S and gS on a hasty day trip

lightfighter · 11-22-2010, 07:50 AM

GS in gS mode needed to be tried out, we hit the road on another poorly planned daytrip. I think we said something about being back by “early afternoon”. Yeah… we ALWAYS get home on time.

This could hav been called the Border Patrol tour… some 20 BP vehicles and three checkpoints we passed…

lightfighter · 11-22-2010, 08:11 AM

Stopped for gas and hot coffee… it was a chilly day. I had all the liners in my R2P, and my “warmer than sidi’s” Gaerne boots on but was still cold. Im pretty sure Rob was trying to think of a way to plug the little holes in his leathers.

I did not photograph the entertaining character we met there… when I came out of the gas station he was just finishing explaining to Rob something to do with how a boxer engine will destroy itself if you don’t put oil in it for 1200 miles… I meant to ask after he left for the short version of WTF he was talking about but then this showed up:

Would have liked to see/hear a mass of rice cooking up the perimeter of Tucson, but we had other plans… oh, wait… we don’t really ever have a plan. More like a thought… so we went south.

Gratuitous Bike pics

If I was cool, I would photoshop out the satellite dish… but im not cool am i?

Towns of less than 100 people are just somehow appealing to me. Last time we stopped here, there were some kids selling some fruit or something in front of the place with the dish… If they were selling hot cocoa, I’d have stopped today. I somehow wanted to get fuel from this pump too, which I think was just decorational at this point.

There are three ways into/out of this place. The one we came in on, the other paved one, and a dirt road. “Primitive” roads they are called out here.

I think the rule is don’t ever go to the light… We actually stopped because I couldn’t remember which way was paved. As we pulled away I believe my statement was “it’s a good thing we stopped cuz I was about to go the other way”, and we went right instead of left.

Long ago, I read maps and navigated… I even did route reconnaissance… for a living.

But then again, I didn’t bring a map. You’ll see:

AZ-Twin · 11-22-2010, 08:18 AM

I was freezing my a$$ off all day. Under my leather jacket (non perferated) all I had on was a tee shirt. I was running my grips on all day, and I had my high beam on for a while trying to warm up the air before it got to me, but that didn't do much.

I always forget to dress warm this time of the year.

lightfighter · 11-22-2010, 08:24 AM

Now, lest anyone here think AZtwin isn’t game… he has more G in his S than a lot of GSA riders on ADV. But I was a bit surprised that he was ready to press on when I told him “I think its like 15 miles of gravel.”

I mean really, we’ve met, haven’t we Rob? Am I ever right about these things? Really? We both know I’m gonna get us lost, don’t we?

Hard to tell in the pics, but its getting worse.

This is a good sign if your on your G650

Not so good if your on your R12S

So we conceded to prudence and turned back. Niether of us really likes prudence. I knew a girl named Prudence once. She wasn’t much fun either.

So we got back to the S-ride.

BP checkpoint…

Unwise photo-taking

lightfighter · 11-22-2010, 08:32 AM

And a couple more hasty attempts at helping the snow bound northern brothers feel like they are riding…

We were only like 2 or 3 hours late. But you cant rush a 300 hundred mile unplanned trip to nowhere in particular.

smddanny · 11-22-2010, 08:33 AM

Loved it! Love the AZ scenery can't wait to ride it myself in May.

Droptarotter · Droptarotter's Garage

Great shots Lightfighter;

Those Arizona gravel roads look like paved BC roads.

Who needs a GS?

Cheers

AZ-Twin · 11-22-2010, 10:05 AM

That was a good ride Brian, I had fun, we need to get out more often.

RoLoo · RoLoo's Garage

Quote:

Originally Posted by lightfighter

...you Photoshopped that one, didn't you...?!

...this 30 speed limit can't be true...

.

AZ-Twin · 11-22-2010, 11:47 AM

Ron,

That is true. 30 MpH approximately 48.2 KpH (Kilograms/Hector?

)

That is just outside the back gate of Ft. Huachuca, a nice twisty road with lots of elevation change. Out here they slow people down at the twisty parts to try to prevent accidents.

RoLoo · RoLoo's Garage

Quote:

Originally Posted by AZ-Twin

Ron,

Out here they slow people down at the twisty parts to try to prevent accidents.

...very understandable ; but 30...???

.

AZ-Twin · 11-22-2010, 12:45 PM

It is okay, the only cop around was Brian, and he has yet to write me or himself a ticket while we are on a ride.

RBMann · 11-22-2010, 02:30 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by AZ-Twin

Ron,

That is true. 30 MpH approximately 48.2 KpH (Kilograms/Hector?

)

That is just outside the back gate of Ft. Huachuca, a nice twisty road with lots of elevation change. Out here they slow people down at the twisty parts to try to prevent accidents.

West of the fort? You didn't take me on that road.

lightfighter · 11-22-2010, 02:56 PM

Ya, i know. 30 shouldn't be a speed.

lightfighter · 11-22-2010, 02:57 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by RBMann

West of the fort? You didn't take me on that road.

Im not sure we coulda got you thru the fort....

chewie · chewie's Garage

nice one fellas!

one day ...

what's the weird looking thing running verticle down the left of the wall there?

Chris Canning · 11-22-2010, 11:37 PM

Now that was enjoyable,a world way from the UK,we don't see too many wagon wheels and cactus!!!,but like has already been mentioned when I saw the 30mph

Re the offroad bit,jeeze thats a hole can of worms,when the reality is,it's the guy riding the bike,not the bike.

lightfighter · 11-23-2010, 02:29 AM

I have no idea....

Quote:

nice one fellas!

one day ...

what's the weird looking thing running verticle down the left of the wall there?

lightfighter · 02:36 AM

I can only remember ever seeing one cop car out there... And really, the turns are tight enough that 40 is pretty spirited.... Sort of.

Oh, and that cop was this ride... He was going faster than us I thunk.... Mostly the limit is 45 out on rural pavement around here. 65 if it isn't bendy and slathered with driveways.

Quote:

Now that was enjoyable,a world way from the UK,we don't see too many wagon wheels and cactus!!!,but like has already been mentioned when I saw the 30mph

Re the offroad bit,jeeze thats a hole can of worms,when the reality is,it's the guy riding the bike,not the bike.

AZ-Twin · 11-23-2010, 07:26 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Chris Canning

Re the offroad bit,jeeze thats a hole can of worms,when the reality is,it's the guy riding the bike,not the bike.

Who said anything about "off road". It was a dirt road which out here has normal erosion (6-8" deep ditches across the road intermittently), sand wash crossings, etc. and I didn't feel like beating the $hit out of my good bike for it when I have a perfectly appropriate piece of hardware at the house.

Come on over and ride with us Chris, bring your sport bike and you can show me how it is done, I bet we can have it in pieces by the end of the day.