Winter Ride to view Bald Eagles

[ajayhawkfan]

David H. said yes if it is 40 degrees, sunny, no black ice, his heated gear works, the roads are not to rough, coffee in the morning is served at 162 degrees with a fresh croissant.

Yea, your right, only the two of us ADVENTURE Riders. Their bikes have been winterized, even that Dakar.

[ajayhawkfan]

- The HJC Breathbox works great. If you can't find something like it via your motorcycle store, check out a winter sports (snowmobile) store.
http://www.motorcycle-superstore.com/2/ ... h-Box.aspx

As to your ride ... rock on!

Purchased! Now I will need to remember to attach it before I leave.

[safiri]

Ok, JakeLeg, the Dakar never gets winterized. My record on the Dakar doing 70mph down US69 is 6oF. No, not 60. 6. My personal best for a night bicyle ride is 15oF.

If MLKJr weekend, I can't leave until after work on Friday. Figure 3pm from S OP.

And include Daryl on his new F800. He needs to get that DS bike out for some DS.

[ajayhawkfan]

Here is a tip to keep your hands warm.

[ajayhawkfan]

UPDATE on The Ride to View Bald Eagles V2.

This trip is over the Martin Luther King Holiday. Because of the three day holiday and the possibility of additional riders we are going to leave on Saturday morning, January 15th, at 10:00 instead of on Friday.

We will be returning on MONDAY, January 17th, mid afternoon.

I have an interesting ride planned, especially the area along the Mississippi and I hope this change will allow more people to join the trip.

If there is ice/snow or too cold the trip will be canceled.

If you have any questions please drop me a note.

Eddie

[ajayhawkfan]

Troy, did your server do down? Having the server go down is the only reason I can think of as to a reason people are not signing up to go.

[troy]

Uh, yeah, that's what it must be. I'm sure the freezing temps have nothing to do with it. I thought "winterize" your bike meant taking it on a multi-day ride in freezing temps.

I'm in and really looking forward to it. You know, over the years, I've ridden in terrible rain, freezing temps, wind, mud, etc. SO FAR, I have yet to regret a ride because of the weather. I'm including last year's bald eagle ride where I had to stop at Walmart to put heating pads in my shoes, we got holed up in Monroe City for a few hours waiting for the ice to melt off the road, and the fog was so thick we couldn't see any eagles! GOOD TIMES!

For those wondering how to handle the cold, last year, I did not even take my heated vest. The only heated item I had was my grips. I wore a suit similar to this:

http://www.motorcyclecloseouts.com/spor ... +one+piece


With just a couple normal layers under this suit, I stayed relatively comfortable. My finger tips and toes were cold. I fixed the toes with those cheap, stick-on heating pads you get in the outdoor department at Walmart or any sporting goods store. The finger tips just stayed cold and I wiggled them a lot. My head and neck stays warm with nothing but a thin, wind-stopper balaclava and my helmet.

http://www.motorcyclecloseouts.com/spor ... no+returns



This year, I hope to remedy the cold finger tips with heated gloves. I'll probably pick up a heated jacket liner and gloves. Heated clothing aint cheap, but allows you to ride in even single-digits comfortably.

[MoRidin]

Do you guys have a semi firm route as of yet? I would like to join up with you on the new bimmer!

The eagles are THICK this year...the most I have ever seen in the St. Louis area. We have them all over by my house right now and they usually are about 20 miles further up the river by a huge lock (Chain of Rocks Bridge).

We used to take the kids up to Clarksville every year. The MO Dept of Conservation does an awesome Eagle Days every year:

http://mdc.mo.gov/sites/default/files/r ... 7_6676.pdf

They have hands on eagles etc...pretty cool stuff. It is also the most dense collection of eagles just about anyplace...

I need to get my grips working and watch the weather...my body may not be prepared for cold weather riding since this is my first winter in four years!

[ajayhawkfan]

Do you guys have a semi firm route as of yet? I would like to join up with you on the new bimmer!

Yes, please send me your email address and I can send it to you.

