First Long(ish) Ride of the Season

[rlucas]

I've been off the bikes for a while, but Sunday I took my first good ride of the season. Rode from Tiskilwa, IL (my home town) to Joliet, IL to pick up my mail, etc;, then back down to Morris, IL to meet up with some folks from the Chicagoland Dual-Sport Riders. Only about 5 people RSVP'd for the ride, but 14 showed up, including a guy on a BMW 100GS who just happened to stop for gas and wandered over to see what was going on.

The girl who led the ride knew the area extremely well; we ended up back near Tiskilwa and I saw some roads I had never seen before (including some cool gravel ) , though I grew up there. In fact, my parents were out tooling around in their 1938 Chevy Master Deluxe Coupe and saw us stopped by the side of the road:

Dad: "Theres a bunch of motorcyles over there...)
Mom: "Thats's your son."

Several KLRs, a couple of GSs, a couple of sportbikes that wussed out on the gravel bits...probably wise; it was kinda sketchy...3 V-Stroms, a 650 Dakar, and a KTM 950 Adventure, which peppered me with rocks on the gravel parts. I had to slow down and give him more space...

All told, 260 miles, a beautiful day, good food, and some real nice people. They'd fit right in with the FJ folks.

http://www.meetup.com/Chicagoland-Dual-Sport-Motorcycle-Club/calendar/13475192/

Rossi

[andyb]

I envy that you're so close to that part of 71...

[Yamifj1200]

Well alright Rock, good to see you back on two wheels. Nice pics of the group looks like you guys had a good time.  Thanks for sharing the ride..

Eric M

[simi_ed]

Bob, just curious; Have you ever done a FJ lower race this way?

Ed

[weymouth399]

NO

[mst3kguy]

good to hear you're back in the saddle, rock!