Ice
Member
Posts: 1223
Whatever it is, it's better in the wind.
On a road less traveled.
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« on: November 06, 2020, 08:15:14 AM » |
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Tired of all the political BS, I thought I would share.
Recently I was sitting in my garage doing some trivial thing and I turned around and looked at my Valk which always puts a smile in my face, it got me to thinking of all the places she has been.
She has 78K + miles on her, yeah, I know not the big miles some of you have, however all those miles are from me as I bought my 2000 brand new off the show room.
That all said, again it got me to thinking of where she has all been, and where has your bike been.
In the early years living in VA we did not put a lot of miles on her as we had two little girls and no one to watch them. So, we were limited to day trips around the area and the occasional overnighter when the girls were with friends. Maybe a 1000 miles a year or so.
When we got assigned to Germany in 2006 that all changed. The miles started increasing as our girls had their grandparents with whom they could stay and have their own adventures. We started traveling the world.
My Valk first headed over to Austria then Switzerland, Lichtenstein, Italy, France and the ride continued from there. Some of the greatest motorcycle roads I have ever seen are in Europe. Small towns in the mountains actually catering to motorcycles.
France’s, Tour de France roads were shredded (got to watch out for the cobblestones in the middle of the turns, that’s a hell of a surprise), the Vorgesen (Small group of mountains on the French and German border) were carved up and then down and back up. Our rides in France took us to amazing areas mostly small villages on even smaller roads that we here consider paved cow paths. What a blast!
The almost four year journey continued through Germany, riding all to all the big cities and the small ones in between, finding those great middle of nowhere places that are unique in their own rights, just way too many places to list.
Hitting the former East Bloc countries on our way to the European Inzane III in Finland. We traveled through the Czech Republic, through Poland, Lithuania, Latvia, across the Baltic Sea on to Finland. I can say that was a unique adventure as most of these countries have no highway system as we know it, no Autobahn/Interstate system, just small roads that are at times questionable to be classified as actual paved roads. But what an adventure it was.
All along our travels we encounter many people, customs and cultures, having a blast no matter where we went.
I know my Valk as stated before is by far not a highest mileage Valk around, however I do believe she may be the most worldly traveled Valk within the US, and for some reason that makes me stand a few inches taller as the one and only proud owner of this magical beast.
So, let’s share the wonderful rides your Valk has been on, no matter where.
Its not really the destinations that count, it’s the journey and magical adventure you had getting there.
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GiG
Member
Posts: 2832
"That's just like, your OPINION, Man!"
NEAR the "In 'n' Out Burger"
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« Reply #1 on: November 06, 2020, 08:39:08 AM » |
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Mine has been to Hell and back. Michigan  |
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Nothing is Everything.
When you come to a fork in the road - TAKE IT!
(Then be sure to send it to OSS... C.O.D.)
This isn’t Rocket Surgery
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DirtyDan
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« Reply #2 on: November 06, 2020, 09:05:47 AM » |
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In the US and Canada......
Hawaii, Northwest territory, Labrador and Newfoundland......
The only things I missed
Dan
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Do it while you can. I did.... it my way
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VanCityValkyrie
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« Reply #3 on: November 06, 2020, 10:57:31 AM » |
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I had quite some journeys/adventures on the Valkyrie... It all started back in 2000 when I was finally allowed to ride a motorcycle with more than 34hp (in Germany you're only allowed to ride a bike with 34hp for the first 2 years) and my dad trusted me with his Valkyrie. On my 20th birthday he handed me the key and said "here, go ride the dragon!" In 2001 I had my first longer ride with the bike through Austria, Italy, Slovenia and Croatia:  I fell in love with Croatia: the ocean to the right and the mountains to your left. Awesome roads, nice people and great campgrounds. And everything was so cheap. We made it down to Croatia a couple of times...   Starting point for all my tours was Stuttgart, Germany. I wanted to ride the "Route des grandes alpes" in France all the way down to Nice, planned way too much time for that and ended up going to Croatia again... Col de Bonette (France) in the background, the highest ridable alpine road in Europe.  Just South of L'Aquila, Italy. I was visiting a friend who was studying there. The next year the town was destroyed by a massive earthquake.   Close to Naples, Italy with the Vesuvio in the background...  Germany, with the Hohenzollern castle in the background...  In 2011 I moved to Canada, in 2014 I bought my own Valkyrie in Germany and imported it to Canada in 2018. Since then we are exploring the Pacific Northwest. Squamish BC with the Shannon Falls in the background...  ... and the Stawamus Chief...  The Highland Valley Copper Mine in BC...  Duffey Lake in April 2020...  Mt. Baker in WA State...  So many good memories!!! Couldn't imagine any other bike for all these adventures. I only got stranded on the road once due to a failing alternator, and even then I made it home 140km. Thanks for the post, Ice!!! Now I want to get out all my old hard drives to find more pics of the trips from the last 20 years Have a great weekend everyone!!! |
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« Last Edit: November 06, 2020, 11:00:44 AM by VanCityValkyrie »
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I ride way too far, fast, often... to ride anything else but a VALKYRIE!!!
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Ice
Member
Posts: 1223
Whatever it is, it's better in the wind.
On a road less traveled.
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« Reply #4 on: November 06, 2020, 12:45:47 PM » |
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Christian,
Once they open up the border again we need to get together and I’ll buy you a good Weizen bier appropriately poured.
