Yet another sign of the arrival of Fall (as if I needed yet another). This morning, I arrived at my office before the sun actually appeared above the horizon. I really like it when the sunlight illuminates the bottom of clouds. At a balmy 50°F this morning and no fog, it was a very pleasant ride while enjoying the sunrise in my rear view mirrors. I can use a few more days like today.
Yesterday would have been a great riding day as well and I was tempted to take an additional vacation day and ride somewhere. But that would be irresponsible, or at least that is what I kept telling myself. This has been a pretty low-mileage summer at only 3500 miles. The only motorcycle trip was the sidecar meet-up in Talkeetna over Memorial Day weekend.
The leaves are just starting the change on some trees with others almost completely yellow and ready to fall. I'm not sure I'm ready for Winter this year. I did manage to get the sidecar sorted out and I think I learned the basics of riding the rig safely and that was my riding goal for this Summer. I had hoped to get in a few more local trips within Alaska and the Yukon Territory.
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Richard:
ReplyDeleteRide when you can or when you feel like it. Don't worry about the mileage.
Since my trip I have been enjoying driving my car, wearing summer clothes and turning on the A/C before Fall arrives.
Record heat expected today, but also browned out leaves falling from trees and cooler at night. So Fall is coming here too
bob
Riding the Wet Coast
Not worrying about the mileage, more lamenting the lack of road trips. I still enjoy being out on the bike and don't miss the A/C and the hack experience is still feeling new...
DeleteThe leaves are starting to turn here too. Not sure when your riding season is done but I'm really hoping I can get through October, maybe November if I'm really lucky.
ReplyDeleteI've had a bad summer for riding... Maybe 500 miles, so I'm hopeful for a bit more before the snow flies.
I'm not sure when it'll be "done" either. My plan is to maybe not ride on those first couple of snowfalls when everyone needs to re-learn how to drive then start up again with studded tires. Last winter, the bike still started pretty easily down to -20°F but the battery didn't have enough juice to crank easily. I'll be fixing that soon....
DeleteIt's not about the mileage, it's what you do with it, Richard. Due to our move to Germany, and limited opportunities I have only clocked about 1,500 miles on my scooter up to now, but heck did I see beautiful roads and awesome places...
ReplyDeleteAnyway I am not ready for winter, and I guess I never will. the local crowd is promising me a beautiful October so I am hoping to get some riding in at least until November.
You, with your hack are now are true year rounder, and I hope to see you on the road, covered in snow and making donuts ;-)
Since I only have one wheel drive and no sidecar brake, donuts would be very difficult. But I am looking forward to riding in the snow again but not looking forward to winter. It just seems to drag on sometimes.
DeleteLove, love the photos. I've abused yet another pocket camera and I won't bother repairing this one.
ReplyDeleteI, too, love the light under the clouds. It's an expectation of something bright and new. A new day. I love the light on the building.
That is such a pretty view. Even in winter! Even short trips have to be fun and fulfilling, but I can understand why you wish you could do more.
Since around 2004 I have been using my phone as my point and shoot camera. Pretty poor quality especially at low light but it's handy. For my current iPhone, I've been using a LifeProof case. Very durable though the lens cover just fell out on the last day of the warranty. They are sending me a completely new case. Can't beat that for customer service.
DeleteRichardM, I have complete faith in your ability to make up for your "low mileage" summer by doubling that figure this coming Winter!
ReplyDeleteProbably no sidecar trips during the winter though and just my commute is only 60 miles per week. We'll see. I'm trying to figure out how to easily carry skis on the sidecar. I don't have one of those huge, handy rear racks like the Ural.
Deleteperhaps something like the rear rack at this site: LINK
ReplyDeleteI have that rack already though it isn't sized and angled right to just strapping on skis and poles.
DeleteRichard, I had a low mileage summer as well, I just wasn't feeling the moto zen as I usually do and I was happier baking and eating it seems :) I too am not looking forward to cooler weather, we have had such a stellar summer this year and I don't want to see it end.
ReplyDeleteI'm reminded that I was out of the state so often that it's no wonder that I got any riding in at all. At least that's what I've been told. I think maybe 6 to 7 weeks.
DeleteMaybe they're right...
When it comes to miles ... it's like everything else (to second Sonja) it's quality and not quantity.
ReplyDeleteYou are experiencing reasonable fall temps and we here have been hit by a heat wave. Temp today was nearly 40C - along with the heat we are under a severe storm watch; right now the thunder is booming and the rain is beginning. (Kind of makes me think of the summer.)
But compared to last Summer, the quality miles weren't there either. I don't think that commuting qualifies as "quality miles" or at least if I don't take the scenic route home.
Delete40°C! I think I'd collapse with those temperatures. Don't worry, it'll be snowing before you know it (said knowing that I am a safe distance away)
It is only a low mileage summer for you compared to last year's high mileage.
ReplyDeleteI don't even want to think about how low mine are for this summer. It was pretty much a write off for some reason.
Even compared to other Summers it's low. Maybe about the same as right after I started riding. Thinking back to that time, even commuting felt like an adventure...
DeleteCount me in with the quality vs quantity group. I've honestly had as much fun riding and enjoying my riding events this season as ever, happily giving up some potential miles on rally weekends for time with friends. There's a strong possibility that some of those friends may not have a riding season next year; this one being their last.
ReplyDeleteI'm glad for the miles I have been able to get. Today, I was asked to send out an email to the BMW riders list for Fairbanks announcing a couple of "last rides of the season" as they are forecasting a heavy frost for the weekend with temperatures down in the 20s (°F).
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