One Picture. One Story.

[bungie4]

For the last few years that I lived in the Seattle area, I made it a point to ride the North Cascade Highway, from Arlington, in the west, to Winthrop, in the eastern side as often as I could.

 

One of my all time favourite scenic rides. Especially around Diablo Lake.

[miles]

Lawn Dart and I went for a ride yesterday, and saw some really pretty scenery and some very, very empty roads (In fact, we rode The Loneliest Road In America™).  This photo was taken a few miles south of Caliente, NV, which is a lovely little town in the exact center of BFE.

[Bad Dad]

       First day riding in Colorado, knee down south of Ouray. We were limited on time so we trailered the bikes out We were going to drive in shifts but I ended up soloing the drive to the tune of 1520 miles from home to Ridgeway state park:crazy: Totally worth it!!      

[Cafe Racer]

I see this image daily.  And each time it brings a feeling so strong.  And on those rare occasions, an intense feeling of anticipation.  I know that when I see this image, I am going to experience something magical.

Just me and my moto.

As the key is inserted and turned, the familiar electronic chirp... the translucent glow of the LCD... This very moment of calm which lasts a mere few seconds, stirs my physical being into a restrained emotional frenzy.  I feel it in my chest as it rounds under my arms and towards my back.  Others refer to it as a "chill".

But I don't shiver.   I gently slow my breathe and press the ignition.  

Miguel

[Lawn Dart]

December 27th, 2012.  I played a bit of Christmas Hookey...

Or, maybe I gave myself a great little present?

I took today off and decided to run out to the BIG Sweepers of Palms to Pines.  This would be somewhat risky...it's been raining of late and that during the winter would mean snow and potentially ice.  I opted to take a late start in the name of safety and didn't thumb the starter until nearly 9:30am.

Every now and again there is that one moment in a ride where pulling over to take a picture is just the right thing to do.  Today my camera came out only once...



The roads were clear of debris...clean and theoretically fast.  'Cept it was about 40 degrees.  At 11am.

I kept wishing my e-Vest went to 11...

I barely cleared 250 miles but it was worth every cold minute.  Life is good.

[Orson]

In all my journeys, I am always on the lookout for the Holy Grail. That one road somewhere out there that might surpass the majestic ribbon of road known as California's Highway 1. Some have come close. The Adriatic coast road in Croatia. Highway 17 in Norway. The road along False Bay in South Africa or the magnificent ride along the western coast of New Zealand's South Island.

Then in 2011, I happened along a road in southern Italy that I hadn't previously heard about. The stretch between Sapri and Praia a Mare, known as the Strada Statale 18. Right where the boot of Italy turns towards the toe, I happened upon a fantastic ride. For almost 20 glorious miles, the scenery is every bit as dramatic as Big Sur. Sadly, in contrast to the endless nirvana that is Highway 1, this stretch ends all too quickly.

[owrstrich]

once upon a time in the recent past there was an experiment in motodebauchery... lumbering cruisers piloted by lifestyle riders no show after waiting 15 minutes at lockwood from the phone booth.. no show after waiting 60 minutes at the mckittrick market... well they did show at 61 minutes but we were rolling... and only after catching up with a 12 moto group stopped on rossis driveway for group photos...

i present to you a photo recollection of what happens when a lifestyle rider pilots a lumbering cruiser at 1/2 of the posted speed limit on the pozo loop... turn into a non turn too early and the trajectory puts you off in the turf at the exit of the non turn... we call this lumbering cruiser the motor companies world famous turf king...





j o

[stew71]

Last week....I was hungry around noon and decided to ride somewhere for lunch.  

[NitroRoo]

