Jason, Teresa and I are back in Wichita. 701 miles in 11 hours and 10 minutes. Came back to 100*f weather. :flag_of_truce:
Fred
I just got home from the rally, a total of 1266 miles round trip on the truck/ trailer and 506 on the FJ for the times we got out to play between the rain storms.
I have tons of pictures and video that I'll post when I get settled in.
Thanks to everyone that attended to make this one rally to remember, I had a blast!
Leon
Ron (CapnRon) and I arrived safely at my house in Denver yesterday around 8:30pm
It was an awesome Rally! :good:
I really enjoyed the riding, but more-so, the sharing of food and stories around camp with all of you.
Thank you everyone for making this another special, and memorable Rally! :drinks:
For those that are still making their way home, or around the country, have a safe journey!
Post up those Rally pics! :good2:
I'm still traveling. Just passed thru Flaming Gorge and Ashley via Hwy 191. Now in Green River Utah. Beautiful country. Perfect Weather. Tomorrow down to Arches, Canyonlands, Moab and Glen Canyon. Tomorrow night in Mexican Hat for a set up to run Momument Valley, Az at sunrise on Wednesday morning.
With the combined mileage of the WCR Sierra rally and the Central rally it looks like I'll have over 5k miles... We shall see.
Randy's 1350 is purring like a kitten. What a bike. Life is good.
Pat, Ride safe and stay cool.....
Fred
Drove through the badlands and Wall,SD then stayed in Gillette,WY on Sunday. Made it to the KOA in Great Falls, MT for a nice campfire Monday night. Planning to unload the bikes and ride through Glacier National Park today. Will probably stop in Nelson, BC for a couple days to ride the Kootenays on the way home also. Should be home Sunday.
Great to hang out and ride with you all! Awesome rally!
Thanks to all that had a hand in planning it. Your efforts are greatly appreciated!
Special thanks also to Al's Bar and Grill for catering the event! It wouldn't have Been the same without you Alan!
Derek and Donna.
Made it home yesterday afternoon. Garth departed this morning for PDX. We had a tread separation on the truck, dented the truck up a bit. Life go's on...
Garth saved a semi-truck towing a enclosed double decked private auto transporter some major grief and very possibly someones life.. I will let him relay that information as my eyes were on the road between the semi and the edge of the road. Garth did good.
Thanks to everyone at the rally for putting up with the slow old guy :). Hope to return someday. Did learn that Harley's actually can float slightly and the make pretty good debris strainer's when over a drainage grate. All kidding aside I hope they had there bikes insured and do well in the future. Not fun for anyone on the road to have there rides damaged. It was a major storm and flash flood. No FJ's damaged that I know of :).
George
I departed George's house this morning and pulled into my driveway about 8 hours later. Uneventful ride home and I managed to stay under the radar of the OSP. Although others (cagers) were not so lucky. Have to keep a sharp eye on the speedo of the fizzy.. all too easy to tick up to 100+mph and not even realize it.
Great rally and I look forward to the next one.
I'm sure I made that truckers day. As George said we passed a double deck, enclosed auto hauler and by chance I happened to glace over as we were passing it and noticed something funky. It took a couple of seconds to register in my mind and I realized the trailers kingpin was not seated in the coupler. In fact, the kingpin was resting on the rear most steel cross brace of the tractor. It only had inches to go before it fell off the back of the truck. The coupler was almost completely uncovered. Had the driver gone up any kind if incline the trailer would have fallen off.
Manged to get the drivers attention. He was rather miffed at first but through hand gestures and yelling at 70mph he finally figured out what I was saying. The look on his face was a combination of "HOLY FUCK!" and shitting his pants at the same time. No idea what was in the trailer, but it could have been a very expensive and terrible crash. I doubt the landing gear of the trailer would have supported the weight and forces at freeway speed.
George's tire throwing the tread was quite interesting. We changed the tire changed and were back on the road in less than 30 minutes. Not something that happens very often at all. Both of us had a hard time remembering the last time we had to change a tire on a vehicle we owned.
Got home right about at dark last night. Bombed it all the way home. 635 miles in 11.5 hours. A long hot day in the saddle.
Bike ran good, and no parts fell off. :good2:
Quote from: Derek Young on June 09, 2015, 08:33:09 AM
Drove through the badlands and Wall,SD then stayed in Gillette,WY on Sunday. Made it to the KOA in Great Falls, MT for a nice campfire Monday night. Planning to unload the bikes and ride through Glacier National Park today. Will probably stop in Nelson, BC for a couple days to ride the Kootenays on the way home also. Should be home Sunday.
