- Jan 25, 2000
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I knew Longtime wasn't going to show, so I thought it was my responsibility to take his place – so I arrived 30 minutes late. :o Thumbs, Scar and Ol'89r were getting anxious. It was the start of a "droopy eared " day (for me, anyway)..
We went through "Gilligan's Island", but Gilligan must have done some pruning, because we didn't have to dismount to get through. I think my helmet picked up a few dozen nicks and scratches by the time we were done with that area. After that, I stalled when a surprise corner came up, and kicked like mad trying to get restarted – then I discovered that I'd pulled the choke button instead of the hot start. Next, we came to a barbed wire fence that we had to go under, and of course, everyone went under except me. There was no way I could bend over that far and still keep the bike up (not every "old" guy is as spry as Ol'89r).
After about a ten minute wait, 89'r came back to the rescue by lifting the barbed wire for me. I wonder if that was planned?
89'r led us on a few new trails, one long downhill with loose rock that made me pucker, and shortly after we came upon a "Mother Nature's Dyno", kind of hill. After messing up about six feet from the top a couple of times, I blazed a new trail (partly) and made it the third time. Shortly after, the heat started to get to me, and I started going off the trail at every second corner. I played "tail gunner" on the last dash back to Corona, and wound up choking (literally) on the dust. When we got to the street portion of the ride, I could see the rest taking off down the road, but I was just far enough behind to be stuck waiting for traffic to go by (at least two us weren't dual sported).
But after all the whining and complaining (by me), the Corona ride was a confidence booster, because I now know I can tackle trails that I wouldn't have tried otherwise.
And all this was led by an 'Ol guy on an bald rear tire, old XR350 that leaked more oil than the Exxon Valdez………
We went through "Gilligan's Island", but Gilligan must have done some pruning, because we didn't have to dismount to get through. I think my helmet picked up a few dozen nicks and scratches by the time we were done with that area. After that, I stalled when a surprise corner came up, and kicked like mad trying to get restarted – then I discovered that I'd pulled the choke button instead of the hot start. Next, we came to a barbed wire fence that we had to go under, and of course, everyone went under except me. There was no way I could bend over that far and still keep the bike up (not every "old" guy is as spry as Ol'89r).
After about a ten minute wait, 89'r came back to the rescue by lifting the barbed wire for me. I wonder if that was planned?
89'r led us on a few new trails, one long downhill with loose rock that made me pucker, and shortly after we came upon a "Mother Nature's Dyno", kind of hill. After messing up about six feet from the top a couple of times, I blazed a new trail (partly) and made it the third time. Shortly after, the heat started to get to me, and I started going off the trail at every second corner. I played "tail gunner" on the last dash back to Corona, and wound up choking (literally) on the dust. When we got to the street portion of the ride, I could see the rest taking off down the road, but I was just far enough behind to be stuck waiting for traffic to go by (at least two us weren't dual sported).
But after all the whining and complaining (by me), the Corona ride was a confidence booster, because I now know I can tackle trails that I wouldn't have tried otherwise.
And all this was led by an 'Ol guy on an bald rear tire, old XR350 that leaked more oil than the Exxon Valdez………
