A Taste of Dirt

Wednesday dawned cool in the Rubys. The sun didn’t reach Taylor Canyon campground before morning hands were chilled breaking camp. We rolled out and went just five miles to breakfast in Lamoille, at the bitter End Tavern. Under the menu section for beverages was a section, “Better Beverages.” Bloody Mary? Bloody Christ!!
Sent here by Detective Mike, we were soon preparing for the first dirt section of the trip, a county road from Lamoille to Secret Pass Road. It was an 18 mile section of dirt and gravel, in excellent condition.
How does one prepare for dirt? The first step is to reduce tire pressure, from around 40 psi to about 20. This provides better traction on loose surfaces. The next step (if your bike is so equipped) is to raise the grip height of your handlebars. Why? You will be primarily standing, and changing the reach to the clutch and brake levers improves control.
Coach Reverend Chuck offered a few key pointers to Reverend Bill, and off we went, second gear about 25 mph. It was a breeze. No pucker moments, a few cattle being driven down the road (Reverend Chuck’s Cattle Drive), and little traffic. Reverend Bill’s quads were afire, but they’ll get stronger. 45 minutes standing on the pegs steering with your feet is a new muscle group. It went very well. Ibuprofen is a wonder drug.
Once we regained the tarmac (and aired up our tires), we headed south toward Ely, Nevada, where we provisioned for our evening camp, and also darkened the door of the Hotel Nevada Casino. We’ll say no more.
Great Basin National Park is an hour outside Ely. It is home to Lehman Caves, the tour we’ll skip this go-around. The campsite we chose lies on a spring melt creek. It was suggested by the park ranger who rides a KLR650 and wanted to talk bikes. He also referred us to the firewood.
Two young Swiss travelers occupied the campsite next door. They are taking two years to tour the world, doing the Americas after shipping their Mitsubishi camper to Rio De Janeiro. They travel with a calm German Shepard.
I told the Heaven and Hell in Europe joke to the Swiss couple next door
“What is the definition of Heaven and Hell in Europe?
Heaven in Europe: The English are the police, the French are the cooks, the Germans are the mechanics, the Swiss are the administrators, and the Italians are the lovers.
Hell in Europe: The English are the cooks, the French are the mechanics, the
Germans are the police, the Italians are the administrators, and the Swiss are the lovers.
The Swiss couple laughed.
Brats on the grill and bachelor salad!

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