Tentatively we will be in either Hannibal or Louisiana Saturday night. On Sunday ride south and take the Golden Eagle Ferry to Grafton and then North. We will most likely stay in or around Quincy Sunday night. Monday head a little further North and then head home.

[ajayhawkfan]

I have spoken to Troy and as of now this ride is ON! However, we are going to search for Bald Eagles south of KC.

This ride will be without a set route. We are planning on leaving and heading south. Were we stay the night is up in the air but possibilities are Neosho, Eureka Springs, Bentonville or Fort Smith. We will keep an eye on the weather and decide were to ride on Sunday.

Tomorrow evening I will post again to confirm if the ride is still on and where to meet.

[troy]

What Eddie said. Eddie and I will be geared up for whatever the weather has in store short of ice on the roads.

Forecasts are a bit of a gamble, but by scrapping our Eastbound plans and instead heading South and perhaps West, it looks like we'll be fine. If weather turns worse, we just head more Southwest. Of course we have to come home on Mon, and Mon looks to be the worst we'll endure. We'll be coming home at the warmest part of the day on Mon so I'm not concerned.

Your choice: Go with us or read our report and view our photos and wish you had.

That said, if the forecast takes a terrible turn in the next 30 hours, we'll postpone.

[ajayhawkfan]

Tentative plan is to meet at the QT at Wornall and I 435 at 10:00 AM this Saturday. http://goo.gl/maps/aWS0

Join us if you are tough and brave.

[bird man]

The roads are still snow pack and ice for at least 12 miles from my house to town. Unless things change I'm iced in.
But you are heading my direction so keep me posted I may be able to join up with you as you go south past me ...if I can get out by sat.????
Larry

[ajayhawkfan]

I talked to Troy and we are GOING!

We are leaving at 10:00 from QT at I435 and Wornall. We are heading south. How far we go and when we get back is an unknown.

If you would like to follow our traveling here is a link to my Spot Adventures (I have never tried it before): http://www.spotadventures.com/user/prof ... r_id=66865

If the above does not work you should be able to follow it here: http://share.findmespot.com/shared/face ... jE7BvI9uVB

(Troy, we know the true adventure riders in the KC area.)

[troy]

The roads are still snow pack and ice for at least 12 miles from my house to town. Unless things change I'm iced in.
But you are heading my direction so keep me posted I may be able to join up with you as you go south past me ...if I can get out by sat.????
Larry

Most folks will probably think I'm crazy, but riding on snow-pack in KS (with straight roads) is actually not so bad. I don't find the bike to be too squirrelly on snow. You gotta take the turns really easy of course. Ice is a different story--can't ride on ice.

[ajayhawkfan]

From past experience. Light bikes on snow are not much of a problem. I have no experience with a big on.

[david h]

you guys are nuts /going to have a good time, your pick and we will talk about it later. I have several things that have come up to put a stop in my plans. The weather forecast is one. My future grand kid coming 2 months early is another. The kicker is a KU coed said to me that she would give me 800$ if I could make her happy by Monday . Sure I can, I might be a little older than you, but I have a few tricks up my sleeves. Well being the slumlord I am all you have to do is mention money and I am you slave. 3 gallons of paint, 5 mini blinds, carpet shampooing, new keys, new stove and refrig, plus I told her she could polish my knob, well knobs in this case since there are two exterior doors.

Have fun and lets hear how it goes, David H

[bird man]

Today the snow went off the roads for the most part down this way, but there are still wet spots that refreeze ,be careful.
I still have a quarter mile of rutted snow pack to get to the road. I did take the crf 230 out about the farm this evening. There seemed to be unseen things trying to pull the tires out sidways. I think I will wait to get out the bigger bike.
Any way there are chances of freezing rain in our forcast for sunday and monday , I need to be here at the farm with even a hint of freezing rain in the forcast, one of the perils of what I do. Oh well
Have a good time and I will be watching your progress.
Larry

[ajayhawkfan]

While we are riding you all can get a new tat. Here are a few to choose from:

[ajayhawkfan]

Troy called. I think he may be wimping out he said he had to go home because he "forgot" something Maybe it was hispink chaps and everyone knows he goes nowhere without them.