Good Morning!
Here's what's on my agenda for the next couple months... subject to getting the bug to find a new road...
BMW Trail of Tears Rally - Jonesboro, IL 9/18, 19, 20
BMW Trophy Challenge - MidWest - Bixby KY 9/25, 26, 27
BMW Rider Association Rally, Harrison, AR. 10/01, 02, 03
(Speaking at Noon on Friday)
Vacationing in AR 10/4 - 10/whatever...
BMW GS Giant Nashville RibFest, Centerville, TN 10/15, 16, 17, 18
Too numerous to attend:
BMW GS Giants Wailin Wayne Weekend 9/10, 13
BMW Gateway Falling Leaf Rally
Need to be in two places at once... Happy Weekend! Jeff
Friday, September 4, 2015
Thursday, September 3, 2015
Reriding the 2014 ADV Rider Loose Nut tracks
Bryan Reynolds posted a request to partner up on a weekend in the Shawnee National Forrest using the ADV Rider Forum tracks from last fall's Loose Nut Rally. This turned into quite a ride!
I don't have all the maps with me, but here are a couple items to enjoy... First is the loop from Ferne Clyffe State Park, clockwise to the east through Ozark, IL and toward Mitchellsville. This video is from the north end (due to water and trees across the road/creek-bed). The road name is Tom Dick Hill Rd. I'm sure there's a story there...)
It's sorta long, but it's a fraction of what all was there. The shale steps were a treat. At the bottom (north) end of the road we pulled up to recover and then hiked the next 1/4 mile... High-lift trucks have carved the creekbed and crossings into canyons... (pictures to be added).
Be sure to refuel at the Mitchellsville gas stop. Great staff with big smiles and hot food.
On Sunday we headed west from our camp at Crab Orchard Lake National Wildlife Refuge Campground to intercept the northwest loop of the ADV tracks. We picked up the trail near Gorham which included lovely one-lane paved farm roads, tons of gravel, and a little loop called Happy Hollow Road. Using the newly found website AllTrails.com I mapped it for you.
Starting in a rural residential wind into the bluffs, the road quickly turns to gravel, dirt and finally a jeep trail with not enough traffic to keep it clear. Where you see the icon for 'Waterfall' is a waterfall... (!?) 150' above that we were looking over the edge from the top of the bluff. In the video listen for the BEEP... my rear wheel caught the end of a log and got knocked to the right... pointing me at the drop... Good thing we were taking our time.
First off... let's thank Big Dog ,of the forum and is the GS guy of the Southern Illinois BMW riders, for collecting all the tracks. We probably did less than 20% of that was intended for the weekend... We did 174 miles Saturday and 149 miles Sunday... and there are hundreds of miles of forest roads and levees that we passed and land-marked.
If you travel to Southern IL and would like to explore more of this... hit me up! I'm in Carterville, one mile from lake-front campsites and right in the middle of all this.
Travel safe!
Jeff
I don't have all the maps with me, but here are a couple items to enjoy... First is the loop from Ferne Clyffe State Park, clockwise to the east through Ozark, IL and toward Mitchellsville. This video is from the north end (due to water and trees across the road/creek-bed). The road name is Tom Dick Hill Rd. I'm sure there's a story there...)
It's sorta long, but it's a fraction of what all was there. The shale steps were a treat. At the bottom (north) end of the road we pulled up to recover and then hiked the next 1/4 mile... High-lift trucks have carved the creekbed and crossings into canyons... (pictures to be added).
Be sure to refuel at the Mitchellsville gas stop. Great staff with big smiles and hot food.
On Sunday we headed west from our camp at Crab Orchard Lake National Wildlife Refuge Campground to intercept the northwest loop of the ADV tracks. We picked up the trail near Gorham which included lovely one-lane paved farm roads, tons of gravel, and a little loop called Happy Hollow Road. Using the newly found website AllTrails.com I mapped it for you.
Starting in a rural residential wind into the bluffs, the road quickly turns to gravel, dirt and finally a jeep trail with not enough traffic to keep it clear. Where you see the icon for 'Waterfall' is a waterfall... (!?) 150' above that we were looking over the edge from the top of the bluff. In the video listen for the BEEP... my rear wheel caught the end of a log and got knocked to the right... pointing me at the drop... Good thing we were taking our time.
First off... let's thank Big Dog ,of the forum and is the GS guy of the Southern Illinois BMW riders, for collecting all the tracks. We probably did less than 20% of that was intended for the weekend... We did 174 miles Saturday and 149 miles Sunday... and there are hundreds of miles of forest roads and levees that we passed and land-marked.
If you travel to Southern IL and would like to explore more of this... hit me up! I'm in Carterville, one mile from lake-front campsites and right in the middle of all this.
Travel safe!
Jeff
AllTrails.com road finder
Have you been looking for maps of the lesser roads?