Great to hang out and ride with you all! Awesome rally!
Thanks to all that had a hand in planning it. Your efforts are greatly appreciated!
Special thanks also to Al's Bar and Grill for catering the event! It wouldn't have Been the same without you Alan!
Derek and Donna.
Derek, you and Donna did your share of catering as well! :nyam2: Also, George, Garth, Pat, CapnRon and the others who pitched in with the grilling.
It made for some awesome dinners at Camp.
Leon, I'm not sure how I missed saying our good-byes? Maybe we did, and I just don't remember? :unknown:
I may have allowed myself a few too many beverages Saturday evening. :wacko3:
John (DadsFJ) it was really good to meet you and your boys! :good:
The other new faces as well, Dan (Giantkiller), Marty, and Texas Dave.
Fred, it was good to see you and your Crew again, as well as Kurt, Andy French, and even Papa-Lee came to this one!
Mike Ramos, you are a generous man! That's all I'm going to say. It was great to see you as well.
Randy, thanks for leading the way across the Amazon River!
To those that couldn't make the journey, you were missed. We spoke of a good number of you.
The riding was Epic! The friendships are second to none!
This Rally kicked ass! :yahoo:
Even though the weather put a delay on me getting my official sign hung on Saturday, a special thank-you to CapnRon, Derek and Donna for pitching-in to help me get it. :hi:
I'll have it at the next one. :drinks:
(http://i859.photobucket.com/albums/ab154/firehawk068/Rally%20photos/2015%20Black%20Hills%20Rally/83B0A642-A2DD-4D24-B754-DC495A99DBD0_zpsy8jfmewz.jpg) (http://s859.photobucket.com/user/firehawk068/media/Rally%20photos/2015%20Black%20Hills%20Rally/83B0A642-A2DD-4D24-B754-DC495A99DBD0_zpsy8jfmewz.jpg.html)
AL's Bar and Grill
(http://fjowners.com/gallery/9/1651_09_06_15_12_14_45.jpeg)
(http://fjowners.com/gallery/9/1651_09_06_15_12_13_26.jpeg)
George
Cap'tn Ron where did ya get that hat --- it looks good on ya....... makes you look mighty Canadian eh!
Rally`s Rock!
Really loving all the pics from both U.S. Rallys.
Glued to the screen down here with every pic, snippet & report!....they seem to get better every year no matter the weather!
Technology certainly helps, esp when it meets a lay back, basic fire, & camaraderie.
Soon we`ll be able to light the thermite with just a snap of our fingers! http://digg.com/video/what-google-wants-to-do-with-radar (http://digg.com/video/what-google-wants-to-do-with-radar) :drinks:
Just got in via the scenic southern loop. All safe. A good long ride that was.... :good:
Thanks Fred and Alan for the great rally! Good times
Quote from: moparman70 on June 10, 2015, 03:58:39 PM
Cap'tn Ron where did ya get that hat --- it looks good on ya....... makes you look mighty Canadian eh!
I took on the nickname of "woody" while wearing that hat...I was honored to be bestowed with the title of "honorary Canadian" by Derek and Donna. Although I got it to fit in my top case to take it home, if I'm carrying lots of camping gear next year, I might not be able to bring it back. Derek and Donna promised to bring it to every rally, so I left it with them. Another rally tradition that will withstand the test of time. I look forward to the greetings as I awake at future rallys..."'Morning Woody!" :biggrin:
Here is a misguided FJ rider :)
(http://fjowners.com/gallery/9/1651_09_06_15_12_36_02.jpeg)
Here he is getting words of FJ wisdom :).
(http://fjowners.com/gallery/9/1651_09_06_15_12_58_44.jpeg)
All in fun :).
George
It is amazing that everywhere you stop they gather around the FJ :).
(http://fjowners.com/gallery/9/1651_09_06_15_12_49_19.jpeg)
George
Here is the new generation :).
(http://fjowners.com/gallery/9/1651_09_06_15_12_41_00.jpeg)
(http://fjowners.com/gallery/9/1651_09_06_15_12_42_13.jpeg)
George
If this FJ could talk you would here a lot of stories.
(http://fjowners.com/gallery/9/1651_09_06_15_12_43_38.jpeg)
George
And yes it rained.
