......of the two-wheeled variety. Yes, actual motorcycle content.
Last Sunday, Polar Bear stopped by our house promptly at 7:30 am while the valley was slumbering under a blanket of thick fog. It was a balmy 44˚F (6.66˚C), but it wasn't raining. We were off to Browns Camp Off Highway Vehicle Area. For a trail map click ---> LINK.
We, and by we I mean Troubadour and Polar Bear, loaded up the bikes onto the trailer and we were on the road by 8 am.
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| (Corvallis to Brown's Camp, 117 miles or 188 km) |
Two hours later we arrived at Browns Camp to clear skies and a drop in temperature to 38˚F (3.33˚C). The gate to the main staging area was closed so people were parking where they could. As Polar Bear was backing into a spot he started laughing almost maniacally. Apparently he caught sight of my TW in his side view mirror.
Did I mention the roads were muddy once we left the highway?
This is my bike before I'd even had a chance to sling a leg over, just as it was when it rolled off the trailer.
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| (One muddy Yamaha) |
As we all put our gear on and checked the trail maps we decided it would be best to stay on some gravel roads and a power line road for a while since I hadn't been on the TW since we were at Huckleberry Flats last year. This was also my first ride with the new Fox mx boots. Luckily Troubadour had adjusted the shifter so I could get my toe under it.
We tootled around on gravel roads, up this way and down that way. Over a little loose gravel, packed mud, and rock strewn roads. I was having fun, but was quite nervous on the steeper downhill rocky areas. On the way up I could just roll on the throttle and the TW would climb up like a goat scenting blackberry bushes at the top. But what goes up must come back down.
After about 2 hours we headed back towards the truck to take a break for lunch. Polar Bear took off on one of the trails to give his Fantic trials bike a little work out. We managed to beat him back to the truck and trailer by 10-15 minutes. Note to self - don't get separated from the guy with the keys to the rig.
It was 1 pm and there was still a chill in the air. There was never a time when we couldn't see our breath. How does one dress for riding in those temps? Well for someone who doesn't like to layer clothes I had a surprising amount of layers on. For the bottom: 32˚Heat long underwear, yoga pants, knee high motocross socks, knee pads, mx pants, and mx boots. For the top: 32˚Heat long sleeved thermal shirt, short sleeved active shirt, heavy cotton sweat shirt, RXR inflated chest/back protector, elbow pads, and my mx jersey. I also had a buff around the neck and my winter riding gloves. Luckily Troubadour has installed heated grips on the TW, but I only used them for the first 20 minutes or so. I can't say I was ever cold until we stopped for lunch.
I felt bad that the guys hadn't really been out on any trails yet, but figured with all the mud they might be a little above my skill level. I volunteered to stay back at the trailer and drink hot tea while the guys headed out to play. Polar Bear's Fantic was giving him some electrical issued so he took off on the TW to really give it a work out.
About an hour later they returned with big smiles on their faces. It was after 3 pm and time to think of loading the trailer once again. I was stuffing gear into the gear bag in the truck when I looked out and saw Polar Bear contemplating how he wanted to load the bikes for the drive home. I couldn't resist one last picture. (Since I didn't have a pocket to take it with me on the actual ride)
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| (A contemplating Polar Bear - that is his Fantic hiding behind the tree) |
We arrived home at 6:30 pm. Knackered but spirits were high.
I haven't had a chance to take the bikes out into the sunshine this last week for pictures. Damn job gets in the way. But, I did manage a few pictures in the garage this morning just to show how the bikes looked after riding in the mud.
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| (Right side of the TW200) |
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| (Left side of the TW200 - got muddy on the way down the mountain too) |
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| (Troubadour's XT250) |
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| (Not as muddy since it was on the passenger side of the trailer) |
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| (Finally got my new boots dirty - looks like I needed to hit more puddles though) |
It has taken me a week to finally write-up this post. Work has been super busy and the last thing I've wanted to do in the evening was stare at another computer.
Troubadour is teaching his first Team Oregon class of the year this weekend so I have a bit of time on my hands. He had a dry day yesterday, but of course it is raining today.
But then.... it is Oregon.
And before I forget, thank you for driving Andy!!
- Au Revoir
" There is an eagle in me that wants to soar, and there is a hippopotamus in me that wants to wallow in the mud." - Carl Sandburg
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It sounds like a great outing. How do you like the TW200?
ReplyDeleteSo far so good. It is comfy and my hands don't go numb like they do on the Gladius.
DeleteThis will sound really weird, but I love how the color of mud often changes region to region and all the reasons why...
ReplyDeleteThis looks like a fun time. Even without snow, I can understand why you dressed as you did.
I agree Martha. Some muds can be so red and others so dark brown.
DeleteWe did have fun. I am glad there wasn't any snow, although that wouldn't have stopped the guys.
