Ratman attempts the CDR solo, not that that's a big deal

<table style="width:auto;"><tr><td><a href="https://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/XeF8nrf02K14hYfx3GvKT9MTjNZETYmyPJy0liipFm0?feat=embedwebsite"><img src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-...5I/AAAAAAAATMU/qcI8bPryxoU/s800/DSCF80081.JPG" height="614" width="800" /></a></td></tr><tr><td style="font-family:arial,sans-serif; font-size:11px; text-align:right">From <a href="https://picasaweb.google.com/105133432232392762779/GrandMesaSMR?authuser=0&feat=embedwebsite">Grand Mesa SMR</a></td></tr></table>

This report with pictures is at my Blog site, since they don't show on ADVrider anymore...
http://wfifancdr.blogspot.com

Hi, adventure folks, I'm planning
to go take in an ADVrider's meet in Lake George Co. It starts Sat the
27th, July. I couldn't bring myself to buy the 55$ weekend package,
but I did sigh up for 2 nights camping.

I have 3 more days to pack and see what goes where.....packing the DR for the solo ride is where all the indiscision is eating at me now as i'm planning to camp most of the way.

Saturday I'll ride up and look at Georgia Pass 50 miles away. If I
can make it over the top, I'll drop into Breckenridge and go back thru
Alma.
https://www.google.com/search?q=geo...=X&ei=6fgKUI_fJo2A2QWF4ZgZ&ved=0CHcQsAQ&biw=1

Then Sunday I'll ride down to ADVrider, LD's place near Westcliffe, (less than a
100 miles), and leave my tow bike, then, leaving Monday morning, I'll
ride the DR down to Antelope wells to Start the CDR. By freeways it's
over a thousand miles, but by back roads and some dirt it is only like
750. That'll take 2 days no doubt.
http://tinyurl.com/cvprq53

On the way north I may take in BigDogs 2012 RMAR weekend in Silverton The following weekend...
http://www.advrider.com/forums/showthread.php?t=736276
I might not get there in time for that one.... Then I should be back to
Westcliffe to put a new rear tire on the rear. I'll know a lot more
about Noodles and tubeless tires at that time.

For those that don't know I've converted my spoke rims to Tubeless (the cheap way), and have a pool noodle in the back one....should be interesting.

Then it's off to ride the northern part of the continental Divide.
If all goes well, I'll be accompanied by LD for a few days.

The 10 day forecast only predicts 100* temps at the lower
altitudes, and not much chance of rain... Luck beats good.

Hopefully I'll be able to keep you all up to date as I ride along. This isn't going to be a speed burner. After all I'm retired, and time doesn't mean squat to me these days.

<P>I've taken the DR on 1500 mile camping runs before, but this CDR run could take me a month to complete so I'm setting it up different than before as I had all my weight on the seat behind me.

<P> This time I wanted some of the weight down lower and I wanted more carrying capacity, but I didn't want to spend any money on gear.

<P> So I was riding down the street on my bicycle the other day (a few months ago) and found a 1/2" nylon strap about a 100' long. I thought that I could make a cargo net kinda thing to hold small dry bags in the saddle bag area.

<P> I also built a rack out of 1/2" conduit to hold the dry bags off the side covers to keep them from burning on the muffler.

Like this....
<table style="width:auto;"><tr><td><a href="https://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/wXORgcqtJOsM5_wWRjXc0tMTjNZETYmyPJy0liipFm0?feat=embedwebsite"><img src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-ihSeS3rfmS8/UAycZt3AwxI/AAAAAAAATck/eKCI5Spsi_Q/s800/DSCF0010.JPG" height="600" width="800" /></a></td></tr><tr><td style="font-family:arial,sans-serif; font-size:11px; text-align:right">From <a href="https://picasaweb.google.com/105133432232392762779/CDRColorado?authuser=0&feat=embedwebsite">CDR Colorado</a></td></tr></table>

<P> I made those dry bags out of old rain pants that I cut the legs off and sewed up one end. .......and my down sleeping bag and air mat is in the top bag. And the back board is to hold a 2 gallon gas can....together with my 4 gal regular tank I should have pretty good range.

