Just finished my Motorcycle Trip to Utah from CA, and back

Tidybuoy · 09:20 AM

My vacation finally arrived. Rode my bike from Fresno, CA to Park City, Utah. Then visited friends for a week, then rode home.

Google maps stated 12hrs (one way). I figured it would only take me 10 hours, since I was on a bike and would probably exceed the speed limit. This would be spread over two days. Reality, it took me 20 hours over two days.

Left Fresno at 10am and headed for Sacramento. Had lunch with my sister and then headed for Tahoe area via Truckee. I watched the weather reports all week and there was an 80% chance of rain in Truckee but it was predicted to be 61 degrees and only 1/4 inch of rain. I figured I could handle this.

The ride from Sacramento to Tahoe was spectacular. A beautiful 4-lane curvy, banked highway. As I rode thru Sacramento, I spotted a beautiful yellow 911sc with euro rear bumperettes and a tea-tray tail that was cruising at around 80 mph. I followed him and just admired the car. As we got to the foothills, he ramped up the speed and we were just a few vehicles on the road. He eventually turned off and I continued to Truckee.

As I got closer to Truckee, I noticed the ominous clouds and it seemed to me that it was snowing up there (not rain). Also, it started getting very cold and seemed to be much colder than 61 degrees. As I got closer, it started raining and I slowed down and proceeded with caution.

I eventually got to Truckee and it was definitely snowing. I stopped at the gas station and put on my long johns and liners. At this point I was getting wet and water was running into my boots. When I came out of the restroom, a highway patrol asked me if I was going west or east and I said east. He told me it was much worse to the east. I had not choice, I was at the top of the mountain, not hotels, and Reno was only 25 miles away. That 25 miles took me 2.5 hours.

The leg to Reno was miserable. Snowing cotton-ball size snow flakes and traffic came to a complete halt and was stop and go each way. I managed to learn to drive in the snow, clean my helmet lense every 5 seconds, and then split-lane between cars to speed things up.

Got to a hotel in Reno and walked into the lobby soaked to the bone, muddy luggage, and got a room.

In the morning, I took the bike to a carwash, cleaned up and was on my way to Park City. I was extremely sore in the beginning but got over it in about 100 miles. Only 500 to go

Made it to Park City to visit my friends for a week. They had arranged for me to go on a bike trip with some friends that had BMW GS bikes. I toured the mountains with them for hours (ohh, my aching neck).

One week later, I rode home via the south route thru Las Vegas. It was a nice ride but had extreme windy conditions. Definitely kept me on my toes.

Now, back to work.

A few photos: Notice anything interesting in the rearview mirror?
http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploads26/1st_pic1495201682.jpg
http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploads26/2nd_pic1495201682.jpg
http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploads26/3rd_pic1495201682.jpg
http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploads26/4th_pic1495201682.jpg
http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploads26/5th_pic1495201682.jpg
http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploads26/6th_pic1495201682.jpg

http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploads26/9th_pic1495201682.jpg

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Tidybuoy · 05-17-2017, 04:56 PM

Why do my pictures always post sideways?

Noah930 · Noah930's Garage

Quote:

Originally Posted by Tidybuoy

Why do my pictures always post sideways?

You're still draggin' a knee on your bike?

wswartzwel · 05-17-2017, 05:13 PM

Ticket? or warning?

vash · vash's Garage

Nice trip!!!

Chocaholic · 05-17-2017, 06:19 PM

Fantastic. And a Performance Award too!

JavaBrewer · JavaBrewer's Garage

Love the R9T. So how about a report on that.

speeder · speeder's Garage

Doesn't sound fun. Glad you made it ok.

Evans, Marv · 05-17-2017, 08:23 PM

Agree. Sounds like an ordeal, although I've done similar things as a very much younger guy. Be glad you got to experience a little cold. Summer in Fresberg is just around the corner.

vash · vash's Garage

Steven Rinella categorizes fun into two groups. there is the basic fun, like a roller coaster. you have fun while it happens and it is gone. fleeting.

then there is the longer lasting fun. where you do something, and at that instant, it isnt that fun. you might be suffering some even. hungry, cold..etc. but after it is done, you're showered, rested.... you think back and tell yourself.."damn, that was fun!"

like a 10 day, backpacking trip..this type of motorcycle trip..a physically crushing bowhunting excursion. it all hinges around the adventurous spirit.

to me, this sounds like the second type of fun!! i would love to put a bike on a pallet, ship it to Mongolia and suffer my ass across that vast land drinking yak milk..crapping my bad lactose intolerant self..you know..fun!

ckcarr · ckcarr's Garage

Motorcycle adventures aren't supposed to be all sunshine and lollypops with the breeze in your hair... A little bit of weather, some rain, some snow, hail, sleet, iced roads, or a trip that becomes an adventure and then possibly an epic is what you'll always remember.

I'm sure you were cursing yourself for being there at certain times, but now you might be considering it one of your best experiences in quite a while.

Steve Carlton · 05-18-2017, 06:50 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Tidybuoy

Why do my pictures always post sideways?

Apple inbeds information about the phone's orientation that only other Apple products recognize. Us foolish non-Apple users get pictures shown in the wrong orientation. If you process the photo through some editor, you can "save for web" and that should remove the orientation problem.

Tidybuoy · 05-18-2017, 09:41 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by wswartzwel

Ticket? or warning?

Ticket! Seems a little chicken ****; 85 in a 75 on a stretch thru Nevada that was straight, no vehicles for almost 400 miles. Of course, most of the stretch was 100+

Quote:

Originally Posted by JavaBrewer

Love the R9T. So how about a report on that.

The R9t was a great ride. However, now that I'm back and have removed all the bags, it seems a bit light & twitchy. I think I liked the heavier feeling and the tank bag acted as a nice resting point when leaning/laying down on the bike. I'm thinking that maybe in the next year or two, I get a r1200.

On the way home, going over the Tehachapi Mountain Range, I had 70+ miles of big, giant, curvy roads. I don't think I was ever below 100 and it was a total joyride. I could do that over & over. Only one other car on the road and he was chasing me the whole way. I let him catch up a few times and then reminded him that I was winning

Don Ro · 05-18-2017, 10:34 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Steve Carlton

Apple inbeds information about the phone's orientation that only other Apple products recognize. Us foolish non-Apple users get pictures shown in the wrong orientation. If you process the photo through some editor, you can "save for web" and that should remove the orientation problem.

On my iPhone 5 there is an Edit feature where I can rotate the photos CW or CCW and save.

Jandrews · 05-18-2017, 05:23 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by vash

Steven Rinella categorizes fun into two groups. there is the basic fun, like a roller coaster. you have fun while it happens and it is gone. fleeting.

then there is the longer lasting fun. where you do something, and at that instant, it isnt that fun. you might be suffering some even. hungry, cold..etc. but after it is done, you're showered, rested.... you think back and tell yourself.."damn, that was fun!"

like a 10 day, backpacking trip..this type of motorcycle trip..a physically crushing bowhunting excursion. it all hinges around the adventurous spirit.

to me, this sounds like the second type of fun!! i would love to put a bike on a pallet, ship it to Mongolia and suffer my ass across that vast land drinking yak milk..crapping my bad lactose intolerant self..you know..fun!

Totally!! Period.