It's been a long dry spell since the last post... last summer after the big motorcycle trip to Alaska with a stop in Bonneville. I'm gearing up for a new session of EDUC 675 at Otterbein and thought I'd better re-acquaint myself with Blogger and blogging.
Today we are in Palm Desert,CA with friends Jane and Don and will soon be joined by two more couples from central Ohio... Dick and Adele and Kay and Denny. We are all connected by Otterbein/Westerville at least by marriage.
It's a bit after 9 AM and we are just getting a peek of sun after a night of rain. It seems that wherever we go we bring Ohio weather with us... checked the temp in Columbus and it's not much different than here. At least the lows are not as low. Regardless, we will have a great time with friends and of course the scenery is wonderful. Just look over my left shoulder and see a 10,000 ft mountain, green trees, just had a freshly picked grapefruit.
Saturday, February 7, 2009
Sunday, August 24, 2008
Iron Cheek Association
You may recall, if you are a regular reader of these posts, that the Quest to ride in all the states had its origins in an "Iron Butt" fete... two riders rode in all the lower 48 states in less than a week. The Iron Butt Association is a real and serious organization that sanctions long distsnce motorcycling events. Without going into too much detail the entry level Iron butt event requires aspiring members to ride and document with signatures and receipts a thousand miles in 24 hours. There is a coast to coast challenge that requires riders to cross the continent on 50 hours or less... that's called the 50 CC. Every two years the IBA sanctions a rally/scavenger hunt that takes two weeks and winners often log 12000 miles and traverse North America from Alaska to Key West as well as the other cornerd and points in between.
Tomto and I have long contemplated the 1000 miles in 24 hours thing but the past few days have put that idea to rest. Old guys need more realistic goals, thus the Iron Cheek. Entry level challenge: 500 miles during daylight hours with two required stops for food-- must sit down and eat and at least one item must be ordered from the 'senior menu'. Riders must be at least 65 years of age. The entry level ride earns successful applicants the "Half Moon" award.... we are contemplating a license plate frame, woven patch, a pin, and a decal.
The next level chllenge... 2 back to back 500 mile days earns the successful rider the 'full moon' award.
We're working on other events such as a do it yourself rally, special awards and titles and trying sot work 'Moon" and "Butt" into everything. We welcome your suggestions and you help in build a FAQ for prospective members.
Tomto and I have long contemplated the 1000 miles in 24 hours thing but the past few days have put that idea to rest. Old guys need more realistic goals, thus the Iron Cheek. Entry level challenge: 500 miles during daylight hours with two required stops for food-- must sit down and eat and at least one item must be ordered from the 'senior menu'. Riders must be at least 65 years of age. The entry level ride earns successful applicants the "Half Moon" award.... we are contemplating a license plate frame, woven patch, a pin, and a decal.
The next level chllenge... 2 back to back 500 mile days earns the successful rider the 'full moon' award.
We're working on other events such as a do it yourself rally, special awards and titles and trying sot work 'Moon" and "Butt" into everything. We welcome your suggestions and you help in build a FAQ for prospective members.
Last Night Out
The Journey began on July 24 when Tomto and I left Central Ohio on the Quest for the 49th state. Today is August 24th and we are nearing the last leg of the journey. We are staying the night in a Quality Inn in Greenfield, IN just 160+ miles from where we started. My intent was to chronicle as many of the sights and vistas from the road as possible. A near impossible task as I've discovered. The thinking time on the motorcycle is great for processing ideas and composing thoughts but without a recording device much is locked the the folds of the old gray matter perhaps never to see the light of day. This post will be a sort of brain dump as I ramble on about what may or may not be written about in more reflective posts when I get home.
Some things seen and thought about on the road:
Sign on a wrecking yard wall in Twin Falls, ID: "All cars run on used parts". That's true of us humans, too. Physical parts, mental parts, and spiritual parts. How those parts have been used and cared for, what accidents they've endured, and what repairs have been made all contributed to how well the 'used vehicle' runs today. Not sure where this goes but I'm thinking about it.
