Where did you go in 2004?

VIVID1 · 01-11-2005, 01:43 PM

Sport–touring is about going places and seeing things.

Where did you end up touring in 2004?

I did many weekend tours, below is a list of the multi-days tours I did this year

o April (4 days) Tennessee and North Carolina
o May (4 days) Indiana & Kentucky
o August (9 days) Colorado and Utah
o September (3 days) Wisconsin, Iowa, Minnesota
o November (4 days) Mississippi, Louisiana, Texas
o December (5 days) Southwest & Central Texas

April 2004, NC on the Blue Ridge Parkway

May 2004, somewhere in Kentucky

August 2004, on 145 in Colorado at the Lizard Head Pass

August 2004, Flaming Gorge Utah

September 2004, Minnesota

November 2004, Louisiana/Texas state line Toledo Bend Res.

December 2004, Southwest Texas on the Mexican border

FZ1 Matt · 01-12-2005, 09:25 PM

Alright Anna let's keep this sub forum alive.

So where did Matt wander to this year? I've probabally told you about many of these trips already but here it is for everyone else. I went lots and lots of places. I was riding every weekend I could but here are some of the highlights of the bigger trips I did.

I'll post 1 pic for each month. Ok maybe 2 sometimes.

Pic 1 05/04 - Around Corbin, KY. Rode around through VA a little too.

Pic2 06/04- 2 weeks after the Corbin trip I rode back through there down to Deal's Gap.

Pic 3 07/04 - Rode to Rainy River, ON for lunch. From Milwaukee to Rainy River is over 600miles one way.

FZ1 Matt · 01-12-2005, 09:33 PM

Pic 1 (this post) 08/04- Rode around Lake Superior. The north side of the lake is amazing.

Pic 2 - 09/04 Took a week off work. Wandered the back roads of IN, OH, KY, TN, AR, OK, MO etc. This pic is of the Deal's Gap Overlook. I first got there at night. Deal's Gap is cool at night.

Pic 3 09/04 Another from the big trip. This is the Talimena Scenic Byway in AR and OK. A seriously awesome road and experience.

FZ1 Matt · 01-12-2005, 09:36 PM

Pic 1 and Pic 2 -

10/04

Rode around northern WI. I ride around there quite frequently but during this weekend the colors were the most beautiful I have ever seen. Just amazing.

FZ1 Matt · 01-12-2005, 09:42 PM

Pic 1 12/04 Rode down to Chicago to ride in the Toys for Tot's Parade. Ok, not a really long or scenic ride but it was fun seeing all the bikes and is was an adventure riding down there on the cold, wet and extremely slippery roads.

Pic 2 01/05. Ok not a ride in 04 but it was my first ride in 05! We had freezing rain on the way home. Kinda very slippery

VIVID1 · 01-13-2005, 02:15 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by FZ1 Matt

Pic 1 12/04 Rode down to Chicago to ride in the Toys for Tot's Parade.

I didn't know you did TFT. I did it only once in 2001... I realized I don't like parades.

awesome trips

kangaroooski · 01-14-2005, 11:02 AM

Most of my rides are usually 1 day or overnights. But I did have a couple of multiday trips. The pics from this first one is a 3 day 1000 mile ride from Ann Arbor Michigan to the Ohio river and back, I took this with a group of friends (8 total). We do this every year, 2005 is going to be a 4 day lap of the Great Lake Huron.

kangaroooski · 01-14-2005, 11:21 AM

These were taken on a 3 day trip in Northern Michigan, this is from one of the many Au Sable river dams, I am unsure of its name. Its a beautiful area.

CBR600Lady · 01-14-2005, 12:54 PM

Thanks all for sharing. I'm planning my first trip on the bike this year. I can't wait, I'm so looking forward to it.

Penguin1300 · 01-15-2005, 12:06 AM

2004 was a bust for me. Reasons included:
* father passing away
* hurricane charley severely damaging parent's house
* new FJR didn't arrive until August
* finished MBA (had some horror in itself)
* first full year with new job
* etc, etc.

With all that against me, I did get one good weekend ride slipped into the picture. Took a (short) trip over to N GA for the advrider.com "Rebel Yell" rally. While most were off the beaten track, I explored my new FJR's capabilities on some great roads. Thoroughly enjoyed myself and can't wait to head over again in 2005.

My most favorite shot from the trip is this one..

Rest of the pictures can be found here:
My Rebel Yell photo gallery

As long as things hold, I hope to make 2005 a MUCH better year. Already on the plans are:
1) Trip to Birmingham for the AMA superbike races at Barber
2) Fall trip to ride the entire BRP
3) YZF600R rally in July at basically Deal's Gap

Some "maybe" trips include:
* A spring trip somewhere around Hot Springs, AK or maybe the Ozarks.
* FJR Rally -- if FJR eastern people organize one again this year.

JonS · 01-16-2005, 09:51 AM

This year, like most, I don't really leave WA, unless I go into BC. I made three trips over the North Cascade Hwy. Two of those trips were a full Cascade loop. About 450mi. The last long ride was another 450mi. around Mt St Helens. Just before she blew.

This is one of the few straights on the N. Cascade.

Mt St Helens and a bunch of old bikes.

VIVID1 · 01-17-2005, 01:59 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Penguin1300

I did get one good weekend ride slipped into the picture. Took a (short) trip over to N GA

That's Bridal Veil Falls in NC on one of my all time favorite twisty roads in the East.

That’s what I love about touring. I see pictures people take from their trips and I’ve been there too, rode those same roads and most likely have pictures of my bike in that same spot

CBR600Lady · 01-18-2005, 02:34 PM

Well all, I'm was imspired even more by this post. Got a N. GA trip in the works now for Sept., gonna ride and camp.

I should be up that way before that, but will trailer up with friends in May. Also a friend on the YZF board in CA wants me to come up for thier meet in July to meet him, but not sure if I can make that one yet, I would also trailer up for that one.

The Sept. trip is my long ride trip that I'm really looking forward to. Believe it will be the beginning of many, many road trips. Gonna do some weekend trips between now and then in FL to help get ready for it, test out my gear and get use to the bike being loaded before the real thng.

Penguin1300 · 01-18-2005, 09:53 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by VIVID1

That's Bridal Veil Falls in NC on one of my all time favorite twisty roads in the East.

That’s what I love about touring. I see pictures people take from their trips and I’ve been there too, rode those same roads and most likely have pictures of my bike in that same spot

Haha, you are exactly right. My only "disappointment" with my trip over to Highlands was that I had ZERO clue that it was where the rich Atlanta folks go for their "weekend in the woods". I got lunch at some little sandwhich place in Highlands. When I got there, the place was empty. By the time I left, the parking lot was filled with Mercedes and BMW SUVs with people covered in LLBean clothing :/

I was glad to get back to TWO that evening. I put ~300mi on the bike that day on nothing but those back roads. It was my first outing with the FJR and I was tired from throwing it's weight around.

None the less, a great trip that I will be doing next year

CBRLady, if you do decide to attend the YZF rally, PM me. I'll look for ya