Sorry for my absence from the site lately. Note to Larry just sent in my membership fee's
Been really busy the past few months planning a 3000 mile motorcycle ride with my wife.
Trying to turn a Performance Cruizer into a 2 up tourer was very time consuming. Planning all the hotels, fuel stops, meals, what gear to take and all the places to visit was hard work. I had to put everything else aside and stay focus on this task.
After 30 years of being together and married, this was our 1st long motorcycle trip together. Everything had to be PERFECT!
I'm glad to report it was.
We Road up the Coast of California, Spent the 4th of July in Frisco to watch the Fireworks and do all the touristy things there. Spent 1 night on a Midnight ride thru the streets of downtown on SF. I wish I had my BMW GS1100R for that or my KTM. Its amazing how much air you can get on those downhills. Not 1 person on the streets.
Riding up thru Oregon to Washington on the coast, to the Mountains. ABSOLUTLY STUNNING! The weather was PERFECT.
Now , I know with all that green, it must rain. All we had was Blue skies and perfect weather.
We visited the Kids and spent 3 days in Tacoma. They live right on the Tacoma Narrows. Looking off their Balcony down to the Glass smooth mirror finish water to the Bridge, I'm thinking to myself, Isn't this the place where a bridge blew down in the 40's.
The wife loved it and can't wait to go on another trip. THATS WHAT ITS ABOUT.
Anyways, it was hard work and I have to thank my higher power for letting everything come together and work out perfect. It really couldn't have been a nicer trip. I think my wife loves me again!
Now then BACK to Terrorizing the ARX crowd!
G
72 six-day
79 KTM MC80 250
Awesome story Garrett, bucket list stuff. Next year, pick a different direction and create a whole new set of memories. Tom
Tom Murphy
'73 250 Hare Scrambler
'74 125 six day
'81 RM125
'82 RM250
Hope you and wife made it over to beautiful Gig Harbor at the Narrows. I have great memories of many breakfasts and trips to Gig Harbor during the years I was stationed at Fort Lewis. The bridge that fell was known as "Galloping Gertie"
Thanks Guys, I'm sure we made it to Gig Harbor. I know its not Penton related, but I had to stop racing, dirt bike riding, Everything, to get my Yamaha Warrior ready for this trip. Can'r wait to get back Racing.
G
72 six-day
79 KTM MC80 250
Garrett,
Glad to hear the trip went well. No races in August, too "darn" hot. See ya in September???
ps: They changed the track a couple of times. It was challenging with one race having several guys unable to make the quick turn at the bottom of a short downhill and then a 180 degree turn and up the uphill. Actually, it was kind of comical. I wouldn't say who misssed a shift and didn't make it to the top and had to go back down the hill backward and start over during the race.
Saw that Lloyd. Looking forward to Sept.
g
72 six-day
79 KTM MC80 250
Sounds great Garrett! Did you into the Columbia River Gorge/Bridge of the Gods or Hood River/Mt Hood?
My wife's riding is limited to popping a major wheelie in our yard on a GT MX80. It isnt all power I think some of it is weight shift.:)[:p]
Been training hard for a few triathlons so have been out of it myself. Had a great ride on Harescrambler over the 4th, thats it. Regards, John
Mt Hood, St Helens, Rainer. It was funny, I didn't relize how big and pointy those maountains are. They look just Like Volcano's. The whole time I was riding around them, was "There gonna blow" and "How fast can I out run the Pyroclastic flow"
Oh,, BTW,, I stopped by the KTM Dealer in Tacoma, A little shop. The place was loaded with Pentons ALL for sale. Plus he had Maico's Husky's, Bultaco's etc etc. Kinda pricey, but he said all the bike worked good. The guy behind the Counter said the owner had BARN's full of old bikes. I was drooling
G
72 six-day
79 KTM MC80 250
Here's some pics
The bike all Loaded up in Tacoma
(http://i811.photobucket.com/albums/zz38/garrettccovington/WashingtonJuly2011062.jpg)
Video camera, cell phone, MP3 helmet, I made.
(http://i811.photobucket.com/albums/zz38/garrettccovington/MasterShakeedork.jpg)
Me and the Miss's in Frisco
(http://i811.photobucket.com/albums/zz38/garrettccovington/WashingtonJuly2011013.jpg)
72 six-day
79 KTM MC80 250
Garrett, bro, you were practically in my back yard.. We live just north of Seattle and you are right, this is a beautiful place.. Yea it rains alot up here but you get use to it, and there are still lots of places that you have not seen that will take your breath away... Vintage racing up this way is stellar.. we have at least one race every month but Jan. we use to race then too but we got frozen out too many times.. Lots of tracks too.. We race on at least 8 different tracks all with in 250 miles.. Most of which are on the I 5 corridor. Next time you are in the area, bring your penton or at least bring your gear and we will get you set up to race with the rest of the NW gang. Not many pentons but lots of great guys who know how to have fun.
Thom Green,Still crazy after all these years!
76' 250 MC5 (orginal owner)
74'250 hare scrambler (project)
74' 1/2 440 maico
78' 440 maico
72' cr125 Husky (project)
74' TM125 suzuki
93' RMx 250 suzuki
Thom
Thanks for the invite!
Oh yea, I'm going back. The Kids live up there now, so it will be visiting pretty regulary. They're married and I'm sure grandkids will following soon.
Now I know why so many people leave CA and head up there. It was beautiful.
I got to give it up to the wife. She was a real trooper. 500 miles a day on the back of a Yamaha Warrior is not the most comfortable ride around, but we had a blast.
G
72 six-day
79 KTM MC80 250
Yea, I left Calif. in 79 My brother has been after me to move back but I really doubt I will ever live there again.. I am down there at least twice a year but I have to say I love it up here. by the way there are plenty of fast riders up here too..
The Farm is a 8/14 and is a fabulous race, I have seen it where there are over 500 entries for sunday's race.. like stepping back in time. a real life grass track, all of it, no made up jumps and is always a challenging course.. lots of fun in the NW sun.
Thom Green,Still crazy after all these years!
76' 250 MC5 (orginal owner)
74'250 hare scrambler (project)
74' 1/2 440 maico
78' 440 maico
72' cr125 Husky (project)
74' TM125 suzuki
93' RMx 250 suzuki