It's been a banner year for me on all sorts of levels.
The year started off right with a trip to Big Bend and ended right with a ride in the Hill Country. This was the first of many street/dirt trips for the year. The highlights included crossing 100 miles of west Texas desert just outside of Sanderson to a little place called ****'s Half Acre. Hiking the Window trail, about 8 mile round trip of steep trails, at Chisos Basin. I broke my ankle 4 months earlier so this was going to be quite a test. My ankle was swollen and stiff but it held up.
There were other shorter trips to include Hodges Gardens, numerous hill country rides including the infamous buzzard attack and Dee's Nuts Incident, two Arkansas trips, a newby ride with Beth riding pinion...no I mean pillion, and the many miles just riding by myself which I do enjoy. Other memories include going down twice, once in the red coliche clay while crossing a stream and the other time while crossing Sandy Creek with fast moving water and thick green algae...I slid off and wound up in 4 ft of stinking creek water. Thank God for removable helmet liners!! Both times no injuries, just a lot of laughing. The big finale was 9 days in Copper Canyon, Mexico. It was one of those life-altering trips and something I plan to do more of. Next year Baja. Get your dirt bike ready!!
Other highlights included buying and building a new house (I didn't personally build it, the contractor did.) Rescuing Loni from the Great Pyrenees Society. She's a great dog. Buying my first true dirt bike in 10 years. Meeting Vladimir Yates on his round the world adventure on a 2-stroke '90 Jawa. Oh yeah, he's also deaf and mute! He's a true adventurer in all ways.
There were some low points, biggest one was losing Mark. I've only met him a few times but you knew right away he was good folk. Hearing Vlad was in a bad accident in Illinois. Scott and Beth's struggle for a family. There are others but I'm stopping here. I think we all have had our share.
But the most important highlight of the year is all the new friendships I've made and the great folks I've meet along my travels. That's what life's all about right? Cheers to all of you and hoping '04 is just as good...even better!
Miles: 18,500 with about 1000 in the dirt.
Tires: 4 sets, one set of TKC 80 knobbies, 1 set D604s, 2 sets of Anakees.
The year started off right with a trip to Big Bend and ended right with a ride in the Hill Country. This was the first of many street/dirt trips for the year. The highlights included crossing 100 miles of west Texas desert just outside of Sanderson to a little place called ****'s Half Acre. Hiking the Window trail, about 8 mile round trip of steep trails, at Chisos Basin. I broke my ankle 4 months earlier so this was going to be quite a test. My ankle was swollen and stiff but it held up.
There were other shorter trips to include Hodges Gardens, numerous hill country rides including the infamous buzzard attack and Dee's Nuts Incident, two Arkansas trips, a newby ride with Beth riding pinion...no I mean pillion, and the many miles just riding by myself which I do enjoy. Other memories include going down twice, once in the red coliche clay while crossing a stream and the other time while crossing Sandy Creek with fast moving water and thick green algae...I slid off and wound up in 4 ft of stinking creek water. Thank God for removable helmet liners!! Both times no injuries, just a lot of laughing. The big finale was 9 days in Copper Canyon, Mexico. It was one of those life-altering trips and something I plan to do more of. Next year Baja. Get your dirt bike ready!!
Other highlights included buying and building a new house (I didn't personally build it, the contractor did.) Rescuing Loni from the Great Pyrenees Society. She's a great dog. Buying my first true dirt bike in 10 years. Meeting Vladimir Yates on his round the world adventure on a 2-stroke '90 Jawa. Oh yeah, he's also deaf and mute! He's a true adventurer in all ways.
There were some low points, biggest one was losing Mark. I've only met him a few times but you knew right away he was good folk. Hearing Vlad was in a bad accident in Illinois. Scott and Beth's struggle for a family. There are others but I'm stopping here. I think we all have had our share.
But the most important highlight of the year is all the new friendships I've made and the great folks I've meet along my travels. That's what life's all about right? Cheers to all of you and hoping '04 is just as good...even better!
Miles: 18,500 with about 1000 in the dirt.
Tires: 4 sets, one set of TKC 80 knobbies, 1 set D604s, 2 sets of Anakees.