ABM inadvertently snaps pic of California Condor!

After a 350 mile ride in Colorado, Utah, and Arizona:

We were relaxing in the tent, going though some pic's shot during the trip, and noticed a "spot" high above an unusual rock formation.  Taking into account how far in the air this bird was flying, and having seen them effortlessly gliding over the Grand Canyon a few summers ago, we're 99% confident this is an endangered California Condor!

To locate, look at the center of the photo, just above the "V" notch in the rock, and blow it up a few times until you can make out the huge wings.  We're highly confident this bird is indeed, a Condor!  You never know what adventure awaits when you saddle up and blast off to see the world.!

This Labor Day weekend, get on your bike and ride!

(and don't forget to take your camera or cell pic fone!) 

Park Grill Pork Ribs!

Campground Cuisine:

After frying up the 50th rainbow trout, we figured it was time for a little variety on the picnic table top, so a nice St. Louis cut rack of ribs was located at the local grocery for less than 8 bucks.  Bikers without extra space to haul stuff like condiments, and tin foil can always "borrow" what's needed from the RV campers.  (Just promise them a rib or two!)

(1)  Wash, and rub with fresh garlic cloves, then salt, pepper, sage rub. 



(2)  Burn down your wood (or "borrowed" briquettes) until not much is left except hot embers.  Place the ribs, bone side down first, and let the juices drop onto the coals, giving you that "smokey" flavor.  Watch for flare ups, as burnt ribs suck.  The bone side should get about 2/3 the total cooking time.  When the meat begins to shrink away from the bones, turn over, and brown the meat side, being careful not to burn the protein.

(3).  Apply some cheap bbq sauce.  We did a 99 cent bottle of hickory flavored.  Rub on with a plastic spoon, first on the bones, put back on heat, and do the meat side.  Flip over, and keep on going until the sauce begins to "hold" onto the meat.

(4).  Get about 2 feet of tin foil from the neighbors.  (By now, they're real interested in the biker buffet, and are very cooperative.)  Wrap the ribs tightly in the foil, leaving no exposed meat.  Press down to eliminate any air pockets, and put back on over the coals.  Figure on at least an hour in the foil, turning every 15-20 minutes.

(5).  Pull 'em out of the foil.  This is what they should look like!

(6).  Avoid the urge to cut them all up at once.  Slice off a few at a time with your pocket knife.  (You DO carry a pocket knife, don't you?) The rack will keep cooking itself from the heat on the remaining bones.

Bonn Appetite!

Giant Black Slugs Disrupt Hippie Mushroom Fest!

Telluride, San Juan Range, SW Colorado:

Wet weather spawns bumper crop of slugs!

Find a clump of mushrooms, and you'll likely find one or more of these ugly suckers, munching away like there's no tomorrow!  About the size of a large pocket knife, these slimy black tubes are on the move, slithering about in search of the noble 'shroom.  Here's what they look like en route:

Dude, ABM is not a slug expert, but we think those two pointy things are eyes...

euewwww!

Pic is worth a thousand words..local fans of the "highly" regarded "shroom" are freaking out!



Only ABM could bring you a late-breaking story of this magnitude!

Rock newspaper might be as old as 2,000 years!

Canyonlands Nat'l Park, Utah:

You can't find a six pack. No worries.  The scenery will leave you breathless.

This "newspaper" might be as old as 2,000 years.

This rock had to be some sort of a meeting place.  It's nestled in the bottom of a deep cottonwood tree infested canyon.

Mesmerized by the intricate etchings, you stare and try to envision the meaning of each symbol.

From afar, you might walk right by..

We're impressed with the scenery that went with our trek to "Newspaper" rock:

Geologic volcano formation:  The hard magma remains, the softer pumice worn down, exposing the core.

About time to fire up the bikes, and make a run for it.

This area is very prone to flash floods, and if you wait too long, your wait may include an "overnight stay" under the stars!



We're outta here, for now!

The motorcycle "doctor" is in. Cure for common leg cramps? You bet!

What's a "Charlie Horse"? 

A dead leg.  After a long day in the saddle, and a night on the old air mattress, these ultra-painful leg cramps may last anywhere from a few seconds to an hour or two.  We almost never get 'em at sea level.  When camping out at the 8,000'-10,000' level, they're a 'mare in the middle of the night.  The last one was so painful, I'd have shot shot my leg off but the .44 was out of reach...(only partially kidding..)

Quinine Water? 
Dude, it works!

A couple of weeks ago, bought a six pack of Canada Dry "TONIC" water at the local supermarket.  Hit it every other day while in Sturgis.  We put on over a thousand hard miles on each bike during the rally, and never had a single cramp.  Didn't know how long a bottle would last, so for you, the motorcycle-loving public, did the Guinea pig thing, and went without.  First night in the four corners, the aforementioned (above) left leg muscle below the knee went off about 3am.  Thought I was gonna die, and couldn't get a bottle of Tonic water down fast enough.  That was a week ago, and even after a 400 mile ride into Utah, no cramps.  We're sold on Tonic water.

Diet or regular?  Name brand or brand X?

Didn't seem to matter.  Canada Dry at Sturgis, no name store brand down here in the desert, both work great.  Diet or regular, your money, your call.  Drink well ahead of the anticipated malady, at least 12-24 hours.  

Don't spend another night in pain.  If you're planning to log even a short hop of 200 miles or less, and you're a regular customer, I'd slug one, what could it hurt? 

Utah, life "elevated"

Man, you can say that again.  From the state line forward, it's up, up, up.  This is the tourism Rodney Dangerfield of states.  Slice it right down the middle, and head for the eastern half.  If you've never been to Moab, etc, you and your motorcycle are missing sights you'll never see anywhere else.  It rocks.