Taming a great river. The Columbia Gorge is beautiful and so is the peaceful river that runs through it. However, part of me longs to know the wild river that Native Americans and Lewis and Clark saw and braved before the Bonneville and other dams tamed it. I84 allows fast and awsome views of the gorge at 65 miles per hour, but what were the views from the game trails and even the old route 30 from the seat of a Model T.
Who dared to cross the great salt flats first. Why would anyone even begin to brave such a forbidding salt desert? And why?
Have the maze of islands through which the Alaska Marine Highway wends its way been thoroughly explored... have humans put their prints everywhere in this vast network?
What is it about gambling that draws us to keep trying against all the odds to win the jackpot? Is that the same gene or trait that keeps us alive in hopeless situations.
How are oral traditions different in societies that have no written language (like the First Nation people of the north) our friend John claims that the traditions are passed on word for word not as ever changing 'stories'.
What next after the 49th state?
Some things seen and thought about on the road:
Sign on a wrecking yard wall in Twin Falls, ID: "All cars run on used parts". That's true of us humans, too. Physical parts, mental parts, and spiritual parts. How those parts have been used and cared for, what accidents they've endured, and what repairs have been made all contributed to how well the 'used vehicle' runs today. Not sure where this goes but I'm thinking about it.
Taming a great river. The Columbia Gorge is beautiful and so is the peaceful river that runs through it. However, part of me longs to know the wild river that Native Americans and Lewis and Clark saw and braved before the Bonneville and other dams tamed it. I84 allows fast and awsome views of the gorge at 65 miles per hour, but what were the views from the game trails and even the old route 30 from the seat of a Model T.
Who dared to cross the great salt flats first. Why would anyone even begin to brave such a forbidding salt desert? And why?
Have the maze of islands through which the Alaska Marine Highway wends its way been thoroughly explored... have humans put their prints everywhere in this vast network?
What is it about gambling that draws us to keep trying against all the odds to win the jackpot? Is that the same gene or trait that keeps us alive in hopeless situations.
How are oral traditions different in societies that have no written language (like the First Nation people of the north) our friend John claims that the traditions are passed on word for word not as ever changing 'stories'.
What next after the 49th state?
Wednesday, August 20, 2008
Bonneville update
Bonneville Salt Flats, Middle of Nowhere, UT
Wednesday.
After disappointing runs the first few days the racer guys ditched the fuel injection in favor of the old reliable carburetor. The first run today was way better (162 and change) jst about 3 mph off the class record. As I type this the boys are disassembling the carb and scouring the pits for new jets to richen the fuel/air mixture which should push the Nissan over the record. In case you've forgotten the fine points of landspeed racing if a car beats the old class record the record must be 'backed up' the next morning and the average speed of the two runs stands as the new record if indeed the average is higher than the previous record.
One of the finest time on rhe salt is coming out before dawn to back up a record. New light makes the distant mountains to the west light up first, then the salt begins to glow as tne sun rises. We hope to be out on Thursday AM to back up a new record and to experience the new day. Loretta and Marlene are leaving tomorrow and Tom is arriving tonight so Thursday is the best last chance for a back up.
Tomto and Chemo-sabi will probable be back on the trail again Thursday althiyugh we are not sure of the return route.
It's warm again on the salt but not the 100+ we've experienced in the past. Looks like hot but dry travel to the east and I think I'm ready to be back in Ohio after 5000 miles in the saddle plus a 1000 or so on the ferry. We've still got close to 2000 miles between here and Columbus.
Wednesday.
After disappointing runs the first few days the racer guys ditched the fuel injection in favor of the old reliable carburetor. The first run today was way better (162 and change) jst about 3 mph off the class record. As I type this the boys are disassembling the carb and scouring the pits for new jets to richen the fuel/air mixture which should push the Nissan over the record. In case you've forgotten the fine points of landspeed racing if a car beats the old class record the record must be 'backed up' the next morning and the average speed of the two runs stands as the new record if indeed the average is higher than the previous record.
