Ok, I'm getting ready for my 2nd attempt at the TAT summer 2017. I suffered a water pump failure on my first attempt June 2016. It's been repaired and I'll be making some other small modifications and making sure it's more reliable this time.
So, I'm looking for riding partners.
The dates are pretty much open - I'm flexible, but won't make another attempt solo.
So, if you are interested in a riding partner, let me know.
I'm riding the same modified 2005 BMW F650GS (more money in the bike than what it's worth).
This time, I WON'T be overloaded and will be traveling light light light...I live in St. Petersburg, FL.
If interested, contact me.
Saturday, November 5, 2016
Friday, June 10, 2016
My Ride Is Over For This Year - I WILL be back!!!
My ride is over - for this year...
I suffered a water-pump failure.
It took two days to get the parts.
In the process of fixing the water pump, the clutch actuator arm broke. And of course they didn't have one in stock and can't get one until Tuesday or Wednesday. They did try to weld it back together, but it's aluminum and the repair can't be trusted.
The trip is not over. It's not a loss. I will persevere. I've learned a lot and determined that my choice of bikes may not have been the optimum choice. None of the modifications I made failed except one small bracket after the bike went down the third time. I experienced two spectacular crashes and twice the bike decided to lie down and take a nap when I was remounting. I made the five water crossings without incident. The trail is steeper and rougher than depicted in any of the YouTube videos.
All in all I had a wonderful time on the trail and learned a lot.
I'm renting a truck and hauling the bike home. I will effect repairs and make another attempt next year. Maybe with the same bike or maybe with a 250 or 450 which may be a better choice.
The bike suffered several mechanical failures due to age and metal fatigue. It's an old bike. Don't diss old bikes or old riders, we've endured more than most of you have and don't give up easy.
Like I said in an earlier post, "Failure isn't falling down, failure is in not getting up and trying again."
I have not failed...I have not given up. I will conquer the TAT. I will be back next year. Anyone want to do it with me next year feel free to contact me on my blog, Facebook, or at my email address: fhgaylor@yahoo.com
Best regards and Semper Paratus!!!
Thursday, June 9, 2016
Never a dull moment when an old guy is riding an old bike on old trails across America...begs the question, how far will I make it?
Never a dull moment.
This morning I get up, pack my gear, and while warming up the engine before checking the oil I'm servicing the chain. Oh wait, what's that wet spot under the left crankcase cover? It's not oil. What could it be? Oh it's a pretty turquoise color. Oh crap, I have a water leak. Hmmm that ain't right.
A couple phone calls and texted photos to EuroCycles and it's determined to be a failing water pump.
So I call the nearest BMW Dealer, Pandoras European Motorsports in Chattanooga. They are gracious and tell me to get the bike in and the will VOR parts from Germany. People are real friendly and a nice place to hangout.
Stay tuned - not sure where I'm going from here, or when.
So, my lovely wife makes reservations for me at the Courtyard Marriott in downtown Chattanooga...now is that true love or what.
Pandora's loans me a 2010 R1200GS Adv like the one I have, but this is a red, white & blue 30th anniversary edition to get to the Marriott. Pandora's is going out of the way to get me back out on the TAT.
Thank you Pandora's - top notch service, just like EuroCycles...oh, and they know Arron...small world...
This morning I get up, pack my gear, and while warming up the engine before checking the oil I'm servicing the chain. Oh wait, what's that wet spot under the left crankcase cover? It's not oil. What could it be? Oh it's a pretty turquoise color. Oh crap, I have a water leak. Hmmm that ain't right.
A couple phone calls and texted photos to EuroCycles and it's determined to be a failing water pump.
So I call the nearest BMW Dealer, Pandoras European Motorsports in Chattanooga. They are gracious and tell me to get the bike in and the will VOR parts from Germany. People are real friendly and a nice place to hangout.
Stay tuned - not sure where I'm going from here, or when.
So, my lovely wife makes reservations for me at the Courtyard Marriott in downtown Chattanooga...now is that true love or what.
