See You Down The Road Define the Adventure
  • Home
  • Blog
  • About
  • E STORE

​See you down the road
Define the adventure

THOMAS AND THE INDIAN                OOMPAH - IT AIN'T INDIAN

9/25/2018

0 Comments

 
Picture
Picture

​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.
Picture
Picture
Picture


​
Picture

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.
Picture

Below are the sights and sounds of the Munich Oktoberfest.  Enjoy!

Wir sehen uns auf der Strasse  -  See You Down The Road

0 Comments

HERE'S MUD IN YOUR EYE...ahhh... SHOES

9/12/2018

0 Comments

 
Picture
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.  
Picture
Mud.   Sticky Goo.  

The good folks at POLARIS/INDIAN  comped me to the race with VIP credentials that gave me access to the pits, but I didn't have access to the restricted areas where the best photo opportuninty was.  I did my best.  

​Put me up in a nice hotel.  Only five miles from the track.  Very comfortable with kitchen, living room and king bed.  
​
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!
Picture
Picture
Picture
Picture
Photo credit:   File photo American Flat Track
Picture
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



See You Down The Road

0 Comments

"NEW" HORIZIONS

9/2/2018

0 Comments

 
Picture
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. 
Picture
                  On the road to Paonia, CO for the Colorado BMW Rally
​
Picture
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.
Picture
Picture
Left riding the Denver and Rio Grande in Durango.  First ride was when I was about ten.  Been there many many times.  Durango, Silverton and Ouray one of my favorite places.
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.
Picture
Picture
Buffalo and the Moose in Teton National Park
Picture
Sometimes you have to look up to see the beauty.  Thunder storm in Wyoming.

Picture
Ghost town of Bodie, CA   Located off Highway 395.  A great place to see and photograph.
Picture
                                                                                                                                                         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.  
Picture
Pack trip Mammoth Mountain, CA

Picture
Rock climbing and repelling, San Luis Obispo, CA
Borrego Springs, CA                                                       Old Custom House, China Ranch, CA              Silverton, CO
​
Pfeiffer Falls, Hwy 1, CA                                              "Million Dollar Hwy, Ouray" , CA                       Marble, CO
Picture
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.
Picture
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
Picture
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

0 Comments

    Author

    Karl Johnson​

    Archives

    March 2022
    October 2021
    May 2021
    March 2021
    February 2021
    July 2020
    June 2020
    April 2020
    December 2019
    October 2019
    September 2019
    July 2019
    June 2019
    April 2019
    March 2019
    January 2019
    December 2018
    November 2018
    October 2018
    September 2018
    July 2018
    June 2018
    May 2018
    March 2018
    February 2018
    January 2018
    December 2017
    November 2017
    October 2017
    September 2017
    August 2017
    July 2017
    June 2017
    May 2017
    April 2017
    March 2017
    February 2017
    January 2017
    December 2016
    November 2016
    October 2016
    September 2016
    August 2016
    July 2016
    June 2016
    May 2016
    April 2016
    March 2016

    Categories

    All

    Please Help Support
    this Blog by making
    any size donation.
    ​Thank you for your 
    support!
Powered by Create your own unique website with customizable templates.
  • Home
  • Blog
  • About
  • E STORE