A BIT OF KIT
After the scorcher of a ride a few weeks ago I gladly jumped at the chance to go to Premier Motogear in Albany on August 2nd for their 15% off Rev'it gear sale. I was a little disappointed that they didn't have any hi-vis ladies gear but they did have a mesh jacket that decided to come home with me.
I purchased the Rev'it Ladies Levante Jacket in grey.
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| (Stock photo from Motorcycle Superstore) |
It fits like my Siren jacket so it is comfortable and the sleeves are long enough. I like the fact it has mesh panels, but the outer edges that might see wear in a crash are full textile. I've used it twice now, once riding to coffee and once riding to work. It was in the 90's riding home from work and it felt fine with the liner out. I noticed one upgrade that they've done from my Siren and that is to attach the liner snaps to the liner and the loops to the interior of the jacket so that when you take the liner out you don't have snaps adding bulk at the cuffs. A very nice change.
The next day we attended the vendor expo at Cycle Country in Salem. I happened to have a gift card given to me by some good friends a while ago and was hoping to find a tinted visor for my Shoei Qwest helmet. Success. I found a dark smoke face shield. They gave me 10% off so the gift card took care of it. And because I made a purchase I got to spin the prize wheel and managed to win Troubadour a Honda t-shirt too.
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| (Photo from Shoei Helmet.com) |
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CHASING WATERFALLS
Last weekend we decided to do some hiking. Friday afternoon we drove east to Silver Falls State Park and hiked a two-mile loop around 3 of the 10 waterfalls. The hiking trails went behind two of the falls. Here are some of the highlights.
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| (Walkway behind the falls) |
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| (No, he didn't fall in or get his shoes wet) |
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| (Photo by Troubadour) |
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| (Photo by Troubadour) |
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| (Stairs we came down - there were a lot of them) |
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| (Photo by Troubadour) |
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| (Photo by Troubadour) |
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| (All the stairs we came down - look Bobskoot there are people in the picture) |
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| (We took the path on the right leading back up, and up, and up) |
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| (Kitchen built by the CCC - Civilian Conservation Corps - in the 1930's) (The CCC built most of the trails and all of the rock walls and stairs for the trails) |
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| (Log Lodge also built by the CCC in the 1930's - now a nature store) |
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| (Heading back to the parking lot) |
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| (A lookout - south of the park. Fields of baby Christmas trees. A lot of smoke in the air) |
Sunday afternoon - McDowell Creek Falls: We didn't take as many pictures since I'd been here hiking with SpartanBabe a few months ago. This was Troubadour's first visit though. There wasn't nearly as much water coming over the falls this time. All photos by Troubadour.
For comparison here is a photo of Royal Terrace Falls when Meg and I hiked. This is the same waterfall as the second to last photo above.
It was a fairly lazy weekend unless you count the hiking, but it was relaxing nonetheless.
- Au Revoir
" Climb mountains and get their good tidings. Nature's peace will flow into you as sunshine flows into trees. The winds will blow their own freshness into you, and the storms their energy, while cares will drop off like autumn leaves." - John Muir
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Cool! Great photos, I'm kind of jealous of your hike!
ReplyDeleteMesh jackets RULE. I've got a Joe Rocket Phoenix and I love it all to pieces. It was an absolute requirement in the desert, and I still enjoy it here in the much cooler climes of the Middle Coast.
Hmm, actually, it's going to start cooling off soon here. I might have to look into get a non-mesh jacket...
Thanks Lucky.
DeleteI had a full on Scorpion mesh jacket I used to wear but it is too large and I have to cinch everything up so much it just wasn't comfortable anymore. I have so much used gear to find a new home for - sigh.
Yeah - you may want to start looking for that winter textile jacket and add heated grips to the bike if you don't already have them.
Spectacular photos...I've come to expect nothing less from your hikes and rides!! When I finally get out there to run a race or two, I will ask for your guidance for things to do, places to go.
ReplyDeleteThank you m'lady! We'll definitely have to get together when you come out here for your race.