Like many in this thread, one of my most memorable rides for me was one where the stress level had reached a melting point, and I decided that I really needed to spend some time on my motorcycle.  It was July 2010, I was living in Lubbock TX at the time.  Any that are familiar with that area know that it's very flat with not much to look at for miles around.  I had heard the mountains of New Mexico were beautiful.  The original plan had been to spend the whole weekend moto camping, but severe stormy weather had dashed my plans.  My wife and kids were out of town that weekend, so time was on my side, but the weather wasn't.  I tried to make the best of Friday and Saturday, but with the bad weather and nobody home, coupled with the fact that I wasn't riding - by the time Sunday rolled around I decided to just say screw it and I took off first thing in the morning.  I had very little plans other than head west and explore.  The bad part: I had to be at work on Monday, so I really only had one day.  I threw a few items in a tail bag and took off.  I made it to the mountains in about 4 hours, and then the rain started.  Just a slow, steady rain that kept my pace down in the curves.  I stopped in Cloudcroft for a bite to eat and the World Cup was on TV.  I enjoyed watching that and cheering on with complete strangers.  After killing a couple hours watching the soccer, it was time to make it back home.  I stopped in Roswell and bought some little bendy aliens for my kids.  Continuing on towards Lubbock the skies were looking very, very angry.  The radar on my phone confirmed several very dark red spots.  With very limited route options and no cover, I was forced to ride through some of the worst rain and wind I've ever encountered on a bike.  I made it into lubbock well after dark, and several streets had up to a foot of water flowing down them.  It was like riding through a fast moving river that was a foot deep.  Pretty wild.  I finally made it home, took a hot shower, and hit the sack with a smile on my face.  It's amazing what a day on the bike will do for your soul.

[cyjo]

In 2006 I decided to attend my first STN meet. That year the meet was in Canaan Valley WV where I will be again in a few weeks. This was to be my first solo overnight trip on a bike. I had done plenty of alone day rides and a few long distance rides with a friend but this was my first time going alone. I had a week of adventure planned going from Tampa to WV and back. I started the trip in blistering heat. I slabbed out of Tampa and up through Georgia to the Georgia mountains and a little over 600 miles I was there for the night. The next morning I was still worn out from the humid 100 degree heat from the day before and the mountain air was decidedly cooler. I motored out of town and hit the first of several hundred miles of backroads that would occupy this trip. I admit I was intimidated. I'm from Florida, they don't have curves except for on-ramps and I'm on a way over-loaded bike. After I few miles I calmed down and went through small towns on little roads eventually hitting the dragon. I had picked out a couple of places to see on this trip but mostly I was going to follow my intuition and let fate decide. The picture below is from Cumberland Gap, a place I didn't plan on seeing. I was preparing to camp someplace or another the night before at one of those honor places and just after beginning to set up camp, the ranger pulled through and asked if everything was ok. Sure it is I say. Well he says you know that some bad weather is coming through tonight right? I didn't and I thought well how bad could it be but I looked around and I noticed the only others in the campsite were full on RV's. No tents, no pop-ups. I hit the road and eventually ended up just on the other side of the Cumberland Gap in KY. I found a hotel next door to a southern buffet. That night the weather was so bad, that the power and cable were knocked out most of the night. The next day it was damp and raining and I was not eager to hit the road. So after breakfast, I did suit up and go to the walmart for a few things and then backtracked through Cumberland Gap and decided to visit the park and let the roads dry a bit. I went into what amounts to downtown to look for a gift for my daughter and something struck me about this town. Nothing like what I see on a day to day basis. It's Americana and at it's heart is why I am on this trip, to discover new places and make conversation with the people along the way. The photo is not breathtaking but holds power with me. To the undiscovered 


Cumberland Gap, Tennessee by joeyschmitt, on Flickr

[vfrrider]

Found those keys you lost.

Larry
VFRrider

[cyjo]

The mystery finally solved!  

[miles]

Big Jim (james_g) just bought a new bike yesterday, so of course the first place he rode to after leaving  dealership was my place to show it off. Now, I'd been thinking about buying this particular model, so of course I had to drool on his bike for a bit. We made plans for an early morning Sunday ride, since my bike was finally back on the road thanks to a motor transplant.
We met at the start of the twisties at 6 AM, and it was a whole lot colder than I expected for an April morning. Heck, it must have been down in the 60s!

Anyhow, we had a great shakedown ride, including a run up and down Mt Palomar. This is a shot near the top on the fast side at a turn out with an amazing view. This was 7:30 in the morning and facing west with the sun behind us. Off in the distance you can just make out the Pacific Ocean.

[james_g]

  I was just going to post the same pic Miles. Great shakedown ride for sure.

james

[miles]

  I was just going to post the same pic Miles. Great shakedown ride for sure.

james

Post anyway!

[DestinationUnknown]

 I had seen photos of this place and decided to stop at this overlook if ever in the area. I was close and stopped by while doing a ride of the southwest states recently. I laughed out loud to myself while taking in the epic view.

Muley Point, Utah

[Lawn Dart]

 I had seen photos of this place and decided to stop at this overlook if ever in the area. I was close and stopped by while doing a ride of the southwest states recently. I laughed out loud to myself while taking in the epic view.

Muley Point, Utah

NICE!