Going for Broke: TAT 2011

[larryboy]

Oh yeah, since you're back live on the report...don't drink the water in McDermitt until you ask if it's okay or just don't drink it. By the time I found out it was bad I had drank a gallon and got sick the next day...bad sick.

[simonpig]

Wow. Who would've thought. Thanks for that tip.

Originally Posted by larryboy

Oh yeah, since you're back live on the report...don't drink the water in McDermitt until you ask if it's okay or just don't drink it. By the time I found out it was bad I had drank a gallon and got sick the next day...bad sick.

[simonpig]

That fire department is so money. I think it was the nicest building in town.

Originally Posted by One Less Harley

We to had a hard time finding the trail getting out if Eureka. Eureka is a little gold mining town and Barrick which is one of if not the largest gold mining company in the world. You'll see signs all throughout Nevada for Barrick. We stayed in Eureka for an extra day, well worth the stay.

You wouldn't believe it after staying there but Eureka is in the richest Co of Nevada. The state tried to get their hands on some of the money, but the head accountant put the money where the State can't get any of it. Not sure of the exact details have to be an accountant to understand. Did you see the huge Fire Department!! The is a public swim facility which had washers and dryers which which we used.

Neat thing about NV is all the old mines (holes in the earth) you'll see later on.

[dvwalker]

Really enjoying your RR. Love your writing style and posting semi-live really adds to the enjoyment for those of us sitting in the comfy arm chair. Your observations of all the little things is what makes this trip really special for the memory book. Stay safe and enjoy the moment.

Fyi, Denio Jct has a few rooms but with hunting season in force may be a crap shoot to get one. Fields OR, just to the north has a few as well, great people I might add, but also a crap shoot this time of year. All else fails you should find a shower and bed in Cinderville CA (south of Fort Bidwell) or Lakeview. There's no offical lodging (or gas) in Ft Bidwell, but some riders have been put up after a good meet and greet.

Will send you a PM with emergency contact info in case you need any help while in OR

[One Less Harley]

Fort Bidwell-If I remember right gas is just 10-15 miles up the road via interstate.

[simonpig]

BTW, Nice RR on your TAT ride. I just want to read the whole thing all comfy in my hotel room. Gonna pack and head out soon.

Originally Posted by One Less Harley

Fort Bidwell-If I remember right gas is just 10-15 miles up the road via interstate.

[simonpig]

Made it to McDermott.

[Callahan]

Arrrrhhhhhh your pup looks peaceful sleeping at the foot of the bed. A little dusty (gratified) but none the less peaceful.

[jthomas82]

You are doing a great job on your RR. I have read about that mudhole in many other RR here. Some bikes have been so stuck that they had to be pulled out by ranchers in the area. Keep up the good work.

[simonpig]

9/11/11 (Sunday)
Daily mileage: 166
Overall average: 21 mph

Hard to believe 10 years have passed since 9/11. I was witnessing it on the roof of a building in Chelsea on 19th street. Respect to all the victims and those touched by that day.

10 years later, NYC finally has a memorial and I am in battle mountain, nevada getting ready to start my days ride.



I was able to borrow a computer monitor from the manager of the super 8 motel, so spent much of the evening accessing my pictures and uploading a flurry of pictures from the last several days. Unless I find another monitor the pictures, you won't see glorious pictures for at least several days.

Got a late this morning, and rode out feeling good. Today I felt renewed somehow and I didn't feel the need to push. I was content putting about and enjoying the scenery as I realize that I only have 1 and a half states to cross before the trail ended.

The riding was zen today. I didn't take as many photos today. Just wanted to breath it all it.

The ride out of battle mountain took me through some hills and the abandoned mineshaft seen in other reports. The ride down that hill was on a track that was illl defined but perceptible.



The trail after that was when it was straight up chaos if you were looking to ride a defined track. It's a section where the trail just turns off the main road and goes into the sandy fields of low lying desert vegetation you could ride over (for the most part) and taller sagebrushes you had to try and ride around -- these I hated.

From a navigational standpoint it was absolute madness. There were single tracks all over the field giving evidence that TAT riders before were searching for this elusive trail. I would try and follow a single track already blazed only to see another and take that one and then another. It was maddening. Only until I decided to blaze my own trail was when everything settled down. Slowly but surely I navigated around the bushes wary of sinkholes or ditches and ravines and found the trail. There was maybe about a mile or so of flying blind. Without the gps I would have been royally screwed.