Look forward to meeting you.
Thanks for sharing pictures, makes me miss it even more.
We lived in Leonberg just outside of Stuttgart
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Moonshot_1
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« Reply #5 on: November 06, 2020, 03:49:03 PM » |
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 Pretty cool trip. Some carb issues though |
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Mike Luken
Cherokee, Ia.
Former Iowa Patriot Guard Ride Captain
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hubcapsc
Member
Posts: 16781
upstate
South Carolina
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« Reply #6 on: November 06, 2020, 04:08:58 PM » |
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In no way does this match any of those other pictures, but...  -Mike "its not on the map " |
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VanCityValkyrie
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« Reply #7 on: November 09, 2020, 04:19:36 PM » |
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Christian,
Once they open up the border again we need to get together and I’ll buy you a good Weizen bier appropriately poured.
Look forward to meeting you.
Thanks for sharing pictures, makes me miss it even more.
We lived in Leonberg just outside of Stuttgart
Haha, that means a lot to a German... getting a Weizen appropriately poured ;-) with all the good foam... When I was playing basketball as a teenager we had a coach from the Kelley Barracks in Möhringen and we used to go there a lot for games. Of course they always made us look like idiots. Every one of these guys was like a Michael Jordan to us! Great memories... |
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I ride way too far, fast, often... to ride anything else but a VALKYRIE!!!
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VanCityValkyrie
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« Reply #8 on: November 09, 2020, 04:20:20 PM » |
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In no way does this match any of those other pictures, but... -Mike "its not on the map " That's awesome! Where is this? |
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I ride way too far, fast, often... to ride anything else but a VALKYRIE!!!
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hubcapsc
Member
Posts: 16781
upstate
South Carolina
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« Reply #9 on: November 09, 2020, 04:46:37 PM » |
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That's awesome! Where is this? Somewhere on this route the road unexpectedly  went dirt (gravel really), and after a while went back to a chip-seal kind of pavement.  We stopped at a dirt road to go look - it seemed like there was some kind of canyon that ran through the scrub by the road...   The road ran for miles near that gully through that scrub wilderness, and we took one of the next dirt roads (the one in the original picture) to see if we could ride out to the canyon. We went a long way and finally became conservative about "don't go up/down somewhere if you're not sure you can go back that way", and we came back before we came to the gully. -Mike |
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Serk
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« Reply #10 on: November 09, 2020, 07:27:19 PM » |
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I'm not QUITE there yet, but I'm working on it! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kwIOkp365PU |
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Never ask a geek 'Why?',just nod your head and slowly back away...  IBA# 22107 VRCC# 7976 VRCCDS# 226 1998 Valkyrie Standard 2008 Gold Wing Taxation is theft. μολὼν λαβέ |
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cookiedough
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« Reply #11 on: November 09, 2020, 08:35:35 PM » |
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not nearly as everywhere as most all of you: WI, MN, IA, IL and considering I am 1 hour or less from IA and IL and 3 hrs from MN that is not great....  I did blow entire day this past Saturday and got the longest ride of the year at 260 miles along the Mississippi River on both the WI and IA side of the mighty mississip.... Looks like my riding days are numbered though next few weeks all cycles will be under cover once again. If not for the cold, but as well work calls against my better judgment. My coworker who does good work but is super slow gave her notice today 2 weeks she is gone so I am on my own attempting to do 2 full time jobs in only 8 hours NOT happening. She beat me out the door and after last week her being written up I can see why she is quitting, long time coming.  I guess if millions of dollars go unposted all by myself no overtime allowed, maybe I will give notice next since 1/2 my dept of 15 total has quit in past 2 years there.  NO raises 2 years, shitty pay, shitty benefits, shitty supervisors, what more is there to like?  |
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« Last Edit: November 09, 2020, 08:47:31 PM by cookiedough »
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DirtyDan
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« Reply #12 on: November 09, 2020, 10:36:10 PM » |
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Do it while you can. I did.... it my way
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trout dude
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« Reply #13 on: November 10, 2020, 04:34:06 AM » |
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Save a long page for DDT and then I might can figure out where all I’ve been lol
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Ice
Member
Posts: 1223
Whatever it is, it's better in the wind.
On a road less traveled.
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« Reply #14 on: November 10, 2020, 08:12:18 AM » |
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In no way does this match any of those other pictures, but... -Mike "its not on the map " That's awesome! Where is this? Christian, When Mike is leading the pack there is almost always the promise of adventure and a dirt road.....  Mike is good for finding the road less traveled, especially for a heavy touring bike. But to hang around with him and the crew is always the best of times and no matter what road was traveled there was always a good laugh about it. |
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Ice
Member
Posts: 1223
Whatever it is, it's better in the wind.
On a road less traveled.
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« Reply #15 on: November 10, 2020, 08:13:42 AM » |
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Save a long page for DDT and then I might can figure out where all I’ve been lol
Dennis, I dont think there's enough storage space for Bruce to list all the places he's been...He has truly been everywhere, at least on this continent. |
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carolinarider09
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« Reply #16 on: November 10, 2020, 09:59:09 AM » |
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Limited to my travel on my 2003 Valkyrie Standard. Toad Suck, AR  Somewhere on a mountain top in OK  Natchez Trace  Memphis, TN  |
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