Local Rides

My latest local drive in the backroads.

Stopped by the observatory on our local ride today, a "shakedown" run for Mrs. Swampfox in preparation for traveling to the Bunkie Boucherie on November 3rd.

Yeah, I rode the Vespa today as it had been sidelined for several months awaiting a special-order switch.  I did a test run on the Sporster rig last weekend after installing a new windshield om the Texas Ranger.

A nice February day to ride across the Texas state line to tend to some family business.  Couple of pics fron Harrison County:

A short local ride is up the mountain to Marysville.  Once a mining town of 5,000, it is now a sleepy little town of 70.  

A bit longer ride is around Canyon Ferry Reservoir. It is a bit over 100 miles. 

And, for a long day there is Yellowstone NP when the tourists aren’t there. 

A day trip for me would be up NE Hwy 2 towards Alliance to see Carhenge and back.  The Sandhills Scenic Byway is a unique bit of geography that has almost no trees, a 2000 ft total elevation change along undulating prairie, mostly devoid of towns. 

Quote from Thane Lewis on February 7, 2024, 11:43 am

a unique bit of geography that has almost no trees, 

No trees.........No trees.........what  kind of  world do you  live in  ??????

One I happen to rather enjoy!  And, no, Nebraska isn't flat - I checked!

Well, not meaning to gloat, ...much, I live one mile from the start of the Deer Park Road in the Olympic National Park.   I moved here six years ago and in that time I have never met another sidecarist except at the training course in Silverdale.  And I have never seen another sidehack on the peninsula even though I've seen videos and ride reports of people sneaking in without letting me know...  So, in enlightened self-interest, if anyone travels to the Olympic Peninsula I would be happy to show you some places you might not otherwise see.  Dirt or slab.  Or squishy.

Deer Park Road

Map

I live on the shore of the Strait of Juan de Fuca just behind the center hill in this pic.

Mt. Baker on the horizon.

Probably the best way to visit the Olympic Peninsula is to get lodging or make a base camp and make day trips.  There have been a number of routes around the peninsula BDR style but with the weather and the need for campsite reservations you might as well make yourself comfortable and make forays.

Drone?? You two need to link up!! I know you're not on the Peninsula but close enough....

I know I certainly need to get down there and explore some of Mr. Carver's Territory 

I haven't done any ride reports with the sidecar rig, but here is one of my favorite "mountain rides" in Utah.  This is from when I had the Africa Twin.  But it is very do-able with pretty much any sidecar rig, if you don't mind getting dusty.

Copied from the Africa Twin forum where I initially posted it.

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The ride started in Francis, to Duchesne, and then back up through the mountains on some gravel roads.
About 160 miles with about 25 miles of gravel washboard roads between Currant Creek Reservoir and Timber Lakes.

Starting in Francis, there is a great little Restaurant and General Store at the corner of SR32 and SR35. If you watch the TV show Yellowston (with Kevin Costner) this is where the accident happened in the first episode (just down the side street a bit).
Seems to always be a group of bikes stopping in, along with locals.  It's a real small restaurant, and there is seating outside.

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The ride on SR35 is really beautiful. It is a good sized canyon with a river at the bottom. Starting in the tree line, going above, and then dropping down into a more desert style canyon near Tabiona.

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Dropping down into the desert

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On SR40 Just west of Duchesne (pronounced Due-Shayne, not due-chesny... lol) is Starvation reservoir.
Evidently Mission priests hired an Indian guide to get them over to the Indians in Salt Lake to convert them into good Christians, and had quite a struggle through this area. To the point they started questioning their Indian guide.
Now it's another reservoir, and travel is as easy as a Jet Ski... lol
Had they had sidecars to drive, it would have been an easy ride on a paved road. They probably would have wanted cruise control though.

https://www.africatwinforum.com/attachments/starvation-reservoir-jpg.56266 /" alt="56266" data-src="/cdn-cgi/image/format=auto,onerror=redirect,width=1920,height=1920,fit=scale-down/ https://www.africatwinforum.com/attachments/starvation-reservoir-jpg.56266 /" data-zoom-target="1" data-url="" />

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Heading on SR40 is a turn off to Currant Creek Reservoir. This is another water shed, with plenty of fishing. No shade, so bring a sun-brella with you. Road was paved almost all the way to the reservoir.  It turns into a heavily graveled road, with some pretty bad washboard.

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Standing on the dam looking back down the way I came up. To the left is a Wildlife Management Area.

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Up at the top of the mountains, the view is spectacular. Lots of wild flowers in bloom. Big skies.

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Then over the summit headed down towards Heber City, is a stunning view including the Wasatch Back.

https://www.africatwinforum.com/attachments/wild-flowers-mountains-jpg.56273 /" alt="56273" data-src="/cdn-cgi/image/format=auto,onerror=redirect,width=1920,height=1920,fit=scale-down/ https://www.africatwinforum.com/attachments/wild-flowers-mountains-jpg.56273 /" data-zoom-target="1" data-url="" />

So that was the ride.
Back down the hill into Heber, and then back to Francis, UT.

 

 Will be in ST George UT end of July first of April.  Road Glide gathering Shake Week 14.

A little FSR. ( forestry Service Road ) up behind my house in Little old Canoe. 

Wee bit of trivia- my ancestors were the founders of Heber City, UT. Dad knew the story.