October 2023, Letts

Friday departure to Sunday home before 4. 

Tracks: One for each day 

Some say I talk too much.  Others love my wisdom and chat.  I don't know.  I am just me.  I try to teach this to my students.  Just be you.  Have good intentions.  You cannot please everyone.  That's a fact.  So sometimes, when planning these rides, I have to keep in mind that not everyone will get exactly what they want or need.  But truth be told, I'm not focusing on want, I'm focusing on need.  We had three new people in this group Friday night.  I wouldn't say new riders, just new people to our group.  You never know how that dynamic will go.  Do we need new people? No. Do they sometimes add some new interesting and positive energy?  Yes.  Kim.  Kim is a professional musician.  He added so much to our campfire time night one.  That was fun.  Plus, he is a good rider.  Terry.  Terry was invaluable in the first hour.  Plus, to give him some credits, he didn't go to bed early.  He hung with the poker guys late, and brought toads.  Also a good rider. Dave.  Dave came along with Raf and he is a great guy.  He's a newish rider, yes, but that's just the thing.  Shall we be the group that incourages, teaches, helps?  Yes, I believe that's us.  That's motosandjeeps.  We are the guys that help and encourage.  Glad to have newer riders along.  Welcome to all and one.  Dave, you did great and are welcome any time.  So are you Terry and Kim.  

Side note: If you are reading this Scott.....Kim plays anything....Scott brings a banjo and Kim a mando.  Jason will play guitar.  Boom.  I said BOOM!  You want a pro level band at camp, let's just say BOOM. 

I'm going to do this write up in spirts.  I just can't spend hours in one spot doing it.  So this is half hour one.  Cats.  No.  You didn't all see the cats.  Fine.   Elk.  Doah.  Nope.  That needs explaining.  Okay, Letts.  Oh my gosh, we have never seen this campground empty.  It was amazing. 

It was crazy to roam around this empty campground except us.  I love that Rig set up the kitchen by the toilet.  That made sense.  :(  Some guys went and fished.  Where's the fish?  We spread out.  We visited as we all set up camp.  I am usually late in the camp setup.  I had to use a headlamp.  But we all got our camps set.  We got a tour of Jason's amazing 270 degree awning on his Bronco.  That's badass.  Then we got a tour of Rig's new trailer.  Oh no........that didn't happen because Rig didn't bring it.  Come on man!  Rig made Chinese food.  Todd brought some yummy beefy appetizers.  We all roamed and looked at motorcycles.  Some people stared at my swingarm.  It's a work of art.  Swen has one too.  Then it was poker and music.  Kim and Pete and Jason played.  It was fun.  I was in poker for 60 bucks.  Thankfully I got 30 back.  We had a lot of fun.  Swen put on his new ktm sweatshirt.  Dang bro.  You are all in.  I have been wanting one and put it on my Christmas list for my wife.  Dang you. 

Saturday morning, breakfast was served and guys roamed about.  Then we said goodbye to about half the crowd.  Alan swept off pine needles off of Pepe.  Andy's jeep.  For some reason it got a lot of pine needles on it.  Andy, Jason and Todd, Kim and Terry and Dave, they all went home.  We were left with Mike, Pete, Swen, Raf, Alan, and Rig.   So we moved along.  Today was the M10 to Pillsbury.  It was amazing.  The M10 is a better dirt road than most of Chico's blacktop.  So fun.  We got to the peak, where google wants you to go down the rutted steep downhill to Bear Creek.  But I know better.  So we stop.  Me and Raf are hanging out.  Waiting.  We gather the troops and Rig and Alan decide to take the rutted route.  Sensible men take the M10.  I figure we are racing for the bottom.   By the time we get to the bottom and past the cows, Rig and Alan aren't there.  We hang out.  Then Swen rides the water crossing for fun.  So fun.  See video.  Raf surgically fixes my glove so it works with my phone.  See video. Alan and Rig can't make it on the rutted route due to logs.  But they didn't fall over. So they backtrack.  We connect again.  They do the water crossing with the pipe.  The same one Swen did.  Just for fun.  See video.  We move along the route. And now it's the big water crossing.   Ughhh. 

I roll up first.  Can't see the bottom, but know I gotta go.  So I turn off my brain and just roll in, making sure I don't stall it.  Moment is your friend, after all.  I get through and stop,  waving to the other guys to wait so I can video them.  See video.   Thankfully, bike guys didn't fall down.  Neither did the truck or jeep guys though. 