<table style="width:auto;"><tr><td><a href="https://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/uS9KeOM4sW0FsNN4TJAs1dMTjNZETYmyPJy0liipFm0?feat=embedwebsite"><img src="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-agsGOO3Z_BY/UAycaO30R0I/AAAAAAAATcs/zpdRFkhJoZ8/s800/DSCF0011.JPG" height="600" width="800" /></a></td></tr><tr><td style="font-family:arial,sans-serif; font-size:11px; text-align:right">From <a href="https://picasaweb.google.com/105133432232392762779/CDRColorado?authuser=0&feat=embedwebsite">CDR Colorado</a></td></tr></table>

<P> I also made some tank panniers for the first time out of a couple back packs and a fanny pack in the tank bag area.

Like so.....
<table style="width:auto;"><tr><td><a href="https://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/Jsip-gkCvA-mxwyfKTUHY9MTjNZETYmyPJy0liipFm0?feat=embedwebsite"><img src="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-_7IOsrcEN1U/UAycYqCRkXI/AAAAAAAATcU/pP91sm3C0b8/s800/DSCF0008.JPG" height="600" width="800" /></a></td></tr><tr><td style="font-family:arial,sans-serif; font-size:11px; text-align:right">From <a href="https://picasaweb.google.com/105133432232392762779/CDRColorado?authuser=0&feat=embedwebsite">CDR Colorado</a></td></tr></table>

<P> You can see I have a roll chart on the bars. I made a chart on Google maps that give me a line with coordinates, distance from last turn, and a stick diagram as to what direction to turn. summat like that below.....you'd be coming in on the vertical of the T and there would be an arrow on one of the crosses telling which way to leave.
B 33.18526,-107.02506 T 22

<P> I made 50 or so combination of turn possibilities in Windows 'Paint' program to use for all different configured turns. I used them at each turn in the route from Antelope Wells to the Canadian Border. My roll chart is 22 pages long. Took me weeks to make it up.

<P> I have a street GPS that will show me coordinates and shows the small roads.

<P> So I don't know how any of this will work out. I'm only a couple days from departure.

<P> June the 21St I crossed from San Diego to the Rockies. The temps were nearly 115 out Vegas way, so I crossed at night. This time it's only supposed to be a hundred. so I'll leave Wed Morning the 25th of July.

Speaking of comfort on a multi day dualsport ride.... I say a good seat is worth as much as the rest of the bike.....or do what you have to do to get comfortable.

If you have to think about how much your ass is going to hurt on a ride, then you have the wrong seat. You need to do summat. Maybe I have the tenderest posterior in the world....I don't know

Five or six years ago I developed a dualsport touring seat that I use. I hook the ropes to my belt so that I can stand on the pegs (and not lose the seat) if necessary....anyway, this is just an example of doing what you have to do.
<table style="width:auto;"><tr><td><a href="https://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/VoF55ZGus3XDY0FBvrWfMNMTjNZETYmyPJy0liipFm0?feat=embedwebsite"><img src="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-wIdYfNRIJz0/UA2WTimosJI/AAAAAAAATdI/5tnGzGWzUqk/s800/DSCF0013.JPG" height="600" width="800" /></a></td></tr><tr><td style="font-family:arial,sans-serif; font-size:11px; text-align:right">From <a href="https://picasaweb.google.com/105133432232392762779/CDRColorado?authuser=0&feat=embedwebsite">CDR Colorado</a></td></tr></table>

That a plastic cutting board, shaped a little with heat, and covered with foam and gorilla tape. Works on my DR350.

The important thing is. Do something. Don't just suffer thru hours and hours of pain. Spend money or get creative.

Well, Cannonshot, I'm retired now and have more time than money, but that's not all of it. My days racing off road (cars) taught me that is you can't out 'money' the competition then you better do it differently than them.

That philosophy has me believing that there's always a better way...or at least another way. Nowadays I sit around the house watching TV without really seeing it, and I think about how to do shit.

