Five of us met at the Chevron Gas in Red Bluff for a dual sport ride Sunday, Ron, Dario, Russ, Mike L, Mike B. I (Mike B) was new to the group and dual sport riding, so I had no idea what was in store for the day. We left the Chevron heading north just until we reached Hwy 36, we turney left and headed west. We turned off of 36 onto McCoy and headed north. From here on I couldn't tell you where we were riding because I had never been in the area and it seemed like we were riding in circles. We turned off of McCoy at a Transmission electric tower line. There was no road or any sign of one, just green grass. I followed in the forth position while Dario was kink enough to ride sweep so I wouldn't get lost. Soon I lost site of the group in front of me and I thought I had missed a turn, when Dario pulled up and said to keep going straight, so I did. Low and behold, there they were, just in front of me in a dip. We turned right onto a cow path and shortly came my first water encounter, one of many, many more to come. We followed this path around trees, cows, knolls and more water crossings. It was great fun, but I was a little tense and thinking I might not be able to hold up to this all day. The front stopped to let me catch up and I got a little break. That's all I needed to calm down a little and I was ready to roll. Off we went until we came to a road, which by now I can't tell you where we were or where we were going, I just followed. We did some paved roads for a short while and then we found some more dirt roads. My confidence was coming up more and more as we rode and I was beginning to relax. We had a little ordeal with a chain coming off, but we had a spare master link in Ron's bag of goodies and off we were again. It was a very well maintained dirt road with a sprinkling of gravel on top, just enough to make the bike track around, but fun to play with. At some point in time we rejoined Hwy 36, heading back to the east for a short distance and then off we were to another dirt road. We carried speeds of 45 mph to 53 mph, which for a sportbike rider wouldn't seem like much fun, but on a hard packed dirt road with gravel, we are talking moocho fun. We passed through some ranch buildings and the road turned to a narrower less cared for road and now came the water crossing. Sometimes the water crossing came up so fast that I didn't have time to think about them before crossing through. I would watch Russ up in front of me and where he crossed and that's where I would cross. Each water crossing got a little wider and a little deeper, it seemed that way anyway. Then came a water crossing I thought I was not going to cross. It was wide and had a gravel bar in the middle. We debated about whether it was worth crossing it due to the next water crossing we were sure we wouldn't cross today. The next thing I know is Ron fires up his bike and takes off across the water. He started by riding along side the creed on a narrow bank, with grassy and muddy sides to it and then he turned a hard right into the water and headed straight across to the gravel bar. Then he turned slightly to the left and crossed the second half of the creek to where the road was on the other side. Then Mike L took off, but he just went straight across from where he started and made it to the gravel bar and then across the second half to the other side where Ron was waiting. Russ fired up his bike and blasted across and that left me and Dario sitting there. I really didn't think I was going to go, I just couldn't see me making it across without dumping it out there in the middle. Then I just decided to hell with it, I am going for it. I think Dario mentioned something about trying to cross like Ron. I fired up my bike and gently took it along the creek's bank until I got to the turn point and turned into the creek. I just knew I was going to hit some king of boulder under the water and take a swim, but the bike was tracking sure footed and I gassed it up to keep momentum going through the water. Somehow I missed the gravel bar and ended up going more up stream than I wanted, but I was headed straight for the road on the other side, so I stayed with the course. I made to the other side without some much of a wobble and a huge sense of relief. Dario came through like the pro he is and we all were off and running. It wasn't long before we came to another creek, a much wider creek. Ron and the guys said this would be the turn around point. The water was too high and we weren't going across today. I was happy to hear that, but also worried. This meant I had to go back through what I just came through, all of the water crossing, oh my gosh! We took a break and ate some snacks. Then it was time to fire up the bikes and head back. Off we go, and in no time at all we are back to the creek crossing. This time there wasn't any meeting, we just crossed it as the pack approached the water's edge. I learned to give more distance between me and the next rider in front, to give him plenty of time to cross the creek before I entered the water, so if something happens to him, I don't have to stop in the middle of the creek. I went through as planned this time, first to the gravel bar and then to the other side. The rest of the day was a piece of cake. I was relaxed and having fun. The weather was fantastic for the day and the scenery was as good as it gets for the Red Bluff foothills.

---

Mike Benzon
Burney, CA
00 Suzuki DRZ 400S
05 Triumph Tiger
08 Harley Ultra Classic

Thanks Russ, I have a Garmin 2610 on my bike that I have used on my street bikes. I am hoping it will do for off road. I also carry a SPOT for emergencys, especially if I am riding alone. Thanks for including me along for the ride, I really enjoyed the ride. I am looking forward to the next.

---

Mike Benzon
Burney, CA
00 Suzuki DRZ 400S
05 Triumph Tiger
08 Harley Ultra Classic