Adventure traveling is more than just travel

I have found out that it has more to do with service to others and spreading a word of peace and hope. These people, who travel about for years in some instances, not only find themselves but interact with the cultures they encounter and inform those of us who don’t have the opportunity to just roam about.  In short, do good as you go…
I am going to continue my travels in North America (and possibly Mexico) as I don’t have as much adventure in me as the others but their message is certainly one that both intrigues and inspires. But until such time as I am enlightened you are stuck with my ramblings which neither inspire or intrigue. I need to up my game (ha ha), but not just yet.

I didn’t know it was possible to have so many adventure bikes packed into one area (and there were many others at the campsites)…

Finding Dash was a trick in the pitch dark

I saw this bike at the women’s conference last year and from a distance thought it was candies. Well, not so much. Up close it is actually dildos. I figured since it seems to be stalking me in a creepy way I would take a picture of it and maybe that will appease the adult toy industry

On my way to the morning meetings Dash saw a group of scarecrow bikers and wanted in on the action. How can I deny him?

This picture is of Rufus the red tailed hawk. Very sweet but I think left to his own devices I may not have a chance. He just had this look in his eye…

And this sweet little bumble bee (little being a relative term it was as big as my fist) took refuge under Dash.

The last picture of the meeting-The Guardian of the Woodpile.

Dash is again the most popular at the ball

Finally made it to a Horizons Unlimited rally after trying for two the last two years. There are a lot of adventure bikes and Dash appeared a bit out of his element.

However, just like all the other times I ride Dash every person stops, takes pictures, and chats. Dash loves it. Now Dash did take a fancy to a bike named Lucy. Lucy is very well traveled. Having ridden through Vietnam and about a 1000 other places

 

Lucy makes Dash look like a brute

I got all of Dash’s stickers back on and though I am very proud of our accomplishments these people really take their travels seriously. Like 6 years on the road seriously. Someone said they are either very rich or very poor…
I stared at this bike for quite some time the owner has literally been riding for six straight years

All of those countries

Here are some other bikes and their accomplishments

While others decided to camp (and if you were going to camp this is beautiful)

Dash and I made our way into Cambria and our hotel room and along the way Dash was serenaded by a group of nun scarecrows

My biggest accomplishment today was riding home in the dark. Would it kill Cambria to put in a street light? First I had to make my way down a loose gravel dirt road then onto uneven pavement all in the dark of night-and it was truly dark. If it were not for my GPS I would be on the side of the road crying. Thank goodness it was only a 3 mile ride.

 

Fixing Dash-Part I

Today is the day to get Dash ready for the Horizon’s Unlimited event.  First the rear brake pedal:

Top is new–the bottom is old

Notice that lovely bend.  I have a suspicion that my old one was a bit out of whack to begin with–when I was lining up the tiny little dots with the new brake pedal (which was perfect on Dash) that darned bike wouldn’t even roll.  Had to loosen it up at the back of the brake (recall the Streetmasters Reunion tour where I had no back brake…) well at the time I had to adjust the back thingy (yes I think that is a technical term) off of the dots to get my old brake to work.  Now, with the new one I had to back it way out.  I am guessing I could make those dots line up perfectly but I am not that interested in it.  It is perpendicular and that is fine with me.

Then on to the windshield.

Sans stickers….

I ordered replacement stickers and the minute they get here they are happily going back to their rightful place. My cracked one (which I taped together) will have a permanent home in the garage.

Next is the points cover (en route) and checking on the master cylinder reservoir cap (fingers crossed it still twists off).

My two darlings

 

Dash hits the road running-and I mean that literally

Poor Dash.  The day started out with such promise and then he got rear ended and went down running.  But he is a trooper and once I picked him back up all I saw was just cosmetic damage- will need a new rear brake pedal, a new windscreen (my poor stickers are in 6 pieces), possibly a new brake reservoir cap and that’s about it.  Rode it home about 100 miles and he ran just as well as before the incident.

About 30 minutes after the accident

About 30 minutes before the accident. So happy…

I rode out to Rick and Laura’s house (and it was the freeway that was supposed to be dangerous!) without incident.  Bright and early the following morning we rode out to meet Kathy and Jess and the Women in the wind…

So many Harley’s

After leaving, on our way to Lake Hughes, the 3 of us decided we wanted to ride the twisites and Rick wanted to switch with me and ride Dash once we hit Soledad Canyon Road.  Off we go happy as clams.  The day is perfect, not too cold, not too warm.

Then the unthinkable.  We turn onto Soledad and Rick stops in the road in order to maneuver to the dirt covered shoulder (I hate dirt covered shoulders) so I stop about 7 feet away in the road pondering where to park.  Just as I think its time to move to my right I hear Laura scream out “Lisa” and then I knew she was going to hit me.  What I didn’t know is that she had seen us slow but she did not realize we had stopped until it was too late and she hit her back brake and fishtailed–on top of that her vision was on my rear tire (target fixation) and of course you hit what you are looking at and there it was.  By the time she hit her front brake her front tire hit my rear tire.  I spun 180 degrees on my right and she spun 180 degrees on her left. Poor Dash the rear brake pedal took most of the impact, then the points cover (which I can pound out), then my fairing windscreen.  I hit my shoulder as we went down and scraped my leathers on my hip area and ended up on my left side with Dash in front of me and Laura’s bike up against my back.

Since I am a super-hero I popped up and turned off Dash- at this point I yelled for Rick to come over to pick up Dash.  Laura appeared from nowhere and the 3 of us picked up Dash and I rolled him off the road.  I went back to Laura’s bike and they had it upright and Rick was trying to get it into gear (no luck).  He rolled it off to the side of the road and Laura went to the side to sit down (but only after apologizing 1,000 times and saying she could have killed me).  After telling her I am a super hero and cannot be killed that easily and reassuring her that I was not injured in the least we started to pick up debris and I checked on Dash.  I knew if I did not get on him and ride I may never do it again so I started him up (he sprang to life easily) and I rode him up and down the long straight road a bit.  He seemed fine.  After coming back to the scene it was determined (after looking at Laura’s bike which lost a side mirror, left foot peg, left handlebar pointing toward the sky, and Laura’s helmet where she had hit her head) we called 911.

I need to point out here how nice the cars were that were driving by us as our bikes were off the road – 9 out of 10 stopped, asked it we needed assistance, offered to divert traffic, or offered other ways to help.  These people were all so nice and caring-it was pretty spectacular.

Fire trucks, ambulance, and numerous police officers arrived, took our statements and brought Laura to the hospital (she is fine and after some tests was released soon thereafter).  Now her bike is a different issue.  It will not go into gear, her back tire seems locked up and the transmission may be shot.  Rick is going to tow it later today and will take it to the dealer to see if it can be resurrected.

All told it worked out well for what it was.  Now I need to get Dash back into road ready shape because I have a Horizon’s Unlimited event in 2 weekends and the two of us WILL be there-with or without my stickers!  ha ha.

I’ve fallen in love

and Dash gets a new sexy Italian girlfriend!

A 2005 Ducati S2R 800

Dash’s first introduction. They are a handsome couple

I have named her Bernadette