One of the finest time on rhe salt is coming out before dawn to back up a record. New light makes the distant mountains to the west light up first, then the salt begins to glow as tne sun rises. We hope to be out on Thursday AM to back up a new record and to experience the new day. Loretta and Marlene are leaving tomorrow and Tom is arriving tonight so Thursday is the best last chance for a back up.
Tomto and Chemo-sabi will probable be back on the trail again Thursday althiyugh we are not sure of the return route.
It's warm again on the salt but not the 100+ we've experienced in the past. Looks like hot but dry travel to the east and I think I'm ready to be back in Ohio after 5000 miles in the saddle plus a 1000 or so on the ferry. We've still got close to 2000 miles between here and Columbus.
Tuesday, August 19, 2008
Buckeyes on the Salt
Bonneville Salt Flats, Middle of Nowhere, UT. Parked next to the Buckeye Bullet the OSU land speed electric race car. The Buckeye team have set up a satellite wifi system and it's unprotected so I've logged in.
Other Buckeyes of note are the McMeekin Brothers race team of which we are hangers on. Don and Jane McMeekin are the only family members here but several others are in support. To risk boring most of you I'll describe the race car: Don McMeekin is the chief architect and builder so the car reflects his artistry both mechanically and esthetically. Car number 280 started life in the 80's a a Nissan 240SX, a four seater, semi sporty sedan with exceptional aerodynamic for a production auto. The engine of the year, this is the 3rd in a series of unusual power plants, is a 1947 Buick Roadmaster straight 8... that's 8 (count 'em) cylinders in a row. The more common modern 8 is a V8... two banks of 4 cylinders sort of side by side. The Nissan came with a 4cylinder engine so the Buick is nearly twice as long and fits snugly under the hood necessitating rather lumpy blisters on the hood to clear the taller and longer engine and fuel injection.
The car draws a crowd when the hood is off... this is a very unusual configuration and beautifully executed. The body is a bright orange with silver racing stripes down the center. The engine is painted to match with stainless steel hoses, carefully routed and tied doen wiring and with discrete vintage Buick 8 logos on the valve cover.
The record in the XOGALT class is about 167 MPH and so far the best Don has been able to do is a bit over 150. Today (Tuesday) Don is pulling the fuel injection and replacing it with a carburator which, in this case, may provide more even fuel distribution to that long span of cylinders. As I type Don and other crew members are cutting a hole in that perfectly sculpted fiberglass hood and gringing another hole in the intake manifold to accept the carb plate. All tgus is being don 'on the salt' no electricity except from a small generator, under a make shift tent, all on a bed of salt. Stuff like this is going on all throughout the pit area which extends for more than two miles along the longest of one of three race courses. This whole experience exemplifies America's greatest natural resource: creative inginuity and the persistence to make lemonade from lemons and race cars from ancient castoffs.
Shameless education plug: When will we get back to nurturing the kids who are tomorrows Bonnevile racers, creative scientists, far out mathematicians and brilliant inventors who are not predicted by high-stakes testing. Bonnevile in a sense is The Christmas Past... when will our leaders wake up and see that this culture is fading and without emphasis on out of the box, out of this country, out of this world thinking other countries are going to eat our innovative lunch.
Other Buckeyes of note are the McMeekin Brothers race team of which we are hangers on. Don and Jane McMeekin are the only family members here but several others are in support. To risk boring most of you I'll describe the race car: Don McMeekin is the chief architect and builder so the car reflects his artistry both mechanically and esthetically. Car number 280 started life in the 80's a a Nissan 240SX, a four seater, semi sporty sedan with exceptional aerodynamic for a production auto. The engine of the year, this is the 3rd in a series of unusual power plants, is a 1947 Buick Roadmaster straight 8... that's 8 (count 'em) cylinders in a row. The more common modern 8 is a V8... two banks of 4 cylinders sort of side by side. The Nissan came with a 4cylinder engine so the Buick is nearly twice as long and fits snugly under the hood necessitating rather lumpy blisters on the hood to clear the taller and longer engine and fuel injection.