My wife calls me a pack rat, but if I hadn't hidden that old pair of Rain pants, I'd prolly be using new garbage bags.

You mentioned the Pool Noodles.......Well, we've all heard of Muses that they use in the Dakar type races to eliminate punctures. I'm told they cost a C-note, and are heavy, and lose pressure with usage, and are hard as hell to install. The pros are obvious.

I'd Heard that Pool Noodles are about the same thing, which is just closed cell foam. I'd also heard that some have been used, but couldn't find any example of them being used in a Dualsport bike.

Wandering thru a supermarket about a month ago, I spy some larger than normal Noodle in the sale racks. 3.50$ for 5 footers, so I bought 3 of them...3.5 inch Diameter.

I ride in Baja where tons of used lumber is hauled over the roads dropping nails that rattle loose. You'd think that a nail laying down in the dirt would just stay there when you run over it. Well it doesn't. It has an attraction to motorcycle tires, and before you know it you have a flat.

I've had great luck with plugging tubeless tire flats, but you can't do that with a tube in a tire.

Recently I got wind of guys sealing their spoke rims with glue of some sort at each spoke so that they can run tubeless. So I did that with my front tire on my DR350. It worked quite good and was pretty easy. I used silicon seal in a caulking gun.

....but I can see a draw back. In the case of a flat where the bead becomes unseated (no safety beads on my spoke rims) there is probably no way you're going to get enough air to seat the beads to blow the tire up again after you plug it.

So I sealed up my rear rim and put that noodle into my rear tire. Turns out that the noodle alone is about like having 10 lbs of air in the tire. It hold the beads on the rim seats, for running while flat.
<table style="width:auto;"><tr><td><a href="https://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/aaRms7GfJpfv8gd53c93a9MTjNZETYmyPJy0liipFm0?feat=embedwebsite"><img src="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-jH6JK0zoK7E/T_jY6H1U5OI/AAAAAAAATU8/L0YS5QWtuqI/s800/109_0988.JPG" height="601" width="800" /></a></td></tr><tr><td style="font-family:arial,sans-serif; font-size:11px; text-align:right">From <a href="https://picasaweb.google.com/105133432232392762779/BikeRepairs?authuser=0&feat=embedwebsite">bike repairs</a></td></tr></table>

So far I've only run it around a few city blocks. It isn't like having air in the tire.....it's a tiny bit wobbly, but completely rideable if you have a reason to ride on the flat, but the real value is that a puncture is plugable for a quick flat fix.

So this trip will prolly be long enough for me to give a more complete report. BTW, a 5.10/18 tire took 70" of noodle.

So, most punctures can be quickly plugged. No more tube failures from gremlins inside the tire, No more rim pinches from rocks or careless installations. No more dealing with rim locks. ...and finally no more spun valve stems from a tube.

At this point I don't know that there'd be any value to 500 lb bikes. They are tubeless anyway with safety bead rims. But they would no doubt hold the tire in shape for a safe stop in an instant loss of air. But they might also get hot and melt in a big bike.

....but still they aren't doing anything in a tire that also has air pressure in it.

Anyway, that's my tubeless tire experiment....we'll see.....

Here's a picture with no air in the rear tire...just the noodle.
<table style="width:auto;"><tr><td><a href="https://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/Xvk6AMJLgHiam63h8EsvR9MTjNZETYmyPJy0liipFm0?feat=embedwebsite"><img src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-RsJNu35cgRA/T_jY64qfCAI/AAAAAAAATVE/xr5GKRyjenQ/s800/109_0993.JPG" height="601" width="800" /></a></td></tr><tr><td style="font-family:arial,sans-serif; font-size:11px; text-align:right">From <a href="https://picasaweb.google.com/105133432232392762779/BikeRepairs?authuser=0&feat=embedwebsite">bike repairs</a></td></tr></table>

I predict that the "noodle" melts or just plain disintegrates.

It'll sure make a great story when I'm out there in BFE with a gooey mess and I'm trying to put a tube in my tire to fix a flat in the rain.

