'New' 2006 Interstate (Mid-bath)

[Lotus54]

Originally Posted by Alex AVI

LOTUS54 - Nice scenery. You look dressed for the worst of winter. How cold up there? And do you travel with AI fully winterized & waterless mode up there? I only plan going south for next few months till April

The Astoria ‘Column’ is on a high point above town- overlooking the mouth of the Columbia. With the wind, it was darn cold. But not freezing.

No, I don’t generally travel with it winterized. It only rarely freezes and ususally just barely. Last trip a couple of weeks ago to the Deshutes it was fairly cold- so I made sure to get a place with power so I could keep it warm and even use the tank heaters if nessasary.

I use it for day trips all winter a LOT. But if longer freeze does set it, I have a big air compressor and adapter- so it doens’t take too long to winterize it.

Mark

[Lotus54]

This is the first time I put one inside...
But it was pouring rain, and I brought the bike I was trading in over- bringing back the new one. Plus I saved a bundle on the ferry being just under 22’.

Beta X-Trainer, with the BYOB (build your own Beta) program, all setup the way I wanted it.

Mark

[Alex AVI]

Originally Posted by Lotus54

This is the first time I put one inside...
But it was pouring rain, and I brought the bike I was trading in over- bringing back the new one. Plus I saved a bundle on the ferry being just under 22’.

Beta X-Trainer, with the BYOB (build your own Beta) program, all setup the way I wanted it.

Mark

LOTUS54 - Nice bike. I am jealous! My motorbike days are over (for decades). Wife would not have married me if I did not give it up. But I can still enjoy my road racing & mtb xc bikes (bicycles).

[Lotus54]

I quit racing about 1980- but still love to ride. I do compete in the occasional motoTrial.
I’m all about precision and control now. I purposely have slowed way down and try to never fall. Generally ride the really slow ‘gnarly’ stuff with lots of log hopping and tight stuff. (But ride a trials bike most of the time).

Mark

[Alex AVI]

Originally Posted by Lotus54

I quit racing about 1980- but still love to ride. I do compete in the occasional motoTrial.
I’m all about precision and control now. I purposely have slowed way down and try to never fall. Generally ride the really slow ‘gnarly’ stuff with lots of log hopping and tight stuff. (But ride a trials bike most of the time).

Mark

LOTUS54 - I am glad to see other 2-wheeler athletes enjoy the AI. For the most part, we experience the same thrills and problems during our "rides". With the exception that you guys go much faster than us. But on very technical downhills/descents with plenty of switchbacks, hairpins, and are very close to each other, I have been known in my younger days to put pressure on motor vehicles and even motorbikes ahead of me by staying with them all the way. Really pissed them off, especially if I end up passing them (really stupid and dangerous, not recommending it here)... I was so cocky with my descending skills that I would pose for the photographers and ride 1-handed in a decreasing radius hairpin.

Once, I was clocked by CHP NorCal (who monitors an open road race called The Death Ride) going down from the top of Carson Pass (8,500 ft. asl) down to the bottom of the 18-mile descent at Markleeville at almost 62.3mph on my 15 lb. carbon fiber racing bike. The officer waited until I was at the finish line before stopping me (obviously to not impeded my race time and not to give a ticket) to check out what bicycle could do 62.3mph on 23mm skinny tires. A blowout at that speed would have been instant death for my "Death Ride".

Those were my younger days, pre-50 yrs. old. Not much daredevil stuff anymore after 50, I tend to be very careful on downhills now, mainly due to the fact that I have escaped major falls in the 30 yrs. I have raced. Now, I just concentrate on expending my energy on the climbs saving time on the hard part, pedaling uphill. So now I ride for fitness, not for finish time. But I will keep up with riders 20 yrs. my junior on steep climbing, especially to long extended climbs. I still compete for KOM (King of the Mountain) points.

[Lotus54]

I’ve been doing lots of day trips and the occasionally 2-4 day trips.
Out to Lake Ozette for a few days (nice spot right on the lake- $10 senior pass rate).

Then to Portland (OR) to visit friends for a few days (they live in the Forest Park area), then on to Silver Falls State Park.
Nice place, I had not been there in many years. It was very, very wet and rainy, the falls were huge. Lots of flooding around.
I didn’t take many pictures, but I’ll include one of the falls anyway.

I was picking up a ‘new’ motorcycle to use on the back of the AI. The little Honda was just too small (and underpowered) for two people to go any distance at all. I found a 1973 Benelli 250 SuperSport with 800 miles- all original. Tyres are even in darn good condition. I’ll save them, but certainly not going to ride with them!
It had decent power, still light (about 225lbs) and roomier. Although still very small compared to a modern bike. I had a ‘66 Benelli (and was a dealer in the 70s) and always liked it. This one was one of the last of the ‘egg’ models and has all the good Italian components. I think it will be pretty fun.
Even shifts on the right as is proper. I actually prefer that- although all my other bikes currently are left hand shift.

