Chester highlights- post 'em here!

[Lawn Dart]

Gnarly! Still, probably a good rush....AFTER... you made it through the whole ordeal unscathed. Though, if you wreck, it's probably more like you're wanting to kick the asses of those that peer-pressured you into going forth to begin with...

and THAT would have been Mr. Sunshine!  

[steve.ski]

Looks like too much fun. Here's to making WCRM 5.

The roads look spectacular. Quite a chance meeting of the Oilhead Stunta and a frakin' 750 Duc under the same covered bridge! Odd bike vortex of some kind.

Thanks for sharing the photos, guys.

[atypical1]

Yes, sir, it was as slippery as snot.  Steep, too, and as a bonus, off-camber big-time.  A true joy to ride.
Or, in some people's case, lay your bike down on repeatedly.

Repeatedly is kinda an overstatement isn't it??? Friggin' wise guy.  

Twice to be exact. The Duc does not like slow precise stuff in the cold at altitude. Add some power pulses to that mix and you get a wild ride. Thank god for naked bikes! Muddy but not damaged is OK in my book. Funny thing is that it fell on the right side both times with an open clutch and the mud never got up there. It's a miracle I tell ya!  

james

[atypical1]

Great shots Smoothie! You definitely captured the spirit of the ride really well.

I was definitely impressed by that dude on the 996. Next time someone on this board talking about what makes a touring bike I will refer them to that pic and call them a wimp.  

james

[miles]

Hmmm, Miles???...my limited memory says you're the the Triumph dude and I believe I've ridden with you before. Also, I thought you moved back east or something, but this is all off the top of my head....I'll just let it fly unchecked by searches and see how far off base I am.

You're thinking of Dave, the Triumph Daytona guy.  He moved to Chicago to get away from us in SoCal.  I am still a San Diegan, and probably will be forever.



miles

[Viffer Vern]

Gnarly! Still, probably a good rush....AFTER... you made it through the whole ordeal unscathed. Though, if you wreck, it's probably more like you're wanting to kick the asses of those that peer-pressured you into going forth to begin with...

It's always a rush when you flirt with disaster and win.  As far as an ass kicking goes I would have no one to blame but myself as I was very willing co-conspirator on this little venture.  

Actually, riding is this sticky stuff really increases the confidence level on dirt in general.  Later, as we were on the hard pack (wet) gravel roads I was roosting it up and found speeds of up to 35-40 seemingly comfortable.

[rhhall]

The guy with the Duc 996S is one grizzled looking dude.  I want to be like that when I grow up.  

I still laugh at the fact that after the ride, we were cold, wet, and hungry, but still stood in the falling rain talking riding and bikes for over an hour.  We must be a bit off.  

This shot cracks me up... gotta be a good caption for that one:  

[Viffer Vern]

Oh yeah, just another thought that came to mind. Say, doesn't that bike have linked-brakes? More kudos to you for not crashing...

I completely forgot about this....  Shit!   Now I'm totally freaked out!!!  

eh, not really.  Turns out it wasn't a big deal after all.  Yes the VFR does have linked brakes but it's not like I touched the rear pedal and the front end locked up.  I didn't really need braking on the way up and I was able to control the descent by feathering the clutch in first gear.

[Mr Sunshine]

and THAT would have been Mr. Sunshine!  

Did someone say my name?  

The wife always said I'm nuts in the rain....now if I can just translate that to rain racing.  

[Mr Sunshine]

You're thinking of Dave, the Triumph Daytona guy.  He moved to Chicago to get away from us in SoCal.  I am still a San Diegan, and probably will be forever.



miles

A red head in a very sunny spot of the country....interesting.  You should change your name to Lobster.  

[Jeff N]

I end with this, perhaps the most amazing thing that I saw in five days:  The sport-touring 996S.  Here are aTypical1 and VifferVern fascinated by the details and mildly agog at the concept.  Late Saturday night this guy roars up with the thunder of Termignonis and the rattle of a dry clutch, sopping in his perforated leathers, with his gear neatly stowed in the bag on that Ventura rack.

So the next day, I've gotta go say hi.  Turns out he's about 60 (!).  Every year he visits his cousin in San Francisco, where he stores the bike, goes for a track day with his cuz and then hits the road for a little tour.

Tour on a 996?  There went a man, my friends, a man as hard as a granite anvil.

Sounds like a member here. A certain man who's known as knobnose.

http://www.sport-touring.net/forums/index.php?action=profile;u=103

Met him in Fortuna a couple of years ago. Lives in Hawaii and keeps a Ducati and whatever else in storage in the Bay Area so he has something to ride when he makes his annual visit to the mainland. Could it be one and the same? He doesn't post much here, but in person he's a very friendly man.

