May Day Dual Sport Ride

Sunday's ride was all about making choices.  A funny topic for us since whenever Troubadour and PolarBear head out together it is almost guaranteed that either I, or SweetPea (PolarBear's wife) will tell them to "make good choices."

The day dawned bright and sunny with a forecast high of 83˚F (28.3˚C) A little warm for this time of year.

Choice #1: Do we ride bicycles?  Do we ride the big motorcycles?  Or do we ride the little dual sports?  With Oregon State University holding Mom's Weekend, and Eugene hosting their marathon and half marathon we thought it prudent to avoid metropolitan areas.

Decision made - A gravel road ride on the little dual sports it was.  Troubadour wanted to do some forestry road scouting for a future camping trip he is planning with some of the guys from work.

At around noon with Troubadour on his Yamaha XT250 and me on my Yamaha TW200 we set off for Bi-Mart looking for an area forestry map.  With no luck we had another choice to make.

Choice #2:  Do we ride the mile home and pick up the Oregon Gazetteer?  Or do we wing-it knowing Troubadour had his smart phone with him.  

Decision made - We decided to wing it.  How lost could we get?

(The bikes found some shade in the Bi-Mart parking lot)

We set off through some back roads and stopped briefly in Philomath so that Troubadour could top up his tank.

Choice #3: Should I top up the TW200 with only 14 miles on the odometer?

Decision made - Nope it should be good to go to at least 100 or so miles.

From there we meandered to Highway 34 and then made a quick turn onto Old Peak Road, which is mostly gravel.

(Old Peak Road - looking the way we came)

(The bikes on Old Peak Road)

(The wild irises were in full bloom)

(Helmet selfie)

(Getting ready to head back out - photo by Troubadour)

Unfortunately we were stopped by a logging truck in the middle of the road being loaded.  At some point we'd missed a gate that the driver had left open. Oops.  A quick turn around and back to Highway 34 we went.

On the way back to Highway 34 we stopped at the side of the road so that Troubadour could take a picture of a BMX track he could see through the trees.  I took the opportunity to snap a pic of him in my mirror.

(Troubadour in a TW mirror)

(BMX track - photo by Troubadour)

(Me attempting to get us both in the picture - Troubadour just over my shoulder on the left )

We rode a short distance north to Highway 20 and then turned west.  A few miles up the highway we turned left again on Woods Creek Road.  Now, Google maps will tell you that Old Peak Road connects to Woods Creek Road, but with timber property and a logging truck in the way we had to go around or risk a misdemeanor criminal trespass charge from the timber company.  And they do that a lot.

Up and around Woods Creek Road we went, flinging dust in our wake.  We stopped a few times to get our bearing, drink a little water, have a snack, and enjoy the views of the valleys below.

(Somewhere along Woods Creek Road)

(The view over the timber clear cut)

(Troubadour posing for the camera - caught him without his helmet on)

(Panoramic - photo by Troubadour)

Eventually we came to a crossroads......

(Crossroads somewhere off of Woods Creek Road)

(Which way do we go?)

This led us to.....

Choice #4:  Which way do we go?  Well, since we have no map we decided to check Troubadour's cell phone to see if we could get our bearings.  We pretty much knew the direction we were facing.  If we went north we'd have to cross highway 20 at some point and west we'd eventually get to the Burnt  Woods/Harlan road.  No cell service among the trees so we walked up the road to our right to a bit of a clearing.  

Look out for banded wooly bear caterpillars.

(A banded wooly bear caterpillar crossing the road)

Still no cell service once we walked out of the trees, but Troubadour had a compass on him and we confirmed which way was north.

Decision made - We decided to turn left/west. It was the general direction we thought we should be heading.  Time would tell.

(Bikes aimed down the road going west)

We tootled along for a few miles never seeing another vehicle.  We were enjoying the road and weren't too concerned about where we were.

We came upon another intersection indicating we'd found Shot Pouch Road.  Troubadour was happy.  It was the road he was looking for.  We turned left over a little bridge.  Wrong way - stopped by a gate.  We turned back around and headed the other way.

Pretty soon we saw a barn, then a house..... When you start seeing signs of life such as houses and horses, you know you aren't too far from civilization. Shot Pouch Road took us to the Burnt Woods/Harlan Road, which is paved.

