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- Joined
- Oct 16, 2008
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- Location
- Bryan, TX
- First Name
- Dennie
- Last Name
- Spears
My wife and I went on a test ride of retirement. For the last 40 years we have gone on short vacations together or slightly longer vacations with other couples. We’ve also gone on vacations without the other going at all. We are contemplating retirement and subsequent travel. Would we continue to be compatible? Would we enjoy each other’s company for an extended period of time without the company of close friends as referees? We’ve been married for nearly 39 years, but we’ve never been alone together for more than a week at a time. Work has always separated us for at least 8 hours a day even when we weren’t on vacation. We also wanted time alone to discuss retirement and what it would mean to our relationship and to our lifestyle.
This post involves a van, a camper, a DRZ400 and the relationship between 2 people and may be in the wrong forum. If so, moderators feel free to switch without offending me.
The van: Tow vehicle for the camper. 13 years old and fairly high mileage. I wanted to buy a new vehicle, an F-150 ecoboost, but the LOML wanted to wait a little longer so we can pay cash without compromising our liquidity. An argument ensued and we haven’t even packed. Agreement: If ANYTHING happens to the van we will unload the bike and ride to the nearest dealership and buy a new vehicle on the spot. By anything, I’m thinking flat tire and she’s probably thinking rods and pistons strewn along the highway.
The Camper: We’ve always tent camped with the exception of a few vacations where we have stayed in motels. I like to hike. My wife likes to hike less than I do. My retirement plans include lots of hiking. She’s tired of staying in a tent waiting for me. A hard sided tent is in our future. We buy a used 16’ Casita from a co-worker as our first camper, with the intention of buying a new one if we (she) likes the experience.
The bike: 2005 DRZ400SM, bought 4 years ago with 12 miles on the odometer, now 15,000. My sometimes transportation to work. Our play bike. The one bike I would own if I could only have one. One of her favorite bikes ever since we got the $200 Seat Concepts seat. Chris, you owe me $200 for letting her know that there were options other than the stock seat.
The relationship: You only get the portion that I share in this post and past posts. I will share more than she would like.
Now the test ride begins. At day 2 of driving west. You know you’re close to the Navaho nation when you see signs for fry bread. As a nation, we confined the Navaho Indians to a small arid area with little game and gave them flour and lard. They invented fry bread and I’m glad they did. Also, our first indication that things are going to get interesting.
The roads get long out west.
Having a camper allows one to stop anywhere for a toilet break, even when traveling with a woman. This sure beats the view of an Exxon station.
I believe it was Texas T that suggested we stop at the Navaho bridge and I suggest you do also if you’re ever in the area. I wonder what the penalty is for jumping and who pays the fine.
The old, now pedestrian, bridge on the left and the new traffic bridge on the right.
Floaters were slowly coming down the river.
We made it to the north rim of the Grand Canyon before sundown on the 2nd day. This is about 100 feet from our campsite. Our original plan did not include the Grand Canyon but, the routes suggested by fellow TWTers took us within 45 miles and we couldn’t resist even though we had both been there before.
My wife, standing between me and “the edge”. Witnesses are taking pictures.
The next morning. Taken from near the visitor center at the north rim.
There are lots of jeep roads on the north rim and we explore a few.
Taken from Sublime Point. There is nothing Sublime about it. Normally, I would rate the road to Sublime as a 4, similar to Engineer pass in Colorado, which we have ridden several times, except without the switchbacks. It’s steep and rocky. On this ride, I rate it a 5 because of the 6” of newly applied gravel on the first 2 miles. Also, the next 2 miles had been recently graded to fill in deep ruts. The sand filled the ruts, but also hid them from view. The wife walked about 100 yards on this ride, about the same amount that she walks on Engineer pass.
She says, “I’ll stand out here, but I won’t look down.
The steed close to the edge.
We took a different route back to try to avoid the gravel and sand. It’s a little over twice as far but the second half is graded road like this. We stopped to add layers and admire the aspen.
This post involves a van, a camper, a DRZ400 and the relationship between 2 people and may be in the wrong forum. If so, moderators feel free to switch without offending me.
The van: Tow vehicle for the camper. 13 years old and fairly high mileage. I wanted to buy a new vehicle, an F-150 ecoboost, but the LOML wanted to wait a little longer so we can pay cash without compromising our liquidity. An argument ensued and we haven’t even packed. Agreement: If ANYTHING happens to the van we will unload the bike and ride to the nearest dealership and buy a new vehicle on the spot. By anything, I’m thinking flat tire and she’s probably thinking rods and pistons strewn along the highway.
The Camper: We’ve always tent camped with the exception of a few vacations where we have stayed in motels. I like to hike. My wife likes to hike less than I do. My retirement plans include lots of hiking. She’s tired of staying in a tent waiting for me. A hard sided tent is in our future. We buy a used 16’ Casita from a co-worker as our first camper, with the intention of buying a new one if we (she) likes the experience.
The bike: 2005 DRZ400SM, bought 4 years ago with 12 miles on the odometer, now 15,000. My sometimes transportation to work. Our play bike. The one bike I would own if I could only have one. One of her favorite bikes ever since we got the $200 Seat Concepts seat. Chris, you owe me $200 for letting her know that there were options other than the stock seat.
The relationship: You only get the portion that I share in this post and past posts. I will share more than she would like.
Now the test ride begins. At day 2 of driving west. You know you’re close to the Navaho nation when you see signs for fry bread. As a nation, we confined the Navaho Indians to a small arid area with little game and gave them flour and lard. They invented fry bread and I’m glad they did. Also, our first indication that things are going to get interesting.
The roads get long out west.
Having a camper allows one to stop anywhere for a toilet break, even when traveling with a woman. This sure beats the view of an Exxon station.
I believe it was Texas T that suggested we stop at the Navaho bridge and I suggest you do also if you’re ever in the area. I wonder what the penalty is for jumping and who pays the fine.
The old, now pedestrian, bridge on the left and the new traffic bridge on the right.
Floaters were slowly coming down the river.
We made it to the north rim of the Grand Canyon before sundown on the 2nd day. This is about 100 feet from our campsite. Our original plan did not include the Grand Canyon but, the routes suggested by fellow TWTers took us within 45 miles and we couldn’t resist even though we had both been there before.
My wife, standing between me and “the edge”. Witnesses are taking pictures.
The next morning. Taken from near the visitor center at the north rim.
There are lots of jeep roads on the north rim and we explore a few.
Taken from Sublime Point. There is nothing Sublime about it. Normally, I would rate the road to Sublime as a 4, similar to Engineer pass in Colorado, which we have ridden several times, except without the switchbacks. It’s steep and rocky. On this ride, I rate it a 5 because of the 6” of newly applied gravel on the first 2 miles. Also, the next 2 miles had been recently graded to fill in deep ruts. The sand filled the ruts, but also hid them from view. The wife walked about 100 yards on this ride, about the same amount that she walks on Engineer pass.
She says, “I’ll stand out here, but I won’t look down.
The steed close to the edge.
We took a different route back to try to avoid the gravel and sand. It’s a little over twice as far but the second half is graded road like this. We stopped to add layers and admire the aspen.
The park guide says 90% river and 10% sand bar. I think it was closer to 70/30. We exchanged taking pictures of each other for the entire 4 miles of river walking.
) with the intentions of saving 1 of each for my three buddies I meet for beer on the first monday of every month. I drank all of the First Amendment and 3 each of the others. My buddies got to sample the 2 lesser beers. All were good beer, especiallly the First Amendment.