Crushing Baby Heads

A different type of ADV

No. 44

After 17 years of daily-commuting year-round on motorcycles, I finally decided to buy myself a truck. I bought a 2005 Ford F-350 with a V10, 6.8L Triton engine.

I still have my bike(s) and I promise this won’t turn into a blog page about my truck.

Side-note, my goals is to sell my 1994 XR650L and buy a small displacement dirtbike — preferably a 300cc 2-stroke.

This was my first adventure in the new truck — it was to cut down a Christmas Tree in Mount Hood National Forest.

This was my final adventure of the year (12/31/2025). I decided to take the truck, instead of my bike — and I’m ok with that decision.

A few days after buying my truck, I found this color-matched camper shell. Also, I think I might replace those large running boards with something more streamline.

Hot coffee & cold trails

No. 43

I received an Instagram DM from someone I’ve never met saying they recently bought a DR650 and wanted to hit some trails. So after a few texts, we decided to make that happen.

On our way to meet up, Sam called and told me his rear tire was flat and he was gonna head home to make the repair. I decided to meet him at his house while he quickly swapped out the tire.

Sam got his tire situated and we headed West, to Tillamook State Forest. But first, a quick coffee stop in North Plains, OR. We also filled up a few thermoses with hot coffee since it was 37° and misty.

We randomly bumped into Jonas in Tillamook. I first met him on a dirt trail in Southeast Oregon, at The Unrally (Blog Post No. 30)

We were in the middle of riding a tight, twistie, muddy single-track when we dropped into this Lord of the Rings lookin’ movie set.

Not a long way down, but it still would’ve sucked.

I went around this closed gate and my tires slipped out. It’s hard to see in this photo, but my bike was balancing on the skid plate — both wheels were off the ground.

Gotta air up before hittin’ the pavement back home.

Meeting random people from social media sounds weird I suppose, but I’ve had nothing but good luck so far. And Sam was nothing short of that — another friend made!

🟦 Military. 🟢 Quarry. 🟦 Julies. 🟢Powerline.

Slippery single-track

No. 42

This was a great day-ride (200+ miles). There’s not much story to add to these photos.

I came across this old Dodge Coronet nestled between some trees.

Rain season has official begun in the Pacific Northwest.

Nestucca River is 53 miles long and flows into the Pacific Ocean.

Halfway through the ride was this great spot for lunch. This was a perfect place to stretch my legs and warm my body — it was 48° out.

I wonder if I can upload my GPX Tracks for others to use — this was a fun one.

First current-day post

No. 41

Blaine and I met at Umtanum Creek Campground in Ellensburg, WA on Wednesday night. Thursday morning we headed to Washington-BDR Section 3, where I lightly “guided” my bike down on the pavement — no damage at all, I didn’t even fall. I quickly picked my bike up and without thinking, I lifted with my back instead of my knees… I felt a sharp pain… and then a pop! My back was fucked from that moment on! It got worse as the day(s) went on; agony with every rock, whoop, bump and body movement.

We met Sebastian and Todd on the trail. They were coming from the Alcan-5000, up in Alaska.

Blaine’s Ducati Multistrada taking a nap.

Later on Blaine realized his shift lever was worse than he originally thought.

Amazing views on this route, although there was lots of smoke in the air from nearby forest fires.

This road-washout was a lot of fun — it was like a ride at an amusement park!

14 miles to a closed trail… 14 miles back.

I was in pain and started to get the “sloppy fatigue” feeling when I slammed my left handguard into this gate which shoved my bike to the ground (again, I didn’t fall). Blaine was nice enough to lift my bike up since I couldn’t. I sat on the bike… put my hands on the handlebars… aaaand I seen my handlebars were pretty fuckin’ bent!

Unedited. Great lighting from a nearby fire.

The original plan was to meet up Wednesday night. Ride WA-BDR Sections 3, 4, 5 and 6 to the Canadian border, and also hike to Colchuck Lake. Our buddy Mike met us in Leavenworth Thursday evening before heading to a great disperse camp site that Blaine knew of.

Before heading to camp, Blaine purposely slammed my front wheel into a curb enough times to straighten my wheel. After reassessing my “handlebar” issue, we realized the handlebars were fine, but my front wheel was crooked — hence the curb slamming.

I woke up Friday morning and was feeling miserable! I was in pain and slept like shit, plus my body was all tense from the cold night. There was no way I was gonna be able to hike to Colchuck Lake with Blaine and Mike. Even the idea of trail-riding gave me pain. So to my better judgment, I decided to throw in the towel and ride home solo (Blaine and Mike hiked to Colchuck Lake and then continued riding the BDR).

Biscuit sandwich and a Cortado from Argonauts, in Leavenworth.

Quick caffeine break at Espresso Chalet.

I rode Scenic Highway 2 from Leavenworth to Monroe, stopping at Espresso Chalet for a Chai Latte. I gassed up in Monroe and then rode 235 miles home, without stopping — which isn’t normally a big deal — but it sure is when you’re in pain and have a slight handlebar wobble from the frontend being fucked.

With all that being said… I had a GREAT time! It’s always fun hanging out with Blaine and Mike, and Section 3 had lots of breathtaking views. Sadly, this was probably my last camping trip of the year, and it got cut short!

Colchuck Lake. Not my photo for obvious reasons.

Here’s a photo of Mike and Blaine on Section 4

ALL CAUGHT UP

No. 40

My name is Rob, and I love motorcycles!

I started this Blog Page about two years into owning my Tenere, so every post prior to this one is playing catch up.

I got tired of the Social Media bullshit and decided to take a hiatus from it. Since I’m a visual person, I still felt a need for a creative outlet. I like the old school concept of a Blog Page; no followers, no comments, no likes, no ads, no Ai, no hidden agendas, no bullshit… just simply a photo journal of my motorcycle adventures.

No. 39

(Catching up, 2025)

Here’s my current tool kit. My tire spoons, axle socket and front tube are under my seat.

No. 38

(Catching up, 2025)

Monthly meetup at TeriyakiMoto in Beaverton

No. 37

(Catching up, 2025)

I randomly bumped into my buddy Eric on the trail.

Solo trip to High Rock, in Mount Hood National Forest. Maybe a bold statement, but this might be my new favorite local trail. It has hardpack, baby-heads, large ruts, two deep water crossings, a huge road washout, an amazing view, and then a scenic ride home.