A guy I work with is in the club that put the ride on. He knows I ride the ol KLX to work everyday so he tells me about the ride and says "you could ride it, or you could just come and watch if you want". I had never ridden in any organize event, so I wasn't sure if I was getting in over my head or not, but I really wanted to try it. The "you can come and watch" thing might have sealed the deal. I'm in. So the Thursday before the event my new tire/tyre comes. The spoons I ordered with the tire don't come, so I change the tire with some big screwdrivers. https://www.kawasakiforums.com/forum...30+rear&page=3 OK day of the event beautiful fall day, ready to go.

I rode the bike to the event as it was only about 30 miles away. I was a little surprised when I got there to see all the trailers. I thought most of the riders would ride to the event.

 

I didn't realize how far people would travel to ride. I thought it would be all locals the guys in the club and some nyuck nyucks like me. While in line to register I heard folks talking about driving 3 hrs or coming down from MInnesota etc etc. $35 to enter if you didn't have an AMA card $5 more for a second lap and $5 a lap if you wanted in the poker hand. I just coughed up $40 for two laps. Each lap was 29 miles. The first riders went out at 10am, and if you wanted to get a second lap in you had to be back and leave again before noon. The loop was part roads part fields and part woods. The club has agreements with some of the local farmers, and the whole thing except for a few short sections of roads in on farmers property.

 

Once I got going all anxiety disappeared. This was really cool, and my riding skills were cleanly in the middle of the pack. It was fun to try and keep up to the guy in front of you or try to stay ahead of the guy behind you.
You had to duck here, and under the bridge was nothing but mud. Thats ok because right after the bridge you pop right into the creek and ride up it about 100yds.

 

The wood were fun.
In this spot I had just pulled a small (1"dia) tree out of my lower chain guide. How it threaded it's way in there I dont know, but it was tight, I almost didn't get it out.

 

In some spots the woods were pretty thick and you almost couldn't see the trail. The club did have it well arrowed, and the arrows also told you if you could speed up (arrows up) or if you should be slowing down (arrows down).

 

i wish i woulda known about that! Im only bout 100 miles from there. How close is it to byron drag way?

 

Open fields were a WOT drag race! I was up over 65 (Per the spedo) quite a few times.

 

You Reeeeallllly had to duck here. Actually had to duck off to one side of the bars. Alot of the guys got off and walked their bikes through.

 

I was glad to see everybody keep it cool on the road sections.

Some of the route was on snowmobile trailsl.

Nice bridge! Nothing a couple 2x4's and a few nails won't fix.

 

Off the bridge and WOT

More sled trail along the Leaf river.