Martha and I are in Fort Lauderdale, FL since Wednesday this week. We're waiting to board the cruise ship we'll be taking over to Dover, England, UK on Saturday. From Dover, we'll take a puddle jumper to Bilbao, Spain. More on that in a couple of weeks. It's going to take just ab … | Continue reading
It truly has been a long time since I got together with fellow Uralisti to shoot the shit over lunch and exchange tales. Some blame was cast in my direction as I've been camping a lot over the last few years! Still, I met up with three longtime Uralisti friends, all Ural riders o … | Continue reading
I presently use a HP Omen laptop that I got from Thing 2 when she moved onto the Apple ecosystem. It's quite a capable laptop but also quite heavy, especially since I use it mainly to process pictures while on the road. Weight: 5.56 lbs! Martha and I are leaving in a couple of we … | Continue reading
My Aluma 638 Aluminum Utility Trailer has been a steadfast aid since October of 2016. Her purpose was to carry the Ural Sidecar Rig on camping trips primarily, though she'd end up fulfilling other roles as well over the years. The beginning: Extending our Range However, all that … | Continue reading
There's been several items on the to-do list for my motorcycles. I've delayed them so I could do the work in the comfort of my garage at home rather than in some wind-swept and dusty campsite. (That and parts had to be ordered) Wednesday, March 10 I replaced the battery on Brigit … | Continue reading
This past camping trip, I got a notification in FB reels of an offering by the Bureau of Land Management (BLM). It's a series of maps which show land ownership. For instance, it shows what Federal/State agency manages an area or if it's private. No more wondering if you're on pub … | Continue reading
Saturday, March 1 I left Elephant Butte at 7AM this morning after saying goodbye to my host, Mike W. Laura got her goodbye last night as she had to be at work early today. Driving conditions were sunny, cold but not too cold, windy but not too gusty. Pretty much perfect driving c … | Continue reading
February 28, Friday Leaving the Gila NF site I decided to drive towards Silver City, NM and from there get on AZ Highway 152 to cross the Black Range Mountains of New Mexico. Boy, they weren't kidding when they posted a sign saying truckers should find alternate routes! As it tra … | Continue reading
Wednesday, February 26 A short driving day today, I wanted to check out the Gila National Forest area north of Lordsburg along US90. Not great shakes for scenery but its a nice area. iOverlander showed a spot for camping and that's where I ended up, finally picking a spot big eno … | Continue reading
Monday, February 24 Scarlett and I rode along AZ Hwy 266 towards what Google Maps called Fort Grant AZ State Prison and the village of Bonita. The road is paved and as one approaches and cuts through a low range of rocky hills. Nice rock piles to be seen which remind one of minor … | Continue reading
Saturday, February 22 No riding, just more relaxing at camp in the gazebo, listening to an audio book and enjoying the solitude. The expected uptick in traffic presented itself in the form of about 3 ATVs, about 4 pickup trucks and one tow behind pop up camper cruising by on Tanq … | Continue reading
Wednesday, February 19 I rode out on Scarlett, my 2014 Ural Patrol, to check out the views from the heights of the nearby Swift Trail Scenic Byway aka AZ Hwy 366, a bit SW from the city of Safford, AZ. More info on this byway: LINK It's a paved and sometimes very twisty road stea … | Continue reading
Scarlett, my 2014 Ural Patrol sidecar rig, reminded me of her usefulness over this past weekend. Not only did she haul two full bags of trash to the dumpsters near the Shell station by Picacho Peak Road; she also: Hauled discarded concreted tiles which I used to fill in a couple … | Continue reading
I continue to basically have this area to myself, the odd camper showing up not staying very long. The ones who've shown are either overnighters only or keep well away from my campsite. Here's what Picacho Peak looks like in the morning light before the haze sets in: Friday, Febr … | Continue reading
Yesterday's plan was to explore views of Picacho Peak from angles other than those visible from my campsite on AZ Trust Land near Red Rock, AZ. But first, here's last night's sunset: I rode out on Scarlett, my 2014 Ural Patrol, to check out the south and west sides of Picacho Pea … | Continue reading
After a few more restful days at the AZ State Trust site near Catalina, AZ, it was time this morning to move to different scenery. I displaced less than 30 miles. First, parking the VRRV in the way-too-crowded BLM dispersed camping area near Cattle Tanks Road! Holy Cow. (pun inte … | Continue reading
