SoMD Adventure Riders Continental Divide ride 2012 (Execution phase)

[GSA_PILOT]

So last evening I was cruising the ADVRIDER and noticed Scotty and Kevin were heading West via St Louis to Colorado Springs. I am coming from there headed East. So after a quick phone call we would meet up in Columbia. I've been traveling by motorcycle for 2 months with 1 month to go. I haven't seen Scotty since my B-Day in April and Kevin in March at a Virginia RTE. I found an easy off the highway park to get a bite and talk motorcycles. Scotty made sandwiches and his mom packed him pastries. Here are some pics and a video. Around 10AM...

Scotty and Kevin's set up


Prepped by Scotty and even had my name on it.


My ol' bitty for the last two months


Video


Why I have the camera dummy corded to me? Scotty headed West.



Looking forward to seeing cool pics from their adventure.

[Cannonshot]

Originally Posted by EOD3MC

Lunatic....Thanks for the offer...I'll be sure to mention it to the others in the morning

Cannonshot...Thank you for the baseline to get the whole thing going...

Originally Posted by blaster11

Just a bit...see you in a little while.

Cannonshot...Thanks for all the great work you did!!!!!!!!!

Thanks guys. Following along to enjoy your fun!

[lakota]

link to my part of this ride
http://advrider.com/forums/showthread.php?t=804566

[Dorito]

Miles: Around 600
Final city: Oklahoma City, OK

The quotable quote for the day:

I've never recived so much enjoyment from a buck and half.

Yesterday, as we were having fried Katoom, I had a bit of an experiement. As we left McDs in 107F, I dumped the remainder of the ice down my shirt. It felt good enough, that I went back in for another cup. Today, we've perfected the routine--every 1.5 hrs, and three bags of ice for 4 riders. Anyhow, the price of a bag of ice is $1.50, and needless to say if the heat continues, I've got an endless supply of "buck and halfs" for more ice!



Of course, the first shock of the ice it a bit "overwhelming" for some. But alas, we've taken great pride in torturing each other:





Learning to get ice into a bag (notice the pen?)


A trailer for everyone!


Of course, we think we have the Katoom under control



Saw some nice architecture today:




Got stuck in a horific traffic jam 55 miles outside of Memphis (long term construction)


Are you a ADVrider or a shadow coward!


Which license plate is not like the others?



Two more states down, two more to go to rondezvous point

[Pantah]

I'm in. So many riders I think this is going to be quite entertaining. Once on the tracks, hope you don't have mud. If not you should be able to stay fairly close to your schedule. In my experience you have a couple days too long, but others are pretty short so it offsets. Also, so many of you that things will happen (such as the KTM fuel issue). Docking Pilot's trip was very instructional that way I thought.

Hope you try the Oregon Trail. It's a little soft in spots for those big bikes, but since you are a group you should be able to do it.

My old KTM used to boil the gas and flood the canister too. Nothing to do but open the caps and let it cool. Then she'll run until she does it again. Usually in gridlock. She should be OK in the highway. Also I learned to NEVER fill up and leave it while getting food. I got the food first, then filled up just before hitting the highway. Lastly, leave some air. You'd think KTM would have fixed that by now.

Even with the cannisterectomy, mine still vapor locked in gridlock once. Had itt too full of fuel and gridlock struck me yet again!

Have fun. I'm going to follow Lakota's thread too.

[xuare]

Originally Posted by Pantah

I'm in. So many riders I think this is going to be quite entertaining. Once on the tracks, hope you don't have mud. If not you should be able to stay fairly close to your schedule. In my experience you have a couple days too long, but others are pretty short so it offsets. Also, so many of you that things will happen (such as the KTM fuel issue). Docking Pilot's trip was very instructional that way I thought.

Hope you try the Oregon Trail. It's a little soft in spots for those big bikes, but since you are a group you should be able to do it.

My old KTM used to boil the gas and flood the canister too. Nothing to do but open the caps and let it cool. Then she'll run until she does it again. Usually in gridlock. She should be OK in the highway. Also I learned to NEVER fill up and leave it while getting food. I got the food first, then filled up just before hitting the highway. Lastly, leave some air. You'd think KTM would have fixed that by now.

