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2008 XS 30th anniversary, Idaho Aug 15-20

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  • Ride report

    Hey, seems that ride reports are the thing to do on this forum.
    So here is a quick one from me.
    Departed with Mike Flynn from Thompson Falls South to Junction on 93, where Mike went South and I turned north. The idea was to get back to BC, but Glacier National Park, slightly to the east was peaking through the haze. I needed another fix of centrifugal force as one encounters on mountain roads, with a dash of vertigo.
    The heat was back on, but there were lakes to dip in , and the ol 'wet Tshirt under mesh gear routine worked like a charm.
    After peaking out on the "to the Sun Highway" I beetled back into the land of Nanuk, the naughty Eskimo boy.
    I made it by dusk to Pincher Creek, Alberta, and decided to wild camp under one of those giant windmills, which are all over the foothills. Very interesteing to see the 200foot unit respond to wind changes while looking through my sunroofed tent.
    Next day: maybe I can make it through all of BC, East to West in one day on #3.
    Well, maybe Ken Daniels could with his Kawa wide open, but the rain also slowed me down. I hit it at Christina Lake, but, I must say, my rain gear was up to the task, and Richthofen ( My red xs Beast) took it in stride.
    Coming into Princeton, it was actually clearing up. I saw what looked like a Gypsie camp on the other side of the River, and sure enough, it was a "Backroads Campground" free and good company complete with campfire and grilled food.
    Appearantly there are literally hundreds of free camp site such as this one, check for backroadscamping.com if this appeals to you.
    Next day, leisurely back home through Vancouver and the BC ferries system.
    Now a few day later, I am with Ratbyk: OK, lets do it again....
    80 1100SG with 79 engine
    79 1100F being restored
    78 xs650 runabout (mpg, eh?)
    Irreverence is the champion of liberty and its only sure defense

    Comment


    • Weather Report From The Okanagan

      Yes, it felt like this to me!!! While we were there.
      Ratbyk

      May 30th:
      Just moved to THE SUNNY OKANAGAN. NOW THIS IS THE PLACE TO LIVE ... Beautiful sunny days and warm balmy evenings. What a place! It is beautiful. I've finally found my home. I love it here.








      June 14th:
      Really heating up. Got to 30 today. Not a problem. Live in an air-conditioned home, drive an air-conditioned car. What a pleasure to see the sun everyday like this. I'm turning into a sun worshipper.

      June 30th:
      Had the backyard landscaped with western plants today. Lots of cactus and rocks. What a breeze to maintain. No more mowing lawn for me. Another scorcher today, but I love it here.







      July 10th:
      The temperature hasn't been below 30 all week. How do people get used to this kind of heat? At least it's kind of windy though. But getting used to the heat is taking longer that I expected.

      July 15th:
      Fell asleep by the community pool. Got 3rd degree burns over 60% of my body. Missed 3 days of work. What a dumb thing to do. I learned my lesson though. Got to respect the ol' sun in a climate like this.

      July 20th:
      I missed Lomita (my cat) sneaking into the car when I left this morning. By the time I got to the hot car at noon, Lomita had died and swollen up to the size of a shopping bag and stunk up the upholstery. The car now smells like Kibbles and ****s. I learned my lesson though. No more pets in this heat.

      July 25th:
      The wind sucks. It feels like a giant freaking blow dryer!! And it's hot as hell. The home air-conditioner is on the Fritz and the A/C repairman charged $200 just to drive by and tell me he needed to order parts.








      July 30th:
      Been sleeping outside on the patio for 3 nights now. $500,000 house and I can't even go inside. Why did I ever come here?








      Aug. 4th:
      Its 42 degrees. Finally got the air-conditioner fixed today. It cost $500 and gets the temperature down to 20. I hate this stupid city.

      Aug. 8th:
      If another wise-ass cracks, 'Hot enough for you today?' I'm going to strangle him. Damn heat. By the time I get to work the radiator is boiling over, my clothes are soaking wet, and I smell like baked cat!!

      Aug. 9th:
      Tried to run some errands after work. Wore shorts, and when I sat on the seats in the car, I thought my ass was on fire. I lost 2 layers of flesh and all the hair on the back of my legs and ass. Now my car smells like burnt hair, fried ass, and baked cat.








      Aug. 10th:
      The weather report might as well be a damn recording. Hot and sunny! Hot and sunny! Hot and sunny! It's been too hot to do **** for 2 damn months and the weatherman says it might really warm up next week. Doesn't it ever rain in this damn desert?? Water rationing will be next, so my $1700 worth of cactus will just dry up and blow over. Even the cactus can't live in this damn heat.







      Aug. 14th:
      Welcome to HELL!!! Temperature got to 44 today. Forgot to crack the window and blew the damn windshield out of the car. The installer came to fix it and said, 'Hot enough for you today?' My sister had to spend $1500 to bail me out of jail. Freaking OKANAGAN!! What kind of a sick demented idiot would want to live here??







      Will write later to let you know how the trial went.













      May 30th:
      Just moved to THE SUNNY OKANAGAN. NOW THIS IS THE PLACE TO LIVE ... Beautiful sunny days and warm balmy evenings. What a place! It is beautiful. I've finally found my home. I love it here.








