Summer's over?

[Bokerfork]

Crap. Looking back I can hardly believe this.

First sign of summer Anne Marie and I started a list of things we wanted to see and do and visit and eat and and meet this summer. The following is a bit of the list.

Langtry Winery, Lake County for a picnic. Great views after a beautiful ride. Maybe this Fall or next Spring. Damn

Wild Flower Bakery, Freestone, Marin County. Done. Twice. Thanks Dr. Rich. Really, thanks

Cousteau Bakery in Healdsburg. Sorry, don't remember this one. Will talk with Anne Marie in the morning.

Memphis Mini's BBQ, San Francisco,. Sorry to say only made it once. Will try again this Fall. Mmmmmm good

Bette's Bakery, Berkeley, See Cousteau above. Maybe JB can offer insight.

Dam Tour. Left this to Old Michael. Sounded good at first but may have been a bust. Open for other opinions.

Highway 25 from Hollister to San Luis Obispo. Made most of this in the Spring. Would kill to complete this Fall. A better road would be hard to find.

Buster's BBQ in Calistoga. Done, and done again and oh yes, done again. Sorry, it's in my backyard. And oh so good.

Sattui Winery and picnic grounds in Saint Helena. Over run with tourists and therefore way down on my list. Still, fun on the right day. Maybe this Fall.

Castle in Calistoga. A winery high on Tyler's bucket list. Again, maybe this Fall

Santa Cruz Boardwalk. The ride down is only half the fun. The carousel is the other half. Damn, starting to look like a busy Fall.

Monterey Aquarium. See Santa Cruz Boardwalk.

Yosemite. Do I need to explain this one? Damn bucket list was getting too big anyway.

Squeeze Inn restaurant in Truckee/ Lake Tahoe. Done. Only about a hundred different roads to get there. Each one better than the last. Oh and then there were the Wine soaked/marinated omelet fillings. Mmmmm good.

Auburn-anywhere. This was put in by Anne Marie. A hundred great roads to get there. Hope it doesn't rain this Fall.

Folsom, California. Obviously slipped in by Anne Marie. I know nothing about it. Probably full of girlie shops. Old Michael could probably elucidate.

Columbia, Gold Country. Again, a thousand great roads to get there and lots of great thing to explore. Fall? 2009? 2010?

Alice's restaurant. Been there. A worthy experience. Still need to take Anne Marie. For the real experience talk with FJRonmission or Tyler. Both are regulars.

Lake Solano. Not so much a lake but a wide spot on Cache Creek. Rent a canoe and relax for a couple of hours. Hope the weather holds out for another month.

Sure I still have a few, okay a lot of things to cross off my list this year but it's not for lack of trying,,, or riding. We did a fair amount of both this Spring and Summer. Even crossed off a few that weren't on the list. Thanks to many fellow Forum members. You know who you are.

I just thought I'd share a few of our favorite places as well as our attempts to cross them off our list. The list could have been bigger, but given our success, I'm satisfied with it's size. As you can see, it's going to be a busy Fall. Needless to say, maybe we'll carry over a few for next Summer.

How well did you do on your list?

Care to share?

Mark and Anne Marie,

The Bokerfork's

 

[madmike2]

Crap. Looking back I can hardly believe this.
First sign of summer Anne Marie and I started a list of things we wanted to see and do and visit and eat and and meet this summer. The following is a bit of the list.

Langtry Winery, Lake County for a picnic. Great views after a beautiful ride. Maybe this Fall or next Spring. Damn

Wild Flower Bakery, Freestone, Marin County. Done. Twice. Thanks Dr. Rich. Really, thanks

Cousteau Bakery in Healdsburg. Sorry, don't remember this one. Will talk with Anne Marie in the morning.

Memphis Mini's BBQ, San Francisco,. Sorry to say only made it once. Will try again this Fall. Mmmmmm good

Bette's Bakery, Berkeley, See Cousteau above. Maybe JB can offer insight.

Dam Tour. Left this to Old Michael. Sounded good at first but may have been a bust. Open for other opinions.

Highway 25 from Hollister to San Luis Obispo. Made most of this in the Spring. Would kill to complete this Fall. A better road would be hard to find.

Buster's BBQ in Calistoga. Done, and done again and oh yes, done again. Sorry, it's in my backyard. And oh so good.

Sattui Winery and picnic grounds in Saint Helena. Over run with tourists and therefore way down on my list. Still, fun on the right day. Maybe this Fall.

Castle in Calistoga. A winery high on Tyler's bucket list. Again, maybe this Fall

Santa Cruz Boardwalk. The ride down is only half the fun. The carousel is the other half. Damn, starting to look like a busy Fall.

