Riding the TAT

[Mudclod]

Hope your bud's OK Thrasher, it's bound to be painful. Tape it up and do some drug's I suppose.

[Thrasherg]

Thanks Mudclod, I suspect he broke the wrist and cracked a rib, but he is just taking lots of pain killers and will continue. We will slow the pace down a bit to try and avoid any further spills. The internet at our motel is very slow, so I will just post a few pictures.

The start in Trinidad


Where to next? Anway but over the water crossing!!


A breakfast break on one of the nicest parts of the trail, between Colorado and Utah


Our lunch spot in Utah, about 25 miles from Kanosh and about 30 minutes before Steve's dirt nap.


Fitting new handlebars to Steve's bike


I will have to return to Utah, there are so many trails and they are well posted, both Colorado and Utah have amazing places to visit, but very different scenery, Colorado is very mountainous, but Utah has mountains, gorges, flats, desserts, etc.. Very different riding but all great fun and everyone we meet is so nice.. Still haven't seen any bears and doubt we will now that we are crossing over to Nevada (Unless bears like sand!! )

Gary

[greeneggs&ham]

So, how does the food at the LectroLux Cafe fair? Is there a reason I think of a Vacuum when I say that? Did they have any ice for the patient. How are the roads; we're still following along. Shirley said I should call you while y'all are stopped and eating, but I didn't think there would be many towers out there. You're out in it now, buddy. Have a great day. Sam & Shirley

[Thrasherg]

Sam, the food was great, they actually have three old hoovers hanging from the ceiling, so you are not the first one to think that!! The waitress was a hoot, we all had a great time and enjoyed the meal. It ended up being a very long day, we rode 240 miles of the TAT and then an extra 35 miles of normal road to find a Motel!! Had a lovely evening and am going to bed exhausted!! Still really enjoying the ride, but 13 hours in the saddle was starting to get a bit tedious so we needed to stop.. Need to adjust my clutch tomorrow morning and and drive another 200+ miles to find the next motel.. I can't believe we have already been riding 7 days!! The time just flies bye!! Sylvie is doing just brilliantly as are my 2 friends when you consider how little off road experience they have. There speed is a little slow, but they are getting over all the obstacles and riding the TAT, I can't ask for more!! They are also great company..

Gary

[greeneggs&ham]

So did you ask why they named it after a vacuum cleaner? I have to say when I came in here and saw that you had stopped, I thought, "let's see where they are eating." Mmm, vacuum cleaner repair and cafe? No just a cafe with a vacumm cleaner name. Must be a dusty place?
I doubt YOU walk into any place in this country and don't find the waitstaff a hoot. Everyone loves your attitude and your accent! It would be like me walking into someplace in England, with my Texas drawl and once I open my mouth, I would attract some attention.
Glad you are having a great time. We will keep watching. Hope Steve is doing OK. Tell him to get his rearend back when in that sand. Sam & Shirley

[SilverBullet]

Originally Posted by greeneggs&ham

So did you ask why they named it after a vacuum cleaner?

Wrong spelling but still a fitting name for a cafe along a motorcycle trail. why? Electrolux bought out Husqvarna a few years back. Well not the mc division but still the same name.

Ride on Gary and crew and enjoy, I'm very jealous. See you on Thanksgiving in Vegas.

_

[Thrasherg]

Well we stopped at a little Motel in Eureka last night, it was a bit run down but the owners where very nice, no internet access so couldn't post anything. Have stopped at a Super8 Motel in Battle Mountain and have internet. So far 3 of our 4 cameras have stopped working due to dust, one of the three GPS's has stopped working due to electrical issues, I have melted my man rack bag on my exhaust and have a nice black burnt mark on the jeans that where inside the melted bag, but nothing is spoiling it for us. It's incredibly hot, so we are starting earlier and earlier to try and beat the heat.. Nevada is a little difficult to ride due to all the sand, the bikes just slide everywhere, but the scenery is very pretty, I still preferred Colorado and Utah, but it's still fun to ride.. Can't wait to hit Oregon in a couple of days.. will try to post some more pics soon, but with nearly all the cameras dead (the lenses won't come out and an error message on the screen just says "Lens error", hopefully we can blow them clean with an air line and they will start working again.
We split into 2 teams today as 2 of us wanted to do a part of the trail that we skipped yesterday and the other 2 didn't. Mike and I took off at speed to retrace the missed part and hoped to catch Sylvie and Steve up in a few hours on the trail.. Mike wiped out in front of me and I did the only honorable thing, I rode over him!! He will have some nice bruises in the morning.. Fortunately it was deep soft sand, so apart from a few bruises there were no injuries to mike or the bikes!! We proceeded to get lost a few times, we had one old lady come out and tell us we where trespassing on private property, I explained that we are riding a county road (CR2) and where not trespassing, to which she said "we don't want your kind, motorcyclists around here!". I told her that as long as my tax money was being used to maintain the roads in this area I was going to ride them and wished her a happy day!! She was not happy, but such is life..

Will work on getting some pictures up soon, we met 2 other guys on KTM's also riding the TAT, they stopped at Eureka last night and I just saw them at another motel in Battle mountain about an hour ago, so they seem to be riding at a similar pace to us.. Will have to go and speak to them this evening..

