first, they put one in the little town just north of me, which really needed something for the folks who didn't want to drive 25 or more miles to be able to buy, well, anything.
Second, a few years back my money manager bought a bunch of stock in Dollar General and I seriously questioned the move, but I watched and waited and now I just thank him for his foresight.
WARNING: The above post may contain thoughts or ideas known to the State of Caliphornia to cause seething rage, confusion, distemper, nausea, perspiration, sphincter release, or cranial implosion to persons who implicitly trust only one news source, or find themselves at either the left or right political extreme. Proceed at your own risk.
"If you do not read the newspapers you're uninformed. If you do read the newspapers, you're misinformed." -- Mark Twain
Calvin, if you are going through Fairfield on the way home you can get some of the best damn tacos in all of Iowa from my daughter's shop. She is open til 230.
@dirtdude said:
Calvin, if you are going through Fairfield on the way home you can get some of the best damn tacos in all of Iowa from my daughter's shop. She is open til 230.
That’s not going to be on my route, but give me the name anyway in case I’m in that area in the future
I bet the Indian dealership mechanic is going to be confused when I tell him I need my 10,000 mile service, and new tires, 3 weeks after getting my 5,000 mile service. I've got chicken strip tires (the center of the tire is close to the warning bars, but the edges of the tires are not), because I didn't want to hit any of the corners too aggressively so far away from home, in the middle of nowhere.
It's mildly embarrassing to have my tires look like that, since I do actually know how to ride and hit corners, but I made it home in one piece so whatever.
I got in my truck and went to pick my cat up, and it felt wildly strange. The truck felt like it was moving in slow motion, even going the same speed I went on the bike, because there wasn't any wind, and because turning on a highway just means spinning the wheel a little bit. I'm assuming that feeling will go away after a few drives.
The sad thing is, I'm not ready to be home. I want to stay out there in the west, just riding day after day. The tranquility that comes with the wind and vibrations of the bike over the course of long distances isn't something that can be explained to someone who's never experienced it. Doing it the way I did, being alone with my thoughts day after day surrounded by nature, was everything I hoped it would be. It's probably good that I was posting updates on here, just to keep me connected to the civilized world.
I hope to do something like that again in the future, but it'll probably be a few years before I can given the time and money required. Maybe next time I'll go check out rural Canada, something to strive for at least. I'm just hoping that life here back home doesn't seem hollow given what I've just experienced. I'm not sure I've properly conveyed the awe I've felt at some of the stuff I've seen, but hopefully it stays with me.
I suspect you'll find yourself back in the saddle sooner than you predicted. Ain't it great?
WARNING: The above post may contain thoughts or ideas known to the State of Caliphornia to cause seething rage, confusion, distemper, nausea, perspiration, sphincter release, or cranial implosion to persons who implicitly trust only one news source, or find themselves at either the left or right political extreme. Proceed at your own risk.
"If you do not read the newspapers you're uninformed. If you do read the newspapers, you're misinformed." -- Mark Twain
@CalvinAndHobo said:
I spent about 10 minutes talking with an Indian construction worker at a gas station. He loved my bike, and it never even occurred to me until I arrived there that maybe my bike being named an Indian could be considered offensive. I asked him about that, and he said that’s not true. They all call each other Indians, and no one on the reservation uses the term Native American. someone else came over and joined in (a much older man) because he also wanted to talk about my bike. He said that white people are just trying to change the name to Native American because they’re embarrassed at how stupid they were hundreds of years ago. Now the Indians all view it as funny, calling each other Indians is both them taking ownership of what used to be a pejorative, and a reminder that white people aren’t all that smart. He told me to refer to them as Indians when talking with people back home in the future, so I will.
Yep. You will find that across the nations. My family has the same views.
In Fumo Pax Money can't buy happiness, but it can buy cigars and that's close enough.
@YankeeMan said:
I can see changing Redskins because that is derogatory. But Indians, Chiefs, Braves and Blackhawks are proud names.
So this is going to sound like a joke, but I'm being 100% serious. The Redskins name is derogatory because the team is horribly run and Dan Snyder is an incompetent moron. He's owned the team for 24 years, in that time they've won 2 playoff games. They've never had an 11 win season in those 24 years. Their stadium drips poop and plss on fans regularly. That's just some of what comes to mind about them.
If that team were named the Calvins, I would find it derogatory. If the Patriots or the Steelers were named after me, that would be pretty cool.
@YankeeMan said:
The name Redskins came long before pro football. It was a term used by whites to describe Indians in the old west.
Right I know, it's just a matter of something crappy being named after someone, as opposed to something well made and well liked. For example, I wonder how actual Gurkhas feel about Gurkha cigars being named after them. In my opinion, the Washington team being called The Redskins is not offensive because of the use of the word Redskins, it's offensive because they're a dumpster fire of an organization.
