A Christmas Afternoon ride in my beater truck

[ShinyPartsUp]

Christmas day saw my wife and I alone without children or relatives for the first time in at least 13 years.

I received a little video camera from my brother as a gift: a Flip HD. The wife suggested an afternoon drive so I could get a sense of how the video might be on a motorcycle. And she wanted to get out of the house. Cool! Where to go? :clapping:

Aha! My wife Kat had never been on Smith River Road which runs 75 miles or so from Eugene, through the Siuslaw Forest to Reedsport, Oregon.

I had made the ride this summer on my KLR650 after OM asked what that tasty little blue line on his map was like. He ran through Roseburg and the area this past summer, ignoring all forum members for his selfesh needs.

A few notes: I've never videotaped before. There is no production value; for example, if you hear music it is from the XM radio until we get too deep into the forest when it cuts out. The video is about a 20 mile section from the Reedsport end of the road where it intersects 101 heading east. There is no camera stabilization, it is hand-held, and the road gets rough. Going fast doesn't help the quality, but after slowing a bit some video nice to watch. I figure in the middle of Winter this is better than nothing for the snow-bound. Some 15 minutes of the worst got edited onto the digital floor as I figured this puppy out a bit.

The first and fifth clips are the best, I think. All have a few moments worth watching..

Thank you for the inspiration OM; I found some dirt roads running off it that look tasty for next Spring. If anyone rides this road with an FJR (It can be done without too much trouble), I suggest a conservative pace. I saw rough pavement, potholes, tree limbs and minor rock slides (two had rocks a couple feet in diameter in my lane), deer, standing water this time of year, and moss year-round in the shady spots. In August there were many obstacles as well. YMMV

Smith River Road from Reedsport heading east:

part 1

part 2

part 3

part 4

part 5

 

[Old Michael]

...My wife Kat ...

No doubt an exceptionally patient, forgiving woman, and most certainly possessed of a sense of humor. Certain to be sainted, after what she's endured here on earth. (Hi Kat.)

I've never videotaped before.

You don't say! :blink:

When I checked this thread, I didn't read your text right away and instead went right to the clips.

When Oh Holy Night started, I friggin' thought it was YOU singing, and was blown away.....for a second.

Mikey, mi amigo, this summer I'm gonna explore the hell out of Washington, Oregon, and BC (between downpours),

so keep scouting with your video camera.

A thought-

Leisure/fun exploring on an FJR. ...Then a KLR. ...Then a pickup truck.

In the mental health world, isn't that called "regression"?

Tell me you're not shopping for a wheelbarrow.

Thanks for the glimpse. That was wicked pissah.

 

[FJR Steve]

Michael...you're lucky you didn't "strike" any traffic coming the other way in the first part of your video. You're on the wrong side of the road...mate. Oh wait......

I think you might need some foam over the microphone p[art if you're gonna hang the vid camera out the window like one of Patriot's "lost" dogs.

Will watch the remaining portions shortly. Beautiful country there Mike.

 

[ShinyPartsUp]

No doubt an exceptionally patient, forgiving woman, and most certainly possessed of a sense of humor. Certain to be sainted, after what she's endured here on earth. (Hi Kat.)

No doubt. :glare:

I've never videotaped before.You don't say! :blink:

I warned ya! You don't read directions either, do you? <_<

When Oh Holy Night started, I friggin' thought it was YOU singing, and was blown away.....for a second.

I can fart the opening sequence to the 1812 Overture. h34r: I'll let you listen when we meet again. :clapping:

Mikey, mi amigo, this summer I'm gonna explore the hell out of Washington, Oregon, and BC (between downpours),

It doesn't rain much in the summer up here bro'.

A thought-

Novel!

Leisure/fun exploring on an FJR. ...Then a KLR. ...Then a pickup truck.In the mental health world, isn't that called "regression"?

The right tool for the job my man...

That was wicked pissah.

You spent time pahkin cahs in Boston Mikey?

 

[ShinyPartsUp]

Michael...you're lucky you didn't "strike" any traffic coming the other way in the first part of your video. You're on the wrong side of the road...mate. Oh wait......
I think you might need some foam over the microphone p[art if you're gonna hang the vid camera out the window like one of Patriot's "lost" dogs.

Will watch the remaining portions shortly. Beautiful country there Mike.

The foam is a good idea. I have to find the mic. The whole camera is about the size of a pack of super cigs and not as thick. Weighs just a few ounces. Technology is amazing. I think eventually I'd need something for motion sports if I was going to do a lot of this (like a Hero camera). I pulled the camera in as soon as I realized it was not a good idea for stability or sound. I'll need to mount it behind the windshield, which limits it's functionality on a motorcycle for sure. But maybe wth a bit of foam stuck on, it might work on the KLR Nerf bars -- but then I'd worry about mud, bugs and debris... ditto on the FJR forks or exposed place.

We only saw four cars the entire route. And two were parked by the falls and owned by fishermen throwing lines from the bank.

I want to make Australia some day. Amazing sights and culture down there.

 

[beemerdons]

Very Nice, Shiny! Thanks for sharing beautiful Oregon with us. OM is right, Kat won't spend a second in Purgatory; she will ascend to the Right Hand of God with the rest of the Saints, as compensation for putting up with your sorry ass on this Earth!

And many thanks for not exposing we Zonies to that white ****. Those Seattle clowns depress us with their snow and ice pics!

 

[FJRay]

Very Nice, Shiny! Thanks for sharing beautiful Oregon with us. OM is right, Kat won't spend a second in Purgatory; she will ascend to the Right Hand of God with the rest of the Saints, as compensation for putting up with your sorry ass on this Earth!
And many thanks for not exposing we Zonies to that white ****. Those Seattle clowns depress us with their snow and ice pics!

You should thank us for the depression. Now you can go get really good drugs to relieve the depression. No charge for the help. :dribble:

 

[Bustanut joker]

When Oh Holy Night started, I friggin' thought it was YOU singing, and was blown away.....for a second.

I can fart the opening sequence to the 1812 Overture. ph34r.gif I'll let you listen when we meet again. clapping.gif

Hey shiney. I think we could do a duet :friends: . Old Michael can play along too...

On the Skin Flute!! :****:

Nice vid BTW and I have to agree. Kat has got to be a saint

:jester:

 

[ShinyPartsUp]

Kat says if you guys visit she's running away from home -- or buying a tank of oxygen.

 

[user 6393]

Mikey, mi amigo, this summer I'm gonna explore the hell out of Washington, Oregon, and BC (between downpours),

suddenly feeling GRATEFUL you wear that fugly yellow skid lid

Danger Will Robinson, Danger!!!

Guess I could plan on riding on rainy days only.

 

[Old Michael]

That was profound, barb.

 

[user 6393]

That was profound, barb.

Hardy har har. You think of that all on your own, or did you have to use your "phone a friend" option?

Oh wait.........you?........friend?.......nevermind

:bleh: