Premium Member rustyshackles Posted July 4, 2016 Premium Member Share Posted July 4, 2016 FJ-09 Friends, I'm not having a midlife crisis, but like this name. I will be 50 in September, and to recognize the milestone (and get some serious "me time") I've planned a 13-day route from my home near Dallas, TX to Astoria, OR and back. Start date will be July 10. In a departure from how I usually handle my personal thoughts and feelings, I hope to let my defenses down a bit and share some of my experiences here, in a public forum. I'm not on Facebook, Twitter, etc., and generally play things close to the vest, so bear with me. i have started a Photobucket account and, technology willing, will post photos along with journal-type entries. I expect to use the Day One app. I am an experienced endurance runner, and have a 1000 mile/24 hour ride under my belt, plus a couple of Dallas to Phoenix trips, so I'm not clueless to the challenge that lies ahead. I expect to be tested by some of the roads I have planned though. It would be fun to meet some of you as I make my way around. If schedules permit, perhaps we could meet for a coffee or a quick hello. Here are the planned dates and locations: July 10 Santa Fe, NM July 11 Ouray, CO July 12 Provo, UT July 13 Lava Hot Springs, ID July 14 Boise, ID July 15 Bend, OR July 16 Forest Grove, OR July 17 Lincoln City, OR July 18 Newport, OR July 19 Crescent City, CA July 20 Santa Rosa, CA July 21 Kingsburg, CA More to follow... IBA Member #59800 3 Nations Brewing Mug Club #100 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
madsquabbles Posted July 4, 2016 Share Posted July 4, 2016 Sounds like a great time. I am heading out from Indiana to CA leaving on the 9th. Might cross paths (so to speak) depending on how things go for me. I am also taking about 13/15 days depending on how it works out. To be determined. Keep us posted. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Premium Member keithu Posted July 5, 2016 Premium Member Share Posted July 5, 2016 Looks lime it'll be a great trip! If I have some free time maybe we can meet up when you're in western Oregon. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Premium Member rustyshackles Posted July 8, 2016 Author Premium Member Share Posted July 8, 2016 The start of the tour is less than 48 hours away, and I'm very excited. The bike is ready and most of the stuff that I will bring is laid out though not packed in the luggage. Some bio/background info: The machine: 2015 FJ-09, matte grey, purchased new early April 2016. Approximately 2700 miles on the clock. Notable mods & equipment: - Higdonian crash bars & skid plate - fender extender - suspension sag adjustment done - Denali DM micro LED lights - Garmin Zumo 660 hard wired to battery - electric vest pigtail lead hard wired to battery - integrated brake light/turn indicators - luggage will be Kriega US-40 configuration (40 liter capacity) plus RKA Shiloh Road 13-liter tank bag. I'm not handy so I am not bringing much in the way of tools besides a tire plug kit and mini air compressor. The man: 49 years old, married with fraternal twin 10 year old boys,13 years riding with some endurance experience. Previous bikes were GS 500, SV 650, and Street Triple R. The reason: Solitude, adventure, and a break from routine . Even though I work in sales, part of me is a loner, and between work and family I get little time completely to myself. Several days will be spent riding in OR which might be my favorite state. Stage 1 will be a long day in the saddle, about 10 hours, but straightforward super slab and state roads. The weather is expected to be dry and hot. More to come... IBA Member #59800 3 Nations Brewing Mug Club #100 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rodan Posted July 8, 2016 Share Posted July 8, 2016 Looks like a good trip, but I would add an another day in CO... it's spectacular this time of year. I'll be leaving Northern AZ on the 14th for Wisconsin to visit family. Don't have time for detours, but I'm trying to work in some of the squiggly roads on my route... First cross-country trip for the FJ9, but not for me. I'm the same age, and I'm starting to feel the miles a little more than I used to. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
