Re: September 20-22 2013 East TX 500 early planning stages....
Just got up after a GOOD HARD nights sleep and read thru the post from yesterday. MAN!
We had it a little easier, but it was no picnic. We started out in lite rain so I had both my bottoms and top frog togs on. But it was so warm I was hot.
The dirt roads were great but you had to watch out for those little slick red clay spots, especially in corners. Had the frt end wash out a little a bunch of times, but all-in-all the traction was PREMO!
I tried to keep a 3/4 pace (at times dropping to 1/2 pace because my KLR is just a big dog in the slimy stuff, and with the extra added weight on the rear end of all my gear, I was not so nimble.) and doing so I was heating up fighting the old dog. (Wish I had a WR250R!
)
So, we made it too Garrison, about 90 miles in, with lite rain too drizzle back and forth the whole way. So I decide to take off the rain gear because I'm so freaking hot! Every one said don't do it and I should have listened. Because no sooner did I fight to get it all off, strap it all down that it started to rain hard!
I hurriedly put the top back on and on we went. Almost immediately I started to get water pooling in my crotch, running down my legs and into my boots. SUCKED!
From then on I had no need or rain gear, I was soaked to the bone. The only reason to keep the top on was for the little protection I would get from the driving rain on the hwy.
I took the guys to a section I had added and have ridden 3 or 4 times (but always on the sunny days) just south of Silas on 415 out of Garrison.
Well that is when our "Fun" started.
IT....WAS....POURING! We got to the start of it, where the pavement ends, and I told the guys, (2) that we're with me, others were catching up, we need to scout it because the very first part is the gnarly part. So one ride took off to take a look. (sorry don't remember his name. came w/aanarchy) So when the other guys showed I said wait here we're going to scout ahead and I took off. Meet a truck on the way up trying to get out of the ditch. IT WAS SLICKER THAN GREASE! OMG!
And trying to go up hill!!! CRAP! I barely made it to the first tier on the hill side, maybe 75 yards. and turned around, got pointed down the hill and started. With in 5 feet hit a cross rut and went down in the 6 inch mud.
By the time I made it back down 2 or 3 riders had a go at it and didn't make it as far and had gone back. Beararcher had gone down hard and completely screwed up his bike. So while some helped him some off us went to help Scrambler who had gone out road and jumped the ditch.
By the time we got everyone back on the road again we had wasted a lot of time and where very tired.
We went into Center to eat and gas up and to see what or next move would be.
Bear said he would limp on into beans and the rest of the group decided to cut a large size of tack to make an early enter into beans.
When we got there most took hotel rooms and that left me and bear to camp at beans with the south group.
Then I got there and found that the south group was not coming and the tail ahead was more or less impassable. And bear was calling it quits because his left side foot peg bolts were stripped out. He didn't have a GPS and so I said screw it, I'll call it quits, lead you (bear) out and get back home early to make some brownie points with the wife.
I did stop by the hotel and told the guys and that we'll plan it again some time in the near future. May be late Oct.?
FROM NOW ON SCREW THE HUNTERS!
Just ride faster!