2014 Roaming Rally

Treads, Skins, Rubber & Tires

11/27/2014

So here is what our tires looked like after about 2100 miles and probably 1300 of them running the slab at high speed.

On my 06 BMW HP2 Enduro
Front TKC 80, sometimes I wish for a bit more bite but it takes the miles on our trips so I will most likely stick with this combo.

Rear Mitas E09, very happy with these tires!

Dorito's 09 BMW X-country
Front TKC 80

Rear TKC 80

Plenty of tread left for some more adventures.

What a great event, be sure to check it out!

http://graveltravel.ca/

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Keith's Color Wheel

11/27/2014

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When you travel with Keith, you need to be prepared for color.

Lot's of color.

Last time we had some idle time after the trip and Keith allowed us to partake in his Ty Dying ritual.

So, don't 'cha think the Roaming Rally one will look dashing with some color too? We've got few extra shirts sneaking across the boarder for our mission

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RREX Dinner at the Lodge (Night 2)

11/27/2014

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There isn't many times that a dinner is worthy of it's own post. I didn't really intend to take pics at a fancy dinner, but this food was just.that.good. I didn't know if we should even eat it, rather sit there and let the sight and smell overwhelm us. So, here's to it's own post--Dinner night 2 on RREX at the lodge.

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The "A" is Taken!

11/27/2014

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Back in 2010, Blaster changed the stickers on my sled. Frankly, it got tiresome to explain why the bike had a F650GS sticker but was an 800cc motor. Then it got more convoluted explaining that it was not a thumper F650. So he found these. The problem is he is really good at sticker placement, and these look like OEM stickers.

On first glance, one might realize that Blaster removed the "A" from GSA. He didn't think the twin was worthy of the "A". It had neither the gas range nor the true adventure spirit.

The missing "A" became somewhat of a mockery of among the dearest of wing mates:

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Originally Posted by Dorito

I have the F798GS. Blaster says I have to earn my "A" in GSA...

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Originally Posted by EOD3MC

Just take the damn "A"...

About 60K miles later, on an idle afternoon, I realize I don't like riding that bike off road. It's incredibly long wheelbase and top heavy. So what is a girl to do, but quest for the next love. Enter, the next bike in the Dorito namesake:

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Originally Posted by Dorito

So, we all remember while Dorito lay mortally wounded from her little brake episode this spring?

So, I've decided to take J4S advice. Found me another yellow one!

I think I will call her "Cool Ranch (Dorito)"

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Originally Posted by EOD3MC

Still no "A" ?

The games continued, as the XC has the adventuring sprit but no gas range.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dorito

But the "X" is worth 8 times what a piddely "A" is worth.

After a nice addition from HotRod Welding, the XC is now a fierce competitor. She ran with the big dogs and had more range than they did on this trip...all while sipping her petrol at 70MPG. Somewhere in the middle of the trip, she will now be affectionately referred to as the XC-"A"

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Day 8

11/27/2014

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The trip ends much like it started into Canada, over a body of water.

A visit to Timmies. Even though these are starting to creep into the states, as far south as PA, Blaster only wants his Timmies bits from Canada

We have dinner that night at Chinese, they give good fortunes out here.

Blasters

Mine

Some good gedunk we've acquired

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Day 7

11/27/2014

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Alrighty, you are all right. I've gone back and interlaced the pics with the previous words. It never seems like we stop enough, but with 4 cameras going, we got over 500+ pics. So, here's to seeing the ride through every riders' eye. Thanks for a good time guys, and see you on the trail again!

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Day 6:

11/27/2014

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Finally settled into the cadence of life on the road. However, somehow, we didn't saddle up until 0930. got exactly 1/2 way home, before finding another comfy abode. I cant believe the barometer will be 95f at home! Blaster is already talking about both the rrex and the regular roaming next year, assuming they run on different weekends

Keith meanwhile has scored his next sled!