Monterey Aquarium. See Santa Cruz Boardwalk.

Yosemite. Do I need to explain this one? Damn bucket list was getting too big anyway.

Squeeze Inn restaurant in Truckee/ Lake Tahoe. Done. Only about a hundred different roads to get there. Each one better than the last. Oh and then there were the Wine soaked/marinated omelet fillings. Mmmmm good.

Auburn-anywhere. This was put in by Anne Marie. A hundred great roads to get there. Hope it doesn't rain this Fall.

Folsom, California. Obviously slipped in by Anne Marie. I know nothing about it. Probably full of girlie shops. Old Michael could probably elucidate.

Columbia, Gold Country. Again, a thousand great roads to get there and lots of great thing to explore. Fall? 2009? 2010?

Alice's restaurant. Been there. A worthy experience. Still need to take Anne Marie. For the real experience talk with FJRonmission or Tyler. Both are regulars.

Lake Solano. Not so much a lake but a wide spot on Cache Creek. Rent a canoe and relax for a couple of hours. Hope the weather holds out for another month.

Sure I still have a few, okay a lot of things to cross off my list this year but it's not for lack of trying,,, or riding. We did a fair amount of both this Spring and Summer. Even crossed off a few that weren't on the list. Thanks to many fellow Forum members. You know who you are.

I just thought I'd share a few of our favorite places as well as our attempts to cross them off our list. The list could have been bigger, but given our success, I'm satisfied with it's size. As you can see, it's going to be a busy Fall. Needless to say, maybe we'll carry over a few for next Summer.

How well did you do on your list?

Care to share?

Mark and Anne Marie,

The Bokerfork's

I never get to all the places or roads I want to visit. However....

I DID get to Canada.

I DID ride the North loop of Yellowstone N.P. (w/ exskibum & Judy)

I met Barb.

And MEM.

And Wheaton FJR.

Made lots of new friends this year.

I didn't ride Hwy 4 and it's getting late in the year......

 

[Intech]

45 degrees for my ride to work today. Still comfortable. Will stretch the season as far as possible!

As to the list, don't cross them off just put a check mark next to them each time they are done. You have several re-dos on your list which I am sure is pretty common for most. Seems to be a common theme of eating and drinking on your list. Hmmm. If I ever head out that way I think I want to ride with you!

I don't have a list, but the concept is good. I think I will start working on it for next year and just spend the rest of the riding season this year hitting it when I can.

 

[Geezer]

I am not much of a planner, but I do have a list this year:

Sag Harbor - successful

WFO - successful

EOM - missed

Covered Bridges - missed

WV Leafing - happening soon

 

[BwanaDik]

Boo hoo hoo.....You live in Kalifornicate fer Christ sake!!! You don't have an OFF SEASON. I'm from El Lay, I know.

Get back on yer damn bike and take care of the rest of the list, quit ****** around on the Forum and RIDE.

Or apply directly for your CBA membership, sounds like you're a shoe in.... B)

 

[Big Sky]

One item on my "do every year" list is to ride the Beartooth Highway. Well, timing wasn't good and there was 17 miles of construction up there for most of the summer. It closed yesterday and we never made it. But we did get through the Bighorns, even though there's bad construction on the east slope where (of course) they are straightening out all the curves.

When I tried to ride the Going-To-The-Sun Road in late September, perhaps as a substitute for the Beartooth, I approached it on the last Sunday it was to be open before it was shut down for late-season maintenance and construction. Yup, Saturday night Logan Pass got slammed by a big storm and closed by rock slides: No Beartooth, no Going-To-The-Sun!

But... We finally did make it to the Hells Canyon and Wallowa area of northeast Oregon. O-o-o-o, that was very special! This is a route we started on about six years back when one of our companions crashed out, totalling his BMW RS and spending five days in the Grangeville, ID hospital with broken collar bone, broken ribs and collapsed lung, aborting the whole thing.

All in all, we got a lot of Montana and Idaho riding in and one good southwest tour - 10,000 miles this season.

Next year's to-do? Put some gravel miles on the 1,000 V-Strom. Seems we know every inch of pavement within a couple of hundred miles, but there's lots of good improved gravel to go explore. And you don't find the tourist motorhomes up there.

 

[exskibum]

Piggybacking on madmike a bit --

I did get to Canada -- Icefields Parkway up and back, and the good stuff getting to, around and back from Nakusp.

Yellowstone, Beartooth & Chief Joseph Highways (!), some of the really good stuff in Idaho (lots, actually) -- still a bit haunted/enchanted by the Whitebird battlefield area.

