Bri and Blue Sky Expeditions new trip....

[Guest]

Hi all, I am going to at least start this thread and will try to get here to update and maybe throw up a couple pics as I go. Mostly I want to keep up my blog and FB page and not pay too much attention to forums. I am taking the netbook and it is small for my comfy use and since it has Ubuntu on it I am way less comfy with that OS....<br><br>Anyhoo, as much as I have a plan, it is to head out of Durango, CO around the last few days of May. I will ride out to the coast of CA where I will ride north as far as the Olympic Peninsula. There I will hang out some with family and friends and just camping. <br><br>I hope to cross into Canada to see Sandy S. from Vandwellers and do some exploring of Vancouver Island and then a visit to meet and check out one of my favorite fabrication companies, Side Effects of Kamloops, B.C.. This company made my triple tree steering conversion called Steerite, and a mutual acquaintance there made my rear wheel for my outfit so I could use an automotive tire and get excellent tire longevity. <br><br>These folks&nbsp; do the&nbsp; quality work that they are in what I think of as in the top four or five sidecar fab companies in North America. Another one I always try to visit when I go up there is in WA state and I will go there to see what they are working on these days and say hi...I have done a lot of business with them as well.<br><br>On this trip I will be using my new Tent Cot from Kamp Rite and will do some reports on how that is working out....<br><br>I am on FB under my full name Brian Kemsley and my blog addie is on my sig line.<br><br>So if anyone along the route that wants to share a cuppa or would have a spot for me to camp a night, it will be much appreciated and you can pm me. I am planning so far to visit Cyndi, Robin, Minnie Minerva Susan, Steve 4x4, gg, Mike and&nbsp; Heidi.....and Sandy plus a number of folks you would not know.<br><br>Have a great summer and do lots of traveling...<br>Bri <br><br><br>

 

[Les H]

Happy trails, Bri. I'll miss your posts here, but will try to keep up with you via FB. As usual, I'm on the wrong end of the country to finally get to see you f to f, but one day. Doped slow and be safe.
Les

 

[cyndi]

Coffee's on always! I'm waiting (im)patiently for you to pull into my driveway!!! And looking forward to following your journey. I'll try not to whine too much about your picture taking skills!

 

[Guest]

Thanks Les and blkjak! Appreciate the good wishes...I am hoping I have better luck with my 30 year old bike than I did trying to get it down to Mexico...hahaha<br><br>Cyndi, you know I'm gonna pop in on ya....and I'll hold you to the not whining too much...a little tho, cuz it'll spur me on...I'll email you soon....<br>Bri<br>

 

[Guest]

Aw gee, I totally screwed up and forgot to mention Nelda and Jerry and Suanne and John....no&nbsp; names about who reminded me but I am seriously spanked for forgetting ...My bad and I am evil, wicked, mean and nasty for forgetting some of my most favorite brothers and sisters...<br>Sad Bri<br>

 

[KatieinKansas]

<font class="Apple-style-span" face="Arial"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Wow! &nbsp;Your road trip sounds awesome. &nbsp;.....Bri, I think you need a passenger. &nbsp;...Ahem, ahem? &nbsp;<img border="0" align="absmiddle" src="https://vanlivingforum.com/images/boards/smilies/smile.gif">&nbsp;&nbsp;Enjoy!</span></font><div><font class="Apple-style-span" face="Arial"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Katie</span></font></div>

 

[Guest]

Thanks Katie...I will enjoy....<br><br>You would be welcome to ride along but Dina Doggie won't let anyone into her sidecar!&nbsp;&nbsp; Sorry! <img src="https://vanlivingforum.com/images/boards/smilies/wink.gif" align="absmiddle" border="0"><br><br>Have a good summer....<br>Bri<br>

 

[Guest]

Hi all, I am currently at the Burger King in Beaver Utah for brekkie and wifi...mostly coffee and gas....lol<br><br>I spent the night before that in a little bowl up against some cliffs underneath a gorgeous Pinon pine tree that looked like a Bonsai plant...stunning! And free....it was just west of Capital Reef National Park where the CG was full....hah, their loss, our gain!<br>&nbsp;<br>Then yesterday the ride over Utah Hwy 12 which may be in the top five best rides in America in my opinion. Found a sweet little place called the Burr Trail Trading post where the locals were conducting a tiny little Farmer's Market and I got the most amazing loaf of fresh baked whole wheat bread! Got some good coffee there as well.<br><br>My destination for last night was the Beaver Canyon CG in Beaver, UT...yep, no lie!) and Maria's Cocina...where the CG owner's wife cooks some very excellent Mexican food for dinner every day....pork Chimi for me....cheap at $12 for one old phart on a bike. And a nice evening and camp on grass with a great shower and dog walking area...<br><br>I will have to wait to put up photos as they are on my phone and camera and it is a pain when I have only a few minutes of wifi....<br><br>Today hoing to be well into Nevada and on highway 50...a long and lonely stretch of road...one of the originals though...will upload a pic of that...the rest are on my camera so will put them on my blog when I have the opportunity....<br><br>I am going to put in a plug for Utah...a state you don't see talked about on here or on vandwellers forum and I don't know why....there are thousands of acres of free camping and dirt roads to explore and the red rock and sandstone cliffs are mindboggling...<br>Do yourself a favor and come and enjoy them. If you are mobile enough to. If you are living in a vehicle to live really cheaply of course you won't move it much but, if like me, you live in one to travel and see the country, and I know seveeral of you are...don't pass up Utah....they even sell good coffee these days...lol<br>Bri<br><br><br>

