Anybody go for ride today? Got Pictures?

[MikeB60]

On 6/15/2022 at 10:43 PM, Bernie said:

At the ferry waiting in enjoyable 98F sunshine. A food or drink vendor would make a killing. Once a year.

We took that ferry on the way to the Un in Red Lodge.  Pretty sure it was 98 degrees that day as well!

[Bernie]

Well I finally convinced my GPS that West Virginia is east of the Mississippi. Staying in Cape Girardeau tonight. Hopefully I figure out a way across the big Muddy, my RT is a little water shy. 

[LBump]

Looks like ya might be there in 12 hours.... depending on that GPS. 

[Bernie]

Just now, LBump said:

Looks like ya might be there in 12 hours.... depending on that GPS. 

My GPS says I should be there in 6 days, hopefully. It’s the slow version of the Nav6. 

[Redman]

Afternoon ride

 

And down to the beach for sunset

 

Looked lie sun was about to go behind heavy clouds, and it did, but then right before sunset it came thru some thinner clouds on the horizon

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

[Francois_Dumas]

12 hours ago, Bernie said:

Welcome back and welcome back to riding. 

Thanks Bernie 👍

[Scott9999]

On 6/10/2022 at 9:52 AM, Scott9999 said:

My story is somewhat similar, but I'll try to do shorthand (or this post will be 10 pages long).

Rode dirt bikes growing up, then street in college, and a few years later, in the Navy.

Sold last (street) bike to pay for tickets to see my wife, for our engagement (Manila, PI girl, another long story).  

 

Kids turn 7 and 8 years old, neighbors kids are running around on their little dirt bikes, and kids pop the question to dad.

Wife tells me "We don't ride motorcycles in this family!"

Note to engaged bachelors:  NEVER SELL YOUR LAST MOTORCYCLE BEFORE MARRIAGE.

Kids plead.  I cleverly tell my wife about my young riding days, and "Street bikes are the motorcycles that are killing kids;  No one in my family ever got seriously hurt on a dirt bike, except my cousin to broke a leg running into a tree, and we're desert riding, no trees!".

Second ride out, Mom joins us to watch.  My then 9 yr old son has a head on collision with a barefoot, shirt and shoeless drunk from L.A., and I carry his lifeless-looking-body back to Mama in the pickup.  Looking at her eyes as I approach, I tell myself "Hmm, this might be a tough one on the marriage".  Son survives, broken elbow, deep cut on the bruised shin, he's back up and running a month later.  Mom doesn't recover quite as quickly, but she gets over it.

 

I sit in California traffic, an hour or more a day, each way to work, day after day after day, until I finally crack, and buy my first Beemer to jump back into street riding (R1150RT-P).

The wife says:  "We don't ride street bikes, street bikes are the motorcycles that are killing kids ....".  My wife's memory was simply amazing, as she quoted every dang thing I said about street riding years before.  🙄😖

SOOooo, I think to myself "This one might be tough on the marriage", and spin the new tale.   "But honey, I'll be riding an RT-Peee, just like ALL the California police officers ride, painted black and white, just like theirs.  Every time I almost died on a street bike in college and the Navy, it was because someone didn't see me.  They will DEFINITELY see me on this thing."   Then I thought to myself, "Hmmm, probably should have left out that thingy about almost dying ..."

 

Well, by that time, we have a pretty strong marriage, and I've always had a good wife.   Smart wife, too.  She sees through my bullsh*t, but I've already bought the bike, and I'm determined.  She gets over it.  She was speaking to me again in only a couple of weeks.  Maybe six weeks, but it was pretty quick.   "Speaking" was maybe a grunt or two, with those dagger eyes wives can get when husbands bullsh*t fails, ya know what I mean?  🤣😕

 

Anyhow, eventually, she even started riding 2-up with me.  Took a while, maybe .... I dunno ... a dozen years after I returned to street riding?  Really, it was like no time at all.   A couple of her friends were riding 2-up with their husbands, she wanted to go with them, so  she suddenly popped the question, "Can 'WE' go riding?"   I think I spit up my beer.  Then I knew for sure, it was all gonna be all right.

