Living the Dream - The Long Ride

AlbertJohnson · Post by **AlbertJohnson** » Mon Jul 17, 2006 9:52 pm

This may not be fair, and sound like a teaser, but photos will have to wait till end of the trip...
But, I'm living a dream...99% would like to do the long ride someday...but only a few do it...i'm FINALLY doing it.
Started out in hell, 115 degrees in Phoenix...and left in the afternoon when it's the hottest...rode 4 hours in this heat almost facing the sun...to Laughlin Nev...2 nights and 'gaming'....man was the house hot too.
Next day on my r1150r 2002 rode 560 miles to Carson City, Nv...long bleak desert ride. Next day thru beautiful Lake Tahoe and on to somewhere in Calif. Then to Willow Creek, Bigfoot capital of the WORLD...man those folks take their Bigfeet seriously...i fell asleep under a tree to rest...when i awoke, a freaking BIGfoot was standing over me...uh huh, know what you're thinking...well luckily i had my camera in my hand and got a photo...you'll see it...later that day, another Bigfoot encounter...he looked pissed at first, but when he saw what i was riding...he gave me a thumbs up...yep, got a photo of that too. Willow Creek is just miles from Bluff Creek where the famous/infamous Patterson film was shot.
On to Redwood country and the Calif. coast...AWESOME. Spent the night in a little log cabin in among the giants. Again, AWESOME...my bike is tiny in comparison.
Next day on to Coos Bay, home of late great runner Prefontaine then cut over to heart of Oregon in Bend...where i finally found a motel with wireless connnection...
Sorry no photos yet...they'll come...tomorrow onward to near Yellowstone...so far 1800 miles.
AJ

Post by **sjbmw** » Mon Jul 17, 2006 10:24 pm

godspeed to you AJ!

AlbertJohnson · Post by **AlbertJohnson** » Mon Jul 17, 2006 11:35 pm

Thx SJ...well i'm new at this stuff...but got 1 photo up...i think...a little town, population 4 i think called Nothing, Az...115 miles from Phoenix...hot there too...lady said the place was closed, but i HAD to have some water...told her i'd pay a buck for a bottle...she like that and gave me my bottle, heh...and told me 'free' restrooms were out back...
more photos to come....(hard to read the sign from my little cell phone camera but said something like...Nothing, Az...pop. 4...we expect nothing, get nothing and hope for nothing) other photos from better camera.

http://i8.photobucket.com/albums/a24/Al ... R1150R.jpg

Post by **LonestaRR** » Tue Jul 18, 2006 8:06 am

Where are you headed and how many days are you planning on being on the road? Looking forward to the pics. Stay safe.

AlbertJohnson · Post by **AlbertJohnson** » Wed Jul 19, 2006 7:51 pm

...if you haven't seen the ole 1969 cult classic, Then Came Bronson, you MUST...one exchange in the movie goes like ths...

(Bronson pulls up on his bike to a light, guy in a car looks wistfully at him and says)

Guy: Where you headed?
Bronson: oh, i don't know, wherever i end up i guess.
Guy: (after pondering) man...i wish i were you.
Bronson: really? ... well...hang in there. (Bronson pulls away on down the highway)

So Kristi, i guess whereever i end up...where did the last 2600 miles go so far! Have lost track of days...i think i have about 8 more days to get back to Phoenix...Idaho was beautiful, rode along some river for many miles...Can't believe it... pulled into West Yellowstone this afternoon...saw some grizz and wolves over at a preserve...then ate some Buffalo meatloaf...then crashed at the Pine Motel.
This is weird, but today i had the feeling that i'd become ONE with my bike...hard to explain....i WAS my R1150R, it Was me...
Weather's been SUPER, knock on wood. Looking forward to Yellowstone tomorrow...
Ok, i think here is a shot of the elusive Bigfoot overlooking my bike...
http://i8.photobucket.com/albums/a24/Al ... de/bf1.jpg
Then another photo...from my cell camera...best ones will have to wait till end of trip...1st Redwood i encountered, not the biggest, but a beaut! Just had to stop and photo.... http://i8.photobucket.com/albums/a24/Al ... edwood.jpg

Post by **DJ Downunder** » Wed Jul 19, 2006 9:48 pm

Thanks for the picture of Bigfoot...

