Well I’ve been tinkering on the Grizzly over the past month, replaced the headlight housings both had broken tabs and were held in from the wiring harness, cleaned the CVT and upped the shim to 1mm, removed the rear sway bar, and adjusted the Elkas so the itch struck to hit the trails. Trailered up solo to Rockhouse Monday with the temps in the mid 90’s wondering what the heck I thinking. Hit the trails about 1:30 Monday afternoon in a full sweat before starting the Grizzly. I was planning on cruising the trails enjoying the scenery but my right thumb had other plans and back to ripping I went. The trails were in great shape and wet from the storms on Sunday. The worst part of riding was stopping for the occasional break, it was 95 degrees and I was wet from the inside out rolling sweat like I had faucets on my forehead, ears, chin, dripping sweat, it was great. Managed to ride 65 miles Monday and eat dinner before rolling back in around 7:30. Campfire and beverages and next thing I know it’s midnight, time for a shower and bed.
Hit the trails Tuesday morning around 9:00 with temps running low 80’s. New trails were opening Tuesday and I needed to ride them. Headed out to where they should have been, no dice. Rode the trail top to bottom 3 times and no new trails marked. I headed off down a "trail" about a mile and came to a T, took a left went out about 3 miles, hit a T, took another left to a dead end. Screw it, back to the existing trails and made it to the next town for a late lunch around 3pm. Weather channel is on and the area is under a severe thunderstorm warning with 60 mph winds until 10pm and I’m 40 miles away from the room. Oh well, eat lunch, gas up and head out with the clouds ripping across the sky. I stop for a smoke break and the wind is whipping and the thunder was rolling in the distance. I’m about an hour out and the sprinkles came before my helmet was back on. Off the mountain I went, and down came the rain, just steady, not pouring. Made it back to the room right around 6:30, loaded the Grizzly and the sky opened up. A lightning show with serious wind and rain for the next 30 minutes and then 3 more waves of the same. I chose to hunker down at the local tavern to enjoy many beverages and Game 2 of the CWS..until 1:30 am if I believe my credit card receipt, ha. Guess I drank a few extra innings when the game ended in 9.
Wednesday, up a 8:00 on the trails at 8:45, moving a little slower plus I had to have my coffee and a Texas Cinnamon Bun to clear my head. Off to find those new trails again and found them. 26 miles of new trails that will be part of a new connector trail to Brown Mtn trails which is an hour away by road. The new trails are great with good climbs, some riding along a ridge, an some wide open gravel roads. I don’t think this 26 miles gets us half way to where the destination is so when it is completed later this year, I will be close to a 50-60 mile connector trails so I can see some 300 mile days in the future. Anyhow, rode the new loop and spur several times, hit the gas station for some gas, Mt. Dew Kick Start and a couple of corn dogs for lunch. Back on the trails and 26 miles back to Rockhouse, rode the rest of the afternoon and had dinner in Gilbert at 6pm. Back over the mountain one more time and made it back around 8pm. Hit the Grizzly at the car wash to knock off the heavy stuff and loaded up. One more campfire and cooler diving commenced until 1am last night. Managed to roll 257 miles in 2 1/2 days and the Grizzly is at 3,187 miles and in dire need of new brake pads all the way around. Not to shabby on the original set.
Home today and unloaded in 95 degrees. No fire tonight but there was still stuff in the cooler that needs to be addressed:happy:
I’ve added an album under my profile, however here are a few. Nothing better than a Grizzly, a firepit, and a river. Great trip and even flying solo, I had a blast. By the way, sway bar is staying in the garage and CVT is good until the next cleaning, bounced off the rev limiter at 60 mph.
Hit the trails Tuesday morning around 9:00 with temps running low 80’s. New trails were opening Tuesday and I needed to ride them. Headed out to where they should have been, no dice. Rode the trail top to bottom 3 times and no new trails marked. I headed off down a "trail" about a mile and came to a T, took a left went out about 3 miles, hit a T, took another left to a dead end. Screw it, back to the existing trails and made it to the next town for a late lunch around 3pm. Weather channel is on and the area is under a severe thunderstorm warning with 60 mph winds until 10pm and I’m 40 miles away from the room. Oh well, eat lunch, gas up and head out with the clouds ripping across the sky. I stop for a smoke break and the wind is whipping and the thunder was rolling in the distance. I’m about an hour out and the sprinkles came before my helmet was back on. Off the mountain I went, and down came the rain, just steady, not pouring. Made it back to the room right around 6:30, loaded the Grizzly and the sky opened up. A lightning show with serious wind and rain for the next 30 minutes and then 3 more waves of the same. I chose to hunker down at the local tavern to enjoy many beverages and Game 2 of the CWS..until 1:30 am if I believe my credit card receipt, ha. Guess I drank a few extra innings when the game ended in 9.
Wednesday, up a 8:00 on the trails at 8:45, moving a little slower plus I had to have my coffee and a Texas Cinnamon Bun to clear my head. Off to find those new trails again and found them. 26 miles of new trails that will be part of a new connector trail to Brown Mtn trails which is an hour away by road. The new trails are great with good climbs, some riding along a ridge, an some wide open gravel roads. I don’t think this 26 miles gets us half way to where the destination is so when it is completed later this year, I will be close to a 50-60 mile connector trails so I can see some 300 mile days in the future. Anyhow, rode the new loop and spur several times, hit the gas station for some gas, Mt. Dew Kick Start and a couple of corn dogs for lunch. Back on the trails and 26 miles back to Rockhouse, rode the rest of the afternoon and had dinner in Gilbert at 6pm. Back over the mountain one more time and made it back around 8pm. Hit the Grizzly at the car wash to knock off the heavy stuff and loaded up. One more campfire and cooler diving commenced until 1am last night. Managed to roll 257 miles in 2 1/2 days and the Grizzly is at 3,187 miles and in dire need of new brake pads all the way around. Not to shabby on the original set.
Home today and unloaded in 95 degrees. No fire tonight but there was still stuff in the cooler that needs to be addressed:happy:
I’ve added an album under my profile, however here are a few. Nothing better than a Grizzly, a firepit, and a river. Great trip and even flying solo, I had a blast. By the way, sway bar is staying in the garage and CVT is good until the next cleaning, bounced off the rev limiter at 60 mph.