oldfart Posted July 8, 2016 Share Posted July 8, 2016 Good for you! Sounds like a wonderful trip. Because you're being so open I'll share my little fantasy trip with you. I'd like to ride across the country, but not across the country and back. So....My plan is to fly to the east coast, buy a solid used bike there, ride it back here to Palm Springs, CA, and then sell it for close to what I paid for it. Of course, I haven't done it yet but it's something I'm really considering. In the meantime, I ride every year from Palm Springs to Seattle WA and back where my brother lives. Total mileage is about 2,450 round trip. Did it last year on the FJ for the first time and the bike was awesome. Anyway, have a great time on your journey I look forward to your pics and notes on the ride. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Premium Member rustyshackles Posted July 8, 2016 Author Premium Member Share Posted July 8, 2016 oldfart that would be a hell of a trip, I hope you're able to do it. I also want to mention the gear I will be wearing in case anyone is interested in a field test review. I got a nice annual bonus this year and spent some of it on top of the line stuff that I have been coveting: Shoei Neotec helmet (my first modular), Aerostich Transit 2 jacket (last one they had in my size!), and Rukka Energator pants. Also I needed proper Goretex boots, and purchased the Dianese Nighthawk C2. Also for rainy days the Rukka Virium Goretex gloves. IBA Member #59800 3 Nations Brewing Mug Club #100 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Premium Member rustyshackles Posted July 13, 2016 Author Premium Member Share Posted July 13, 2016 The ride from home to Santa Fe was uneventful. It was a long day in the saddle, 11 1/2 hours including stops. It was hot during the afternoon and I added a couple of fluid breaks. The bike ran well. Coming out of a stop the fuel gauge showed full for a period of time when the tank wasn't; not sure what caused that. I opted for a quick and easy dinner (Subway) near Where I stayed, followed by a chain lubrication in the parking lot. 'Day 2 ride will be US-285 to Alamosa, CO; US-160 to Durango; then US-550 to Ouray. I checked highway conditions web sites and I'm expecting to be slowed down by road work between Silverton and Ouray. I'm one of the morons who has difficulty posting pictures; I'll work to sort this out. IBA Member #59800 3 Nations Brewing Mug Club #100 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rodan Posted July 13, 2016 Share Posted July 13, 2016 If you're still headed into Utah, take 550 out of Ouray to 62 to 145 to 141 the back way into Grand Junction. Don't be tempted to take the shortcut from Naturita to Moab, 141 from Naturita into Grand Junction is worth the extra miles. Do the CO National Monument, then hit I70 into Utah. FYI, my fuel gauge doesn't come off 'full' until ~ 130 miles or so. I'll be in Grand Junction Thursday night... will be the end of day one on my way to WI. Safe travels! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Premium Member fddriver2 Posted July 13, 2016 Premium Member Share Posted July 13, 2016 If you're still headed into Utah, then hit I70 into Utah. Safe travels! A second vote for I-70. I normally avoid the "I's" like the plaque. I drove (not rode) I-70 between Salinas and Grand Junction. As pretty stretch of road as you'll find. IMO.... "It doesn't matter who walks in, you know the joke is still the same" Ft. Lauderdale, Florida. USA Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Premium Member rustyshackles Posted July 29, 2016 Author Premium Member Share Posted July 29, 2016 The MLCT was a great success. My plan was to post updates here during the ride, but that didn't happen. As mentioned stage 1, aside from being long (691 miles), had nothing unusual about it. I was pumped to be riding after months of planning though. I stayed at someone's home which i reserved through Airbnb. If you have not tried this i recommend that you do. The route was from my home near Dallas-Ft. Worth Int'l Airport -- TX-114 W -- US-287 N -- I-40 W -- then US-285 into Santa