The next bit of track up to Pillsbury was a bit bumpy and potholed.  Not my favorite section.  After riding the M10, which was amazing, this next session just wasn't.  Anyway, we pull up to the store there and I wait on the road because it's easy to miss.  Swen and Raf go in.  I make sure everyone makes the turn and then roll down.  Guys had weird looks on their faces.  They said there was something like ten cats in the store.  And that the whole place reaked of cat piss.  But they can make you a sandwich.  If you don't mind cat hair I guess.  I went in and yes, it stunk.  Wowza.  I guess there's no county health department checking on that deli!  We all got something and packed up.  Camp was only minutes away around the lake.  Actually, we hung around the store for time enough to sip a beer.  Swen and Raf got some splashes of gas from some old dude who had his shirt off.  Gas and boobs I guess. 

Camp was interesting.  We had a lake view.  We had a huge spot.  But it was the last weekend of hunting season and gunfire could be heard all around us pretty much the whole time we were there.  The elk herds cruised nearby on the lake shore.  Cool to hear their bugling.  Kind of went on all night.  Some guys didn't drink much and went to bed early.  No partying night two I guess.  Alan and Mike and I continued on with poker.  Enough to get some good buzzes on whisky sevens.  Before that, Chef Rig made up some make your own burgers and they were very good.  Nice of you cookie.  Not necessary, but nice.  I was looking forward to breakfast. 

Come morning, Rig left.  He took the breakfast with him.  It rained most of the night, but thankfully, breakfast time was nice and it only sprinkled occasionally.  Except there wasn't any breakfast.  Fortunately, I'm getting wiser and wiser each time, and this time I brought my stove, coffee, and cup noodles.  Breakfast happened.  Swen had mac and cheese.  We had big conversations about the food industry, education, and obesity.  Solved zero problems.  Noted. 

The next few hours were not that pleasant.  It pretty much rained the whole ride home.  I got wet.  It was slippery in spots.  I had some front end slides.  No bueno.  But nobody fell down.  Not even Alan in his truck.  We got into Willows and even stopped at The Last Stand.  But Raf and I were wet.  Swen hit the highway.  Never heard Mike complain.  But I didn't feel like sitting and eating in wet pants.  So we had some truck beers and boogied on home.  I sped.  

Man, my bike was filthy.  That's the first time I have ridden it in the rain, and therefore, mud.  It took me a while to get it cleaned up.  And even now, I need to detail it more.  I'm just happy I didn't fall down.  

I ran my hard luggage this weekend.  Like I did for Laguna in July.  I'm finding that I love this setup.  It's so roomy and easy to load and unload.  Plus, it's waterproof.  So I decided to sell the Mosko Moto setup.  So on Monday, I did some research on used stuff as well as looked at the new stuff at their website.  It's 1300 bucks new!  Yikes.  So, given what I was seeing used, I decided to list them at 750.  Mind you, they came with the bike.  So I figured any amount would be a win.  I get a message in messenger.  Guy asks me a couple of questions, I answer, then he offers me 650 cash.  So I figured better to have the bird in hand.  I say yes.  I tell him I'm a teacher and can meet after 3.  He suggests I come to his work, Butte County Courthouse; he'll tell security to expect me.  So I show up about 3:30.  I get all checked through security and the sheriff.  And then this other officer tells me to go upstairs and it's the first door on the left. Michael is expecting me.  I get up there and it's a courtroom and court is in session.  So I'm kind of weirded out.  I go in, and everyone looks at me.  A sheriff tells me to step forward, then tells everyone else to clear the court and wait in the hallway.  My guy is the judge.  He calls me back to the jury room, sheriff follows.  We all have a grand chat about motorcycles.  He has a 790.  He likes the luggage, hands me an envelope, and off I go.  Crazy.  Super funny.  

So there you have it.  A great October ride weekend and topped off for me with a sale of some motorcycle gear.  Fun to have some new fellers join us.  Seems like they had a good time.  Hopefully they'll join again. When is again?  And we need to set our January meeting date to create the 2024 schedule.  It was nice to have that all set this year.  

I am loving that we have some "go to" places and some favorite tracks.  Lett's Lake was amazing.  Of course it was empty, but even when people are there it's a great campsite.  Plus, it's easy to get to it.  Bear Creek on the M10 is always a favorite.  I don't think I'd camp at Pillsbury again.  Raf suggested we just camp in the woods on the M6.   If we do that loop again.  Honestly, if it wasn't raining the M6 and M3 were really great tracks.  It was a good loop. 

I am loving that fellers can and do join on 4 wheels.  It makes for just more great guys and great fun.  Plus, coolers of beers.  That's a big deal.  Someday we should have one of the four wheelers haul Sunday breakfast.  That would be awesome. Oh.  Wait....

Until next time fellas.  If a man is judged by the friends he has, then I am judged well indeed.  Cheers.