How to avoid seasonal depression when faced with the “Dark Months” - Planning

0theories · 11-18-2012, 12:08 PM

The goal: Get out of the Pacific Northwest for the winter so as not to get depressed and kill myself.

The man: Me.

The bike: Fully farkled out 2002 KLR650.

More on the goal: I want to leave the depressing rains of the PNW and head south to warmer, sunnier climes. I think it would be fun to ride down to Panama and then back up (unless I leave the bike there to continue to S. America next winter). I have about four months, a reasonable budget of ~$25 a day, a good running bike (so far) and a desire to see more of the world. This will be more than just a ride, as I usually backpack foreign lands and want to see places that can sometimes only be reached on foot. The bike will get me to the general area, and feet will get me to the more remote destinations.

More on the man: I'm 37 years old, an American via political refuge from the ol' USSR, have traveled most of my life; have lived in the same place for no more than 7 years, no more than 3 since high school. I've been to somewhere near 20 countries all in the northern hemisphere (including some of the ones I'll be seeing this trip), but only 5 on a motorbike. I work seasonally for the USFS from May to October. Generally I save up enough money during the summer to live in the winter if I go somewhere 3rd world (read: cheap). Previously I have taken 3 long distance trips on motorbikes: San Diego to Vermont (and back) on a Honda Magna 750, again San Diego to Vermont (and mostly back) but on a Honda VFR750, and Southeast Asia on a Honda Bonus 125 (and some Honda CB400), including Thailand, Laos, Cambodia and Vietnam. SEA is the first time I ever rode dirt and I'm not very good at it (but I made it through several “roads from hell” in Laos and Cambodia). I practiced some this summer on the KLR, but mostly stuck to forest service roads. I don't think I'll do too much (if any) single track this trip. In conclusion: I'm fairly well educated, in pretty good shape and I like to expand on ideas in sentences with parentheses (see above and below).

More on the bike: Last year I bought a fully farkled out KLR from an inmate here. This is the first time I have more than one bike in the stable. This bike has had almost EVERYTHING done to it. Seat, armor, suspension and so on. I will probably eventually remove some armor and get an IMS tank. I'd like to get Britannia Composites fairing, the 685 kit and a blinker cancel switch, but other than that the bike is complete. The only things I've done to the bike since purchase other than routine maintenance is the t-mod, a tool tube and the drill-through subframe upgrade.

Okay, on to the plan: This is where it gets a little vague even though I'm publishing this in the planning section (is there an intro section?). I plan to leave somewhere in late Nov. (26th maybe?). The first leg (legs can and will be multi-day) will be to southern California to see an old USMC friend. Then I'll ride over to Phoenix AZ to see a college friend and maybe do some riding around the area. Then I'll head on south into Mexico. I plan on spending close to a month in Mexico then continue south and ride through each country in Central America until I reach Panama. I've never been to Belize, have spent less time in El Salvador than is worth mentioning and never to Panama. I've backpacked (and worked with sea turtles) in the rest.

So, assuming you've made it this far through the post, thanks! I would love company along the way if you're heading along a similar route. I'm all for company, but an very comfortable traveling alone too. We can ride together for as long as we both want, but expect that we'll split up as soon us either one of us wants to do something different. No need to compromise your trip for me and vice versa. I know from this planning section that a bunch of people are doing a similar ride at similar times. Hope to see you on the road!

If anyone has route advice, and especially “Places Not To Be Missed” I'm all for hearing about them!

eakins · 11-19-2012, 05:55 PM

to me Mexico has it all: food, ancient cultures, diverse people & land.
many blow through Mexico and then wish they would have spent ALOT more time there.

baja > mazatlan > south on coastal 200 to Oxaca coast > Cyn Sumidero > San Cristobal > Aqua Azul > Palenque > Yucatan if you have time > Oaxaca > Puebla > Huasteca/Xilitla & more > Bernal > San Miguel/Guanajuato > Guadalajara > Back to west to see the ocean again > Alamos > Copper Cyn > Sonora river route > Arizona.

that would take you several months alone...

