Made it home just in time, but I still managed to get sprinkled with some rain
I had to see what I look like on it, feels comfortable, looks comfortable
What a bunch of nice bikes
Friday, June 9, 2006
My 900SS is home
Dry clutch sounds sweet, but this bike needs an after market exhaust pronto!
Made it home just in time, but I still managed to get sprinkled with some rain
I had to see what I look like on it, feels comfortable, looks comfortable
What a bunch of nice bikes
Made it home just in time, but I still managed to get sprinkled with some rain
I had to see what I look like on it, feels comfortable, looks comfortable
What a bunch of nice bikes
Thursday, June 8, 2006
My other Ducati is a 900SS
Goofy day today, I went to MCC in Villa Park to order a service manual for the ST3 and by the time I walked out I bought a bike.
Couldn’t pass this up, a super clean 2000 Ducati 900SS with 3,600 miles. The previous owner was also short so he had a Corbin seat made that allowed him to reach the ground better. Also, this bike has Heli-bars, the two mods that I would have to make anyway.
The bike needs new tires though, the ones on there are 6 years old and as hard as a rock. I ordered Metzeler M1’s, I’ll bring the bike home after the new tires are mounted.
Super clean
Corbin seat
Heli-bars
Couldn’t pass this up, a super clean 2000 Ducati 900SS with 3,600 miles. The previous owner was also short so he had a Corbin seat made that allowed him to reach the ground better. Also, this bike has Heli-bars, the two mods that I would have to make anyway.
The bike needs new tires though, the ones on there are 6 years old and as hard as a rock. I ordered Metzeler M1’s, I’ll bring the bike home after the new tires are mounted.
Super clean
Corbin seat
Heli-bars
Sunday, June 4, 2006
Day 2 Flat 4 Tour: Osseo, WI
After some breakfast at the truck stop, my group took off, it was already in the 60’s at 9am and very pleasant. Andy lead the way.
A small dam South of Mindoro, WI
I was taking pictures, so my group got to the gas station in Bangor first, I sill had to do a few things, so they left and I was going to meet up with them in Rockton at the BBQ place for lunch. The group did a few laps though Wildcat Mountain, I went straight to Rockton, so I got there first. By 11:50AM the place started to fill up with Harleys. The F4T groups pulled in a bit after noon, the place was already pretty busy.
I had the usual, the shrimp burger, it was great and only $3. After lunch we decided to change the route a bit and head toward Baraboo to ride the free ferry in Merrimac. Two smaller groups decided to merge and ride as one, but few others and I were in the back of the group and we got left behind when no one waited at the road the group turned on.
I decided to lead the group to the ferry using the most direct way in order to catch up to the other group. We made it to Baraboo and we were glad that we got left behind, a lot of the people from the other group were pulled over by the Police, apparently for speeding.
We waited for them at the gas station, I had some killer coffee and Oreo ice cream in a cone. Some people jetted home and some came with us. Since we had one Wisconsin rider with us, he led us to the ferry, taking a bunch of cool roads.
Waiting for the ferry
The ferry is here
Cool, a FREE ferry ride, never been before
On the Merrimac ferry
From there we jumped on the interstate, I took the exit for Janesville and took back roads all the way arriving in Chicagoland around 8PM. Today’s weather was even better than yesterday, just perfect.
A small dam South of Mindoro, WI
I was taking pictures, so my group got to the gas station in Bangor first, I sill had to do a few things, so they left and I was going to meet up with them in Rockton at the BBQ place for lunch. The group did a few laps though Wildcat Mountain, I went straight to Rockton, so I got there first. By 11:50AM the place started to fill up with Harleys. The F4T groups pulled in a bit after noon, the place was already pretty busy.
I had the usual, the shrimp burger, it was great and only $3. After lunch we decided to change the route a bit and head toward Baraboo to ride the free ferry in Merrimac. Two smaller groups decided to merge and ride as one, but few others and I were in the back of the group and we got left behind when no one waited at the road the group turned on.
