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Martyna from Poland. Saw a young grizzly on the road but he ran away when he saw my enema bottle LOL.
Downsizing. Please dont faint.
- Thread starter Coyote Chris
- Start date
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Lite breakfast.
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Possibly the worst selfie ever. 
At least Martyna looks good. Her boyfriend is a bartender here.
At least Martyna looks good. Her boyfriend is a bartender here.
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Camp Swampy, Red Cliff campground. Test of lite camping.
BTW, how many cameras have you broke?...... or have you lost count?Possibly the worst selfie ever.
View attachment 23175
Mike
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None. Max grip heater morning. 40 degrees.BTW, how many cameras have you broke?...... or have you lost count?
Mike
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Butte. No chain adjustment in 4,000 miles.
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Home again. It's a long way from Yellowstone to Spokane. Barb's car went over temp again and filled the reservoir but didn't suck fluid back in when cool. Unless the new OEM radiator cap went bad or hose has issue, I got nothin. Will work on it tomorrow. She is driving my 2004 CRV for now.
check for a crack in the overflow hose right where it connects to the overflow bottle. That was one of the things that would happen on the ST1100. Bottle would fill but never sucks back.
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That is on my list. before when this happened, I cut the hose off a bit and put on a clamp, but now I am thinking of just replacing the hose. Love the DuPont chain lube, BTW.
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Final thoughts.
Yellowstone 2025
Many things have changed traveling in the west now….
A minor thing is the shock of returning home after six days and having lost 14 minutes of daylight, including 8 minutes at sunset….doesnt seem much but it was shocking.
Motels I went to never filled up. The owners blamed various political reasons I don’t need to go into here but Yellowstone lodging and camping was certainly full. Here are the countries that don’t advise traveling to the US. Canada, Germany France Denmark Finland Ireland The Netherlands, United Kingdom and Japan.
The good news is Chinese students are again allowed to travel to the US and clean motel rooms, earn money for college, and see the west and experience the culture. The process is harder, but they are back. I always enjoy talking with them and they do the work US kids will no longer do. The kids from Poland and Italia, etc are also back after the pandemic.
The bad news is that with the cutbacks, there are few park rangers, but there were no long lines to get into the park as I think the traffic was on the whole lighter. Parking lots in the park were still overflowing and the roads are in terrible shape. I go in early to eat breakfast at the lodges and the lodge traffic at the main dining room was very light. Money is tight. I also saw a grizz and a wolf in the same day by going in early.
Pirates were plentiful but one percenters were few. Many of the pirates wore some kind of helmet and had some type of muffler. There were also the usual “Our road, our rules” pirates that will fill up zip lock bags with ice at the McDonalds drink machines challenging anyone to question them,,,and anything else they can get away with. But they really aren’t that different than the bullies that have to honk their car horns when locking their cars. They all seem to be big, no neck body types for some reason. Many pirates had trailers big and small and if you can believe this, go pros on sticks. Many had females, on the back or on their own bikes.
There were many big (8-20) herds of pirates that like to travel close together going down the road and go at stop signs together….As someone who has sat in on many police staff meetings, I know officers are told to not mess with them. Some pirates were openly carrying pistols.
If the weather was a bit iffy, the adventure touring/Gold Wingers would be out in greater numbers than Pirates. But it was clear that those that rode 2 wheels really helped the motels out. There were also many three wheeled pirates (peg legs?) but not all were old and out of shape. Many had females with them.
Some things never change it seems. The Karens that give the hotel help a bad time (40 percent of motels in this country are owned or managed by Indians/Pakistanis and even permanent Chinese residents. Motor homes and big pickups pulling big fifth wheels are still rude drivers and no one seems to know how to pass vehicles on the interstate. Best to hang back and wait for packs to clear out. Interstates with lots of traffic still suck and now due to cruise controls and adaptive cruise controles, more than ever.
USFS campground still mostly fill up and on the weekends are full of locals. Due to the much needed Americans with Disabilities Act, the feral govt in its infinite wisdom has taken two holers and made them into one big one holers. As Americans age.
The reduction in weight and size project is moving forward apace. I have cut out 20 lb and have gone from two SW motec 350s to one Chinese 66 liter bag. If you carry the really heavy stuff like tools and jump backs down low, it helps. I used an old Chinese 7x8 ft (four man, sic) tent with fiberglass poles to simulate a new two man, which I ordered two and got one so far. Surprisingingly, the Chinese dry bag seems to be of equal or better quality than the German bag and has more features. My balance is improving, at least, but weight makes a big difference.