The car draws a crowd when the hood is off... this is a very unusual configuration and beautifully executed. The body is a bright orange with silver racing stripes down the center. The engine is painted to match with stainless steel hoses, carefully routed and tied doen wiring and with discrete vintage Buick 8 logos on the valve cover.
The record in the XOGALT class is about 167 MPH and so far the best Don has been able to do is a bit over 150. Today (Tuesday) Don is pulling the fuel injection and replacing it with a carburator which, in this case, may provide more even fuel distribution to that long span of cylinders. As I type Don and other crew members are cutting a hole in that perfectly sculpted fiberglass hood and gringing another hole in the intake manifold to accept the carb plate. All tgus is being don 'on the salt' no electricity except from a small generator, under a make shift tent, all on a bed of salt. Stuff like this is going on all throughout the pit area which extends for more than two miles along the longest of one of three race courses. This whole experience exemplifies America's greatest natural resource: creative inginuity and the persistence to make lemonade from lemons and race cars from ancient castoffs.
Shameless education plug: When will we get back to nurturing the kids who are tomorrows Bonnevile racers, creative scientists, far out mathematicians and brilliant inventors who are not predicted by high-stakes testing. Bonnevile in a sense is The Christmas Past... when will our leaders wake up and see that this culture is fading and without emphasis on out of the box, out of this country, out of this world thinking other countries are going to eat our innovative lunch.
Sunday, August 17, 2008
Columbia River Gorge
Still at Mountain Home, ID
NOTE: Don't be alarmed, your eyes didn't go negative on you. I changed the template for the blog last night when the previous post appeared to have no text in it. I tried to type my post in the little word processor on my XO and it entered some HTML commands that changed all the text in the blog to black (I think) which does not show up well on a black background. So until I figure it all out I stick with the current format.
----------------------------------
The first view of the Gorge was some distance after I left the Portland area, I'd elected to take the Rt. 30 by-pass which took me through the more industrial fringes of Portland, my mistaken thought was that I'd be right close to the river. I wasn't until I joined again with I84 that the cliffs of the gorge came into view. As posted earlier, it had been a long and arduous afternoon. The sun was setting behind me and the cliffs, that appeared to be rather close together on either side of the river, were lit perfectly to emulate a lithograph I recalled of Lewis and Clark surveying their course from a promontory somewhere. I choose to believe that they were overlooking the Columbia River Gorge nearing the westward end of their epic journey.
The light and the hills appeared sort of gold and I had another of my WOW moments (I didn't try to stop for a photo this time). I84 closely follows the Columbia so the river is most always in view. It's broad and not very fast moving. The opposite (northern) shores are visible across the river and the southern cliffs are fairly close to the highway to the right although these are probably newly blasted to make room for the four lane. Being IN the gorge this way is impressive however, the real eye opener occurs when the rider takes the 'old road' cutoffs that are offered.
The original national highway through the gorge is US Rt. 30, known in Ohio and elsewhere as the Lincoln Highway. It's remnants wind not only with the river but with the terrain. Sometimes at the river level, sometimes high above. At points it hugs a more natural southern wall and it's at these points that it reveals spectacular waterfalls. In one 7 mile section of the old road, lined with old fashioned decorative concrete bidge abutments and white painted wooden guard rails, are three spectacular water falls. Each is close enough to be viewed from the road. There are parking spot near each fall and in a couple of cases gift shops and restrooms built of local stone in the charming slate roofed WPA style seen in state and national parks across the nation.
I can't recall the names of two of the falls, although one was nicknamed 'Bridal Veil', one was 'Horse Tail' and one was the third highest fall in the US. This seven mile ride was particularly enjoyable as the light was fading and the day was cooling from the 90's suffered earlier on I5.
Who could resist a side trip over the 'Bridge of the Gods'? I couldn't even though there was a toll. The bridge takes it's name from a Native American legend that tells of a natural bridge that the Great Spirit created in this site and set a woman to guard. She somehow failed in duty and the bridge was destroyed in a battle between waring tribes. In shame she went into solitary retreat and became Mt. St. Helens (not her real name) 90 miles to the north.
