MOTORCYCLE RIDING

[JohnO]

I keep a 1982 Yamaha XT 550 at the front of my 22’ dry box for enjoyment during down time.

January I started storing bike in box figuring I would get runs in Florida, Alabama, Mississippi, Louisiana, Texas, New Mexico, Arizona, California and other parts of the country with WARM WINTERS.

Well you guested right all I got was runs to the middle of March was Maine, New Hampshire, Vermont, New Jersey, Connecticut, Massachusetts, New York, Pennsylvania, Ohio, Indiana, Illinois, Michigan, Iowa, Nebraska, Wyoming, Colorado, Utah, Idaho, Oregon and Washington.

My luck changed and I then got 6 months of runs from Nevada, California, Arizona and New Mexico some really warm areas with GREAT

I usually had 3-4 days off a week including weekends as I was mostly pre-dispatched on some great runs paying serious bucks. So not willing to lose out I just stayed in the area and picked up other runs when they fit into my pre-dispatched runs.

Each mc run I would head in a different direction traveling on many dirt trails , roads and plus bushwacking when allowed. I always carried a backpack, 6-8 liters of water, hydration hose so I could drink while riding, tarp with pegs and rope if needed, sun block, flashlight, whistle, signal mirror, windbreaker, billed baseball hat, emergency foil blanket, snacks including 6 or morel packets of frosted pop-tarts brown sugar with cinnamon of course, compass, first aid bag, fire starters, kindling (dryer dust mixed with Vaseline inside a ziploc bag, map of area, 1.5 gallon container of gasoline, quart of oil, tools, repair kit for tire and wire for any minor repairs needed, of course cash and change along with some other items I’ve missed.

I never ventured more than and hour driving time off beaten trails just in case there was a problem.

Saw a lot of wild life along the way including wild burro, deer, prong horn sheep, antelope, scads of rabbits, snakes, host of birds of every size and shape & beautiful wild flowers. If was like watching a National Geographic without commercials. Sure beat sitting around listening to all the conspiracies being hatched at truck stops. Meet some very interesting local folks along the way which added color to the ride.

Never had a mishap and I always checked the bike out thoroughly before each run and whenever I got gas. No sense in inviting trouble for something that could have been easily avoided.

One day in Flagstaff at All American truck stop I started bike in box and was rererechecking as I had dropped it putting back in box after last ride. I revved up the engine and slowly drove it to open door stopping in plenty of time and repeated this several times. Noticed a h/w talking with another h/w the next row back and they were hawking me out. Not one to miss an opportunity to have some fun I repeated driving bike back and forth kicking up a wheeling and giving the impression I was going to jump the box. Then I shut it off go out lit up the liftgate rising up to box and took the bike down.

The two h/w’s came over laughing saying they thought I was going to jump out of truck. With a straight face I said jump out isn’t the problem jumping back in IS. Any way we all had a good laugh and talked about mc for quite a while then off I went to explore more of the area.

Life on the road is very enjoyable.

Be Well!

[Moot]

John, when not on the trail, nuke those brown sugar and cinnamon Poptarts for 12 seconds. Yummy. Fruit Poptarts get 11 seconds.

[Dreamer]

Great post John! Makes me want to buy another one.. LOL. I know many of us on here ride, Arelene and Jim, and Raceman too...and it's nice to hear that you could combine the two. I'd thought of taking along a bike back when, but didn't have a liftgate.. so that makes it a little difficult.. :) .

I'd love to have seen their faces when you were goosin' for the door!

Side note.. John Mueller from PTL has an awesome looking bike... perhaps he'll stop by and post a pic!



Dreamer
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[LDB]

John, that does sound like a lot of fun. The only thing missing from your supplies/equipment list is your ham radio for just in case. Makes me want to get a bike to carry along too. Do you have a photo showing it stowed in the cargo box you could post sometime?

Leo Bricker, 73's K5LDB
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[pelicn]

My hubby does NOT need to read this post! He has a Yamaha V-Strom that he tucks into bed each time we leave home LOL
We hauled the recruiting trailer for the last company we worked for and at the time we had a Kawasaki Nomad that we hauled with us. If we ever are in a position to buy our own truck, it will be set up to haul a bike.:)

[copdsux]

John O: Two words for you: Deal's Gap!!

[JohnO]

Yeah, US 129 "The Dragon".

Go for it!

[JohnO]

I'll take some and then ask for help geting them up here.

[JohnO]

You got me salivating for more toasted frosted pop-tarts.

[JohnO]

Always made a few passes through the lot just to get drivers thinking that there more ways to enjoy down town.

At next Expo maybe have a motorcycle display?

[JohnO]

I had a guy who was going to build a removal able rack attached to back to truck when I needed those 3'in box so far no final plans. The rack can be taken apart and stored in tool box under box.

[JohnMueller]

John O and Freightchaser;

Deals Gap (The Dragon) and Honda Hoot are the best times you'll ever have on a bike. I missed the Hoot here in 2007, but do intend to attend the 2008 (15th) Anniversary Edition of the Hoot. All makes of bikes welcome. You'll find that the Hoot is more geared towards rides and family type entertainment.

My daughter just recently obtained her MC endorsement. She has two Hoots under her belt and can hardly wait to ride Deals Gap on her own bike. I'm sure we will end up riding the dragon a few times while there. It is only a short ride from Knoxville to the Gap. Don't forget about the Skyway ride (Rte 143?) also - very scenic. The Skyway runs directly into 129 and the Dragon. It took about 9 hours of enjoyable riding last time to take in both in one day, from the hotel, ride, and back. Not bad.

Just my two cents!

Thanks,
HotFr8Recruiter

[Dreamer]

Posting these for John (HotFr8Recruiter)

2004 Honda VTX1800C, custom real flame paint
1985 Honda Goldwing Limited Edition



(sorry for the small pics, tried larger and the system wouldn't take them)

Dreamer
Forums Administrator
Expeditersonline.com
Truckme.com

"Ability can take you to the top, but it takes Character to keep you there."

- Zig Ziglar