Horse Racing

I just have to say, I love horse racing. Moving to Utah has made it impossible to do this. So, what better excuse to do a nice ride to Evanston Wyoming. If you have never been, it is a lot of fun. Wyoming Downs is a great track.
Our route took us up hwy 89 from Salt Lake City, east on I-84 for about 5 miles, north on 167 just past Snowbasin Ski resort down into Huntsville, east on hwy 39 and up over Monte Cristo pass, then south on hwy 16 into Wyoming. It was a great route, with fun twisties, amazing vistas of the surrounding area, and proof, that, yes, there is still snow in the mountains.
I was definitely pushing my bike to new limits. Being a sport bike racer for a few years in my past, I haven't had a chance to test my skills in a while. I am glad to say, I have not lost it; of course, my Virago is not a sport bike, but it is also not a stretched out cruiser like these modern bikes, yet in it's time it was considered to be one. The only draw back is that it is a carbureted engine, so when going up over high passes it doesn't run as well as it could. The new EFI bikes electronically adjust for changes in elevation. Overall I have no complaints, I just had to give it a bit more throttle, and it ran fine.
This will definitely be a ride done again.

Road trip plans

It has been decided, the route has been tentatively set, and the date, is not set in stone.
My wife and I have decided to take it upon ourselves to do a 5500 mile road trip around the country. Departing from Portland Oregon, taking the coast route down to Los Angeles, east over to Tulsa Oklahoma, a side trip to New Orleans (hey what's another 1400 miles?) and then back to Portland, taking the northern route through Colorado, Montana, and Idaho.
I will be riding my 1990 Yamaha XV1100 Virago, she currently has a 1981 XV750 Virago, but not sure if she will be taking that bike, or if we will purchase something newer between now and then.
Our tentative time table is late spring of 2010, probably either April or May.
Here is our travel route, not exact, but a rough estimate.
You are probably wondering what brought this idea into my head.
Well, you can blame a friend of mine. She lives in Tulsa, I needed a reason to visit her.
Why would I want to fly, when I can take a four week long road trip on my motorcycle?
There you have it, if we don't do it now, it may never happen....

I never blog here do I...

I just realized my last blog was over a year ago. I am horrible. Well whatever, life is what it is.
So in the past year Sarah and I have moved to SLC Utah, had an amazing ski season, bought Sarah her own motorcycle, and decided to move back to Portland OR next May. My job is good, Sarah is enjoying massage, but also has a job at the local plasma donation center. She decided to get this job mostly because the economy is tanking. This way she has more stable income.

Regarding motorcycles, I currently ride a '90 Yamaha Virago XV1100, and we recently bought Sarah a '81 Virago XV750.
Sarah is slowly regaining her confidence on the road. Her first experience on the interstate was last Friday, she did fine, just isn't used to the speed yet.

Overall Utah isn't a horrible state to live in, it's just too hot. The biggest thing is it is just not Portland. We miss great beer, good live music, rain, green landscapes, and clean water and air.
The air quality here in SLC is horrible. I walked the dog today, and actually had trouble breathing.