A quick long ride through Zion NP., Utah
I need to learn new words to describe this Park, or I just have to stop riding through these natural wonders. My vocabulary is starting to feel limited! What a blast... going... what a shower... coming back! The rig is purring... with 170+/-K on it I even hate to think about it... no jinks please.
And as if the ride was not enough we are moving there for a while... it will be base camp for many other attractions if that is what we are going to call them.
This one is already in the Blog.
Enjoy, be well... hope that you are also having a great weekend...
Ara & Spirit
The Canyon in Zion... Utah.
Staying in most of the day, NOAA called in for some bad weather... but I think they are mistaken.
Great campsite, so great that we might, just might stay here for a couple weeks... but I have said that before. It is just that there are so many places to ride around here... and see!
Might even have some company soon... that would be great... Fire at night, great roads, great scenery... what more can I write on the Blog!... many pictures too...
Be well...
Ara & Spirit
Darker Skies in Zion NP. Utah...
The forecast... after these couple days is as sunny as it can be for as long as they can predict it!
Lets endure these couple of days... I know that it will be all worth it.
Did not hold us back from some riding as darker skies make for some great pictures and give out a different feeling about this whole place.
We did have to turn around, bitter cold winds... the snow flakes were an added attraction...
Luckily enough ingredients to make dinner... preceded by a visit to Farmer’s Market...
The Journey goes on... cannot even think about our next destination! This is Home for now...
Be well...
Ara & Spirit
Kolob Terrace road, Zion NP. Utah
East of here is still bitter cold, I was so wrong assuming that things will warm up at higher elevations! I guess I have lived in Florida too long...
But west of here, off the town of Virgin, is Kolob Terrace road which is less crowded entrance to also Zion Park. Love the setting, the riding... but not the road blocked by the snow a bit further up...
Cooked up a poor man’s pasta dish also with what I had left in the small pantry... tasty!...
It is on the Blog... in living colors!
Be well...
Ara & Spirit
April Fool?... not really! I wish...
April Fool’s day unfortunately did not fool me as I hear the snap of a broken eye bolt...
There we go... again! But... happened 10 feet away from camp... could have happened the day before when we went riding through Red Rock Canyon and Bryce Canyon up 9100 feet... without any steering it would have been quite a drop...
A couple more days... of course any day without riding is a tough one!... and we will be back on the road... in the meantime I wrote about the rides we just took... on the Blog.
Be well...
Ara & Spirit
Ara,
I read your blog and saw the pictures. I have already told you that
I felt the connection failure may have bene aresult of your forst
failure issue. When one mount for whatever reason cannot carry it's
part of the load then the other connections are called to carry more
than they should have to. So when you rfirst had failures of th
eupper moutns it meant thta possibly a lot of stress was put on the
others. This included the swaybar connection area and I hope you did
replace that bolt as you promised.
Now, when you get the new eyebolt from Jay put a nut on the threads
up against the eyebolt part. In fact if it is going to be sticking up
as it appears in the picture then try and cover the threaded portion
with nuts. You need to insure that the threaded portion is
not 'working' laterally at all. In fact if it can be installed so
that the eyebolt part is seated firmly on the tube it appras to be
threaded into thta would be even better. If you go that route and
the eyebolt in not aligned properly then put a washer below the
eyebolt to allow it to sit on it. That may allow it to be tight and
be oriented in the correct direction. You may have to grind th
ewasher down thinner to pull this off but it would be the better
option.
If you have other connections on the rig that are similar do the
same with them too.
Ara, I am not taking sides here at all and you know that. I am only
trying to make some suggestions to help prevent any future issues.
You are running a rig under extreme conditions. You are running a rig
that is probably run under more extreme conditions that 99% of the
rigs that are similar to yours. I had sent you pictures of some very
hardcore off road GS rigs and you know there is a difference. You rig
is being used daily fo rmuch more than a decal carrier okay?
I am very disapointed thta you are frustated by a few who may have
emailed you saying 'don't worry about it'. Please do not base your
feeling related to these discussion boards on a few vocal folks you
do not agree with. You have a lot of good folsk rooting for you and
they apprciate your blog very much. Like I SAID TO YOU BEFORE...DON'T
THROW OUT THE BABY WITH THE BATHWATER!!
Your frustration is understandable but the sidecar world as a whole
includes some of the best folks on the planet with lots and lots of
experience who are willing to help out. You have not been with the
sidecar world very long and there is a good chance that the ones who
offended you have not either. Rise above your frutrations my friend
and it will eventually work out.
Please continue to be the person your dog thinks you are and we will
do the same.
Your friend,among many others!
Claude
Well... well... thanks for even writing about all this as it makes me feel better that this problem is not being ignored...
On today's Blog you will see one more crack...