0theories · 11-20-2012, 11:03 AM

Thanks eakins, that's a lot to look over. I do have several months, but not for Mexico alone :) I don't think I'll be riding through Baja. I'm going over to Phoenix first, so not sure I want to back track to the coast. Will head straight south then hit the coast approximately where the ferry from Baja would land. Of the places listed, which (from that point south) are of the "not-to-be-missed" variety?

I made a pretty detailed plan of my lodgings in the US. I was planning on not planning too specifically, but got caught up in the excitement of the "Tent Space" thread and it's only polite to give inmates a (as close as I can) specific date for when I'll be passing through. So tentative plan (plus/minus a couple of days) is this:

Nov. 27 Leave Portland Or and camp in the Six Rivers NF off of Rt. 199
Nov. 28 Ride down to Mendocino CA and tent space with Medodave (thanks!)
Nov. 29 Ride down South of San Jose and tent space/join Mognox (thanks!) for camping and a Cali ADVride on the 1st of Dec.
Nov. 30 Visit with a friend in Santa Barbara
Dec. 3(?) Cruise to Slab City CA and spend the night there.
Dec. 4 Get to Phoenix and visit with a great friend.
Dec. 6 or 7 Mexico!

This is much more detailed than I like to travel, but once I'm in Mexico and hosteling it, it's wide open! I'm definitely open to meeting up with riders as they exit the ferry from Baja... Any amazing spots I should know about between Phoenix and Mazatlan?

mundobravo · 11-20-2012, 01:26 PM

I took 2.5 months last winter, rode down to Panama in one month , spent one month tripping with the GF who flew in , then 2 weeks rode trip home.
Here's the first 34 days..

Driven Down - Yaviza from Mundo Bravo on Vimeo.

BTL · 11-20-2012, 08:02 PM

I hear yah...I am in my own personal HELL with winter!! My new bike is sitting in storage in Milwaukee!

I stare at the app on my Iphone every day that does a count down to Fly N Ride day...

going south · 11-21-2012, 09:06 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by eakins

to me Mexico has it all: food, ancient cultures, diverse people & land.
many blow through Mexico and then wish they would have spent ALOT more time there..

coud not agree more.
I think a lot of people will agree with me that once you get south of Mexico the food starts going south also...
Just left seattle this morning, raining side ways and cold...

sooo come on down...

eakins · 11-21-2012, 01:41 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by going south

coud not agree more.
I think a lot of people will agree with me that once you get south of Mexico the food starts going south also...
Just left seattle this morning, raining side ways and cold...

sooo come on down...

yes that is true, the food becomes simpler and less flavorful.
mexico has the strongest ties to spanish flavor and cooking in their food.

0theories · 11-21-2012, 07:15 PM

Progress is being made. Installed the thermo-bob kit I got from a fellow inmate here in Portland: baroquenride. Thanks! Everything went in great for the most part. He originally bought it for a KL600(?). In the instructions I downloaded the barbs were facing a slightly different direction, but it's in and works.

One thing though: My Happy Trails skid plate was mounted using some sort of torx (?) head bolts - six sided star pattern. Is this standard? Why would they do that?

You have to remove the skid plate for all kinds of repairs and having a special tool to do it is annoying! Now I have to find a nut and bolt store to buy some hex replacements...

I bought the bike pretty much complete, so it's nice to get my hands dirty (even if it's for stuff I may not really need) and see what she looks like on the inside

I also changed the coolant, cleaned the air filter, aired up the tires, changed the oil and lubed the chain (have new chain and sprockets, but will switch these out in Phoenix as well as buy new tires. So if anyone is actually reading this:

Who knows of a good place to get tires in Phoenix?
Who has a garage where I can mount them and do the chain and sprockets? I have all the tools... and can acquire beer

Hopefully this will go from planning to full ride report pretty soon...

going south · 11-22-2012, 03:57 AM

Progress is being made: thats a good thing, and feels good!

