Figuring this would be my last opportunity to desert ride before moving out of the area, Jr. & I made plans on at a minimum doing the night poker run, evening before the Frozen Deep Creek enduro, Training Wheels M/C, and what better way to go out with some of the SCWC favorite sons
We arrived way later than planned, 4pm, and it started getting dark at 4:30 - so much for jetting tweaks and a pre-dusk loop. Holeshot and daughter were already there; he was out on a loop, whilst his daughter already had completed the afternoon kid’s enduro. We used the sunlight remaining to setup our lights/wiring for the evening's festivities.
Once that was done I rode thru camp to see who all was there. My how the club grown! New faces abound. Brettr came up to say hi after getting back in from a loop.
Holeshot returned from his loop, and we discussed the poker run. Turns out he hadn’t planned on doing it - but perhaps on his daughters DS80! Now that’s do-able but I’d have to/want to see him in the doing. I told him we wouldn’t be entering the enduro tomorrow as I need to get home to pack for my move. With that we said goodbys and he went off with his daughter for some chow.
I started my usual campfire for light and warmth. Then 2strk4fun pulls up to park nearby. After hearing of his wiring efforts to rig up lights, he unloads and we settle by the fire while I assume cooking duties. Turns out the last use of my camp stove cross-threaded the propane fitting – dang! I’d get these squirts of fluid no matter what I did – now how am I going to keep a growing and hungry teenager happy without warm-over left-over ribs? Prepared foods, that’s how; we happened to bring health-food junk-food chips, which kept him occupied until I could put my two brain cells together and resolve this technical difficulty. And laying the frying pan on the perimeter of the fire did just that, the pre-cooked ribs sizzling away. But what happened to the bulk of the ribs prepared the night before? Maybe Shorty and ExtraShorty helped themselves to the kitchen unawares to the cook last night? Anyways, few samplings later and the meat finally became warm, hot to the touch with some risky pan placement. Now nibbling away at them fat-saturated bones hit the spot.
Somehow we missed the club's ice cream give away, but none of us were game with the temperatures dropping fast; it does that here in the high desert.
There was no way/time in the night to finish the firewood I brought along, and finding someone in the camp with a dying fire did us both a favor. The poor guy had trouble with his words (adult beverage intake?), nonetheless was grateful for the "warming" gift as hops don't do the same. Turns out it was brettr’s group – news was he took his girlfriend to the emerg. room for some care after a fall; hope she’s OK.
About that time the Team Knucklehead founding fathers arrive, CPTJack and The Eel in the latter’s new pick-em-up, two Gas Gas’ (is that how one spells it? Or is it Gas Gases? Seriously, now…) in the truck bed. Even with the moonlight alone they are very sharp looking machines. They went over to catch the tail end of the club meeting, only to find the night poker had been cancelled due to organizational complications, but the five of us voted for a night ride anyway, ‘jack sans (a means of) illumination. Does his GPS have a lighted display?
Whilst the crew was donning its armor, the club president came by on a quad and asked if we were going out, to which I said “most certainly”. He said he and a few others were abouit ready, and were free to join them in 5-10 minutes. This allowed us to get ready in time to follow along.
Turns out the pres. and his two other companions were on quads, a fourth on a Honda Pilot. Since they knew the course, we followed in midnight-train fashion, and it was quite a challenge to keep the ribbon and arrows in sight with the well-lit ATV dust! but fun, nonetheless. At the end of the 3-mile loop (seemed like 5), the pres. asked if we wanted another, to which a resounding “yes” was given.
On the second loop familiarity kicked in, allowed a taller gear and/or more throttle; the latter was especially helpful, as my EE grip warmers need RPM to bring forth heat. At the end of the second loop it was discovered half of the group was left behind somewhere. After contemplating their status, we backtracked and they were finally seen coming in, delayed due to a stall – things do get awfully dark without a battery real fast!
The ATVers said they had enough, and the DRNers took a vote, deciding to do another loop on our own. Upon arriving back at camp everyone said they had an outstanding time on this first SCWC casualty-free night ride.
