Recent content by The Smokester

Found this scorched, empty bottle by the side of the road in a burnt out section near Pope Valley this fall. Sorta represents all that is 2020.

Got the map back. This should keep you occupied.

Best ride ever! Looked like everyone who lives in Northern California went to Lake County on Sunday. Near Lake Berryessa, parked cars encircled the lake for miles. Still, FoolishMortal mostly managed to find the best roads with almost no traffic.

Those that look but do not see. Count me. :rolleyes Many of us have droned up Highway 5 north of Sacramento. I know I have. But in over 40 years, I never really saw the outcropping of volcanic rock lying east of 5 at Williams that comprises Sutter Buttes. You can Google it and see that it is the...

Time for a new riding suit. We're talking commuting and day-long touring here. I once again would like to take advantage of the wisdom that is BARF. :twofinger Presently, I have a Dianese two-piece textile suit with integrated armor and have been happy with it. I've never crashed in it so in...

My bike has been in a storage locker for the past 3 years (during which I sailed the Pacific). I want to reactivate it and start riding again. I did nothing special to store it. I just rode it into the locker and left it. So...What is the best way to get it going again? Should I just jump it...

Pleasure to meet many of the people I have only read about on BARF, but who inspire me in my riding. Here is a picture of the Lost Riders plaque which was updated yesterday at the memorial. More pictures I took can be found here...

Some pictures from the ride Some photos of places and people: The meetup at the Walmarts Chevron near American Canyon The rapted audience hangs on the inspirational words of Koi, the ride leader No really. It's true...Hmmm. Okay... Hanging out at the rest stop near Posers' Corner...

Here is our intrepid leader showing meticulous technique to capture part of the interesting and sights of the ride--in this case on the covered bridge near Knights Ferry near Oakdale. Thanks again Rod for arranging such a wonderful event.

The next day we separated because of the different capabilities of our bikes. Tim went for Titus Canyon which is a one-way ride on gravel and dirt for about 26 miles eventually going through a spectacular slotted canyon. Since my road bike and experience level was not up to this, I chose to ride...

After breakfast we made a bee line towards Death Valley, and found ourselves on the exhilarating Highway 178 through the mountains east of Bakersfield, and on through Ridgecrest, passing through scenic and memorable Trona, population 18 and site of an extensive soda ash mining operation. We...

I finally have a chance to post some of the pictures from this great trip. On the first night, Rod and Tim camped in the Carrizo Plain National Monument which required riding about 30 miles of dirt road. They had adventure bikes. Since it had recently rained (actually was raining as we were...

I ran across I guy sitting in the ditch beside his upside down bike on a remote road earlier this week. This is a picture of his helmet. We muscled his bike upright, got it back on the road, pointed it 180 degrees around back in the right direction, picked up his mirrors and put them in his...

On the trip back from Coalinga to Livermore yesterday (about 150 miles) there was a considerable, gusting, cross wind coming from the ENE. So far, my Sprint ST feels stable underneath me even though I can feel side pressure on my upper body when sitting up. However, there are times when a gust...

Can anyone give an opinion on the appropriateness of taking a sport touring bike, in a leisurely manner, from Highway 25 to Coalinga on the above road(s)?