The current bridge while not as old as the legendary Native bridge is pretty old. It was originally built before the Bonneville Dam was finished in 1938 and has to be raised about 90 feet to clear the rising water behind the dam. There is a dollar charge for cars, to my surprise I got 50 cents change when I offer my buck for the bike.
The other side is, of course Washington again. I made my way as dark was falling, to Stevenson, WA , a place I'd randomly picked on MapQuest to spend the night. As luck would have the town was celebrating its annual Free Fair and homecoming and this happened to be the one hundredth such event. Quite a picturesque little place, a former logging town now dependant on tourism. As the free fair and the main part of town was fading in the mirrors and as Rt. 14's 2 lanes were growing darker ahead the glorious red and white 'Econo Lodge' sign popped into view. I got one of the last 2 remaining rooms (the Jacuzzi Suite), a AAA discount, advice on how to find the local Subway, a shower, and blessed cool sleep.
More on the Gorge next time.
NOTE: Don't be alarmed, your eyes didn't go negative on you. I changed the template for the blog last night when the previous post appeared to have no text in it. I tried to type my post in the little word processor on my XO and it entered some HTML commands that changed all the text in the blog to black (I think) which does not show up well on a black background. So until I figure it all out I stick with the current format.
----------------------------------
The first view of the Gorge was some distance after I left the Portland area, I'd elected to take the Rt. 30 by-pass which took me through the more industrial fringes of Portland, my mistaken thought was that I'd be right close to the river. I wasn't until I joined again with I84 that the cliffs of the gorge came into view. As posted earlier, it had been a long and arduous afternoon. The sun was setting behind me and the cliffs, that appeared to be rather close together on either side of the river, were lit perfectly to emulate a lithograph I recalled of Lewis and Clark surveying their course from a promontory somewhere. I choose to believe that they were overlooking the Columbia River Gorge nearing the westward end of their epic journey.
The light and the hills appeared sort of gold and I had another of my WOW moments (I didn't try to stop for a photo this time). I84 closely follows the Columbia so the river is most always in view. It's broad and not very fast moving. The opposite (northern) shores are visible across the river and the southern cliffs are fairly close to the highway to the right although these are probably newly blasted to make room for the four lane. Being IN the gorge this way is impressive however, the real eye opener occurs when the rider takes the 'old road' cutoffs that are offered.
The original national highway through the gorge is US Rt. 30, known in Ohio and elsewhere as the Lincoln Highway. It's remnants wind not only with the river but with the terrain. Sometimes at the river level, sometimes high above. At points it hugs a more natural southern wall and it's at these points that it reveals spectacular waterfalls. In one 7 mile section of the old road, lined with old fashioned decorative concrete bidge abutments and white painted wooden guard rails, are three spectacular water falls. Each is close enough to be viewed from the road. There are parking spot near each fall and in a couple of cases gift shops and restrooms built of local stone in the charming slate roofed WPA style seen in state and national parks across the nation.
I can't recall the names of two of the falls, although one was nicknamed 'Bridal Veil', one was 'Horse Tail' and one was the third highest fall in the US. This seven mile ride was particularly enjoyable as the light was fading and the day was cooling from the 90's suffered earlier on I5.
Who could resist a side trip over the 'Bridge of the Gods'? I couldn't even though there was a toll. The bridge takes it's name from a Native American legend that tells of a natural bridge that the Great Spirit created in this site and set a woman to guard. She somehow failed in duty and the bridge was destroyed in a battle between waring tribes. In shame she went into solitary retreat and became Mt. St. Helens (not her real name) 90 miles to the north.
The current bridge while not as old as the legendary Native bridge is pretty old. It was originally built before the Bonneville Dam was finished in 1938 and has to be raised about 90 feet to clear the rising water behind the dam. There is a dollar charge for cars, to my surprise I got 50 cents change when I offer my buck for the bike.
