[Old_Man_Time]

Once upon a time there was this Dirt Bike rider who due to circumstances beyond his control found his trusty steeds saddened and neglected collecting dust and rust for three weeks. This was cruel and unusual punishment for both the steeds and their throttle jockey. Feeling caged and thirsting for the freedom, which could only be found on two wheels with an internal combustion engine between his legs. The jockey longed for the feel of acceleration brought on by a twist of his right wrist. The smell of sage and dust and the feeling of perfect balance as bike and rider become one twisting through a winding trail at the bottom of a long ravine. When this throttle jockey could no longer live with himself because of the neglect his mounts were suffering. When he could no longer endure the withdrawals of rider deprivation. In desperation he posted a thread on ThumperTalk seeking fellow riders suffering the same withdrawal symptoms.

Yes, it was December and the weather had turned cold. Snows had only one week earlier painted the country side white. But a warm wind had melted the snows and brought clear skies. He leaped by an act of faith seeking fellow riders to meet him in the cold deserts of Eastern Washington on Saturday, 12/8/2007. Four brave riders answered his desperate post. Two from Seattle 525Rider (Frank) and the_eel (Eric). And two from the TriCities Rick525 (Rick) and Craig. Frank is riding a YZF450 these days and Eric was on a GasGas 250. Rick was riding a KTM 525EXC and Craig was on a Honda CRF450. I was riding my KTM 525EXC.

The weather predictions for Saturday were cold with clear skies. When I woke up Saturday morning the skies were blue and it was hovering right around 29 degrees in Quincy. It was absolutely beautiful out.

I pulled into the staging area right behind Frank and Eric who had carpooled from Seattle. Before long Rick showed up and said that Craig was on route and should be there soon. We talked, started our bikes and put on our riding gear as we waited for Craig. It was now about 10:45. The temperatures in Mattawa were slightly warmer than in Quincy being in the 30's. By the end of the day it would get a bit over 40 degrees out. In the morning hours there was a bit of a wind, which could chill your bones if you stayed still too long.

Here is my bike off the truck while I am finishing getting my gear on:
http://oldmantime.smugmug.com/photos/230686843-L.jpg

Ricks truck and bike:
http://oldmantime.smugmug.com/photos/230687247-L.jpg

Eric standing next to the truck that he and Frank pooled in:
http://oldmantime.smugmug.com/photos/230687370-L.jpg

And here is Frank warming up before the ride:
http://oldmantime.smugmug.com/photos/230687530-L.jpg

Craig finally showed up and Frank, Eric and I took off to ride the farthest east ravine to warm up. Rick stayed with Craig while he finished putting his gear on. Rick and Craig have ridden the area before and knew exactly, which ravine we were heading to. Frank, Eric and myself had finished riding up the ravine and were heading back down it to meet up with Rick and Craig. We didn't even get half way down and we ran into them coming up so we all rode back up the ravine and stopped at the top for guy talk.

We then headed cross country through the sage to ride through the deep ruts caused by flash flooding last year. These are cool ruts which are taller than the bikes in some spots and barely wide enough for your handlebars to clear in places. From here we rode cross country to the cabin.

http://oldmantime.smugmug.com/photos/230687773-L.jpg

http://oldmantime.smugmug.com/photos/230687964-L.jpg

Now part of the reason we love riding so much is because you can get away from the rat race. Freedom in the wide open spaces. No waiting at a red light hoping that traffic gets moving fast enough for you to make it through when it turns green. Not having to deal with the crowds pressing in on you. Not having to wait in long line at the grocery store. You think you have escaped all this and then what happens?

Lines, long lines and hoping you can hold it with out wetting your self. Hey buddy hurry up in there! Your not the only person here you know! Hurry it up!
:banghead:
http://oldmantime.smugmug.com/photos/230688140-L.jpg

After dealing with the pressures that nature forced upon us we headed up to the towers to look down on the Beverly Dunes. What a beautiful day. Too bad that so many of our biker brothers and sisters are stuck at home in front of the boob tube. We really feel sorry for them - not! :excuseme:

http://oldmantime.smugmug.com/photos/230688326-L.jpg

http://oldmantime.smugmug.com/photos/230688531-L.jpg

From the Tower Look Out we rode cross country over to the most western ravine. I suggested that we ride down this ravine first since it sometimes ices up on the rock formations at the bottom making them impassable when trying to ride up them. As it turned out there was only a small amount of ice which didn't slow us down at all. Once we rode it to the bottom the plan was to ride the ravine back up. But before we did the guys wanted to do some hill climbing.

