Sir, trainee Wolfe reports as ordered!

[WolfNman]

But before I clear my throat to shout those words at basic training, I think I will go for a ride.

The rough draft of a route I have made on google maps. http://maps.google.com/maps?f=d&sour...,56.513672&z=4


Hello, ADVriders. My name is Kenny Wolfe and I am enlisted in the United States Air Force. I am currently awaiting final word on my date to leave for bootcamp. As it stands now I have conditionally slotted the job, AFSC 2A533, Integrated Avionics Systems with a depart date of June 1st. I plan on leaving for this trip early April.


The inspiration for this ride comes from the longing to see my family on my Father's side. The Wolfe's. I haven't seen them since I was a pup haha. I live in Oregon, they in Pennsylvania. I would like to know what they are like, where my family originates and to be blunt, to see my grandmother while she is still alive.

Now, to be not so noble and sappy. I love to ride, and I love to ride the curviest roads I can find. I ride using many of the techniques described in the article "The Pace" By Nick Ienatsch. I have less close calls and still just as much fun, if not more. One of the main destinations on this trip is Deal's Gap, The Tail of the Dragon. I dream about the day that I am blessed with it's curves. Along my way I would love to meet up with other riders and learn about your local "off the beaten path" areas, town history, and of course the funnest runs that your area has to offer!

Down to the supplies, I ask for any words of wisdom you have to offer. I will take them all with the greatest of authority.

EDIT: Tried to scroll down but hit the Submit New Thread button. Ohh utter failure on my first post, how bittersweet you taste.

I have a heavily built one person tent that ill use for shelter when I am not couch surfing with friends, and friends of friends. I have a 20 degree ALPS backpacking Sleeping bag that has served me well. I just bought soft bags from moto centric, I have a tank bag from GIVI, and a Kelty pack. Not sure if I will need all of that storage, but I am going to bring it. For the finer details, im bringing all of my backpacking gear, the usual stuff: knife, rope, tin foil, fire starter.... You get the idea. Ill also be bringing a small supply of common hand tools for quick fixes on the road.


So, to more properly introduce myself.

This is me.


This is my biker hobbit.


This is my motorcycle. A 2005 Kawasaki Z1000


Welcome to my ride. I thank you all for joining me on this amazing adventure. I look forward to meeting any of you that I can.

[markbvt]

Originally Posted by WolfNman

One of the main destinations on this trip is Deal's Gap, The Tail of the Dragon. I dream about the day that I am blessed with it's curves.

By all means check out the Dragon, but don't forget to ride lots of the other roads in that area such as the Cherohala Skyway, the Snake, and Rt 16 up into West Virginia. IMO the Dragon isn't as much fun as many of these other roads, in part because it doesn't offer as much variety, but also because it's too much of a tourist destination, which means in turn that it's often crowded and gets lots of police attention. By contrast, roads like the Snake offer up lots of different-radius curves, elevation changes, and less traffic.

Have a great trip!

--mark

[WolfNman]

Thanks for the tip Mark. Ill definitely check those out. I had assumed the dragon (especially in summer months) would be packed with tourists and motorcyclists alike, but it's also the hype that compels me to ride it. So when I come back and tell my story, I can throw out the name. "Not only did I ride The Dragon, but I rode from Oregon to do it." It'll make for a good story for the kids.

I appreciate your input, I will find the roads you mentioned as well, and probably have more fun on them!

[markbvt]

Those roads are all in my WV/TN/NC/VA ride report. For us, it was kind of the same deal -- had to go ride the Dragon as long as we were in the area, but mostly just to be able to say we did.

--mark

[WolfNman]

Ill check out your RR. It's a big thing for me over here. All the hype surrounding "The Dragon." Me and my friends talk about it like it's El Dorado haha. It's just one of those things I have on the bucket list, and im checking it off.

[WolfNman]

Ive been getting a lot of nay-sayers lately. People condemning this trip and saying "what if?" Am I alone here or has everyone else faced this sort of thing when telling others of their planned travels.


Many things may or may not happen on this trip, but like Ive said to these people, "There's only one way to find out."

[markbvt]

Originally Posted by WolfNman

Ive been getting a lot of nay-sayers lately. People condemning this trip and saying "what if?" Am I alone here or has everyone else faced this sort of thing when telling others of their planned travels.


Many things may or may not happen on this trip, but like Ive said to these people, "There's only one way to find out."

Ignore them. Non-riders don't get it and tend to assume that if you ride a long distance on a motorcycle, you are going to die. Even people who ride, but only do so occasionally and for short distances, seem to have a mindset that a long distance motorcycle trip is crazy. In their case it's usually because they're insecure riders and don't feel comfortable enough on the bike to go more than 30 miles without taking a break.

Don't let them ruin it for you.

--mark

[FLARider1]

Originally Posted by WolfNman

Ive been getting a lot of nay-sayers lately. People condemning this trip and saying "what if?" Am I alone here or has everyone else faced this sort of thing when telling others of their planned travels.


Many things may or may not happen on this trip, but like Ive said to these people, "There's only one way to find out."

