to U.S. 20 at Rushville. And I was rewarded. Who knew there were roads this squiggly in Nebraska?

So yes, I’m off on my 16-day, 3,000 mile trip out to Michigan and Ohio. The sky was looking threatening when I left home this morning but I figured I’d go cruise over to get gas before I really got going and see, in the process, what the rain would do. Well, I got about four blocks and it started pouring. I pulled into the shelter of an office building and put on my rain suit pants and jacket but didn’t figure I needed anything more. It wasn’t raining that hard.

Except that while I was putting those on it started raining harder. Within a minute my gloves were drenched beyond the point of doing anything about it. And after a few minutes I noticed something flapping and found that I had somehow forgotten to zip up my rain jacket, so my riding jacket was also soaked in the front. By this point I’m about 2 miles from home.

So I pulled into the shelter of the gas station and got organized and totally geared up. Of course, by the time I had done so–this being Colorado–the rain had mostly stopped. So I rode on and headed out by DIA, up Tower Road to Barr Lake and hit I-76 at Brighton. There I stopped and removed most of the rain gear because while the sky to the west looked like a boxer’s face after a title bout, to the east there was sunshine and puffy clouds.

As I rode everything dried out until things might never have been wet. The day remained cloudy and cool, which is to say comfortable, and I slabbed it to Sterling. At Sterling I went north to Sidney, NE, and on up to Alliance. Taking the main road north from Alliance would have taken me by Carhenge but that squiggly line on the map looked pretty good. What the heck, I’ve been to Carhenge several times before. Let’s try something new.

And I got to Rushville, turned east on U.S. 20, and was soon at Gordon, my stop-off place for the night. Staying here with a Motorcycle Travel Network couple. Yahoo! Road trip. I’m gone.

Recent from National Motorcycle Examiner
Vintage Motorcycle Days draws riders to Ohio

Biker Quote for Today

Total rookie who decided the best way to learn was to buy a bike in Ecuador and take her for a spin through South America.

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Prepping For My Longest Trip Ever

Thursday, July 5th, 2012
The map of my upcoming trip

The yellow lines show the general route and the green dots show my stops.

I’m going to be leaving Monday on what will be the longest motorcycle trip I’ve ever taken. Should be interesting.

It started off when I decided I wanted to go to Vintage Motorcycle Days (VMD), an event the American Motorcyclist Association puts on each year outside of Lexington, OH.

When my brother in Ohio got wind of that he decided he wanted to tie my trip in to his latest business venture. He and a friend have started a winery and tasting room/cafe up in Northport, MI, and it has a biker theme to it. It’s called Motovino Cellars and their wines have names such as Cruiser, an un-oaked chardonnay; Thumper, a dry riesling; F-Head, a red table wine; and others.

Come visit our winery and write about it and help get the word out, he said. So I added Michigan to my itinerary.

Then I looked at a map and found that Northport is way up in northern Michigan, so that got me to thinking. I have friends in northern Wisconsin who I haven’t seen in a long time. I might as well run my route up that way.

Then things really started happening. I ended up with this: First night out to Gordon, NE, where I’ll stay with the first of four Motorcycle Travel Network (MTN) families. From there to Sioux Falls, SD, to see a high school friend I haven’t seen in 40 years. On to Minneapolis to another MTN house, then to northern Wisconsin to see those friends.

From there it will be through the Upper Peninsula with a night in Wells, MI, and then on to Northport. From Northport to Cedar Springs, MI, and another MTN family. Then to my brother’s in Yellow Springs, OH, for one night and then three nights at VMD, the original purpose of the trip. Follow that with another night at my brother’s in Yellow Springs and then on to Peoria, IL, to see a good friend–the best man at my wedding–who I haven’t seen since the wedding.

From there it’s on to Lawrence, KS, and the final MTN stop and the next day, the longest day of the trip, I’ll blast home. That’s 16 days and about 3,000 miles. Then, just for kicks, I’ll be home for one day and then off again for another week on the annual OFMC ride.

Oh man, I’m looking forward to this.

Recent from National Motorcycle Examiner
Pikes Peak hill climb reset for August 12

Biker Quote for Today

Adventure is what happens when you thought you were going to have a good time.

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The Journey Truly Is The Destination

Monday, May 21st, 2012

I knew I had missed my turn when I saw Shiprock up ahead on my right.

I’m home after six days on the road and while I enjoyed the Overland Expo, the object of this journey, it could not be more clear that my favorite parts were the two day ride down to Flagstaff and the two day return trip.

The best parts of those days were the mornings. Each day I woke with the sun, rolled out of my sleeping bag, packed and broke camp, and got on the bike. And there I was, riding through forest and mountains with the day just beginning, with colors so vibrant–it was heaven.

This morning I started the day in a campground about midway between Creede and South Fork. I don’t know the elevation of the campground but South Fork is about 8,100, so the campground was higher. It was cold! Plus, the campground was in a spot where the canyon walls keep the sun off it until probably 9 a.m. I put on my long johns, plugged in my electric vest and turned it on, and hoped my hands didn’t freeze.