 

We finally were, "... a riding family".    (Hmmm, I suppose this should have gone into the "Riding Tales" folder, but this will work here.)

 

(Oh, I forgot to add one more exciting little detail, one that I anticipated, that sort of rocked the marriage.  My son was 16 yrs old when we went to pick up the RT-P in L.A..  He was excited like I'd never seen him excited.  He knew he was soon going to be riding HIS own street bike, cause dad had burst through the dam called "Mom's concerns.".  Two years later, he'd found a wrecked bike, rebuilt it, of course it wasn't just any ol' bike, it was a "zero to 100 in 4 seconds flat" Yamaha R1. 😡  He promptly dropped it pealing out on wet pavement (glad he got that over with; he always wrecked the "first one", first dirt bike, first car, first motorcycle, then never wrecked again).  Then, he sold that, rebuilt a GSXR.  Nothing gaudy about that.  Mom was thrilled,  She told me so, ...ummm... a couple of months later when we were on speaking terms again.   In fact, my very bright and mechanically minded young son rebuilt about SIX wrecks he bought from a local yard for scrap prices, enough until he finally had his dream bike, a red Ducati.  He had a blast in college running up and down California highways at night at about 160 mph, a fact I found out about WAY later, and ... ahhh .... I don't think is mom knows about, even now.  Man, I hope she never reads this post.   I kind of like speaking with her, and it could be a long, long time before she speaks to me, if she found out.  🙄)

 

OHHHHH CRAP.  Ok, Ok, so I CAN'T write a short post.  Sorry. 

OMG, I can't believe I wrote all of that crap in THIS thread.   (Never drink and post, that's my excuse, and I'm stickin' to it.  The only thing worse than a verbose, long winded poster is a lyin' one.  Ohh... um, nevermind the excuses.) 🙄🤐

[BamaJohn]

6 hours ago, Bernie said:

My GPS says I should be there in 6 days, hopefully. It’s the slow version of the Nav6. 

Bernie's GPS has a built-in expander algorithm that makes a 2 hr ride an 8 hr ride......called a "fun factor".

[Rockosmith]

11 hours ago, Scott9999 said:

Hmmm, do we ride to eat, or eat to ride? 

Ever does that philosophical question stump me.  🤣

It’s a chicken/egg kinda thing.

[ESokoloff]

Summer Solstice is nearly here and that allowed me to snap a few AM commute images last week. 
 

[Bernie]

Today I stopped at the BMW in Cape Girardeau, but no one was home. I forgot it’s Monday. Nice store front. 

 

Later I stopped in Franklin, KY. I thought they had coffee, but no. So I had their specialty. 

I can recommend a few KY roads, #100, #92,#478 & 204. Very entertaining. 

[Toter]

Took a ride today to do some trout fishing near Fort Mountain, GA. In Holly Creek. Fun adventure. Caught a few small ones and enjoyed the day.

[Bernie]

Stopped in Pikeville, KY for lunch. Here you go @wbw6cos  🤣

Edited June 21, 2022 by Bernie
Add picture

[wbw6cos]

Without photos........

[wbw6cos]

That's more like it!   Because without pictures it didn't  happen.  Am I right?

 

 

[Ron-M]

Keep the photos coming Bernie.  Since I can't make this event I am living it through you.  You too William when you get going.  

[DeadEye]

On 6/20/2022 at 7:16 PM, Bernie said:

Later I stopped in Franklin, KY. I thought they had coffee, but no. So I had their specialty. 

I can recommend a few KY roads, #100, #92,#478 & 204. Very entertaining. 

All three food groups, light sugar, dark sugar, liquid sugar

[Bernie]

Yesterday I finally made it to West Virginia. I stayed in Princeton for the night. As always, I check my tires and bike over before I ride. Here is this mornings rear tire. 
 