Just landed in Mazatlan yesterday from Seattle, it feels soooo good!!!

Mexico awaits.

Regards, Jim

buls4evr · 11-22-2012, 04:44 AM

On your way home consider stopping in New Mexico near Las Cruces. Lunatic runs an ADV hostel there and we will show you more good riding as well

. See Tent Space section or PM me. He also has a fully equipped shop. I go down there for the winter from Jan to May. You would cross into the states at Palomas,CH MX.

Bonus points........... His SO speaks Russian.

David13 · 11-22-2012, 08:46 PM

Depression is a state of mind, not a state.
A wood burning stove or a fireplace can make me happy in the winter.
But Mexico is an excellent idea. Any time of year.
Just go. You only live once.
dc

Grinnin · 11-23-2012, 03:34 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 0theories

One thing though: My Happy Trails skid plate was mounted using some sort of torx (?) head bolts - six sided star pattern. Is this standard? Why would they do that?

You have to remove the skid plate for all kinds of repairs and having a special tool to do it is annoying! Now I have to find a nut and bolt store to buy some hex replacements...

My Ricochet skid plate came with Torx bolts so I added a Torx screwdriver bit to my toolkit. The kit already has a socket and a screwdriver that take 1/4-inch bits.

0theories · 11-24-2012, 12:09 PM

Hey great video mundobravo! Gave me some inspiration and something to took forward to. I'll be taking a smaller bike and more back roads I think, but it certainly got me itching to go

For the record I'm not really depressed. I don't think I've ever felt depression in my life and I don't mean to make light of it for people who do... I just thought it would make a snappy title

I've been reading the "The Art of the Ride Report - Planning, Tips, Opinions, Discussion" thread and a good title appears to be essential

I ended up replacing the torx bolts on the skip plate with some hex bolts I had laying around. They're not as low profile as the torx, but the center stand still extends below them when up so I don't think I'll loose them to debris in the road. Will bring some spares just in case... Just getting the bit is a great idea though. But where can I find a single #40 torx bit? Don't want to buy a whole set...

Just taking care of some last minute details and then I'm off!! Hopefully tuesday. I hope it isn't raining...

As usual, I'll end the post with some questions:
Do people really make up these fake wallets with expired cards and such? Has anyone ever had to use it?

Does anyone in PDX have the cheap hotel guide to Mexico and Central America by the Canadian HUBB guy they don't want? I don't have enough time to get it shipped here before departure... Not sure if I even need it, but it would be a nice back-up plan.

Um... How important is the valve adjustment?!?!

Grinnin · 11-25-2012, 04:24 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 0theories

Just getting the bit is a great idea though. But where can I find a single #40 torx bit? Don't want to buy a whole set...

. . .

Um... How important is the valve adjustment?!?!

For the record, I agree with you that the mixture of fasteners can be maddening and it's unnecessary. I think the Ricochet plate came with a bit and I bought some assortments so I'd have the right metric Allen bits.

On the valve adjustment: KLR valves generally don't move too much but it depends on your bike. You can ask the PO inmate when the last adjustment was and how much change there's been over time. (I keep a chart of this but not everyone will do that.)

tjt94 · 11-25-2012, 05:28 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 0theories

Hey great video mundobravo! Gave me some inspiration and something to took forward to. I'll be taking a smaller bike and more back roads I think, but it certainly got me itching to go

For the record I'm not really depressed. I don't think I've ever felt depression in my life and I don't mean to make light of it for people who do... I just thought it would make a snappy title

I've been reading the "The Art of the Ride Report - Planning, Tips, Opinions, Discussion" thread and a good title appears to be essential

I ended up replacing the torx bolts on the skip plate with some hex bolts I had laying around. They're not as low profile as the torx, but the center stand still extends below them when up so I don't think I'll loose them to debris in the road. Will bring some spares just in case... Just getting the bit is a great idea though. But where can I find a single #40 torx bit? Don't want to buy a whole set...

