The Bumblebee and the Vespa 2014

I think it's time for me to redefine what this new blog is about. In the past I've posted individual blogs for motorcycle/motor scooter rides to places like Alaska, Nova Scotia, Key West, Mexico, Canada, New York, etc. That's all well and good but it seems nowadays I'm dividing my rides into shorter ones comprised of two or more weeks each on different bikes. The total time and mileage is about the same, it's just split into multiple rides with a break somewhere in the middle.

The summer of 2014 serves as a good example of that wherein I rode south to Tombstone, AZ on my '92 BMW R100GS Bumblebee/Ural sidecar rig, (phew!) then returned home for a few days and set out again on my '07 Vespa 250ie motor scooter to visit Canada. That summer has gone and the seasons have changed as will the reports, some will be about shorter rides, some will be about maintenance, and maybe on occasion I'll post a photo or two just for interest. I may even introduce other bikes, a few of which are lurking under cover in the barn...

Navigating this blog is easy, just scroll down the list of posts by date to whatever interests you, click on it and you're in. Photos can be viewed in larger format by clicking on them.

Finally, if you'd care to post comments please do so, I'd love to hear from you. CLICK ON "NO COMMENTS" TO ENTER YOUR REMARKS. That seems really silly but that's how it works. The entry window is located at the bottom of each screen. Thanks for visiting, I hope you enjoy your stay.

LL

Monday, June 30, 2014

Jun 30 - Day 07 Bumblebee - Albuhkurkee....I think

Somewhere around mid-day today I realized I might croak from all this extreme [to me] heat so I decided to turn north, maybe head up towards Wyoming. Prior to that I rode through the Gila National Forest just for the sight seeing and from there to the quaint little town of Hillsboro, NM. The last time through Hillsboro I made the acquaintance of another rider and we've become email pals since. After Hillsboro I stopped at Truth or Consequences for lunch and after that I turned north.

The ride wasn't as bad the last 100 miles or so as it became cloudy, still hot but bearable. Before that it was miserably hot and not a whole lot of fun. Riding slowly through the Gila National Forest the heat became so intense I stopped and removed my jacket. I figured if I fell off the damn bike I'd likely only be going 20 mph and the risk was worth it. Maybe I'd get lucky and land on my noggin, straight up and down.

So here's the pics, not many but it was not a great day for them.

The dreaded oil spot is back....! No idea yet where it's coming from, surely not the BB?

I know mining provides badly needed jobs and necessary materials but I can't get around how nasty it makes the ground look, At least with logging you can replant the forests but what can you do to replenish minerals?

The Gila National Forest - what a treasure it is. Bikers love the road going through the park, tight twisties all over the place. Not quite as much fun on a hack but if you go slow it's pretty cool. This was my 2nd trip and it was great.
View from up top
BB posing in front of the Post Office in Hillsboro, NM*
[*Not Texas as posted earlier, Thanks SGT Stumble!]

New Mexico really knows how to build rest stops. These little cabin-like structures are positioned just right to catch the cooling winds while you rest in the shade they provide. I was ready to take a  nap in one.

This is part of the Apache Reserve in New Mexico. I stopped for a cold soda pop and spent some time taking in the quiet vastness of it. I can't imagine what it would be like to live off  the land in such a harsh environment. 

Hot, hot day, 253 laid-back easy goin' miles. I'm sometimes asked how many miles I ride each day; I think some people are expecting me to spout off huge numbers like the Iron Butt Riders achieve, 1000+ miles. In actuality I ride at whatever pace suits me at the moment, a lot depending on the weather and roadside attractions which for the most part means a typical day is 325 - 350 miles.

LL
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2 comments:

  1. Sgt StumbleJuly 2, 2014 at 7:16 AM

    Hey bud! You lost me for a while. I was following along on the map and couldn't figure how you got to Hillsboro, Texas which is near Dallas.
    I finally found Hillsboro Post Office, N.M. on the map. LOL!
    Anyhow, you have thicker skin than me. I can't take that heat. Glad to see you're keeping hydrated.
    It got up in the 70s here at tthe beach yesterday.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Larry ParmenterJuly 7, 2014 at 11:34 AM

      Crud, now I'll have to go back and edit it. Not too hard and I'm fairly good at it now given the numerous blunders I make. Blame those itty-bitty keyboard buttons. Not to mention I can barely see the text. Bugger all I say.

      Delete

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