Sadly, the zipper on my 15 liter Givi tank bad is giving out, as I knew from the forums that it would, and I carry big ladies elastic hair bands to seal it if I needed to. But it has gone with me on many tours as I have the locking rings on two of my gas tanks and I bought a spare bag. Don’t know if they are evens till available.
The Chuck system of chain lube still works well and I have not had to adjust my chain in 4000 miles. The Interceptor has a unique system to adjust the chain so now that I am home, I will clean and inspect it and the sprockets. And check the tire wear.
Still thinking about one more tour in Sept…back to the Military vehicle museum in Dubois Wyoming. Billionaire Dan Starks is building a 70 room motel on site to take the pressure off of the town of Dubois. Should be finished by the end of 2026.
Yellowstone 2025
Many things have changed traveling in the west now….
A minor thing is the shock of returning home after six days and having lost 14 minutes of daylight, including 8 minutes at sunset….doesnt seem much but it was shocking.
Motels I went to never filled up. The owners blamed various political reasons I don’t need to go into here but Yellowstone lodging and camping was certainly full. Here are the countries that don’t advise traveling to the US. Canada, Germany France Denmark Finland Ireland The Netherlands, United Kingdom and Japan.
The good news is Chinese students are again allowed to travel to the US and clean motel rooms, earn money for college, and see the west and experience the culture. The process is harder, but they are back. I always enjoy talking with them and they do the work US kids will no longer do. The kids from Poland and Italia, etc are also back after the pandemic.
The bad news is that with the cutbacks, there are few park rangers, but there were no long lines to get into the park as I think the traffic was on the whole lighter. Parking lots in the park were still overflowing and the roads are in terrible shape. I go in early to eat breakfast at the lodges and the lodge traffic at the main dining room was very light. Money is tight. I also saw a grizz and a wolf in the same day by going in early.
Pirates were plentiful but one percenters were few. Many of the pirates wore some kind of helmet and had some type of muffler. There were also the usual “Our road, our rules” pirates that will fill up zip lock bags with ice at the McDonalds drink machines challenging anyone to question them,,,and anything else they can get away with. But they really aren’t that different than the bullies that have to honk their car horns when locking their cars. They all seem to be big, no neck body types for some reason. Many pirates had trailers big and small and if you can believe this, go pros on sticks. Many had females, on the back or on their own bikes.
There were many big (8-20) herds of pirates that like to travel close together going down the road and go at stop signs together….As someone who has sat in on many police staff meetings, I know officers are told to not mess with them. Some pirates were openly carrying pistols.
If the weather was a bit iffy, the adventure touring/Gold Wingers would be out in greater numbers than Pirates. But it was clear that those that rode 2 wheels really helped the motels out. There were also many three wheeled pirates (peg legs?) but not all were old and out of shape. Many had females with them.
Some things never change it seems. The Karens that give the hotel help a bad time (40 percent of motels in this country are owned or managed by Indians/Pakistanis and even permanent Chinese residents. Motor homes and big pickups pulling big fifth wheels are still rude drivers and no one seems to know how to pass vehicles on the interstate. Best to hang back and wait for packs to clear out. Interstates with lots of traffic still suck and now due to cruise controls and adaptive cruise controles, more than ever.
USFS campground still mostly fill up and on the weekends are full of locals. Due to the much needed Americans with Disabilities Act, the feral govt in its infinite wisdom has taken two holers and made them into one big one holers. As Americans age.
The reduction in weight and size project is moving forward apace. I have cut out 20 lb and have gone from two SW motec 350s to one Chinese 66 liter bag. If you carry the really heavy stuff like tools and jump backs down low, it helps. I used an old Chinese 7x8 ft (four man, sic) tent with fiberglass poles to simulate a new two man, which I ordered two and got one so far. Surprisingingly, the Chinese dry bag seems to be of equal or better quality than the German bag and has more features. My balance is improving, at least, but weight makes a big difference.
Sadly, the zipper on my 15 liter Givi tank bad is giving out, as I knew from the forums that it would, and I carry big ladies elastic hair bands to seal it if I needed to. But it has gone with me on many tours as I have the locking rings on two of my gas tanks and I bought a spare bag. Don’t know if they are evens till available.
The Chuck system of chain lube still works well and I have not had to adjust my chain in 4000 miles. The Interceptor has a unique system to adjust the chain so now that I am home, I will clean and inspect it and the sprockets. And check the tire wear.
Still thinking about one more tour in Sept…back to the Military vehicle museum in Dubois Wyoming. Billionaire Dan Starks is building a 70 room motel on site to take the pressure off of the town of Dubois. Should be finished by the end of 2026.