 

[sl1966]

Agreed! Utah is a great place for camping. I've gotten many a good nights sleep around Moab before. Even got the obligatory knock on my window from LEO once when I was parked side of road for a nights rest. A very nice guy throughout the encounter, and he just wanted to be sure I hadn't expired in my truck. Once he learned I was doing he let me be.<div><br></div>

 

[akrvbob]

Bri, I'm with you, Utah is one of my favorite places in the country. Everyone should see the Grand Circle:<br><ul><li>Zion NP ==&gt;</li><li>Bryce NP ==&gt;</li><li>Capital Reef NP ==&gt;</li><li>Arches NP ==&gt;</li><li>Canyonlands NP ==&gt;</li><li>Monument Valley ==&gt;</li><li>Grand Canyon NP</li></ul>And those are just the "Big Names." Lots of other beautiful places along the way. You can expand it just a little to include the Million Dollar highway (550) near Durango, CO and you have the total package. Bob&nbsp; <br>

 

[Guest]

UH Oh...re-reading my earlier post it reads as though the chimichanga was $12.....not so, the camp spot was and I will have a pic of the memorial tree planted to an expired motoman....and his plaque...it was in my site so I was extra aware today...long ride and am in a little spot called Cold Spring. It is a really nice roadhouse...recently built or remodeled with a motel, RV park and a cafe/bar. I am dry camped here for $10 and I have wifi and great shower....hard to beat....<br>All the good boondocking and FS CGs were at 7,000 feet or more....not good for me....<br>More later.....<br>Bri<br>

 

[Guest]

Hmmm, well time to make an admission....shamefacedly... Dina and I got absolutely blasted with cold rain coming over the Sierras and since there is a lot of construction on I-90 over the pass, I wasn't able to get ready for rain and batten all hatches....I did finally get the rain gear on, the cover on the sidecar and then rode for literally hours with both boots full of cold water, gloves soaking wet and cold and a stupid tinted dark smoke face shield .....it got us by surprise!<br><br>So that is the lead up to the admission of a night in Motel Six in Oroville, CA to dry off and get warm again. It works good for that...LOL<br><br>Now! the bonus to a dry night is that when I was walking Dina Dog, I discovered Taquiria Estrella! A little store front taco joint...20 years in the same spot and if there is one thing I like as well or better than my Arrey Cafe Huevos Rancheros Rojo, are "street tacos" carne asada and/or carnitas! I polished off 4 and am a happy, very grateful ol' dry phart!<br><br>We'll see what tomorrow brings for route...not Fort Bragg like I originally thought it would be.<br><br>Now....back to the weather channel.....<br>Bri<br>

 

[yesican]

<p style="margin: 0px;">I admire people who take adversity and strife as a bit of spice in life.&nbsp; Not always fun to go through but looking back on the memory it causes you to feel good that you had a chance to go through it...makes you realize how tough you really are and puts a smile on your face...Good luck Bri...hoping you have sunshine and wind on your back.</p><p style="margin: 0px;">Rae</p>

 

[Guest]

<span id="post_message_1273811761"><p style="margin: 0px;">I admire people who take adversity and strife as a bit of spice in life.&nbsp; Not always fun to go through but looking back on the memory it causes you to feel good that you had a chance to go through it...makes you realize how tough you really are and puts a smile on your face...Good luck Bri...hoping you have sunshine and wind on your back.</p><p style="margin: 0px;">Rae</p></span>

<br>Thanks Rae, You are so right about taking the risks and getting through the tough spots....I guess if we didn't feel that in our hearts we wouldn't be motofolks would we?! I remember all my Alaskan summer rides and just about every one of them resulted in at least a day or more of rain. We always had the gear on for it though and if I hadn't had my 'Stich shrink on me since then (yeah, sure, that and too many tacos!) I would have had on a 2 piece goretex 'Stich...<br>Funny how it works out. <br>Happy summer riding to you up there and thanks for the good wishes....I hope your summer riding is as sweet as it can be going over Turnagain Pass and the Denali Highway east to west....<br>Bri<br>

 

[Seraphim]

<p>Glad to hear you're having a great time!&nbsp; Have only cruised the edges of Utah - too dusty for allergies. Maybe give it another shot...</p>

 

[RAILROADGREEN]

