I will post my plcs on photobucket later. Will look for other pics on ST forum, too. We missed you all that couldn't make it.
4th Nat'l NT Rally-Jul 9-12, 2014 - Spearfish, SD
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I will post my plcs on photobucket later. Will look for other pics on ST forum, too. We missed you all that couldn't make it.
BTW, you MAY hear wild allegations that I lost about everything in my kit at one time or another. I will plead "Plausible Deniability" to all of them! These allegations include, but are not limited to, my tablet, Uclear helmet bug, and a rather large sum of stashed cash, and my notebook where I write down interesting thigs I hear. Rest assured everything is where I ...er...found it and well stored at this time. !
Got back today about 630p...great ride back through So Dak yesterday taking 34 and 212, and a comfortable ride through light rain most of the way back through Minnesota today. The Devils Tower ride is a highlight...fun to ride with like-minded riders and enjoyed chatting with most of you at the campground. Great trip!
Got to "meet" some locals yesterday at a pulloff on the west side of the Missouri River yesterday on 212. There are several picnic shelters, but ironically the one I chose had no picnic tables.....The pulloff was a little strange..a one lane blacktop that lead to the edge of the river, and a grassy area to the right that served as a parking area of sorts. I pulled off, and parked the bike on the blacktop pointing towards, grabbed my water and phone, and a map. I walked under the shelter to get out of the sun, and about two minutes into my break, I heard a car approaching, then heard a truck honking and saw an old Lincoln , with bad shocks and covered from wheels to rooftop in red dust and dirt, come careening off the high way and turn onto the blacktop where the Pooch was parked, with my helmet and jacket resting on the seat. In the car, with the windows down were three revellers, laughing and yelling at the offending truck that he;d cut off. Number One, the driver, turned off the blacktop and bounced into the grassy parking area, gently hitting the fence marking the boundary. At first I thought they were looking for a place to fish, but as they got out of the car, it was apparent they were simply looking for a place to drink , other than in just the car. Number 2, riding shotgun, opened his door and wrestled with a styrofoam icechest. I was gathering up my stuff and headed back to the Pooch, when he called out to me, thinking I was someone he knew, and cajoled on getting a new bike. Number Three, seated in the back seat, appeared to be the most sober of the three, and realized that there was no where to sit. His comments to Number Two went unheeded as Two lurched towards me and the bike with his arms holding the icechest like flight attendants advise us to use seat cushions in the event of a water landing. About this time, Number Two seemed to realize he didnt know me, and his ramblings quickly devolved into comparisons of my bike with his Road King at home....Number Three finally got his attention regarding the plight of there being no place to sit, and apparently focused the three on their quest to find a restful drinking spot. Number One got the Lincoln started, and after revving the tired V8 repeatedly, found the shift lever and managed to back out of the spot. My hackles rose as they slowly rode past, glaring and presumably weighing options, and I admit , when I got turned around and outta there, I didnt stop for anything but gas until I was clear of the Cheyenne River Valley.
Lesson learned....just like you never sit with your back to the door in a bar you dont know, dont park the bike if you cant leave without turning around.....
Got to "meet" some locals yesterday at a pulloff on the west side of the Missouri River yesterday on 212. There are several picnic shelters, but ironically the one I chose had no picnic tables.....The pulloff was a little strange..a one lane blacktop that lead to the edge of the river, and a grassy area to the right that served as a parking area of sorts. I pulled off, and parked the bike on the blacktop pointing towards, grabbed my water and phone, and a map. I walked under the shelter to get out of the sun, and about two minutes into my break, I heard a car approaching, then heard a truck honking and saw an old Lincoln , with bad shocks and covered from wheels to rooftop in red dust and dirt, come careening off the high way and turn onto the blacktop where the Pooch was parked, with my helmet and jacket resting on the seat. In the car, with the windows down were three revellers, laughing and yelling at the offending truck that he;d cut off. Number One, the driver, turned off the blacktop and bounced into the grassy parking area, gently hitting the fence marking the boundary. At first I thought they were looking for a place to fish, but as they got out of the car, it was apparent they were simply looking for a place to drink , other than in just the car. Number 2, riding shotgun, opened his door and wrestled with a styrofoam icechest. I was gathering up my stuff and headed back to the Pooch, when he called out to me, thinking I was someone he knew, and cajoled on getting a new bike. Number Three, seated in the back seat, appeared to be the most sober of the three, and realized that there was no where to sit. His comments to Number Two went unheeded as Two lurched towards me and the bike with his arms holding the icechest like flight attendants advise us to use seat cushions in the event of a water landing. About this time, Number Two seemed to realize he didnt know me, and his ramblings quickly devolved into comparisons of my bike with his Road King at home....Number Three finally got his attention regarding the plight of there being no place to sit, and apparently focused the three on their quest to find a restful drinking spot. Number One got the Lincoln started, and after revving the tired V8 repeatedly, found the shift lever and managed to back out of the spot. My hackles rose as they slowly rode past, glaring and presumably weighing options, and I admit , when I got turned around and outta there, I didnt stop for anything but gas until I was clear of the Cheyenne River Valley.
Lesson learned....just like you never sit with your back to the door in a bar you dont know, dont park the bike if you cant leave without turning around.....
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Quite an experience, Jon.
I was offered a pull on a jug with a clear liquid in it at a very rural rest spot in TN by a local character. May have been the same car.
