Every once in a while we do a blog that covers a bunch of topics, and this is one of those times.
Good buddy Mike Huber and his friend Bobbie motorcycled Mexico (Baja, to be specific, almost another country all by itself), and he most recently published an excellent story about being stranded down there by the Covid 19 pandemic. It’s not often that we recommend another blog, but hey, Mike’s writing is outstanding and it’s a great story. Take a look; it’s very good.
My favorite motorcycle magazine (that would be Motorcycle Classics) sends out marketing emails on a regular basis, and in those emails they include links to past (and sometimes recent) articles. I write for MC, and the most recent email that slipped into my inbox included a link to my Destinations piece on Hearst Castle. You might want to read that story; I love Hearst Castle. It’s closed for the pandemic, but the pandemic won’t last forever. Hearst Castle will be there when it’s over.
We’re having a heat wave (both here in the Peoples Republik of Kalifornia and at Tinfiny Ranch). That prompted us to start a piece on riding in extreme heat. My first recommendation would be: Don’t. But things don’t always work out the way you want them to. I once rode the length of Baja on a Mustang replicas with several friends, and due to a lack of research on my part we did the ride in Baja’s hottest month (and that’s September). You can read about the 150cc Baja ride through Hell here. Do you have any advice for riding in high temperatures? Please share them with us (info@exhaustnotes.us) and we’ll include your recommendations here on the blog.
We have more motorcycle, gun and other stuff coming up, including info on Ruger’s new Custom Shop and their Super GP100 .357 Mag revolver, favored loads in the Henry .45 70 Single Shot, a piece on Turnbull’s iconic color case hardening and restoration services, a stunning (and tack-driving) Kimber with exhibition grade French walnut, the wrap-up of our ride through the Andes Mountains in Colombia, the Canton Fair, and for you fans of The Ten Commandments, making bricks without hay and mortar. And a whole lot more.
Stay tuned, folks.
Real interested in the Ruger GP-100. It and a S&W 686 are on the short list and while it won’t happen anytime soon I keep going back and forth on which one to buy. Really looking for some input here. I think you have owned some S&W revolvers so maybe a little compare and contrast between the two?
I’ve owned both Ruger and S&W revolvers, Bob, and the comparison will be part of the story on the new Super GP100. One thing I can tell you that’s absolute: There’s no comparison between S&W and Ruger customer service in the event there’s an issue with a firearm. Although Ruger doesn’t advertise it, any Ruger is essentially warranted for life. I’ve sent 40-year-old firearms I bought used to Ruger and they repaired them for free and the turnaround was very quick. A couple of years ago I sent my 625 S&W back to the manufacturer for a warranty repair and a feature I wanted added to the revolver. Smith was slow and expensive, and they didn’t return my original parts to me until I wrote and asked for them. I’d go for the Ruger based on customer service alone. Your hearing this from a guy who loves Smith and Wesson.
Hot weather riding. Cooling vests are the ticket. Soak them in cool water in the bag they come in or large zip lock for 15-30 minutes. They will soak up water like a baby diaper soaks up pee only more better. Wring out some of the excess water from the vest over any potted plants or trees at the gas station so it’s not dripping down your britches. The plants could use the water in hot weather too.
Put vest on over a T-shirt then wear a breathable mesh jacket. As you ride the air going through the vest evaporates the water and keeps you cool till it dries out in 1/2-1 hour ,then stop and repeat soaking it again next gas stop.
Cooling vests are as great for hot weather as heated jacket liners are for the cold weather . $35-$45.
literal life savers.
Good inputs, Rob. Thanks. I’ve used cooling vests before. I’ve also been so hot that I simply poured water inside my jacket (while wearing it), let everything get soaked, and then headed on down the road. We did that in Baja on the 150s. That was a miserably hot ride, but it gained a lot of publicity for my client at the time. It’s not a ride I’d want to do again (at least not in September, the hottest month of the year in Baja).