Sunday, November 24, 2013

KOA cabin camping

Dori, Marsden, the two dogs and I left on Nov 14 for a 3 day trip. 2 motorcycles, Dori and dogs on her Valkyrie trike, Marsden and I on the Valkyrie, hauling the trailer. We went to needles, ca and got there about 3 pm after stopping for BBQ in Wikiup, az. We stayed at a KOA campground and had reserved a cabin for two nights. This was something new, stopping someplace for longer than the night. Less gear to carry this way. The next day we rode the old Route 66 to Oatman, AZ, home of the wild burros. After hours of wandering around town and buying various shirts and magnets we returned to Needles. On Saturday we loaded up and Dori turned South to return to Buckeye. Marsden and I turned North and I returned her to her home in Las Vegas. Stayed overnight, gaming with my buddy Bruce. On Sunday I turned South and returned home to Buckeye. I went back crossing the new Hoover Dam bridge, highest in the US. It was shorter than I thought it would be and you can't see down because of 3-4 ft walls on the sides. Saved about 30 miles going that way so that is my new preferred route.

Monday, November 11, 2013

San Diego run

Well the August trip fell thru due to Dori's job. So then I decided to go on a trip on Highway 1, the west coast. This trip was an unhappy experience from the start. After my last east coast trip I had decided to increase my carrying capacity and go with comfort. I bought a 4x4 Harbor Freight trailer with a car top carrier mounted on it. I changed from a 1 man backpacking tent, to a 4 man family tent, for just me. And I got an expedition grade (holds 600 lbs) cot. I also decided to take a chair. Now since before I carried everything on a single motorcycle rack I foresaw no problem with room. Was I ever wrong. It turns out that the shape of the car top carrier really limits what it will hold. Marsden was going on the coast ride with me and Dori was going to ride to San Diego camp the night and return the next day. Did I mention she was bring two dogs on her bike? We didn't make it to San Diego. We ended up camping in a National forest campground about 50 miles out. I really messed up, we camped at just under 4000 feet in Nov. It was very cold, the dogs were having problems and Dori's air mat went down in the middle of the night. In the morning I told everyone that I was canceling the rest of the trip. I was just tremendously unhappy with the way the equipment choices were working out. Dori said that she is NOT happy camping anymore. We rode back to Buckeye after a big breakfast at the top of the pass, it's indian land and there is a casino. After getting home we decided to go this next weekend and camp in a KOA cabin for two nights and ride old hwy 66 by Oatman, AZ....will let you know how it goes.