Just taking care of some last minute details and then I'm off!! Hopefully tuesday. I hope it isn't raining...

As usual, I'll end the post with some questions:
Do people really make up these fake wallets with expired cards and such? Has anyone ever had to use it?

Does anyone in PDX have the cheap hotel guide to Mexico and Central America by the Canadian HUBB guy they don't want? I don't have enough time to get it shipped here before departure... Not sure if I even need it, but it would be a nice back-up plan.

Um... How important is the valve adjustment?!?!

I did pretty much the ride you are describing last summer from Imperial County, California to Copan, Honduras and back. We did not have a hotel guide or reservations and it worked out best. We found great places for a low cost all the way.

I'm curious why you are looking to stay out at Slab City. Do you know someone there? There is not much there but the sight of Salvation Mountain is interesting as are the water tanks.

11-18-2012, 12:08 PM	#1
0theories ^OP Gnarly Adventurer Joined: Nov 2010 Location: Ukiah, OR Oddometer: 198	How to avoid seasonal depression when faced with the “Dark Months” - Planning The goal: Get out of the Pacific Northwest for the winter so as not to get depressed and kill myself. The man: Me. The bike: Fully farkled out 2002 KLR650. More on the goal: I want to leave the depressing rains of the PNW and head south to warmer, sunnier climes. I think it would be fun to ride down to Panama and then back up (unless I leave the bike there to continue to S. America next winter). I have about four months, a reasonable budget of ~$25 a day, a good running bike (so far) and a desire to see more of the world. This will be more than just a ride, as I usually backpack foreign lands and want to see places that can sometimes only be reached on foot. The bike will get me to the general area, and feet will get me to the more remote destinations. More on the man: I'm 37 years old, an American via political refuge from the ol' USSR, have traveled most of my life; have lived in the same place for no more than 7 years, no more than 3 since high school. I've been to somewhere near 20 countries all in the northern hemisphere (including some of the ones I'll be seeing this trip), but only 5 on a motorbike. I work seasonally for the USFS from May to October. Generally I save up enough money during the summer to live in the winter if I go somewhere 3rd world (read: cheap). Previously I have taken 3 long distance trips on motorbikes: San Diego to Vermont (and back) on a Honda Magna 750, again San Diego to Vermont (and mostly back) but on a Honda VFR750, and Southeast Asia on a Honda Bonus 125 (and some Honda CB400), including Thailand, Laos, Cambodia and Vietnam. SEA is the first time I ever rode dirt and I'm not very good at it (but I made it through several “roads from hell” in Laos and Cambodia). I practiced some this summer on the KLR, but mostly stuck to forest service roads. I don't think I'll do too much (if any) single track this trip. In conclusion: I'm fairly well educated, in pretty good shape and I like to expand on ideas in sentences with parentheses (see above and below). More on the bike: Last year I bought a fully farkled out KLR from an inmate here. This is the first time I have more than one bike in the stable. This bike has had almost EVERYTHING done to it. Seat, armor, suspension and so on. I will probably eventually remove some armor and get an IMS tank. I'd like to get Britannia Composites fairing, the 685 kit and a blinker cancel switch, but other than that the bike is complete. The only things I've done to the bike since purchase other than routine maintenance is the t-mod, a tool tube and the drill-through subframe upgrade. Okay, on to the plan: This is where it gets a little vague even though I'm publishing this in the planning section (is there an intro section?). I plan to leave somewhere in late Nov. (26th maybe?). The first leg (legs can and will be multi-day) will be to southern California to see an old USMC friend. Then I'll ride over to Phoenix AZ to see a college friend and maybe do some riding around the area. Then I'll head on south into Mexico. I plan on spending close to a month in Mexico then continue south and ride through each country in Central America until I reach Panama. I've never been to Belize, have spent less time in El Salvador than is worth mentioning and never to Panama. I've backpacked (and worked with sea turtles) in the rest. So, assuming you've made it this far through the post, thanks! I would love company along the way if you're heading along a similar route. I'm all for company, but an very comfortable traveling alone too. We can ride together for as long as we both want, but expect that we'll split up as soon us either one of us wants to do something different. No need to compromise your trip for me and vice versa. I know from this planning section that a bunch of people are doing a similar ride at similar times. Hope to see you on the road! If anyone has route advice, and especially “Places Not To Be Missed” I'm all for hearing about them!