Back on AZ State Trust Land near Catalina, AZ. since Wednesday this week. I got here after displacing from Gila Bend and finished the repairs to the slideout system on the VRRV and power issue for the control board in the VRRV's Norcold N811LT Refrigerator. Got the replacement sl … | Continue reading
Monday, February 3 Rode south on AZ Highway 85 the 12 miles or so to the small town of Ajo. Ended up just getting gas for the spare gas can and some pics of the main church along with the arches in the town's main plaza. The church entrance was locked. Unusual. That night, I woke … | Continue reading
February 1 I rode Scarlett, my 2014 Ural Patrol, the 8 miles or so north on Hwy 85 till i got to Gate 9 of Area B, BGAFR. I wanted to see if there was anyone camping along the main route heading towards Tophat Mountain. No one around! I was briefly tempted to displace for increas … | Continue reading
January 29 As I munch on some Foccacia bread and drank coffee, I also wandered about the campsite area for pics. The rising sun lit things up nicely: January 30 Both yesterday and today, I spent the morning reinforcing points on the aluma trailer which are developing cracks and s … | Continue reading
Yesterday, January 28 After a night at the KOA conveniently located within 3 miles of the Tucson Airport, Martha and I rode Scarlett, the Ural Patrol Sidecar Rig to get her to her flight home. I will continue camping through February unless something comes up, chasing warm weathe … | Continue reading
Friday, January 24 Martha and I left the campsite shortly after 10AM when temps had risen to above 50 degrees under sunny skies. We rode down to the Catalina suburbs of Tucson to check out the De Grazia Gallery of the Sun Museum. Martha's parents had liked De Grazia's art work an … | Continue reading
Wednesday, January 22 We Ural'ed our way to the Saguaro National Park's Visitor Center on the west side of Tucson. The NP also has an eastern portion which we didn't go to. We figured, either side had thousands of Saguaro Cacti. Martha got her NP sticker and stamp. Then we did a … | Continue reading
Sunny but cool conditions, chilly while driving at speed in my 2014 Ural Patrol Sidecar Rig, Scarlett! Soon after lunch, we motored from the BLM Dispersed Camping area and less than 10 miles or so later, were parking near the San Xavier del Bac Mission. Founded in the late 1600's … | Continue reading
Sunday, January 19 Martha and I rode Scarlett, my 2014 Ural Patrol Sidecar Rig the six miles or so to Council Rocks. It's the rocky site that is believed to have been a meeting spot for the Cochise Indian Tribe, located on the north end of the Dragoon Mountains. It also has a few … | Continue reading
Riding in their Jeep Gladiator, Martha and I accompanied Chris and Lori Z on the 30 mile or so drive to Bisbee, AZ. Cool town with buildings and homes nestled on steep hill sides. Martha and I checked out the town's museum after a short walk along the "main street". Nothing remar … | Continue reading
Yesterday, January 15 We drove down in Lori and Chris Z's Jeep Gladiator to the Chiricahua National Monument by way of Apache Pass Road. I'd visited this monument before on my own back in 2021: LINK It was chilly and windy with snow in the shady parts of the monument's tour route … | Continue reading
We were joined by Chris and Lori Z. of BlazeOurWay fame the last 3 days that we were camped at the Hot Well Dunes. It was good to meet up with these two again since Fall of last year. The weather, which was chilly, precluded much riding. Just as well since we didn't have the requ … | Continue reading
Martha and I left the overcrowded cesspool that is the Metro Denver area on Sunday of this week. We were racing to catch a narrow weather window before snow threatened to close down our route through New Mexico. We left these conditions, not too bad really but cold: We got our wi … | Continue reading
Here's hoping 2025 is a great year for you and yours! Another trip around the sun, to paraphrase the title of a Jimmy Buffett song. Here's a compilation of photos from this past year, 2024. Motorcycle mileages: Brigitta (1987 BMW R80): 103370, 410 miles. up from last year's 231 m … | Continue reading
Wishing you and yours a very Merry Christmas... From past Christmas Posts: Snow Globe images courtesy of Google's Gemini Image Creator A.I. | Continue reading
A couple of days ago, after a test fill, there was still water splashing out of the black water tank's top side. It was time to take the tank off to see what was going on. Dammit. First though, I removed the toilet to see what could be seen from within the VRRV: This black fittin … | Continue reading
