- Joined
- Dec 1, 2004
- Messages
- 13,328
- Age
- 60
- Bike
- '21 RT / '24 GSA
My path to/from NatSTOC:
I don't usually ride much AT events as I try to plan the TO and FROM routes more of an adventure.
Sunday 6/16 - 598 miles:
I left Dallas on Sunday 6/16 and headed towards Trinidad State Park in Colorado.
It was a little winder once I got into NW Texas but that's typical and why you see the windmill farms - little did I know that would be the lightest winds I'd experience.
This was the 1st long ride on the GSA so was getting the feel for it and also the usual pains I get from not riding for a couple months then jumping on the bike for 600 miles - shoulders, knees, back, butt... all telling me I'm an idiot... typical...
I also bumped the side of my shin on either a right crash bar or footpeg... not sure anyway, a nice golfball sized bump was there now, very little pain so just a bruise.
Monday 6/17 - 703 miles:
I left Trinidad about 6am.
This was a very nice day of riding, the wind seemed like it was steady and you had to pay attention to the landscape and vehicles to be prepared for the left or right push, or none so it was a chore but the weather was nice.
I wasn't really trying to test the GSA tank range, I just kept riding and didn't feel like stopping then, after 300 miles I had to push a little... nice riding in high elevations to get this kinda range (347 miles on a single tank).
I ended up at the Green River Campground in the Dinosaur Nat'l Monument park
You can't see it in the pic but the wind was crazy... had to be 50-60 mph gusts... I have never had to guy out my tent more than just the corners but needed to tie extra cord to 2 big rocks and 2 logs nearby.
This family's tent almost collapsed to the ground and the wind was pretty constant. Hard to tell from the pic but the grass gives some of it away.
I figured my tent was in good shape and it was pretty solid but when I decided to call it a day and go to bed... the inside was covered in sand that blew in past the mesh, it was like talcum powder...
So I used my bath towel and got it wet and cleaned out the tent then went to bed... there were now 30 second gaps in the wind where things went eerily silent then you could hear the wind from a distance.. it was dark and I turned on the tent light... you could see the sand in the air like you'd just hit a duster with your hand....
I covered my gear/helmet w/towel and put everything else in my dry bag then got inside my sleeping bag completely and hid til the morning.
Tuesday 6/18 - 600 miles:
I woke up the next morning to a thick layer of talcum powder sand on EVERYTHING....LOL
Oh yeah, that little bump on my shin was turning blue.
It was a little chilly and I found out yesterday the BMW outlet doesn't work w/heated gear, it simply shuts down vs blowing a fuse which is kinda nice. I should have known as the RT has the same issue and I'd installed a dedicated battery connection for heated gear.
Now, BMW does have an SAE connector installed but I use that for top box power and also didn't have an adapter for SAE to heated gear.
Back to today's ride....
I was going to the Sitting Bull Campground near Ten Sleep, WY and have been in contact with @Willsmotorcycle and he also said he might have an adapter for heated gear... BUT, it was still crazy windy and in the 33-40 degree range and rain was predicted for the Ten Sleep area... so I sent a text to Will telling him I'm headed to Spearfish...
I went through the Flaming Gorge area which is a great ride, better if the wind wasn't pushing you like crazy...
I made it to Chris's Campground in Spearfish. Looks like I was the only one but @Pop-Pop was there earlier and got rained out so headed home.
Oh yeah, that bruise on my shin isn't as blue anymore but now all that fluid was in my ankle / foot area LOL
Wednesday-Thursday 6/19-20:
I didn't ride much at Spearfish as I felt a little beat up from the wind.
I did have a great time seeing those that showed up - I'm guessing it was around 20 at some point maybe 25 total.
I did have breakfast with some and these guys are hangry....
Friday 6/21 - 1,100 miles:
I left early - almost dropped the bike when I got on it to leave... ha ha ... now my left ankle is a little sore.
I have done the trip from Spearfish to Dallas in one day on every bike I've had since we started doing NatSTOC in this area, so I just had to do it on the GSA. But, in the future I'll break it into 2 days.
At the 700 mile mark - 400 more to go.... did I mention the wind... IT WAS STILL BLOWING. I preferred going south as the head wind was easier to ride but I was getting 30mpg.
I don't know how I didn't hit 100 birds... they were having a harder time than I was. But, one came out of nowhere and got the yellow light cover on my aux light, glad I put the covers on.
Back home at 10pm... this took me the longest so far due to the wind and probably the most exhausting ride as you couldn't really get comfortable and relax.
However, with all that being said.... I'D DO IT AGAIN, GREAT RIDE, GREAT FRIENDS, GREAT ADVENTURE...