Pandora's loans me a 2010 R1200GS Adv like the one I have, but this is a red, white & blue 30th anniversary edition to get to the Marriott. Pandora's is going out of the way to get me back out on the TAT.
Thank you Pandora's - top notch service, just like EuroCycles...oh, and they know Arron...small world...
Wednesday, June 8, 2016
TAT day 3 (2nd day on the Trail) Tellico Plains to Ducktown, TN
TAT Day 3 06 08 2016
Departed Tellico Plains this morning with the thought in
mind from having read other blogs and watched YouTube videos that the tough
part of the day would be the 5 Water Crossings – I was sorely mistaken, the water crossings were the easy part. Just stay in the middle
of the tire tracks or the old wagon wheel ruts as the case may be going in and coming out on the other side, and there’s no
problem.
And a photo for Larry Munch, owner of Munch's since 1952 and featured on Dinners Drive In's and Dives...Munch's is on 6th St South in St Petersburg, one of my favorite hangouts...
Unfortunately, the remainder of the day was a MAJOR
pucker-factor going up and over the mountain.
These damn Tennessee hill country people sure like to make their
mountain roads a pain in the @ss. Basically nothing more than a Jeep trail - not a Humvee, but a Jeep. The road was narrow, rutted, and had granite outcroping sticking up and large stones or rocks that could deflect a wheel and.... Well, I don't wanna think about the and - lets just say that I renewed my faith in God. Probably to keep the Revenuers away from any stills that may be hidden
in the woods. Anyway, I made it. Didn’t take any pictures as I just wanted to
keep moving.
I was on the trail alone today, I did see one SUV pulled
over to the side of the road – it’s not hunting season, so your guess is as
good as mine what he was doing out in the middle of no-where.
My progress is admittedly slow, as I’m a street-rider, NOT a
dirt-bike rider and I didn’t have the time or money to attend BMW’s Off-Road Riding
School or RawHyde Adventures Riding School. The last time I spent anytime riding dirt was irrigating my Uncle's farm outside of Thermal, CA in the Cochella Valley, and I was 18 then - that's 44yrs ago. I would highly recommend that if you are going to attempt an off-road
ride of this scale that you get some sort of formalized training. I’m winging it and learning by the seat of my
pants. Believe me, it would have been time and money well spent – in fact after
I finish this trip, you can bet that I will attend formalized training to break
some bad habits I’m sure I’m developing and to learn some much needed skills.
I have no idea what’s in store for tomorrow, I still have to
go over maps and install tomorrows GPS tracks…hopefully, I’ll be somewhere in
Mississippi by the end of the day.
Progress is slow and steady.
Well, hang in here with me and we'll see if I can make all the way to Oregon - I understand the Mountain passes in Colorado are still snowed in, so I may have to bypass that part - that is if I get that far.
Oh and the 2005 BMW F650 is running flawlessly (when I keep it upright). Thank you EuroCycles of Tampa Bay and especially their Master Wrench Robin for making sure the bike was sound and dependable - I've been beating the crap out of it, and it's going to need some TLC when this is all over with. But the F650TAT is just a plugging away...
Later!!!
Tuesday, June 7, 2016
Today was an uneventful day as TAT days go…didn’t get on the
trail at all. I needed to effect some repairs from yesterday’s excursions in Valley of Mud Snot – that’s what I’m
going to refer to it…cuz, it was slicker than snot on a doorknob – that should
give you all a good visual…and we all want to avoid snotty door knobs, unless
you’re a kid, and you create snotty door knobs, but I digress.
So today I got up, separated out necessities and camping
gear. I’ve decided in my advanced years
(I am 62 ya know), sleeping on the ground after spending half the day getting
thrown off the bike, crawling in the mud to unpack it, l and having to pick it
up by myself, well, I deserve to be pampered. So I’m hoteling it the whole trip
– I can, I deserve it…I’ve earned it…ok, so I’m a wuss…but a comfortable wuss…damn
that went down the rabbit hole.
