russell_bynum Posted October 1, 2007 Share Posted October 1, 2007 Lisa and I arrived in Torrey just before noon on Friday, offloaded the bikes, and hit the road. We zipped down 24 towards Capitol Reef, then turned on the Capitol Reef scenic drive. That turned out to be about 10 miles of fairly fun, tight twistes running down a canyon. At the end of the road, we turned off onto the dirt. After a mile or so of nice easy dirt/gravel, we crossed the river for the first time and headed into the wash. The far side of the crossing was fairly steep and fairly loose. Lisa wasn't terribly pleased with my route selection. From there it was down ino the wash. The surface varied from deep sand the consistency of talcum powder, to hard-packed sand, to loose gravel, to mud. It wasn't terribly challenging, but it did keep us on our toes. The trail got narrow, and very rockyin a few places. Lisa was grumbling about beating me over the head with a crescent wrench. Still it was very pretty with the red rocks, the green, yellow, and occasionally red trees, and the blue sky. Then it got really rocky. Lisa started talking about selling her dirt bike and using the proceeds to hire a divorce lawyer. Then it got really rutted, and she started talking about selling her dirt bike and using the proceeds to hire a hit man. But, after every challenge was another rewarding view. Finally, we were up out of the wash and into a grassy meadow with a loose sandy road. This was a really stunning view. The picture doesn't really do it justice...the colors were SO vivid. Another river crossing, this one with a soft muddy bank. Then we came to a steep switchback that was very deep, very loose sand. I volunteered to ride Lisa's bike up that stretch to win some points back. The little 200cc thumper is really anemic at altitude. I was basically pinned on the throttle and feathering the clutch to get the power and traction I needed. After a brief, but hilarious almost fall, we got through this section. There's where we're headed...the top of the mountain and UT-12. More spectacular scenery along the way. A few more washes to cross...lots of rocks everywhere. And some more loose sand. This most definitely does not suck. And finally, we came back to the pavement, up on UT-12. The aspens were doing their "Fall colors" thing for us. Looking back towards Capitol Reef and our starting point. Another bike passes going the other way. All in all, it was a very scenic ride. There were a few sections that were more difficult than Lisa would have preferred, and there really wasn't much of a place to rest...you were working fairly hard pretty much the whole time. And, to make matters worse, we were complete idiots and forgot food. So...by the time we got back to Torrey (around 4:30pm), it had been 8 hours since we had any food. And four and a half of those hours were spent working our butts off on the dirt bikes. Still, it was a beautiful ride and we enjoyed the scenery a bunch. I love how secluded this whole area is. We saw two other vehicles the whole time we were off road. Link to comment
azkaisr Posted October 1, 2007 Share Posted October 1, 2007 Most worthy! Next time you can take the mule up it if you want a real challenge. Oh and Norah, you better get that kid of yours a dirt bike soon. Tom Link to comment
smiller Posted October 1, 2007 Share Posted October 1, 2007 What a beautiful ride, or at least what beautiful scenery. I'm glad I bought my DRZ... I think... Link to comment
Mike O Posted October 1, 2007 Share Posted October 1, 2007 That looks like WAY too much fun. So Lisa didn't get any pictures of you? Mike O Link to comment
David Posted October 1, 2007 Share Posted October 1, 2007 Very cool. Say, did you have any trouble getting either of the bikes out of your truck? Link to comment
skinny_tom (aka boney) Posted October 1, 2007 Share Posted October 1, 2007 Not to steal your thumder Russell, but here is a 24 minute video of the first part of the ride. Up to the meadow, where the accidentally stopped taping and missed the rest. Pleasant Creek Road BTW, watch your front tire pressure in that part of the country, Luke got a pinch flat going up those relatively small steps. Nice job on finishing it out Lisa! Link to comment
russell_bynum Posted October 1, 2007 Author Share Posted October 1, 2007 Say, did you have any trouble getting either of the bikes out of your truck? Nope. (That pic was as I was loading the DR200 into the truck, Goober. But you would have been proud of Matt. He snapped the picture before coming over to help. ) Link to comment
