DEDICATED TO MY YAMAHA VENTURE
I bought this old motorcycle so I could go for a ride with my neighbor and friend Barry. Little did I know it would lead to much bigger adventures. The old 1986 Yamaha Venture Royale XVZ1300 had 53,000 miles on it when she became mine. She now has 114,000 and counting. At 800 lbs. she is no lightweight but she has 1300cc and 98 hp to push us along. The bike has been described by some as a barcalounger on two wheels. She has cruise control, am fm radio and a cassette deck. I have removed the other frills.
We have now visited 49 states together and as far south as the tip of
Key West Florida. We have ventured as far North as the Arctic Circle.
She has been in whale snot on the way to the Arctic Circle, in the heat,
rain, sleet, snow and hail. We have traveled the freeways and the by ways
together, down gravel roads, dirt roads and through the mud. We have traveled
together coast to coast twice. She has fallen over many time so has lots
of bruises but has never fallen while going down the road. (She has wonderful
karma) I have tried to keep a log as we have traveled. The writing may
not be great but the experiences were.
I would love hear your coments xriphil@hotmail.com
CHECK OUT MY TRIP PHOTOS and LOGS.
1st cross country trip
I left the house headed to visit my sister Kristine in San Miguel De Allende, Mexico. Unfortunately I was not able to cross the boarder into Mexico so I headed to New Orleans to check out the damage from Hurricane Katrina. The trip took on a life it own from there.
From Santa Rosa to New Orleans photos
N.O. to Key West Florida to home photos
My trip to Alaska and places North
This was my second long trip on the Yamaha. I visited old friends and family on the way up.. I met a many wonderful people along the way and decided that the trip was as much about the people as it was about the scenery and the travels. The high point was making it to the Arctic Circle but there were many others.
Trip to Alaska, the log
My 49 state trip
On the trip home from Alaska I wondered about what I would do for my next trip. I realized that the bike and I had been in about 20 states so the obvious choice was to ride through all of the rest excluding Hawaii. This is by far my most ambitious ride. I had a limited amount of time for the trip because I had to be home for my 50th high school reunion. Again so much of the trip was about the people I met , including the wonderful woman who found my wallet in Washington DC and tracked me down.
Death Valley and Monument Valley photos
Four Corners to the Smokey Mountains
Pikes Peak
I decided early on that I wanted to ride to Death Valley and then to the top of Pikes Peak to represent the two extremes. I have ridden to Death Valley. I then learned about Mt. Evans. Riding to the top of these two mountains was now an obsession. This is fourth time I have been in the area to ride to the mountain tops and everything could have not gone better. The weather was great and the bike was perfect.
The first half of my Pikes Peak trip (the Log)
Pikes Peak and Mt. Evans plus the balloons photos
New Mexico and Arizona including my trip to the Air and Space museum in Alamagordo and Tucson.
Arizona, Utah the Antelope slot canyon, Valley of the Gods, Natural Bridges, Canyonlands
ALTAIR Please check our vacation rental home at The Sea Ranch