(http://fjowners.com/gallery/9/1651_09_06_15_1_01_47.jpeg)
(http://fjowners.com/gallery/9/1651_09_06_15_12_18_50.jpeg)
George
A few signs:
(http://fjowners.com/gallery/9/1651_09_06_15_12_34_39.jpeg)
(http://fjowners.com/gallery/9/1651_09_06_15_12_00_20.jpeg)
George
(http://fjowners.com/gallery/9/1651_09_06_15_12_16_10.jpeg)
(http://fjowners.com/gallery/9/1651_09_06_15_12_50_41.jpeg)
(http://fjowners.com/gallery/9/1651_09_06_15_12_48_04.jpeg)
(http://fjowners.com/gallery/9/1651_09_06_15_12_11_54.jpeg)
(http://fjowners.com/gallery/9/1651_09_06_15_12_09_42.jpeg)
Show off :).
(http://fjowners.com/gallery/9/1651_09_06_15_12_08_35.jpeg)
Garth couldn't take the sound of that unoiled chain any longer :).
(http://fjowners.com/gallery/9/1651_09_06_15_12_04_28.jpeg)
George
(http://fjowners.com/gallery/9/1651_09_06_15_1_09_05.jpeg)
(http://fjowners.com/gallery/9/1651_09_06_15_12_52_02.jpeg)
(http://fjowners.com/gallery/9/1651_09_06_15_12_07_26.jpeg)
(http://fjowners.com/gallery/9/1651_09_06_15_12_39_57.jpeg)
(http://fjowners.com/gallery/9/1651_09_06_15_12_37_34.jpeg)
(http://fjowners.com/gallery/9/1651_09_06_15_12_02_49.jpeg)
(http://fjowners.com/gallery/9/1651_09_06_15_11_59_26.jpeg)
Quote from: movenon on June 10, 2015, 10:40:00 PM
Show off :).
(http://fjowners.com/gallery/9/1651_09_06_15_12_08_35.jpeg)
He calls that move, "Blue Steel"!
Not going to be home from this adventure until the 24th but. Both rallies were great. Awesome people all. Great bikes, great roads, great friends (both new and old) great food, and both places were really nice.
Thanks Randy for checking out my 1350. And all the work you did without me even asking. And most of all the things I learned just watching you working.
And thanks to everyone for all the hospitality.
Hope to see you all again. (Colorado?)
Quote from: Capn Ron on June 10, 2015, 09:53:29 PM
Quote from: moparman70 on June 10, 2015, 03:58:39 PM
Cap'tn Ron where did ya get that hat --- it looks good on ya....... makes you look mighty Canadian eh!
I took on the nickname of "woody" while wearing that hat...I was honored to be bestowed with the title of "honorary Canadian" by Derek and Donna. Although I got it to fit in my top case to take it home, if I'm carrying lots of camping gear next year, I might not be able to bring it back. Derek and Donna promised to bring it to every rally, so I left it with them. Another rally tradition that will withstand the test of time. I look forward to the greetings as I awake at future rallys..."'Morning Woody!" :biggrin:
:rofl: (http://:rofl:) too funny --- lets just keep that under the hat for now --- could be scary next rally.
George, you got some amazing pictures! :good2:
I love the candid moments...
Quote from: Firehawk068 on June 10, 2015, 11:25:03 PM
Quote from: movenon on June 10, 2015, 10:40:00 PM
Show off :).
(http://fjowners.com/gallery/9/1651_09_06_15_12_08_35.jpeg)
He calls that move, "Blue Steel"!
NOOOO...that was "El Tigré"
THIS is "Blue Steel" :
(http://fjowners.com/gallery/9/1651_09_06_15_12_08_35.jpeg)
:biggrin:
Quote from: Capn Ron on June 12, 2015, 01:04:18 AM
Quote from: Firehawk068 on June 10, 2015, 11:25:03 PM
Quote from: movenon on June 10, 2015, 10:40:00 PM
Show off :).
(http://fjowners.com/gallery/9/1651_09_06_15_12_08_35.jpeg)
He calls that move, "Blue Steel"!
NOOOO...that was "El Tigré"
THIS is "Blue Steel" :
(http://fjowners.com/gallery/9/1651_09_06_15_12_08_35.jpeg)
:biggrin:
Actually, this looks more like "Magnum" to me. :unknown:
(http://fjowners.com/gallery/9/1651_09_06_15_12_08_35.jpeg)
It looks like it was supposed to be "walk ten paces, turn and shoot", but someone got distracted by their iPhone...