russell_bynum Posted October 1, 2007 Author Share Posted October 1, 2007 Not to steal your thumder Russell, but here is a 24 minute video of the first part of the ride. Up to the meadow, where the accidentally stopped taping and missed the rest. Pleasant Creek Road Excellent! I was hoping you'd have video. We were planning on running the helmet cam, but couldn't find all the cables we needed and didn't have time to replace them before we had to leave. Link to comment
russell_bynum Posted October 1, 2007 Author Share Posted October 1, 2007 So Lisa didn't get any pictures of you? Just a couple. This one, of me trying to get her bike up the steep sandy hairpin. And this one of me crossing the river. Link to comment
bakerzdosen Posted October 1, 2007 Share Posted October 1, 2007 Very nice Russell. I personally woulda been shot by the end of 4 hours without food, so kudos to Lisa for hangin' in there. Link to comment
Kenny Haynes Posted October 1, 2007 Share Posted October 1, 2007 Way to go Lisa, very nice. Looks like fun. What, no mre's? Link to comment
russell_bynum Posted October 1, 2007 Author Share Posted October 1, 2007 What, no mre's? We had four of them in the truck...along with power bars and all other manner of snacks. We just forgot to bring any of that with us. Link to comment
90%angel Posted October 1, 2007 Share Posted October 1, 2007 So Lisa didn't get any pictures of you? No, but I did get a most excellent video of Russell trying to get my bike up that steep, deep rutted, sandy hairpin of doom, and him getting stuck! BTW, the pix aren't doing anything justice...not how pretty it all was, nor how difficult some of the sections were. Looking at it now, it looks like a cakewalk, but it really was pretty hard. However, I only fell twice, which is, incidentally, how many times I fell on the easier road we did with Bob the next day, so I guess I'm feeling pretty good about the hard road, and pretty dumb about the easier road! (I say "easier" cause there still were some pretty sandy places, but for the most part, it was pretty manageable). My falls on the "easy" ride were totally stupid and avoidable. Not watching where I was going, mainly. BUT, I don't think (I may be wrong about this) there is any photographic evidence of my falls on our ride with Bob, so they never happened. Link to comment
russell_bynum Posted October 1, 2007 Author Share Posted October 1, 2007 No, but I did get a most excellent video of Russell trying to get my bike up that steep, deep rutted, sandy hairpin of doom, and him getting stuck R: "Uuuhh...a little help?" L: "I'm gettin' this on video tape right now!" Link to comment
Bob Palin Posted October 1, 2007 Share Posted October 1, 2007 i. I was not consulted about taking Lisa up there, it's not my fault! b. That route looks a lot more washed out than the last time I did it. How did it compare to spring Russell? Would I be able to take the Tundra up there? It was real tight a couple of years ago. Link to comment
russell_bynum Posted October 1, 2007 Author Share Posted October 1, 2007 i. I was not consulted about taking Lisa up there, it's not my fault! b. That route looks a lot more washed out than the last time I did it. How did it compare to spring Russell? Would I be able to take the Tundra up there? It was real tight a couple of years ago. It was substantially more washed out than the spring. There was less water on the actual trail (less water in the crossings, etc) but it was obvious that the recent rains had done their damage. I think the Tundra would be pretty challenged to make it. The two other vehicles we saw were lifted TJ's with big tires (and probably lockers). Link to comment
eddd Posted October 1, 2007 Share Posted October 1, 2007 Very nice pictures. Looks like a challenging but enjoyable ride. I bet you were running on empty after a workout like that without food. Lisa, it seems to me that there was an admission that your bike is underpowered. Seems to me like you are entiltled to a new bike of your choice! Link to comment
