SacramentoMike
Not Safe For Work
Just got back from an excellent weekend playing in the dirt with about 10 Forum and non-Forum dudes, five of their lovely wives, and I believe 3 of their kids, for a total of about 18 people on about 20 different off-road or dual sport vehicles. I'd say 3 (or was it 4) quads, two or 3 mini-bikes, a bunch of KLRs, DRs, a Husky, one V-Strom, and a few pure dirt-only bikes in a great setting with beautiful motorcycle roads, great dirt roads, and two or three different motocross courses.
Organized by Uberkul and the lovely Mrs. U (Brad and Christie), the party began Friday at Sopiago Springs Resort, somewhere between Jackson and Lake Tahoe just off California 88 at about 4500 to 5000 feet. The weather was beautiful, the moon rose with the sunset over the meadow, and the riding was outstanding. Saturday was our biggest ride, with a loop led by Brad most of the way up to the Calaveras Dome, but we stopped a bit short due to the extreme dryness-caused deep flour-like powder that was way too easy to sink into like quicksand and the blinding dust every rider created for those behind, and because Steve (Bluestreek's) new KLR was trying to crap out in the wilderness. We came out on the road JUST before the crapout became a reality, and managed to coast and push the offending beast down into Pioneer for later recovery. More on that below.
Highlander (Dave, with Diane) came on his Alaska-veteran V-Strom, and was generous with offers of rides for any takers. At least two of us are now toying with the idea of drinking some Strom-flavored Kool-Aid. We missed Mad Mike on our ride. We thought he left with the rest of us, found out ten miles down the road that he'd circled back to his campsite for something and didn't know where we'd gone, so he took off and enjoyed his own ride. Guess that wasn't the lowpoint of his trip, though. Sunday, he realized he'd lost his truck keys. Last I saw of him, he was still waiting for the locksmith who was supposed to show up after "an hour or an hour and a half." Hope he's back by now. Speaking for Mike, though, maybe a higher note for him was hit around lunchtime Sunday when Christie brought out a "Happy Birthday Mad Mike" cake she'd brought up to celebrate his recent one. And it was delicious.
On Friday a visitor dropped in for a few hours. "Orestes," aka Dave Clark (no, not that one) pulled in on his way to Yosemite, then Death Valley, the Grand Canyon, the Tetons, Yellowstone, and I don't know where else before heading back to his home in S.E. England. It was great to meet you Dave. We also had FJRob and his buddy Steve with their wives and kids, two huge travel trailers and stable of various bikes, and two MORE "Steves" from the San Jose area, Staledonut and his buddy, um, Steve (for a total of four). Guess that's all. Oh, and me. So just a few shots.
Here's Orestes with Steve and Cindy, the Bluestreeks
Heading out for the Saturday ride (note MadMike is still with us--dead center. How did we lose him?)
Somewhere between Bear River Reservoir and Calaveras Dome, waiting for the dust to settle
After Steve's bike gave out, Brad pushed him home one-legged (honest). Or was he just fighting the high cost of oil?
Another view (come to think of it, when your bike is burning a quart of oil with about every tank of gas, I think it WAS the high cost of oil)
Back in camp, I've finally found the perfect bike for me
Hope there's a FODS 3, and hope it's open to all the Feejer riders too. Too many excellent mountain roads (twisty, gorgeous, and empty) around there to have it be only dirt. See you then!
Organized by Uberkul and the lovely Mrs. U (Brad and Christie), the party began Friday at Sopiago Springs Resort, somewhere between Jackson and Lake Tahoe just off California 88 at about 4500 to 5000 feet. The weather was beautiful, the moon rose with the sunset over the meadow, and the riding was outstanding. Saturday was our biggest ride, with a loop led by Brad most of the way up to the Calaveras Dome, but we stopped a bit short due to the extreme dryness-caused deep flour-like powder that was way too easy to sink into like quicksand and the blinding dust every rider created for those behind, and because Steve (Bluestreek's) new KLR was trying to crap out in the wilderness. We came out on the road JUST before the crapout became a reality, and managed to coast and push the offending beast down into Pioneer for later recovery. More on that below.
Highlander (Dave, with Diane) came on his Alaska-veteran V-Strom, and was generous with offers of rides for any takers. At least two of us are now toying with the idea of drinking some Strom-flavored Kool-Aid. We missed Mad Mike on our ride. We thought he left with the rest of us, found out ten miles down the road that he'd circled back to his campsite for something and didn't know where we'd gone, so he took off and enjoyed his own ride. Guess that wasn't the lowpoint of his trip, though. Sunday, he realized he'd lost his truck keys. Last I saw of him, he was still waiting for the locksmith who was supposed to show up after "an hour or an hour and a half." Hope he's back by now. Speaking for Mike, though, maybe a higher note for him was hit around lunchtime Sunday when Christie brought out a "Happy Birthday Mad Mike" cake she'd brought up to celebrate his recent one. And it was delicious.
On Friday a visitor dropped in for a few hours. "Orestes," aka Dave Clark (no, not that one) pulled in on his way to Yosemite, then Death Valley, the Grand Canyon, the Tetons, Yellowstone, and I don't know where else before heading back to his home in S.E. England. It was great to meet you Dave. We also had FJRob and his buddy Steve with their wives and kids, two huge travel trailers and stable of various bikes, and two MORE "Steves" from the San Jose area, Staledonut and his buddy, um, Steve (for a total of four). Guess that's all. Oh, and me. So just a few shots.
Here's Orestes with Steve and Cindy, the Bluestreeks
Heading out for the Saturday ride (note MadMike is still with us--dead center. How did we lose him?)
Somewhere between Bear River Reservoir and Calaveras Dome, waiting for the dust to settle
After Steve's bike gave out, Brad pushed him home one-legged (honest). Or was he just fighting the high cost of oil?
Another view (come to think of it, when your bike is burning a quart of oil with about every tank of gas, I think it WAS the high cost of oil)
Back in camp, I've finally found the perfect bike for me
Hope there's a FODS 3, and hope it's open to all the Feejer riders too. Too many excellent mountain roads (twisty, gorgeous, and empty) around there to have it be only dirt. See you then!
