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I'm wondering who else is doing the Tulare >> Colorado escapade?  I'm planning on this,  I guess Klavdy & Marsh, Baldy and ...?  I'm thinking about routes, HEAT (It will be June), etc.  Anybody?

I'm doing this as well. 

Taking about three weeks off work.

Will be a great time.   :good2:

Paul Lawson and I will be going (from the WCR)   Heat?  baaaa.....(famous last words)

Heat?
Mate, I'm bringing heated gear, jacket & gloves.
We damn near froze to death last year.

(http://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-fEJf9e0VtO4/TnvnDeYrWkI/AAAAAAAAGM8/aRvkrwasGY8/w500-h497-k/IMGP0002.JPG)

K-man, that's just your 'cool' persona manifesting itself on your faceshield/hands/knees/road. 

Although it is looking bleak for me to go to Colorado due  to daughters High school grad ( I have tried to get people on my side but even my biker friends think I'm a heal for even thinking about missing the grad)

Heat - June -- not that bad ...Snow ... Bad.  If I were to plan I would spend one day getting to some good roads via Superslab ( theory here is we just spent WCR on some nice twisties so one day making miles wouldn't be bad.  

Here my thought based on the above..

Sunday ' leave Porterville -- to Bakersfield ...take 178 across up 14 then hang a U and head back down the 395 - 58 to 15 to Vegas ....here the problem ..GO through VEGAS ( I doubt the out of towners will want to and I understand..but I can go to Vegas anytime.) Head to Mesquite

Stay in Mesquite Sunday -- Mesquite has gambling - inexpensive Hotels -- complete Prime rib dinner 4.99 and its good.. its like Vegas used to be ....give away the food and rooms to get people to come and gamble.  First day is really just to get to the good roads and get close.

2nd day Monday  -- Ride UTAH /Arizona -- lots of ways ..here one that includes the 4 corners ( I would think a must) ...objective is to get to Durango.

http://maps.google.com/maps/ms?msid=218295389539508427664.0004bb5e5f955646b68c1&msa=0 (http://maps.google.com/maps/ms?msid=218295389539508427664.0004bb5e5f955646b68c1&msa=0)

Stay in Durango.  

Tuesday -- Hwy 50 and or surrounding area -- could even be a day off of riding as you are very close to the host KOA -- Take the Narrow Gauge train to Silverton ...  FIELD TRIP .... I have always wanted to take this choo-choo train run.

At some point leave Durango and arrive at Host KOA .. via Hwy 50 ...which is awesome.

Wednesday -- still not the official start of the Colorado rally --  -- Meet up with those that are there and Head to PIKES PEAk -- and back -- I doubt that it  is on the agenda for the rally.

Thursday -- Start of Colorado Rally ...

FYI,
A round trip on that stupid RR is $83 and takes ALL DAY.  A waste of time if I was there to ride.

Also, watch your speed near Silverton.  Speed limit is 45 in the whole county, it does NOT go back up to 60 outside of the city limits like every other town in Co. DAMHIK!

DavidR.

Quote from: SlowOldGuy on March 16, 2012, 02:11:25 PM
FYI,
A round trip on that stupid RR is $83 and takes ALL DAY.  A waste of time if I was there to ride.

Also, watch your speed near Silverton.  Speed limit is 45 in the whole county, it does NOT go back up to 60 outside of the city limits like every other town in Co. DAMHIK!

DavidR.

  :bomb: :bomb: there goes my bubble .... but it looks so cool.  What if I drank on the train the whole way.... ya thats the ticket.

Yeah!
Drink all the way, plus they have State legal pot there so you can get hammered on pot & rotgut whiskey then projectile vomit outta the train windows like a real old school cowboy.
Bring a couple six guns too, you might even get to meet 'ol one eyed Scot.
Whoooo, whooo!

Choof choof chooof choof.

I'm looking forward to our speedometer check thru Monument Valley.
Tuck in nice and low,
take a deep breath,
say a prayer,

.....and then hold the throttle WFO while you count to 50............

....and for a reward, a big 'ole T bone on the swinging mesquete BBQ at Mexican Hat.
Yummy!

Kinda goes a little like this,,,

motorrad mit 300 km h polizei vobei... (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PRyrySoJpR8#)

What do you think? They couldn't even figure out what it was' the way their heads snapped around could have caused whiplash. Priceless

Umm.. how did I know the Mexican Hat Lodge would be brought up.  :)

Bit of a haul from Porterville to Mexican Hat in one day, but wouldn't bother me.  Would make the steak taste a whole lot better at the end of the day.

So far there are seven of us.  If we want to stay at the lodge we should think about making reservations somewhat soon.... Just a thought..

Not too worried about heat.. It's the cold I'm more worried about.  I should have bought my heated jacket liner years ago.. best money I've spent on gear so far.