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Day 5: The Turn for Home

11/27/2014

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Canada is somewhat known for mining it's natural resources. On the way of town this morning, we past a huge strip mining operation. It was then that Keith realized that Val-d' Or was more than a namesake.

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Gold was discovered in the area in 1923. The name of the town is French for "Valley of Gold." While gold is still mined in the area today, base metals, such as copper (Cu), zinc (Zn), and lead (Pb) have become increasingly important resources.

The peanut butter on Keith's dash has had surprisingly awesome results. it now has a nice film of road dirt to harden it. Our glorified camping spot (eg Quality Inn) was five stars! However, the roaming rally has been nothing but long days in the saddle, and now we are getting a late launch.

The track starts with 50 miles of tarmac, then onto the most tasty dirt.

The water is always super blue and crystal clear! Tidy bowl?

Keith and I fish this beaver log out of the pond. Nicely debarked, and delimbed. Canadian beavers do A+ work!

It hugs lakes as it pops over nice rolling hills.

It even had an aspen alley look a like..however those were birch trees.

Soon enough we met our next gas stop. A lovely hunting lodge on a river. After we fuel up, Kieths roadside pb and j sandwich shop opens for business. Since we didnt need camping gear, keith stuffed his panniers with cheeses, popcorn and sandwiches. Packing by volume, not weight...

However, the next group of riders was never so exceited to share in the bounty. Keith laced the food with bmw juice...it's the first step to converting the only klr rider in the rally and maybe some of the ktm riders :)

We reluctantly depart the lodge, however, our afternoon track awaits. The hero track is comprised of about 50 miles of atv trails. Two weeks ago they were still snow covered, so we'll see what today brings. The track is challenging but very rideable...we'll maybe with more monkey butt it will be better. Ruts and rocks abound.

Keith lamented he did more water on that trail, than he's possibly done in his life.

Another Locke

Starbucks anyone? French press and all..

The atv trail gives way to another rolling hill road.

By 1800 the hero section was completed. At this point, our team has conquered all the dirt. Or it's all on us...whichever!

Nary a notable crash, and very minor bike damage...mostly from jousting the brush.

We stop to break bread on last time. Keith will head back to camp to his rig. Keith departs for the west in the am to pick up his new bike. Blaster, Zedd and I will start the trek south.

Seems the weekend took its toll on riders and bikes. The final tally that I know:
1 burned clutch, bike hauled out
1 broken ankle
1 broken clutch lever (replaced)
1 broken shoulder
2 main support bolts holding the subfame sheared
1 broken ignition key
1 radiator fan non op
3 panniers smashed
1 back issue which probably needed medic
1 unknown mechanical issue requiring haul home

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On The Move!

11/22/2014

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We reluctantly left the lodge this morning under a thick morning fog. A cute bunny which was all brown except for his white socks from the knees down, escorted us for a bit. sadly, the river has been too violently high with rage, so the hero option with the hand drawn ferry is not too be. The local ATV club hasn't had the gall to launch the ferry for the season.

A funny aside. When we were crossing the border two days ago, they asked Blaster where he was staying. He tried to explain that he would be riding all around, and not really anywhere. They insisted he give them a town. Somehow he panicked, and couldn't remember Ottawa or any other Canadian town other than Parent. You can see the size of this town by this official welcome sign:

It's the point of any trip that the adrenaline high is wearing thin. Keith, for example, was leading us down some very nice high speed gravel. The last three riders pull over for a potty break. Keith soon enough circles back and proceeds to turtle his bike in the soft shoulder. I believe that he was just too easily distracted with blaster's equipment.

It's also the point where we are thick with Sugar Pie. If you've never tried it, it a Canadian delight not to be missed

We've aired down the tires a few pounds to make rolling over the marbles more tenable. Of course, this upset the delicate nature of the newest GSA. During the same stop Keith inventively used chunky peanut butter to cover up the low air pressure light on his 2014 GSA. I mean you can't eat electrical tape, but you can use peanut butter as electrical tape.

It was another long day, but some lovely high speed scenic track.