      June 14th:
      Really heating up. Got to 30 today. Not a problem. Live in an air-conditioned home, drive an air-conditioned car. What a pleasure to see the sun everyday like this. I'm turning into a sun worshipper.

      June 30th:
      Had the backyard landscaped with western plants today. Lots of cactus and rocks. What a breeze to maintain. No more mowing lawn for me. Another scorcher today, but I love it here.







      July 10th:
      The temperature hasn't been below 30 all week. How do people get used to this kind of heat? At least it's kind of windy though. But getting used to the heat is taking longer that I expected.

      July 15th:
      Fell asleep by the community pool. Got 3rd degree burns over 60% of my body. Missed 3 days of work. What a dumb thing to do. I learned my lesson though. Got to respect the ol' sun in a climate like this.

      July 20th:
      I missed Lomita (my cat) sneaking into the car when I left this morning. By the time I got to the hot car at noon, Lomita had died and swollen up to the size of a shopping bag and stunk up the upholstery. The car now smells like Kibbles and ****s. I learned my lesson though. No more pets in this heat.

      July 25th:
      The wind sucks. It feels like a giant freaking blow dryer!! And it's hot as hell. The home air-conditioner is on the Fritz and the A/C repairman charged $200 just to drive by and tell me he needed to order parts.








      July 30th:
      Been sleeping outside on the patio for 3 nights now. $500,000 house and I can't even go inside. Why did I ever come here?








      Aug. 4th:
      Its 42 degrees. Finally got the air-conditioner fixed today. It cost $500 and gets the temperature down to 20. I hate this stupid city.

      Aug. 8th:
      If another wise-ass cracks, 'Hot enough for you today?' I'm going to strangle him. Damn heat. By the time I get to work the radiator is boiling over, my clothes are soaking wet, and I smell like baked cat!!

      Aug. 9th:
      Tried to run some errands after work. Wore shorts, and when I sat on the seats in the car, I thought my ass was on fire. I lost 2 layers of flesh and all the hair on the back of my legs and ass. Now my car smells like burnt hair, fried ass, and baked cat.








      Aug. 10th:
      The weather report might as well be a damn recording. Hot and sunny! Hot and sunny! Hot and sunny! It's been too hot to do **** for 2 damn months and the weatherman says it might really warm up next week. Doesn't it ever rain in this damn desert?? Water rationing will be next, so my $1700 worth of cactus will just dry up and blow over. Even the cactus can't live in this damn heat.







      Aug. 14th:
      Welcome to HELL!!! Temperature got to 44 today. Forgot to crack the window and blew the damn windshield out of the car. The installer came to fix it and said, 'Hot enough for you today?' My sister had to spend $1500 to bail me out of jail. Freaking OKANAGAN!! What kind of a sick demented idiot would want to live here??







      Will write later to let you know how the trial went.

      Comment


      • Flashback

        Originally posted by ratbyk
        Look at watch and think to myself, I can make it HOME!! today.

        Pushed on until I hit 1-5 and take my first Interstate of the day. Shoot the 60 miles or so up to the boarder running pretty steady 90mph. Cross through customs/immigration at about 6.20 and shoot for the ferry. Caught the 7pm back to the island.

        Story not over yet!!

        As the boat came into Swartz Bay it starts to rain, HARD!!

        It is now dark. I suit up in all my rain gear and off load along with 250-300 cars and trucks. The next 20 minutes or so was some of the most difficult/dangerous riding I have done in a long time. The spray coming off all of these wheels made visibility through a soaked/fogging visor almost impossible. A gazillion tail/brake lights added to the mental confusion. The fact that I had already been riding for about 14 hours and covered close to a 1000 kms didn't help either.

        But, the horse and I could smell the barn. We were not stopping.

        Finally rolled into the driveway in Sooke about 9.45.
        2 double rums and a hot tub later and I was ready for bed.
        Great memorable ride. (for me)
        When are we going again!!! Pant Pant.
        I'm finally catching up on other peoples' rides. I have to take my hat off to you and thank you for the flashback to my own short jaunt in the lightning, wind, dust and rain out in Aridzona. I can visualize the traffic as you disembarked and Swartz Bay to Sooke, at night, in the rain, is not easy!

        I spent mid-summer and December, 2005, through the middle of January, 2006, with friends out on Vancouver Island. Naturally, we traveled all over the island and the mainland. I had a great time and made some new, good friends I'd really like to see again along with more of B.C.

        Now that 'Columbo' and I have been riding together long enough to trust one another I plan to do some more riding and go up to Canada again when I head back out to Aridzona, Nevada, Utah, Idaho, Oregon and Washington.


        Regards,

        Scott
        -- Scott
        _____

        2004 ST1300A: No name... yet
        1982 XJ1100J: "Baby" SS Brakes, '850 FD, ACCT
        1980 XS1100G: "Columbo" SS Brakes, '850 FD, ACCT
        1979 XS1100SF: "Bush" W.I.P.
        1979 XS1100F: parts
        2018 Heritage Softail Classic 117 FLHCS SE: "Nanuk" It's DEAD, it's not just resting. It is an EX cycle.

        Comment

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