While looking for roads that friend Bryan Reynolds and I rode last weekend, I ran across AllTrails.com
The site is intended for hiking and bicycle trails, but has great detail of the roads getting to those trailheads. Here's the link that will take you to the trail pictured above: Trail of Tears
You may have to sign into the account to access it, but it's free. Once there, look at the text icon at the top of the map. It probably says 'All Trails'. Change that to 'Terrain' to get a better view of the roads. Looks like it has stuff that definitely isn't on the state maps.
There are many options on the website. I haven't done much with it, but will post more after I have experimented. Let me know what apps you are using and how they are working for you.
Happy Trails! Jeff
The site is intended for hiking and bicycle trails, but has great detail of the roads getting to those trailheads. Here's the link that will take you to the trail pictured above: Trail of Tears
You may have to sign into the account to access it, but it's free. Once there, look at the text icon at the top of the map. It probably says 'All Trails'. Change that to 'Terrain' to get a better view of the roads. Looks like it has stuff that definitely isn't on the state maps.
There are many options on the website. I haven't done much with it, but will post more after I have experimented. Let me know what apps you are using and how they are working for you.
Happy Trails! Jeff
Wednesday, August 19, 2015
AMERIDECK Bike to Truck lifts!
Alternates for hauling the bike...
Having experienced several challenges getting my bike into a truck/trailer, I'm adding a convenience item to my truck. And I just became a distributor for AmeriDeck SuperDeck III !
My friend Skip out in OR is letting me sell for him and it's quite a useful tool!
You can get plenty of details from various websites about the AmeriDeck. It has two sizes, priced the same, for short or long-bed pickups. About the only thing to be cautious of is to make certain that your truck can handle the load... or potential load. The deck weighs about #600. Add to that the potential to carry two bikes (#1,600 additional?) and then try to make a panic stop at 65 MPH. A very light truck may not be the best application... but it's your call.
Priced at $3,640.00 plus freight from the factory in PA to your location or your installer. Installation takes about 3 hours and, other than lifting the device into place, it's just a matter of a few bolts and power from the vehicle battery.
Here's a link to the detail brochure P1. <<<
Here's the link to P2 with the product specs. <<<
Give me a call for details and to get your Amerideck on it's way to your truck! 717-620-9676 Jeff
Keywords: Rollback, tow truck, motorcycle towing, lift gate, bike rack, motorcycle carrier, pickup truck accessories, flatbed, flat bed, tie downs,
Having experienced several challenges getting my bike into a truck/trailer, I'm adding a convenience item to my truck. And I just became a distributor for AmeriDeck SuperDeck III !
My friend Skip out in OR is letting me sell for him and it's quite a useful tool!
You can get plenty of details from various websites about the AmeriDeck. It has two sizes, priced the same, for short or long-bed pickups. About the only thing to be cautious of is to make certain that your truck can handle the load... or potential load. The deck weighs about #600. Add to that the potential to carry two bikes (#1,600 additional?) and then try to make a panic stop at 65 MPH. A very light truck may not be the best application... but it's your call.
Priced at $3,640.00 plus freight from the factory in PA to your location or your installer. Installation takes about 3 hours and, other than lifting the device into place, it's just a matter of a few bolts and power from the vehicle battery.
Here's a link to the detail brochure P1. <<<
Here's the link to P2 with the product specs. <<<
Give me a call for details and to get your Amerideck on it's way to your truck! 717-620-9676 Jeff
Monday, August 17, 2015
Hey!! We're 
back! The trip ended up being 5 miles and 10 days longer than planned. Most of the extra days were in Franklin NB (A) at the NB/KS state line. Diesel trouble shut us down the the BMW Night Rider's Husker Rally was taking place at the fairgrounds fight at the edge of town. Wonderful people and great food. (Recommend highly). They don''t have any GS Giant members but surely will soon. Hundreds of miles of gravel and a GREAT sign of quality... With roads like these why are they riding on street tires? Will have to post much more soon about this great travel experience. From the GS Giant Stampede and Gypsy Tour to the BMW MOA Rally in Billings... coupled with days of the Black Hills, Yellowstone, Tetons, Cody WY and dozens of other discoveries... We had a blast.
Now we're back near home in Carterville, IL, but haven't put the camper/toy-hauler away yet. Couple more days lakeside at Crab Orchard National Wildlife Refuge to do some maintenance and catch up on thoughts and photos.
Stay tuned for updates on the adventure... while we plan the next one(s).
Travel safe!
Jeff
Friday, July 10, 2015
Westward Ho
Setting out... the plan...
3,500 miles... 23 + Days... Looking forward to an adventure. Bike is up to it. Camper is getting loaded. Two days in the fiend (Crab Orchard Lake Campground to finish preparing. Looks like a enjoyable trip... Wiil keep you posted.
Awning, not bike related
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