BTW, I am carrying tubes with me. This whole idea might work better for me as I don't burning up the roads as some do.

At this point it's all conjecture with a smattering of wishful thinking, Rusty Rocket.

Well let's go!

I just re-read you post and I realize that you have sealed the spokes and are only using it as a run flat application. I thought it was in place of a tube.

Have fun on you adventure, and I will be following along through your posts.

Last weeks weather reports were 100* around the Co River and not much in the way of T-storms. Today they are predicting 112* at Needles and more scattered showers.

I'd planned to leave in the morning Wed, July 25th, but I may decide to leave at midnight tonight and head for Kingman....then cop a free night's camp at the Navajo National monument near Kayenta.

I hate to repeat, as I did this same ride last month, but it seems like that's the best way to cross the desert. Easier on my Sabre from an engine heat stand point, as well.

I changed oil and checked valves a couple weeks ago and broke a terminal off my thermostatic fan switch. When I repaired it, I ended up with a fan that comes on 10 degrees sooner and turns off sooner. I'm hoping that doesn't F me up. Towing everything runs hotter.
http://www.advrider.com/forums/showthread.php?t=808863

I'm ready to get the show on the road, bigdon.

Yeah, 29SGL, I'm looking forward to meeting some of the adventurer around them part. Never been to anything organized before. Makes me kinda nervous, cool, though.

left this morning at 1am. Ran out of gas as I topped Cajon Summit (Hesperia). I took the off ramp to Oak summat rd and couldn't get off the off ramp. I figured I'd be half in a lane of traffic....but at the last minute there was a small pull out for me.

I'm carrying a 1 gal gas can....that I hadn't filled yet, but it had a couple tenths of a gallon in it. I found a flashlight and poored that in with the funnel that I bolw my air mat up with. Bike fired right up and I got some gas with 134 miles on the trip meter.

I'm not getting any better mileage since I cleaned the air cleaner.

Got to the river at 6:15. Hotter than hell for about 20 miles on both sides of the river, then it started cooling down as I gained altitude toward Kingman. In fact I had cloud cover all the way to Williams...it was almost cold in just my wool shit.

I decided to go thru Flagstaff to Holbrook and turn north on 77 thru Injun country, and spend the night at Canyon De Chelle (shea). Free camping don't you know.

I blew thru Flagg and sign boards said 52 miles to Winslow. That's about all the gas I had, too. I had 2.xx tenths left when I pulled into the gas station at winslow. Luck beats good. :)

I hit to rain squalls between Flag and Winslow....almost got wet. :)

So I'm rapng the Micky D folks in Winslow ...have a MCdouble and a sunday...$2.53

Country arounf Flaggstaff is responding to the monsoons....Green as hell. I don't ever recall seeing it this green before.

Sabre's running like a top.

I'm at MDs in Shiprock. Stayed the night in Canyon De Chelle.....Grrrrr...no longer free, cost me 10. Ha. Met a couple of cool older guys. One on a BMWF650, for those that don't know those are 800ccs. Stupid BMW....who knew.

I left this morning on the north fork (64) to N12 then took N13 to Red Valley and past the south side of shiprock (the rock). That road over Buffalo Pass on 13 is spectacular. The spec part is only 10-15 miles long. The steepest road I've ever been on, but it doesn't say how steep. Picture of my bike on that route..attached.

It's noon, I don't know how far I'll get today. I'm retired don't you know...it doesn't matter. Ha

<table style="width:auto;"><tr><td><a href="https://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/uEbDtCbOfiWqFEJ-YVVTtdMTjNZETYmyPJy0liipFm0?feat=embedwebsite"><img src="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-ZxRvHCUgSU0/UBGPu8iPTzI/AAAAAAAATdY/nDWskY4PDXw/s800/DSCF0136.JPG" height="600" width="800" /></a></td></tr><tr><td style="font-family:arial,sans-serif; font-size:11px; text-align:right">From <a href="https://picasaweb.google.com/105133432232392762779/July262012?authuser=0&feat=embedwebsite">July 26, 2012</a></td></tr></table>

Yeah, only made iT to Creed Yesterday. Got rained on a bit a I crossed Wolf Creek Pass just before South Fork Co. Wolf Creek Pass is on the Spec meter at about a 10.