Calling something The Calvins wouldn't bother me on the basis of it being a slur, it would bother me if it was something I didn't want to be associated with though.
The scale of generational wealth here in northern North Dakota along route 2 is incredible, and completely different from Northern Minnesota. In Minnesota it was a lot of undeveloped land, with a small town thrown in every 10 miles or so surrounded by trailers, and an occasional farm thrown in between towns. Here in North Dakota it’s just 10,000 acre farm after 10,000 acre farm, with either soybeans or canola growing on every acre, aside from some cattle and hay every now and then, but rarely. I’ve been wondering about why that is for the past couple hours while riding, since the land itself is basically the same. I’ll probably look into that when I get home. It makes me wonder about things like the average amount of wealth per family here in the north above hwy 94 where cities basically don’t exist. (not yearly income, but wealth, not sure if that’s a researchable thing).
I just remembered to look this up. Looks like it's not regulatory reasons like I thought it was, but something called the Canadian Shield, which I had never heard of until now. None of the pink land is farmable because glaciers stripped all the soil away when they spread south during the ice age.
WARNING: The above post may contain thoughts or ideas known to the State of Caliphornia to cause seething rage, confusion, distemper, nausea, perspiration, sphincter release, or cranial implosion to persons who implicitly trust only one news source, or find themselves at either the left or right political extreme. Proceed at your own risk.
"If you do not read the newspapers you're uninformed. If you do read the newspapers, you're misinformed." -- Mark Twain
Realized I hadn't put in any of me and Faye, or the bike.
WARNING: The above post may contain thoughts or ideas known to the State of Caliphornia to cause seething rage, confusion, distemper, nausea, perspiration, sphincter release, or cranial implosion to persons who implicitly trust only one news source, or find themselves at either the left or right political extreme. Proceed at your own risk.
"If you do not read the newspapers you're uninformed. If you do read the newspapers, you're misinformed." -- Mark Twain
WARNING: The above post may contain thoughts or ideas known to the State of Caliphornia to cause seething rage, confusion, distemper, nausea, perspiration, sphincter release, or cranial implosion to persons who implicitly trust only one news source, or find themselves at either the left or right political extreme. Proceed at your own risk.
"If you do not read the newspapers you're uninformed. If you do read the newspapers, you're misinformed." -- Mark Twain
I've got the rough draft of this summer's trip outlined. I can't get google maps to do exactly what I want, but this is close enough with a few miles worth of different roads. Looking forward to seeing the desert this time. @Stubble promised to cook me dinner so obviously that's a must stop. Let me know if you live along my route and would like to meet up. You'll have to supply the cigars because the ones I bring are most assuredly going to cook in my saddle bags and taste like garbage. I'll be leaving 8/12 and getting home 9/5 at the latest, but probably earlier, and going clockwise. If I'm running behind schedule, I'll be cutting that Wyoming portion out to make it home on time, so that's more tentative.
Absolutely awesome @CalvinAndHobo . I've ridden much of that route at one time or another. One thing that concerns me is the season you've picked. Bring lots of water, be sure and hydrate well prior to riding, as in drink water until you're sure you're about to pee, before you leave.
I am usually an ATGATT guy, but excessive heat can seriously increase the chance of having an accident in the first place. In Texas and Arizona I often wore a white dress shirt with a leather vest, and a dew-rag, no helmet. Soak both with water. Bandanas can be a big help, too. When Webmost came through here on his cross-country trip he showed up wearing shorts and a tee-shirt, sort of surprised me, but then he espoused the same philosophy about the heat. Oh, and SPF infinity sunscreen.
Wish I was going with you. Taos over Eagle Pass, the Cimarron Strip was one of my favorite rides. The first time I was there I thought "this is where I want my ashes scattered. Unfortunately, the last time I was there it was a long procession of RV's filled with whiny kids and their parents and too much tourist crap. Progress detracts from the beauty, I guess.
Keep us up to date. I know it's a ways off but, OUTSTANDING plan young man, I salute you!!
WARNING: The above post may contain thoughts or ideas known to the State of Caliphornia to cause seething rage, confusion, distemper, nausea, perspiration, sphincter release, or cranial implosion to persons who implicitly trust only one news source, or find themselves at either the left or right political extreme. Proceed at your own risk.
"If you do not read the newspapers you're uninformed. If you do read the newspapers, you're misinformed." -- Mark Twain
When you enter Hanksville, UT. There’s all kinds of signs warning you that this is the last place to fill up for 100 miles, and there’s no service stations of any kind along the Utah Bicentennial Highway.
It was 108 degrees by this point, and I was feeling it, being from Iowa and all. The nice lady at the gas station let me stand inside the cooler for a bit.