I think we found the largest unfinished Inukshuk. One leg is still standing, the second leg has a few bits fall. It's going to take a large cross arm though!

I think that Keith was a bit homesick and missing his better bike (e.g his X-country). He kept wanting to park and stop on mine!

In the true spirit of adventuring, camp is on the far side of Val-d'Or. We artfully abandoned the campsite for the Quality Inn.

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And away we go!

11/20/2014

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Leaving Camp, the last of clean bikes

What a typical long day in the saddle. The track today would be everything from snowmobile track that had been so over grown with vegetation. It took hours to clear the previous weekend only to a somewhat rideable path to high speed fire road. For the most part, the weather has been much better than expected, with only a few hours of rain.

The morning starts off with Bruce in the lead. Although we aren't the first group of bikes through, Bruce somehow startles a grazing juvenile moose. He goes gangly trotting next to bike, with surprisingly instantaneous speed. Soon enough, he's able to find a side road and back into the bush. Next Zedd and Bruce get into a roosting contest. Oops, that didn't end well!

As the lead rider, if you see a bit of engineers tape, you'd best slow down right quick. those a usually followed by some sort of road condition, such as the few missing culverts, which we navigate successfully.

More than one way to skin a cat

There was one section of track that was getting overgrown, rocky and steep. Since this isn't a race and it doesn't really matter how or if you get to point b, we decided to find a go around. A bit of backtracking, but only a few kms. Zedd had a bit of a get off conquering the hill, Bruce's HP2 made child's play of the same hill. However, the track was only getting more overgrown, and would have been another 5kms before the track would improve. Before we would get back to good track, the vegetation would joust off war prizes--a blinker from the KTM, and a Scala comm from Keith. It was definitely shorty pants territory.

Being a lady, I decide to duck behind a bush to take a quick engineering break. Imagine my surprise to see that an Easter Bunny (e.g has a large rack and long black fur) left these "eggs" in my prized spot!

The afternoon section was less technical and more about the scenery.

I am always amazed at the quantity and velocity of water around these parts. Every river it seems it angry with power

Lots of wooden decked bridges. This one is in good shape,

A soft rain gave way to some sketchy roads, especially since the grader had been out.

Nonetheless, our group got into basecamp in the first handful of riders. We are lucky as to find it at all since the track gpx had the wrong location. It was actually short about 15kms...which is a long way to be playing hide-and-go-seek in the Canadian wilderness. There a very few signs out here, usually clustered at an intersection.

So heed the ones you do find!

Basecamp is a hunting outfitter.

I always love the subtle paradox of bikes and things that fly!

I am excited as they always seem to have the most wonderful chefs at these places. This one is no exception. I am happy, because we are mostly foodies and this trip has been filled with 2 lbs of french fries at every meal ...until tonight.

Dinner is grand, and I am happy to have a bed. By the time we tuck in, only half the bikes have checked in. Since this is really a self guided tour, I don't know how many riders left in am, I can only guess close to the 58 that signed up. 30 have rendezvoused. It seems the track has broke a foot, claimed a clutch and whose knows what else. But what a damn good day of riding indeed, with this is only the starting day.

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Day 2.....Playing Tourist

11/18/2014

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So,still getting the kinks worked out on the new tablet. Apparently, need to buy the different download cable to get pics all done.

Spent the morning playing tourista. The first stop was the mint. The mint in Ottawa has outgrown its capacity, and being a castle you aren't exactly expanding the walls.

You might not know, but during one of the World Wars, Canada went to protect Holland. A gesture of kindness, they sent Tulips to Ottawa. Every May, the tulips are in full bloom, and there is a festival. With the late weather, you can't not trip over all the colors of tulips here

Can you find the Bruce Tulip?

This location does the high touch labor such as the calibrated troy ounces used by banking and also collector coins. They also did the 1,014 each Olympic medals. At the time, they were 1 lb medals and largest. Each medal was the same stamping, however, the design is each different. They are laser engraved. If you had all 1,014 medals, they would make an orca whale.