That's a good idea ,Bean.
Post back when you've arranged the reservations.

I would think the Mexican Hat would be the next day so no worries on the extended ride.   Look at it this way if you /we ( still holding on to a little hope) do the run as posted there is more to do in Mesquite than Mexican Hat.  But I think it should be a place we stop... maybe for lunch.... to see whose GPS shows the fastest Top Speed.

( we all reset the top speed and then make the montezuma run)

steve

The wife and I will be doing the trek as well. She is going to go ahead and drive the truck with her bike on the trailer and it can act as a support vehicle. I have not taken anytime to look at the routes, so I might just tag along with the group.

Then again, I might throw my bike on the trailer at some point and slab it down the road...who knows...

I definitely will be going to Pikes Peak at some point as well, either before or after.

I do know on the way back I am heading north and stopping in Bonneville...Might get to take a little run down the salt...

Randy - RPM

If the two of you drive, it will be quicker and less tiring and you can bring more goodies.
You can drive straight through, maybe just have to swap drivers.
On a bike, you have to stop, get some rest.
Bummer about the trailer and California's speed limits on trucks/trailers though.

Good deal Randy! This is gonna be fun.

Klavdy's idea of throwing our gear in the back of your truck has merit... I do notice a tiny bit of a speed wobble at 140 with my bags on..

Quote from: Pat Conlon on March 19, 2012, 01:10:58 PM
Good deal Randy! This is gonna be fun.

Klavdy's idea of throwing our gear in the back of your truck has merit... I do notice a tiny bit of a speed wobble at 140 with my bags on..

Jeez, was that the day we went to Joshua Tree?
It was, what, 125 degrees+ and we decided to match MPH with temp?

IIRC.. it was balmy 127* that day. A hot afternoon riding thru Joshua Tree for sure.....
I was most impressed at your endurance Klavdy.....I remember thinking,  those freakin Aussies breed no wimps.....
The numerous pitchers of ice tea and lemonade we had at the Mexican restaurant sure tasted good, huh?

Sure hit the spot, what are they called, Arnold Palmers?
Yes, just looked it up, Arnold Palmers.
There's a John Daly too, but probably best avoided on the bike.
In Aus, we don't have the vast range of soft drinks (Sodas) you have,and most certainly do not have more or less unlimited soda fountain refills.
Nor are the cups for our fountain drinks and slushy type things as big.
It's a trip, watching someone drink what looks like a Kentucky Fried Chicken bucket of soda at a gas stop then back up for a refill.
Then the invariable pissing like a madman a bit later.

Quote from: pdxfj on March 16, 2012, 08:14:00 PM
Umm.. how did I know the Mexican Hat Lodge would be brought up.  :)

Bit of a haul from Porterville to Mexican Hat in one day, but wouldn't bother me.  Would make the steak taste a whole lot better at the end of the day.

Bean, that's what I was thinking as well.  Here's my suggestion for a route from WCR to CO. Almost 1,400 miles-way too far for any of us in 1 day, I'd venture  :negative:
But I think we could have a fun day or 2-3!
http://g.co/maps/jxarg (http://g.co/maps/jxarg)

That's a good one, Ed.
Definitely do Monument Valley, it's eerie.
Can make you feel insignificant and fleeting.
You been to Hurricane then Virgin through Zion National park to Kanab?
It's a fantastic, although a bit slow at times, ride.
Incredibly scenic.
I put a video of it in the files section.
Also, cutting across from Bluff to Durango on the 162/160 then onto the 550 (Million $ Hwy)  is also really good.
Hmmm, so many good roads,,,

Quote from: simi_ed on March 21, 2012, 06:49:53 AM
Here's my suggestion for a route from WCR to CO. Almost 1,400 miles-way too far for any of us in 1 day, I'd venture  :negative:
But I think we could have a fun day or 2-3!
http://g.co/maps/jxarg (http://g.co/maps/jxarg)

Ed, here - I fixed it for ya!  This is the EXACT way Klavdy and I came back from the Gunnison FJ Rally in 2006.  It was awesome.  It will be the way I am going to Gunnison.  I'm just trying to help - your way would have taken you through some real shit areas - trust me when I say I know all of these roads in this part of the country.  I started this map in St. George - to make it easy.  From St. George onward - this is the only way worth traveling.  Just my humble - fully informed and experienced - opinion of course!   :biggrin:
http://maps.google.com/maps/ms?msid=204205158776740873395.0004bbc3e37436c99ebf8&msa=0 (http://maps.google.com/maps/ms?msid=204205158776740873395.0004bbc3e37436c99ebf8&msa=0)

I'll do Mexican Hat on the way back home - on the way back to hitting the slab in Flagstaff. 

ooooh, that's good Marsh........

I wanted to ride though central Utah on my way to Arizona, via Hanksville, White and Fry Canyons but the weather was just too crappy.

