On the road again....
Thanks to my amazing brother and buddies, I will be headin' down tonight sometime. Gonna be a hoot, two days, 200 miles, mostly trail, some road (you'll know by my tears as my new tires waste away on the asphalt). Things were looking bleak for me on Wednesday, when I decided to begin finally turnin' a wrench on the ole' Husky. Thanks to my bro who helped me get my frozen axle (and center punch) out, wingman Dual Sport Dave who made me a special tool and inspired me to not give up, and Sharc for showing me his time saving tricks to swappin' out the rubber. Also, Sharc provided his handlebar straightening techniques, my bars are ALMOST completely straight! I was kinda used to making a left all the time, it's easier to get through the narrow trees that way.... Sharc came over twice to help this weary, lonely Husky rider. Oh, did I mention that this series is sponsored by Husqvarna? And who hasn't seen and loved the new Husa...., i mean KTM, errrrrr..... Husky two-strokes? I want one. I can't control myself just thinking about a 300 two'y with electric start. Stop, please, it's too much.
Okay, the scoop: The Enduro Riders Association (they have great tshirts, get one while your down there) presents the 2013 200-mile National Dual Sport Trail Ride October 12th & 13th. Yea, it says trail ride, and there are easy outs for trail riders but this is probably a little more than that sounds. Easily C enduro style trails, closer to B's with expert sections that will test any riding level. These events are fun because there is no time requirement. Go at your own pace, with your buddies in a nice big group, and just see if you can complete the WHOLE course. It's pretty hard to do that I think, harder for me than it was to climb Kilimanjaro. It's good though cause there are always easy outs provided if you get tired. The ride stages at Vinton County Junior Fairgrounds in McArthur, Ohio, where everyone camps (gonna be cold at night). ERA's goal is to provide as much trail as possible, and they do a pretty good job. This is also the dual sport that usually goes through, (sometimes over) the haunted tunnel, see some video:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Vs5xlNbKrAw&feature=c4-overview&list=UU99ehZ-U-YSdyk2j1QXqlUA
Entry to this event includes: Lunch on the trail on Saturday, with a Hog Roast at the end of that day's ride, then a hot lunch on the trail on Sunday usually in a clearing on top of a big Hill (small mountain? foothill?). Breakfast both days provided by the area 4-H club, for a small donation, and tons of door prizes. I took home a bunch of husky stuff last year. Everyone usually wins something. I got most of the Husky stuff cause there are only like three of us out there, as usual. Atleast my name isn't Higgins. You can ride one day, or two, doesn't matter. Here is the flyer for more information:
http://www.enduroriders.com/images/Baby_Burr_2013_flyer_R4.pdf
I posted some photos, from 2011. Couldn't locate my more recent shots but they are: Me standing in "Riz's Hole." This bad boy took me out in 2010 when I had the wild hair-brained idea to stay to the left on this down hill. Take my advice, stay right. Then the entrance to the Haunted Tunnel, it freaks you out the first time you actually see it, then lunch on day one, and parked bikes, served in the park on the square of some small town, and Lunch on Sunday on top of the hill with Dual Sport Dave catchin' a breather on a hay wagon, and a couple shots of the view from up there. Also shown is the ladies servin' dinner on Saturday night and the riders eating in ERA's club house. Oh, and a couple of coooooolllllddddddd morning shots.
Hope to see some of you Pitracers there, say "Hi" if you see me. I'm the guy with "Riz" on the number plate. My ego's not too big, do ya think?