So I have to set up the story before you just look at the pictures below. Remember that Hodaka 125 that I'm always reminiscing about? Well when I was 15 I used to ride it up one of the main Forest Service roads when the road was still gravel (circa 1979) (also insert old dude joke here.)

Anyway yesterday I went for a late afternoon ride, it was 60 degrees out all blue sky and right around 5:00 pm. I stopped over at a buddies house to see what he was up to, and instead of me trying to get him to ride, he actually said "I wonder if my bike will start?" I asked of course.."did you run the gas out of the carb last time?" No was the answer and after a minute of cranking I said get me the screwdriver. after draining the bowl, the bike of course fired right up.

Forward 30 minutes, and we are on that Forest Service road. Here is the interesting part...at least it is for me. You see when I was 15 riding up this road from Highway 101, about a 1/4 mile up there was a shop on the right, in fact the only house on this road that goes 40 miles up and back out to highway 101. As I used to ride past I could see the shop through the trees off the road, and a driveway to a house located about 100 yards from the shop. The guy that lived there was a logger and had lots of stuff back in the day.

But there was always something that I wanted to do all these years, and I thought about it all the time. You see being 15 and seeing something through the trees but never actually getting a close look, finally just got the best of me and I pulled off the road for a better look ..finally! My buddy was like what are you doing? I snuck through the trees (about 30 yards and finally ended a chapter that has been haunting me for nearly 30 years. And here is what I found. sorry for the long intro, but you guys outta know me by now, I not only am constantly taking my imaginary time machine back in time, but let's be honest here...I could turn a bike wash into a ride report.

Here you go. I know it won't mean much to some, but for me it was finally the last page in that chapter. Oh and yes I realize it was sort of trespassing, but I'm sure the guy, and I know who he is and in fact graduated with his son would not have been too upset if I told him the story.


Shop through the trees just off the road.


I knew that this is what was in the shop, but I just wanted to see if it was still there and if I could get closer.


Sorry some of the pics are dark, and I took them on the Blackberry since I forgot the good camera.








One more shot then I needed to get outta there. I was going to step out into the shop to get a good pic from that side, but that put me right in line with the house windows located a football length away, so I though I better quit while I was a head.


I don't know what kind of chopper it is, but if anyone remembers the TV show Riptide, it looks a lot like that chopper.

Then we rode up the road to a campground that wasn't open yet, and a gravel pit where some 16 year old punks were shooting some targets, and came home.

I did find a good sign that spring is indeed here. Skunk Cabbage.


More junk from back at the entrance to that old shop.


The hill over looking town.


The buddy, contemplating.....well I'm not sure.


And finally the bikes back at my house.

 

Just to add...Sometimes you can do more in a hour that you can in 30 years.

 

Anyone else notice the evil face in that tarp looking thing? Yea me neither.

 

that is a pretty cool looking chopper, I recognize it but I am not sure what kind it is. I wonder if he used it in some way when he was logging?

 

GET TO DA CHOPPA!!!

 

glad your ride was better than mine yesterday.

 

Sikorsky SH-34G/J Seabat

 

Looks like yad fun Deejer! I wish I could have been with you. I love to explore old places like that.

 

I am with you there, sometimes driving around in the mountains you can find ghost towns which are fun to explore and poke around in. We usually don't find anything super interesting as far as belongings but its fun to imagine who might have lived there and why.

 

Looks like you had fun! I'd have a dual sport if I had the money... and had my 10R already, and finished the Sportster, and built an old Springer.