Getting lost on the hawk

[jsumd]

Last weekend adventure started calling my name. I hadn't really taken the hawk out any great distance in awhile and it was so nice out. I filled it up, put a few tools in the saddle bags, and off I went.

I had just spent a few days on vacation with an old elementary school friend. We got to talking about the old days, of course, and got on the subject of the house he grew up in (mostly). We both knew the general area of the house but neither of us could remember the exact route. The house is way back in the boonies and there are many turns on dirt/gravel roads. When I got back I decided I would try to find it on my trusty hawk.

The route before getting to the back roads is about 20 minutes on two lane 55mph roads. I cruised at that speed and while everyone else likes to do 65 or so, everyone gave me my space and was respectful.

I arrived to the first side road and it was paved for about a mile, then turned into gravel. After several twists and turns I came to the road I suspected to be the correct one to find the house. It was a semi washed out dirt road that ran right through the forest. Both sides of the road were plastered with Posted signs. I'm talking every other tree there was one nailed on. I stuck to the road for about a mile and a half when I came to an open gate that had more posted and no trespassing signs all over it. I didn't dare go in. I was in too good of spirits to get shot that day. I'm certain it was the correct road and we both studied google maps of my route later and confirmed I was most likely in the right place and the house would have only been a little further ahead. I was looking forward to seeing it again, it was a cool place for two 10 year old kids to play and get into mischief. Not to mention it was just a nice house as his father was an engineer and made a ton of money. It was like a mansion to a kid like me who grew up in a trailer.

I kept roaming the back roads for a couple hours and came across a really cool old trailer that looked like something right out of the 50's and or Fallout. I then found a really cool low water bridge and snapped a few pics of it and enjoyed the cool air. Took my boots off and let the fish bite my feet.

I probably clocked around 50 miles but a lot of it was just slow going dirt and gravel. So I was gone for about 3 hours in total. It was great to just get out and revisit some of the old areas of my childhood I hadn't been to since I was probably 13.

The hawk never missed a beat and never let me down in any way. One of the most solid china bikes I've ever owned, if not the most solid.





hawk1 by 64bit2011, on

hawk3 by 64bit2011, on Flickr

hawk2 by 64bit2011, on Flickr

[Thumper]

Nice old trailer, complete with A/C unit. Wht do you think, 500 sq ft ?

I am surprised that rusty old padlock is intact. I wouldn't want to break it, but I would love to see the inside layout, upholstery (imagine what it used to look like!), galley equipment, sleeping accomodations, lights and power setup. It would ba a fascinating glimpse into the past. My guess is that it's 70+/- years old.

[jsumd]

Originally Posted by Thumper

Nice old trailer, complete with A/C unit. Wht do you think, 500 sq ft ?

I am surprised that rusty old padlock is intact. I wouldn't want to break it, but I would love to see the inside layout, upholstery (imagine what it used to look like!), galley equipment, sleeping accomodations, lights and power setup. It would ba a fascinating glimpse into the past. My guess is that it's 70+/- years old.

I have no idea what the sq ft would be. I've always been horrible at estimating that sort of thing.

I would have loved to have seen inside but I didn't want to mess around there too much. I might check it out a little closer if I go back that way. At least see if I can get a quick shot through a window or something. If i'm feeling dangerous lol

[Zapkin]

can you imagine the stories that trailer would tell if it could talk? when i see stuff like this my imagination goes wild for a second thinking about the lives that were led there. everyone has their own story. would love to know what so many places could say if they could talk.

[jsumd]

Originally Posted by Zapkin

can you imagine the stories that trailer would tell if it could talk? when i see stuff like this my imagination goes wild for a second thinking about the lives that were led there. everyone has their own story. would love to know what so many places could say if they could talk.

I agree! I always wonder the same thing. Who lived way out there in that retro thing and why. Then why was it abandoned?

[Thumper]

By the way... that wouldn't happen to be poison ivy on the lower right part of the photo, would it!? Maybe not, but I am extra cautious about that stuff...

I've snagged poisong ivy in the Columbia river gorge on the Oregon side, in the redwood forest (taking a pee-a veritable nightmare I can attest to), Northern border of Ohio on a beach of lake Erie, and in my own back yard right here at home (weeds creeping in from neighbor's tree into the garden!). I have become seriously vigilant watching for it

It is usually the legs or forearms that get into it.

