Northernstar
Work in Progress
The wife and I (two up) usually ride 700-800 miles a day during the summer when we head out of Alaska thru Canada into the lower 48, this is anywhere between 14-18 hrs a day, since there is soo much daylight and the sights are just awesome, the hours tick away so fast! We then look for an appropriate campsite and set up for thenight and get to do it all over again the next day - LIFE is good !!! ::012:: ::012::
When we get into the USA our mileage drops to 300-400 miles since we get into the "tourist" mode where we stop too often to eat, gawk, take pictures, buy souvenirs, eat again etc... you know the drill ::025::
A couple of years ago I joined an endurance race in the Philippines called the "Ironman" 1200 km in 24 hours. Sounds easy right - well to ride in a third world environment where the drivers are so undisciplined and carve their own way on the road or sidewalk for that matter, speed limits are never followed, jeepneys and pedicabs stopping unexpectedly in the middle of the streets to pick up and let off passengers, busses that are constantly trying to run you down, dogs and water buffalos crosings the street at their leisure, broken down trucks and trailers parked in the middle of the street without any distress triangles in complete darkness and unmarked potholes that can easily swallow a full sized car, and the list goes on.... Gotta hand it to the guys who finished under 14 hours - they not only had iron butts but iron guts too!!! I managed to finish in22 hrs since I had to deal with a couple of flats and did not have the nerve to ride like a bat out of hell in those conditions. ::015::
Tried to join another race last year in the Philippines as well called the "Moto Rallye" 1600km 24 hrs but a heck of a lot tougher since the route takes you through the Northern Mountain Provinces where rough slick dirt roads are more the norm. Conflicting schedules sorta got in the way with this one and was never able to join. ::010::
Sounds a bit demented to put our bodies and lives through these situations - OK we are a warped breed anyway - BUT man what a thrill and can't wait to do it again. ::014:: ::013::
Ride on gentlemen to a safe New Year and wishing your adventures never end!!!
When we get into the USA our mileage drops to 300-400 miles since we get into the "tourist" mode where we stop too often to eat, gawk, take pictures, buy souvenirs, eat again etc... you know the drill ::025::
A couple of years ago I joined an endurance race in the Philippines called the "Ironman" 1200 km in 24 hours. Sounds easy right - well to ride in a third world environment where the drivers are so undisciplined and carve their own way on the road or sidewalk for that matter, speed limits are never followed, jeepneys and pedicabs stopping unexpectedly in the middle of the streets to pick up and let off passengers, busses that are constantly trying to run you down, dogs and water buffalos crosings the street at their leisure, broken down trucks and trailers parked in the middle of the street without any distress triangles in complete darkness and unmarked potholes that can easily swallow a full sized car, and the list goes on.... Gotta hand it to the guys who finished under 14 hours - they not only had iron butts but iron guts too!!! I managed to finish in22 hrs since I had to deal with a couple of flats and did not have the nerve to ride like a bat out of hell in those conditions. ::015::
Tried to join another race last year in the Philippines as well called the "Moto Rallye" 1600km 24 hrs but a heck of a lot tougher since the route takes you through the Northern Mountain Provinces where rough slick dirt roads are more the norm. Conflicting schedules sorta got in the way with this one and was never able to join. ::010::
Sounds a bit demented to put our bodies and lives through these situations - OK we are a warped breed anyway - BUT man what a thrill and can't wait to do it again. ::014:: ::013::
Ride on gentlemen to a safe New Year and wishing your adventures never end!!!
Would like to do Northumberland again as I really enjoyed it the only time I've been up there which was in my campervan. Need to look at all the possible enjoyable routes up to Glencoe in between now and my trip... Went the Dumfries, Glasgow way last time.