Ok, so I separated stuff out…went to a UPS store 40+ miles
away, and shipped back 26.9 lbs of camping gear and other items I felt I wouldn’t
need. Then unpacked the backpack and everything that was in it is now in the
grey dry bag safe and sound. The ONLY
thing in the backpack now is my 3 liter Hydrapak…and I’ve got room!!!! Yeah, I’m
not locked into one position. I can now
stand up on the pegs if I need to…I can also scoot back on the passenger
seat!!!! Oh, how comfortable was that.
Now off to the big-box store Home Depot to buy some metal
strapping and metal shears so I can repair some broken mounts. Home Depot was
nice enough to let me pull the bike into the shade of the building while I worked
on the bike – their parking lot had NO trees, and it was hot.
That repair done, I’m off to find a replacement mirror for
the broken one I threw in the trash this morning at the hotel. Oh, that was a mistake…the first motorcycle
shop I stopped at had a full machine shop and he ask me where my broken mirror
was…I said I threw it away – too bad he says, I could have re-threaded it for
you…would have been a couple inches shorter, but I don’t have any 8mm threaded mirrors.
Doh!!!! Ok, memo to self – don’t be so quick to throw things away, they may be
able to be salvaged.
By this time, it’s mid-afternoon, and too late to get on the
TAT, so I head to Tellico Plains to stay at Tellico Lodge – if you’re ever in
the area – this is the place to stay…The owner is very gracious and knows a bit
of useful information on the TAT and the 3 water-crossings I’ll be doing
tomorrow – even showed me some videos of the proper path through the water
crossings, while I patted his 10yr old boxer Rambo on the head – sweet dog.
Tomorrow, we’ll see how I handle the crossings. I’ll probably unload the bike
and walk my gear across, then ride the bike across – there are certain things
that I can’t afford to end up in the water even though they are in dry bags.
The cabin I’m staying in is quite spacious and nice – well worth the price of admission.
So as I’m unloading the bike, this rather distinguished
gentleman walks up and inquires if I’m from Tampa as he saw the Eurocycles
sticker on the frame and the BMW Riders of Tampa Bay sticker on the cowling
above the gas tank. So I strike up a conversation with Wes and his lovely wife
Nancy. I said I was from St. Pete…he
tells me how he’s a tugboat engineer delivering barges of 100,000 barrels of
gasoline from Houston to Tampa weekly…I thanked him for the gas…eventually we
got around to talking about past experiences – he’s an ex-Coastie and was on
the Valiant out of Galveston where the Blackthorn was homeported and he knew a
bunch of guys on the Blackthorn – small world as I was involved in the recovery
of Blackthorn. Then he tells me he was
at CG Radio Station New Orleans 1980 – 1983…I was stationed in New Orleans at
the time and knew he CO. So we swapped
lies and sea-stories…I tell ya, what are the odds that you run into someone
that you have so much in common with not only from 36 yrs ago, but today we
both ride motorcycles (I did back then), and he has a beautiful Harley Davidson
Electra Glide that they rode from Anniston, AL, where they now live. Really great people - but aren't all Coasties - especially Engineering Coasties...
At this point in my travels, I’m not sure which I’m enjoying
the most, the solitude of riding the backroads and trails, or the people I’ve
met. Contrary to popular belief, I really am a people person – they don’t know
that side of me at work – I tend to keep a lot of my co-workers at arm’s length,
but when I’m out on the road…Oh, how much I need this trip...
An uneventful day as TAT days go, but a wonderful day
none-the-less. Everyone has been so
helpful and accommodating and friendly along the way. I hope to stay in touch will all of the
people I’ve met along the way, Bob & Martin in Andrews, and Wes & Nancy
here in Telico Plains.
Not sure I will be able to complete the TAT all the way to
Oregon, that’s my plan, but as things break and have to be repaired along the
way, and I get delayed due to weather or breakdown, I’m meeting some wonderful
people and having a wonderful time.