(Shot Pouch Road behind the bikes)

(My 2009 TW200 chilling in the shade)

We turned right on the Harlan-Burnt Woods road knowing we'd soon be back to Highway 20 and the Burnt Woods store.  We stopped at the store for a quick break.  Purchased another bottle of water and used the facilities.  The temperature was into the 80's and we didn't realize how warm we'd be.  All the vents were open on my Rev'it jacket and I was thinking I should have worn my mesh.  I was happy that I chose to wear the dirt bike helmet and goggles. The ventilation was much appreciated.

Choice #5:  The TW200 has 50 miles on the odometer.  Burnt Woods store has fuel.  Do we top up my tank it?  It only has 50 miles on it.  

Decision made - There should be plenty of fuel left in the tank.  You know where this is going don't you?

We headed East on Highway 20 for a few miles before turning left (north) onto Clem Road.  A few hundred yards up the road we encountered a large teepee and wood carving/statue that were apparently part of a campground.  Not quite a roadside oddity but we stopped for a picture.

(Teepee and wood statue on Clem Road)

(Close up of the teepee)

(Bigfoot?  Sasquatch?  You be the judge)

Clem Road ends on the Eddyville/Blodgett Road.  A nice twisty bit of paved fun.  Some of the road is a little rough and there are at least 5 odd-angled railroad crossings, but it is a favorite road within the motorcycle community.  We came to the T-intersection of Eddyville/Blodgett Rd.

Choice #6:  Which way do we turn?  Left to the west or right to the east? We were looking for Nashville and Logsden but were not sure really which way to go and there was no street sign that gave us any indication.

Decision made - Troubadour chose to go left.  I really had no idea so I left it for him to decide.

About three miles up the road the TW felt different. I was in fifth gear and thought maybe that was too high so I click down to 4th.  Nope that wasn't it.  Crap - out of gas with only 57.2 miles on the odometer.  I honked the horn a few times hoping to alert Troubadour who was up ahead.  I glided to the side of the road and switched it to reserve.  Thumbed the starter a few times and it came back to life.  Troubadour came back to see what was up and I had already gotten back under way.  We found a wide spot to pull over and weigh our options.

The last thing I expected was to be on reserve with only 57 miles (91 km) on the odometer.  We realized the first 14 miles was on sand at the OHV area last year.  14 miles in first and second gear on single track obviously burned more fuel that we realized.

(Out of gas and on reserve - the turning point - last pic of the day)

Well crap, crap, and double crap.   At this point it was after 4 pm.  What to do?  What to do?

Choice #7:  Troubadour had tubing with him so we had the option of syphoning a bit of gas from the XT.  We could press on and see how far we could go with me on reserve and hope to get to Siletz where we could find fuel.  We knew Logsdon and Eddyville didn't have fuel.  The other option was to ride the 7 miles back to the Burt Woods store and fuel up.

Decision made - We decided to return to Burnt Woods.  We were hot and it was later in the day than expected.

We returned to Burnt Woods without issue, unless you count the Toyota truck coming wide around a blind corner on a one and half lane road and almost taking us both out on Clem Road an issue.  I fueled up, we drank some more water and decided to book it for home - a short 20 miles east on Highway 20.

Troubadour suggested I ride out in front of him so that I wouldn't get left behind and then he could keep traffic back if necessary.  I let him know I was more comfortable riding sweep and that traffic didn't bother me.  My plan was to ride "WFO" all the way back into Philomath.  And for those that might not know WFO means "Wide F*cking Open".  If I fell behind, I knew where home was.

We found a break in traffic and headed out with Troubadour in the lead.  The little TW was giving it a good run.  Soon I was catching up and was beside Troubadour on his right.  I was in fifth gear and still had some power to go.

Choice #8:  Do I pass Troubadour and take the lead?

Decision made - Sure why not.  I twisted the throttle just a little more and passed Troubadour.  

We then entered a passing lane and caught up to a pickup truck with flatbed trailer.

Choice #9:  We are heading uphill in a passing lane.  Do I pass the truck and trailer?  Still in fifth gear headed up hill, still not out of power.  Long passing lane.....

Decision made - Sure why not.  I turned my signal on, pulled to the left, tucked down and gave it all the little bike had.

(Stock interweb photo)

I found out later from Troubadour that the guys in the truck were laughing like crazy as I passed them.  He figures they must have identified that it was a TW200 and were laughing at the unhinged woman tucked low over the handlebars and passing them. Troubadour gave them a "don't ask me" gesture followed by a thumbs up, twisted the throttle on his XT and followed suit. 

