#33 Europen Vacation BID

#33 and friends back in the day riding in Europe in the early days of Americans riders being recruited to race in Europe.

#33 and the 2nd Annual Senor Kirby Ride

                                                      2^nd Annual Senor Kirby Ride

Having just completed the Second Annual Senor Kirby 500, I believe it will have to be renamed the Senor Kirby Ride because it is no longer the 500!  It seems we bit off a bit more than we could chew on a day or two and ended up with 700 miles at the end of the ride. Of course it was one day longer than the 1^st Annual, 5 days vs. 4 days.  The 3^rd Annual Senor Kirby ride may have to step up to 1000 to keep my paying customers happy!  I guess our only limitations are how long can everyone get a kitchen pass for to stay out more days. Also how much can each rider organize and carry over the course of a few days as this is an unsupported ride, meaning no SAG wagon, carry whatever you will need on the ride!  No camping gear because we do stay at hole in the wall motels, hey, I am not uncivilized.  Everyone likes a hot shower after being on an Off Road bike all day.  It also allows us to go find something to eat since on the trail we usually eat whatever we can carry. There is usually not much room for food after you pack 5 days’ worth of clothes you can get by with, personal hygiene items (yes we do have standards), tools, spare items for the bike you may need, tubes, levers, shifter, nuts & bolts, etc.  One item to note for each participant would be to check that in all your spares and extra stuff you carry that your cell phone is one of those things you remembered to pack! It seems the Bomber had left his cell phone which meant he would not be taking any pictures over the next 5 days. Bummer.  But we looked out for him and made fun of him every time we took photos. Lol.

This ride is turning into an Adventure ride on dual sport/dirt bikes as opposed to the heavyweights you ride on normal Adventure rides. We do get into a bit more aggressive off road excursions than you may encounter on the normal Adventure ride.

This ride had the original gangstas back in the saddle, Recon (Don), Buckmeister (Buck of SBB), Bomber (Bruce) and #33 (Eric).  A couple of the boyz tried to recruit a few homies to go with them but when the kickstands went up it was business as usual and only the hardcore guys you can count on.  I think a few potential recruits asked a few questions and decided it was too long or too rocky for their taste. But really I pre-rode and brushed most of the rocks out of the way! Lol.

Each day was a bit of a learning curve as it seems a couple of us were on different bike this year. We had really no real mechanicals just a couple of small items to fix along the way. Unfortunately, I had one of the mechanicals as I was on a new/used bike I had set up for this occasion. A couple of my rear fender bolts broke the heads off. So the Bomber came to my rescue with some larger Zip Ties than I carry. With some input from the mechanically inclined in the group we were able to secure the fender taillight piece in place.  Unbelievably it stayed together for the next 5 or 600 miles!  I am putting bigger Zip Ties in my pack!

On another occasion Bomber noticed his counter shaft bolt coming loose and Buckmeister provided the tool to re-torque it on the trail.  Never came loose again. We were lucky, mechanicals were easy fixes and held up.

Probably the biggest hurdle we faced was on day two when my planned route was to include another town mid ride for gas and lunch. I expected it to be a long but epic day but it turned into a “I hope we make it on gas” and “I hope we make it before dark” kind of day. It was Great! We siphoned gas from the bigger tanks to almost make it. The last 6 miles was a down grade dirt road and I was able to push Buckmeister to the gas station. The only reason I was pushing was because the Bomber had given me gas about 15 miles earlier. So I guess he saved me twice on this trip!  We rolled into town at dusk and checked into the motel, then headed right off to dinner.  We were fortunate that Brenda at the Hidden Oasis RV and Café was kind enough to make us dinner even though she was closed.  Thank You Brenda!

We had a Great trip even though it morphed into an extra 200 miles or so. No one complained about the extra mileage and were already talking about how long should the 3^rd annual ride be. Stay tuned boys! 

We also saw several really cool things during the ride, equipment left behind like Dozers and Caterpillars from in the 1940’s and 50’s at abandoned mining sites. By watching Recon climb around and pose on the dozers I think as a little kid he wanted to drive equipment for a living!  A Historic Mansion that was operating in hopes of drawing wealthy clients but was now a shell of a building after more than 75 years. I can’t imagine how they got older vehicles, most not 4-wheel drive, up there. We rode through what seemed like the Erzberg Rodeo to get there yet there are pictures of old vehicles at the Mansion.  An old locomotive on display that was Gynormous! The 8 driven wheels were at least 3 feet taller than any of us!  Two or three makeshift desert bars in the middle of nowhere, we happened to stumble onto them and were surprised at how well they were maintained, so obviously they are gathering points in those areas for 4-wheelers, Side by Sides and motorcycle enthusiasts. We encountered some truly impressive things on the ride and I for one am looking forward to see what we encounter on the next trip.  Although I can probably do without the X-rated ride through Maggie Wash I was witness to. But that is another story!

I was just thinking…………This may have been ‘The Best Ride Ever!’