All the pics:
I don't usually ride much AT events as I try to plan the TO and FROM routes more of an adventure.
Sunday 6/16 - 598 miles:
I left Dallas on Sunday 6/16 and headed towards Trinidad State Park in Colorado.
It was a little winder once I got into NW Texas but that's typical and why you see the windmill farms - little did I know that would be the lightest winds I'd experience.
This was the 1st long ride on the GSA so was getting the feel for it and also the usual pains I get from not riding for a couple months then jumping on the bike for 600 miles - shoulders, knees, back, butt... all telling me I'm an idiot... typical...
I also bumped the side of my shin on either a right crash bar or footpeg... not sure anyway, a nice golfball sized bump was there now, very little pain so just a bruise.
Monday 6/17 - 703 miles:
I left Trinidad about 6am.
This was a very nice day of riding, the wind seemed like it was steady and you had to pay attention to the landscape and vehicles to be prepared for the left or right push, or none so it was a chore but the weather was nice.
I wasn't really trying to test the GSA tank range, I just kept riding and didn't feel like stopping then, after 300 miles I had to push a little... nice riding in high elevations to get this kinda range (347 miles on a single tank).
I ended up at the Green River Campground in the Dinosaur Nat'l Monument park
You can't see it in the pic but the wind was crazy... had to be 50-60 mph gusts... I have never had to guy out my tent more than just the corners but needed to tie extra cord to 2 big rocks and 2 logs nearby.
This family's tent almost collapsed to the ground and the wind was pretty constant. Hard to tell from the pic but the grass gives some of it away.
I figured my tent was in good shape and it was pretty solid but when I decided to call it a day and go to bed... the inside was covered in sand that blew in past the mesh, it was like talcum powder...
So I used my bath towel and got it wet and cleaned out the tent then went to bed... there were now 30 second gaps in the wind where things went eerily silent then you could hear the wind from a distance.. it was dark and I turned on the tent light... you could see the sand in the air like you'd just hit a duster with your hand....
I covered my gear/helmet w/towel and put everything else in my dry bag then got inside my sleeping bag completely and hid til the morning.
Tuesday 6/18 - 600 miles:
I woke up the next morning to a thick layer of talcum powder sand on EVERYTHING....LOL
Oh yeah, that little bump on my shin was turning blue.
It was a little chilly and I found out yesterday the BMW outlet doesn't work w/heated gear, it simply shuts down vs blowing a fuse which is kinda nice. I should have known as the RT has the same issue and I'd installed a dedicated battery connection for heated gear.
Now, BMW does have an SAE connector installed but I use that for top box power and also didn't have an adapter for SAE to heated gear.
Back to today's ride....
I was going to the Sitting Bull Campground near Ten Sleep, WY and have been in contact with @Willsmotorcycle and he also said he might have an adapter for heated gear... BUT, it was still crazy windy and in the 33-40 degree range and rain was predicted for the Ten Sleep area... so I sent a text to Will telling him I'm headed to Spearfish...
I went through the Flaming Gorge area which is a great ride, better if the wind wasn't pushing you like crazy...
I made it to Chris's Campground in Spearfish. Looks like I was the only one but @Pop-Pop was there earlier and got rained out so headed home.
Oh yeah, that bruise on my shin isn't as blue anymore but now all that fluid was in my ankle / foot area LOL
Wednesday-Thursday 6/19-20:
I didn't ride much at Spearfish as I felt a little beat up from the wind.
I did have a great time seeing those that showed up - I'm guessing it was around 20 at some point maybe 25 total.
I did have breakfast with some and these guys are hangry....
Friday 6/21 - 1,100 miles:
I left early - almost dropped the bike when I got on it to leave... ha ha ... now my left ankle is a little sore.
I have done the trip from Spearfish to Dallas in one day on every bike I've had since we started doing NatSTOC in this area, so I just had to do it on the GSA. But, in the future I'll break it into 2 days.
At the 700 mile mark - 400 more to go.... did I mention the wind... IT WAS STILL BLOWING. I preferred going south as the head wind was easier to ride but I was getting 30mpg.
I don't know how I didn't hit 100 birds... they were having a harder time than I was. But, one came out of nowhere and got the yellow light cover on my aux light, glad I put the covers on.
Back home at 10pm... this took me the longest so far due to the wind and probably the most exhausting ride as you couldn't really get comfortable and relax.
However, with all that being said.... I'D DO IT AGAIN, GREAT RIDE, GREAT FRIENDS, GREAT ADVENTURE...
All the pics:
Last edited:
Thanks for sharing the info along the way one day I going to meet along side of you heading to NatStoc.