Looks like a fun trip.  Tim Mintz doesn't live far from Hurricane.. could go invade his place.  :)  That is if we had an address..

Quote from: Marsh White on March 21, 2012, 12:20:18 PM

Quote from: simi_ed on March 21, 2012, 06:49:53 AM
Here's my suggestion for a route from WCR to CO. Almost 1,400 miles-way too far for any of us in 1 day, I'd venture  :negative:
But I think we could have a fun day or 2-3!
http://g.co/maps/jxarg (http://g.co/maps/jxarg)

Ed, here - I fixed it for ya!  This is the EXACT way Klavdy and I came back from the Gunnison FJ Rally in 2006.  It was awesome.  It will be the way I am going to Gunnison.  I'm just trying to help - your way would have taken you through some real shit areas - trust me when I say I know all of these roads in this part of the country.  I started this map in St. George - to make it easy.  From St. George onward - this is the only way worth traveling.  Just my humble - fully informed and experienced - opinion of course!   :biggrin:
http://maps.google.com/maps/ms?msid=204205158776740873395.0004bbc3e37436c99ebf8&msa=0 (http://maps.google.com/maps/ms?msid=204205158776740873395.0004bbc3e37436c99ebf8&msa=0)

I'll do Mexican Hat on the way back home - on the way back to hitting the slab in Flagstaff. 

Excellent routing there Fluffy.
Now, the getting to the Colorado bits, I don't particularly want to go through Las Vegas, the traffic sucks and they take a dim view on groups lane splitting.
Who's got a good route, mebbe through Death Valley?
Death Valley is awesome, especially the runs in and out of it, I think it's the 190?
Then turn off onto the 178 to Badwater (I've been there)then across to Pahrump?
I dunno.

No on Death Valley, too hot! :diablo:
My route goes from Yosemite to Lee Vining to Bishop, then north thru Tonopaugh.  Althought there is not much difference once your into that whole desert-plain thing ...

Quote from: simi_ed on March 21, 2012, 10:39:50 PM
No on Death Valley, too hot! :diablo:
My route goes from Yosemite to Lee Vining to Bishop, then north thru Tonopaugh.  Althought there is not much difference once your into that whole desert-plain thing ...

Ed, how do you really feel about that????

Quote from: simi_ed on March 21, 2012, 10:39:50 PM
No on Death Valley, too hot! :diablo:
My route goes from Yosemite to Lee Vining to Bishop, then north thru Tonopaugh.  Althought there is not much difference once your into that whole desert-plain thing ...

Nah, it wont be too hot that time of the year in Death Valley, not early June.

You're kidding, right?
(http://fjowners.com/gallery/3/medium_21_22_03_12_2_24_32.jpeg) (http://fjowners.com/gallery/3/medium_21_22_03_12_2_28_12.jpeg)

Dude, it's a DRY heat.

Ya know, I have experienced that dry heat before.  It still cooks & dehydrates you.  I'd just as soon go where it's only 100^oF, instead of 120^oF+.  Maybe it's me, but enough is enough.  And also, these old air cooled bikes don't really dig the heat.  Of course, if I were a traitor to the brand and bought some Eye-talian Water-cooled sissy bike, then I wouldn't care if it was 120^oF+ either.

what about the grand canyon for us poor colonists :wacko1: :sarcastic:

Quote from: Klavdy on March 22, 2012, 05:37:29 AM
Dude, it's a DRY heat.

So is my oven.

Quote from: baldy3853 on March 22, 2012, 07:13:48 AM
what about the grand canyon for us poor colonists :wacko1: :sarcastic:

We'll be 10 minutes from the east entrance on the way back from the WCR - if you are riding my route anyway.  It is easy to go through it there and you come out in Williams Arizona - good stuff!

Ed ..I checked out your map -- the ride from Porterville to Bishop ...all ok but after that its just not fun.  Its long desert ..flat roads in the middle of nowhere.   

The porterville to Bishop roads I take care of on a different trip -- a 3 day trip .... leave LA ...head north on 395  ... stop at June Lake -- 120 across .... end up in Monterey ... Coast home.

My thought on the Colorado Trip would be to do the roads that are far away that I wouldn't get to normally.... thus for me it will be Super Slab to Mesquite ... then Marsh's plan from there ..or Klavdy plan through Zion  ..or go even further north from St. George and head east from Cedar City ...maybe through Bryce Canyon etc...

Theory ...get to the road you can't get to in a day...

stevecc

Quote from: Marsh White on March 22, 2012, 05:55:27 PM

Quote from: baldy3853 on March 22, 2012, 07:13:48 AM
what about the grand canyon for us poor colonists :wacko1: :sarcastic:

We'll be 10 minutes from the east entrance on the way back from the WCR - if you are riding my route anyway.  It is easy to go through it there and you come out in Williams Arizona - good stuff!