Moved on to Creed by 5PM. I started having starter solenoid problems as I started to leave Shiprock. I had to hit the starter button at least 25 times, then it started working the starter. I fought that the rest of the day with sometimes problems.

Rained on me a little heading toward Creed. I knew it would stop soon so I didn't rain gear up, but wondered if I'd made a mistake.

Pulled into a camp ground outside Creed. It looked rainy so I put up Repaldi's tent. It rained a bit before I was done, so I climbed inside and read some of the 'Last of the Mohikens' , Free, don't you know. Ha.

I was showing a guy at the campground my starter problem, but the starter worked perfectly. Cool, I thought. So I broke camp down and when I was ready to leave the solenoid only clicked, but no joy. Crap, just when I was loaded up to go.

So off with the side cover and out with the spare crap that I carry...oh, this looks like a pretty good one. It still had the fuse cover. I installed it with the 4" adjustable wrench that I carry in my pocket. Luck was with me...It worked perfectly....didn't even have to rebuild it. :)

So I was off in a thrice (whatever that is, maybe 15 minutes). On my way to Lake City 50 miles away. I had at least 65 miles worth of gas.

It's cloudy today and 70ish, almost cold as I climbed some passes. A couple times I wished I had my jacket. I was averaging 40 climbing thru the 2 passes. One at 11000 and the other, Slumgullion, at 11500. Both were beautimus. From Slumgullion Pass I could see Cinnamon & Engineers passes. They are 13000+ peaks, well above the tree line, with pink covered tops.

I'm hunkered down at a coffee shop mooching wifi and eating a 4$ cinnamon roll in Lake city. I'll be moving on to Lake George about noon.

I had a lazy 250 miles to do on Friday to get to Lake George. I chased rain away all the way and rarely got any on me...plenty of wet roads though. Temp running 65 to 75 depending on altitude. Seems like it should have been more that that as I topped Monarch Pass at 10500 (I think).
<table style="width:auto;"><tr><td><a href="https://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/qMZz44BA_hlFDdK_Gigb0dMTjNZETYmyPJy0liipFm0?feat=embedwebsite"><img src="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-j544fjYe8XE/UBRjv3M4BII/AAAAAAAATd4/zrFWMk-aCE8/s800/DSCF0274.JPG" height="600" width="800" /></a></td></tr><tr><td style="font-family:arial,sans-serif; font-size:11px; text-align:right">From <a href="https://picasaweb.google.com/105133432232392762779/CDRColorado?authuser=0&feat=embedwebsite">CDR Colorado</a></td></tr></table>

I got to Lake George at 3pm....there were lots of riders already there, 50 to 75. There was lots of interest in the trailer, of course. One guy has a picture at home that a truck driver took as I passed him going home from the SMCedaredge Last month. Small world.

It sprinkled big drops at 4pm for 15 minutes. Of course it rained quite a bit just before I got there.

For dinner I'd picked up a large potato and Vienna Sausage in Lake George when I gassed up. It's not much of a town. I sliced the potato and put in my electro Thermos heater, and it was done 25 minutes later. The electro cooker is a keeper. There's still a fire ban in Co...even for camp stoves. Heh he...they can't see the flames on my alcohol stove so I still get my coffee in the morning.

Mucho bullshit was heard before dark....then I went to bed. That the third night that I've failed to fix the leak in my air mat...Grrr. I'm having to use the two 1' sq pieces of carpet pad as a substitute. It's a poor one.

........as I write this rain has begun to come down in Ernest from what I hear on the roof of the cowboys empty cuarters where they have allowed me to use the electricity. Pretty comphy. I'm also hearing wet riders return from their rides.