Mark

[wachuko]

Nice find!!! ^^^

[Lotus54]

On another trip- with lots of traveling.
Through WA, OR, ID, UT, CO and in NM now.
Just went through Carlsbad Caverns (never been here before)- heading west tomorrow.
I’ll post up a trip report and some pics when I get back.

AI is running wonderful, great fuel mileage and great trip.

Mark

[Lily&Me]

They are made for the road.

Enjoy.

Maggie

[Lotus54]

Stayed at the ‘Apache Nugget’ Casino. Really just truck parking.
30-40 miles before Cuba, NM

[85MH325]

Originally Posted by Lotus54

I found a 1973 Benelli 250 SuperSport with 800 miles- all original. I had a ‘66 Benelli (and was a dealer in the 70s) and always liked it. This one was one of the last of the ‘egg’ models and has all the good Italian components. I think it will be pretty fun.
Even shifts on the right as is proper. I actually prefer that- although all my other bikes currently are left hand shift.

Mark

I had a VERY used 1965 Harley-Davidson 250cc Sprint back in the day... IIRC it was an Italian-built bike too... and may have been built in the Benelli factory?

On edit: So that sent me to the Great Google to find out what the Sprint really was... they were built by Aermacchi in Italy, although they looked remarkably similar to the Benellis.

[Lotus54]

Originally Posted by 85MH325

I had a VERY used 1965 Harley-Davidson 250cc Sprint back in the day... IIRC it was an Italian-built bike too... and may have been built in the Benelli factory?

On edit: So that sent me to the Great Google to find out what the Sprint really was... they were built by Aermacchi in Italy, although they looked remarkably similar to the Benellis.

Yes- both made in Italy, both ‘horizontal’ cylinders- but quite different other than that. I’ve had a number of the Sprints also.
There were a lot other ‘standard’ parts shared, like most all Italian bikes of the era.

[wachuko]

^^Learned something new...

http://www.curbsideclassic.com/blog/...ghetti-hoglet/

[Lotus54]

For those other motorcycle nuts out there.
Benelli started in 1911, (Benelli family) Later (1948) some argument between the brothers (imagine that- especially in Italy) resulted in one of them breaking off and starting Motobi.
The model that I showed was based from a Motobi design.

Later Motobi was bought by Benelli, so the company was ‘back together’ again. All of the designs came forward.

https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Motobi

[Lotus54]

We took a bit of a trip very recently. There were some time restraints due to others things going on, so it made for longer driving and way more interstate travel than I prefer. But still loads of fun!

4214 miles
9 days.
Leave PA (Port Angeles), go to Carlsbad, NM- then back.

Day 1.
Headed out mid-morning after getting everything ready. Across Tacoma Narrows, up 18 and then east on 90/82. Stayed at the Plymouth Army Core of Engineers campground that we have stayed had quite often. It is a very nice place, super cheap for old guys ($12) not croweded and an easy first day.
355 miles.

Day 2
I first considered some alternative routes through Nevada I’ve never done, but we decided to take the ‘fastest’ route going then figure it out coming back.
So left Plymouth, WA, across I84 all the way to Perry, UT.
Stayed at a Walmart there that was quite nice. Had the back open to a field with horses, nice tree in bloom behind us and pretty quiet. I generally don’t like staying at Walmarts- I don’t like hanging out at parking lots. But after a long day and looking to an early start, it makes it cheaper and easier.
This was probably the second best Walmart I’ve stayed at (Bennington, VT the best I think.
552 miles

Day 3
Headed out down I84 until I15, then to Spanish Fork and off on hiway 6 east.
Then onto 191 (Price) to a short bit on I70, south on 191 for lunch at Moab.
191 south, 491 to Shiprock, 64 to Farmington- 550 to Just before Cuba, NM.
We stayed at the Apache Nugget Casino.
I checked with security and it was fine to park overnight. It was just parking with the trucks- a few trucks in and out, but really pretty darn quiet. Neat sunset.
564 miles

[Lotus54]

Day 4
Leave near Cuba, NM- south to Albuquerque, a bit east on I40 to 285 south.
All the way to just south of Carlsbad- stayed at Whites City RV park.
It was right on the road, pretty cramped- but had full hookups and only 5 miles up the road to the Caverns.
It was getting pretty hot and I wanted AC power to run the AC (at least until it cooled down more). Plus dumping tanks and toppling up fresh water.
378 miles.

After getting the site- we buzzed up the hill and got into the Caverns before they closed for the night. They are self guided (although I understand they have a guided one that goes where the self-guided one does not.).
It was pretty fun, lots of neat formations. I took a bunch of pics which I’ll post up later.
After we finished, we went back down to Whites City and had some dinner in the AI- ran the AC a bit and took it easy. Then went back up to watch the bats exit the Cavern. Petty neat- they said there are more late summer, but still quite a lot leaving.

