Thursday, February 4, 2010
Saturday, February 7, 2009
Long Dry Spell
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.
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.
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.
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