I decided to lead the group to the ferry using the most direct way in order to catch up to the other group. We made it to Baraboo and we were glad that we got left behind, a lot of the people from the other group were pulled over by the Police, apparently for speeding.
We waited for them at the gas station, I had some killer coffee and Oreo ice cream in a cone. Some people jetted home and some came with us. Since we had one Wisconsin rider with us, he led us to the ferry, taking a bunch of cool roads.
Waiting for the ferry
The ferry is here
Cool, a FREE ferry ride, never been before
On the Merrimac ferry
From there we jumped on the interstate, I took the exit for Janesville and took back roads all the way arriving in Chicagoland around 8PM. Today’s weather was even better than yesterday, just perfect.
Saturday, June 3, 2006
Day 1 Flat 4 Tour: Osseo, WI
The ST3 still needed an oil change, I took the 954RR for the two day ride to Wisconsin, about 400 miles away. Since I just flew back from Alaska Wednesday on the red eye, arriving Thursday morning with barely any sleep, I still needed to get some rest this morning. I decided to get up a bit later and meet everyone in Dubuque, IA at the lunch spot, but my back tire needed air and I left even later then anticipated, I wasn't going to make Iowa for lunch, so I decided to stay on I-90 and meet up with the group in Lansing, IA. I still had plenty of time to get there.
The traffic was heavy on I-90 and there was construction through the toll areas, since they are converting them to open road tolling currently. At the last toll in Illinois, the traffic came to a halt and after about 30 minutes of stop and go traffic and not seeing any exits ahead, I decided to do some lane splitting. I got ahead a bit, but not much, it was another 15-20 minutes before I passed though the toll and was finally in Wisconsin.
162 just past 14
I took the exit for 60 and started to enjoy the sweepers right away, then took 14, stopping in Viroqua for a small lunch at the gas station. I lost a lot of time in traffic on I-90 so now I didn’t even think I was going to make Lansing, IA by 3PM either. I was just going to head to Osseo, WI.
Cool fish in Onalaska, WI on 35 on the Mississippi River
Mississippi River
14 was detoured ahead to 162, which was awesome, since 162 is a really great road, plenty of curves and wonderful pavement. I arrived at 35, The River Road, and kept going North, then I took 93 and finally 53 and arrived in Osseo. I was the first one here so I relaxed at a gas station with some iced tea, but after about 30 minutes there was still no one here. I decided to head down 53 and just ride around but within a few miles I passed up a bunch of bikes, so I turned around and headed back to Osseo.
Near Osseo, WI off 53
Bikes at the Super 8 in Osseo
Silver/Black 954RR #2
Silver/Black 954RR #3
Silver/Black 954RR #4
I can’t believe there were 4 Silver/Black 954’s here, how bizarre.
We hung out in the parking lot for a while, had dinner at the diner next door and then some people bought some fireworks next door and started shooting them. I was asleep by 11:30PM. Awesome weathertoday, upper 70’s and sunny, no wind.
Yummy Wisconsin micro-brew
The traffic was heavy on I-90 and there was construction through the toll areas, since they are converting them to open road tolling currently. At the last toll in Illinois, the traffic came to a halt and after about 30 minutes of stop and go traffic and not seeing any exits ahead, I decided to do some lane splitting. I got ahead a bit, but not much, it was another 15-20 minutes before I passed though the toll and was finally in Wisconsin.
162 just past 14
I took the exit for 60 and started to enjoy the sweepers right away, then took 14, stopping in Viroqua for a small lunch at the gas station. I lost a lot of time in traffic on I-90 so now I didn’t even think I was going to make Lansing, IA by 3PM either. I was just going to head to Osseo, WI.
Cool fish in Onalaska, WI on 35 on the Mississippi River
Mississippi River
14 was detoured ahead to 162, which was awesome, since 162 is a really great road, plenty of curves and wonderful pavement. I arrived at 35, The River Road, and kept going North, then I took 93 and finally 53 and arrived in Osseo. I was the first one here so I relaxed at a gas station with some iced tea, but after about 30 minutes there was still no one here. I decided to head down 53 and just ride around but within a few miles I passed up a bunch of bikes, so I turned around and headed back to Osseo.
