Fontanaman
Robin Trower
This year I bought a Bushtec trailer for several reasons. One is so I can take my lovely bride on the cycle without the inevitable discussion of what she cannot bring - I don't need marital discource. The trailer will also be useful for travelling and camping. I can bring my camp gear and lot of crap which I like and lock my stuff in the trailer. I also bought a 4 person tent for my crap and if my bride wants to join me that is an option. The days of using a two person backpacking tent and thin mattress pad are over. And on this 5 day trip I saved enough in lodging to pay for the new tent.
I figure it will take about 35 nights camping to pay for 1/2 of the cost of the Bushtec trailer. Given I enjoy camping this is a no brainer decision considering my retirement from the Kite Factory in Seattle is near. On this five day trip I spent about $450. If I used hotel/motels the price would have easily doubled.
So after getting the trailer I had a few test rides before setting out on this trip. My destination is Halcyon and Miette Hot Springs in Canada.
In years past have completed the British Columbia, Canada, Hot Springs Circle loop. Halcyon Hotsprings is my favorite of those I have visited.
My day one route is about 550 miles. It take me over the North Cascades Highway (Hwy 20), to Hwy 97 where I cross into Canada, then to BC Hwy 33 to Vernon BC and from there Hwy 6 to Halcyon Hotsprings.
Day one did not start well. I put on my motorcycle shorts backwards. Not a good omen for this day. Lots of shit didn't go to plan this day.
I left Seattle at 5:00 am and the first day journey was 14.5 hours. I am not a fast rider by any means but I encountered unavoidable delays on the way.
The first delay was a due to some idiot driving into a telephone pole on an arrow straight section of Hwy 530 five miles before Darrington Washington. This caused a 40 minute klusterfuk delay. My heart goes out to the big rig drivers. The emergency response crew had their heads up their butt on this day. The first 20 minutes were spent waiting for detour directions to turn around, the big rigs too. The next 20 minutes were spent waiting to use the detour. By then the detour was shut down and we turn around again, the big rigs too, to the main highway where one lane was open.
Finally I got Rockport, Washington where the fun beings on the North Crashcades Hwy, one I have been riding since the the 1970’s. Lucky me. I decide to stop and take a photo of the entrance sign just because I like it and I haven't done that before.
My new set up, my 09 with 66k miles runs like a champ and I will run it into the ground. To keep motorcycling interesting I like to change things up so this trailer certainly fits the bill.
The weather in Seattle on the day I left was nice and it was nice on the west side of the North Cascades Hwy. Just a bit overcast.
In Diablo you will find this:
And this is a seasonal waterfall.
And the scene changed. You may wonder how the FJR handles with the trailer. Not bad, but honestly I don't drive quickly and I have a huge aversion to falling so I slowed down even more with the trailer - and I don't mind. The only time I had a concern was after this photo. WSDOT has used CHEAP SEAL, on Hwy 20 starting about Rainy Pass eastbound all the damn way to Winthrop. Between Rainy and Washington Pass (yes there are two passes on this amazing highway a few miles apart) there is a descent of a few hundred feet with a mild left turn and an ascent to Washington Pass. On the descent the road was wet and I rolled off the throttle at 65mph, no brake and felt a bit of a shudder, as if the bike was on dirt. (I am an ex-dirt biker). I attribute the loss of traction to the wet chip seal surface, too much speed and the trailer pushing the bike.
On dry roads I had no issues - I know I am towing a trailer and the stopping distance is a bit more, but I believe this risk is manageable as much as the risk of using a sidecar is manageable. You will need good suspension to pull trailer so those with a Gen II and stock suspension will need an upgrade. I have GP up front and a Penske with a 850 spring outback.
Photo Caption - this was the North Cascade Hwy this time.
And if you happen to be here in clear sky in May you will see this - These blue sky photos and text are from a ride report I posted last year:
After Diablo dam we continue east on the North Cascades Hwy and I whip out my camera for some on the go pics.
Enjoy!
The temps were in the mid 50's to mid 60's most of the day. Perfect! And we were heading east on a Sunday while everybody else was heading back to the west. The road was mostly clear the entire way from Rockport to Winthrop a real treat.
If this road went on forever would you care?
The road opened a couple of weeks ago, about one month early this year. Snow pack is down 50-75% this year.
Approaching Washington Pass
Crest of Washington Pass
Just in case there is an avalanche.
Anyway it was raining in Winthrop but not in Seattle on this trip. Very odd like my backwards undies on this day.
I did not take many more photos this day. I got hammered by rain on Hwy 33 and Hwy 6 in British Columbia Canada. The best I can say is my rain gear worked very well.
More backwards undie mojoe occurred at the ferry stop in Needles BC where the bike was parked on a downhill pitch. I was tired and absent minded when I got on the bike. As I mounted the bike I pulled the clutch. Ooops . The bike moved forward without my ass on it. For the first time in 66,000 miles my bike very gentlely fell over on it left side. No damage was done except for a very minor scratch on the an engine over. No plastic damage - Yes!
I reached my destination, Halcyon Hot Springs, after 14.5 hours on the road and about 550 miles - hey I was on technical mountain roads, not a freeway. I found my gas mileage took a 10-20% hit pulling the trailer hit so I was gassing up frequently. The Gen II FJR fuel indicator goes to "empty" yet there is 1.5 to 2.0 gallons left - I don't like that. A little reality please MommaHa.
