The ONE Picture Ride Report

[harper]

Oh. You wanted a picture of him? Why? Just because he's younger, stronger, smarter, and better looking?

 

[0Face]

Yellowstone NP. This picture has everything....

 

[Bungie]

Any pic that has Petey flipping you off is National Geographic worthy.

 

[hppants]

February 2016

The winters along the Gulf Coast are pretty good. Usually the day after a front passes through, the north wind will blow and the sky will become cloudless as the barometer rises. The relatively low angle of the sun makes for a nice blue ceiling. By this time, all of the Sugar Cane fields have been harvested, and the roads have had a few good rains to clean them up.

It's a nice time to go for a ride.

There's not much of a story to this photo. I stopped in the river delta somewhere to drink some water and shed a layer under the warming sun. Instinctively, I grabbed my camera and started poking around. Something across the road caught my eye. I can't even remember what it was; it doesn't matter. As I turned around to walk back to my bike, the FJR was just sitting there in her gorgeous red glory. I thought... "now THAT might be a nice picture."

I was correct....

 

[Cav47]

The picture may seem simple as would the joy of its rider, but this trip was so much more. It was squeezed in between massive weekly assignments in my last Master's class. The demands of life sometimes become big and burdensome but this ride and the time with old and new friends was exactly what I needed.

Sometimes we are riding towards something. This trip was partly that but mostly riding away from the responsibilities of school and particularly that last class. I could try to explain how over the top both the material and teacher was, but all of us probably have something like this in our lives. But let me tell you, Special Education Law and Regulations is an *** kicker and so is the professor. She hates people in our program and looks for ways to give us a C. And C's do not get degrees in the Admin program. She made no bones about it either, she does not give A's to Principal Program students. She said it plain and simple. So she laid the gauntlet down. We shall see!!

I have a super supportive wife and understanding kids that know I need my mental break. The rides like this make me a better dad, husband, and student. I need some time once in awhile to check out of reality. The get togethers, people, and roads do this for me I can't really explain it to others that do not get the riding allure. You all know the feeling of this picture. Beauty, Peace, Rhythm, Solitude, Joy, Excitement, Danger, Camaraderie, Aggression. This ride was all of them.

 

[dcarver]

Why I ride backroads..

 

[marcusorelius]

Coming back from swfog 2010 in New mexico wth the Duke & I went into Colorado then into Utah. I had a sticking rear brake from ride'n a dirt road in CanyonlandsNP the day before, We were near monument valley when I flagged down this ride'r who helped me hoist my fully loaded bike onto the center stand & we got it unstuck. He then was on his cell phone to his wife say'n I'm out here in the middle of nowhere help'n a guy & he's got a dog with him!

 

[kurbennett64]

Finished close to 600 miles yesterday to finish up my Grand Tour of Georgia ride. The last stop, Rabbittown, GA.

 

[lonerider]

Another perfect day for a ride here today. The old Suzook got new fork seals the other day (originals lasted 31 years and 64k miles), so a test ride was in order. Pulled into one of my favorite spots to stop and enjoy the view, PA 475 (Maddensville Rd.) between Clear Ridge and Hustontown.

 

[Cav47]

Well, tomorrow is my baby girls birthday. 14 going on 20. While this pic doesn't say much, it shows her fierce distain for Harleys!! There was a parade of them "sounding off" when I snapped this pic.



We went for a ride to get a Red Box movie. 140 miles later!!! Haha.

At some point during a ride along the river that separates Illinois and Indiana, I thought I heard her trying to talk to me. I slowed down and lifted my visor to hear her better.

Me: "What's up?"

Kenzie: "Nothing"

A few miles later I hear her again talking.

Me: "What's up?"

Kenzie: "Nothing, I am just singing along with the music. I always sing along back here. You just couldn't hear me cause you have your earplugs in."

I put my visor down, turned my music all the way off and "listened" to her all the way to the Red Box kiosk.

Good thing I have a drop down sun shade. I didnt want her seeing me crying like a little *****. We miss so much cause we aren't listening to the right things.

Anyone got a Sena they want to sell? I might not tell her it's on but l will listen the whole time.

 

[gapiob]

Yesterday, I juste do a little ride to try if all is ok with my bike after mounting the new ABS sensor. And of cours, like with the nice weather, I wase going to a nice point af view on Paris.

So for the bike all is ok, and this morning, the car stay in front of houses!

vive la moto

 

[Bungie]

Well, tomorrow is my baby girls birthday. 14 going on 20.