That’s all for now, wanna call home and talk to my 3 lovely
daughters (I spoke to my wife before starting this diatribe…)
Monday, June 6, 2016
TAT Day 1 06 06 2016
TAT Day 1 06/06/2016
Before I start todays blog, I want to say that yesterday
evening, I met this wonderful couple from Indiana that have a rail car and travel
around the country and ride the railroads with it. Bob is an ex- motorcycle racer and we had a
wonderful evening swapping stories. In
his day, he did hare scrambles – now, that’s racing not for the faint of heart. I won’t go into detail about hare scrambles,
but do yourself a favor and google it – crazy stuff.
Departed Andrews, NC today, and it’s been raining in Andrews
for two days. This morning was clear, so
I decided to go for it. I got up, had a light breakfast, met an interesting
gentleman named Martin who used to ride a BMW /5 back in 1972 and he was
interested in my BMW chain-slapper. We
exchanged pleasantries over breakfast and when I got ready to leave, he took a
photo of me in the parking lot, txted to me and said he would be interested in
following my blog.
So I’m off, and about a mile into the TAT, I decided to do a
photo-op…that was my first mistake of the day, but not to be the last or the
most exciting. I stopped to pull out my
cell phone and decided to put the side stand down – I did mention it had been
raining for two days, and you guessed it – even with my wide sidestand foot,
the bike went over. Ok, I meant to do that – not really, but hey, stupid is as
stupid does. Made mental note to find
dry spot to stop. Anyway, I digress…I step off the bike as it’s going over and
somehow the left rearview mirror snapped off.
I had to unpack the bike that I had only packed 30 minutes before to get
it upright. Repack take my photos and I’m off. Ah, not so quick there hot rod…It
starts, but as soon as I put it into gear, it dies – damn Germans and their
sidestand safety cutoff switches…so now I’m back on my belly in the mud looking
for it – awe, there you are you little devil…it came disconnected…reconnect it
and I’m off.
Several hours later, I stop in Robbinsville, NC had a bottle
water, talked to the store owner and a couple bikers that were there…they
noticed the mud and said I was nuts – and I said “and your point is…” They
asked where I was riding too, and when I told them, yeah, they said I was “really
nuts…” Hey, at least I’m consistent. If you follow the reality TV show about
Moonshiners, you’ll recognize the store…and while I was there, the star of the
show drove up, bought something and left about 2 minutes later – damn missed getting
an autograph.
The store owner asked where I was headed and I told him I was
riding the TAT…he said the road would be like concrete – he lied…A couple hours
later I’m in mud that’s literally as slippery as snot and all of a sudden the
bike does a 180 and slams down on the left side. So, you guessed, I find a
clearing about 20-30 yards up the road, take all the gear off the bike and
stage it there, and go back and lift the bike upright again, and in the best
MSF basic rider course fashion straddle walk it slipping the clutch into the
clearing, turn it around on hard back and load it up again for the 3 time
today. You see a pattern forming here? Mud slick as snot and my Hidenau K60
Scout knobbies are packed and slippery.
Ok, so back on the bike and with my feet as outriggers and
straddle walking in first gear for what seemed like ever, I’m out of nature’s
mud-snot factory in the Cherahola Valley…
Oh, but it’s not over yet…there’s one more…this was on a
very steep incline coming up out of the Cherahola Valley…on the side of the
mountain to left it’s straight up, and to the right it drops off several
hundred feet, and what does my trusty steed decide to do? No, you’re wrong
buzzard breath…it doesn’t want to lie down, all of a sudden it gets traction,
the front wheel reaches for the sky, spins 180 degrees to the left and ends up
wheels up at about a 30 degree angle – hey, at least it decided not to pitch my
ass over the cliff…so…there I am again, crawling around in the mud (there’s a
theme there somewhere) taking everything off the bike. Staging it up the road 10 yards, then
dragging the bike down off the embankment.
Ok, but now remember I said it spun around 180 degrees so now its facing
down the hill I want to go up. Sidestand
down…and pivot the bike 180 degrees on the side stand, pack it up, get on it,
and continue on my ride. Oh, did I tell
you I hate gravel – I really hate gravel…it’s like riding on frick’n marbles.
