About half way up I pulled off to add a few layers. By this point I was wearing everything I had with me but I was staying warm. Here is Gary searching for another layer… he had none.
So we had an awesome route, took the better part of 7 hours though. Pulled into the campground well after dark with Gary’s bike telling him it was 44 deg and dropping! Started a fire to get rid of the ride chill, set up camp and tried to get to sleep. I have a small one-man tent that I didn’t bother to set up. I just crawled in side with my bag, zipped it up and crashed. By 3 am there was so much condensation in my tent that my sleeping bag was now damp and I was freezing! I stoke the fire and move my sleeping bag right in front of it. This helped get me another 2+ hours of sleep before the chill set in again.
Here is my camp in the am. Yes a GS seat does make a fine impromptu pillow!
Scheduled to be at the Xplor event at 7am. Gary is a little slow getting moving so we pull in at a timely 8am. The riders are already heading to the first riding class with Jimmy Lewis. We sign in and beg for food before we head out to the class. Luckily we are scheduled for the second (9am) class. Class goes well. Lots of drills like slow speed turning (Eric, you should have been there!), braking, locking up the front wheel, etc.
Next was the d/s ride. Our group worked out as follows: Gary V and I on GSA’s Barry on his KTM Adv., Brian on Cross Country BMW’s demo Xchallenge, and Ed on his F650. Ed and I are the only ones with tank bags so following a route sheet is up to us. He pushes the task of leading onto me. O.K. off we go. The route was mediocre at best. It was no PB300. BMW also gave us access to a private off road vehicle park. Directions to these trails sucked. I must add that this route sheet was an Americade publication, not from BMW. They were just as disappointed with the directions. We stopped as I try to figure out how to get to the trail when Jimmy Lewis pulls up and offers to show us the way. A quick note: if ever you find yourself on a GSA1200 and Jimmy Lewis pulls up on an Xchallenge and suggests you follow him down some trails, go the other way!
So here is where things get interesting. The five of us follow Jimmy into the woods. Initially the trails are tough but do-able. Lots of rocks, washouts, etc. I finally stop to reposition my tank bag to the rear of the bike in anticipation of some serious stand-up riding. Jimmy scopes out the trail up ahead and reports “up here is the gnarly washed out up hill river bed, it might be a bit tough going.”
Barry - “my knees, I can’t go up that trail with my knees” (doesn’t he have the youngest knees out of any of us?)
Ed – “Not for me, I want to head back to the rodeo ring and practice riding wheelies”
Gary V – “No way, we should head to Americade and watch the braless harley women walk around.”
Brian is already off some side trail on the Xchallenge.
Me, well Jimmy disappeared up that trail and I must follow. I am about to embark on an area known as Hemlock Ridge. It is truly a dry river bed that ascends the better part of 400’ (most of it within a ¼ mile) with rocks ranging in size from softballs to basketballs with an occasional tree limb across the trail to make things exciting. To say that this was a tough trail for a GSA would be a huge understatement. With each turn I think this has got to be the worst of it. Nope. Jimmy, Brian and I meet at a Y in the trail. Jimmy is quite shocked to see a GSA up here. A decision needs to be made, turn around or keep going. Neither option sounds good. Jimmy and Brian continue up the trail. After a bit the sounds of there bikes disappear. I wait. They didn’t turn around to warn me so it must get better. Off I go up the trail. Mind you I have probably stalled my bike half a dozen times by now, lost my momentum numerous others. One thing I can be proud of is I never dropped the bike! This trail is really taking its toll on me. I finally burry the rear wheel with 100’ of trail in front of me to the crest. I am done, beat, cream-crackered. I now realize that the only liquid I had today was one cup of cranberry juice at breakfast and I had one Red Bull during the 7 hour road trip the evening before. I sit on a log alone in the quiet forest wandering how the hell I am going to get out of here. I remember that I have another Red Bull in my tank bag and drink it. Probably 5-10 minutes go by. Finally I hear bikes coming up the trail, Jimmy and Brian. Jimmy is amazed at how far I made it. Eventually he asks if I would like him to ride my GSA out of here. I reply “It would be great if you could get my bike to the top of this ridge.” And he does.
Here is Jimmy Lewis (Baja 1000 winner, 3rd place in Daker, etc.) cresting Hemlock Ridge on my GSA while I ride his Xchallenge! That is Brian in the background.
It did take Jimmy quite a while to get up that last 100’ of trail. It was no jump on it and go routine. Jimmy stayed on my bike for a while and I relaxed on his Xchallenge. Once the trail smoothed out we swapped the bikes back and headed for a much needed lunch.
After lunch Gary and I headed out for a leisurely road ride around the Great Sacandaga Lake and then back to the BMW showcase truck to thank the organizers and pick up our “goody bags”.
As I am parked at the MAX BMW tent someone notices a nail in my tire! We plug it and head for home via the super slab.
29 hours, 680+ miles, and some memories that will last a lifetime!
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Shawn in PA ________________________________ ___________________________ ________ many thanks to these guys for helping me out with Vegas to Reno 2008! ________ ________ *Adventurers Workshop* - Custom Accessories for Adventure Touring Riders ________________ *MAXBMW* - The Northeast's ONLY exclusive BMW Motorcycle dealer
Smithy1 said:
