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September 22, 2020
Red Letter Day
Today, for the first time in a long time, I got some things done. Basically, in a nutshell, I decided that I'd pretty much ridden every mountain pass I wanted to within riding distance of my home. At this point, the passes that I haven't done is because I'm not suicidal. I'd like to hit some more difficult trails, but I don't feel comfortable hitting them on the Africa Twin. It's too big and heavy and, if I drop it, I can't pick it up. And, if I don't have cell coverage, and no one else is riding, then I'm sort of hosed.
Also, as summer winds down, I feel like I need to be out riding every day, as it will soon be snowing.
So, I started thinking that I'd like to ride one of my ATV's. But, this presents a whole slew of problems. Like, my Tahoe has sat in the same spot for....I don't know how long. Years. It has a flat front passenger side tire. As in, rim is resting on the asphalt driveway. But, I have several vehicles: Chevy Tahoe, Jeep Wrangler TJ, BMW X3. But I can't tell you the last time I started the Tahoe. Like....it's just sitting there, suspended in time. As far as motorcycles, I think I currently have the following: 2017 Africa Twin, KTM 990, 2 XR-650L's, a Honda Rancher 350 (green), and a Honda Rancher 350 (red).
So, like, I have all of these vehicles, but no money to keep them plated, insured, etc. So, all of the plates on these vehicles are expired. But, I want to go ride an ATV in the mountains. So, I get the Tahoe running, air up the one flat tire. I also replace the broken rear tail light. I drive around to a couple of different tire places, but no one in interested in putting a tired on my Tahoe. Like, it's just not going to happen.
So, finally I give up and just drive home in the Tahoe. I get the green Honda ATV running, and load it into the U.S. Army trailer.
The ATV sort of has a hop when it's running, which makes it feel like maybe the axle is bent. So I run it down to B&B cycles in Evergreen. They're covered up/swamped with work, so I don't unload it, but they do sell me an OHV permit for it. They're the coolest people on earth, I swear.
So I drive home in the Tahoe, pulling the trailer, with the ATV in the trailer. The plates on the trailer and the Tahoe expired long ago.
Then, when I get home, I decide to get my chainsaw working. So, I drive up to Chainsaw Bob's in Conifer. They get my chainsaw started, sell me a new can of fuel for about $8.00. So, now I've got a working chainsaw. I get back home and fire up the chainsaw. Go into the back yard and cut down two dead pine trees. Somehow, they fall without crashing into the other trees on my property. Now, I need to cut the trees into sections and split them up with the log splitter that I apparently sold to Mark at some time in the past. Like, I don't really imagine that I'll ever burn any trees in my fire place, but I might could burn them in a campfire if we ever get any rain and/or snow so that the fire ban is lifted. It feels good to have them on the ground because it seems like they're less likely to catch on fire at this point.
Also, I check the oil and the water/anti-freeze level in the BMW X3 because it was overheating sporadically for some reason last week. At this point, it now has anti-freeze and oil in it, so it shouldn't be over-heating at this point, anyway.
I stop and talk to Travis and Bailey. Then later, stop and talk to Travis and Bailey, and later to Lynae and Brock.
Mark and I go and walk the goats. We were walking them at 7:30 pm, but now we're walking them at 6:30 pm. That's the new schedule as the days get shorter.
Then, I put the trickle-charger onto the Honda ATV battery because it was having a hard time shifting between gears for whatever reason. So, in theory, the battery should be charged by the morning.
In any event, I'm glad that I got some things done today. Weather permitting, I will take the ATV up into the mountains tomorrow and hit some places like Ute Creek and/or Cascade Creek up to Saxon Mountain (but not down into Georgetown). Or, alternately, I'd like to hit Argentine Pass. Or possibly make it up to Loch Lomond Overlook.
Posted by Rob Kiser on September 22, 2020 at 7:53 PM
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