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Snowed another 10" last night so to the school at 4:00 AM to start shoveling. It looked really cool outside early this morning with all the fresh snow. But we're running outta places to put all of this shit...

I grew up in southern Ontario, which is more easterly Canada and in the middle of the Great Lakes, so we got LOTS of snow, some years we were climbing out the windows as the doors would be covered. Then, as the only responsible one in the family I had to shovel the driveway, which was a short farmers road.....ahhhh back in the hard days.... ?

It's looks like a bbq grill in this pic. I expected to see some steaks in it.

Not recently but about two years ago. Stuck fast in wet clay. Couldn’t budge so had to get a local farmer to dig and pull me out with his tractor. He thought it was funny. ????

At the lunch stop, we took over the little cafe. I think they appreciated the large crowd, but they got worked! Our friendly wait staff. After the meal, the normal tab gyrations started happening - who had what, etc, etc. We finally told them to just add everything together and we would divide by the number of people. After 15 mins of adding, etc, the total came to 600 pesos. Before the high level math started (each person owes xx pesos), i figured that i would just cover the $30 (US) tab and let the poor help recover. I mean, really, $2 (US) per person for some excellent tacos, burritos, cokes, etc! Back on pavement, we continued SE'ly along Hwy 3, to Lazaro Cardenas, where we stocked up on Tequila, some snacks, and water before heading off into the hills in search of Mike's Sky Ranch. Mike's is at altitude, in one of Baja's park areas. It is famous as being a stop on the Baja 1000, either during the race, or for the crews pre-running the course before the race. There is electricity (which they shut off around 9), food and rooms. Meals are served family style and included in the room price. But, you have to get there. With a setting sun and the silt and sand, it was hard riding out of Cardenas. We really didnt have any incidents until we were about 6 miles from Mike's, when Allen dumped his bike in the sand. Given how well he had done all day, i figured he must have been getting tired and in a little pain from the mud puddle drop. I was following behind him, sweeping, when i saw him lose his front wheel in the sand. (Allen waiting for the stars to rise, or leave his eyesight) He must have landed hard on an arm, or something as the pain kept him from getting up from about 15 minutes or so. Adam really wasnt waiting impatiently ? We got him up and moving again, but he must of run out of confidence, as he kept losing it in the sand (speed is your friend). Some others came back and we worked at making progress towards Mike's but eventually the pain and sand became too much. We hid his bike and Allen hopped on the back of Matt's bike and rode the 6 miles into Mike's. One good thing about arriving late, is the sunset....

Day 2 - first full day in Mexico. We left Tecate after getting our tourist visas validated (what a cluster!). These may or may not be required, but given how deep into Baja we were headed, we didnt want to chance it. Actually, given that we had so many newbies already freaked out from entering Mexico, i didnt want to add to the angst. The process of validating the visa requires you to hit the immigration office on the Mexican side of the border. Since there is a cost, you have to have the form filled out and then go to the bank kiosk, and then back to Immigration. Or, since it is 2021, you can fill it out online, pay online, and get it emailed to you already approved. Sort of. Remember, its Mexico. So, one would think that doing it all online means it was verified and good. Nope - still have to go to immigration and see the guy. He does his little stampy, stampy thing and then you are out. But, only if you remember to print out both the FMM AND the bank receipt. Which some hadnt. Anyways, an hour later, we were ready to roll east. We turned south of Mexico Hwy 2, in the little town of Luis Echeverria Alvarez, at the beginning of El Compadre Trail. This is a dirt road that runs southerly from Hwy 2, to Hwy 3 by way of Ojos Negros. It isnt a tough dirt road, but can have tough sections depending on the weather. This time thru, we ran into several places with mud puddles and mud, and some little sand. No real incidents, but some fun mud spins. One of our guys was new to offroad, so we were keeping an eye on him. Other than the first mud drop, he appeared to be having a lot of fun in the dirt, until an hour or so in. Crossing one very large water hole, he spun and dumped the bike, tweaking his back a little (found out he has a couple of fused vertebra). An aspirin and he was ready to go again. We finished the trail with a great, late lunch at a little hole in the wall in Ojos Negros. Allen after his big off in the puddle.

This picture has it all, moggies, plants, a dodgy scooter and a bit of medieval artillery ammunition. One of my holiday snaps when you could still go on holiday.

Something oddly satisfying watching these machines in action, first up, how to tune up a kawasaki.

Yes, good ol sand. you love to hate it. Sadly, two of our riders are experienced enough that they usually blast thru it at three times the speed of the rest of us. But, they aint human. The guy on my KTM has sooo much offroad experience, that when he and I were side by side in the sand section, trying to rescue Allen above, he would look at me and wheelie thru the tough stuff ?

Yes, normally it snowed from November to March, with December and January being really heavy and there were many days we were snowed in. I did enjoy "snow" days from school.....AKA "we can't get the farm kids in today".....it always meant I could play in the snow after I dug out the house. ? I don't think they get snow like that anymore, at least not there.