Here are the guys waiting to ride back up the ravine after they had climbed the hill right behind them. The second picture is of Frank coming back down.
http://oldmantime.smugmug.com/photos/230688995-L.jpg

http://oldmantime.smugmug.com/photos/230688738-L.jpg

I told the guys to give me a bit of a head start so I could position myself somewhere up the ravine and take some pictures of them:

Frank was the first and he bobbled it on a step up and killed his bike. Most likely the only mistake he made all day long. But I was there with my camera to catch the action:
http://oldmantime.smugmug.com/photos/230689281-L.jpg
http://oldmantime.smugmug.com/photos/230689627-L.jpg
No Frank there is nothing wrong with the bike :bonk: :
http://oldmantime.smugmug.com/photos/230689990-L.jpg
Wait a minute, what this? Traffic? Someone honking there horn behind you. I thought we got away from all that.
http://oldmantime.smugmug.com/photos/230690341-L.jpg

[Old_Man_Time]

Now it is Craigs turn:
http://oldmantime.smugmug.com/photos/230690640-L.jpg

Careful Rick:
http://oldmantime.smugmug.com/photos/230690912-L.jpg

Bye guys, hey wait for me:
http://oldmantime.smugmug.com/photos/230691225-L.jpg

We eventually looped back to the trucks and ate a snake before going out for a second loop. When we arrived back at the truck we had 17 miles into the ride. At the end of the day we had done 39 miles of riding. We rode through four different ravines full of great technical rock formations. We chased each other around cross country dipping down into small ravines and blasting across the sage making our own trails. We never rode down to the sand dunes so there was more to do.

On a side note. Many of you may remember that last year I lost my camera at Mattawa about this same time. I had put it on the roof of my truck and drove off. A fellow named Paul found it and posted on TT that he had found a camera at Mattawa. I called him and described my camera and he told me that was the one he found. Well he was there when we came in from the first half of the ride. He and a friend of his were getting ready to put in some practice time since he is about to head on down to Baja. He is the one holding the CRF450X up in the picture. You can't see his face:
http://oldmantime.smugmug.com/photos/230691386-L.jpg

One of these days I am going to photo document all of the fun technical stuff at Mattawa. I really didn't take many pictures of what we did this time. I sure had a good time and I hope everyone else enjoyed the ride too. :thumbsup:

[old-school]

Wow sounds like you guys had a nice time there.:ride:
And snake for lunch, that is hardcore :crazy:






:busted:

[Old_Man_Time]

Wow sounds like you guys had a nice time there.:ride:
And snake for lunch, that is hardcore :crazy:






:busted:

Yep, thats what happens when you haven't ridden for 3 weeks. You turn into a carnivorous animal. It slithered down nicely.

[CC rider]

My New Year's resolution for '08 - Work 1 or 2 less weekends so I can go on one of OMT's killer rides. Sure looked like fun guys.

[Navy509]

I wish I could have made it, I went to Othello and picked up my bike but was running to late to meet up with you guys, so I headed to the Dunes in Mosses Lake, and while slowing down to make the turn off highway 17, BOOM! Hit from the rear by a car full of Russians, our truck spun across the highway, there car was totaled and we got whiplash, Bikes were ok. Truck was not, but still drivable. Wish I could have made it, maybe next time.

[Old_Man_Time]

I wish I could have made it, I went to Othello and picked up my bike but was running to late to meet up with you guys, so I headed to the Dunes in Mosses Lake, and while slowing down to make the turn off highway 17, BOOM! Hit from the rear by a car full of Russians, our truck spun across the highway, there car was totaled and we got whiplash, Bikes were ok. Truck was not, but still drivable. Wish I could have made it, maybe next time.
Wow, Hot Off The Press - Rider Down - Russians Pull Sneak Attack
So the cold war never really ended. Suicide car attack. Wow, glad every one survived but sorry to hear about the whip lash. I was out of work for 3 weeks due to whip lash from a rear end job back in the 70s. Hit from behind by my brother in law who was day dreaming when I stopped for the stop sign and he did not. :bonk:

[bikedude127]

You guys :lol:

Nice story line :applause:

[shrubitup]

Sweet ride report OMT!

I knew there was something fun up on Saddle Mtn. I have looked at that hill countless times when I did the trek back and forth across Highway 26 to Pullman.

Looks like a great place!

[NO_FEAR]

Snake? sounds like it would be chewy!

Looks like a fun ride, the scenery is GREAT

[another drz guy]

WOW! Great ride!



You always have the best ride reports.

[LIGHTNING MOTORCYCLE]

Wow. Wish we could have been there. We rode Walker and everything was icy. That dry ground (with plenty of traction) looks worth the extra miles to get there. Nice report old man time.

Bill

[Kingdog20]

Was up there Sunday. Great riding. Snow at first then was nice for the rest of the day.