Highway 1 up the coast 2x.

Foothills of Sierra south again and the Top of the World route into Kernville.

Numerous day rides out of Auburn area.

Been a BAD year overall in terms of other issues. The psychological benefits listed above. Didn't ride anywhere near as much as I wanted after returning from Canada, at least -- not that wasn't fit into rides to and from SoCal for much more somber purposes. But that trip to Canada with madmike2 and Bluestreek, and back with madmike and Judy -- THAT was almost over the top GREAT, rain and all. And to have the best meet ever in the middle of that? Priceless!

 

[Khunajawdge]

OK, I'll play. Riding didn't work out to my advantage as much as I wanted this year, but I still managed to put 6,000 miles on the bike so far, since 2008.

Early February, 2009 - rode up the Big Sur CA Highway One from Morro Bay to Monterey then back down Carmel Valley, over Jolon/Adelaida, Old Creek Rds.

Mid February, 2009 - had to cancel my yearly ride to Death Valley due to weather. This is usually a 1000+ mile ride = bummer! :angry:

Mid March, 2009 - went for a "look/see" wildflower ride up Santa Rosa Creek Rd. out of Cambria, Ca. It is documented here in "Ride Reports".

Early April, 2009 - Wife and I took the SUV to Mammoth/Mono/June Lake, then over to Death Valley due to missing the annual February ride there. 1st time over Titus Canyon (Note; not for FJR'S)

May, 2009 - NorCal BMW 49'er Rally in Auburn, CA. Rode up on CA highways CA 49/46, set up camp then did a loop through Ice House area. Returned on CA 160 past Antioch to Livermore before jumping on I 5 south to CA 46/41 west.

Early June - rode and camped at Fairview Campground on the Kern River. Rode over CA 58/178, to the summit of Sherman Pass, Over Caliente/Bodfish Rd.

July, 2009 - Rode to Oregon, Idaho, Montana, Washington, and back to California. Saw/rode to Crater Lake, Hell's Canyon, Rattlesnake Grade, Spiral Highway, Lolo Pass, San Juan Islands, Dale Chihuly Glass Studio, Tacoma Art Museum, Glass Fire Studio in Fort Bragg, CA. etc. 4,000 miles

August 2009 - Took a ride with Vesparado up to King City on Indian Valley Road, then crossed to Highway one over Nacimiento Ferguson Rd.

August 2009 - Showed up for the 1st time at Wednesday Bike Nite at Mc Carthy's bar downtown SLO.

Early September - Took a ride with Vesparado and down past Guadalupe, CA. past Casmailia to a section of "the Lost highway" into Lompoc. Santa Rosa Canyon road/Ballard Canyon/Foxen Canyon.

September 2009 - Began reading the book "Shop Class as Soul Craft" by Matthew B. Crawford

October - Had to cancel "the Fall attempt" at a 2nd campout on the Kern. I got offered and exhibit opportunity at a gallery with an opening date the same day as the previously scheduled campout. I needed the professional exposure, so I was forced to cancel the campout. Sorry Toecutter and others.

Today it is raining!

 

[Spud]

WFO--Done

Canada--Done

Beartooth--Nope

Chief Joseph Highway--Nope

Boise/Idaho City/Lowman/Stanley/Salmon/Home: Done

Find out how fast this thing will really go--DONE.

17 degrees (F) here this morning. Bought fuel stabilizer this weekend :angry2:

 

[wheatonFJR]

I did not have specific lists, but I DID have 3 not-to-miss events planned this year...

-Sag Harbor ride to Jordan's dad Chris - MADE in May...ride report on the parallel forum

-CFR in June - made...and an epic journey for me.

Both of the above rides had daily distances I had not run before...to fit the trip in within the allotted vacation time.

-EOM IN September, industry downturns made me decide not to attend EOM. Things are looking a little better now...but it is tough for many out there, and did not want to leave my family in too much of a financial hole in case a layoff occurred.

Quite frankly, a health crisis last winter showed me that I am not neccessarily in control of how many riding seasons I have left. But to enjoy each ride, whether 30, 300, or 3000 miles, as if it is your last ride...soak up every moment.

The economy may curtail my wish to head to the west coast next year...but I will get there eventually.

In the meantime, I will enjoy enjoy some cold weather weekend rides to the hills of SE Ohio and MO/AR before the LONG COLD winter of ice and snow settles in and takes over.

 

[wheatonFJR]

...But we did get through the Bighorns, even though there's bad construction on the east slope where (of course) they are straightening out all the curves....