What was really said:
(http://fjowners.com/gallery/9/697_12_06_15_10_01_13.jpeg)
I too, am home safe and sound from both rallys...Rolled on up to the WCR and toured a bit of the Sierra Nevada Mountains a day or so early. Had a grand time at the MeadowCliff Lodge with a great view of...well...a meadow and a cliff. A great time was had by all with nothing but a minor incident. I then rode on over to the Central Rally in the Black Hills of SD... nearly 1,100 miles of slab work to get there, but the payoff was immense! Great roads, better friends and some pretty freaky weather. Even so, we all rolled with it and had a great time!!! :good2:
All those interstates at some high rate of speed chewed up what was left of my rear tire, so I borrowed a rear tire from Donna during the rally. It was attached to her Ninja 650R so I rode that for one of the days. What a hoot! She told me to get rid of the chicken strips (there weren't any!)...but I took that as a green light and cracked 180 on the speedo. That's in kilometers, so it's just about the speed limit of 65MPH...never was much good at KPM to MPH conversions. :nea:
Borrowed some rear tire tread from Alan as well on the way to Denver...Rode his bike while he towed mine in his trailer.
(http://fjowners.com/gallery/9/697_12_06_15_10_34_38_0.jpeg)
He had a new Metzeler ME880 waiting for me at his house as mine was getting mighty thin:
(http://fjowners.com/gallery/9/697_12_06_15_10_34_38_1.jpeg)
I got to use Alan's modified tire changer and even with those beefy Metzelers...it was a reasonable task!
(http://fjowners.com/gallery/9/697_12_06_15_10_34_39_3.jpeg)
I spent a couple of days visiting and wrenching...even did a carb sync while I was at it:
(http://fjowners.com/gallery/9/697_12_06_15_10_34_38_2.jpeg)
I got on the road toward home on Tuesday. Another 1,100 miles of mostly slab work:
(http://fjowners.com/gallery/9/697_12_06_15_10_23_04.jpeg)
Some of which took me up to altitudes of 12000 feet:
(http://fjowners.com/gallery/9/697_12_06_15_10_34_39_4.jpeg)
Some heat of nearly 100 degrees with a bit of rain and hail mixed in just for fun. :
(http://fjowners.com/gallery/9/697_12_06_15_10_34_39_5.png)
i was able to take in probably my favorite national park...Zion for a nice departure from the interstates...
(http://fjowners.com/gallery/9/697_12_06_15_10_34_40_6.jpeg)
There's something special about a rally...I'm glad to be home, but wish I was still sitting around a campfire with y'all, eh?
Wow Captn , you are a wandering soul. Nice adventure for the summer with your meandering ways .... you sure made the most of that 2week extension from work.
Great to see you at the rally and hang around the campfire. :good2:
Quote from: Capn Ron on June 12, 2015, 11:02:26 PM
What was really said:
(http://fjowners.com/gallery/9/697_12_06_15_10_01_13.jpeg)
Are you sure, it looks like Alan might be moving in for a kiss from "betty" :bomb:
Quote from: Mark Olson on June 13, 2015, 07:11:22 PM
Wow Captn , you are a wandering soul. Nice adventure for the summer with your meandering ways .... you sure made the most of that 2week extension from work.
Great to see you at the rally and hang around the campfire. :good2:
Fixed it for ya!
Yeah, I've got the wanderlust for sure...I wanted to stay out long enough to ride to Alaska this trip, but I had to get home to deal with things. Maybe in August I'll head north...A ride to Canada at least. :good2:
Great to see you too Mark!
Quote from: copper on June 13, 2015, 07:37:14 PM
Are you sure, it looks like Alan might be moving in for a kiss from "betty" :bomb:
As I recall, I seem to remember the conversation going more like this........... :rofl:
(http://i859.photobucket.com/albums/ab154/firehawk068/Rally%20photos/2015%20Black%20Hills%20Rally/joke_zpsingtuhlh.jpg) (http://s859.photobucket.com/user/firehawk068/media/Rally%20photos/2015%20Black%20Hills%20Rally/joke_zpsingtuhlh.jpg.html)
Oh, that Betty was a sweet ride! I didn't want my FJ to find out, but I had a bit of an affair that afternoon! :shok:
Donna and I made it home just before 10:00 last night. 2 weeks on the road, close to 5800 KM on the SUV and trailer, over 1200 KM on the bikes and immeasurable smiles on our faces! It was a great rally, incredible sights to see, amazing roads to ride and our very own FJ slip and slide courtesy of mother nature! So good to see our old friends again and to meet some new ones. For those of you that have never been to a rally, you really are missing out. Do what it takes to get yourself to one!
The new trailer and tow vehicle performed very well, taking us through several mountain ranges on both sides of the Canada/US border.
We saw the Badlands, Glacier National Park (did some more riding) and then crossed into BC and stayed 2 nights in Nakusp (Kootenays) to ride some of the top roads in BC. This area is a must ride for anyone even remotely close by. SPECTACULAR in fact!
