This past weekend and the weekend before. Great rides and then rain. All good. Love the Indian and the 4Runner. If you have young children or grand children then Thomas the Tank is a familiar face. Although there are other "Thomas's" around; I believe the one located in Strasburg, PA is the only "live steam". Should you find yourself close to Lancaster County, PA, do take a ride on Thomas, or one of the other trains. While there don't miss the wonderful Train Museum too.
  Since 1880 Liederkranz, a German singing society and cultural club, has celebrated the German Heritage. Always a good time when there, and been there several times. Great Food. Great "Volk". Great Music! Early Saturday, rode out on the bike. Encounted just a few rain drops. The sky was threatening so left about 3:30. What a shock to try to return about 6PM. The moderate attendence in the afternoon had exploded to well over 3,000! No place to park and in the overflow parking the bus line was way to long for this cowboy. I'll return Sunday. And did.  Below are the sights and sounds of the Munich Oktoberfest. Enjoy! Wir sehen uns auf der Strasse - See You Down The Road
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 The morning of September 8 more or less washed in with more rain. We have had the wettest last month in our local weather history. Great for the "green things" not so great for today's adventure. I was off to see the American Flat Track Race held at Williams Grove Half-Mile in Mechancisburg, PA. The drive was in light rain. Always enjoyed seeing the films on this type of motorcycle racing; never been to one. Should you get the chance to attend one in your area it is a great way to spend the afternoon/evening. The event crisscrosses the County with the race schedule from Spring to Fall. Should be a race not far from where you are.  Mud. Sticky Goo.
Arrival at the track the sky was overcast and threatening, but no rain falling. Most of the field was walkable without issue, however trying to get to the edge to shoot required a muddy sticky trek. Walking was like having ten pound ankle weights. Should have had "muck boots". Who knew? Definitely not a Louboutin or Ferragamo day - save these for a F1 race, perhaps Monaco!
  Photo credit: File photo American Flat Track  Photo Credit: motor Sports News Wire Winner of the 25 lap AFT main event was Jared Mees, riding an Indian Scout FTR750, followed by Brad Baker also on an Indian FTR75 and the third place was Briar Bauman on a Kawasaki Ninja 650
 As a follower of this blog you have read that fifteen years ago I fled the "Peoples Democratic Socalist Republic of Kalifornia" I did however, leave some investment properties there. This year I sold and now free of that "Red Star" state. Following are some of the adventures in the West over the years; by motorcycle, RV and 4Runner. Fine hotels and sleeping under the stars. Great memories of my life in the Wild and Open West. The majestic Rockies and Sierras. The deserts. Miles upon miles of open travel with hardly a structure in sight! Unlike the East where it is dificult to escape mans footprint.  On the road to Paonia, CO for the Colorado BMW Rally  Since there is no reason to return West for business; I will miss the seventy two years of wondering the Western States as a child with a great family and as an adult on my own travels. Been to many places in all the Western States - California, Nevada, Utha, New Mexico, Arizona, Idaho, , Oragon, Washington and my personal favorates Colorado, Wyoming, and Montana. Lived in Alaska back in the mid seventies. Drove the Alcan. Hint, drive/ride one way and take the Alaska Ferry Inside Passage one way. Either by car, RV, or motorcycle however you do it - go West. Motorcycles alone have logged well over 300,000 miles in the saddle. I do love the West. Perhaps I will find my way back to live out there again. Been living in the Mid-Atlantic for fifteen years and can't tell you much of the rides in the East. Moved here because my son got orders to USNA. Have been to AMERICADE a couple of times. Seen the beautiful Fall Colors in New York, Vermont, New Hapshrie and the Blue Ridge. Maybe later this month will return. May drive the northern half of the Blue Ridge too. We will see. I have become rather satisfied at home with Lynn and the fuzzes. Do miss my cats when gone. Yes, dear, miss you too. Below, my pride: Sabrina, and her brother Sebastian, Buddy. Graycie May, Baby and Mr. Binks. All rescues.
Below in the Summer of 2007, my son and I were on two diferent rides he on his R1200 GS and I went out to spend time in Jackson Hole in the RV. We met up at a great little place in Buffalo, Wyoming. After a great lunch we went our ways; he back to his command at the Naval Accademy, I went on to Custer and the Badlands of South Dakota.
 Sometimes you have to look up to see the beauty. Thunder storm in Wyoming.
Dallas Divide on the way to Telluride, CO Wherever you are: "Go West Young Man" Just avoid the cities. Wonder the outback. Occassionally ride a train or shoot the Snake RIver in a raft or kayak! Go horseback riding on a packtrip. Throw yourself off a mountain - LIVE life while you can and are healty. Don't get old and wish you had done stuff! Now at 72, still in pursuit of the next adventure.
Borrego Springs, CA Old Custom House, China Ranch, CA Silverton, CO Pfeiffer Falls, Hwy 1, CA "Million Dollar Hwy, Ouray" , CA Marble, CO  When new before the sidecar 2005 R1200 GS at one of my favoret places - Alibama Hills, CA. Camp there and get up around 4AM in the summer. Make a pot of coffee and sit out in the brisk air and watch the "Alpen Glow" on Mount Whitney! Doesn't get much better.  As seen in full morning glory from my base camp in early morning light is Mount Whitney. Lake Powell , AZ Red Mountain, Hwy550 CO Monument Valley, UT Now "New" Horizons and the new Ride  Above is the new rig, 2017 INDAIN VINTAGE CHIEF and married to a HANNIGAN MOTORSPORTS SIDECAR. Sweet ride! Sad to give up the off road capabilities of the BMW R12; but this will be a great scoot to the fine hotels and dinning. After all think I am done with sleeping on the cold hard ground and eating beans over a campfire....maybe. Still have the 4Runner for the "outback" and for camping. Again as a reader you have seen in the previous posts that there were issues with both the Indain and with Hannigan Motorsports. All was made good. Kudos to Dave Hannigan and the fine folks at Polaris Indian. Gettysburg, PA GATHERING OF WARBIRDS, OH FORT TICONDAROGA, NY There have been many trips here in the East. In the next post we can explore some and introduce you to places you may wish to go; be it by motorcycle, car or RV. Come back to this blog and enjoy the rides! Oh and if you wish to purchase one of the photos here in the blog. please see them in the blog store or find them at my photography website: http://www.karlhjohnsonphotography.com. Purchases help buy gas and cat food. Thanks for your patronage. See You Down The Road |
