What did you do on or to your other bike part 2

[pdedse]

We've got a week of dry weather, bright sunshine...but that usually means high winds 'cause that's what's keeping the rains away.  Low 50s for the high, so I decided to inagurate the KLX300.  With not a cloud in the sky, I took off at 9:30am and headed for Madras, Oregon, about 2 hours away on the east side of Mt. Hood.  I wanted to ride a couple hours of whatever non paved surfaces I could find east of Madras, and if you were to zoom in on whatever maps, you'd find all sorts of interesting roads.


I chose Grizzly Rd. which heads SE out of Madras.  But...as soon as I started coming down Mt. Hood on the east side, all the sunshine gave way to fog...heavy, misty, COLD fog.  I wasn't suspecting that at all.  Lunchtime temp was right at 32, and I just about headed back home without unloading the KLX, but after having something to eat, I thought I'd at least check out the road.  And the road was too inviting to pass up.  I had a 40-50 mile route planned, but I knew I'd likely have to adjust that because that cold fog gets to me quick.

Found a park on the east edge of Madras, unloaded the bike and was on my way...to see nada




It was pointless to use the faceshield as it would immediately fogup.  I stopped about every 10 mintures to warm up my hands with the exhaust and dethaw my nose.  It must have dropped below 32 as I gained altitude because the fog would collect on my jacket and then chunks of ice would drop to the ground every time I got off the bike.

About 1/2 through my two hour trip the fog would clear for a couple hundred meters.  On a sunny day I imagine it would be rather pretty


Passing a farm house, a couple of large hounds barked their displeasure at my passing by and gave chase, but not today, doggies!


After about 1.5 hours, I began to head back to Madras.  


I was thinking I should have made note of the park where I left the pickup, but it turns out the same road that took me out of the hills lead me directly bac to the parking area.  Only about 35 miles, 2 hours total on the bike with lots of "where am I" and warm-up stops.

The bike is light and easy to maneurver.  I put on a taller handle bar, a set of bar-back risers that I originally used on my 2014 CB1100 Standard and lowered footpegs.  Felt pretty decent standing, happy about that.  I forgot my seat pads, so I felt naked w/out those, but otherwise a pretty decent ride considering the chill.  Hands and toes were numb for a bit, but got the bike loaded back and made it home while there was still some daylight.