The ride from there was incredible, the heat made it so much more intense than it otherwise would have been, and I was full of energy. It was like my body knew I was in an inhospitable place, and was trying to do what it could to get me out. I knew I had nowhere to stop, and if something happened I had no service, and basically no cars passing by. There wasn’t a single house or place of business the entire 100 miles, just me and the desert. I didn’t take any pictures until the end of it, because when I got below 20 miles an hour, it felt like I was melting, so I decided to wait until I was closer to civilization and just keep going. It got up to 114 degrees according to my bike’s screen.
It was an unbelievably beautiful area, and now that I’m in my room, I wish I had toughed it out and taken some pictures, but whatever. I kind of entered a trance about halfway through that 100 miles when it was above 110, where I was fully aware of my surroundings, but would be seeing other scenes play out in my head of random stuff. Now I really want to try a traditional Native American sweat lodge at some point in my life and see what that’s like.
This is the edge of the Moki Dugway, a 15 mph 10% grade gravel road that winds back and forth down the side of whatever mountain this is, about 10 miles away from Mexican Hat, UT where I am now. I didn’t mess around on it, just slow and gentle the whole way down.
I knew today was going to be intense, but it’s really hard to describe. It was just incredible, and I hope I never forget what it felt like. No sun burns either, Neutrogena for the win again.
Yeah I hear you about the heat @Amos_Umwhat . That's kind of what I'm looking forward to in a sick way, this was my favorite part of last year's trip ^^^ , so I'm chasing that feeling. I have a feeling that Taos section will be RV city, but we'll have to see. Heat wise, I have this nifty jacket that's perforated to allow wind in,
and I'm already one of those people who tries to drink a gallon of water every day, so that won't be a problem to make myself force it down. The thing I'm most worried about is a heat related flat tire, but if I can't patch it on the side of the road at least I have AAA. Let me know if you have a good recommendation for a tire repair kit with a pump, preferably that doesn't take up a lot of space, I have no first hand experience with that as of yet, knock on wood.
Comments
Finally, a picture with a train in it!
I can't complain about Dollar General.
2 reasons,
first, they put one in the little town just north of me, which really needed something for the folks who didn't want to drive 25 or more miles to be able to buy, well, anything.
Second, a few years back my money manager bought a bunch of stock in Dollar General and I seriously questioned the move, but I watched and waited and now I just thank him for his foresight.
"If you do not read the newspapers you're uninformed. If you do read the newspapers, you're misinformed." -- Mark Twain
Calvin, if you are going through Fairfield on the way home you can get some of the best damn tacos in all of Iowa from my daughter's shop. She is open til 230.
That’s not going to be on my route, but give me the name anyway in case I’m in that area in the future
Taco Dreams
https://www.tacodreamsfairfield.com/
Home sweet home.
I bet the Indian dealership mechanic is going to be confused when I tell him I need my 10,000 mile service, and new tires, 3 weeks after getting my 5,000 mile service. I've got chicken strip tires (the center of the tire is close to the warning bars, but the edges of the tires are not), because I didn't want to hit any of the corners too aggressively so far away from home, in the middle of nowhere.
It's mildly embarrassing to have my tires look like that, since I do actually know how to ride and hit corners, but I made it home in one piece so whatever.
I got in my truck and went to pick my cat up, and it felt wildly strange. The truck felt like it was moving in slow motion, even going the same speed I went on the bike, because there wasn't any wind, and because turning on a highway just means spinning the wheel a little bit. I'm assuming that feeling will go away after a few drives.
The sad thing is, I'm not ready to be home. I want to stay out there in the west, just riding day after day. The tranquility that comes with the wind and vibrations of the bike over the course of long distances isn't something that can be explained to someone who's never experienced it. Doing it the way I did, being alone with my thoughts day after day surrounded by nature, was everything I hoped it would be. It's probably good that I was posting updates on here, just to keep me connected to the civilized world.
I hope to do something like that again in the future, but it'll probably be a few years before I can given the time and money required. Maybe next time I'll go check out rural Canada, something to strive for at least. I'm just hoping that life here back home doesn't seem hollow given what I've just experienced. I'm not sure I've properly conveyed the awe I've felt at some of the stuff I've seen, but hopefully it stays with me.
welcome back, Calvin. Remember that awe is what you bring to the world. Thanks for sharing it with us.
“If we could see the miracle of a single flower clearly our whole life would change. ”
― Buddha
I suspect you'll find yourself back in the saddle sooner than you predicted. Ain't it great?
"If you do not read the newspapers you're uninformed. If you do read the newspapers, you're misinformed." -- Mark Twain
Yep. You will find that across the nations. My family has the same views.
Money can't buy happiness, but it can buy cigars and that's close enough.
I work with Wampanoag and that is their take also.
Why aren’t we listening? We make up names without talking to the real people.
Because they want to be called Indians to remember our stupidity. We can't be calling people things that make us look bad, now can we?
At any given time the urge to sing "In The Jungle" is just a whim away... A whim away... A whim away...
