On the Road Again

Posted on November 20, 2019 by Waldo

Packing up and getting ready for our annual migration in the opposite direction. Most full-time RV peeps head south for the winter. We’re going north again this year

The Husqie Adventure-450 wrapped up and ready to go

Got my new toy strapped to the back of the RV with time for kitty to practice a little bit of yoga before we go. The bike-on-back thing seems to be working except it covers the turn signals. Look for a repairs and mods post addressing that issue shortly

The drive over was unusually quiet. Not much traffic, no snow or other weather hazards, and we made the trip in just over 5 hours. We had an uninterrupted run at Vail Pass (and the tunnel) and Truck 2.0 pulled them at 55 mph no problem

Kitty does not want riding season to end

Well it looks like riding season on the east side of the mountains is wrapped up

A few inches of white to accent the chili peppers

It seems the snow has forgotten how to fall down and is now practicing some new upward-falling moves

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Last Call

Posted on November 14, 2019 by Waldo

The view of the La Sals from the North East

The last Motorcycle ride of the year was a great time. Rode from Gateway Co to (almost) Moab. I’ve been working out a couple of routes this fall. One for dirt bikes and one for big twin adventure bikes. Now I have most of the routes ironed out for each type

Mandy, Mike, and Dan on the road to Rattlesnake Arch

I started this when it was hot out and now it’s just barely warm enough to ride and there is only 4 hours of ridable daylight. The sun sets early in the canyon bottoms

The all-new Husqie Adventure-450 on the Kokopelli Trail near Dewey Bridge

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Mid October Round Up

Posted on October 20, 2019 by Waldo

First day of the retreat was a bit snowy

Winter in the desert is just around the corner now. Mountains are getting snow and the passes are all yucky. I took a quick trip to Ft Collins and got some snow and mud on me. I spent the weekend in retreat with friends and became fully illuminated one morning (it wore off by lunch).

I’m a fully illuminated being. Big thanks to Robert for catching the moment

I’ve also been playing with my Mini-ADV bike. The all-new Husqie Adventure-450 is turning out to be a lot of fun and is keeping me from paying attention to my mountain bike. Friends and I are planning to ride in Idaho next summer, we’ve named it rIdaho. That’ll be a hoot!

In other news Truck 2.0 turned 300,000 miles this month. I spent a few hours and dollars chasing down a coolant leak, and a fuel leak but we seem to have that all sorted now.

Glamor-shot of the Husqie Adventure-450 in the Colorado Nat’l Monument

North of Baxter pass near cow-lake (named for all the cows nearby)

About 1/2-way up Baxter pass road. Looks like an old southwestern school house

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I bought a new toy

Posted on October 4, 2019 by Waldo

As you recall I spent some time riding adventure bikes this summer and I decided to go ahead and buy one for next summer (plus this fall, winter, and next spring!) I got a mini-adventure bike instead of the big Africa Twin I rented for that summer ride

The Husqie Adventure-450 on trails in the Book Cliffs

The Husqie Adventure-450 is about 280 pounds lighter than the Africa Twin (250 vs 530). I can pick this bike up if it falls and it is a lot more maneuverable for the UTV and jeep trails that criss-cross the desert. I’ve spent a few weeks looking for a route to Moab that I can ride. The Kokopelli goes that way, but parts of it are above my ability. I have a dream trip of riding over to Moab one day and coming back the next. I also want to ride the White Rim Trail in Canyonlands NP. Maybe this year. Could be next year

Kitty is taking riding lessons. Vroom! Vroom!

I have been skunked a few times on my attempts to make loops out of 4×4 roads. The Husqie Adventure-450 is street legal and can go highway speeds so I can always hit the pave to get around, but I prefer dirt roads

This would make a great trials section, but it’s a no-go for the Husqie and me. This is a 4×4 connector trail I tried to make a loop with

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Mini Road trip

Posted on September 15, 2019 by Waldo

I was visiting Rifle Gap State Park so I drove up the canyon to Rifle Falls too. I haven’t been there for probably 30 years. The last time I was here was with my grandma back when she was living in Parachute. She grew up in the valley and her hubby use to take her to Rifle Falls for picnics in the early 1930’s. I spotted a few wild turkeys on my walk

I fixed it!
One of our mowers got a broken frame. It’s an expensive mower so the park decided to fix it. I took it almost all the way apart to get the broken bit out then reassembled it. I runs! I’m always amazed when something that taken apart goes together and runs

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Mental Wandering

Posted on August 17, 2019 by Waldo

Outside it’s 95º and the wind is blowing 30 mph. Whenever I step out it feels like someone is hitting me with a pizza oven.

I’ve been riding early in the mornings and it’s fun to see the long shadows I create as I ride around

Have a new project in the shop. A 22-year old mule that no one has ever done any maintenance on

The old red mule is back together and runs great!
Seriously Mark, check the oil now

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I made a thing

Posted on August 13, 2019 by Waldo

My new Moto-lifter picking up Kirk’s KLR 650

A few weeks ago I was off adventure riding motorcycles which were too heavy for me to pick up. When I dropped one I needed help to get it on its wheels again so I made a motorbike lifter. Basically a single leg strap-jack like some of the lifters I’d seen on the internet.

I made it out of 6061-T6 aluminum tubing, which is what airplanes and expensive mtn bikes are made from. I tested it on a friends KLR 650 and it seems to work so now I’m sending it off to friends in Texas to test on the 100-pound heavier Honda Africa Twin and the even heavier Honda VFRX1200. Wish us luck!

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Ask Mike Moore

Pondering & Wandering

Author Archives: Waldo