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DIM BULB ▪ March 2015
Volume 25 ▪ Issue 3
The High Beemers M/C of Northern Nevada
Chartered Club #337▪ BMWRA Charter #75
February 16th Breakfast Ride
Left to Right:
Walt Gibson, Larie Trippet, Jim Conley, Sam Bexon, Doug Laird, Jim McMichael, Lynn Johnson, Irby
McMichael, Allen Davidson, Jeff Laguaglia, Nick Abitsch, David Morris.
Not in the photo, but attending the ride: Fred Barrie, Tom Benedict, Bruce Carl, Jim Morrow and one
other.
There were 17 on the ride.
VOLUME 25, ISSUE 3
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Presidents Column– March 2015
High Beemers
M/C Club
PO Box 3127
Sparks NV 89432
President
Dan Myers
775.343.5881
[email protected]
Vice President
Doug Laird
202.415.2324
[email protected]
Treasurer
Sam Bexon
775.856.2688
[email protected]
Newsletter Editor
Natalie Hilbert
530.351.5229
[email protected]
High Beemers,
I hope that you all have had an opportunity to enjoy our early springtime
conditions with a ride or two. Be sure to check out Larie’s handiwork on
our website (highbeemers.org) under “Ride Schedule and Events” to start
planning which rides you can join us on. Doug has expanded the
schedule to include regular GS rides, and you’ll see that there are already
destinations and ride leaders for many of those. If anyone is interested in
filling in as a ride leader in one of the open dates, please talk with Doug
about the guidelines covering those rides.
I’ve been riding BMW motorcycles in the Reno – Sparks area since 1992.
I’m sure that during that time I’d heard about a club comprised of BMW
riders. But it wasn’t until about three years ago that a couple (who have
since moved out of the area) who were members of the High Beemers
took a few minutes one day to really talk with me about the club and invite
me join in on a particular ride. I am grateful to them for connecting me
with the High Beemers; it has expanded my riding experience
exponentially.
Why share this story? As we enter into our regular riding season, I would
like to encourage everyone to take on the role of “club ambassador.”
When you meet other BMW riders locally, out on a ride in Northern
Nevada, over at Sierra BMW or anywhere someone is sporting a Nevada
license plate, take a few minutes to introduce yourself and purposefully
invite them to go on an upcoming ride. You might even share our website
address with them so they can further check us out. You may find out the
rider is a club member you don’t know, or you may be the one who helps
expand both our club dynamic and another rider’s experience by
introducing them to the High Beemers.
HIghbeemers Website
Highbeemers.org
Oh, just so there’s no misunderstanding, on those days when I’m
fortunate enough to get to ride with Tom and New York George on their
Harleys, and others on different brands and I’m in the minority on those
days on a Beemer, it is always a very good riding day in very good
company. Regardless of what steed someone selects from their stable to
ride on any particular day, it is the Moto camaraderie that makes the
experience.
Cheers, Dan
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February Breakfast Ride
February 16th is President's Day so many that can't usually take part in the Breakfast Rides were
able to join us, making a total of seventeen. We were blessed with a Spring Day in February, about
38 degrees for the ride down to Starbuck's and then over the ride warming up to nearly 50. A perfect
blue sky day with dry roads.
The group enjoyed refreshments at Starbucks while deciding where to ride. With such a large group
we decided to split in half with Doug leading one group and Larie the other. The Wigwam in Fernley
is about the only place that can handle such a large group so that's where we decided to go. We
rode to Fernley via I-80 and by the time we reached the Wigwam they'd set up the backroom for our
group. The route back to Reno was via Pyramid Lake and the mandatory stop for a group photo at
the overlook. Doug flagged down a local guy to take our group photo.
A special welcome to first time Breakfast Riders Lynn Johnson and Jeff Laguaglia.
Hope to see many of you on the March Breakfast Ride. Who knows, maybe with the weather we've
been having we can ride Monitor Pass.
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Tuscarora-Owyhee Dual-Sport Ride
by Dan Myers
Tuscarora-Owyhee Dual-Sport Ride
When I was spending a day in Tuscarora this past summer, I needed to find a way to occupy my
time for about four hours one morning while my wife attended a meeting. A friend and fellow
dual-sport rider from Elko, John Rice, who was also attending the meeting provided me with a loop
route that would take about that amount of time, would take me from Tuscarora north along the west
side of both the Independence and Bull Run Mountain ranges to Owyhee, then down the east side
of those ranges and across the Independence Mountains back to Tuscarora. The majority of the
route would be on gravel and dirt roads.