[liv2ryd]

Once upon a time there was this Dirt Bike rider who due to circumstances beyond his control found his trusty steeds saddened and neglected collecting dust and rust for three weeks. This was cruel and unusual punishment for both the steeds and their throttle jockey. Feeling caged and thirsting for the freedom, which could only be found on two wheels with an internal combustion engine between his legs. The jockey longed for the feel of acceleration brought on by a twist of his right wrist. The smell of sage and dust and the feeling of perfect balance as bike and rider become one twisting through a winding trail at the bottom of a long ravine. When this throttle jockey could no longer live with himself because of the neglect his mounts were suffering. When he could no longer endure the withdrawals of rider deprivation. In desperation he posted a thread on ThumperTalk seeking fellow riders suffering the same withdrawal symptoms.


Now part of the reason we love riding so much is because you can get away from the rat race. Freedom in the wide open spaces. No waiting at a red light hoping that traffic gets moving fast enough for you to make it through when it turns green. Not having to deal with the crowds pressing in on you. Not having to wait in long line at the grocery store. You think you have escaped all this and then what happens?


What a beautiful day. Too bad that so many of our biker brothers and sisters are stuck at home in front of the boob tube. We really feel sorry for them - not! :excuseme:


Well done biker brother. I too have been hearing the cry of my Bella. But company's coming for the holidays and I've been working a lot of 13 hour days . So there's no time to ride. Hopefully we'll get to go this coming weekend if the weather holds. We haven't ridden since our Thanksgiving weekend trip to Moab.:cry:

[hallasstrom]

were is the cabin? I have never seen it all the times I have been there?

[hayshaker]

were is the cabin? I have never seen it all the times I have been there?
I love this question:busted:

TONY

[taneum jct]

I love this question:busted:

TONY

I was there yesterday in the fog and asked myself the same question.:excuseme:

[Old_Man_Time]

I was there yesterday in the fog and asked myself the same question.:excuseme:

Did you look for the yellow brick road? The cabin can only be found after you cross over into OZ. :prof:

Maybe you should seek the Tin Man as a guide.

[MX813]

Did you look for the yellow brick road? The cabin can only be found after you cross over into OZ. :prof:

Maybe you should seek the Tin Man as a guide.


Kind of like the Island of Midas....

I will find it during my winter break, thats for sure

[motorzen]

Another great ride report. Thanks Nick!

[deej]

Is it just me or do you guys look awesome in the colors and pictures. Nice report. Those bikes look too clean :)

[Old_Man_Time]

Is it just me or do you guys look awesome in the colors and pictures. Nice report. Those bikes look too clean :)

The bikes are so clean because of the theory of speedativity. When a faster moving object (our bikes) sets in motion a slower moving object (dust and mud), the slower moving object cannot attach itself to the object that set it in motion. Because said object is already gone. Yep, that is it. :prof:

[rolliew]

THANKS OLD MN TIME,

I am bogged down at work right now + a top end rebuild, your report and pics keeps me goin.

[trailmeisterjoe]

The bikes are so clean because of the theory of speedativity. When a faster moving object (our bikes) sets in motion a slower moving object (dust and mud), the slower moving object cannot attach itself to the object that set it in motion. Because said object is already gone. Yep, that is it. :prof:

Good one Nick! :thumbsup: :busted:
Joe

[Yogi Bear]

Yes but he was also referring to fallitivity. The gravitational force the causes objects to cluster in one's path and bring speedativity to a rapid halt, at which point said dirt particles rapidly attach themselves to one's frame. Got to keep up with the latest physics theory's

[MX813]

Yes but he was also referring to fallitivity. The gravitational force the causes objects to cluster in one's path and bring speedativity to a rapid halt, at which point said dirt particles rapidly attach themselves to one's frame. Got to keep up with the latest physics theory's

so in laymans terms....


when you crash, dirt attaches itself to the bike? That is how I interpret "rapid halt"

[shrubitup]

No doubt that both fallativity and speedativity had much to do with those images. However, nobody has noted the SUN effect that can occur once the Cascades are crested. This a planet in our solar system that shines and casts natural bright light everywhere. We coasties infrequently experience these effects and fear it by wearing sunglasses every time there is a cloud break.

[Old_Man_Time]

No doubt that both fallativity and speedativity had much to do with those images. However, nobody has noted the SUN effect that can occur once the Cascades are crested. This a planet in our solar system that shines and casts natural bright light everywhere. We coasties infrequently experience these effects and fear it by wearing sunglasses every time there is a cloud break.

Quite right, I have noticed this effect on all coasties myself.

There is one point we Eastern Washingtonians take exception to concerning the Sun Effect. The Western Washingtonian explanation of light on our planet is that it comes from a planet called the sun. Eastern Washington scientist tell us the sun is actually a star in our solar system.

We are quite accustomed to this phenomena and actually welcome it. The only Eastern Washingtonians who wear sun glasses out of fear are those who moved here from Western Washington. In time we will teach them there is nothing to fear and that they do not need to stop riding and shade their eyes or hide in caves due to the light. Come toward the light, it will be OK. :prof:

[KAS]

Excellent report as always. Looks like a blast.