Newspaper rock, unlimited canyons, mesas, mtns!

 Here's just a sample.  Come on back for the rest later on!

                        

these are the mild pix, it gets way better!

..This place is so far off the beaten path, animals don't know they're supposed to be afraid of humans. 

                                                          



75-Year Old Ladies Take Over Biker Bar!

Four Corners Area, Colorado, USA:

ABM's been a regular customer at this, the only bar in town, literally speaking.  First year we walked in, patched over club members were at one end of the bar, locals, like rancher dudes at the other.  Now, the bar seems to have been taken over by retired ladies, and they ain't turning this joint into a rest home.

What-th-..?

Maybe it's the dark brewskies on top of the daily meds, maybe it's the fresh air, maybe it's the sound of bikes, but these social security lovin' ladies like the biker atmosphere, and hit the place regularly, especially on their weekly gathering, on Wednesdays.

Dude, T.M.I.!

My bud says...you should see 'em when they get up and dance on the bar! 
OMG...This is Wednesday.

ps:  ABM is testing out preventive medicine for the common "charlie horse", a malady experienced by bikers after a 300 mile + day in the saddle.  Ahead of the big Labor Day week run, it's valuable biker info.  What's worse than a charlie horse?  The stuff comes in a bottle, and is cheap.  Film at eleven..

Wyoming SP Lives Up To It's Rep:

Biker "ticket" bloodbath!

Running out of yellow forms?

Could be.  Rt 85 runs south from Wyoming I-90 thru New Castle, and on south.  It's the favored route for bikers returning home from Sturgis to Denver, all the way to San Diego.  Beautiful riding, canyons, bluffs, antelope by the hundreds.  It's also a 65mph zone, and after blasting down I-90 at 85 (the locals preferred speed), it's almost impossible for any bike, especially the newer six speed Harley Davidsons to keep to the limit.  Wyoming cops know this, and use the opportunity to create a biker bloodbath.

We tried to warn bikers blowing by our 70mph like we were standing still, most to no avail.  At least ten of 'em were nailed by the Wyoming SP.  Even county mounties got in on the all you can write feast, proving that good guys don't always wear white cowboy hats. 

Worst of all?

I got nailed in '09 for ten over, and believe it or not, my fine was $65.00.  In dixie, it woulda cost me five times that much.  For a state with only 500,000 residents, they sure got a lotta cops!

ps:  ABM's soft cat paws have landed in the San Juan mountain range, 1.5 hrs above the 100 degree desert floor, at 8,000 feet, base camp, 70 degrees here, and the rainbow trout are ferocious!

American Bikers: Hard working, hard playing, above all, honest, trustworthy.

For ABM, twice this rally, biker honesty was put to the test.  Both times, we won!

Case #1:

One of ABM's bros left his GOLD watch near the bathroom shower stall.  A few hours later, as he prepared to head for Sundance, Wyoming, blood drained out of his head when suddenly, the reality of the whereabouts of his expensive timepiece dawned.  Running into the bathroom, he was flabbergasted as he picked up the watch, in exactly the same spot where it had been left, despite probably 20 or more people had used the facility after him.

Case #2:

ABM's intrepid interview guru, "Sandi" was bouncing around the Buffalo Chip campground after a hard day of gathering sound clips for American Biker Minute.  Arriving at the campsite, her face turned to an "ashen" shade of gray (or grey?) when she gazed at the open zipper of her sissy bar's tour bag.  The field recorder, microphone, and all the other stuff was missing!  Frantically retracing her ride from the dollar hot dog and dollar beer pit, she spotted her hair brush laying in the dirt, and stopped to ask if anyone had seen her solid state recorder, and mike.  Sure enough, a kind biker pointed her to a group of campers gathered around a tent, under a friendly shade tree.  When asked, they proudly presented her with the missing mike, recorder, and over 100 interview files, without which, we would have been royally screwed.  As the group holding our valuables hailed from Canada, I guess we'll have to include Canadian bikers in the group of North America's most trusted, honest, individuals. 

Where else in the non-biker world could you associate with people this absolutely caring, honest, and trustworthy?  No where I know of, and I've been halfway around this damm world. 

Until our next blog, "Biker On"!

Rats Hole #2: Old Skool Rules!

Buffalo Chip, stage right:

Good taste never goes out of style!

Free is good. Free food is even better!

Porkers come out to play grillmaster..We came to eat!

We finally found 'em.  Pork loin grilled to perfection. 

(They got a new bbq grill..we like it..can we have one?)

Next FREE PORK SANDWICH 'Que?

(according to one of the pork ladies...)

Saturday, 10am-3pm at Lyn's Dakota Mart

(halfway down lazelle, near the post office)

HD not afraid to spend bux at bike weeks:

Massive Footprint:

New Harley-Davidson head honcho Keith Waddell has given his blessing to a massive redistribution of bucks aimed toward attracting bikers at various venues.  HD had a an XR-1200 dyno shoot out.  You get on one, your bud on the other, the light tree counts down, and it's off to the races!  What better way to familiarize yourself with the awesomoe power of the XR1200 without having to dodge cages on Lazelle Street?  To lure you into sending your old mill off to Milwaukee for reconditioning/refurbing, they had a few examples of "before" and "after" so you can see how nice and shiny (inside and out) the engine will be after they take it in for a few weeks.

  Brainstorms like this exhibit sell bikes. The biker may not buy a Harley here, but you can bet your a-- that they'll be thinking about something they saw under the tent most of the way home!  A tip of the ABM hat to HD.  While others, like Honda have elected to severely curtail their rally display over the past few years, Harley has decided to say "screw the economy", bikers will always be bikers.  We agree.