Fe. Route planning was done using Garmin Basecamp software. It has some powerful features, but the user interface is a bit prehistoric. The tutorial provided by Garmin is utterly useless. The best user guide I found was self-published by a guy in Germany ($30). Here I am at the start of the day, 6 AM local time. That's a banana tree behind the car. http://i1266.photobucket.com/albums/jj523/FJ-09rider/image_zpsda9ccstd.jpeg Here's the first glamour shot from the tour, near Claude, TX on US-287 http://i1266.photobucket.com/albums/jj523/FJ-09rider/image_zpsjharodts.jpeg This place is a classic tourist destination in Amarillo, the Big Texan Steak Ranch http://i1266.photobucket.com/albums/jj523/FJ-09rider/image_zpsw4vut3xw.jpeg if you eat the 72 oz steak and trimmings in one hour, the meal is free, and your name is added to the wall of fame. It sounds hokey, but it's worth stopping if you are passing through. The beef is not high end steakhouse quality, but the experience is fun. IBA Member #59800 3 Nations Brewing Mug Club #100 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Premium Member rustyshackles Posted July 30, 2016 Author Premium Member Share Posted July 30, 2016 Stage 2 was Santa Fe, NM to Ouray, CO, 368 miles. It started with a northbound run up US-285 to Alamosa, CO. On the way I stopped in a small CO town and couldn't say no to the delightful older woman at a small cafe who suggested I order this http://i1266.photobucket.com/albums/jj523/FJ-09rider/IMG_3037_zps2mrpgced.jpg Further on, before stopping for gas, I saw some local recreation options http://i1266.photobucket.com/albums/jj523/FJ-09rider/IMG_3038_zpsgg8rkzsj.jpg and http://i1266.photobucket.com/albums/jj523/FJ-09rider/IMG_3039_zpsdmhsula6.jpg The FJ-09 patiently waiting http://i1266.photobucket.com/albums/jj523/FJ-09rider/IMG_3040_zpsjtkhuhfo.jpg I took US-160 west from Alamosa to Durango. During this stretch i enjoyed my first taste of really excellent roads and views, like this http://i1266.photobucket.com/albums/jj523/FJ-09rider/IMG_3042_zpsaojnt2sx.jpg I'm still learning how to take good selfies http://i1266.photobucket.com/albums/jj523/FJ-09rider/IMG_3043_zpsxgcxaoy3.jpg The roads got more fun as I got closer to Durango, and US-550 from Durango to Ouray is simply awesome. I've driven it a bunch of times in a car, and have wanted to ride it for years. There are sections of tight hairpin turns between Silverton and Ouray which were fun. I recommend checking out Silverton (9,318'). It's a super cool Victorian mining town with quirkiness and character to spare. I don't think I could take a place like this for granted http://i1266.photobucket.com/albums/jj523/FJ-09rider/IMG_3045_zpsjezmwdag.jpg Here is a view of Silverton from US-550, just before the road snakes down and into town http://i1266.photobucket.com/albums/jj523/FJ-09rider/IMG_3047_zpsqefrmjgl.jpg I love the San Juans, and i was really enjoying myself. I am familiar with the area, but the vibe was completely different on a bike and without the filter of companions. Road work plagued me throughout the trip. It's said that there are two seasons in CO, winter and road repair. This is the first of many dead stops waiting for traffic to continue http://i1266.photobucket.com/albums/jj523/FJ-09rider/IMG_3049_zps1rpz5nho.jpg Here are some shots from Ouray. The day was a long one, approximately 9 hours including stops. http://i1266.photobucket.com/albums/jj523/FJ-09rider/IMG_3050_zpsppbqllh9.jpg http://i1266.photobucket.com/albums/jj523/FJ-09rider/IMG_0094_zpshwusfvng.jpg http://i1266.photobucket.com/albums/jj523/FJ-09rider/IMG_0096_zpsnvbwdyuy.jpg http://i1266.photobucket.com/albums/jj523/FJ-09rider/IMG_3053_zpstex5eqyx.jpg I saw many other riders this day. There was lots of waving. Lots of Harleys and BMWs but no FJ-09s. I had a few beers at Ouray Brewery, a decent elk burger somewhere else, and called it a night. An early start was planned for the morning. IBA Member #59800 3 Nations Brewing Mug Club #100 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Premium Member fanowater Posted July 30, 2016 Premium Member Share Posted July 30, 2016 Nice trip. I did hwy 550 last year. We waited for an hour for the tunnel