 New Playground
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Joined: Feb 2011
Posts: 2,146
Oil Expert
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OP
Oil Expert
Joined: Feb 2011
Posts: 2,146 |
So the wife (yeah, her again) really likes landscaping. We live in a cabin on about an acre and a half but the cabin is atop the plot of land so almost all of it is below, and down the mountain from the cabin. If you've ever lived on sloping land you know that a sloping acre and a half can seem like more.
Anyway, she's been working on clearing underbrush down the mountainside. I have stayed out of her way with my own project (building a sailboat). Besides, if I walked down there I'd have to walk back up. She's been down there just working away for about a month.
So, today she comes in and says I need to she her project.
It turns out she's been building a sort of "skills course" for us to practice going up and down the mountain in overlapping loops over a variety of obstacles and different conditions on our KLR's without leaving the area of the cabin. It's quite the project.
We were dropping our KLR's right and left going up and down but they have enough crash bars that they practically have roll cages and we were padded up like Imperial Storm Troopers. I was pooled in sweat within minutes. It was a blast.
I have a new playground right outside the door. After riding on it for an hour we were walking it and planning the next phase.
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Re: New Playground
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Joined: Feb 2005
Posts: 20,096 Likes: 2
Fe Butt
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Fe Butt
Joined: Feb 2005
Posts: 20,096 Likes: 2 |
Ummmm...Chet. You DO realize that if you keep startin' these sorts of threads, EITHER: (a)Somebody around here is gonna attempt to kidnap YOUR wife. (b)Somebody around here is gonna start beatin' THEIR wife in envious rages. (c)Somebody around here is gonna feel compelled to search out the possiblity that you are ACTUALLY some lonely little financially-strapped twerp who sits with his laptop at a Starbucks in Amarillo Texas and attempts to have people on the Internet believe he lives the Life of Riley. (d)All of the above!   (...have fun on your new "private track"!) 
Yep! Just like a good Single Malt Scotch, you might call me "an acquired taste" TOO.(among the many OTHER things you may care to call me, of course)
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Re: New Playground
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Joined: Jul 2007
Posts: 6,060 Likes: 6
Worn Saddle
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Worn Saddle
Joined: Jul 2007
Posts: 6,060 Likes: 6 |
Quote:
So the wife (yeah, her again) really likes landscaping. We live in a cabin on about an acre and a half but the cabin is atop the plot of land so almost all of it is below, and down the mountain from the cabin. If you've ever lived on sloping land you know that a sloping acre and a half can seem like more.
Anyway, she's been working on clearing underbrush down the mountainside. I have stayed out of her way with my own project (building a sailboat). Besides, if I walked down there I'd have to walk back up. She's been down there just working away for about a month.
So, today she comes in and says I need to she her project.
It turns out she's been building a sort of "skills course" for us to practice going up and down the mountain in overlapping loops over a variety of obstacles and different conditions on our KLR's without leaving the area of the cabin. It's quite the project.
We were dropping our KLR's right and left going up and down but they have enough crash bars that they practically have roll cages and we were padded up like Imperial Storm Troopers. I was pooled in sweat within minutes. It was a blast.
I have a new playground right outside the door. After riding on it for an hour we were walking it and planning the next phase.
This stuff can't be REAL. Are you playin with us? 
Fidelis et Fortis
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Re: New Playground
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Joined: Jul 2010
Posts: 348
Adjunct
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Adjunct
Joined: Jul 2010
Posts: 348 |
Quote:
This stuff can't be REAL. Are you playin with us?
Pictures would settle that question....
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Re: New Playground
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Joined: Feb 2011
Posts: 2,146
Oil Expert
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OP
Oil Expert
Joined: Feb 2011
Posts: 2,146 |
I'd never go to Starbucks.
I could be reasonably called a twerp. It just depends on your twerp standards.
Good luck with that kidnapping. She quit working as an ICU nurse when she blew out an ACL while dropping an ax kick for the winning point in the Mid Atlantic TKD Championships at the age of 45. She had a 3 year run where she was untouchable. Rarely even gave up a point in sparring. She retired from tournament competition as a 2nd degree black belt in TKD when her ACL went.
Good Lord, I'm starting to really realize how this actually sounds. I AM in a Matrix tube.
The loop really is a lot of fun. I don't have a dirt bike background and I actually felt like a better motorcycle rider after an hour on the loop. Becoming comfortable with the bikes tires sliding around was a new experience for me. I really think it's gonna make me safer on the street.
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Re: New Playground
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Joined: Feb 2011
Posts: 2,146
Oil Expert
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OP
Oil Expert
Joined: Feb 2011
Posts: 2,146 |
I'm not sure pictures would really show anything. It just looks like a path through the woods. I guess I could show you a path through the woods with a KLR lying on its side.
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Re: New Playground
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Joined: May 2007
Posts: 5,068 Likes: 1
Saddle Sore
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Saddle Sore
Joined: May 2007
Posts: 5,068 Likes: 1 |
You should consider wrapping yourself up in Bubble Wrap. It will protect you from the KLR crashes and the 2nd degree TKD whoopin'.
I can hook you up brother.
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Re: New Playground
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Joined: Feb 2011
Posts: 2,146
Oil Expert
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OP
Oil Expert
Joined: Feb 2011
Posts: 2,146 |
I just put some SW Mo Tech engine/fairing guards on the bikes last week. Tested them pretty thoroughly yesterday. We kinda accepted that we were gonna have spills when we bought the KLRs. Ruthie dropped a couple times. I killed the engine in a climb turning left around a tree and almost smashed the top of the tank on the tree but was able to arrest the fall.
Man, if this doesn't have disaster written all over it.
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Re: New Playground
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Joined: Sep 2009
Posts: 1,202 Likes: 11
Learned Hand
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Learned Hand
Joined: Sep 2009
Posts: 1,202 Likes: 11 |
Very cool to have you own playground in your backyard... I'm sure it's a blast, but, even if this is a moto forum, we are in the lounge and I am interested to read about your sailboat as well. I've been wanting to tackle something small, like a 16' catamaran... 
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Re: New Playground
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Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 5,590
Check Pants
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Check Pants
Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 5,590 |
Quote:
She quit working as an ICU nurse
Chet,
That's the part that tickles me. 3 1/2 years ago when I spent an extended time in St. Lukes following the so-called BC mishap, I was amazed by the number of nursing staff that rode bikes. After discharge I had to call the lifeflight service about a bill. The woman working the claims, asked "By the way what happened?" I explained and she replied that she raced motocross, with the obligatory broken bones. Her response really cracked me up  . Heck our own Fast Eddy works on a flight crew. So, thanks for the inspiration folks
So enjoy your backyard track 
jh
"It's not what I say that's important, it's what you hear" Red Auerbach
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Re: New Playground
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Joined: Feb 2011
Posts: 2,146
Oil Expert
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OP
Oil Expert
Joined: Feb 2011
Posts: 2,146 |
Quote:
Very cool to have you own playground in your backyard...
I'm sure it's a blast, but, even if this is a moto forum, we are in the lounge and I am interested to read about your sailboat as well.
I've been wanting to tackle something small, like a 16' catamaran...
Even smaller. Just a little 10' sailing skiff. When it looks a little better I'll post some pics. It's actually coming along pretty well.
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Re: New Playground
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Joined: Feb 2011
Posts: 2,146
Oil Expert
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OP
Oil Expert
Joined: Feb 2011
Posts: 2,146 |
OK, so here you go. Like I said, it's hard to tell much other than you're in the woods. I also, perhaps unwisely, included a picture of it's architect and builder. The picture is about 3 years old but she looks about the same. Ruthie was 52 when the picture was taken so be nice. https://picasaweb.google.com/10905994805...956081885352802
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Re: New Playground
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Joined: Aug 2009
Posts: 2,580
Loquacious
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Loquacious
Joined: Aug 2009
Posts: 2,580 |
I wish I was you But I'm not 
Too old to die young, too ugly to leave a good looking corpse
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Re: New Playground
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Joined: Jul 2007
Posts: 6,060 Likes: 6
Worn Saddle
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Worn Saddle
Joined: Jul 2007
Posts: 6,060 Likes: 6 |
I'm torn between honest appreciation of that neat front door track and an inappropriate appreciation of that nice looking wife. Guess I'll just play it safe in case I ever ride with you! (Lucky Ba***rd.)  
Fidelis et Fortis
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Re: New Playground
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Joined: Feb 2011
Posts: 2,146
Oil Expert
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OP
Oil Expert
Joined: Feb 2011
Posts: 2,146 |
Yeah, she's pretty cool. Just earned a few character lines in her pretty face over the years, which is the way she likes it, me too. Fine wine I don't know how she does it because she doesn't spend a lot of time working out. Some, but not a lot.
Yeah, the full track is currently beyond my meager off road skills. Always been a street guy (40 years). Plus, make no mistake, a KLR can go off road just fine but it's no dirt bike. When it falls over it's kinda heavy. Not TBA heavy (and, coming from V-twin riding, that's light) but way more than most dirt bikes.
Still, It's probably the most fun of any bike I've had (not cool like a Triuimph, though). Western North Carolina has hundreds (thousands?) of miles of Forest Service road I'd probably never have ridden without it.
When I get comfortable riding those meager trails I'm gonna feel like a much better rider. It's amazing how much more skilled I feel having become comfortable with a skidding/sliding rear wheel.
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Re: New Playground
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Joined: Aug 2009
Posts: 1,669
Learned Hand
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Learned Hand
Joined: Aug 2009
Posts: 1,669 |
Thanks for the pix Chet, that track looks freaking awesome. Reminds me of some trails I used to used to ride back when I was about 14. Zipping and sliding all over the place, however I was only on an little 80cc and a 125cc at the time. BTW what size is your KLR? 650?
PS. Yer "Architect" there is a fine looking woman and you are indeed a very luck man. I hope my wife looks that great when she's of the same age. But I got a feeling mine's more like milk than wine.
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Re: New Playground
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Joined: Feb 2011
Posts: 2,146
Oil Expert
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OP
Oil Expert
Joined: Feb 2011
Posts: 2,146 |
Yeah, it's a 650. She bought hers first and I took it for a spins and said, "I gotta get me one of these."
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