2008-5-4 Black Dog Recon Ride Report
Posted: Wed May 07, 2008 6:32 am
I headed over to Hood River to help my bud, Rick, with his computer and show him how to edit his website. I think he's good to go, so go give it a look see if you like at: www.cgora.com
Then I figured I'd head up on the East side of the Hood River Valley to see what the snow levels looked like, plus plot out where we will have the KTM big rig for demos during the event. I stopped by my sidecar afficionado, Vernon Wade's place. He convinced me that we needed to do a snow-level check on his sidecar and to grab my hat and jacket. He didn't have to ask me twice, and we were off!
This is pretty much what it looks like from a monkey's point of view - things come up pretty fast and you need to be on your toes, but it's a bloody blast! Oh, that rod contraption in front of the sidecar is Vern's backward helmet cam. He recorded some funny video, so I hope he can post it!
Soon enough, we came to snow, and this was the start of the real challenges. It took two tries, but Vernon was through this first snow patch in no time.
Then the patches got deeper and longer. We then had to jump on the snow and pack it down, so it didn't high center the rig - Vernon demonstrates proper snow-packing form. We then hit an array of mud puddles where I ended up heavily drenched like a drowned rat!
Soon enough we had to do an about face and come in from another angle to get to the summit. We made it up much further (above 2900') and again hit too much snow, right where a couple local guys on dualsports were also taking a break, so we introduced ourselves and commenced to do the same. That's when Vernon "Red Menace" asked if I wanted a beer. Duh. So he reached into his bag o' tricks in the back of the car and pulled out a cold, "Red Menace" beer for me - sweet! I wish I had a beer in my namesake!
We then bid farewell to our newfound friends Pedro and Robin and made our way back to Vernon's. I hope Vern posts his video evidence of the ride.
Thanks for another fun time, Vern.
-Tom
(all pictures are HERE)
Then I figured I'd head up on the East side of the Hood River Valley to see what the snow levels looked like, plus plot out where we will have the KTM big rig for demos during the event. I stopped by my sidecar afficionado, Vernon Wade's place. He convinced me that we needed to do a snow-level check on his sidecar and to grab my hat and jacket. He didn't have to ask me twice, and we were off!
This is pretty much what it looks like from a monkey's point of view - things come up pretty fast and you need to be on your toes, but it's a bloody blast! Oh, that rod contraption in front of the sidecar is Vern's backward helmet cam. He recorded some funny video, so I hope he can post it!
Soon enough, we came to snow, and this was the start of the real challenges. It took two tries, but Vernon was through this first snow patch in no time.
Then the patches got deeper and longer. We then had to jump on the snow and pack it down, so it didn't high center the rig - Vernon demonstrates proper snow-packing form. We then hit an array of mud puddles where I ended up heavily drenched like a drowned rat!
Soon enough we had to do an about face and come in from another angle to get to the summit. We made it up much further (above 2900') and again hit too much snow, right where a couple local guys on dualsports were also taking a break, so we introduced ourselves and commenced to do the same. That's when Vernon "Red Menace" asked if I wanted a beer. Duh. So he reached into his bag o' tricks in the back of the car and pulled out a cold, "Red Menace" beer for me - sweet! I wish I had a beer in my namesake!
We then bid farewell to our newfound friends Pedro and Robin and made our way back to Vernon's. I hope Vern posts his video evidence of the ride.
Thanks for another fun time, Vern.
-Tom
(all pictures are HERE)
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