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’

2023 REBOUND……….Maybe?

Now that I have 2 hands/arms again maybe we can get 2023 rolling and log some miles!  Jeez!

  Last time I checked in was right after a low speed tip over on the KLR 650 while preparing to make a Baja run.  Worst Day Ever!  I was riding along minding my own business when I heard this loud Gawd Awful clang from the sound of my aluminum skid plate hitting a large rock.  Just about the time it took for me to think, “Wow that was a loud…….” My head and shoulder were hitting the deck, sideways. Down immediately, no tumble, no dissipation of energy just immediate impact!

I just laid there not moving, mostly because it hurt, but to make an evaluation of what happened and if I was injured. As I did an inventory of myself and checked to see that I could move feet, arms and any part of my body that wasn’t pinned by the bike I thought boy that hurt but I think I am ok.

My riding partners came over to help pick me and the bike up because I was in no hurry to move until the pain subsided. When we finally got up and going I was pretty sure I had a significant bruise on my right foot and my right shoulder would be sore for a few days. So we fired up our bikes and away we went to finish the ride. We visited the town of Oatman and then stopped in another small town called Golden Shores for lunch.  After lunch we rode the final 45 miles home on the hiway, as I was pretty sore by then.

It was Saturday and there was going to be a Supercross on TV in a couple of hours.  When I got home and hobbled in the garage, Cheryl says I think we should go get X-Rays. I agreed but said I thought my foot was just “sufficiently bruised” and my shoulder was a bit sore so it could wait till after we watched the races. Sounded like a good idea at the time! So we watched the races and by the end of the evening I had gotten a little bit stiff.  So I thought why not wait until Sunday morning and go for X-Rays! It won’t be any more broke tomorrow than it is right now, right?  My idea was that no one would be in the ER on Sunday morning so it should go much easier, sounds logical right?

Sunday morning off to the ER and X-Rays. The foot was a no brainer, even I could see the broken bone with the separation, so much for my sufficiently bruised theory.  But the shoulder would require a CT scan to see more detail of what appeared to be a break at the end of the shoulder. With referrals in hand I get the required pics and the bad news that the shoulder should have a few screws put in to insure proper healing. I told the doc lets “Git ‘er Done!”.  I got riding to do and this is slowing me down. Doc is not a fan of motorcycles by the way. But he was a good sport and said he would do the surgery as soon as possible.

Fast forward about almost 10 weeks and I get out of a sling and start rehab on the shoulder. This was maybe the longest 10 weeks of my life because my right foot and my right shoulder were incapacitated.  That made me unable to go for walks, shoot, bicycle, wrench in the garage or pretty much anything that required standing or using 2 hands. I watched a lot of tv and way too much news, because now I may have to go on meds for hypertension after watching that much news!

I did spend too much time on the computer which resulted in me spending too much money on toys.  Oh, did I mention I have a new 2023 KTM 450 xcfw now? Since I got injured a week before my 65^th b-day I am calling this my MEDI-Care bike. Obviously geared toward rehabilitation.  I have been on the bike several times to work on break-in and setup. Have it almost perfected with SBB suspension and all the necessary aftermarket accessories. As soon as I can find a tank big enough I can take it out on a Real Ride instead of these girly rehab rides.

#33

‘Twenty years from now you will be more disappointed by the things you didn’t do than by the ones you did.  Explore, Dream, Discover.’

Baja Adv Ride 2023………Almost

I was riding along……….and then I wasn’t!  Had a planned trip in March with a group of buddies, some of whom had never been down to Baja. Three of us were out on a shake down ride when I tipped over at low speed on my KLR 650.  It is also known as Mad Max because of the set up and appearance, that is another story!

David, Gunner and #33 were out Adventure riding and while moving along at a leisurely pace on a rocky 2 track jeep type road I heard the very loud “Clang” of a rock hitting my aluminum skid plate.   Just about the time I heard that clang my body and helmet hit the ground!  I have never crashed so fast at low speed in my life! Unbelievable that a KLR could even move that fast! I would have bet against it.  It happened so quick and I was caught completely off guard so my foot was under the bike, my shoulder and head both hit the ground before I knew I had crashed.

David and Gunner were a bit ahead and saw me on the ground. When they returned I had not even begun to stand up, the pain in the foot and the shoulder were too high on the pain scale. I was waiting for it to subside and to do a little self-evaluation before moving. They were nice enough to lift the bike while I continued to sit and wait until I felt the need to stand and check the bike over. Amazing enough nothing was damaged on the bike, I was expecting bent handlebars at the least from the impact I had taken. Once I collected myself and we got ourselves back on the trail to finish the ride and head for lunch I had the feeling something was wrong with my foot and not too sure about the shoulder. The impact to the helmet had left a couple of good gashes from the rocks and had rung my bell pretty good. So from experience, I am sad to say, I was fairly sure I had a mild concussion. Also I self-diagnosed my right foot as ‘sufficiently bruised’. The shoulder I told myself since I could hold the handle bars and work the front brake and throttle it was probably just bruised.  My self-diagnosis worked perfectly because we continued on, explored a while longer before we stopped for lunch.  Then we rode home.

 

Everything began to stiffen up so of course I went in for X-Rays.  The foot was a no brainer, even I could read that x-ray and see the single broken bone.  The shoulder was not as easy since I have broken the collar bones a couple of times the x-rays of my shoulders quite often scare the x-ray technicians until they speak to me. They are not sure if their equipment is screwed up, I am in need of immediate life support or if I really function everyday with what they see on the film. Lol.   I think the young man started to panic for a minute until I started laughing and he relaxed! He asked me if I had a full range of motion with it and I showed him I functioned just fine for a geezer.

The next week or two will be spent on doctor appointments and CT scans to see if any surgery will be required for anything.  Hopefully I am lucky enough for them to tell me to just sit down and shut up on the couch for a couple of weeks.  I can hardly wait to find out.   Happy Birthday to me!

#33

‘A brook would lose its song if you took away the rocks’