The TW handled the highway well.  An indicated 75 mph on the speedometer.  It was vibrating a little but nothing too bad.  And with riding the Gladius for years I am used to the clean wind with no windscreen.  

I wasn't sure how long the TW would sustain and indicated 75 mph, but it didn't smell like anything was burning.  By the time we came to the next passing lane I had come upon a van who appeared to slow down compared to what he had been doing.

Choice #10:  Should I pass the van?  Uphill on a passing lane?  check.  Still have power in reserve?   Check.  Enough room for Troubadour to pass too?  check.

Decision made - Sure why not.  I turned my signal on, pulled to the left, tucked down and once again gave it all the little bike had.  

Come on little bike!!  Sure enough we made it around the van and had a clear path all the way in to Philomath.  As we approached Philomath and a 40 mph zone I waved Troubadour ahead.  I knew he would want to take a back way to our house in Corvallis but I wasn't sure exactly where to turn.

We made a left turn off the main street and got stopped at a train crossing.  While stopped Troubadour rolled back to me and said "little dogs don't know they're little."  I looked around expecting a chihuahua. "What dog?" I asked.  "You", he replied.  He was still laughing at me passing people.  Or was he laughing at the people laughing at me?

Troubadour checked the Rever app on his phone when we got home and my indicated 75 mph on the TW was in actuality 68 mph.  There is a little difference, which was expected.  He also looked at a map and realized that it was serendipity that my bike ran out of fuel.  When we reached the Eddyville/Blodgett road we'd actually turned the wrong direction.  We were further west than we anticipated and should have turned right.

We ended the day on a high note - sitting in the shade on the back patio, Troubadour with a cold yummy Laurelwood Organic Espresso Stout in hand and me with an iced tea.  Good spirits all around. We were pleased we'd taken the little bikes out.

Troubadour is on call for Team Oregon this coming up weekend, then he teaches the following weekend, then is on call the weekend after that.  Our next free weekend isn't until the end of May and the Memorial Day holiday weekend.  I wonder what kind of shenanigans we can get up to that day.

- Au Revoir

"Life is the sum of all your choices." - Albert Camus

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East Meets West Up North

This meet up has been a few years in the works.

By now most of you that read this blog have seen on the Adventures of ScooterBob's blog that Troubadour and I met up with ToadMama and her husband Mike while they are on the west coast visiting family.

We attempted this adventure previously, but a freak Oregon snow storm kept us from heading north.

Luckily, the stars were aligned and our spring unseasonably warm this year.  I took yesterday off work and we left the house about 9:30 am heading north to Centralia, Washington to meet at the McMennamins Olympic Club.  It is a 3-hour drive up I-5 from our house providing traffic through Portland isn't too obnoxious, and a 2-hour drive from where ToadMama was staying.  Not only was it fairly centrally located but the Pub menu online looked quite varied as well. View menu HERE.

Traffic slowed down to a stop near Wilsonville south of Portland.  Luckily the map/gps app on Troubadour's phone let us know that due to the traffic slow-down on I-5, we'd be better off taking the  I-205 around Portland.  Good choice.

We arrived without incident and within minutes the four of us were seated in a booth perusing the menus and chatting like old friends.  

(Trobairitz-Troubadour-ToadMama with ScooterBob)
(Thank you Mike for taking the picture)

We were stunned when ToadMama brought forth ScooterBob. While I knew Robert had sent it on to the next participant, I had no idea it was going to ToadMama, or that she'd bring it all the way from Virginia.  

Alas, I forgot my camera.  What kind of blogger heads to a meet-up and forgets their camera? Um, unfortunately, I do.  My new cell phone is new enough to me that I am not comfortable with the camera yet so ToadMama graciously said I could pilfer her photos for this post and even emailed them to me.  You rock!

(Trobairitz-Troubadour - ScooterBob hanging out with veggie burgers and fish tacos - and beer)
(Photo by ToadMama)

We had a terrific time getting to know ToadMama and Mike and hope to visit with them again soon.  While I don't always post as often as I'd like to or should, I am continually grateful to this blog and the blogs of others.  Without them I wouldn't have had the opportunity to meet so many wonderful people, and good people just make the world a better place.

