The "official" web page for sign-up is:

http://www.supernet.net/~gerald/tda.htm

 

Tennisman,

Thanks for getting the link. I got kind of busy there for awhile.

 

Possible advice for total noob to a trip like this?

WHICH BIKE: PACKING THE KLX?
My longer, camping moto trips have been on my BMW 1200GS (lotsa luggage space, and 2-up), and my BMW F650 Dakar -- even going 2-up with tent, sleeping bags, etc. on it too. I wanna take my new KLX on this trip -- first time for a trip on it. And I want to ride up there, not trailer -- that is why I have a dual-sport for goodness sakes.

But...I doubt if my tent, sleeping bag, weekend gear will fit on the KLX for this trip! Strap a dry bag or two longways across back end of seat and rack maybe? Anyone?

OR...even thought I really, really want to take the KLX, my F650 Dakar (which has fresh TKC80s on it) would pack more stuff -- can an offroad noob handle the Dakar (normally my commuter bike) on these trails or should I really have the KLX?

RIDING GEAR
I have full street gear, and I have full offroad gear (a friend gave me...I'm a noob at it), but it isn't feasible to pack at least the offroad helmet -- so I won't mind just using my street helmet on this trip?

BIKE GEAR
Assuming I do in fact bring the KLX, recommended gear list for such a trip besides my personal camp stuff? Further, am I still welcome if I don't know how to wrench my KLX yet, including never having changed a tire and not even owning tire iron(s)?

(That poor little engine zinging at high RPMs all the way from Tampa, haaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa!!!!!!!)

Thanks in advance to any experienced ones who can chime in...

Peace,

Charles

 

Well the camping fee of $8 per night includes a cabin to sleep in, so leave the tent at home.

That being said, I will be towing up, probably bring a couple of bikes, at least the KLR650 and the KLX. I've also been asked to bring up my motorcycle lift so we can do tech sessions in style.

I know it's a pretty long trip, probably somewhere around 4 hours for you. Are you up to riding the KLX that far?

 

That would indeed be a trip worthy of memorializing in some permanent way - perhaps a larger than life bronze statue of us all doing wheelies and roosting or something.

And you know I'd put my FCR up against the best this forum can offer up ... if Marty it is, then a showdown it will be! I may need to recruit Bad Bear on my team though, so we can get the FCR dialed in perfectly. Oh, and I'll need a rider too, not sure I can do it justice. I pick Stiffler for that! This is going to be fun ... lol. I hope my bike still runs after this "battle".

But seriously, though, it's too early for me to be able to know whether I can make it or not. And that is an extremely kind offer, Chris - mucho appreciated. But if the stars align and the Gods looks down favorably upon me, I'm hoping to have my own truck by that time, but that is kind've a long shot right now. If that would somehow happen, it'd probably be better for me to head down I95 and then take I10 across from Jacksonville. Even so, Google says that is about a 13 hour trip. How many days is this event? I'd have at least 2 solid days of driving to and from, so I'm not sure I'd be able to swing that. The good news is that I have some vacation carrying over into next year and if I don't use it by March 31 I lose it, so I may have a few days to burn.

Right now, consider me somewhere between tentative and a long shot on this. I'll definitely make it if I can work out the time off from work, time away from family, and all that.

BTW, Chris - how do you like your F150? I'm considering an F250, but only because the base F250 w/crew cab and just the options I want comes out cheaper than the F150 w/crew cab since the crew cab on the F150 bumps the base model up a few levels of goodies. I need the crew cab because of my kids - it'd be too tight for the longer trips for my family in any of the smaller cab options. SUV or van is out - gotta have a way to haul the KLX too, and I don't like pulling trailers. My main problem now is that no dealer around this area carries a base F250 - they are all decked out with everything but the kitchen sink which I don't want to pay for. I can build to order, but I don't know what kind of lead time there is for that. I'm working on it ...

 

That is the plan! The only real hang-up is gear storage...um, I think...

 

Brian,

I am not one to pressure a brother (ok, yes I am) but you have to know that if you are telling us you (a) have the vacation days and (b) welcome any challenge to your FCR-blinged bike, then you are pretty much going to this event. Ultimately the choice is yours, but don't expect us to make it easy on you.

In all seriousness, if your truck aquisition doesn't work out, the offer stands right up until I pull away from my house early on 1/11/07. Heck, I probably will drive through the night on 1/10/07 and sleep a chunk of the day on 1/11/07 so I can get a little riding in during the evening. Anyway, just let me know.

As for the truck, I won't bore everyone here about how much I like my F150. I will shoot you a PM.

 

I was trying to talk the wife into lettin me go... she wasnt buying it... "What? and you get a vacation and i dont?" then i said she could come and take my truck and go explore florida... didnt like that idea either... damn the bad luck... now i know why alot of guys with bikes arnt married... lol... we will see, there still is a good bit of time...

 

I hope all of you can make it. Looking forward to some good riding. Keith

 

I have a question for you EMS . . . . . No, it's not "Who wears the . . . . . in your family" or anything like that.

Does you wife like the beach?

How would she like to have a tan in the middle of winter?

This is less than 30 minutes away from where we'll be !




If you would like to take a more in depth look at the area, just click here.

Last year, it was mid to upper 60's during the day!

Of course each winter in Florida is different, very different!