The rain had stopped the skies were clearing, pitched my tent, had dinner and day one was complete.
More to come.
I figure it will take about 35 nights camping to pay for 1/2 of the cost of the Bushtec trailer. Given I enjoy camping this is a no brainer decision considering my retirement from the Kite Factory in Seattle is near. On this five day trip I spent about $450. If I used hotel/motels the price would have easily doubled.
So after getting the trailer I had a few test rides before setting out on this trip. My destination is Halcyon and Miette Hot Springs in Canada.
In years past have completed the British Columbia, Canada, Hot Springs Circle loop. Halcyon Hotsprings is my favorite of those I have visited.
My day one route is about 550 miles. It take me over the North Cascades Highway (Hwy 20), to Hwy 97 where I cross into Canada, then to BC Hwy 33 to Vernon BC and from there Hwy 6 to Halcyon Hotsprings.
Day one did not start well. I put on my motorcycle shorts backwards. Not a good omen for this day. Lots of shit didn't go to plan this day.
I left Seattle at 5:00 am and the first day journey was 14.5 hours. I am not a fast rider by any means but I encountered unavoidable delays on the way.
The first delay was a due to some idiot driving into a telephone pole on an arrow straight section of Hwy 530 five miles before Darrington Washington. This caused a 40 minute klusterfuk delay. My heart goes out to the big rig drivers. The emergency response crew had their heads up their butt on this day. The first 20 minutes were spent waiting for detour directions to turn around, the big rigs too. The next 20 minutes were spent waiting to use the detour. By then the detour was shut down and we turn around again, the big rigs too, to the main highway where one lane was open.
Finally I got Rockport, Washington where the fun beings on the North Crashcades Hwy, one I have been riding since the the 1970’s. Lucky me. I decide to stop and take a photo of the entrance sign just because I like it and I haven't done that before.
My new set up, my 09 with 66k miles runs like a champ and I will run it into the ground. To keep motorcycling interesting I like to change things up so this trailer certainly fits the bill.
The weather in Seattle on the day I left was nice and it was nice on the west side of the North Cascades Hwy. Just a bit overcast.
In Diablo you will find this:
And this is a seasonal waterfall.
And the scene changed. You may wonder how the FJR handles with the trailer. Not bad, but honestly I don't drive quickly and I have a huge aversion to falling so I slowed down even more with the trailer - and I don't mind. The only time I had a concern was after this photo. WSDOT has used CHEAP SEAL, on Hwy 20 starting about Rainy Pass eastbound all the damn way to Winthrop. Between Rainy and Washington Pass (yes there are two passes on this amazing highway a few miles apart) there is a descent of a few hundred feet with a mild left turn and an ascent to Washington Pass. On the descent the road was wet and I rolled off the throttle at 65mph, no brake and felt a bit of a shudder, as if the bike was on dirt. (I am an ex-dirt biker). I attribute the loss of traction to the wet chip seal surface, too much speed and the trailer pushing the bike.
On dry roads I had no issues - I know I am towing a trailer and the stopping distance is a bit more, but I believe this risk is manageable as much as the risk of using a sidecar is manageable. You will need good suspension to pull trailer so those with a Gen II and stock suspension will need an upgrade. I have GP up front and a Penske with a 850 spring outback.
Photo Caption - this was the North Cascade Hwy this time.
And if you happen to be here in clear sky in May you will see this - These blue sky photos and text are from a ride report I posted last year:
After Diablo dam we continue east on the North Cascades Hwy and I whip out my camera for some on the go pics.
Enjoy!
The temps were in the mid 50's to mid 60's most of the day. Perfect! And we were heading east on a Sunday while everybody else was heading back to the west. The road was mostly clear the entire way from Rockport to Winthrop a real treat.
If this road went on forever would you care?
The road opened a couple of weeks ago, about one month early this year. Snow pack is down 50-75% this year.
Approaching Washington Pass
Crest of Washington Pass
Just in case there is an avalanche.
Anyway it was raining in Winthrop but not in Seattle on this trip. Very odd like my backwards undies on this day.
I did not take many more photos this day. I got hammered by rain on Hwy 33 and Hwy 6 in British Columbia Canada. The best I can say is my rain gear worked very well.
More backwards undie mojoe occurred at the ferry stop in Needles BC where the bike was parked on a downhill pitch. I was tired and absent minded when I got on the bike. As I mounted the bike I pulled the clutch. Ooops . The bike moved forward without my ass on it. For the first time in 66,000 miles my bike very gentlely fell over on it left side. No damage was done except for a very minor scratch on the an engine over. No plastic damage - Yes!
I reached my destination, Halcyon Hot Springs, after 14.5 hours on the road and about 550 miles - hey I was on technical mountain roads, not a freeway. I found my gas mileage took a 10-20% hit pulling the trailer hit so I was gassing up frequently. The Gen II FJR fuel indicator goes to "empty" yet there is 1.5 to 2.0 gallons left - I don't like that. A little reality please MommaHa.
The rain had stopped the skies were clearing, pitched my tent, had dinner and day one was complete.
More to come.
Last edited by a moderator:
