NE/IA/SD guys, any interest in a Loess Hills Dual Sport ride July 5?

[tbirdsp]

OK, the ride is ON. .GPX track file is posted below. Start and end at Casey's on Hwy 30 in Mo Valley. 153 miles total. Gas/rest stop in Smithland at 73 miles. No lunch stop planned, no time. Eat a good breakfast and plan on snacking. Route took me about 5 hours, plan on at least that (not including your ride there and back home). There are 2 tracks in the file. Green is northbound (out), blue ("cyan") is southbound (back). There are several places where the tracks merge together. Just remember that northbound we will be doing the east side of any loops, southbound the west side.
(Discalaimer: This route is on many "Level B - Minimum Maintenance" roads. No telling what the conditons will be. You are responsible for your own safety.)
I also have a Garmin .gdb file with routes I created with City Select v7 maps. These may not work for you if you have different maps though. You would at least have to do a recalculate on the route using your maps and see if they still match the track file. E-mai me at tbirdsp@yahoo.com if you want this file.
Looks like some rain tomorrow (Wednesday) but I think if Thursday and Friday are dry it willl be fine. Yossarian_47 rode some of this stuff on Sunday after rain on Friday and he had no trouble. I rode the whole route on Monday and it was good. Some areas will be very dusty, so we will have to space out to avoid gagging each other. I will stop at every turn though. There are many places you can bail to I-29 if you need to cut out for any reason.

Harrison, Monona, and Woodbury counties in IA
http://www.iowadotmaps.com/msp/pdfview/counties.html

As long as it's dry, BMW GS, Triumph Tiger, Suzuki V-strom type bikes
could make it fine, although the knobbier the tires the better. A 650
or smaller would be my first choice though. You should be comfortable riding on loose gravel and possibly some rutted/slick dirt roads. It will be dusty and
I'd bring some water.
It would be best to air your tires down some. Casey's has an air hose and I verified it works, so you can air them back up after the loop.
If anybody wants to just meet us in Missouri Valley, IA, I'd say we will be there between 10 and 10:30 am. Casey's is on the south side of US 30 just opposite of where County L-20 (old Hwy 183) heads north. We will roll at 1100 to do the loop.
For those coming along with me after our Omaha breakfast: It's about 40 miles to the Casey's in Mo Valley, have enough gas to go that far. Probably leave around 0930. We'll take I-680 north/east to Crescent, IA, then north on Co L-20 (old Hwy 183) to Casey's.

[Yossarian™]

Originally Posted by tbirdsp

IF (a big if) it stays relatively dry this week, is any one interested
in a dual sport/adventure bike ride July 5? This would start after our monthly "First Saturday" breakfast in Omaha.

Yes! I do have a lousy old GPS but no mount for it. I'd likely just ride along with you.

Was out there today. Conditions were very good.

Here's the ride report.

http://www.advrider.com/forums/showthread.php?t=357529

Jasper Ave is closed on the west end due to bridge unsafe. I ran it from the NE end down to the bridge and back.

Peach Ave north of the Preparation Canyon campground is closed due to multiple trees across the road.

[Trl Rdr]

I will put it on the list for Saturday.

[powerstroke]

I would go but I have family reunion.
Attendance is not optional!!!! So I will not be able to make this ride.

Looks like fun!

[Yossarian™]

Originally Posted by powerstroke

I would go but I have family reunion.
Attendance is not optional!!!! So I will not be able to make this ride.

Send Mrs. Powerstroke in your stead.

[NameHere]

Thanks for setting it up! I'd LOVE to go, but I've got a BMW (R80RT) in the Clear Lake area weekend planned.

I know, I know. It's hard balancing my street and dirt cravings. When you throw the whisky (occasionally with the "e") and "other cravings" in ... Well, let's just say it makes for a busy schedule.

[Yossarian™]

Originally Posted by NameHere

When you throw the whisky (occasionally with the "e") and "other cravings" in ... Well, let's just say it makes for a busy schedule.

Mike,

Any chance we might up the ante from water to Laphroaig?

[stvbeck]

I would be interested. Coming from Des Moines on a DR650. Let me know if it is a go.

[tbirdsp]

OK guys, I decided to pre-run my route today. I think I've really outdone myself this time This was the most fun I've had on the KLR in a long time. It took me longer than I thought though. The ~150-mile loop starting and ending at the Casey's on Hwy 30 in Missouri Valley, IA took me about 5 hours. I hate to cut any of it out though. There are ample places you can bail to I-29 if needed. Anyone coming with me from our Omaha breakfast should figure you won't get back to town until 5:00 PM if you do the whole route. The northernmost spot will be near the town of Oto, IA in Woodbury County on Hwy 31.
I think I've been overly concerned about wet conditions based on my attempt to ride this stuff back in April when the ground hadn't even thawed fully yet. I had no problems today, hardly even found any wet spots. Unless we have a huge deluge (like over an inch) I think we'll be OK. There certainly are spots that will put you on the ground if you aren't careful though. Lots of loose gravel that can be difficult if you aren't used to it. I found it best to run about 50 mph on the stuff Plenty of great "Level B" roads too.
I'll get a .gpx track file posted here after I clean it up a bit.
Anyone not coming from our Omaha breakfast just meet us at the Casey's General Store on Hwy 30 in Mo Valley at about 1030, we'll roll by 1100. I'll post more detailed info later this week.

[tbirdsp]

tbirdsp (me)
Yossarian_47
Trl Rdr
Twotaildog
stvbeck
KtmTigerDude
EL Guero
fiberguy

(not on Advrider)

Denis C.
DJU

Reply to this thread if you will attend.

[stvbeck]

I'm in. What time is breakfast?

[tbirdsp]

Originally Posted by stvbeck

I'm in. What time is breakfast?

0800 in Omaha . Early day for you You could just meet us in Mo Valley.
You certainly are welcome at breakfast though.
http://www.advrider.com/forums/showthread.php?t=128465

[Yossarian™]

Originally Posted by tbirdsp

tbirdsp (me)
Yossarian_47
Trl Rdr
Twotaildog
stvbeck

(not on Advrider)
bmodlin
Denis C.

Reply to this thread if you will attend.

Oh, you know I'm in.

Thanks for putting this together, Mike.

[KtmTigerDude]

Originally Posted by tbirdsp

tbirdsp (me)
Yossarian_47
Trl Rdr
Twotaildog
stvbeck

(not on Advrider)
bmodlin - I would tend to disagree! - I lurk, then I don't have anything to post like the usual - "Id like to go but cant cause Im attending a family reunion, wife wont left me, blah blah blah.

Bruce


Denis C.

Reply to this thread if you will attend.

c above

[tbirdsp]

Originally Posted by KtmTigerDude

c above

OK, I stand corrected Which bike you gonna ride?