DJ

AlbertJohnson · Post by **AlbertJohnson** » Wed Jul 19, 2006 10:02 pm

Thanks mate...like i said, them folks take their bigfeet seriously...ok, here's another
http://i8.photobucket.com/albums/a24/Al ... R1150R.jpg

that work?

Nope...try this...a different photo... when the elusive bigfoot saw me, he was pissed...but then he saw what i was riding and did this.. http://i8.photobucket.com/albums/a24/Al ... umbsUp.jpg

can't figure out how to just tag the photo on...

BTW, funny you responded DJ...i have to get back to Phoenix, in order to catch my flight to your country...coming to Sydney, Cairns and Alice Springs...g'day mate. Ya'll got any such creatures down there?

AlbertJohnson · Post by **AlbertJohnson** » Sat Jul 22, 2006 4:04 pm

...went thru Yellowstone...saw grizz, scraggly wolf, bighorn sheep, buffalo...on to S. Wyoming, just about had 3000 miles under my belt when
the unexpected happened...@%^@#$^ REAR TIRE Blowout.

...out in the middle of nowhere...had visions of spending 4 days there, but 2 good ole boys oil workers picked me up, to next town, and $300 carry my bike to 100 mile away town, and another 280 for a tire put on and started riding the next morning at 8:55...guess i was lucky. For some reason, started singing some ole Willy Nelson song and was on the road...again.

Coming into Colorado boosted my spirits. (getting a bit tired of riding) about 900 miles to go back to Phoenix, so will spend a few leasurely days in Colorado...did 480 miles that day...spent 3 hours in Cripple Creek, having a little fun...(anyone remember Gordon Lightfoot?) Got involved in a Texas Hold'em poker game...for the first time rode in the dark and in the rain...rain for only 5 minutes...been really lucky about the nice weather....45 minutes in the dark looking for a motel...most were full due to some kind of violin festival in Canon City. Think i'll go back to Cripple Creek tomorrow, have a little more fun. till then...

Post by **LonestaRR** » Sat Jul 22, 2006 4:36 pm

That wasn't a violin contest. That's the old time fiddle contest. National contest I think.

Cripple Creek. I caught a lot of rainbow trout up there once. You should stop and fish a while. It's safer than Texas Hold 'Em.

Post by **Boxer** » Sat Jul 22, 2006 4:37 pm

Remember Albert...Anything you outlive to tell about later is part of the dream.

Philbie · Post by **Philbie** » Sat Jul 22, 2006 6:07 pm

Fantastic stuff - hope its a great trip I'm looking forward to the commentry

Cheers,

Philbie

AlbertJohnson · Post by **AlbertJohnson** » Sat Jul 22, 2006 9:31 pm

Thanks guys...it must have been Kristy, LOTS of people and booths there...have seen lots of people fly fishing for trout, and have photos...

You're so right Boxer. It'll be nice to rest a few days here in Colorado...i heard it's still hot in Phx.

This morning had Elk and eggs for breadfast...definately a different taste to Elk. This everning at at the John Wayne restaurant...on the menu it said they had 2 choices for food...
Take it or
Leave it.

Then there was True Grit steak, El Dorado pork chops,
MCClintock stew, etc...and EVERYone got served corn dodgers.

Came a hail storm, almost got caught in it. Back to Cripple Creek tomorrow and have some more fun. That's a pretty place...going to look at some high mt. property Monday...if i buy it, will invite all to come for cookout...Ponderosa Pines, Aspen, huge rock outcroppings, million dollar views of Sangre de Cristo Mts. (part of the Rockies) means in Spanish "blood of Christ"