Got in over my head a little on todays ride

[dantama]

I went for a ride today, started by looking at the map and seeing if I could get to my sisters house going cross country on dirt roads. I only knew of the roads by looking at Google Maps and saw these roads.



I wondered if I could get from the freeway on the left, all the way over past the right edge of the picture to the next town over that way where she lives.

It started out fine, but the road got fainter and fainter as I went.



Eventually it wasn't a road at all, but from the Google maps photo, I Figured that if I kept going, I'd get to another road. Escalation of commitment kept me going in search of it.



Eventually it looked like if I got down this hill, I'd get to a dirt road that I could see down below.






Oh no, that "road" that I could see is really just a dried river bed!

[blowndodge]

how funny!

[coacha]

LOL, our fearless Saftey Officer doing his best work ever.

[nomad1600]

So much for looking at Google maps.

[dantama]

Well going back up would be no fun, so I'll see if I can find a road out of here.

Bummer, the sand is pretty deep and hard to get through



I kept finding good smooth sections, but a lot more bad sections.



I only took pictures of the medium bad sections. The really bad ones I didn't dare stop for, I just kept going.





This section was typical of the ones that I could stop for, then go for it.



After going and going, I came to a fence that ran as far from hill to hill as far as I could see. Nothing to do but turn around and go back and find another way out.

I followed the river, having to get up and out of bad sections, then run into gullies and and have to drop back down in.



Unfortunately, I had to backtrack all the way that I fought for an hour along the river bed.

What I thought was going to be a half hour ride, turned into a two hour ride, and getting lower and lower on fuel. BTW, dodged a lot of groups of cows too.

When I got back to pavement, you'd never believe everywhere that I went but didn't pause to take pictures, I was relieved. On my first right hand curve, my heart sank as I heard air leaking at a fast rate.

I stopped to check and this is what my "air loss" was. :)



On right turns it dragged and made a hissing sound.

I did enjoy myself in a strange sort of way that might not be for everyone, but I think it's safe to say that you can't get from Castle Rock to Parker going cross country :)

[coacha]

Well, technically, you proved you can get there but it just ain't for the faint of heart or for those that don't have a full tank of fuel.

Thanks for the great pics and narrative. Loved it!

[soldierboy3502]

So is that route the new scenic tour for the Western Rally 2009?

[socwkbiker]

Now I know you were crappin' bricks when you realized there was no longer a road there. Good job with the pics and report. Next time, perhaps ensuring there are actually roads there?

[ringadingh]

Well, at least you made it out.Trips like that can be fun until you bury the bike far away from nowhere, and your by yourself.

[lw]

Dan, keep this up and it'll be time to try knobbies or sand paddles for your Nad....

You ride your bike like I play golf. We both get to see a LOT of country.

[dantama]

Originally Posted by Ringadingh

Well, at least you made it out.Trips like that can be fun until you bury the bike far away from nowhere, and your by yourself.

Yup, believe it or not, I think these things through somewhat, and go for it anyway. On the way down there, I decided to stop and eat in case I have to hike out. So it was on my mind to some degree.

Here is what I saw on Google. That river bed sure looked like a road to me. Even being up on the hill above it, it looked like a road. So I went for it getting the bike down to it.




Where I thought I was going.




Where I think I went. I was avoiding climbing up the rocky hill I came down. Remember, distances in person are a lot bigger than looking at a satellite photo :)

Plus I didn't have a photo to look at when I was out there, I was just feeling adventurous and trying to find a way out.



All in all, I did pretty much enjoy myself. Even when I got to the point where I knew that I could just turn around and go back to the freeway, I felt like going for it.

Went for it and it just didn't work out.

[audiogooroo]

What an adventure Dan!
You know, they make motorcycles for that sort of riding. ;)
lol

[dantama]

Just in case anyone was wondering why I kept going down the dry river bed ( other than escalation of committment ). I could see a construction site where a damn is being built at the other end. I thought that I just needed to get to it, and I'd be out. When I got close, I ran into the fence.

I wondered for a minute about Steve McQueen and his jump in The Great Escape. I found that the fence went through a gully, and on my very best day, I may be able to jump it by going off the ledge over it, where it dipped down into the gully.

Looked possible ( my brand of whats possible :) ) but fear of damaging the bike, and nobody there to applaud if I made it :) made my better judgement kick in. So backtracking was the only option.

Going through all the deep sand and obstacles was fun and adventurous the first time. Going back through it all.....not so fun.

[ells]

Dan,

If you are trying to make me feel bad that I missed the ride today, you're not getting there either!

[burkazoid]

Dang, that's just crazy. I don't even drive on gravel roads. Last gravel road I went down I got a damn screw in my back tire (on the old Vulcan 800 Classic I had).