So there I was last week, trying to drain the black and gray water tanks on Umarang, the VRRV, a couple of cold days and nights after returning home from New Mexico. The dumping of the tanks' contents seem to go fine. I then started pushing water in through the dump gate to flush … | Continue reading
Returned from New Mexico after ten fun-filled hours of uneventful driving on the I-25 Super Slab. After the morning chill had gone, it was pleasingly warm in New Mexico the couple of times I stopped to rest or gas up the VRRV. This changed soon after I crossed into Colorado, with … | Continue reading
Saturday, December 07 Another sunlit and "warm-ish" day here near San Antonio, NM. Alas, it's time to go home before a forecasted snow storm closes Raton Pass, on the border between NM and CO on Monday. A short ride by Scarlett, my Ural Patrol Sidecar Rig was in order though befo … | Continue reading
Yesterday and today were pretty mellow days, lots of relaxing in the gazebo under bright sunshine, avoiding the sometimes chilling effect of winds. Not very windy mind you, enough to get your attention and remind you of the effects of wind chill. Today was much less windy than ye … | Continue reading
Yesterday, Ileft the overcrowded cesspool that is the Metro Denver area yesterday and drove a bit over 8 hours to a BLM area near San Antonio, NM. I'd hoped to reach the vicinity of Truth or Consequences but ran out of daylight an hour north of it. So I took a chance at a new are … | Continue reading
Tuesday, November 12 A pretty mellow day for Martha and I, this day marks the 29th Anniversary of her putting up with me as a husband. I say it often, the woman should be sainted! No festivities planned for or wanted by either of us, there'll be trips to foreign lands in our futu … | Continue reading
Record-breaking snow falls, this past three days. We approached two feet of snow accumulation I think here in our cul-de-sac in the SE portion of the mess which is Metro Denver! Lets just say I spent quite a bit of time running the snow-blower and doing some shoveling along with … | Continue reading
Amidst rather nice weather, I've been catching up on household chores. I also realized finally and youtube'd some lessons on the correct way to use butt and crimp connectors for low voltage wires. I'd been doing it with the wrong tools and methodology you see; now I have new wire … | Continue reading
So many notions, most unrealistic in the end, ran through my feeble brain the last week or so. Substitute the TW200 with an E-Bike? Less moving parts, yes but costs and their performance envelopes just didn't justify costs. Give up taking a motorcycle, whether the T-Dub or Scarle … | Continue reading
Note: Back in the overcrowded cesspool that is the Metro Denver area. I'll be here for a bit as I've upcoming medical appointments with the VA. Recently, Starlink raised the price of the Roam Unlimited plan I had selected when I bought into the system. It went from $150 t0 $165. … | Continue reading
Friday, October 11 After breakfast, I geared up and went to fire up Yagi my Yamaha TW200 for a ride to check out the last of the Fall Colors along Marshall Pass Road. Alas, it was not to be. She fired up and ran for perhaps a second then died. I tried for a bit to crank it but th … | Continue reading
Thursday October 10th It turned out to be a very propitious displacement on my part to be here by Thursday. Martha, my loving life, alerted me to the fact they were expecting the Aurora Borealis to be visible as far south as Colorado that night! It must have been a heck of a Coro … | Continue reading
Wednesday, Oct 9 Woke to temperatures in the mid to high 30s. A bit brisk but OK after I turned on the catalytic propane heater. I ended up mostly hanging out at the camp in the morning. I did ride out in the afternoon to check out the rock climbing areas. Several campsites nearb … | Continue reading
I displaced today from the dispersed camping area southwest of Montrose Tuesday morning. I wanted to try and get across the bridge that is under repair at the Blue Mesa reservoir. I got to the construction zone just in time to only have to wait 1 minute before it was the eastboun … | Continue reading
Saturday, October 5 As mentioned before, we'd been boondocking in the area SW of the city of Montrose, CO. The weather had been nice and warm, bordering on hot at times, with cool evenings and nights in the fifties. Nice. I decided to do some exploring with Yagi, my TW200, and en … | Continue reading
Thursday, October 3 We all left the Little Molas Lake Camping Area yesterday, seeking warmer temperatures both in the early morning and late afternoon! Time was spent in Montrose, CO by all, doing chores, dumping tanks, laundry, etc. I arrived at the proposed BLM dispersed campin … | Continue reading