Hey I've got two of them! One of them will talk your ear off on the Sena, the other will sing herself to sleep back there. I'll get a little bonk on the back of the helmet. That's my queue to start talking to her.

They both ask me constantly to bring them on a trip across the border, and I love to, but neither is mine and that poses a bit of a problem. Maybe I should try, lets see, NERDS is coming up right?

 

[N4HHE]

A friend texts most every morning at 7 AM, "lets go ride!" But this time he texted Saturday night. Replied that I haven't ridden the north end of the Natchez Trace Parkway in many years, and this time he agreed. Its a 250-300 mile day baring complications. Took back roads 7 AM Sunday morning from Madison AL to Lawrenceburg TN for breakfast, then joined the Natchez Trace Parkway at US-64. Met about as many motorcycles coming south as cars but the farther north one gets the more bicycles. Lots of bicycles. And a couple deer.

Found Subway to eat at north end and turned around to repeat the right south. Fewer bicycles in the heat this time, more deer.

We stop every 40 miles or so to stretch legs and get blood flowing again. At one rest stop we met Jack, another biker with Triumph shirt in car with New Jersey plates. Planted the seed of lust in his mind to visit the Barber Vintage Motorsports Museum in Leeds (Birmingham) AL. https://www.barbermuseum.org

347 miles by the time I got home. Miles/gallon was 52.6 but claimed 56.4 on the Fool Computer. Had to stop on the way home for a splash-n-go.

View from this rest stop. Image has GPS details buried inside.

 

[N4HHE]

Why I ride backroads..

Perhaps such things are more acceptable with the American flag? GPS coordinates in image file. Huntland, TN, on US-64:

 

[eflyguy]

Why I ride backroads..

His weiner is dragging on the ground!!!!

 

[Cav47]

Back to the ONE picture reports.

Well, you see at Perkins Restaurant and Bakery they have a deal about pie after a certain time. Something about buy one get one free promo. Anyway.... you see the results here.

Niehart this one (two) are for you. Neither one of the pieces were all that good, but I did not pay for either. Big Ogre was my traveling companion on the way back from Spearfish to Menomonie Wisconsin. He was gracious to pick up the tab. He was an awesome traveling partner as well. We rolled in late and needed something to cap off a long day across the open plains.

Enjoy you pie smuggler.

 

[hppants]

May 2016

The old people tell me that when the cows are eating, the fish are biting.

I have no idea how they know this, or even if it is true. In fact, I don't know anything about cows, except that I love to eat a well cooked Ribeye or smoked brisket. Still, there is something to be said for the life of a herd of cows. They tend to stick together as a herd, but calves exempted, do spread out for the most part during the day. Perhaps like most of us, at times, they need their space. Ironically, they don't seem to mind being fenced in a pasture of relative small space.

If you watch a herd of cows feeding, its amazing. They seem to graze into the wind. All of them move in synchronous at the same direction. One would think that they are employing the "strength in numbers" theory to ensure their safety. I guess they don't realize that's what the fence is for - to protect them from predators.

When they are not eating, cows are content to just lie down and chew their cud. This fascinates me and to be honest, I'm a bit envious. My worst fear in life is that one day I'm going to wake up with NOTHING to do. The thought of that is terrorizing. And yet, sometimes I wish I could just sit down and do nothing. Just concentrate and meditate on something inanimate and insignificant. Just sit there and relax. Don't think about ANYTHING. As I get older, I have developed more patience for things. But sitting still - well, that is very hard for Pants to do.

Hwy 219, somewhere near Marlinton, West Virginia. Taking a few minutes to study my bovine friends, and try to think about .... nothing.

 

[Fred W]

Something wrong with the one on the left. Everyone knows that: Pi R ¬ 2

 

[El Toro Joe]

Had a blast riding some of SEO's best roads yesterday...the pic was from a quick lunch stop.

 

[stose85]

Bikers backing the blue in Sapulpa Oklahoma on 7/17/2016. 562 motorcycles raised over $15,000 for the families of the fallen officers in Dallas. This was by far the biggest group ride I have gotten to participate in. There will be another benefit ride for the officers in Baton Rouge "Bikers backing the blue #2." Most of the participants were on cruisers, although I did see a Triumph Trophy SE, Honda ST1300, FJ1200, and of course the Oklahoma Highway Patrol on their BMW's. My wife and I were on the only FJR1300.

More pictures and a short video. Found here:

https://www.fjrforum.com/forum//index.php/topic/169012-bikers-backing-the-blue-ride-sapulpa-oklahoma-ride-report-updates/