Bike looks sad with that trunk on top As if this wasn't enough: Now:

Funny story, they left me in the hallway cause all the rooms were taken by elders, a daughter was with her dying mother in the room across from me. She watched in horror as i was left alone to fend with a faulty flowing iv, so i banged my arm reapeatedly against the cot trying to get it to flow again. The poor girl, you cant tell she never got medical treatment in the military, she looked faint, lol.

Bagheera look'n good after a mud bath, and Spring is just starting. ?

Partially inspired by the Baja thread and being sent a link to an old youtube vid Im in but hadn’t seen until this evening I was thinking lets see some of your favourite clips. This ones a bit long tbh (6mins) and most of us are only by in it flying by but if you’ve got a nice bit from your favourite trip or just some biking you did that makes you happy then even if they’ve been posted before lets see them again, post away A kind best bit compilation!

Dont think ‘The Shining’ and ‘Misery’ was the best introduction American winters, I’m waiting for an accompanying horror story! ??

I hit the soggy patch at about 20mph so I nearly went over the bars in a Superman style ???

If i had to.

Patience, mule. I'm trying to get pics and vids from the others ?

I'm pretty certain Fred would second that idea ?

Shame. I once went to a ‘Young Farmers’ doo and proffered the idea it was ridiculous for an individual or company to say a bit of the planet belonged to them and them alone. “Who said it’s yours? Way back in the mists of time someone said this is mine, you can’t share in it, get off?” Madness.... well they thought I was mad ?

It'll just be a memory in another month or so. Then off on some good bike trips with loads of biking photos.

I’m loving this thread. Thanks. Looking forward to day three. If you’re new to it like your guy it can be completely draining to keep it up over a long distance. He may well have aced the same stretch if it has been at the beginning of the day. TBH if I saw the sand at the end of my day Id think “not now, I’m knackered!” ? Loving the price of a burrito! Great pics ?

And now back on the bike.....

All done! It ain't perfect by any means, but it's better than it was! Before...... After......

I have no confidence at all in taking my bike on sand. Never had good tires for it, either, but that heavy front wheel scares me. What a great ride this is, keep posting. The bikes, the food, baja, just great. The sunsets, though, you´ll still have sunsets if you make it to the hotel before dark

The expression "like watching paint dry" never had such a match for a thread as this.

Seals are raping penguins. That's a fact. Apparently the seals claim they are forced to it because of global heating. Global heating is also a fact, but I can't see rape as an exit Poor penguins

Make sure you don't run in to tony Robinson and the time team lot in there

Not legally and it has stiles you have to climb over, but no one would say anything if you took a bicycle through although technically a no no. Starts at the side of someone's garden here.

This has got to be the photo of the year!

Take care Tym, hope you're not loosing to many parts.

"So broke ya can't afford to Pay Attention"....?

I never touch the stuff, goes straight to my hips.

continuing the Cardinal points of the Yonne departement with the Eastern most point accessible by road: Desperately getting some riding in before we get shut down again... The eastern most point of the Yonne is on the D186 between Jully and Fotaine les seches ( which is in the Cote D'or departement but has a Yonne postcode...bizarre!) 47:46'38"N 04:20'04"E Round trip of 130 odd km, took nearly 3 hours with lots of little windy back roads. The trip to the east edge was more interesting than to the north with wide open vistasalternating with the eternal forest roads. Surprisingly few vinyards though as the route skirts the southern edge of the Chablis region through the Tonnerois area. Destination point was prettier too but no sign or marking of any kind to actually show the boundary like they do on the major roads. This is it, to within a few meters : everything in front is "Cote D'or" and behind is "L'Yonne" ( I like this pic) I was running ut of fuel, having not refilled since yesterday's Northwards jaunt, so googled the nearest fuel point and headed there at Ancey le Franc. From there rode home via Noyers sur Serein got home just in time to pick up a call from N01 daughter aho'd managed to rip the rear bumper half off her car whilst picking her sisters up from school... ho hum... nice afternoon out though, but temps are rising and it's getting to that stage where the flies are back out, you really want thermal gear on whilst actually riding but the minit you stop you drown in your own sweat...

Hard packed, smooth, grippy dirt? That road, please!! Your reports make me want to go to France.

Wow, looks like it was a super fun ride. Epic! ? Great video, thanks for sharing.

Yep but fair warning you may get wiped out along the way ?

Pretty bad and yet even today in the worse weather the UK can muster most of us still venture out in our normal winter coat (usually one thinish layer of cheap wadding or a normal wool coat) and a pair of wellies (could we pick a less appropriate boot for the snow?) then we act surprised and complain how cold we are ??

I remember the Winter of 62-63 in Britain......that's the worst I've ever known.

Can you go back and try again with someone filming you Ray?

Bloody hell! And did you get months of weather like that?

Too much snow for me. I am used to lots of green all the time. Although I enjoy your snowy pictures very much. I moved to the only corner of my country that doesn't really get snow, growing up in it was enough.

I'd vote for that. But someone would slip, get hurt and then sue the school. So we shovel it.

Makes for cool pics however!

Just cause y;all dont know how to speak right doent mean you cant be learning yourself some new tricks old sea dog...lol

My best guess is your fixation on my balls overcomes your ability to comprehend American.

i;ll Try that this morning Sir Falls.

I might have posted this before, but I can't be arsed to check