skinny_tom (aka boney) Posted October 1, 2007 Share Posted October 1, 2007 Not to steal your thumder Russell, but here is a 24 minute video of the first part of the ride. Up to the meadow, where the accidentally stopped taping and missed the rest. Pleasant Creek Road Excellent! I was hoping you'd have video. We were planning on running the helmet cam, but couldn't find all the cables we needed and didn't have time to replace them before we had to leave. My new, easy to use set-up can be anywhere in the US within 3 days or so for about $20 including insurance.(So long as you're good on your "replacement cost" gentleman's agreement. (I cannot afford another!)) Link to comment
WURTY Posted October 1, 2007 Share Posted October 1, 2007 Russell.... Maybe next May Torrey should be a dirt bike weekend for all that have dirt bikes and you can take us to retrace your trip.... Please Great photos Link to comment
Bob Palin Posted October 1, 2007 Share Posted October 1, 2007 Russell.... Maybe next May Torrey should be a dirt bike weekend for all that have dirt bikes and you can take us to retrace your trip.... Please Great photos We did that both this Torrey and last... I have several more routes up my sleeve, some of them are 'interesting'. We are a bit limited by needing the routes to be GS'able and the fact that if we go into the park you have (are supposed) to be street legal. Link to comment
Marty Hill Posted October 1, 2007 Share Posted October 1, 2007 Russell and Lisa, Wow! What a trip! Link to comment
russell_bynum Posted October 1, 2007 Author Share Posted October 1, 2007 My new, easy to use set-up can be anywhere in the US within 3 days or so for about $20 including insurance.(So long as you're good on your "replacement cost" gentleman's agreement. (I cannot afford another!)) What's your new setup? I've just got the little helmet cam (which is usually mounted in the nose of the CBR) which plugs into a camcorder. I know we'd be better off with a "no moving parts" recorder, but I can't yet justify the cost for something that wouldn't get used that often. For some reason, we keep losing the cable that goes from the helmet cam to the camcorder. And it's some stupid proprietary Sony thing that you can never find in any stores. This time I bought 2 replacements, which just means that I'll be twice as pissed when I can't find either one. Link to comment
bakerzdosen Posted October 1, 2007 Share Posted October 1, 2007 My new, easy to use set-up can be anywhere in the US within 3 days or so for about $20 including insurance.(So long as you're good on your "replacement cost" gentleman's agreement. (I cannot afford another!)) What's your new setup? I'm guessing you missed this thread Link to comment
Huzband Posted October 1, 2007 Share Posted October 1, 2007 We are a bit limited by needing the routes to be GS'able... In that case, if I make it next spring, I'll keep the Scorps on the KTM, just to make it fair. P.S., I'm fully aware this is just a hanging soft ball for Phil, so have at it. Link to comment
russell_bynum Posted October 1, 2007 Author Share Posted October 1, 2007 My new, easy to use set-up can be anywhere in the US within 3 days or so for about $20 including insurance.(So long as you're good on your "replacement cost" gentleman's agreement. (I cannot afford another!)) What's your new setup? I'm guessing you missed this thread Indeed I did, thanks. That's a pretty sweet setup. Link to comment
StretchMark Posted October 2, 2007 Share Posted October 2, 2007 Nice job guys! Looks like some tricky stuff. Course it would of been nuttin' to me and Kenny Link to comment
90%angel Posted October 2, 2007 Share Posted October 2, 2007 Course it would of been nuttin' to me and Kenny That's cause Kenney's a studly trials guy dude, and you have long legs to bail you out!! Link to comment
Bill_Walker Posted October 2, 2007 Share Posted October 2, 2007 My falls on the "easy" ride were totally stupid and avoidable. Not watching where I was going, mainly. BUT, I don't think (I may be wrong about this) there is any photographic evidence of my falls on our ride with Bob, so they never happened. There were, however, witnesses. PM me and we can start negotiating. I think you did an awesome job both days! I was pretty whipped after riding Tom's GS for, what, 20 minutes or so? Link to comment
MysteryMan Posted October 2, 2007 Share Posted October 2, 2007 Russell and Lisa- Great pics and tale! It was so nice to meet both of you, I look forward to see you guys next year! Mark Link to comment
Dances_With_Wiener_Dogs Posted October 2, 2007 Share Posted October 2, 2007 Man! I gotta get out to Torrey! Maybe next year... Link to comment
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