I almost didn't look at the KS pictures, I knew I'd be pissed about not making it. Nice shot of your KLR in the air Joe. I did manage to ride about 500 miles on Sunday. Up into Wisconsin to Devils Head and all the way down 78, a nice twisty road, back down into IL. Ended up pretty far west near Galena before heading home. Ready for some camping though, can we get a count on who's in? Mike
Who's In: MG MotoJoe MikeMcD First off, how much time you guys have? I plan to take off Tuesday, Wednesday, and possibly Thursday (after memorial) depending on how much fun i'm having. If you guys want to go down to the Ozark Mountains i'm cool with that, i haven't been to AR before. My parents live in Mexico, MO and if you recall from the Chain Spring ride this is where Kenny and Don are from, small world. We can use my parents as a way point if you want. The AR border is only a few hours from mexico. i plan to call kenny and/or don and see what they are up to memorial weekend. i'm hoping to pick their brains for some local single track type riding, mexico is predominantly limestone and clay so the terrain can be fun, lots of quarry's and clay pits scatter the area.. do either of you have a gps? as for the route to the Ozark mountains i'm up for anything? I'm assuming there are some NP's or State Parks down there for camping if we so desire..i'll start doing some research this weekend.. let me know what your schedules allow for and we can start planning..
You guys may want to check with Renegade6 and Overlander. I think they are planning to ride around the south Misouri/Arkansas area that weekend. I made the mistake of agreeing to watch the neighbors dogs that weekend, so I'm screwed for a ride.
I know I'm good for Memorial weekend, I'll have to check with work and Mrs. McD on the additional days. I can always buzz back north myself if I have to. I don't have a GPS but can borrow a handheld if necessary. Mike
cool. i figure if you guys need to be back on monday i can head back with you but stop at my parents' in mexico and hang there on tuesday/wednesday. motojoe
I wont know what is up until next week, keep planning shit and I may tag along These women here in chicago have me tied up alot right now
Sounds like the goat is out for Memorial day, perhaps we can schedule up a shorter ride, maybe the shawnee national forest in southern IL or the nicolet nat forest in northern wisconsin? MCD what do you think? joe
Sounds like you got it pretty rough .... Anyway, just a word of obvious advice -- go somewhere dry... I don't think Wisconsin or Illinois are wise choices -- I haven't Missouri but if I were you guys, I go as far West as possible; I don't think they've had as much rain...
good call I hadnt thought about all the flooding here. I dont think its an issue up north though, the start of a river rarely floods as much as middle and end, howedver the creeks would be up as well.....who knows what I will find. Fist, MikeMcD, bvkamp.... where are you guys headed for memorial day weekend? joe
I hadn't taken the flooding into consideration either, rode the fox river trail (bicycle) yesterday and many sections were well under water. Maybe Michigan? tons of orv trails there. Mike
Yea I rode the manistee national forest trails this spring, very cool. Some of it would be beyond my skill level with the klr though, also prolly a whole gang of folks headed there. I was thinking more like logging roads in the U.P. or Northern Wisconsin, could be cold yet up there this time a year. I bought a new bivy sac for this trip and others to follow, trying to go tentless from now on to keep weight and bulk of luggage down(leave room for beer and girls ) either way though it would be good to head outta town.
If you guys have the time (and have made sure the roads aren't underwater), I would sure as shit go out to Missouri and ride... There are perfect logging/fire roads for both KLRs, GS's, and everything in between -- for all skill levels I might add... The pavement is almost brand new in many sections of the park and the off-roading is excellent.... I could give you guys directions and a place to start (Super-Slab it over to Cuba, Missouri and then head south into the forest/park -- its only about 1 hour outside St. Louis)... I can also lend out my GPS (Streetpilot) and software if anyone needs it too...
where are you guys goin? any ideas? Im gonna ride 1 full day this weekend. probably from Fulton County South towards St louis. gravel and twisties looking like Saturday.
maybe we head down to chaingolia on friday night ride gravel saturday with chain and see what the cuba area has on sunday? any one like that? joe
Sounds good here. Still waiting on those nerf bars btw, 16 days since I paid for them damnit I was hoping to have them for this ride. Mike
I will be riding to work in a few hours, gonna have to take the connie though as I found the squeak to be not the exhaust but the motor. I threw a dofferent pipe on and the squeak continued, so I guess its in the topend and coming strait out the pipe. Gonna do the valves and see if it improves. Otherwise? maybe an xr650L is in the future.