We didn’t bring our camp gear, so after loading up and the good-bys returned from yet another unusual yet fun-filled outing. Good times and good company!
OK guys: let’s hear you perspectives…
We arrived way later than planned, 4pm, and it started getting dark at 4:30 - so much for jetting tweaks and a pre-dusk loop. Holeshot and daughter were already there; he was out on a loop, whilst his daughter already had completed the afternoon kid’s enduro. We used the sunlight remaining to setup our lights/wiring for the evening's festivities.
Once that was done I rode thru camp to see who all was there. My how the club grown! New faces abound. Brettr came up to say hi after getting back in from a loop.
Holeshot returned from his loop, and we discussed the poker run. Turns out he hadn’t planned on doing it - but perhaps on his daughters DS80! Now that’s do-able but I’d have to/want to see him in the doing. I told him we wouldn’t be entering the enduro tomorrow as I need to get home to pack for my move. With that we said goodbys and he went off with his daughter for some chow.
I started my usual campfire for light and warmth. Then 2strk4fun pulls up to park nearby. After hearing of his wiring efforts to rig up lights, he unloads and we settle by the fire while I assume cooking duties. Turns out the last use of my camp stove cross-threaded the propane fitting – dang! I’d get these squirts of fluid no matter what I did – now how am I going to keep a growing and hungry teenager happy without warm-over left-over ribs? Prepared foods, that’s how; we happened to bring health-food junk-food chips, which kept him occupied until I could put my two brain cells together and resolve this technical difficulty. And laying the frying pan on the perimeter of the fire did just that, the pre-cooked ribs sizzling away. But what happened to the bulk of the ribs prepared the night before? Maybe Shorty and ExtraShorty helped themselves to the kitchen unawares to the cook last night? Anyways, few samplings later and the meat finally became warm, hot to the touch with some risky pan placement. Now nibbling away at them fat-saturated bones hit the spot.
Somehow we missed the club's ice cream give away, but none of us were game with the temperatures dropping fast; it does that here in the high desert.
There was no way/time in the night to finish the firewood I brought along, and finding someone in the camp with a dying fire did us both a favor. The poor guy had trouble with his words (adult beverage intake?), nonetheless was grateful for the "warming" gift as hops don't do the same. Turns out it was brettr’s group – news was he took his girlfriend to the emerg. room for some care after a fall; hope she’s OK.
About that time the Team Knucklehead founding fathers arrive, CPTJack and The Eel in the latter’s new pick-em-up, two Gas Gas’ (is that how one spells it? Or is it Gas Gases? Seriously, now…) in the truck bed. Even with the moonlight alone they are very sharp looking machines. They went over to catch the tail end of the club meeting, only to find the night poker had been cancelled due to organizational complications, but the five of us voted for a night ride anyway, ‘jack sans (a means of) illumination. Does his GPS have a lighted display?
Whilst the crew was donning its armor, the club president came by on a quad and asked if we were going out, to which I said “most certainly”. He said he and a few others were abouit ready, and were free to join them in 5-10 minutes. This allowed us to get ready in time to follow along.
Turns out the pres. and his two other companions were on quads, a fourth on a Honda Pilot. Since they knew the course, we followed in midnight-train fashion, and it was quite a challenge to keep the ribbon and arrows in sight with the well-lit ATV dust! but fun, nonetheless. At the end of the 3-mile loop (seemed like 5), the pres. asked if we wanted another, to which a resounding “yes” was given.
On the second loop familiarity kicked in, allowed a taller gear and/or more throttle; the latter was especially helpful, as my EE grip warmers need RPM to bring forth heat. At the end of the second loop it was discovered half of the group was left behind somewhere. After contemplating their status, we backtracked and they were finally seen coming in, delayed due to a stall – things do get awfully dark without a battery real fast!
The ATVers said they had enough, and the DRNers took a vote, deciding to do another loop on our own. Upon arriving back at camp everyone said they had an outstanding time on this first SCWC casualty-free night ride.
We didn’t bring our camp gear, so after loading up and the good-bys returned from yet another unusual yet fun-filled outing. Good times and good company!
OK guys: let’s hear you perspectives…