#33

“It is not about the ride; It is the people you ride with”

EL GUAPO’S GREAT ADVENTURE

An Adventure ride was forming and somehow I got sucked into it.  El Guapo (Kerry) wanted to do an Adventure ride so I agreed to be his wingman. I thought maybe I would need some help and maybe a bike! So I solicited Buck of SBB suspension fame and Jess aka Hose-b of Phariss RV Park, owner, assistant manager and maintenance man to back me up with getting El Guapo through the ordeal.  Our group was now four so on to my next dilemma. The bike! I needed one to ride, lol.

Since I didn’t have anything with me but a Honda ST 1100 and a KTM 450 I would have to start shopping for an acceptable bike. I started on craigslist locally and found a clean looking older KTM 690.  Locally means I drove 5 hours over to buy it and 5 hrs back to the RV park. Went over it, tested a bit, bought a few accessories and I was set. Fingers crossed!

Meeting day is set and everyone meets at MX43.com headquarters, Art’s house to leave vehicles and begin our trip on the Idaho portion of the well renowned BDR adventure route. Almost everyone already knows each other so it is an easy meeting, BS session and then after a bit of prep work heading off to bed.

The trip was really fun with all of the terrain covered from rolling hills to beautiful mountains and rivers pretty much all day long!  By the end of the first day I was hoping this day was not an indication of things to come. Hose-b got a rear puncture and that kicked it off. We fixed it having seen the hole and diagnosing it as a pinch flat or maybe the rim lock. New tube and during inflation El Guapo strolls by and says “STOP!”  he apparently noticed a screw sticking out from between the knobs.  Too late! Poked a hole in that tube, so on to the next one.  The next one was a bad tube, had a small hole. My fault as I never inspected it and trusted it as a replacement tube from someone on a previous ride. All in all it was a 2 Plus hour stop to change the rear until we were out of tubes and had to put a 21” front in to get back on the trail. We started out in the shade on the side of the road, but we were there so long we had to move to the other side of the road to get shade. Some of the boys took a lunch and I think El Guapo even had a nap! Finally, tire fixed and back on the trail.

While all of this is going on we learn that El Guapo has had to clean the air filter on his KLR 650 already. The first of many stops we will make to service El Guapo’s air filter, ongoing problem just not sure why.  But in the course of his repetitive cleaning sessions El Guapo with the assistance of Buck can service a KLR 650 filter like he is on a NASCAR pit crew!

That night we stayed at a 100-year-old hotel run by a very nice woman named Darlene. She loved telling us stories and history. It was a truly memorable evening. She got up to make us cinnamon rolls in the morning.

Our next interaction came after a few more filter cleaning sessions, an off course excursion to a town to buy spare tubes and get something to eat because we knew we would be late getting into our destination that evening.  Luckily in our tube search we stopped at a shop called GPS.  But that actually stood for Gosselaar Power Sports, YES THAT Gosselaar, as in Mike Gosselaar, Ricky Carmichael’s mechanic back in the day.  We had a great time talking to him and he was very helpful and friendly. We wrapped up our business and having wasted enough of his time we were ready to leave. I asked him if I could put a #33 sticker in his shop somewhere.  He said to put it on his tool box!  I did and now feel honored to be able to tell people I have a spot on his tool box!

Our overnight stay had us at a motel with other riders and there was an older KLR 650. Later we would learn by meeting the original owner who is 85 years old and the guy he was riding with that this 1997 KLR 650 was original and had 115 K miles on it! Yes! One Hundred and Fifteen Thousand miles and had never been rebuilt. The Old-timer began to tell us stories at breakfast of being in this town, Elk City about 1952. He told us of his first Indian motorcycle with the Left Hand Throttle. El Guapo asked them if they had a spare air filter for a KLR but they of course did not. But since they seemed to be done riding and heading back in a truck they would be willing to sell El Guapo the one from the 1997 siting out in the parking lot. They made the deal and off we went to cannibalize the KLR, unfortunately it had a K&N and El Guapo was looking for the foam to be able to service it on the trail. So away we went, anticipating more NASCAR type stops with El Guapo providing the entertainment at each stop. Another rear flat on Hose-b’s bike a few more filter stops and we made our camping/Hot Springs destination.

The next morning suited up ready for the ride and discovered El Guapo’s bike would no longer start. A tow strap took care of that little problem and away we went after deciding that with Fire/construction/slides on the intended route and El Guapo’s bike not being totally reliable we decided to ride the hiway to Hose-b’s house. We did stop along the way to pick up a K&N air filter kit and some Lucas Oil additive to try to soldier on with El Guapo’s ailing scooter. We also had the battery tested on a diagnostic machine and found it was ok even though we had run it down trying to start the bike. But it was discovered that the terminals were a bit loose. So much for you position on the NASCAR crew El Guapo!!!

In the morning we were on the fence whether to continue the last 3 scheduled days of the ride with all the mechanical trouble we had been having on El Guapo’s bike. Then as the rain began to fall and the weather reports being of heavy rains beginning that day and following us the next couple of days the general consensus was to call it.  It had been a most memorable trip, fun, entertaining, a lot of ribbing morning to night and we all felt pretty good about ending on a good note. It was decided that we load the two bikes in the truck and drive them back to Buck’s truck at MX43.com headquarters.  Good call as it rained the whole way there!