11-19-2012, 05:55 PM	#2
eakins Butler Maps Joined: May 2002 Location: Colorado - Fort Collins Oddometer: 14,458	to me Mexico has it all: food, ancient cultures, diverse people & land. many blow through Mexico and then wish they would have spent ALOT more time there. baja > mazatlan > south on coastal 200 to Oxaca coast > Cyn Sumidero > San Cristobal > Aqua Azul > Palenque > Yucatan if you have time > Oaxaca > Puebla > Huasteca/Xilitla & more > Bernal > San Miguel/Guanajuato > Guadalajara > Back to west to see the ocean again > Alamos > Copper Cyn > Sonora river route > Arizona. that would take you several months alone... __________________ Butler Maps - motorcycle maps for riders by riders - Ozarks , Nor Cal , COBDR shipping, AZBDR scouting http://www.advrider.com/forums/showthread.php?t=598717 Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/butlermaps

11-20-2012, 11:03 AM	#3
0theories ^OP Gnarly Adventurer Joined: Nov 2010 Location: Ukiah, OR Oddometer: 198	More planning than I wanted... Thanks eakins, that's a lot to look over. I do have several months, but not for Mexico alone :) I don't think I'll be riding through Baja. I'm going over to Phoenix first, so not sure I want to back track to the coast. Will head straight south then hit the coast approximately where the ferry from Baja would land. Of the places listed, which (from that point south) are of the "not-to-be-missed" variety? I made a pretty detailed plan of my lodgings in the US. I was planning on not planning too specifically, but got caught up in the excitement of the "Tent Space" thread and it's only polite to give inmates a (as close as I can) specific date for when I'll be passing through. So tentative plan (plus/minus a couple of days) is this: Nov. 27 Leave Portland Or and camp in the Six Rivers NF off of Rt. 199 Nov. 28 Ride down to Mendocino CA and tent space with Medodave (thanks!) Nov. 29 Ride down South of San Jose and tent space/join Mognox (thanks!) for camping and a Cali ADVride on the 1st of Dec. Nov. 30 Visit with a friend in Santa Barbara Dec. 3(?) Cruise to Slab City CA and spend the night there. Dec. 4 Get to Phoenix and visit with a great friend. Dec. 6 or 7 Mexico! This is much more detailed than I like to travel, but once I'm in Mexico and hosteling it, it's wide open! I'm definitely open to meeting up with riders as they exit the ferry from Baja... Any amazing spots I should know about between Phoenix and Mazatlan? 0theories screwed with this post 11-25-2012 at 01:22 PM

11-20-2012, 08:02 PM	#5
BTL Frozen Adventurer Joined: Jul 2011 Location: St Albert. Alberta Canada. IBA Member 50093 Oddometer: 286	Winter sucks I hear yah...I am in my own personal HELL with winter!! My new bike is sitting in storage in Milwaukee! I stare at the app on my Iphone every day that does a count down to Fly N Ride day...

