Hey All,

So it’s been a month or so since I last updated….my how time flies…..been a busy last few weeks. Engineering has been kicking my ass up and down the block with no apparent signs of letting up. Hopefully I can get all my work finished up during the week so I can head home this weekend. Planning to goto knotts scary farm with some friends and spend some time with Mom as it’s her b-day.

On a side note, I finally got the new pipe for my motorcycle. I love it….it’s so quiet! (yeah….you read that right…) When i’m on the freeway I hear the wind and tire’s over the exhaust now, that’s awesome! With that I can ride it around more freely and not worry about getting busted for a noise voilation or something of that nature.

I did notice a slight (ever so slight) decrease in performance with the new pipe, but I think I can live with that given the significant decrease in sound. I went on a test ride to break it in and I loved it. Sadly one of my clostest riding spots got closed down (Refugio fire road). Most likely due to the fire that was raging in those parts during the summer. So I had to make my way over to Paradise/Lower Oso. I should be putting up GPS maps and a ride report soon (just have to figure out how to download the data in linux)

Until Next time….

Well today I decided to go on a motorcycle ride. A friend of mine was supposed to come with, but he didn’t have any gas for his car to tote his bike around so I ended up going alone…..ah….the wonders of a Dual Sport moto!

Decided to give the new tires and chain a run for their money, so I went on an extra long ride…..

So I finally got all the parts in so I can fix my motorcycle….my sweet sexxy moto got $263 in parts upgrades!

New tires (front/back), new brakes (front/back), new handlebars, new chain, new shifter.

I have pictures of the carnage here, unfortunately I had to take the pictures with the cell (dad lost the digi cam…doh!) so some of them came out much more blurry than I would have liked….

http://gallery.crshman.com/v/Moto_Upgrade_8-9-08/

So today was a very eventful motorcycle ride to say the least….It was a long ride, most enjoyable. Complete with no injuries or falls! w00t!

I believe I did a total of 126 miles of riding today, went deep into the back country of Santa Barbara/Santa Ynez. Unfortunately the charger I installed on my motorcycle wasn’t working, and I didn’t realize it until my phone said “Low Battery”. Which means I only got half of my trip on GPS tracks. But I suppose something is better than nothing?

Started out like any other motorcycle ride, me having fun, enjoying life and ripping up the dirt. I was actually able to make it to Jameson lake, the gate was open! w00t…..unfortunately I forgot my camera….yet again….so I didn’t get any pictures of it. (And my phone was dead by that point)

I also managed to find a nice hot spring on my adventure, I stopped there for a while…it was quite nice to relax for a few minutes all alone with no one out there but nature…

As I started making my way back home I stopped in a well shaded area with a few trees. I had seen helicopters going up and down the valley all day so I figured it was just a training exercise of some sort. A few minutes after stopping one of the helicopters starts circling around me. I just smiled and waved at the helicopter while sipping my camel back and eating a power bar. It kept circling so I gave it a thumbs up to let them know I was ok……well the 3rd time I took a closer look at the tail of the helicopter and it turned out to be the sheriff…..hmm ok….w/e I’ll just keep eating. A few minutes after that a truck rolls up quite quickly and 3 rather large men jump out, hands on their holsters yelling at me “Don’t move! Don’t Move!”……well shit, I’m not going anywhere, I’m just resting eating my power bar…. One of them asks “Hablas espanol” (Do you speak Spanish…..translated for those of you who don’t know)….I respond, yes….and I speak English too….They ask for my id, and want to know what I’m doing here…..well uh….*looks at motorcycle* I’m out for a ride….and I’m taking a break *looks at power bar*…..He then proceeds to ask me where I came from….I just turn and point at the road I came from…completely dumbfounded…. After a search of my backpack, and my jacket the tension had ceased…….they sheriff/officers/whatever explained to me that they thought I was part of an operation that was taking place….. I was very curious about that, so I asked hehe…..he said it was a sting operation and they were cleaning up “some weeds” riiiight…..

So I guess I fit the profile of a drug trafficking mexican….*shrug* oh the many adventures of me and my moto rides…..

GPS Tracks made possible by PathAway for my phone =)

What a day, chock full of studying for my midterm tomorrow oh joy…..well not so much studying, but the midterm is still tomorrow haha!

Decided to go on a motorcycle ride today, 2 hours turned into 3 turned into 4….oh well it’s done and I had fun.

Today was the first test of the new gas tank that I installed this last weekend. I have yet to experience any issues (aside from the initial fill at the gas station). There is no loss of power and starts on a dime *knocks on wood*

Went for a ride today off paradise road, there was more there than the last time I went….tree’s had fallen down left and right….made for a very interesting ride to say the least! At the end of the trail I met up with 3 other riders, one had a snazzy plated KTM that I envied, another had a CRF450x (nice bike there too) and the last had a yamaha, didn’t catch the model number….or most of their names to be honest haha. (The one I did get was Gabriel, nice guy)

These guys rode pretty fast, we all turned around and left and I pulled up the rear to see if I could keep up, I did keep up….but they definitely gave me a run for my money! Hadn’t ridden that hard in MONTHS, but all in good fun. I only fell once…I was pissed…tweaked the bars….have to get those fixed soon…. I also managed to pop a fuse as I swam through the dozens of streams on my bike (fun fun!) luckily I was able to push start my baby to get her running until I could bust out the repair tools back home!

Well for those who care, and those who don’t, here is a little post-ride eye candy:

Clicky!