I'm about 50 miles W of Chicago headed for SW MI to see my highschool buddy and then MIairhead. Dodged most of the copious rain so far. Then heading north and across the Mackinaw bridge then west to home.
I was offered a pull on a jug with a clear liquid in it at a very rural rest spot in TN by a local character. May have been the same car.
I'm about 50 miles W of Chicago headed for SW MI to see my highschool buddy and then MIairhead. Dodged most of the copious rain so far. Then heading north and across the Mackinaw bridge then west to home.
Right, it was a great event without the banner, but we will remind Rick about his error forever.
Glad you were able to dodge most of the rain, Jim. I thought of you when I saw the radar images yesterday morning of Iowa and Illinois. Enjoy the anniversary party and your ride through the UP. And watch for the old Lincoln at the rest stops!
Quite the story. Makes me sad and angry. Most of my stories like that are not as bad. I meet more good people than what ever they were.
Frosty and I are in Three forks MT. Home tomarrow..yellowstone is still there, until the next volcanic event. Got to meet the official Browning factory historian today. Pretty cool..:
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) again and meeting a few new riding buddies. 
more...
Likes like good riding with a bunch of seasoned riders. Hope there will be many more rides in the future for all.
We made it home safe and sound (for us). Water vests came in handy on the last lap but lucky cloud cover helped keep the heat at bay.
Glad you and Joe made it safely.
Glad you did too, my friend....it was great riding and talking with you....care package being prepared....be patient and Santa will arrive....!
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Now that you have been able to give the cooling vest a longer test how would you rate it ?
Warren,
I used mine 4 of the six travel days. Mostly the last leg in the afternoon. It worked great ... but we were riding in the low humidity on open roads with few stops (SD, MT, WY, ID, WA). I packed it in a 2.5 gal zip lock bag. At a fuel stop, I would fill the bag with cool water, make sure that the vest was saturated (approx. 3 qts), shake it out and put it on over poly tee shirt and under my jacket. It kept my shoulders and back very cool. I am not sure how well it will work in high humidity or stopped in traffic. It will also make your clothes damp (not a problem in this case). I will be packing it for all warm weather riding.
Joe
I used mine 4 of the six travel days. Mostly the last leg in the afternoon. It worked great ... but we were riding in the low humidity on open roads with few stops (SD, MT, WY, ID, WA). I packed it in a 2.5 gal zip lock bag. At a fuel stop, I would fill the bag with cool water, make sure that the vest was saturated (approx. 3 qts), shake it out and put it on over poly tee shirt and under my jacket. It kept my shoulders and back very cool. I am not sure how well it will work in high humidity or stopped in traffic. It will also make your clothes damp (not a problem in this case). I will be packing it for all warm weather riding.
Joe
I agree. I wore mine even after I got home and then during a nap in this terrible heat and even 24 hours later it is still moist and has some cooling left in it. I am thinking about getting another one for work around the ranch. If I had to nit pick I would say it would work better if you got one that fit tight so that it presses against your front as well as the back and shoulders. My wind direction on my bike is back to front in the jacket area so my jacket balloons out toward the windscreen. I would also add that I forgot my bandana of the same material to try in conjunction with the vest but as it turned out my wife needed it at a hot dog agility trial...but I might try it today...Forecast, "Extra Crispy"
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A "Polar Vortex" isn't fun. I just got home after riding through a bunch of cold, wind in the middle of the UP of MI, and rain (called a Polar Vortex) by the weather man. 47 degrees with gusty winds and rain. So my vest was not a cooling vest but rather an electric vest on maximum output. I will be looking for a vest like Frosty's though, so next year when it is 100 degrees I'll be ready.
It was great to visit with all the friends at Spearfish and renew old friendships. But I did miss those missing members who had other obligations. I stopped for a visit with "Miairhead" on my way through MI. He lives about a mile from where I grew up. He was a great host and we had some great conversation before I left. Tom is just itching to ride with some NT members.
It was great to visit with all the friends at Spearfish and renew old friendships. But I did miss those missing members who had other obligations. I stopped for a visit with "Miairhead" on my way through MI. He lives about a mile from where I grew up. He was a great host and we had some great conversation before I left. Tom is just itching to ride with some NT members.
Phil Tarman
Site Supporter
Hot-diggity! Free drinks!! I'll plan on being there!
I arrived home last night. Paul Baird and I left spearfish on Sunday morning EALRLY. the evening found him at home in Sandy UT and I made it 825 miles to Twin Falls ID, I spent two nights there with my old AF buddy then took two days to wander across central & SE Oregon, spending one night In Burns. Then from there yesterday.
I did manage to find about 20 miles of new chipseale roadway both days from Twin Falls on. I must say that my magna cooling vest did a good job for me. I used it in same way as with LD comfort inder the Stich Roadcrafter. definatly better to me than the wet cooling vest that I left at home! I could walk into a restaurant and ot look as if I had a problem with wet pants etc!
A very enjoyable time at this rally, particularly meeting new friends , as well as seeing old ones. And I didn't have to leave until I was ready to , not like the past two years!!!
Eldon
I did manage to find about 20 miles of new chipseale roadway both days from Twin Falls on. I must say that my magna cooling vest did a good job for me. I used it in same way as with LD comfort inder the Stich Roadcrafter. definatly better to me than the wet cooling vest that I left at home! I could walk into a restaurant and ot look as if I had a problem with wet pants etc!
A very enjoyable time at this rally, particularly meeting new friends , as well as seeing old ones. And I didn't have to leave until I was ready to , not like the past two years!!!
Eldon