+1 on the ignore them. You should see and hear the response I get when I tell people that I am riding from Key West to Prudhoe Bay and back to Key West. The give a look like are you completely f'ing nuts or what. Plan your trip, ride your ride and screw the rest of them. And if you fall to the 'PERILS' of the road, so be it, at least you had fun,..its called living instead of existing.

OK enough soap box, onto the good stuff. You will have a blast riding out of the northwest, want to slit your wrist with boredom through the midwest (lots of stuff to see, boring straight riding), then be creaming all over yourself when you hit the mountains in the east. Once you get off the slabs you will be hard pressed to find a road in KY/TN/NC/SC/WV that aint a blast to ride. Do your bucket list and hit the Dragon. Everytime I get that way I ride it just because. Make sure you get the pictures from the vendors on the road, they do a good job and its a show off item!!! But do take the time to ride the other roads. The Cherahola Skyway is amazing, the Green Eyed Snake to the north is longer and more turns, the Moonshiner 28 headed south from Deals Gap is a blast to ride with tourist stuff as part of the park system you are in for most of the route. Foothills Parkway is a lot of fun!!!

Enjoy your ride, we all know you will.

And thank you for volunteering your service to our country. I am ex Navy with a long family history of service, my daughter made it fourth generation active duty, third straight generation Navy. A member of my immediate family has been on active duty in every war and conflict since WWII. I appreciate and respect your commitment.

Ride safe, stay safe, and be proud of the path you have chosen!!

[King_Panther13]

Get ready to hear a lot of "What the piss, trainee?" Seriously though, you're the first depper I've met that knows his reporting statement!

I spent only a few months before getting a medical separation. Don't friggin give up, don't falter, just knock it all out, and boot camp will be over before you blink.

Good luck on the ride, I wish that I was into motorcycles before I joined, it would have been an awesome excuse for a cross country tour.

[WolfNman]

Originally Posted by King_Panther13

Get ready to hear a lot of "What the piss, trainee?" Seriously though, you're the first depper I've met that knows his reporting statement!

I spent only a few months before getting a medical separation. Don't friggin give up, don't falter, just knock it all out, and boot camp will be over before you blink.

Good luck on the ride, I wish that I was into motorcycles before I joined, it would have been an awesome excuse for a cross country tour.

I also know The Airman's Creed, core values, and I am learning The Air Force song and pay grade/ranks. In fact, the first thing I thought of when you said "don't falter" was the last two lines in The Airman's Creed. Thank you, luck I might need, and hopefully it will be with me.

markbvt and FLARider1- Thank you both for the kind words of encouragement. It's nice to hear that other people can see this trip being a success like I can. I've done the math, I think I have enough money, even if a few unexpected things happen. My bike is in tip top shape with only 8K miles. I am even replacing the chain early just in case. I have fresh tires, all the little things.

To everyone else, I haven't had a single person offer to ride with me on ADV. Is this mainly an off-road site?? Cause ill take the Z on the dirt haha. Ive noticed many people on here are riding dirt bikes and enduros. One of the goals of my trip is to meet fellow motorcyclists and new people along the way. Maybe I am in the wrong section?

[King_Panther13]

Originally Posted by WolfNman

I also know The Airman's Creed, core values, and I am learning The Air Force song and pay grade/ranks. In fact, the first thing I thought of when you said "don't falter" was the last two lines in The Airman's Creed. Thank you, luck I might need, and hopefully it will be with me.

markbvt and FLARider1- Thank you both for the kind words of encouragement. It's nice to hear that other people can see this trip being a success like I can. I've done the math, I think I have enough money, even if a few unexpected things happen. My bike is in tip top shape with only 8K miles. I am even replacing the chain early just in case. I have fresh tires, all the little things.

To everyone else, I haven't had a single person offer to ride with me on ADV. Is this mainly an off-road site?? Cause ill take the Z on the dirt haha. Ive noticed many people on here are riding dirt bikes and enduros. One of the goals of my trip is to meet fellow motorcyclists and new people along the way. Maybe I am in the wrong section?

You can meet and greet in the regionals section, mostly. The site does seem dirt oriented, but we all have street bikes too. When I crashed in Va I made a face plant post, and got a handful of comments....one suggested I post in the Virginia area regional forum. I ended up getting a new front end, a place to stay for a few nights, tons of great new friends, and my motorcycle fixed up for me to ride home.

I honestly wasn't thinking of the creed when I said that! My experience definitely will follow me through life. You seem on top of things, you'll do great in BMT. Just remember...stay under the radar, don't question anything, and just do things as they come. Honestly I forgot most of the creed, but everything else I knew and still know by heart. That memory work is a BIG deal in basic, it's great that you're learning it now. Multiple people would drop every day for not knowing something as simple as what rank an E-3 was. Go to youtube and look up "Chervony." Cool guy that knows his stuff about boot camp, and since he's prior service, he talks about everything freely. Come to facebook and look up the "What the piss, trainee?!" fan page. I'm the creator . Lots of great stories and insight from boot camp there as well.