The welding on the whole,rig has been done poorly, everyone that sees it... specially where the shock is held and the TILT, asks me if a child has done it! In May, Jay will see it and even thought he has assured me that the Foreman was a Master Welder, he will realize that he was not... Jay has stepped up to the plate, as the expression goes, and once in Seattle all will be redone... my thought is to exchange the mounts completely. IMPORTANT. The lower forward arm is NOT a straight one and I do not think that the eyebolt is designed for lateral forces... he will exchange it to a straight one... and also add one more arm for the uppers...
In the meantime, enjoy Bryce Canyon...
Be well...
Ara & Spirit
Michael and Sandra’s Utah... my 100th Blog.
Somehow it feels like I just have left yesterday, so much has happened and yet... so little! Moving on to some new sceneries within the same State, Utah... one that intrigues me a lot as it is so full of richness, great roads and incredible geological formations that have taken millions of year... And I get to camp in the middle of it all... quite a treat! We are regrouping these coming days, listening to a local Adv Rider Michael, and his wife Sandra that have opened their house... and kitchen with wide open arms... Spirit has two new buddies... what more can one ask!
Be well... Ara & Spirit
A new campsite, north of Snow Canyon, Utah.
3 days... 4 days?... at Michael and Sandra, adding a few more pounds to this frail body... great company and time. 3 new tires, the rig seems really together and a new campsite, in the middle of some great BLM land.
I have a long list of areas to visit, it is so endless here in Utah that this will take many more visits to even scratch the surface. Good deal... I would hate to run out of places to visit these coming ten years!
Spirit is a bit sad today from losing his two buddies... he is starting to remind me of a sailor with a girl friend in every town...
Enjoy the Blog and Pictures, there will be much going on, specially with the days becoming much longer, finally it feels like winter is behind us.
You be well...
Ara & Spirit
My little Island of Paradise
This inhabited stretch has become my little Island of Paradise these past few days and will be for a few more days to come... all is here and at the same time... nothing!
Lots of vermillion was used in this past sunset... wish you would have all been here to experience it...
The trout is a thing of the past... long gone now... you guessed it!... It was great... could taste its freshness with every bite.
BMW of Las Vegas gave me some hundred dollar chips... their true value?... great service.
The Blog will have it’s story!
Be well...
Ara & Spirit
A little ride in the neighborhood, Utah.
I have the feeling that everyone wished to have a neighborhood like this one!... Right or left or north or south... great roads and scenery, hardly any traffic and there is a part of Utah that is not all red!
A great dinner (at least they thought so...) for my friends Michael and Sandra, some playing time for Spirit and his buddies... it is all good... all in the Blog.
In our conversations last night, we were wondering why get togethers are always where the crowd is!!! How about one right here...
Be well...
Ara & Spirit
A little ride in the neighborhood, Utah.
I have the feeling that everyone wished to have a neighborhood like this one!... Right or left or north or south... great roads and scenery, hardly any traffic and there is a part of Utah that is not all red!
A great dinner (at least they thought so...) for my friends Michael and Sandra, some playing time for Spirit and his buddies... it is all good... all in the Blog.
In our conversations last night, we were wondering why get togethers are always where the crowd is!!! How about one right here...
Be well...
Ara & Spirit
And all end up well...
School is never out just when we “might” think we are done... everyday new lessons are being provided, sometimes the teaching is kind, sometimes not.
What started as, finally thinking of having one, a bad day, end up being a great one... solving obstacles... followed by a great ride... and a great night sleep as Spirit seems to be getting back on track....
It is just part of everyday life on the road... we are not exempt from anything that you yourselves go through. The logistics are sometimes harder, but I would not trade this lifestyle with any other one... I know that some will agree after reading today’s Blog...
Be well...
Ara & Spirit
A ride to Cedar Breaks and Kolob Canyons, Utah.
So yes, I am a bit concerned about Spirit’s condition, it tears me up that he is still sick. Wish it was me instead... so hard to see and feel my helpless buddy! Time for a Doctor...
We did do a ride yesterday, he was doing better then. As usual Utah provides some exciting sceneries and roads. Only wish the winds and the rains would stop soon... maybe tomorrow!
More details on today’s Blog...
You be well...
Ara & Spirit
A healthier Spirit and a safer rig, Utah... +...
Unfortunately my Website had been down at times these past two days due to power outages in Vermont... I apologize for that. Was a bit surprised they do not have a generator...
But it all just a matter of time... such as Spirit’s health. He received some good care yesterday and as usual acted like a gentleman only stunned by a crying baby lamb!!!
The rig is much safer as you can see the work done on it... of the outmost quality!
A great visit to the Dinosaur Discovery Center... hard to go back in time a couple millions of years!
We are packing to head for California for a few days... with the hope that Spirit gets better by the day... if not, will back track.
The outpour of concerns for Spirit has moved me more than anything else on this Journey, and realizing that so many great people are out there makes me want to get out and... mingle!!!
Hope you enjoy today’s Blog...
Be well...
Ara and a healthier Spirit!
