Triumphrat

JRO · 03-23-2006

It looks like I'll have to ride to Fort Lewis (Seattle, Wa. area) sometime towards the end of May. My #2 boy is being deployed back to Iraq, and I'll have to bring his pick-up down here. He doesn't trust the Army to store his stuff, anymore. I would just fly and drive back, but my #1 boy wants to ride up and haul the bikes home. Now, I haven't crossed Wyoming or northern Colorado in years, but the last time I was up there, there were herds of those cantalope running all over the hiways, and one of the beasts ran into our truck. I hate the deer around here bad enough that the idea of weaving through swarms of vermin for hunnerds and hunnerds of miles has me worried. Anyone up that way, or been through there lately, can give me an idea of how numerous the creatures are on the roads? I know they used to be out to get autos, but are they gunning for poor cyclists, too? Is there still a little blonde waitress named Chrissy working at a diner in downtown Cheyene? What's the chance of UFO abduction, while crossing northern Utah & Idaho? Does that happen more south or north of Boise? When we reach Oregon & Washington, are bigfeet a problem? Do they stand in the road, or chase motorcycles? Would I be better off with a camera, or a .45?

Anthouse · 03-23-2006

I have traversed WYCOIDORWA any number of times and all rules about wildlife apply. Now, as far as the animals go the deer are the thing everywhere- they tend to pop out of the strangest places at any time of day and tend to run at you instead of away. Are they more numerous than before? Probably, but if you count on them being there and ride accordingly, like during good daylight, your chances of an encounter decrease. Several times I have encountered deer and telepathically tell them to stay right where they are at and we will not become statistics. So far it has worked.
The (c)antelope seem to run along with bikes but if you do hit one and survive they taste really good. And you can use the horns to fend off the next one.
Haven't encountered a real Bigfoot but there are some hairy bikers around WA and ID who could pass for one. Sometimes they pose for a cameras but better keep that .45 cocked as they can be unpredictable.
For a real glow go through Atomic City in Idaho and the aliens will leave you alone. Happened to me.

TucsonBill · 03-24-2006

I did Wyoming/Montana/Idaho last summer. The thing I found was that while riding "where the antelope play" the sound of my stock Tiger scared the beejesus out of the antelope! I passed a number of herds, both small and large, and when I got within about 50 yards, they lifted their heads with a panicked look and ran like hell away - always away - from the road. Deer, on the other hand, did the same thing when they heard me, but they ran in random directions. In Washington, on I-5, a deer started crossing, heard the Tiger, then ran right in front of a Toyota PU behind me. Nasty noise!
I've never really had problems with Bigfoot, but we're hitting Chupacabras just about every night ride in the Arizona desert. They're not nearly as good eating as armadillos or badgers, but they are more tender. If you paint eyes on the back of your helmet, you can run away from the aliens much easier. It also confuses them if you get caught and they are going to probe you....

JRO · 03-25-2006

After today, I'm not sure I want to make no long road trips through cantalope country. Broad daylight, riding at 35mph alongside a housing edition, and some deer runs out of someone's front yard. They always head straight for you - always. I missed T-boning it by about 2 feet. I must say, when you lock up the brakes on a Tiger, the thing certainly stays straight and upright. ABS would be nice, but it's stability in an emergency is comforting.

I want full body armor. You know, like that 'grizzly bear suit' armor some guy built. Leather and plastic just won't do it, for me. I want steel and balistic ceramics. Wieght is not an issue; impact survival is.

My wife calls me a deer magnet... I thought I'd led a pretty good life - can't be karma, can it? I just don't believe it's pennance for all those vermin I poached as a kid. I just think I didn't get enough of them, is all. So, why me?