Well folks, in thinking back over the past 5 years, it would seem that I have slipped into a complacent, nearly comatose situation. My cousin, the one I went with to the Grand Canyon with, joked that on my tombstone it would read:

Loving Father
Wonderful Husband
“Watched a lot of TV”

I would like to replace that last line more often with something that at least has me getting off the couch….

Remember the days when I would put up at least one ride report a week? Well I do, and it was during this, a weird week of windy and rainy weather, that it suddenly hit me and I realized that I hadn't been out on the KLX all summer!!! So after sitting on the 60” zero turn mower for 8 hours over the last 2 days at work, I thought to myself, I need to get out and sit on a bike seat that feels like a 2x4.

Seriously though, fall is upon us. As I rode through this 50 mile loop, the sights and sounds really took me back to when I used to get out there more……you know the days before I got the Honda ST 1300 From the smells of the Alder leaves turning and dropping on the road, to the fresh scent of different animals and just the drying rain odor that lingered as I rode, it was really exhilarating! Everything I saw seemed new to me. I’ve been on this loop a dozen times over the past 5 years, but for some reason, this time I really took it all in. The temperatures were amazing, from 50 when I left town, to nearly 70 and pockets of lower and higher temperatures throughout.



So after dropping off the kid at home at 3:30, I decided to get out there before the weather really turned nasty. We had 2 days of clear weather, and I was afraid that today would be the only opportunity to enjoy this for a while. I strapped on the 357 pistol, loaded up the gas containers, a first aid kit, some water and tools and hit the road. So without further delay, here it is.

Here is the GPS track, as you can see a lot of my ride took me into Forest Service land.




North Fork of the Calawah River





This picture is from 15 miles farther up that same river and as you can see, its dried up. This is a section where the river goes under ground for a few miles and pops back up. It does this seasonally. It comes back up in the months of November through June.



Love these roads.


Choices..... I ran into a bear last year down that road to the right, and since I was heading up and over the mountain, I stayed left.



Found my way down to the river for a quick picture.



Riding along and something caught the attention of my eyes, Chicken of the Woods mushrooms.....too bad I didn't have any way to carry it back home.



View point



Went down a quad trail for a while and then headed back, I mean I didn't even tell anyone where I was going, so at least on this trip staying on the road will help if they have to go looking for me.



Hmmmmmm I'm reaching the 20 images limit, I better break this up a little. Brb

 

Awesome pics! Absolutely beautiful terrain. I wish I could find something like that in Ohio.

 

Ok continuing on:

You have to be careful on these roads, either there are trees across or basketball sized rocks at any given moment.



New culvert work



uhhhhhhhh that is steeper than it looks...trust me



This road came out to a place we like to go hunting each year. You can see the wildlife habitat brush piles and open areas for deer and elk to find food.









Here is a closer look at the piles, and as you can see the area has also been replanted with Douglas Fir Trees.



Well this is where the gravel ends after 30 miles and I decided to take the road that runs along side the main highway, no traffic and better turns.



I headed to a friends house that works for the Soleduc Fish Hatchery, but stopped to take a few pictures.

This one is from a house that I stayed in a few times when I was about 12. We knew the family and I think I stayed there when my mom and step dad got married, not sure since I have CRS (Can't remember sh%@$#%@) from my childhood. But its weird to see something fall down that you knew personally.



Stopped off at the boat launch right at the hatchery.



Pump station







Stopped off to see if Brandon was still working, but it was close to 5:30 so he was home. Here is a couple of shots of the hatchery.





Then it was a 12 mile ride on highway 101 to home. The bike cruised at 62 (GPS indicated) and ran flawlessly the whole ride. Ended the ride at 52 miles.

 

jhoffy, where are you located in Ohio? We have some of that on a smaller scale in SW Ohio, (Fort Ancient) but go to SE Ohio and you'll see some great terrain. Hocking Hills, etc. I used to hike that area as a Boy Scout, MANY years ago...

Nice job, Deejer!!!!

 

nice pics.

 

AHEM. What have I been saying all year????

 

yeah well I still cant afford to fill up my truck to haul the bike 200 miles, so there! LOL

 

Epic miscommunication fail. LOL


One of these you're gonna see me ripping across that lawn you spend so much time mowing and right into your office.

 

Hahahaha classic fail!

 

Awesome ride report. I wish we had something that awesome around. I find myself arbitrarily driving down roads just to see where they lead. Yesterday found an old abandoned golf course with 18 holes worth of twisty, hilly concrete cart path. It was like being at a private track and totally made the the ride!

I missed your old reports as I am pretty new on here but its good to see your off the couch!

Ride!