TRAIL BOSS – JOHN
RIDERS – BYRON
SATURDAY I GAVE BYRON A CALL TO SEE IF HE WANTED TO RIDE SUNDAY. IF HE HAD ALL DAY WE COULD DO THE LOOP THRU STANLEY. HE NEEDED TO BE BACK HOME BY 3PM SO WE OPTED TO RIDE INTO GRAHAM. IT WOULD BE A COUPLE HUNDRED MILE RIDE.
BARRY’S 1ST VISIT TO TRUDY’S. EVEN THOUGH BARRY WAS IN TOWN IDAHO CITY STILL DIDN’T HAVE CELL SERVICE.
SADDLE ON ARCHIE MOUNTAIN ABOUT HALF WAY INTO GRAHAM.
SAWTOOTHS IN THE BACKGROUND.
~5-7 MILES FROM HERE THE ROAD DROPS OFF THE RIDGE INTO THE NORTH FORK OF THE BOISE DRAINAGE WHERE GRAHAM IS LOCATED. THE FOREST SERVICE HAS A ROAD CLOSURE AT THIS POINT DUE TO A WASHOUT AT SILVER CREEK. YOU COULD SEE WHERE 4-WHEELERS WERE GOING AROUND THE BARRICADE. I WANTED TO GO DOWN TO AT LEAST THE WASHOUT. BYRON WANTED TO STAY ON TOP. I HEADED DOWN. AFTER GOING THRU A STEEPER ROCKY SECTION I DECIDED TO TURN AROUND AND HEAD BACK UP. RIGHT OFF THE BAT I GOT SOME WHEEL SPIN SO I SLIPPED THE CLUTCH. TRUE TO FORM YOU HAD TO GET THE 950 MOVING 10 MPH TO KEEP IT UPRIGHT. WITH 8-10 GALLONS OF GAS THE LOOSE ROCKY SECTIONS WERE TOO MUCH FOR ME & I HAD TO SLIP THE CLUTCH. SOON THE BIKE GOT HOT AND CLUTCH STARTED SLIPPING WHEN IT WAS FULLY ENGAGED. I WOULD STOP LET THE BIKE COOL OFF & SEEMED TO HAVE CLUTCH PLATES AGAIN. I HAD TO DO THIS A COUPLE MORE TIMES.
AS I WAS RIDING THRU THE LAST SWITCHBACK JUST BELOW THE BARRICADE THE CLUTCH STARTED SLIPPING AGAIN. BYRON RODE DOWN TO ME , THEN A 4-WHEELER CAME RIGHT BEHIND HIM. WE PULLED OUT BYRON'S TOW STRAP AND HAD THE ATV TOW ME UP THE LAST 100 YARDS.
AFTER A 10 MINUTE REST I GOT THE BIKE BACK INTO GEAR AND HEADED OFF. BYRON HUNG BACK TO FOLLOW ME OUT.
AFTER A COUPLE OF MINUTES THE OIL PRESSURE LIGHT CAME ON. I TURNED OFF THE ENGINE AND COASTED A MILE OR TWO DOWN HILL. WHEN I STARTED THE ENGINE AGAIN THE OIL LIGHT WAS STILL ON. I CLIMBED UP THE RIDGE AND STOPPED ON THE DOWN HILL SIDE. CHECKED THE DIP STICK – NO OIL ? WAITED FOR BYRON TO SEE IF HE PACKED ANY OIL –NOPE. BIKE WAS STUCK IN 1ST GEAR NOW AND THE CLUTCH WASN’T WORKING EITHER. PRESSED ON AND FOUND A CAMPER WHO GAVE US A COUPLE QUARTS OF OIL. BIKE STILL STUCK IN 1ST & OIL LIGHT STILL ON.
HAD TO RIDE ALL THE WAY INTO IDAHO CITY IN 1ST GEAR ~40-45 MILES. AS WE RODE INTO TOWN THAT MORNING I SAW AUBREY’S TRUCK AT THE ROCK PILE. I PULLED IN AND HIS TRUCK WAS STILL THERE ! AUB WAS TRYING TO TAKE A NAP AS WE PULLED IN. AFTER TELLING AUB MY PREDICAMENT AND EVALUATING MY SITUATION WE DECIDE TO SLIP THE CHAIN OFF THE REAR SPROCKET AND LOAD THE BIKE INTO AUB’S TRUCK.
AUB GOT ME BACK HOME BY 4PM. GOT THE BOYS TO HELP UNLOAD AND PUSH THE BIKE UP TO THE SHOP.
NEXT SATURDAY I’LL PULL THE OIL FILTER OUT TO SEE IF IT IS CRUSHED ( WATER PUMP SHAFT LEAK), DRAIN THE GAS AND HAUL IT DOWN TO BOB’S TO SEE WHAT THE DAMAGE IS. I’LL BE RIDING THE 640 THE REST OF THE SEASON.
MORAL OF THE STORY HANGING OUT WITH A MARXIST NEVER HELPED ANYBODY. BARRY DID MY BIKE JUST LIKED HE DID THE ECONOMY.
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