Don't forget there is a large Pirate get together in Sturgis about now. I think it ends today. Thus the reason for so many sightings.
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Yes and no. I have a very good friend who went for 2 days with his friend on their yellow goldwings and perhaps many like him dont stay the full week-10 days. And the bikes did taper off after the 6th.....so you are correct, that could be a factor, and many pirates in their big motorhomes/pickups were trailering in enclosed trailers Harleys. And many were riding.... but still lots of almost mentally normal people on Harleys just touring.
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I was relying on your for pics of the cucumber contests!!!!!Oh darn!! I missed it again!!
Mike
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Got one , two man tent in.
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I just tried out my first of three Kelty 2 man (Well, one man and one slender very friendly lady) tents and its a keeper.
The Kelty Far Out 2 has aluminum poles,(actually one spyder and a ridge pole) two doors and vestibules, moon roof for ventilation. It packs small. Color coding is used for the correct end of the pre bent spyder poles, tent tyedown webbing, and fly webbing. (if I go over size on pics there will be more in comments.)
I have no idea what all the weights mean. It does come with a footprint if that is important where you tour.
Moon roof open. we just had the three hottest days in Sept ever recorded so ventilation is important. Vestibules not staked out but look good.
Pole sections are very short for short packing. Tent is 200 but got on sale for 150
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The far out 2 has color coded pole sections, webbing and fly webbing. The pole ends have a notch so they dont come out easily. Interestingly, while this tent is a snug
fit in its shark mouth bag, the other two tents are loosly packed, making for a size differnt look at first glance.
Here are the three tents I am testing. I already have a Kelty 6 with a moon roof. Instructions for the 6 and the far out 2 are terribly wrong, which I pointed out to Kelty. The other two tents do have pole end sleeves.
Here are the instructions for the far out 2. Note they talk about pole sleeves!!!!!!!!!!!!! 2 poles!!!!! Center clips!!!!!! Thankfully, there are youtube vids.
fit in its shark mouth bag, the other two tents are loosly packed, making for a size differnt look at first glance.
Here are the three tents I am testing. I already have a Kelty 6 with a moon roof. Instructions for the 6 and the far out 2 are terribly wrong, which I pointed out to Kelty. The other two tents do have pole end sleeves.
Here are the instructions for the far out 2. Note they talk about pole sleeves!!!!!!!!!!!!! 2 poles!!!!! Center clips!!!!!! Thankfully, there are youtube vids.
Speaking of traveling light, I LOVE my new Durston X-Dome 2. It has an external SHORT-STICK carbon pole set that packs small inside panniers. The short-sticks are made for bike-packing. (i.e. bicycles) Sil-polyester material that stays taut. The body of the tent can be pitched all together with the fly. It has approximately the footprint of a 3-person tent, but is 2-person, with the body of the tent having a parallelogram footprint. It's for backpackers, so it has large vestibules for a pack. Taller than most backpacking tents for easier access. Has a ton of great features. Can't recommend it highly enough. It's not cheap, but it's in a class with ultralight tents that are generally pricier. There's also an X-Dome 1+ if you want to go even smaller.
durstongear.com
And the Guzzi that's my current ride. 850cc air-cooled push-rod V-twin, shaft drive, tubeless spoked wheels, cruise control, ride modes, 6.2 gallon tank good for up to 300 miles, and a low 32.5" seat height. It betters my NT700VA's mileage by a couple mpg, averaging 55mpg while being less aerodynamic.
I can fit everything for a week's camping trip inside the 3 hard cases, with the exception of a camp chair that I keep in a dry bag strapped over the pillion seat.
X-Dome 2
The X-Dome 2 is an innovative and lightweight two freestanding tent. It is remarkably spaciousness, stormworthy, and simple to use for just 2.7 lbs (1.25 kg).
durstongear.com
And the Guzzi that's my current ride. 850cc air-cooled push-rod V-twin, shaft drive, tubeless spoked wheels, cruise control, ride modes, 6.2 gallon tank good for up to 300 miles, and a low 32.5" seat height. It betters my NT700VA's mileage by a couple mpg, averaging 55mpg while being less aerodynamic.
I can fit everything for a week's camping trip inside the 3 hard cases, with the exception of a camp chair that I keep in a dry bag strapped over the pillion seat.
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Yeah. The far out 2 has short poles, two doors/vestibules, and aluminum poles. Everything color coded. We have come a long way. The moon roof is easy and affords excellent ventilation. Love color coded side release fly snaps. I am now down to one bag. This is good for a six footer. The pre bowed poles really add room.