The next big obstacle is the big river crossing at around the 485 mile mark. Approaching it I could see the old main line which was steep, and deep from being dug out by so many crossings.



And then there was One Less Harleys line to the left, already nicely trimmed for me.



After surveying a good line across. I just went for it. The nose of the bike dropped in pretty dramatically, but popped back up and out of the water and the tail followed.

Click below for video documentation



After crossing, I stopped and visited the lonely abandoned house. There was a brand new battery terminal sitting inside along with signs that other TAT rider had been through. A yuasa ytz7s was just inside the front entrance.








After taking pictures and signing the wall, I made my way. It was around 4:30.










At one point I went for the shifter and felt nothing. Looked down and saw my the shifter spring had broken so I stopped and did some minor surgery. Using an aaa battery, zipties and silicone rescue tapes I was back I business.



The rest of the ride was just amazing. During the earlier part of the day, I had alway seen these hills that looked pretty smooth and traversable since they weren't so steep. Well I had the opportunity as the trail took me up to the summit of ones of the highest hills which opened up the landscape a full 360 degrees in all directions. It was highlander-epic.



Atop the summit was a pile of rocks suitable for a Visigoth funeral pyre. Nevada is epic!



From atop I could see rain clouds in the north. It was overcast where I was so Nevada felt more like an English countryside. never been there but that's what I imagine it to feel like.



It was getting later and I start to wind and climb mountainsides. The view from those peaks were fantastic, but as light was falling, I just kept plugging along. The trail just kept going and going and going. I go up and down and up and around. At around 7:15 I reach the plateau of another peak and looking around me, I could hills and mountains all around. I was definitely still in the sticks. Albeit beautiful.



I kept my headlight off for as long as possible during dusk so my visible contrast was low and I try my best to avoid the occasional big rock in my path. For the most part it was faith that there was no obstruction.

At 8pm, night fell and I flick my hid lights on. They are superbright and slowly and methodically I push on through several water crossings and a navigation error. Luckily the narrow double track had turned into an open dirt road.

At 8:40 I sputter into a texaco in Mcdermitt, Nevada and fill up. I had gone 166 miles a single tank -- approximately 55 mpg.

Check into the Double A motel and then grab some dinner at the say when casino. Spoke the cashier afterwards and she mentioned a group of 16 older gentlemen passing by going to Denio. Probably trailriders since they had their bikes trailered.

Crash hard after my steak dinner.

[larryboy]

Originally Posted by simonpig

Nevada is epic!

Finally...somebody else gets it!!!

[Johnny55]

Originally Posted by simonpig

Being on the TAT, its easy to lose track what day it is. On this occasion and the one at Lake City, both were on Friday and Saturdays, when the weekend warriors come out to play. Book in advance for those who like the comfort of hotels.

Or just hope and pray some little old lady will take pitty on you and put you up in her grandson's place!



Loving the RR. If I was not right in the middle of the TAT, I would ride it this year too. Altho, I am headed into Utah and Nevada so maybe I will ride some sections of the TAT this year.

[simonpig]

Stuck in denio. Need a tube. Front tubliss busted again. Must be something that abrading the bladder. Shoulda checked more carefully. What to do. Go back to winnemuca by highway going 35 mph? Would take me 3 hours. Had to ride 35 miles through rocky trails on rimlocks.

[One Less Harley]

Check the spokes inside the rim. Rim strip is supposed to protect it. The dealer is on the main drag in Winnemaca which is a good size town. They won't have tubliss, get the thickest tube you can!!! Yeah can't count of the tubliss. That's what I was preaching in another thread. You've got to carry extra bladders and tubes!!! Not sure if you can patch the bladder.

Is it leaking at the stem???? If so check the alignment of the stem to the hole in the rim. It needs to be at 90 degrees to the rim.

[dvwalker]

Motorcycle-superstore.com is located in Medford OR. When I order tires/tubes online most of the time the free shipping shows up in Portland next day. Not tubeless but the 120/90-18 Dunlop 606's are in stock. Just another idea but implies waiting at Denio. Many more rocks between you and Lakeview. Denio is an interesting sub-culture.