DeleteI can at least point you in the general direction of some fun things, hopefully.
ok, now, THOSE parks are just to die for gorgeous, trobairitz! wow great pics! sooooo pretty, and sooooo green! those stairs, those would probably kick my butt, but, i'd have to wander all over and take a picnic... lovely place!
ReplyDeleteits always fun to find sales on new gear. great jacket, looks like a nice fit.
Yeah, the stairs going down weren't too bad on Friday, but they did give you a little jello-legs by the time we got to the bottom. Now the stairs on Sunday we went up. A rapid succession of about 130 and not all the same height. We huffed and puffed and made it to the top.
DeleteSo far I am enjoying the jacket.
Echoing the other comments, beautiful photos of the area. The amount of green is amazing, especially since I'm starting to spot little, early blotches of no-longer-green color on some of the shrubs and trees around here.
ReplyDeleteRode to work! Did you take the XT?
Yes I rode to work - shocker I know. I took the Gladius as the XT was buried in the garage at the time. Trapped against a wall and behind the Tiger.
DeleteThings aren't too green on the valley floor unless in someone's yard or along the river. Lawns and fields are pretty brown and dormant with no rain.
Luckily up in the foothills and by the waterfalls it is still lush.
Is that one of the areas where they take the trees out by helicopter?
ReplyDeleteLovely photos. I saw more waterfalls all over OR than any place I have ever been. Just magical. I do miss OR. Someday I may come back for a visit.
Good that you got the visor. I have not found mine yet. It's a light smoke anyway...
I know they take the trees out by helicopter just south of us on some of the big farms, but I am not sure if they do the same on these farms to the north-east. There are so many Christmas Tree farms in our area it is amazing sometimes. We even saw a sign that one farmer was looking for land to lease to plant more.
DeleteYou must come back for a visit, if nothing else it might make you miss Wisconsin.
I went with the dark smoke visor because my eyes are so light sensitive. I figured you either hadn't found yours or decided to keep it.
Awesome post...love that Oregon scenery! I hope you get a lot more rides so you can enjoy the benefits of the new jacket. It looks very cool in the stock photo.
ReplyDeleteColleen
Colleen!! Thanks for commenting. Glad you are enjoying some little bits of scenery. I don't think your ride took you through that area.
DeleteHoping to see you again next month on your way through!! You need to start a blog so you can document that great adventure and we can all live vicariously through you.
Riding gear becomes a quest for we riders doesn't it as it becomes better and better.
ReplyDeleteEnjoyed seeing all the photo's and the ones from inside the falls looking out are spectacular. Would it not be grand to stay in one of the CCC cabins for a summer with all that area for exploring.
Gear sure has changed over the years. These days my textile gear is much better than my jeans and jean jacket I used to wear. Now I look back and shudder.
DeleteAcross the highway from the parking lot is the State Park Campground. They have tent and RV spots but also 10 cabins and they are only $39/night. So tempting if they aren't reserved years in advance. There were also bike paths that would be fun too.
What a beautiful spot to hike ... enjoy the mesh jacket.
ReplyDeleteThank you.
DeleteOutstanding pics - I can smell the bush and feel the cool of the shade.
ReplyDeleteNice jacket - you reminded me that I have something to write-up...
Andrew - you don't know how hard it is to get used to Kiwis and Aussies calling the woods 'bush' since the word 'bush' is also American slang for a female body part. Cough cough, wink wink.
DeleteAt any rate it makes me chuckle. Thank you.
Not unaware of that usage for 'bush' ;)
DeleteRest assured I was typing with clean and pure thoughts on my mind...
I must have mentioned before: I just love waterfalls. What a beautiful trek. My favourite is the walkway behind the falls. I hope to explore some of the falls here in the area as well but we have very low water levels now so they will be far from spectacular. One day, we are going to visit Oregon again. We have six weeks of vacation from next year on, and we better make good use of it ;-)
ReplyDeleteYou would love walking out there Sonja. We didn't have enough time to do the Trail of 10 Waterfalls. It is 8.9 miles long and they say it takes at least 5 hours. We got a late start since I worked Friday morning then Brad did an oil change on the car.