Near Osseo, WI off 53
Bikes at the Super 8 in Osseo
Silver/Black 954RR #2
Silver/Black 954RR #3
Silver/Black 954RR #4
I can’t believe there were 4 Silver/Black 954’s here, how bizarre.
We hung out in the parking lot for a while, had dinner at the diner next door and then some people bought some fireworks next door and started shooting them. I was asleep by 11:30PM. Awesome weathertoday, upper 70’s and sunny, no wind.
Yummy Wisconsin micro-brew
Wednesday, May 31, 2006
Heading to Whittier, AK
Today is my last day in Anchorage, I fly back to Chicago tonight. It’s raining today so there won’t be any riding. I was hoping to ride out to some of the places we saw on the way to Whittier yesterday, really beautiful scenery and roads.
So since today is rained out, here are some pictures from yesterday.
We found a collapsed house that we got to climb on, it was fun. I guess this one might have collapsed during the big earth quake some 40 years ago.
Seward Highway
Ice bergs in Portage Lake
Pretty chilly and windy near Portage Lake
Here is proof, the mosquitoes here are so huge they drill for oil
Portage Glacier Road
Whittier tunnel outside
Whittier tunnel inside
This is the tunnel that goes from Portage to Whittier, it costs $12 for a round trip drive though the tunnel. This is a combination tunnel it’s open in each direction on the hour for cars and it has a single rail road track running though it also.
Longest combined vehicle-railroad tunnel in North America
So since today is rained out, here are some pictures from yesterday.
We found a collapsed house that we got to climb on, it was fun. I guess this one might have collapsed during the big earth quake some 40 years ago.
Seward Highway
Ice bergs in Portage Lake
Pretty chilly and windy near Portage Lake
Here is proof, the mosquitoes here are so huge they drill for oil
Portage Glacier Road
Whittier tunnel outside
Whittier tunnel inside
This is the tunnel that goes from Portage to Whittier, it costs $12 for a round trip drive though the tunnel. This is a combination tunnel it’s open in each direction on the hour for cars and it has a single rail road track running though it also.
Longest combined vehicle-railroad tunnel in North America
Longest highway tunnel in North America (13,300' or 2.5 miles).
Longest combined rail and highway use tunnel in North America.
First U.S. tunnel with jet turbine and portal fan ventilation.
First computerized regulation of both rail and highway traffic.
First tunnel designed for -40° F. and 150 mph winds.
Portal buildings designed to withstand avalanches
Kayaking Prince Williams Sound, AK
Mark and I went kayaking near Whittier, AK, it was mid 60’s and wonderful. Had a great time. I paddled the Dagger Meridian SKS, Mark paddled the VCP Nordcapp.
Getting ready to launch
Check out this form, like a pro my second time kayaking ever
At the end of the day we are still dry
Getting ready to launch
Check out this form, like a pro my second time kayaking ever
At the end of the day we are still dry
Monday, May 29, 2006
Hike: Chugach State Park, AK
Today was 69 degrees and partly sunny. Mark, Comet and I took a long hike though Chugach State Park, the third largest state park in the nation. This area was declared a park in 1970, it's 500,000 acres of the Chugach Range and the entire area is within the municipality of Anchorage. With a 5,000 vertical foot rise this wilderness area is filled with wildlife including moose, wolves, brown and black bear and more.
Over looking Anchorage
Moose droppings
Mark, Comet and I
Comet going for a swim
Wet Comet
On the trail
Later on we grabbed dinner at Moose’s Tooth, a local pizza joint. So what is an Alaskan pizza you ask? There were many to choose from but a blackened halibut pizza seemed like the right choice for this Chicago girl.
Over looking Anchorage
Moose droppings
Mark, Comet and I
Comet going for a swim
Wet Comet
On the trail
Later on we grabbed dinner at Moose’s Tooth, a local pizza joint. So what is an Alaskan pizza you ask? There were many to choose from but a blackened halibut pizza seemed like the right choice for this Chicago girl.
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