between Silverton and Ouray. Was fun talking to other motorcyclists until it started raining - then we were less than enthused. Hope the rest of the trip went well. Cheers 2015 FJ-09 2006 Triumph Daytona 675 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Premium Member rustyshackles Posted July 31, 2016 Author Premium Member Share Posted July 31, 2016 Stage 3: Ouray, CO to Provo, UT. 456 miles. One benefit of an early start was seeing this on US-550 between Ouray and Ridgway. http://i1266.photobucket.com/albums/jj523/FJ-09rider/IMG_3054_zps1uaslejm.jpg This is my favorite photo from the tour. The freedom of being alone on the road was very tangible now. Being able to go or stop at my pace was liberating. Before leaving the hotel the bike had the first of several temporary instrument display glitches. After power was turned on, the usual display start up sequence did not happen. The right side of the display was almost completely blank. It corrected itself after the engine started and this problem did not recur. Having not eaten anything in Ouray I stopped at a McDonald's in Montrose for oatmeal and a coffee. I picked up US-50 north to near Grand Junction, then hauled ass on I-70 east. I used Butler Maps for route planning, and based on their recommendation wanted to ride CO-64 going east to west. I picked the road up after a very brief detour for gas in Meeker. As my plans did not include nighttime riding I wasn't concerned about finding late night gas stations. I did use the Gas Buddy app to verify gas station locations, and Meeker was one place where I needed to gas up so I put it as a waypoint in my Basecamp route for the day. CO-64 was a fun road, and for a while I nearly had it to myself. Eventually the dreaded one lane road/construction blocked my way again http://i1266.photobucket.com/albums/jj523/FJ-09rider/IMG_3057_zps1cfm2zsx.jpg Prior to the tour I had done almost no riding on dirt or gravel, and was a bit intimidated by this. By the time I left CO I no longer felt this way. Some miles later I saw these signs http://i1266.photobucket.com/albums/jj523/FJ-09rider/IMG_3065_zps4eqneumz.jpg http://i1266.photobucket.com/albums/jj523/FJ-09rider/IMG_3067_zpsfybdgweo.jpg The first warns of blasting at a mile marker still to come, and I was in the indicated date range. The second says to expect delays of up to 4 hours. Parked in a small cutout at the signs was a woman in a contractor's pickup truck. I asked her what she knew, and after consulting a paper map we concluded that even if blasting was happening where indicated I could backtrack a few miles and pick up a mostly paved road that would take me north and connect to US-40 which I could take toward Provo. After another stop to take in the scenery http://i1266.photobucket.com/albums/jj523/FJ-09rider/IMG_3069_zpsxpvprqwj.jpg I was on my way. Never during the trip did I break for a proper sit down lunch, in the interest of saving time. I had calories in the tank bag, and took more in during fuel or bathroom stops. I know from my experience as an endurance runner that the effects of calorie deficit are to be taken seriously. Along with loss of energy comes reduced enthusiasm for the task at hand, and in the case of motorcycling, a drop in riding skill. During a downhill section on US-40 east of Heber, UT I began craving food and looking for a place to pull over. A glorious run south on US-189 south beside the Deer Creek Reservoir was marred by worry over safely reaching my destination. At the first opportunity I purchased a Coke and potato chips and felt revived. The Provo Marriott http://i1266.photobucket.com/albums/jj523/FJ-09rider/IMG_0098_zpsic0iqj4f.jpg was a nice hotel. I felt refreshed after a shower and beers at a nearby dive bar http://i1266.photobucket.com/albums/jj523/FJ-09rider/IMG_0099_zps9fac3adb.jpg Vietnamese noodle soup (pho) was the dinner of choice. I slept well that night. IBA Member #59800 3 Nations Brewing Mug Club #100 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
johnnyd Posted August 7, 2016 Share Posted August 7, 2016 Update!? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Archived
This topic is now archived and is closed to further replies.