Speaking of which I took a test ride to see if my roll charts could get me thru the CDR. Thing look good. My scroll chart took me 55 miles to the top of the Georgia Pass, 11585. Here's a pic of the next 1000 feet from standing at the Pass
<table style="width:auto;"><tr><td><a href="https://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/r3MsfHP0XRLEK-thhkTMWtMTjNZETYmyPJy0liipFm0?feat=embedwebsite"><img src="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-DmMIM_H1SIA/UBRj4Lc1MdI/AAAAAAAATeI/nJw6hS1VE40/s800/DSCF0311.JPG" height="600" width="800" /></a></td></tr><tr><td style="font-family:arial,sans-serif; font-size:11px; text-align:right">From <a href="https://picasaweb.google.com/105133432232392762779/CDRColorado?authuser=0&feat=embedwebsite">CDR Colorado</a></td></tr></table>

I turned around and went back to camp from there on Terryall Rd, between Jefferson and Lake George. It a 40 mile half pot holed paved road, but it's got some beautiful hills to gander at.<table style="width:auto;"><tr><td><a href="https://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/j8rsUwbeK_L_NlnTb-CGxtMTjNZETYmyPJy0liipFm0?feat=embedwebsite"><img src="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-0bk17uFr_Gk/UBRj3npKL1I/AAAAAAAATeY/G6boYBIrOg0/s800/DSCF0307.JPG" height="600" width="800" /></a></td></tr><tr><td style="font-family:arial,sans-serif; font-size:11px; text-align:right">From <a href="https://picasaweb.google.com/105133432232392762779/CDRColorado?authuser=0&feat=embedwebsite">CDR Colorado</a></td></tr></table>
They had some bullshitters even back then. That old lady could string word together with the best of them.
<table style="width:auto;"><tr><td><a href="https://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/Xc8uZP2aOA0j7V8oJ-06HdMTjNZETYmyPJy0liipFm0?feat=embedwebsite"><img src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-R_OOLrkXpGk/UBRjtb-5jDI/AAAAAAAATeg/VKMaQingJ6w/s800/DSCF0305.JPG" height="600" width="800" /></a></td></tr><tr><td style="font-family:arial,sans-serif; font-size:11px; text-align:right">From <a href="https://picasaweb.google.com/105133432232392762779/CDRColorado?authuser=0&feat=embedwebsite">CDR Colorado</a></td></tr></table>

Best shot of the day...
<table style="width:auto;"><tr><td><a href="https://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/kqOg6N7EPmtGq_QhWnyv9dMTjNZETYmyPJy0liipFm0?feat=embedwebsite"><img src="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-5IGY4NjXCF0/UBRjtz5oIKI/AAAAAAAATeo/3e8c9CPNkh4/s800/DSCF0302.JPG" height="600" width="800" /></a></td></tr><tr><td style="font-family:arial,sans-serif; font-size:11px; text-align:right">From <a href="https://picasaweb.google.com/105133432232392762779/CDRColorado?authuser=0&feat=embedwebsite">CDR Colorado</a></td></tr></table>
It's 5 pm and I'm an eighth of a mile from my tent with out rain gear, and it's raining like Hell. I could stay in the cowboy lounge all night, but I see there's no crapper and those urges are working themselves
to the forefront. I may have run out of luck.

BTW, the first day on Tubeless tire con noodle was a success.

Hi Pete,

Great to meet you and put a face with a name! I enjoyed visiting with you and checking out your "toyhauler". You've got some serious fabrication and problem solving skills.

Hope your trip to Westcliffe and then on to Antelope Wells has gone well. Did you ever meet up with Bob in Westcliffe? Ride safe, stay dry and I'll see you again in Silverton for RMAR.

Road Damage ------ Rob

ps Pete, I've got an extra inflatable sleeping bag pad ..... you want it? If so, I'll bring it to RMAR.

Nice meeting you too, Rob. No never met Bob in Westville, and I looked for 5 minutes for a quanset hut at an intersection. My air mat is working now, thanks.

So I left Westville this morning (Monday), and took the Medano Pass, (souhern end of the 'Sangre De Cristo range'), to the Great Sand Dunes Natl Monument. I'm holed up in Grants NM....more than half way to Antelope wells. I scarfed up a 29$ motel room with wifi. I needed to get some messages out.