30 miles of marbles later, I’m back on hard pack…then pavement, into town so I can
write this blog, and you can laugh your asses off at me….Oh, the stuff I do to
entertain people…All total, I think I did about 100 miles on the TAT today,
just think, only 4700 more to go – I think I’m going to have to ask for more
time off from work…At this rate, I won’t be in Port Orford, OR until
Thanksgiving…
Anyway, that’s all for now, I hope you found my first day on
the TAT entertaining…but it wouldn’t be Adventure Riding, if sh*t wasn’t
happening…
And here's the bike after a day of abuse on the TAT...
Saturday, June 4, 2016
Departure Day
Well, I finally made it out of the drive way. Departed about 0715 today. I rode up the Suncoast Expressway to Ponce de
Leon and then North US19 through Crystal River and Chiefland. At Chiefland, I picked up US129 through North
Florida and George. I stopped this
evening in Commerce, GA. Beautiful ride - no Interstates except I275 to get out of St. Petersburg & Tampa. I've never ridden a
bike this small that far. And, ok, I’m overloaded. With my fat butt and all the tools and parts,
damn thing looks like a pack mule or dromedary. Handling is a little sketchy and brakes...damn, slow down and don't get too close - overloaded like this, the damn thing will give you some exciting moments stopping if someone in front of you does something stupid. As soon as I can find a
Pack-n-Send that’s open, I'm getting rid of a bunch of stuff. That’s all for now…tomorrow
I ride the last couple hours to Andrews, NC and head out on the TAT!!! Ok, time to get a shower, clean my riding gear and get some shut-eye, tomorrow is the 1st day on the TAT!!! I'm stoked!!!
Friday, June 3, 2016
Post 2 Friday 06/03/2016 - ready to rock & roll
Post #2. 06/06/2016
Ok, so I’m missing my original departure date by over a
week, and my secondary departure time by several hours (if not a full day).
It’s hard to believe I started planning this trip well over
a year ago. I bought the bike 11 months ago, and have been working on it
consistently and studiously ever since
to get the “right” gear, the “right” parts and try and turn a mostly street
oriented BMW F650GS into what I now refer to as the F650TAT.
This photo shows the bike as it was when I purchased it.
Not a bad little dualsport F650GS (Gelande Strauss = offroad
street). However definitely a street
oriented bike.
Below is as she now sits waiting for departure. I’ll try to go over the modifications and
give credit where due.
Headlight protector by TouraTech www.touratech-usa.com
Clearwater Lights driving lights from EuroCycles of Tampa
Bay – great people and they went above and beyond to advise and help me with
this project and make sure the bike was off-road ready and safe www.eurocyclesoftampabay.com
Side stand foot by yours truly – it’s shaped like a camels
hoof – never leave home without your “camel toe”… J
Again, the Clearwater LED driving lights did I mention they
were bright – I’ll burn your retinas out on high beam!!! Whahaha…
Holan crash bars from www.advmotorrad.com
Heavy duty fork spring's, fork protectors, engine skid plate
and frame skid plates by TouraTech www.touratech-usa.com
Foot pegs by Pivot Pegs, provided by TouraTech, as well as
new shift lever and rear break lever
Rear shock custom ordered by Ted Porters BeemerShop www.beemershop.com from TouraTech
Also rear master cylinder protector, chain guard, chain
guide all from TouraTech, www.touratech-usa.com
RockFox pannier mounts modified to hold RotoPax fuel and
water cans all from www.TwistedThrottle.com
RotoPax mounted to RockFox Pannier mount – aluminum mounting
bracket by your’s truly.
Giant Loop Tillamook bag (grey bag) mounted on top of Giant
Loop Great Basin U-bag. www.giantloopmoto.com
Green Rock Straps from www.eurocyclesoftampabay.com
Tool Tube from www.TwistedThrottle.com (the black tube with the TAT sticker on it.
Fandango Tank Bag by www.giantloopmoto.com
Wheels by http://www.woodyswheelworks.com/
And lastly, my office for the next 5 weeks:
On the left is a roll chart from Moose Racing from www.transamtrail.com
Along with their roll chart, maps in the tank bag, and GPS
tracks installed in my Garmin 665. Now about the Garmin – it is connected to my
helmet via InterPhone F5MC Bluetooth helmet headset and my old archaic iPhone 4
is synced to the Garmin. The Garmin also
has Weather Radar via Sirius Radio and Red Light warnings – yeah, I know where
all those nasty red-light cameras are in the USA.