I am sure this crew will be back to either do this one again and complete all of it or pick another section and give it a go.  I know I would be in, sometimes my sides hurt from laughing around these guys.

#33

‘it doesn’t have to be perfect for it to be Great!’

#33 On the Road Again

Idaho BDR with friends Jess, Bucky and El Gaupo

The 60 Something Ride

                                The 60-Something Ride

This was a Dual Sport, Adventure, Dirt Bike Ride all rolled into one!  The reason being, we had a KTM 500, a KLR 650, a KTM 690 and my little girly KTM 450 rounding out the group of bikes.  The riders were Jerry aka Lefty, Mark aka The Mechanic, Jess aka Hose-b (Jose’s brother) and #33. Everyone in the group was in the 60-something age category.

The ride was a loop starting and ending from Hose-b’s house a few miles outside of Orofino, Idaho. The terrain is some of the most scenic riding you can do without traveling to Banff or Switzerland.

The back roads were twisty and beautiful, the gravel roads were lined with forest and mountain views while passing an untold number of rivers, creeks and a lake.

The host rider, Hose-b (Jess) informed everyone that it was a “Kickstands UP at 8am ride”. No messing around! Let’s ride, I like it! So we suit up, I warmed my bike up a bit just to make sure it was ready to go. Lefty (Jerry) comes rolling in ready to go a bit early and The Mechanic (Mark) rolls in wanting to add a splash of gas to his bike since he had ridden to the starting point. Good plan.

Jess unveiled the newly acquired KLR 650 from underneath its cover and attempted to fire it up…………………oops.  Left the key on yesterday from a parts run into town. Battery dead as a door-nail.  So it is time to get out the jump box to get her fired up!  We git-er-done and away we go. No deadline, no real route planned, just a direction idea and finding new stuff if possible.  I hope no one brings up we missed our kickstands up start by a few minutes. Lol.

The ride is very scenic and stays on back roads and gravel roads for the better part of the day. We encountered a couple of BDR riders along the way as we obviously crossed the course laid out on GPS tracks by the Back Country Discovery Ride organizer. We spoke to one who said he was doing the route.

We visited a well-stocked Fire Camp but were surprised to find no one there during the day. Fire Trucks but no Firemen, hmmmm. We then made our way down a road none of us had ever traveled and it dumped us at a small town called Clarkia. It was a welcome relief as we were 117 miles into our ride and everyone was ready for a break and possibly a cold beverage at the little store/grill there. They even had a gas pump so Mark could top off his 690 KTM since he had one of the shortest fuel ranges in our group. We snacked, had some cold drinks and were back on the road. Just a little way out of town we looked over and saw a big sign next to a motocross track! It was called ‘Fossil Bowl’. I have no idea why but since it was just sitting there not being used I busted a u-turn to go inquire as to how I might ride there. It seems it is a local track, very nicely laid out with a lot of work that has gone into it and it shows by the facility amenities. Bathrooms, starting gate, announcing tower, sign up booth, fencing, whoop section and signage that gave basically permission to ride with the suggestions/rules listed. That was so Awesome that a community would allow that with such simple rules that were basically ‘If you ride here, Don’t be Stupid” I loved that!!!  Even though I was on my 450 KTM trail bike I obviously HAD to make a couple of laps. After all what kind of a Moto Nazi would I be if I passed up a chance to ride at The Fossil Bowl!

I made a couple of slow laps while the 60-Somethings waited, they may have taken a few pics. Of course it was dry and slippery because it had not been watered and it is the end of July. But it was worth it with the little bit of air it provided and the decent uphill and drop offs built into the course. I would love to come back and ride it on a moto bike on a prepped day. It would be a great track under those conditions.

Back on the road and our next stop after some back road two lane riding was a very small town called Elk River. It is a recreation area with camping, fishing, hunting, boating. But the best thing we found was the fact that they had Huckleberry shakes at the General Store.  If you haven’t tried a Huckleberry shake I would recommend you do at least once. Outstanding!  The bonus for me was that it seemed everyone brought their dogs when they went to the store, in the short time we spent there I got to pet a half dozen dogs. But finally the 60-somethings made me leave since we were now on our way back to Hose-b’s house. Maybe 40 miles.

The ride home was fun for Lefty and I as it was now our turn to lead on the gravel roads, so our dust was substantially reduced. I enjoyed the last leg of the ride, however there is always that opportunity to meet a car/truck or even another bike if you go too fast. So discretion is a strong point while riding out front. We survived and rolled into Jess’s house somewhere around 4:30, then Mark and Jess rolled in a few minutes later. Jess was not happy with the KLR on the final leg of the ride and was talking about selling it.  I said I would give him $50 and then Lefty pops up with $100 more than whatever #33 is offering. Oh! Torpedoed by a homie!  I guess I will keep on riding my old broke down 2007 KLR better known as ‘Mad Max’. 

#33

‘we may not be fast, but we are lapping everyone on the couch’