First stop was a laundromat. 
Then I backtrack a few roads before going north to the New River Gorge Bridge. I rode across and then rode the old road to the bottom, where you cross the river on a one lane wooden bridge. I did record some GoPro video. Here are a few pictures from a parking spot below the new bridge. 
 

I ended up at Hawks Nest State Park Lodge for the night. 

Then I had a nice dinner with a view, I even saw a hawk fly by. 

[wbw6cos]

I have to hand it to you, Bernie:  you make it look like you are having a good time on your ride.  Envious.   I am looking forward to retirement in a few years so that I can emulate that riding life style.  Keep those photos coming.

[Brodiepunker18]

35 minutes ago, wbw6cos said:

I have to hand it to you, Bernie:  you make it look like you are having a good time on your ride.  Envious.   I am looking forward to retirement in a few years so that I can emulate that riding life style.  Keep those photos coming.

I’m envious! I have a lot more years to go before even DREAMING of retirement sadly…but I love seeing everyone having a good time and I gotta start keeping a list so I can plan trips as I can! 🤣 

 

Going to DART this weekend so I’ll hopefully get some good pictures in to share with everyone! 
 

Be Safe! 

[wbw6cos]

.....oh yeah Bernie, take it easy on those tires, will ya?.   I still see some tread left and I may be in the market for a bargain.   

[Bernie]

52 minutes ago, Brodiepunker18 said:

I’m envious! I have a lot more years to go before even DREAMING of retirement sadly…but I love seeing everyone having a good time and I gotta start keeping a list so I can plan trips as I can! 🤣 

 

Going to DART this weekend so I’ll hopefully get some good pictures in to share with everyone! 
 

Be Safe! 

Have a great time at DART. Hopefully you soon can make a FART, START or UnRally event.
And sorry to blow everyone’s bubble, I am not retired, only on vacation. 🤣

[Brodiepunker18]

14 minutes ago, Bernie said:

Have a great time at DART. Hopefully you soon can make a FART, START or UnRally event.
And sorry to blow everyone’s bubble, I am not retired, only on vacation. 🤣

Thanks! Im going to try and plan for one of them next year for sure! I’ve got young kids so I try and use a lot of my vacation with them. 

 

 

[BamaJohn]

I'm guessing that Bernie's plan on routes and tire wear are working out just right...c'mon Boxflyer!

I've been nursing my tires (same year RT) for the past 3 weeks, and calculate that I'll just make it home from UN b4 needing to change them.  Have a new set waiting on me...

 

[Bernie]

Midday update. A little foggy this morning. A lot of tree mess and gravel on the roads today. 

I worked my way up to Sutton, WV where I actually found a coffee shop that is open. 

They are having a WV Big Foot Festival this weekend. I have no clue what is involved, but everyone was very excited. I left town on Old Woman Way, pretty steep fun one lane road. Turned right on WV15 and left on WV20. Fun fast flowing roads. In Buchanan, WV for lunch. 

On a very positive note, my Nav6 GPS is behaving today. I don’t know what drugs it was on yesterday, but they are not very helpful. It may be time to return it to Mother Garmin for some cleansing and rehabilitation. 

[roadscholar]

@Bernie have you been to Helvetia, if not maybe check it out, the road down and back out the other side are fun. I bet they have a coffee shop too : )

 

 

[Brodiepunker18]

Went for a short ride through the countryside this evening. I didn’t realize it was bale season already! 😮

It feels weird not having the bags and trunk on the bike but I’ve got them packed for DART and didn’t want to haul all that around for the jaunt tonight. 😂 

 

[longjohn]

15 hours ago, Bernie said:

On a very positive note, my Nav6 GPS is behaving today. I don’t know what drugs it was on yesterday, but they are not very helpful. It may be time to return it to Mother Garmin for some cleansing and rehabilitation. 

Good luck with that. There are numerous examples on adv of inmates returning nav6’s multiple times to garmin. I don’t think they have a handle on the problem. 