[klaviator]

Originally Posted by WolfNman

To everyone else, I haven't had a single person offer to ride with me on ADV. Is this mainly an off-road site?? Cause ill take the Z on the dirt haha. Ive noticed many people on here are riding dirt bikes and enduros. One of the goals of my trip is to meet fellow motorcyclists and new people along the way. Maybe I am in the wrong section?

If you want to meet other ADVrs, do a ride report as you go. If you look to see how many people are viewing at any given time on this forum, the lion's share are looking at the regional forums or ride reports. There are a much smaller number viewing trip planning. There are plenty of us who ride on the street, even if we also ride off road.

Do a ride report, and start it a few days before you start your trip, and you will get plenty of offers of places to stay, some people to ride with, and much more advice than you can use.

If you want to see what kind of impact a ride report can have on a trip, check out this one: http://www.advrider.com/forums/showthread.php?t=203720 This was a mostly street ride done in 2007. It has recieved over 1.7 million hits.

You are very wise to plan your trip at this time. Once you start your career, who knows when you will have the time to do something like this again. Good luck on your trip and your Air Force career.

[King_Panther13]

Originally Posted by klaviator

If you want to meet other ADVrs, do a ride report as you go. If you look to see how many people are viewing at any given time on this forum, the lion's share are looking at the regional forums or ride reports. There are a much smaller number viewing trip planning. There are plenty of us who ride on the street, even if we also ride off road.

Do a ride report, and start it a few days before you start your trip, and you will get plenty of offers of places to stay, some people to ride with, and much more advice than you can use.

If you want to see what kind of impact a ride report can have on a trip, check out this one: http://www.advrider.com/forums/showthread.php?t=203720 This was a mostly street ride done in 2007. It has recieved over 1.7 million hits.

You are very wise to plan your trip at this time. Once you start your career, who knows when you will have the time to do something like this again. Good luck on your trip and your Air Force career.

Exactly what I wanted to say, except worded much much better. Speaking of which, I leave tomorrow for my trip and haven't even started my report O.o.

[WolfNman]

Originally Posted by klaviator

If you want to meet other ADVrs, do a ride report as you go. If you look to see how many people are viewing at any given time on this forum, the lion's share are looking at the regional forums or ride reports. There are a much smaller number viewing trip planning. There are plenty of us who ride on the street, even if we also ride off road.

Do a ride report, and start it a few days before you start your trip, and you will get plenty of offers of places to stay, some people to ride with, and much more advice than you can use.

If you want to see what kind of impact a ride report can have on a trip, check out this one: http://www.advrider.com/forums/showthread.php?t=203720 This was a mostly street ride done in 2007. It has recieved over 1.7 million hits.

You are very wise to plan your trip at this time. Once you start your career, who knows when you will have the time to do something like this again. Good luck on your trip and your Air Force career.

I am so glad information is free. Thank you. Ill post up in the regional forum and ill definitely start my ride report early so hopefully I can meet up with some people along the way. I don't want to plan every single road out and then just follow the game plan. Ide like to meet people in the area and have them show or just tell me their favorite runs. I hope that's not asking too much. I know I would do it for someone else.

As simple as this. In the Medford area you head south on I5 toward Ashland until you reach the Klamath falls/Dead Indian exit. Take that exit and go left at the stop sign. Follow that road, youll pass by Emigrant lake and then the road really gets fun. Your on hwy 66 at that point. At the Greensprings inn take a left. Be careful cause there is no center line. Take another left at the stop sign, it's a ways up there. Now your on Dead Indian RD. Ride that all the way down. At the bottom there's a place to pull off and relax on the right. An old truck scale. At that point your front tire is pointing at I5 again, you are where you started. THAT is my favorite run around here.


That's an example of what I was looking for. Im not looking for a guided tour of the area (unless your willing), a simple, this road is awesome will suffice. Ive already picked up a lot of route changes from this site and others, but always looking for more ways to make this trip exciting!

Thanks to everyone who has replied.

[WolfNman]

Originally Posted by King_Panther13

You can meet and greet in the regionals section, mostly. The site does seem dirt oriented, but we all have street bikes too. When I crashed in Va I made a face plant post, and got a handful of comments....one suggested I post in the Virginia area regional forum. I ended up getting a new front end, a place to stay for a few nights, tons of great new friends, and my motorcycle fixed up for me to ride home.

I honestly wasn't thinking of the creed when I said that! My experience definitely will follow me through life. You seem on top of things, you'll do great in BMT. Just remember...stay under the radar, don't question anything, and just do things as they come. Honestly I forgot most of the creed, but everything else I knew and still know by heart. That memory work is a BIG deal in basic, it's great that you're learning it now. Multiple people would drop every day for not knowing something as simple as what rank an E-3 was. Go to youtube and look up "Chervony." Cool guy that knows his stuff about boot camp, and since he's prior service, he talks about everything freely. Come to facebook and look up the "What the piss, trainee?!" fan page. I'm the creator . Lots of great stories and insight from boot camp there as well.

I liked it!! That picture about the dust bunny named Fred made me laugh so hard, I love that.