For our last night we decided to drop down into north eastern Washington State to go through some of our favorite riding roads anywhere. This area would be great for a rally! We stayed the night in Leavenworth WA, a quaint little Bavarian themed town in the mountains. We had a wonderful dinner in town and enjoyed a nice relaxing soak in the jacuzzi tub in our room. The perfect end to the perfect road trip...until we went to leave and found all our riding gear was stolen from the trailer... :mad: We have a lot of things to replace still but are at least sporting two new matching jackets!
Even with this pain in the ass on our last day, we had a great time and can't wait to do it again! See you all next year!
Derek (and Donna)
Quote from: Derek Young on June 14, 2015, 11:32:44 PM
Donna and I made it home just before 10:00 last night. 2 weeks on the road, close to 5800 KM on the SUV and trailer, over 1200 KM on the bikes and immeasurable smiles on our faces! It was a great rally, incredible sights to see, amazing roads to ride and our very own FJ slip and slide courtesy of mother nature! So good to see our old friends again and to meet some new ones. For those of you that have never been to a rally, you really are missing out. Do what it takes to get yourself to one!
The new trailer and tow vehicle performed very well, taking us through several mountain ranges on both sides of the Canada/US border.
We saw the Badlands, Glacier National Park (did some more riding) and then crossed into BC and stayed 2 nights in Nakusp (Kootenays) to ride some of the top roads in BC. This area is a must ride for anyone even remotely close by. SPECTACULAR in fact!
For our last night we decided to drop down into north eastern Washington State to go through some of our favorite riding roads anywhere. This area would be great for a rally! We stayed the night in Leavenworth WA, a quaint little Bavarian themed town in the mountains. We had a wonderful dinner in town and enjoyed a nice relaxing soak in the jacuzzi tub in our room. The perfect end to the perfect road trip...until we went to leave and found all our riding gear was stolen from the trailer... :mad: We have a lot of things to replace still but are at least sporting two new matching jackets!
Even with this pain in the ass on our last day, we had a great time and can't wait to do it again! See you all next year!
Derek (and Donna)
Glad you made it back home. Sorry about the last day I hate frigging thieves. I know it is a bit late but I had a wireless motion sensor in my trailer that would alert me if there was any movement inside the trailer. It works ... It went off, turned out just to be a guy admiring the bikes. But he knew he was caught.
http://www.harborfreight.com/wireless-driveway-alert-system-93068.html (http://www.harborfreight.com/wireless-driveway-alert-system-93068.html)
Lots of variations on the idea.
It was good to see you and Donna again. Hope to see you again on down the road.
George
Glad you and Donna made it home safe, Derek.
I had so much fun with you guys. It was one for the memory-books for sure!
That's a pretty good idea George. Have you tested it to see what the range is? It was good to see you again as well. Hopefully we will see you at next year"s rally.
It sure was awesome Alan! We want to go to Al's Bar and Grill every night! The next rally can't get here soon enough!
Derek
Quote from: Derek Young on June 16, 2015, 09:29:45 AM
That's a pretty good idea George. Have you tested it to see what the range is? It was good to see you again as well. Hopefully we will see you at next year"s rally.
It sure was awesome Alan! We want to go to Al's Bar and Grill every night! The next rally can't get here soon enough!
Derek
I haven't tested it for max range. It will depend on the batteries, obstacles etc.. Here at home I like to work with my garage door open a bit and when I go inside I have it set up to ding me if someone enters the garage while inside. The spec's say "up to 400 feet" but it is a cheap Harbor Freight deal so I don't hold any faith in there spec's. We used it while staying at Cody going to the rally also. No problem was encountered but Garth and I did test it. You can find them on sale for less than 12.00 at Harbor Freight.
There are more sophisticated alarm systems out there, I just didn't need a high powered system for what I was going to do. They probably have some that will call your phone etc.. When I make reservations at a motel or hotel I always check a satellite view of the place to see where or if I can park the trailer.
Trailers in hotel parking lots are an easy targets.
The alarm worked in Bozeman, when I lit the guy up with the LED flashlight he knew he was being watched. Should have used Garth's high power laser :).
One "classic" way a motorcycle thief will steal a bike is to walk around and "check" it out as an "admirer". Might even sit on it and rock it. If no alarm is indicated he or they will return later to steal the bike. No full proof method to stop the crap other than to make it hard for them. Locks, lights and things that make noise. They don't like attention. At least that's how I see it.
I am sure the bar and grill will grow between now and the next rally. :) It was good. TNX Alan !
George