[Rockosmith]

I have had several (6+) Nav VI and they all met the same screen ghosting fate.  I finally bought a Zumo XT I use on the other bike and carry with me on RT trips to be reasonably certain of having reliable navigation.

[Bernie]

I stayed overnight in Davis, WV and I did not have any internet. Had a great breakfast. It was 55F this morning and I had to dig out my fleece jacket. 

[Bernie]

I stopped at several places but the WiFi didn’t work. I am back in Thomas, WV for dinner. Trying theWood Fired Pizza place. 

[Hosstage]

What? No internet? How did you survive? I can't even imagine the horror...

[wbw6cos]

12 minutes ago, Bernie said:

I stopped at several places but the WiFi didn’t work. I am back in Thomas, WV for dinner. Trying theWood Fired Pizza place. 

 

 

You are not too far from William.  I may need to swing by there for a good photo-op.   

[Bernie]

23 minutes ago, Hosstage said:

What? No internet? How did you survive? I can't even imagine the horror...

I can’t post with out internet. So I have to do more riding. 

[wbw6cos]

....oh, heart breaker.   

[MikeB60]

NC 281

[DeadEye]

Not my Garage…

 

[Bernie]

I stopped at several places but the WiFi didn’t work.

Here is a picture of the road. I rode one my routes. 

 

I am back in Thomas, WV for dinner. Trying the Wood Fired Pizza place. Nice looking place, but somehow it didn’t taste very good. Maybe I ordered the wrong pizza. 

[Spike]

Some pics from last evening.

 

J

 

[Spike]

And a few more....

 

J

 

[Bernie]

On 6/22/2022 at 9:14 PM, wbw6cos said:

.....oh yeah Bernie, take it easy on those tires, will ya?.   I still see some tread left and I may be in the market for a bargain.   

No problem William. 
Here is a picture of your tires before today’s ride. 

[Rockosmith]

On the way to UN.  Some kind of exotic moth?  It does kinda match my bike though.

[super rat]

Vail, Silverthorne, Kremling, follow the colorado river down to Dotsero, back to Vail. One of my regular rides, A nice mix of pavement and packed down dirt roads. On my Yamaha T7,  love that bike.

0E09B44E-358E-414E-8F08-EB87ED76CDCB.heic

[roadscholar]

1 hour ago, super rat said:

Vail, Silverthorne, Kremling, follow the colorado river down to Dotsero, back to Vail. One of my regular rides, A nice mix of pavement and packed down dirt roads. On my Yamaha T7,  love that bike.

0E09B44E-358E-414E-8F08-EB87ED76CDCB.heic 3.33 MB · 4 downloads

 

That’s a great ride, red and white road out of Vail, down to 6, up the river, cross over at Radium and come in the back side of Kremmling. I built a 1500 mile dirt loop around Colorado and most of that’s on it. 

 

 

 

[Redman]

Morning ride, this time around to far side of the channell. ANd is a place with about nobody around at that time of morining to get bike in picture.

THen out for breakfast.

[super rat]

Truth be told this time of year there is rarely a day that passes that I don't ride. Today was just an awesome day. My favorite MX track, Leadville MX, pissing down rain and 50 degrees. I'm closing in of 55 years old, I dread the day I can't go to the motocross track and not be competitive, I know its coming< I'll fight it as long as I can.4582DB40-889F-468E-A920-458314DC2828.heic4582DB40-889F-468E-A920-458314DC2828 (2).heic

[Bernie]

I woke up at the UnRally to 46f degrees and some very beautiful scenery.

I figured I better enjoy it and go for a ride. 

Riding around West Virginia today, I find these guys parked at a gas station. I pulled over and said hello. 

Later on I stopped at Gateway Restaurant for lunch at US33 & Biery Gap Rd. 

[Rockosmith]

Said to be the smallest church in the lower 48 states.  It is pretty small!

[DeadEye]

Wow , that is Really small !

[TEWKS]

7 minutes ago, DeadEye said:

Wow , that is Really small !

Yeah, it’s so small, at the end of the service you only get an A.