Gary

[Gravel Guy]

Originally Posted by Thrasherg

Mike wiped out in front of me and I did the only honorable thing, I rode over him!!
Gary

Glad you are both ok...

[The Bruce]

Keep plugging away at it. Where were the cameras riding to get dusty? Pocket or tank bag?

from the phone

[Timbercat]

Oregon Rocks!!!!
Stay Safe and watch out for those crazies out there.

Timbercat
Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk HD

[greeneggs&ham]

Gary, careful of crazy old ladies that might be armed! Sometimes they can be more dangerous than the guys in camo! And why did you stop in front of her house - you may be asking directions from the wrong person.
Mike, careful of riding in front of Gary. Oops, you already know that now, don't you.
Gary, glad Mike was OK. Great report, temps will get better when you get into Oregon.
Looking forward to more of your adventures.
Sam

p.s. Not that I have ever been to Oregon, but that's what Coolhand tells me.

[Thrasherg]

Thanks Lee & Sam,

Sam we were driving past her house when she waved at us, so I stopped to see what she wanted, and that was when she accused us of trespassing, etc.. She was the first person we have met on the whole trip who was negative about motorbikes and off-road riding, after we passed her we met 4 or 5 trucks coming in the opposite direction to us on the trails and they all stopped to talk to us and where great..

Tuesday we should hit Oregon, Tomorrow (Monday) we have 156 miles to cover before lunch and another 65 miles after lunch, we should end up in Denio Junction if all goes to plan and Tuesday night we will be in Lakeview, OR.

Today, was the only day that we didn't have a GPX file for the entire route and it was hard going, many of the junctions listed on the maps did not exist, so we ended up entering a lot of coordinates into the GPS manually and then navigating from one point to the next.. It was hard work and incredibly hot, but still very rewarding and a lot of fun. At the hotel where we are stopped there are 4 other bikers also riding the TAT!! 8 riders total.. That must be unusual 4 honda CRF's, 3 KTM's and Kawasaki KLR.

Gary

[Thrasherg]

Bruce, the cameras were all in closed jacket pockets, but every single bag is full of dust, it has gotten into everything and the electrical stuff is failing because of it.. I will get some dry bags for the next ride and put everything in a dry bag and then in the panniers.. The 3 GPS will all go in the trash when we get back, they are working but they are starting to fail and look far worse for wear!! Just factor it in as part of the holiday cost!!

Gary

[Mudclod]

You taxpayer's make me sick! Ha! Oh well, at least she didn't shoot ya! I ran flat over a guy racing one time, weird feeling, huh? Jumped him like a log-I was committed.

[Rman of 237]

"Git off my land!!!!"



At least you weren't wearing your black leather and -less chaps!

[RollingJ]

"I ran flat over a guy racing one time, weird feeling, huh? Jumped him like a log-I was committed. "

I think that's the way I want to go out.

[Thrasherg]

Originally Posted by RollingJ

"I ran flat over a guy racing one time, weird feeling, huh? Jumped him like a log-I was committed. "

I think that's the way I want to go out.

What really surprised me, was that as he fell I went to grab the front brake to try and stop and all I could think was that loading up the front end would hurt him so I just closed the throttle and tried to hit him as gently as possible. the front end went over him and the back wheel stopped without hitting him, so he was left in the gap under the engine and in between the two wheels. I didn't dare put my feet down as I might step on him, then I lost my balance and fell over, the bike landing on top of him.. He started yelling and I thought he must be hurt, but finally I made out the sentence"gary, don't move the bikes, get a photot!!" unfortunately none of the cameras where working so I tried to use the go-pro camera on my helmet, but something went wrong, because as I look at the memory card tonight, there is nothing from the accident, but I do have the old dear accusing us of trespassing on it!! Up at 5:30am tomorrow morning to try and be on the road by 6:30am (to beat the heat) and get 160 miles done by lunch time..

sleep well everyone

Gary

[budzrex]

Gary if you can't use your friends for traction on occasion what
good are they

Sounds like an amazing trip so far

[Thrasherg]

Well it's our 3rd day in Neveda and I have to say, who would want to live here? The first day was, wow what a different scenery (sand, dust and Sage), the second day was, wow sand, dust and sage, the third day was oh god, more sand dust and sage.. The scenery hardly changes, a few brown hills in the distance, enough dust to cover the entire planet and still have plenty left over, lots of people trying to stop motorcyclist riding the TAT, putting up false private road/property signs on public roads.. I really can't see the attraction, if I ever rode the TAT again, I would hit the freeway the minute I arrived in Nevada and drive to Oregon and then pick up the trail again. I don't know why, but Sam seems to have picked as many single track roads as possible, they all have loads of loose sand, that slows you down tremendously and makes it very tedious after a while. we rode for 8 hours today and covered 100 miles, and were all sick of the dust, heat and sand.. We cannot wait to hit Oregon tomorrow evening.. A few spills from some of the team today, but no serious injuries, just a few bruises.. Still enjoying the ride, but Nevada is not on our highlight list!!

Picture of three reprobates, one with a Brained wrist (cross between broken and sprained!!)

Gary

[Rman of 237]

Hang in there G, we still have Barstow to Vegas to look forward to!