Next is my helmet and backpack:
Helmet is Shoei VFX offroad helmet with Oakly goggles.
Kriega R30 Backpack by www.kriega.us
Attached the left shoulder strap is my Spot Tracker www.findmespot.com so my wife &
daughters know my whereabouts every 30 minutes.
It also has a button to GeoSat to activate First Responders in the event
I’m in critical shape and need evacuation.
I previously posted a photo of me in partial riding gear, and
after I get geared up for departure, I will get a selfie and post that on my
next blog. But for now that’s about it.
Again, I would like to thank all the vendors, and shops that
made this possible. If I’ve forgotten
anyone, it wasn’t intentional; there are just so many people that have been
involved and so many wonderful people in the motorcycling community that
answered all my stupid questions along the way.
I would like to take this time and opportunity to thank my
lovely wife Pam, by beautiful daughters Cassandra, Jennifer, and Catherine for
their understanding and being supporting of my obsession this past year to get
ready for this trip. You ladys are the light of my life, the wind under my wings, and i truly love you to infinity and beyond and back.
I would also like to apologize to all my friends and acquaintances with my obsessive talk about this
project and the trip. Oh, and my poor co-workers, I’m sure they are glad that I’m
finally out of the office and on the road so they don't have to listen to me anymore.
Friday, March 4, 2016
As this is my first post, and I’m new to this blogging stuff, I would
like to take this opportunity to thank my wife for putting up with my wish to
ride the Trans America Trail (TAT). She has graciously given me a “kitchen
pass” for a month to do this trip and has been putting up with me the last few
months as I have begun to prepare the bike.
I would also like to thank my beautiful loving daughters for their
concerns for me in attempting this endeavor as an “old man”(not their words,
but I am what I am), and their contribution of a new helmet.
Today was rather uneventful in the overall scheme of things. Spent time reviewing parts lists to determine
what farkles that I need to prepare the bike for the trip and placed orders
with TourTech, Twisted Throttle, ADV Motorrad, and Competition
Accessories. I have spent more time and
money on this bike than I had anticipated, and I’m not done yet. Orders still
need to be placed with Ted Porters Beemer Shop, and Eurocycles of Tampa Bay,
and I’m sure there will be another round of parts ordered from the sources I’ve
already listed. In essence, I’m taking a
box stock BMW F650GS to the next level and making it a more off-road oriented
motorcycle than it is now.
Understand that the BMWF650 is a wonderful bike, but
it leans more towards the street than the trail. To that end, I had Woody’s Wheel Works in
Colorado lace up some beautiful wheels for the bike and she now has a 21inch
front and 18inch rear wheel shod with Heidenau tires with heavy duty enduro
tubes.
She’s sporting new brakes, chain, sprockets, taillight, windscreen, new Two Brothers M2 exhaust and several other parts.
I would also like to take this opportunity to thank Joe DeMoss for all of his assistance in ordering parts at Eurocycles of Tampa bay, and for his assistance in helping me work on the bike. Thank you Joe!
Today I also drug out my old two man Hillary dome tent and set it up
for the first time in more years than I care to recount. It will have to be replaced as the shock
cords in the tent poles no longer have any elasticity, and I’m not so sure that
the fabric it’s self would last one night out on the trail if a stiff breeze
were to come up.
Well, that’s all for now, I’m waiting of the USPS and UPS to
deliver some parts so I can continue on with preparing the F650 for the TAT.
And in case you're wondering about the TAT, go to the below link. The TAT is the red dotted line from NC to OR...
http://www.transamtrail.com/
And in case you're wondering about the TAT, go to the below link. The TAT is the red dotted line from NC to OR...
http://www.transamtrail.com/
All ya’ll have a good day, and stay tuned for more of my ramblings as I
ride the F650 on the TAT.
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