Great colour scheme. The mud makes it so much more real ;-)
ReplyDeleteOh, I'd love to have a TW to play in the dirt...
Some on over Sonja, we'll take you out to play.
DeleteBTW, I was going to accuse you of link bait but thought better of it....
ReplyDeleteWhen I decided on the title I was thinking of David (Scoot Commute) and his post several months ago when we were leading on the spammers with our comments. This is kind of a test to see if spam comments increase due to post title.
DeleteMud looks good on those motorcycles! Can't you just leave them out in the seemingly frequent rains to let Mother Nature wash them down? :)
ReplyDeleteAs to: 44˚F (6.66˚C), RichardM must have thought you were in the midst of a "heat wave".
Yes, they finally got muddy. I thought about dragging them out in the rain yesterday morning, but that would have just muddied the driveway.
DeleteI think Richard would have felt it was a heat wave down at the 38˚ level as well.
All that mud just shows how much fun you had. I haven't done much dirt/mud riding but the more I see the more I want to.
ReplyDeleteWelcome back to blogging Thomas.
DeleteThat's how dirt riding gets you. It lures you in like a sirens song.
Bare roads, gravel not covered by a foot of snow - sounds like fun to me.
ReplyDeleteYeah, by no means can we even start to complain about the winter we've had. Compared to last winter when we had 16 inches in December and 9 inches this time of year. This year not even a flake or two. At least we don't have to shovel the rain.
DeleteNice pics as usual. the tw is such a fun little bike. Makes me want to ride my WR250R more reading this...
ReplyDeleteThanks Chris. You would have had fun up there on the WR.
DeleteOne small picture of the Fantic hiding behind a tree. There is a story there...
ReplyDeleteIt is camera shy, like its owner.
DeleteActually it didn't have a kickstand and that was the easiest place to put it as our bikes were already parked in front when he stopped before lunch.
Mud, that's not mud! I remember this time...
ReplyDeleteSeriously cool that you were able to get out and get the bikes dirty. I reckon you should have kept quiet about how the mud was flicked up while the bikes were on the trailer - you would have impressed us even more.
Next time lets see you covered head to foot eh? ;)
You mean we finally got out and got the bikes dirty. I could have kept quiet and took the credit for the mud, but I couldn't not the way Andy laughed when he saw it. That was just too funny. Good thing I didn't care about getting muddy.
DeleteNext time I'll hit more puddles and see how far I can splash it.
What a fantastic way to spend the day! It sounds like you were able to stay relatively comfortable while riding. I'm assuming slower speeds than on the road would help with that. I too hate bundling up in multiple layers. Feel like that kid in the Christmas Story. Fortunately the layers and gear don't feel so bulky once the riding begins. So nice that you all got out for a ride, and found some clear skies too!
ReplyDeleteWe did have fun, but boy were we tired that night. Must have been the fresh air.
DeleteWhile the guys were out on the bikes I had to take off some of the layers, my jersey was choking me with too much underneath. It was a little cooler but more comfy.
We lucked out with the clear skies.
Wow look how thick that mud is caked onto your bike. You'll need a month of sundays to wash that off.
ReplyDeleteLooks like you guys had a whole bunch of fun though. Bet you couldn't wipe the smiles off of your faces.
It is caked on pretty good. It'l get washed at some point. With the way it is raining now I should take Dom's advice and push it outside, but again, that would just muddy the driveway.
DeleteWe did have fun and smiles were in abundance.
Nobody said that it had to be your driveway ;-)
Deleteoooh cue maniacal laugh
DeleteSuch fun, slopping about in the muck!
ReplyDeleteSlopping is a good word for it. Although I am sure it will be muddier this weekend. We have inches starting to roll in. Big tropical storms heading our way.
DeleteLooks like so much fun...but I think I'll just sit and watch. Love your little mudbug TW!
ReplyDeleteMudbug. You may have just coined a nickname for the bike. I'd never bothered to think of one.
DeleteHow many other activities would be enjoyable when it's cold wet and muddy? The coldest day I ever experienced on the bike in 4ºC and I couldn't have done it without the grip heaters - do you have any kind of heating?
ReplyDeleteWhile other activities might be enjoyable in the cold they probably aren't as much fun. I have poor circulation so I have heated grips on both my bikes. I only needed them for about 20-30 minutes on this day though.
DeleteColdest temps I've ridden in was below freezing on a polar bear ride. Only for about 5 miles to the coffee shop, it was not fun, but I also had a heated jacket liner on. Those are sure nice for cool days.
I think I need a dirt bike, I love playing in the dirt and particularly love puddles! I was out on the bike on the weekend and like you I had a pretty good amount of layers and at times still felt a little cold. I so know how you feel! Your bike looks good dirty :) it means you had fun!
ReplyDeleteYou would have so much fun if you had one Dar. Not that you don't already have oodles of fun, but it is nice to go off in the woods with little to no traffic.
Delete