11-21-2012, 07:15 PM	#8
0theories ^OP Gnarly Adventurer Joined: Nov 2010 Location: Ukiah, OR Oddometer: 198	Progress Progress is being made. Installed the thermo-bob kit I got from a fellow inmate here in Portland: baroquenride. Thanks! Everything went in great for the most part. He originally bought it for a KL600(?). In the instructions I downloaded the barbs were facing a slightly different direction, but it's in and works. One thing though: My Happy Trails skid plate was mounted using some sort of torx (?) head bolts - six sided star pattern. Is this standard? Why would they do that? You have to remove the skid plate for all kinds of repairs and having a special tool to do it is annoying! Now I have to find a nut and bolt store to buy some hex replacements... I bought the bike pretty much complete, so it's nice to get my hands dirty (even if it's for stuff I may not really need) and see what she looks like on the inside I also changed the coolant, cleaned the air filter, aired up the tires, changed the oil and lubed the chain (have new chain and sprockets, but will switch these out in Phoenix as well as buy new tires. So if anyone is actually reading this: Who knows of a good place to get tires in Phoenix? Who has a garage where I can mount them and do the chain and sprockets? I have all the tools... and can acquire beer Hopefully this will go from planning to full ride report pretty soon...

11-20-2012, 01:26 PM	#4
mundobravo Beastly Adventurer Joined: Oct 2004 Location: new mexico Oddometer: 3,040	I took 2.5 months last winter, rode down to Panama in one month , spent one month tripping with the GF who flew in , then 2 weeks rode trip home. Here's the first 34 days.. Driven Down - Yaviza from Mundo Bravo on Vimeo. __________________ Driven Down - Yaviza - Darien Gap https://vimeo.com/42443080 DRIVEN , solo moto to the Arctic Circle http://www.vimeo.com/7780879

11-22-2012, 03:57 AM	#9
going south hero & Zero... Joined: Oct 2008 Location: Alaska, Mazatlan. sometimes seattle! Oddometer: 599	Progress is being made: thats a good thing, and feels good! Just landed in Mazatlan yesterday from Seattle, it feels soooo good!!! Mexico awaits. Regards, Jim __________________ going south... Never Lost! Just Don't know where I am!!!

11-22-2012, 04:44 AM	#10
buls4evr No Marks.... Joined: Sep 2009 Location: Michissippi & Nuevo Mexico Oddometer: 1,610	On your way home consider stopping in New Mexico near Las Cruces. Lunatic runs an ADV hostel there and we will show you more good riding as well. See Tent Space section or PM me. He also has a fully equipped shop. I go down there for the winter from Jan to May. You would cross into the states at Palomas,CH MX. Bonus points........... His SO speaks Russian.

11-22-2012, 08:46 PM	#11
David13 Studly Adventurer Joined: Mar 2009 Location: Los Angeles area (SoBay) Oddometer: 540	Depression is a state of mind, not a state. A wood burning stove or a fireplace can make me happy in the winter. But Mexico is an excellent idea. Any time of year. Just go. You only live once. dc

11-24-2012, 12:09 PM	#13
0theories ^OP Gnarly Adventurer Joined: Nov 2010 Location: Ukiah, OR Oddometer: 198	Still prepping... Hey great video mundobravo! Gave me some inspiration and something to took forward to. I'll be taking a smaller bike and more back roads I think, but it certainly got me itching to go For the record I'm not really depressed. I don't think I've ever felt depression in my life and I don't mean to make light of it for people who do... I just thought it would make a snappy title I've been reading the "The Art of the Ride Report - Planning, Tips, Opinions, Discussion" thread and a good title appears to be essential I ended up replacing the torx bolts on the skip plate with some hex bolts I had laying around. They're not as low profile as the torx, but the center stand still extends below them when up so I don't think I'll loose them to debris in the road. Will bring some spares just in case... Just getting the bit is a great idea though. But where can I find a single #40 torx bit? Don't want to buy a whole set... Just taking care of some last minute details and then I'm off!! Hopefully tuesday. I hope it isn't raining... As usual, I'll end the post with some questions: Do people really make up these fake wallets with expired cards and such? Has anyone ever had to use it? Does anyone in PDX have the cheap hotel guide to Mexico and Central America by the Canadian HUBB guy they don't want? I don't have enough time to get it shipped here before departure... Not sure if I even need it, but it would be a nice back-up plan. Um... How important is the valve adjustment?!?!

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