Delete6-weeks vacation a year? I forgot about those awesome benefits those in Europe get. Nice!!
Nice jacket Brandy. I love your photos again. Those waterfall rainforest type photos are quite spectacular. Oh and tell brad to smile by the way, he's holding a sexy girl in one arm and with beautiful scenery around, whats not to smile at?
ReplyDeleteThanks Steve - you flatter me so. And for the record - that is his happy face :-)
DeleteWe are lucky to have the rainforests in Oregon. Such a combination of pacific coast, rainforest, and high desert is an odd combination, but it does give one choice in where they want to go.
Love this post! So beautiful, it does look like you guys have had a dry summer buy still the greenery abounds. You've just reminded me that there's places I need to explore round here.
ReplyDeleteThe jacket and visor look great, I really do need to look into a new mesh jacket, mine was uncomfortably tight last time I put it on and it's been a lazy winter, I don't think I'd get it on now. But I need pants first as my kevlars don't do up anymore :(
I love my tinted visor and wouldn't be without it. How hard is the visor to change on that helmet?
Thanks Brenda. It has certainly been dry especially for the west coast. Unfortunately a lot of Oregon is on fire right now. Going to be a bad fire season into October they say.
DeleteThe visor was really easy to change on the helmet. I did it first try with no issues - mind you I read the instructions which came with pictures. The instructions were on the tinted visor package. It was way easier to change than the one on my Scorpion. Long fingernails made it hard to change that the Scorpion. Super easy to change the Shoei though.
Oh and my favourite pic is the one of you behind the waterfall
ReplyDeleteThank you again. :-)
DeleteFantastic photos! Thanks.
ReplyDeleteAnd thank you for stopping by!!
DeleteAwesome pictures! Nice looking jacket, mesh makes a world of difference in hot weather. What a lovely place to hike.
ReplyDeleteThanks dar. I wore the jacket on Saturday. Loved it. Had the liner in going to coffee then took it out for a ride to Albany at noon and on the way home at 5:30. It was perfect.
DeleteThos sorts of place are why I take road trips. lovely country.
ReplyDeleteWe do have a lot of pretty areas in this country.
DeleteOther countries do too, but ours is closer to explore - for us anyway.
Oh, B, those pictures are GORGEOUS! Thanks for sharing. Looks like an amazing place to visit.
ReplyDeleteThank you.
DeleteOne time when you are out this way we'll take you hiking. We took over 200 photos so it was hard to pick just a few to share.
I've been looking at that same jacket with interest so it was nice to read a bit of a review commentary on it.
ReplyDeleteAnd what a wonderful park to visit, I'll have to add it to our next trip down that way!
Hey, thanks for stopping by. Love your blog - so many good roads in your neck of the woods.
DeleteThe jacket has been great so far. No complaints yet anyway. I love the collar on the Rev'it as I find most of them too tight and the adjustable snap on the Rev'it is perfect for me.
Next time you are headed down the coast let me know and I'll tell you some of the roads in Oregon a little off the beaten path that are two-wheel favorites. And people are always welcome to stop in for coffee.
That jacket is really a nice looking one, color and all. SUPER SUPER SUPER SUPER BEAUTIFUL place to hike and be! I haven't been to the forest in quite awhile and your pics have boosted me to plan a trip! Just beautiful indeed!
ReplyDeleteThank you. I am really enjoying the jacket and it is nice to have something other than black. I wished they'd have hi-vis in stock for women but no such luck.
DeleteWe love our Oregon forests. It is hard to imagine calling somewhere else home after living here for the last 12.5 years.
Oh my, what a great read and pictures that give the feel of being right there.. I'd love copies of pictures 13 and 22 counting from the bottom of post upwards. Fantastic those would be in a frame.
ReplyDeleteThank you Wooley. I can definitely email you copies of those pictures. Email me at:
ReplyDeletetrobairitztablet at gmail dot com and I'll email them back to you. They aren't high res or anything but you are welcome to copies. Feel free to drag and drop them off the blog if you are able to too.