I was always too lazy to write one of those Year In Review letters that some folks enclose with their Christmas cards. But this year I thought I grab some photos and clips that are not from my “on the road” travels and put together a short Year In Review. Parental discretion is advised . . . my cat swears more than I do (well close anyway). [sorry for the long pause in the beginning of this post]
Author: Red Horse Garage
Mainely Adventures
Although I went to college in Maine, I never really explored the wild surrounds of the forest and sea. This past weekend we had a wonderful time doing exploration by ATVs and walking the rocky shores. I am grateful to have Pat, Kate and the kids in my life. They remind me what is important.
Time For A Change (again) ?
Not reaching out to the Continental Divide “Trail Boss” . . . . but I have missed the ability to explore dirt roads since selling the BMW R1200 GS. Plan B surfaces!!
Fall 2022 – Watkins Glen State Park Run
After coming off a rather unexpected dismount on the 2022 Mother Road Tour – we decided to keep our tradition of an annual fall ride going. Unlike any prior Fall Run …… this year would be a wet one.
We headed to Lake George NY for the first night. That began the wet run of 2022. That weather pattern would stay with us for the entire trip – however day 1 would force us to seek cover under a Motel 6 awning!
The only photos and videos that we did during this trip was at Watkins Glen State Park. This short video is without narrative. The park was a bit underwhelming after summer runs to the Utah National Parks.
But we continued our traditions and will begin to think about next year’s end of season run.
Nashville “You’ve Got Gold” . . . and,
We returned to Nashville to attend the tribute show and country music walk of fame dedication to the late John Prine.
We had not been back to Nashville since before the 2020 Christmas day bombing of second avenue. Our first day in Nashville we set out to walk down to second ave.
Mount Washington – Tribute Ride
It was a sunny day – temps in the mid-40s and the winds were calm. I walked the top of mountain, stopped to remember our Steve, how short and precious life is ……..and I took in his eternal view of New Hampshire – and I then departed the mountain.
Just my thoughts . . . .
So, if you are looking for catalog of photos from the Castle Car Show ……. you will not find that. If you are looking for the lines, curves, bends and forms of American steel …. You may find that.
One Month Later …. or thereabouts.
After traveling nearly 11,000 miles and being on the road for a couple of month …. I was reminded by our weekend ride …… that New England is a great place to ride and to live.
Day 46 – Lassen Volcanic National Park
On this day we left Reno, NV and headed to Lassen Volcanic National Park.
“Lassen Volcanic National Park, located in northeastern California, is part of the National Park Service, within the Department of the Interior. The over 100,000- acre park is situated 130 miles north of Sacramento at the southern end of the Cascade Mountain Range. Established in 1916, Lassen Volcanic is the fifteenth national park established by Congress, making it one of the oldest in the nation. In 2016, Lassen Volcanic marked its 100th anniversary with over 500,000 visitors coming to see the steaming fumaroles, meadows freckled with wildflowers, clear mountain lakes, and numerous volcanoes. Lassen Volcanic offers opportunities to discover the wonder and mysteries of volcanoes and hot water for visitors willing to explore the undiscovered. Imagine walking on a boardwalk alongside bubbling pits of mud and hissing cracks in the earth. Steam rises from boiling pools and moistens your skin, and the smell of sulfur fills the air.’” [Source: NPS.gov]
That being said, the devastation of the 2021 Dixie Fire could be seen for many miles before we got even close to the park. While we have all seen these types of images on television (as they cover these devastating fires) – to be there and drive through is immersive reality and over-whelming. We drove by many burnt out buildings, vehicles and even firefighting equipment that were caught up in the fire and like the natural resources … they too were destroyed. Burnt vehicles stacked in rows like hay bales, the rubble of the building pushed into piles, emergency operations camps along the road
In the gorges you could see what “scorched earth” looks like. The views were amazing …. until you realize that there was forest there before. Miles upon miles we saw the work continuing to clear around the roads and replace infrastructure. The smell of the aftermath of fire remains in the air.
While we did not get to see a lot of the volcanic features …. we clearly got an education of the impact these fires have on the forest and eco systems. Impacts that will be with future generations far beyond my shelf life.
Day 50 – Bonneville Salt Flats
The ride from Eureka, NV brought us to the Bonneville Salt Flats on our way to Salt Lake City, UT. As good luck would have it, there were “test and tune events” going on in preparation for the fall World of Speed races (Sept 7-12, 2022).
We have a “local day” tomorrow in Salt Lake City, UT. We will then be heading to Wyoming and Montana in the days after.