The other side is, of course Washington again. I made my way as dark was falling, to Stevenson, WA , a place I'd randomly picked on MapQuest to spend the night. As luck would have the town was celebrating its annual Free Fair and homecoming and this happened to be the one hundredth such event. Quite a picturesque little place, a former logging town now dependant on tourism. As the free fair and the main part of town was fading in the mirrors and as Rt. 14's 2 lanes were growing darker ahead the glorious red and white 'Econo Lodge' sign popped into view. I got one of the last 2 remaining rooms (the Jacuzzi Suite), a AAA discount, advice on how to find the local Subway, a shower, and blessed cool sleep.
More on the Gorge next time.
Saturday, August 16, 2008
Week from Hell
Mountain Home, Idaho
Bellingham, WA to the Columbia River Gorge
Had the week from hell yesterday afternoon. After landing in Bellingham at the end of our 3+ days on the Alaskan Marine Highway we made the 60 miles to Everett and Bernadette and Jay's home without incident. I even remembered the tricky turn onto Friday Street that I missed a couple of times the last time we were here in 2005. The house is situated on a hill that overlooks much of Everett and even give a great view of Mt. Baker when she's out. Bernadette always has home improvement projects in the works. Since the last time the small garden in the front of the house has been enlarged and a covered gazebo has been added as has access to the flat roof in the rear that is now a flower filled roof garden and eating space. After a warm welcome a great breakfast and an upload of blog posts I bid a reluctant farewell to Bernadette, Monica, Mary (another Monica sister visiting from CA) Mary's husband Steve and daughter Lori, and of course Tomto, I hit I5 about 1:15. Four hours and 70 miles later I was still not out of the terrible traffic woods... Seattle, Tacoma, Olympia, military bases and all points in between conspired to impede my way to the Columbia River Gorge. If 70 miles of stop and go traffic is typical of the area I can't imagine how Boeing and Microsoft find anyone willing to strike out for work.... maybe traffic is the secret weapon that keeps noses to the grindstone rather than attempt to get home.
To be fair I encountered 3 well spaced vehicle fires that must have had an impact on the snarl that kept me on the bike in the HOV lane for nearly 5 hours. The first fire was near downtown Seattle, it was a crane truck on a Northbound on ramp... by the time I saw it the fire was out but it was smoldering and surrounded by fire equipment and police cars. Traffic in both directions was stop and go for miles. A teaser of 50 MPH and then another slowdown and then stop. A message board announced an 'incident' at 320th Street. We were now only in the double digits. Days later the 'incident' was revealed to be an articulated municipal bus that was totally burned to a shell in the southbound HOV lane. Rubber necking added a couple of rear end bang-ups to multiply the confusion.
By this time we are in full tilt Friday-get out -of-town rush hour. Endless lines of cars streaming in from every on ramp and pressuring vehicles toward the center where I am staking out my right as a motorcyclist to ride in the HOV lane. However, being in the HOV lane makes exiting, if I'd been foolish enough to get off in unfamiliar territory, very difficult. I must have looked rather cooked (did I mention that the Northwest is suffering a heatwave and the temp was in the 90's and I was in full protective gear that felt so good in the 40's in Alaska). A driver in a red Toyota Tacoma pickup waved a bottle of water out the window at me and I managed to snag it with my throttle hand without coming to a complete stop. Thank the motorcycle gods for flip-up helmets. I upped the chin guard and twisted off the cap with my teeth... I gulped most of the water and splashed the rest on my tee shirt. Probably saved me from a unwise stop in the center berm to get my own water bottle from the back of the bike. Another act of kindness from a total stranger.
The last vehicle fire was near Chehalis way south of Olympia but of course traffic backed and then stopped after only a few miles of 50 MPH.. By the time I arrived on the scene the origin of the fire was nothing more than a car size grease spot on the side of the road. However, this fire sparked a grass and brush fire that spread several hundred yard in all directions from the original burn. Smudged firefighters and their trucks were still on the scene. It appeared that the fire had also spread to northbound lane because there were trucks over there also. Miles of backup in both directions.
Finally made it to the exit that would take me into the Columbia River Gorge. Believe it or not I'd spend that afternoon week from hell all over again to see the Gorge as I did later. I'll save that for another post.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