I do know he appears in various photo libraries of the past few WCRMs. Maybe Dr. Gil has a foto. I know he knows who knobnose is.

[miles]

Well, looking at Knobnose's posts, he mentions having a two-piece Roadcrafter.  The old 996 dude wore leathers.

Not conclusive proof, but...

[atypical1]

This guy lives in Alaska full time but keeps his bike in Oakland.

The guy had never heard of our site but said he might check it out.

james

[Jeff N]

This guy lives in Alaska full time but keeps his bike in Oakland.

The guy had never heard of our site but said he might check it out.

james

Alaska, Hawaii, same diff'.  

Ah well, there just seemed to be a few too many coincidences. I had to take the shot.

Anyways, looked like you people had a great time and took some great pics. Thanks for posting!  

[DogBoy]

I thought knobnose had an RC51. Honda, Ducati same diff.  

[atypical1]

Honda, Ducati same diff.  

Ouch, that really hurts.

james

[Mr Sunshine]

Ouch, that really hurts.

james

It can't be a Honda...it doesn't run worth crap in the cold.    

[atypical1]

It can't be a Honda...it doesn't run worth crap in the cold.    

That is no lie. I really need to get a Power Commander for it. Typically it is not much of an issue though since I live in San Diego. But it looks like I have plenty of cold rides in my future.

james

[greench440]

After putting in an honest day’s work watching the clock, Chili and I were ready to ride. Mrs Greench440 had completed his custom made ChiliStitch and it was time to send him on his way south for the winter.


When you travel with these guys, there’s not much time for flower sniffing or picture taking.  The next day we stopped for lunch in Joseph OR.  Have lunch at the Embers if you’re in town.


Chili sampled a locally made Porter.


Much later that day, we had planned to ride over Elkhorn summit (the second highest paved road in Oregon) via FR51.  Just remember, if you think you are leading, turn around to check if everyone is following.  Mr Sunshine blew past the turn off to FR51.  Here’s what the turn looks like.  I stopped and waited for the group to return but eventually gave chase.  19 miles later, Mr Smooth figured it out and turned around.


We went the 19 miles back to the turn off, waited a few minutes then off to Elkhorn summit.


The view felt like we were on top of Oregon.  A camera can’t do it justice.


After an overnight in Baker City with the requsite trip to Barley Brown’s Brewpub, we headed for a 500 mile ride to Chester.  After putting the triple digit in triple digit sightseeing across south eastern Oregon, we descended on the Rose Quartz Inn.


BigBlock, Mr Smooth and ejh commenced to the daily spit polish routing while I sampled some Johnny Black.


I had thoroughly toasted my tires on the way down.  BigBlock joined me at the CycleGear in Redding for a fresh set.  I found out I wasn’t the only anal retentive mechanic.  Cyclegear loaned us some stands, tools and had us back on the road in about 90 min.  Thank god it wasn’t the usual 90+ degrees in Redding.


We returned to Chester via CA44 then CA89 through Lassen Park.  The fog was so thick at times you could barely manage 10 mph.  I did stop for the obligatgory summit pic.


Not much to see in Chester so fast forward to the return trip.  I stop more when travelling solo.  I stopped at historic markers etc and found this interesting rock formation.


There’s not much to see in south central Oregon but not much traffic either.


I’m making it a personal mission to eat in every brewpub in the west.  Here I am at the Deschutes brewhouse in downtown Bend.  Mmm, baked spicy mac & cheeze.


I was headed for Hood River and made it a point to ride the historic highway between The Dalles and Mosier.  Here’s a lesser known view of the Rowena curves from the bottom


The sun was starting to set on the Columbia River Gorge.  Tomorrow I would ride the road up the side of the Klickitat River.  You can see the sandbars where it empties into the Mighty Columbia.


Here’s the more well known view of the Rowena curves.  This is from the top of the round formation in the previous pic.


Continuing my brewhouse mission with dinner at the Full Sail brewhouse in Hood River.


The final leg home took me up SR 142 along the Klickitat.


I know I’m nearing home when I see Mt Rainer.  Whether you arrive by plane, ferry, motorcycle or car, the mountain dominates the Puget Sound skyline.


A great ride with good friends, thanks for the memories.  See you on the road.

[Mr Sunshine]

OHHH...THAT'S what it looks like.  

I remember that turn...I went by and went "naww...that's not it".  Boy was I wrong.