<p><b><font size="5">HEY NOW BRI. I;M KEEP UP WITH YOU R TRAVELING .TO COOL!!. BE CAREFULL.ON THE COAST GETS FOGGY THIS TIME OF YEAR.WISH I WAS TRAVELING WITH YA.TARVEL IN HAPPNESS AN GO IN PEACE MY FELLOW TRAVELER. YOUR FRIEND GARY GREEN&nbsp; P.S. ISHE BARK A SHOUT OUT.</font></b></p>

 

[Guest]

Hi all, I am now at Nelda and Jerries for a night or two....and having a great trip ....In the last week or so I rode over to the coast at Fortuna, CA and up to Newport, OR where I stayed at one of my old Navy buddy's and his family and attended a home school eighth grader's graduation with them. Lots of nice chats and good times. Then today I stopped and had coffee with Susan of Minny Minerva blog fame and it was great to see her.....I had camped with her, another woman Robbi and Steve the wild Texan from our very own ranks at City of Rocks CG in New Mexico much earlier this year...<br><br>It is so cool to see my friends Nelda and Jerry! We hit it off at the first RTR and have been good friends ever since.... <br>They are very kind and gracious and it is nice to spend some more time with them.....<br><br>Next will be Suanne and John if they are home and accepting guests.<br><br>More as we go...<br>Bri <br>

 

[Les H]

Bri, glad you are having a decent time and travel. Always enjoyed reading of your adventures.
Les-
In hot and sticky alabama

 

[Guest]

Wow....well finally back here to post a bit. <br>I had to divert from my proposed route to lend a hand to some friends in a sort of urgent need and then on to my eldest son and family's and now at my younger son's place until manana.<br><br>I am cold &amp; damp and the rig is starting to sprout mold in odd places and grow moss, so I am getting the hell out of here and back down to where I can complain about the heat...<br><br>I have had some excellent visits though, and a few fine nights camping in the thick Olympic peninsula forest and it has been a good trip. My rig is still on its best behavior and all is well.<br><br>I am heading south quite promptly as I say and hoping now to catch up with the RTR folks for a few days and nights of fellowship and camping.<br><br>Friend Paul and I may do some partnering up for a few miles after that, so more will be revealed. He has that new-to-him R1200GS moto and is riding the wheels off it......I am scheming on Idaho next month when the weather is better and perhaps then a jaunt up into BC in the Okanogan and Lake areas north of ID...it is awesome up there. <br><br>I will skip Vancouver Island due to the poopy weather I am experiencing here and where I know it will be worse yet. That may be a cage trip later another year. I am pumped to see Sandy's newly created teardrop that weighs almost nothing and pulls with a GEO. Hope he will bring it to the winter RTR....<br> <br>Les my friend....I hope your fans work well and you can keep your tools from rusting. I know it is pretty there but it is all yours for now....I want hot and dry!!!!!<br><br>Later gators,<br>Bri <br><br>

 

[Guest]

So much has happened since I last posted it is tough to know what to say. <br /><br />I rode to the RTR in California...down CA 49 for part of the trip and it was beautiful. The RTR was fantastic and I got to know a few more folks better and re-connect with some old friends. <br /><br />Then back up to Dauntless Motors in Enumclaw, WA to change out a rear tire and to re-align my sidecar rig. The weather was worse than before so it was wet and cold in that area.<br /><br />After I left DMC, I rode up over the Cascades through Rainier National Park through 38 degree temps and rain.&nbsp; Once we got down to warmer weather we could make a good camp in a nice empty, quiet USFS campground for a night and dry things out a bit. That was the fourth of July. Dina was happy for not fireworks to be heard.<br /><br />From there we headed up into Canada and crossed at Osoyoos and rode east and up around Kootenay Lake....some of the nicest motorcycle riding in western Canada.<br /><br />Along the way I was told that it had been the wettest spring and 40 years! Cripes...bad timing for this ol' idjit!<br /><br />In a nutshell, it was either raining or hot and humid with tons of skeeters and blackflies. Not a good time for moto camping at all.<br /><br />I headed back to the US at Porthill in northern Idaho.<br /><br />I hit a wall as I was camping on the backside of Hayden lake at a little USFS campground and it was raining again....I woke up to rain after a day and half the night listening to a RV generator running, swatting flies and skeeters and humid heat. That was it...I still had a week to wait around in that area for the sidecar rally I was hoping to attend and I just couldn't face any more discomfort.<br /><br />I pulled the plug and headed back to Durango through several days of off and on rain. I spent the last two nights in little el cheepo motels and hit Durango where it was nice and hot, although there is off and on rain, I am in the trailer where it is nice and dry.<br /><br />As it turned out, I made it in on our wedding anniversary day and was able to spend it with my bride of 27 years! Yay!<br /><br />That's it....bad choice for a year to ride the bike north. next time I go up it will be in the Chinookie for sure....<br /><br />Bri