(ToadMama and Mike)

Thank you Kathy and Mike for making the trip to Centralia to meet-up and have lunch and also for the cool Virginia is for Lovers swag. Look for those to show up in a riding post later this summer.

- Au Revoir

"When you meet someone for the first time, that's not the whole book. That's just the first page." - Brody Armstrong (Australian musician)

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Five Year Moto-Itch

I believe some of you probably know of the itch to which I am referring.  There is no cream to treat it, but there just might be a cure if one looks hard enough.

Last month marked five years since I brought home my new 2009 Suzuki Gladius from the dealership.  I was tickled pink at the time of purchase and the first time I went for a ride I couldn't get the smile off my face.

(First ride on my Gladius - March 2011)

If I give it enough thought, I'd say the itch has been building for a few years, but lately it cannot be ignored.  When I purchased the bike I was a few months shy of my 40th birthday and now I am approaching 45 trips around the sun.  So what has changed in the last five years?  I believe it is mostly the type of riding we do now combined with aging.

When the bike was first purchased, we were doing a lot of group riding and seemed to be always chasing the sport bikes around.  Gradually over time we pretty much stopped riding in large groups and have gravitated towards dual sport riding.  While I've never hesitated to take the Gladius over gravel or rough roads, it isn't the greatest tool for the job.  Read of a previous forestry road adventure HERE.

(A Gladius as an adventure bike)

I have never been happy with the suspension of the Gladius.  While we've installed the GSXR shock and adjusted the SAG, rebound, etc, the bike really does not like any type of rough roads especially in a corner.    It is a perfect torque monster bike for riding somewhere on smooth paved roads as fast as you want to get there.  It seems as though the quality of our roads in Oregon have deteriorated over the last five years and all those rough patches make for uncomfortable riding on the Gladius.  It is almost like you are riding a little bucking bronco, but didn't know you entered a rodeo.

As I have aged my knees creak hurt a little more, my wrists get even more sore, and my hands numb quicker with the forward lean/crouched position  of the Gladius.  

What does all this mean?  Well, we are starting to think of something a little more geared towards dual sporting with more travel in the suspension and a little more upright seating position, but at the same time, not a huge beast like Troubadour's Tiger or as small as the TW200.

Does this mean we are going to sell the Gladius?  Not at this point

Are we looking at others options such as a Ducati Scrambler, Honda CB500x, or Royal Enfield Himalayan?  Maybe - there is no harm in looking.

One thing I worry about is missing the peppy little v-twin motor in the Gladius.  We've thought about putting some TKC-80's on the Gladius and seeing what it can do.  We've also read online where people are putting KLR forks on the front and a taller front tire. Sounds like too big a project.  Now, I could combine the same v-twin 650 cc engine with dual sport capabilities by purchasing a Suzuki V-Strom, but I really don't want anything that bulky or heavy.

At this point I am in the debating/dilemma phase.  We know that the Gladius is not the tool for the type of riding I want to do or the quality of our roads right now, but at the same time I really love the bike.  We could technically keep it and purchase something else, but there is not a lot of room in our one-car garage and it wouldn't be fair for the bike to just sit there and not be ridden. Oh wait, that is what has been happening lately, although in my defense we had one of the wettest winters on record.

I think we've all had 'the itch' at some point.  I've heard it said that the perfect number of bikes is always N+1.  With the value of N being the number of bikes you currently own.

Suggestions, ideas, and opinions are always welcome from the blogosphere.  Have you had the moto-itch? And if so what did you do to scratch it?

- Au Revoir

" He that has a choice has trouble." - Dutch Proverb

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Hiking with PolarBear

Yesterday, after being sufficiently motivated by Sonja and Roland, Troubadour and I decided to go for a hike at McDowell Creek Falls and PolarBear accepted our invitation to join us.

This will be Troubadour's second hike at the falls and my third.  PolarBear lives closer to the falls and I believe has been there a few more times.

The last time Troubadour and I hiked there was in 2013 and the water level was really low.  This year we are nearly 10 inches ahead in rain so we wanted to see just how much water was flowing over the waterfalls.  We weren't disappointed.

PolarBear and Troubadour were both taking pictures with their smart phones.  I am still using a dumb phone, so I had my trusty point and shoot Canon camera along for photo opportunities.

We didn't take the direct route to the falls but took the longer hike through the forest, just shy of 3 miles total.  