Even with the cannisterectomy, mine still vapor locked in gridlock once. Had itt too full of fuel and gridlock struck me yet again!

Have fun. I'm going to follow Lakota's thread too.

As for the mud, probably won't be a problem given the drought warnings over the entire divide area. Then again, now that I said it...

[elgato gordo]

Don't bet on dry. The hi pressure is moving over and mid-next week shows moisture beginning to creep up to south western NM. May go from fire season to mud season real fast. Good luck guys can't believe you are traveling in these record breaking temps. I'd boil my gas too!

[RaysGSAdv]

Been checking and keeping track of you guys. Your covering alot of ground. If you get to a cycle shop pick up a mx jersey (29.99). They wick the sweat off and keep you cooler, (like under armor). You also need some mesh riding gear. Till then OPEN your vents and try to keep cool! Keep safe and continue with the daily updates.

[Dorito]

Not sure I got everything for Day2, so leaving this a placeholder for now.

[Dorito]

Day 3 mileage: around 500
Trip Mileage: 1912 miles
Final destination: Albuquerque, NM


So, the first leg of the trip is behind us. Next stop is the begining of the CDR. Of course, first to do canister by-pass on a KTM and get some fresh skins on the rest of the sleds.

We made really good time for most of the day. The temps didn't break triple digits, and the speed limits were 75MPH. However, the fortitutous temperature was due to a somewhat vicous crosswind. But, if it takes a cooling crosswind to keep a Katoom from overheating, so be it.

Meanwhile, everyone has been practicing their calisthenics.









Texas does everything big...even their rest stops




We chuckled, it was probably only an outhouse inside.

Windmills:






NM is a bit bland to drive through, so they even decorate the overpasses:




Maybe we can trade some jerky for this toy:


Got a new sticker for the pannier:


Neat old building:


Big Fluffy clouds:


Then 10 mins later...a few more ominous looking ones..


We had held out hope (is "hope" a good battle plan?), the Katoom would be a lady today. Nope, just ain't in her Austrian blood. So, if anyone has every been to "south of the boarder", SC, "Little America", WY, there is one more for the list about 1 hour east of Alb--Flying C Ranch

You know the kind of place, the one that litters boths sides of the highway for miles with billboards..


Anyhow, as we rolled in, the Katoom does a victory lap looking for some shade. Low and behold, Blaster notices the rear tire is flat. Tire gauge shows 0 psi!




Beemer tire check:


Anyhow, we were able to get her into the hotel by stopping a few times to airup.

The last check of the day, Blaster has a nail too..

[Dorito]

Originally Posted by xuare

Or, it could just be karma for that wheelie EOD3MC pulled in F-burg

Beware the heat, and beware the storms it generates at night.

Hope you get the carb issue sorted. Yes, we know all about Karma

[xuare]

I think it was just heat, had no issues getting in after the stop. Once I get some bits reassembled ill take a test spin to verify

[Dorito]

So, went to Genghis (J4S says it is not Gangus like Gangrene) Mongolian Grill for dinner. Quite a nice place. If you've never been, you get this small stainless bowl to put meat and veggies in. They provide you small recipe cards. J4S spritely takes two cards for inspiration, but then decides to just fill it his way.



Then you hand the bowl and contents to these guys for cooking


The number then matches you back up with your completed food. In this case, someone just happens to be Bill Congers 2012 Dakar number:


So after dinner, we decided go a for a little walk. Can't seem to get the ADV instincts out of the rider, as Blaster leads EOD3MC and J4S through the Arroyo (while I take the high ground)



Evening thunderstorm rolls through South of town:

[VACommuter]

Food porn always sucks me in!

VAC

[joints4sale]

It seems that this hot weather and long days in the saddle seems to affect us all a little differently. I mention this because Dorito seems to get a little pissy about the rest of this not contributing to this ride report. So here is my feeble attempt to contribute although I told her that I was part of the "camera crew".

As mentioned earlier, Dave was having issues with his KTM. This fellow KTM rider stopped to give advice and reassurance as to "They all do that, just ride with the gas cap open."



Notice how he makes that 990 look like a 450. Dude must be tall.

As for the heat?



IT WAS HOT!

And finally, Snapped this shot in Oklahoma of some town that was trying to be nice to both RFlagg42 and myself.....