Very sad by the way. Some of our national curvy road treasures are removed every year. This one makes me especially sad.

Glad I got a chance to ride it before it was "wrecked".

 

[Fred W]

It ain't over yet, but:

Spring ride-in to Sag Harbor to visit The Axeman and visit Jordan's memorial - accomplished (we were there first! )

Cats and Daks - missed it again but I am committed (or maybe I should be) to go next year if it happens.

Week long family vacation ride to West Virginia - truly priceless!

Whites and Greens ride - check and check

EOM - had to back out for work! :angry:

Covered Bridges 2009 - check

I did not have a "bucket list" made up per se, but do feel pretty good about what riding has transpired over the past summer.

And a number of these rides will be recurring events going forward...

My short list for next year?

C&D

NAFO

W&G

CB 2010

Vacation ride to... Where?

Hey, gotta save something to do all winter. Looking for new places to ride to for a week of vacation will help pass the upcoming dark days.

 

[Big Sky]

And wrecked, it has been.

I suppose they want to make it easier to get the ATV trailers and stock trailers and motorhomes up there, but they have destroyed what I considered a motorcycle heaven and national treasure. They have absolutely torn that mountain up from below Burgess Junction to about half way to the bottom toward Ranchester. It was such a mess there was speculation when we went through there in mid-September that the road would have to be closed for the winter because no way could you expect anyone to get up these new, much steeper (but straighter!) grades with the road bed torn up ever which way.

 

[RadioHowie]

This 2009 FJR Bucket List post almost made me cry.

But by all things holy, 2010 WILL BE DIFFERENT!!! :angry:

 

[Patriot]

This 2009 FJR Bucket List post almost made me cry.
But by all things holy, 2010 WILL BE DIFFERENT!!! :angry:

 

[petey]

Well, I can't complain, so far was able to log 24K this year:

SFO

CFR

WFO

EOM

NoMoSno.... (Hoon get together)

OE.... (Hoon get together)

At least 10 week-end visits to AR and MO. :yahoo: Retirement IS what it's cracked up to be. :clapping: I'm blessed.

 

[Bungie]

Ah yes, 2009 - the summer that wasn't.

I'm recalling as a series of moments frozen in time. Me getting a good sight line on Southwood Drive and give it the beans through a 'chicane' only to find Moosehead stuck to me like glue. Same trip FJRRob1300 and I sitting outside late into the evening drinking some beer under the glow a 1 watt LED getting to know each other better at Grundy Lake. The Stroganoff Bomb.

Realizing how important living your life REALLY IS while standing out in the rain at my dads memorial.

Getting lost with LeSkid, Mike and his brother Doug, somewhere in the Laurentiens and not caring one whit. The sign warning bikes to slow down in the wet at Mauricie National Parc in Quebec (which promptly made us ride faster). Hey, the guy sliding around on the sign looked like he was having fun! Riding through rain so hard it was splashing sideways off my gas tank up UNDER my helmet north of Montreal.

Firing up the BBQ close to midnight for Mr. & Mrs BugR on day 1 of their CFR/Alaska trip.

Pierre stopping for pictures on the bridge crossing the Spanish River.

Mooseheads 'BC or Bust' cardboard sign. Realizing I couldn't continue on with Moosehead for CFR because of insomnia.

Meeting Mr. & Mrs. Huron52 on their return trip from CFR.

Laughing at my buddy Paul on his new VMax while we stopped at 4 different gas stations looking for premium fuel. Same trip, getting his VMax significantly sideways after shifting into 3rd at the same time, putting down about 100' of rubber, and, I think, putting a matching skid mark in his shorts.

Countless day trips both with friends and solo all over Ontario.

The entire EOM trip is always the highlight of the year for me. Their are so many good flashes of memory from it I'd be here all day.

Realizing while writing this post that despite the weather this past summer, it really was another good one, and the 'bucketlist' be damned, I wouldn't trade any of memories created for anything.

 

[Old Michael]

Ah yes, 2009 ...
...I'm recalling as a series of moments frozen in time....

Very nice, Bungie. :clapping:

 

[Big-D]

Looks as though many have accomplished some pretty extensive "Bucket List" rides for 2009.

Looking back over 2009, even though it is still not over, I attended more organized rides with the FJR Forum and AZBeemers that I have before, met a bunch of good follks and rode some old and some new roads. And still have at least two rides yet to go for the year, which include the Los Robustos run. Not real long, but will surely prove interesting.

Starting with the Death Valley DAZE ride in January will serve well to make 2010 even a better year for adding mileage to the odometer.