"The Vancouver 2010 medals are based on two large master artworks of an orca whale (Olympic) and raven (Paralympic) by Corrine Hunt, a Canadian designer/artist of Komoyue and Tlingit heritage based in Vancouver, BC. Canadian industrial designer and architect Omer Arbel, also of Vancouver, used his extensive knowledge of materials and fabrication processes to create the innovative undulating design of the medals, which are struck nine times each to achieve the distinctive look as part of the 30-step medal fabrication process. Each medal has a unique, hand-cropped section of the art, making it a one-of-a-kind treasure. A silk scarf printed with the master artwork will be presented to each medallist along with their medal, enabling them to see how their medal connects with those awarded to other athletes at the Games to make the whole design."

For a mint, this is the closest I came to an armed guard. I tell you, you'd never have this much freedom to roam around in a US mint.

Canada only started minting their money in 1931. Now using automated German machines, Canada mints money for over 40 countries. The tour concludes with a bar of gold. If only that would fit on the bike! If you've never realized how dense Gold is, it really is heavy to its' size

Next,we booked over to the war museum. It had a really nice collection of tanks and even some nice ww2 memorbilia.

They have nice re-enactment exhibits. This one of WWI trench warfare

Bruce picked one of these up while in Afghanistan. He never realized what the button was for. Seems it holds on a secondary steel plate for additional protection.

Hilter's Mercedes

Depth Charge to annihilate submarines. You knew it was successful, when debris and/or oil raised to the surface

Nice idea for your dinning room chandelier

Lots of restored tanks

And one in battle condition

Over to check in by 1440. We have some time, so lets see what everyone has 'brung.
Honda XR650R

We are certainly in KTM country. This one is brand spankin' new with 60KMS on the clock

Roaming Rally Masters Sled: Deadly99

What amazed me is how well prepared the bikes look. Nary a bike that doesn't have new skins and looks to be very mechanically good. I guess it's really no fun to get stuck in the Canadian wilderness...or is it?

A few hours later, Zedd wanders over. Seems Keith was leaving his rig over the weekend, so they gave him the spot that floods. That will be good fun to pull him out, don't ya think. Nonetheless, the inflatable BMW sport tent is erected on the "high-ground"

Ours looks so diminutive comparatively

The theme this trip will be fritas (e.g Fries and Hockey). We usually do extraordinarily well on food. This trip, every menu has at least 1/2 page of fry offerings.

The rider meeting is purportedly starting between 19-2000, after the Stanley Cup Playoffs. While most of the Canadians don't seem to ordinarily want to claim the "Havs" as theirs, there is a certain excitement in the air. Even more, when the Havs win the game!

Meanwhile we all go over to the chow hall at the campsite. Not too shabby at all.

Zedd shows his hockey spirit! This a what a puck looks like 48 hrs after. He says it's the beer league, but that sure looks every bit of a professional hit!

While hockey has most of the teams distracted, our team is plotting the big escape. We've decided to lighten our loads to survivalist only, and make this a "glamping" trip. With that, Keith is booking us accommodations in Val-d'Or. Shussh, this is our little secret:) As the evening wears on, the best I can do is get the readers digest version of the riders meeting. Remember kids, this is not a race, so don't leave anyone behind.

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Day 1 The Adventure Begins.....YES!

11/6/2014

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Since today was mostly slabbing, a bit of a funny aside. Last year 4 of us were heading to the Trans Tiaga. 300 miles from home, Dana toasts her stator.. Bruce and I head for home to swap it out. Meanwhile, Keith and Marty keep heading north. they reach Sudbury, and Keith had arranged for some coffee with the only contact listed in the MOA anonymous book. Ironically, the gal was only in and old book and the one that Keith used.