Medano Pass is a bit rugged, although I didn't have any trouble with the road, I did have some with a water crossing. It was the last one going west just before the dunes.

The other dozen crossing all ranged a ft to 18" deep. The last one was wider, about 50+ ft, and I couldn't see the bottom. Being a Calif guy, I don't know much about water crossings.

I figured it looked iffy, but I had to cross it....after all the road went into it. Well I got 30 feet in before the 3 ft of water got in the air box and shut off the power.

I didn't drop it but I was in a mess. Luckily my clutch starter shut off is disconnected. I was able to use the starter to get it within about 10 ft of land.....then it started to tip over. I finally got it back upright but now the starter isn't working, seemed dead.

I put the kickstand down and unloaded the bike. I figured I'll have to muscle the thing the rest of the way out of the water. So as I put it in nutral the nutral light came on. Well, that means their is still battery and it's making a connection. Whap, up side the head. In my thrashing to right the bike, I'd hit the kill switch.

So the starter did get it the rest of the way out of the water. A quick screw driver in the spark plug showed that I had spark. I noticed the carb or air box is dripping, so I took the airbox apart and let the cup of water in there out.

From there I was able to clear the cylinder with some full throttle cranking, and nurse the bike back to life. Whew! I was happy to hear it running again.

About this time a couple rangers showed up. They were there to tear up the beaver dam that had caused the high water level. Oh, so that why that crossing was a lot deeper than the others. Who would of thunk of looking there for it?

........another case of live and learn.
<table style="width:auto;"><tr><td><a href="https://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/Ycutzm02ZW-JjwlpEOblwtMTjNZETYmyPJy0liipFm0?feat=embedwebsite"><img src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-TkArhtOkW_g/UBdWzwEIrCI/AAAAAAAATh4/M1I_isqblOM/s800/DSCF0348.JPG" height="600" width="800" /></a></td></tr><tr><td style="font-family:arial,sans-serif; font-size:11px; text-align:right">From <a href="https://picasaweb.google.com/105133432232392762779/July282012?authuser=0&feat=embedwebsite">July 28, 2012</a></td></tr></table>

On Tue, Jul 31, 2012 at 8:54 AM, L D Walker <ldw@centurytel.net> wrote:

Darn Pete, I thought the loose sand would be the worst obstacle, had no idea as dry as the area has been that the water crossings would even have a drop of water in them. Glad to hear you made it through.
​

I did biff once in the sand. That sand is as bad as any I've seen. In fact, since you said that you took the 4X4 surbuban thru there I figured it was mostly a graded road with some sand on it. Boy, was I wrong.

A little ways from my biff site, I came onto these guys. Two 4s and a 5. It was near all the campers so they were used to people.....still I got all excited.
<table style="width:auto;"><tr><td><a href="https://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/agMtCgvrRnjM4FLTP_QqvdMTjNZETYmyPJy0liipFm0?feat=embedwebsite"><img src="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-lwlAdJxKaE8/UBfUndRp0uI/AAAAAAAATjg/2a1pgxzErgU/s800/DSCF0355.JPG" height="600" width="800" /></a></td></tr><tr><td style="font-family:arial,sans-serif; font-size:11px; text-align:right">From <a href="https://picasaweb.google.com/105133432232392762779/July282012?authuser=0&feat=embedwebsite">July 28, 2012</a></td></tr></table>

BTW there was a 3.5 or 4 just up the road from your drive, LD, when I left Monday morning.

I think I lost my phone in the biff....I also had to pick my camera up out of the sand. It took about 10 more then the zoom frose up so that camera is toast.

I was worried about my backup camera getting wet in the stream, but all else survived....so I'm still taking pictures.

I'm in Lordsburg now having a McDouble for dinner. I'll load up in a few minutes and head down Animas St (dirt road) to Animas.

The site seeing today has been good...only got a little wet.
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We are with you Pete, so have a great trip and never hesitate to check in here if you have any challenges that we can help with .

Loving the RR, you are doing a great job, the best of luck.

ciao,gale