Day 5
Left early with no real plan on route- but generally head west.
West on 180 until the 375 bypass around El Paso. Then I10 west all the way past Tuscan. Looking for someplace to stay that has power (I found a place that sounded interesting, but no power and it was HOT!!! 98ºf).
The Picacho state park sounded pretty good, bobbi had her phone doing routing and it told us to get off the freeway some 10 miles before the exit. Well- there were red lines on the freeway, so we took it.
At first the traffic was moving just fine in I10, but the little two lane beside it was much more pleasant anyway, so I didn’t care if it took a few more minutes due to slower speed.
But then it was a parking lot on the freeway. We blasted right past all those guys that passed us earlier (75mph is about the limit where I like to drive for a long time, although it does 80 just fine).
By the time we got to the Picacho exit, they were routing eveyone off I10 onto the road we were on- but we turned south to the park and missed all the traffic.

The park was interesting with the big cactus (many cactus in bloom). It was way too hot for me, but there were sites left so we picked one and I hooked up the power so I could run AC. bobbi decided to hike up to a high spot to the north, but I was beat and just hung out and had a beer.
The bathrooms were nice, big showers with lots of water. Room between sites.
This would be a neat place about a month or two or three earlier.

Day 6
We had a leisurely morning, left and headed West. My initial thought was to go up through Flagstaff, then west to pass Vegas and do some roads in Nevada I had not been on. But the heat changed my mine- and she had never been across 10 and we had not been up through California in quite a few years. So we just kept on I10 west.
I10 west to I210 then north on I5. Cruised right up the Grapevine and the traffic started thinning after a bit.
Looked for a place with power again (although it had cooled)- found one a little north of Avenal, Somerville RV park.
It was ok- not too many people so not really crowded.
635 miles

Day 7
North on I5, to Redding (stopped at the sundial bridge), then decided to head to the coast.
Did 299 to near Eureka.
Stayed at the Casino there - Blue Lake Casino.
To stay, you need to sign up with the ‘Player Club’. That is free but takes a little extra time. I’m not a gambler, so I have no interest in that stuff. Plus the smoke really bothers me.
It is $11, can stay one or two night.
Nice RV area, VERY quiet and quite pleasant temperature for a NW lad.
475 miles

[Lotus54]

Day 8
Left the casino near Eureka, headed north on 101. Did take some alternative routes through the redwoods, but mostly just 101, up to the 199 turn off toward Grants Pass,
Followed that to Cave Junction, then up to the Cave.
I’ve been there loads of times- always for work. I’ve been through the cave a bunch of times too, but mostly doing coverage testing (radios) and looking for other possible communication solutions (they since installed new Ethernet and are using IP phone ‘stations’ to solve the problem).
We got up in time to take a regular tour (I understood only two a day right now). The guide was quite good (they are back to using Park Service personnel, rather than concessions. Personally I feel a very good move).
It was fun going through again and hearing some things I had not before.

After the cave, we went down the hill (two lane, very curvy) to Cave Junction and had dinner at Carlo’s Mexican. We have rather there a number of times, always good.

It was getting later, so I thought could just to the ‘Walmart lot’ thing. Got to it at Grants Pass, but there were signs all over saying overnight parking was against a city ordinance. Reviews talked about Sherriffs knocking on your door to move in the night and things (Just doing their job, but I don’t really want that). Plus it seemed quite noisy. Lots of people that appeared to be ready to stay the night.
We hopped back on I5 north and starting looking for options.
I found a casino at Canyonevill, OR (Seven Feathers). Made for there, several RVs were in the far lot.
Backed up to a hedge and had a quiet night.
250 miles (or so)

Day 9
Take off in the morning and just head north on I5 (using the 205 Portland bypass) to Olympia. The 101 up Hood Canal to PA.
About 445 miles.

Great trip, AI ran and worked great. Except for the refrigerator, it couldn’t keep up on those super hot days, with the refer side of the van to the south all day. When it cooled down it worked perfectly. Going 75mph probably doesn’t help. (The older AIs have ‘absorption’ (Propane) refers)

I have not figured my fuel mileage, the high speeds didn’t help any, worst was just under 22mpg. Best I think was 26mpg.

Pics to follow
Mark

[Lily&Me]

Sounds like you’re having a great trip.

I’ve had the same problem with my frig in both units on very hot days.

Maggie

[Sebtown]

I've had the same problem with my absorption refrigerator in hot weather as well. For our up coming trip I purchased a small (15 quart) Apricool 12 volt compressor refrigerator. I've been experimenting with it for a couple of weeks and it sips power. I think it should do just fine. Heading out Wednesday from Sonoma county to The Four Corners on a two week trip which should give this small refrigerator a confirming test run.

[Lotus54]

Let me know how it works out.
Generally not a big problem, but sometimes...
Plus since the absorption one doesn’t work for a darn when not level, other options would be nice sometimes.

Originally Posted by Sebtown

I've had the same problem with my absorption refrigerator in hot weather as well. For our up coming trip I purchased a small (15 quart) Apricool 12 volt compressor refrigerator. I've been experimenting with it for a couple of weeks and it sips power. I think it should do just fine. Heading out Wednesday from Sonoma county to The Four Corners on a two week trip which should give this small refrigerator a confirming test run.