[Zapkin]

you know..people can talk crap on Chinabikes but the truth is, if not for them, i wouldn't be out exploring covered bridges? or anything like that. Its an inexpensive way to get into it and learn. its so much freakin fun for such a small investment..even with the wrenching and bullshit. its worth it. at least to me.

[jsumd]

Originally Posted by Thumper

By the way... that wouldn't happen to be poison ivy on the lower right part of the photo, would it!? Maybe not, but I am extra cautious about that stuff...

I've snagged poisong ivy in the Columbia river gorge on the Oregon side, in the redwood forest (taking a pee-a veritable nightmare I can attest to), Northern border of Ohio on a beach of lake Erie, and in my own back yard right here at home (weeds creeping in from neighbor's tree into the garden!). I have become seriously vigilant watching for it

It is usually the legs or forearms that get into it.

Could be! i don't pay much attention to tbh. I got it once about 20 years ago really bad during a paintball game. Now it seems like I can roll in it and it won't bother me a bit. I don't blame you for looking out for it though!

[2LZ]

Some great pics, jsumd! Yep, there's no better "value/fun factor" than a CB.

[jsumd]

I'm a little late posting this, but last weekend I explored some more backroads in the area that I wasn't familar with. This is becoming an every sunday activity for me lately. It's just so fun to get out there on the hawk and find all these new places that have been around me my whole life.

The route I took this time ended up circling back around to the first place I had posted about here on this thread. Which is great because now I have a very nice loop that I can ride that is part two lane paved roads, gravel roads, and a little dirt. Good stuff.

Here is one photo of an old abandoned store that I found. Unfortunately I could not get an ice cold Nehi.

oldstore by 64bit2011, on Flickr

[jsumd]

Did another 50ish mile trip on the hawk today. Hit a side road down the Clinch River and followed that gravel road for about ten miles. There were several cabins and campers along here. It was a nice looking place. Some of the cabins were older and were grown up. One of them I recalled staying in as a kid with my family. We were about to go to bed when my mom pulled the blanket back on the bed and found a snake. She is deathly afraid of snakes so we left. Seeing again brought back some memories of that for sure. I turned left onto another gravel road that ran between the mountains and came out into a valley. This road was paved and barely big enough for two cars. Some nice farm land and beautiful meadows.

Also ran into another issue with the bike later on in the day. It seems like I may be needing to go over a few things to prevent further issues. Tonight on the way back home, The bike missed a few times and I reached down under the seat to make sure the choke was down. It almost stalled on me when I put my hand under there. So, I get home and place my hand back there when it's running. It stalls. I start it back up and touch the same wire cluster and it stalled again. Pulled off the side plastic and saw that some of the wires were rubbing the frame. One looked like it had just a tiny bit of wire showing under the insulation. Wrapped it with a bit of electrical tape and started the bike back up, touched the same area again several times, and no stall. My thought process is to strip down the plastics, seat, headlight, and tank to go over all my harness and make sure nothing else is rubbing the frame and getting worn. I know there are several spots that others have had issues with. Might as well tackle it before it becomes a problem.

hw5 by 64bit2011, on Flickr

hw6 by 64bit2011, on Flickr

hw7 by 64bit2011, on Flickr

hw8 by 64bit2011, on Flickr

hw1 by 64bit2011, on Flickr

hw2 by 64bit2011, on Flickr

hw9 by 64bit2011, on Flickr

[jsumd]

It's been awhile since I've updated about my adventures on the hawk, but I've still been out there having a blast.

A few weeks ago I took the bike out to a campground about an hour from my home. It wasn't super far or anything like that, but it was just so nice to spend a night out in my tent.

Today, I rode about 70 miles in total. I rode down to where my family had a farm when I was growing up. I had planned on fording the river, but it was just a little too deep in spots for me to be comfortable. Took a couple pics anyways and rode around the shallow bits.

hawkriver by 64bit2011, on Flickr

hawkriver 2 by 64bit2011, on Flickr

hwkcamp by 64bit2011, on Flickr

hawkcamp1 by 64bit2011, on Flickr