(McDowell Creek Falls County Park, outside of Lebanon, Oregon)

(Footbridge by the parking lot)

(Another footbridge a little further along)

(Troubadour taking a picture)

(Look down or you'll miss the flora)

(Crystal Pool's 20 ft waterfall)

(Western Skunk Cabbage, aka Lysichiton americanus)

(Luckily they haven't started to stink yet)

(Trillium grandiflorum, aka White wake-robin)

(Troubadour in green and PolarBear in blue - walk on ahead)

(All the trees were green with moss and lichen)

(Hmmm should we hop the gate?  Make good choices)

(Salmonberry blossom, aka Rubus spectabilis)

(The other side of the salmonberry blossom)

(New growth emerging from a Sword Fern, aka Polystchum munitum)

(Two sword fern fronds emerging among the Oxalis stricta, aka Common Yellow Woodsorrel)

(The uncommon "rubber tree")

(Looking back up a few stairs we'd walked down)

( An old log, so full of life - look close for the tiny white mushrooms)

(Tiny fungus found on the log pictured above)

(Yet another Salmonberry blossom- they were so bright I couldn't resist)

(Trees near the river - the falls below were to the left)

(Majestic Falls)

(A continuation of the trail)

(But first a few more shots of the falls)

(Majestic Falls - 39 ft)

(Majestic falls and a PolarBear)

(Troubadour and Trobairitz)

(Troubadour found sunshine shining through the trees)

(His view from the ground)

(Royal Terrace Falls - 119 ft)

(Troubadour on the left climbing to the falls)

(He's almost there......)

(He made it up the slippery goat trail)

(I zoomed out to show the ratio of size - Troubadour vs. the Falls)

He also made it back down the goat trail. No Troubadour's were harmed in the photographing of this waterfall.

It was just a quick walk from the falls to the car, so this was my last picture of the day.

It was nice to get out and go for a hike.  It has been so rainy we didn't do much all winter and now that Spring has arrived we need to get moving.

If you'd like to see photos our last hike at McDowell Creek Falls in August 2013 and compare water levels, please click this LINK.  If you'd like to read/see photos of the same hike I did with SpartanBabe in May 2013, please click this LINK.

- Au Revoir

" Of all the paths you take in life, make sure a few of them are dirt." - John Muir

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One Foot or Two?

An odd post title when thinking of motorcycling, but bear with me.

A few weeks ago I was reading a Cycle World magazine article regarding the new or updated models of certain brands of motorcycles.  What caught my attention was the fact that at least two of them (one was the KTM 1290 SuperDuke R) came with a hill assist or "hill-hold control" to prevent the bike from rolling backward for a second or two on a hill.

Our Fiat 500 has a standard transmission and came with hill assist.  As someone who learned to drive a stick in the 80's it was a strange concept to me.  However, I quickly got used to it and wondered why we didn't see the same feature on motorcycles.  Here we are 15 months after purchasing the Fiat and this feature is starting show up on high-end bikes and maybe has been around for a bit, I'd just never heard of it.

As my thought process progressed to putting  bikes in motion on a hill, it made me realize how much practice I probably need doing that very thing.

When I took my Team Oregon class back in 2002, we were taught to put 'all four paws down' when stopping.  Both hands in action pulling in the clutch and front brake, and both feet in action shifting down and pressing on the rear brake.  When stopping we put both feet on the ground. To this day putting only one foot on the ground when stopped is foreign to me, and putting both feet on the ground is my habit.  It is automatic.

This is only ever an issue when stopping on a hill.   9 out of 10 times I will still put both feet down when stopped, then lift the right foot back up and onto the rear brake.

Team Oregon now encourages students to come to a complete stop and just put the left foot down leaving the right foot on the rear brake. (While they don't specifically teach it, it is encouraged)  While this may be a good habit in some instances I just can't seem to bring myself to practice it.  I worry that one time when I stop on an off-camber corner muscle memory will take over and I'll automatically put the left foot only down when that is actually the low side of the road and over I'll go.  

With the habit of putting both feet down, I feel like I have the option to put either down if necessary since I am not used to just the left.  Does this make any sense?

So, do you have a preference?  Do you stop with one foot on the ground or two when out and about on two wheels?

- Au Revoir

" Be sure to put your feet in the right place, then stand firm." - Abraham Lincoln

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