But it was glorious! It was so beautiful and I was right there in it all. The morning after my first night camping was the same, though not so cold. I had ridden from Denver to just a little east of Mancos and stayed in a campground there. Next morning I headed out and could not get over how beautiful it was and how happy I was not to be waking up in the city and heading for an office somewhere.

At Mormon Lake, in Arizona, the Overland Expo was good, I sat in on a number of good sessions that gave me more confidence if I ever find myself needing to change a tire on my bike and other useful things like that. And waking up there was nice, too, surrounded as we were in trees and hills. But it wasn’t the same as the morning I left and was out riding through it all. The beautiful morning light. The cold, crisp air. The deer that stood in the road and looked at me as I approached, only to scamper away as the sound of a car coming the other direction persuaded them it was time to go. It all came back to one thought: This is why I ride a motorcycle.

Trite as the phrase has become, it just doesn’t get any better than this.

Recent from National Motorcycle Examiner
Anticipating adventure at the Overland Expo

Biker Quote for Today

I have no idea where we are, but at least it’s getting dark.

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Posted in Colorado motorcycle rides, motorcycle camping, motorcycle events, motorcycle touring | No Comments »

Ball O’ String Tours Offers Far-Flung Riding Options

Monday, May 7th, 2012

I meet a lot of people in this work, and among my favorites are Jungle and Willie Fuhrman, who operate Ball O’ String Custom Adventure Motorcycle Tours and Sports Car Tours from their home in Eagle. This is a shameless plug for them and their offerings. If you’re looking for some out-of-the-ordinary rides, check these out. And just so you’ll know, Willie and Jungle like to eat really good food, so there’s no stopping at McDonald’s on their tours, they go gourmet all the way.

Ball O' String Motorcycle Adventure Tours

Nice logo for Ball O' String, no?

North to Alaska — Willie and Jungle are leaving June 10 for Alaska and while there is no official tour planned, if you’d like to join them, they’d be glad to have you.

Colorado Rocky Mountains Tour — Eight nights luxury lodging with riding everywhere from Trail Ridge Road to Independence Pass, the Million Dollar Highway, Telluride, Crested Butte, Vail and more. This trip will be running July 7-15.

Vail Ride & Dine — Judy and I are going to join Jungle and Willie and others on this 3-night adventure, August 10-13. As always, luxury lodging and dining. You should join us.

Grand Tetons, Yellowstone, and Glacier Park Ride and Dine — Running from August 18 to September 1, you’ll visit the places mentioned as well as Flaming Gorge, Waterton Lakes Canadian National Park, and various other stops in Montana and Idaho.

Fall in Love with Italy — Willie and Jungle fell in love with Italy a long time ago, and so every chance they get they go back there, preferably leading a group of riders. No hard and fast dates yet but this tour will be in September.

Colorado and Utah National Parks Tour — Including eight nights of luxury lodging, you’ll visit Bryce Canyon, Zion, Grand Canyon, Monument Valley and other scenic spots in these two states. This trip will run October 6-14.

If one of those catches your fancy, check it out. And I guarantee you’ll enjoy the time you spend with Willie and Jungle, in addition to the riding.

Recent from National Motorcycle Examiner
Pennsylvania consider requiring rider training for young motorcyclists

Biker Quote for Today

You’re a biker wannabe if your saddle bags say “Gucci.”


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Colorado Tour Operator Has Low Cost Rides To Alaska

Thursday, April 26th, 2012

Canadian Rockies

You'll be cruising the Canadian Rockies if you take this tour from Seattle to Anchorage.


Dan Patino and I were hoping to ride a couple KLR 650s up to Alaska last summer but we couldn’t swing the financial end of it. This year Dan is definitely going and he’s hoping to find three other people who are interested in a (relatively) inexpensive adventure ride.

As the proprietor of Go 2 Motorcycle Tours, Dan has a need to move a few KLRs from Seattle to Anchorage. In exchange for you helping him get them there, he’ll set it all up and for your $1,300 you’ll get 10 days bike rental, a guide, and a support vehicle. What is not covered is gas, food, and lodging. Of course, it’s up to you to get to the starting point in Seattle, and also to get home then from Anchorage.

Let’s put this in perspective. I don’t know the details but this is all somehow in connection with a MotoQuest North to Alaska Tour that will be making the same ride at the same time. If you ride with MotoQuest your fees cover gas, food, and lodging, but the very cheapest option they offer is $3,400 if you ride your own bike and share a room. It’s $5,600 if you ride their bike and share a room.

That’s making Dan’s option sound pretty enticing, isn’t it?

Well, if you’re interested you have to decide quickly. The ride leaves Seattle on May 17 and arrives in Anchorage on May 26. You can get to Dan through his website or by email at go2mototours@yahoo.com.

Like the song says, “North! To Alaska! We’re going north, the rush is on.”

Recent from National Motorcycle Examiner
Setting the standard for electric motorcycle speed rating

Biker Quote for Today

Adventure begins when the pavement ends.


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Posted in Dual sport bikes, motorcycle touring | 1 Comment »

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