Down to two riders, Marty decides to stay at the hotel. Ain't this turning into an awkward coffee engagement of just a solo guy and a female. Turns out that she buys an old BMW bike every winter to restore. This winters project is a basket case (literally bought in a few boxes), 1958. Those who know Keith would understand there will be no lack of merriment during the evenings discussions. As they part company late into the dark night, Keith offers for her to send her bikes down to Washington DC as the market must be stronger.

Fast forward to early spring, and Keith reconnects with her about the 1958. She doesn't return the call for weeks. Keith's heart dropped as he had found a buyer. Imagine his surprise when she finally calls back. Seems she was shaking off the dull winter by riding around Australia.

When she left for Australia, the 1958 was tentatively sold. However, the bike is back on the market. Keith jumped at the chance. It seems Washington DC is in fact a strong market, especially, when it's Keith that is the new owner.

So he's driving the truck and trailer up to Ottawa this weekend. After he's done with the roaming rally, he's off to pick up the 1958 BMW!

The Weimaraner is a cute dog. A dog that needs a job. Being otherwise busy prepping this week, she has more energy than she should. At 0400 she wakes from her slumber ready for a hunt.

The pack members (e.g Bruce and I) are not amused. Nonetheless,we are up now so let's leave. The plan is about every 2 hrs to be in a major city. Baltimore by 0600, Harrisburg by 0800, Syracuse by noon, and Ottawa by 1600.

We are worried about traffic in DC. However Harrisburg wins the prize for the worst traffic. And then comes the rain. And some more rain. We stop for gas and a nice cowboy tips his hat to us as he comments what a nice day for a ride. I think it might be a nice day if I was a duck.

Soon enough we start heading out of rain. The sun comes out and makes for a delightful day. A uneventful entrance through the border and we are quick to bed down in downtown Ottawa.

All in all, 601 miles was a a quick day.

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What Silly Things we do.....

11/6/2014

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Bruce has always had a penchant for Canada. I often wondered if the lad was a homing pigeon in a previous life, or maybe a drunken sailor longing for the shore as there was nothing else. Somewhere after dragging me along the Trans Canadian Highway first on the pavement.

then via the TransLabrador,

then to the furthest point in North America via a road (East of the Mississippi) from Civilization (Caniapiscau)

Inukshuk

I finally found his "zen". Yes, our neighbors to the North have a hidden gem. They quietly horde this, but yet once you crack the nut they eagerly share their spoils with all that come.

Winter 2013 was cold, dank, and long. However, somewhere in the midst of recovering from surgery there was light. A light in the form a new adventure. His Canada was calling with an invitation, yes, the inaugural Roaming Rally Explorer Edition.

The track is approx. 3,000 miles door-to-door, with approx. 1900 Kms of dirt zen. The only snag is we need one more wing mate to form a team. Nonetheless we thrown our name in the hat, and the adventure is born.

Quote from the event coordinators; "2014 will see us travelling in Western Quebec. One of the more remote areas in Canada, we will travel hundreds of kilometers with nothing but wilderness surrounding us. Each year the Explorers Edition will travel to new parts of Canada and travel to places few people have ever seen"
Early in 2013, we met a fellow named KeithMckenny at an Off-Road Clinic at the local BMW shop. The day was wet and mucky. We had brought out the little bikes and wallowed in the mud like pigs. Keith was the unfortunate recipient of a mud roost of Blaster's rear wheel. Keith took the roosting in stride, and artfully returned fire. It was love at first sight! A few months later, Keith joined us for the TransTiaga. We just knew he'd be all game for another rendezvous.

Keith at James Bay.

A few months went by, and a friend we'd ridden with a long time ago rang. He wanted in. Zedd has always been an "all in" kinda guy. For example, this was one of our first outings with him, and perhaps the first water crossing with his new steed:

I thought he was a sporting fellow as he had no idea what a bunch of nutballs he had chosen as wingmates. The group now had symmetry, a 4th rider, and a mission to accomplish.

Tomorrow we embark, leaving before our nations politicians get up to snarl the traffic. The bikes are loaded and the belly's are full of the finest Southern Maryland cuisine.

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