I can see changing Redskins because that is derogatory. But Indians, Chiefs, Braves and Blackhawks are proud names.
So this is going to sound like a joke, but I'm being 100% serious. The Redskins name is derogatory because the team is horribly run and Dan Snyder is an incompetent moron. He's owned the team for 24 years, in that time they've won 2 playoff games. They've never had an 11 win season in those 24 years. Their stadium drips poop and plss on fans regularly. That's just some of what comes to mind about them.
If that team were named the Calvins, I would find it derogatory. If the Patriots or the Steelers were named after me, that would be pretty cool.
The name Redskins came long before pro football. It was a term used by whites to describe Indians in the old west.
Right I know, it's just a matter of something crappy being named after someone, as opposed to something well made and well liked. For example, I wonder how actual Gurkhas feel about Gurkha cigars being named after them. In my opinion, the Washington team being called The Redskins is not offensive because of the use of the word Redskins, it's offensive because they're a dumpster fire of an organization.
Calling something The Calvins wouldn't bother me on the basis of it being a slur, it would bother me if it was something I didn't want to be associated with though.
I agree. The Washington group didn’t do themselves any favors. They took a bad name and made it worse.
At any point, at any time, someone looking to be offended will be offended for any reason. Fvck'm all.
I’m offended because y’all made me forget which thread I was on.
You knew my grandmother!
I just remembered to look this up. Looks like it's not regulatory reasons like I thought it was, but something called the Canadian Shield, which I had never heard of until now. None of the pink land is farmable because glaciers stripped all the soil away when they spread south during the ice age.
https://www.britannica.com/place/Canadian-Shield
That's also why Canada's population looks like this:
Guess we got the Northern border line correct 🤓
A good cigar and whiskey solve most problems.
"If you do not read the newspapers you're uninformed. If you do read the newspapers, you're misinformed." -- Mark Twain
Realized I hadn't put in any of me and Faye, or the bike.
"If you do not read the newspapers you're uninformed. If you do read the newspapers, you're misinformed." -- Mark Twain
It’s finally that time of year, winter felt twice as long this time for some reason.
One of these days I'm going to let the intrusive thoughts win and just send it down that road.
Gravel always adds excitement to the ride.
"If you do not read the newspapers you're uninformed. If you do read the newspapers, you're misinformed." -- Mark Twain
I've got the rough draft of this summer's trip outlined. I can't get google maps to do exactly what I want, but this is close enough with a few miles worth of different roads. Looking forward to seeing the desert this time. @Stubble promised to cook me dinner so obviously that's a must stop. Let me know if you live along my route and would like to meet up. You'll have to supply the cigars because the ones I bring are most assuredly going to cook in my saddle bags and taste like garbage. I'll be leaving 8/12 and getting home 9/5 at the latest, but probably earlier, and going clockwise. If I'm running behind schedule, I'll be cutting that Wyoming portion out to make it home on time, so that's more tentative.
Absolutely awesome @CalvinAndHobo . I've ridden much of that route at one time or another. One thing that concerns me is the season you've picked. Bring lots of water, be sure and hydrate well prior to riding, as in drink water until you're sure you're about to pee, before you leave.
I am usually an ATGATT guy, but excessive heat can seriously increase the chance of having an accident in the first place. In Texas and Arizona I often wore a white dress shirt with a leather vest, and a dew-rag, no helmet. Soak both with water. Bandanas can be a big help, too. When Webmost came through here on his cross-country trip he showed up wearing shorts and a tee-shirt, sort of surprised me, but then he espoused the same philosophy about the heat. Oh, and SPF infinity sunscreen.
Wish I was going with you. Taos over Eagle Pass, the Cimarron Strip was one of my favorite rides. The first time I was there I thought "this is where I want my ashes scattered. Unfortunately, the last time I was there it was a long procession of RV's filled with whiny kids and their parents and too much tourist crap. Progress detracts from the beauty, I guess.
Keep us up to date. I know it's a ways off but, OUTSTANDING plan young man, I salute you!!
"If you do not read the newspapers you're uninformed. If you do read the newspapers, you're misinformed." -- Mark Twain
Yeah I hear you about the heat @Amos_Umwhat . That's kind of what I'm looking forward to in a sick way, this was my favorite part of last year's trip ^^^ , so I'm chasing that feeling. I have a feeling that Taos section will be RV city, but we'll have to see. Heat wise, I have this nifty jacket that's perforated to allow wind in,
and I'm already one of those people who tries to drink a gallon of water every day, so that won't be a problem to make myself force it down. The thing I'm most worried about is a heat related flat tire, but if I can't patch it on the side of the road at least I have AAA. Let me know if you have a good recommendation for a tire repair kit with a pump, preferably that doesn't take up a lot of space, I have no first hand experience with that as of yet, knock on wood.