In its heyday between 1870 and 1890, the mining at Tuscarora produced millions of dollars worth of
silver. About 3,000 people, split evenly between whites and Chinese, inhabited the town. Today,
other than artist’s goods there are no services available in Tuscarora, although the cemetery is kept
in relatively good repair. The few remaining buildings house several noted Nevada artists, including
painters Sidne Teske and Ron Arthaud, and the Tuscarora Pottery School founded by Dennis Parks
and whose son Ben Parks is now the Director.
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Tuscarora-Owyhee Dual-Sport Ride Cont..
To get to Tuscarora from Elko one rides north on the paved NV225 and then onto NV226 for about
an hour. It is a quiet ride that includes riding through a narrow high walled rock canyon. You have to
exit NV226 to drive into Tuscarora on a gravel road. Be sure to bring water and other necessities, as
nothing is available for the three-hour ride between Elko and Owyhee via this route.
To get my ride started I rode out of Tuscarora and then north on NV226. The road soon changed
from pavement to thick chip seal and then to gravel. I rode until I reached the cutoff that went west
to the Wilson Reservoir, and I could see the expanse of blue in the middle of nothing but sage. The
gravel road out to the reservoir is well maintained and the scenery is worth the several mile round
trip.
Once back out on NV226 I continued north towards Owyhee near the Nevada – Idaho border. Just
before I reached Owyhee I passed by Sheep Creek Reservoir. Once again, the blue expanse
appears out in the distance almost as a mirage. I only saw a couple of vehicles on or off the
roadway as I made my way to Owyhee. From Tuscarora it took about two hours.
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Tuscarora-Owyhee Dual-Sport Ride Cont..
As I entered the southwest corner
of Owyhee I learned that it was a
Native American reservation. On
the south end of town there are
community services such as the
community center, U.S. Post
Office, etc. but no travelers’
services. I rode north seemingly
out of town only to find out that
there was just an open area
before I would reach the shopping
facilities, gas station, and
restaurant businesses. Once I
refreshed my moto and myself I headed south on the paved NV225 towards Wild Horse Reservoir.
It takes about forty-five minutes to get from Owyhee through the canyon to the Wild Horse Dam and
then to the reservoir that spreads out once outside of the canyon that houses the Dam.
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Tuscarora-Owyhee Dual-Sport Ride Cont..
VOLUME 25, ISSUE 3
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Tuscarora-Owyhee Dual-Sport Ride Cont..
The road curves around the east side of the reservoir and then heads back due south. After I
passed by the south end of the reservoir I found the designed opening in the fence and FR473, the
dirt road that at times seemed more like double-track, that headed southwest across the flat to the
Independence Mountain range. The road was easily negotiated, but it gave me some time to think
about what it would be like riding up over the mountains. However, as I reached the mountain road
and headed up the hill my anxiousness was exchanged for joy as I realized that my ride through the
mountains was going to be a great deal of fun on an easily navigated dirt road, with beautiful
forested scenery and ultimately an expansive vista from the summit.
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Tuscarora-Owyhee Dual-Sport Ride Cont..
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Tuscarora-Owyhee Dual-Sport Ride Cont..
As I rode down from the summit I again encountered forested areas that led right into the Jack
Creek Campground area and continued almost until I again reached the gravel portion of NV226 at
Jack Creek. I rode south on NV226 until I again reached paved road and then continued on into
Tuscarora. Although it is only about ninety miles from Wild Horse Reservoir to Elko via the route
that I took, it would take about three hours to complete.
I completed the Tuscarora to Owyhee – Wild Horse – Jack Creek back to Tuscarora in about four
hours. If you tack on the hour ride each way from Elko to Tuscarora the total loop ride from Elko
would be about six hours. Also, the roads would easily allow for riding two up.
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VOLUME 25, ISSUE 3
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Upcoming Rides and Events Cont...
Get Aqquainted with Gravel Ride March 8:Meet at McDonald’s, 9725 Pyramid
Way, Sparks, NV just north of the intersection of Eagle Canyon/La Posada. Time: 8:30
am to 9:00 am, gather for coffee and breakfast. 9:00am Rider orientation and discussion. 10:00am Ride out to Winnemucca Ranch Road. 10:30am-2:00pm Training and
riding.
Monday Breakfast Ride March 16: Meet at Starbucks on Mt. Rose highway at Wedge
Parkway at 9:00am. Group decides where to ride. Back in Reno about noon.
President’s Ride April 11: Markleeville. Mark your calendars and stay tuned for
details! This is a fun ride with lots of curves and a great lunch!
April 26: Location TBD for a GS ride.
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Join High Beemers M/C Today!