We left Battle at 6am, and to try to reduce fuel stops, strapped a 5 gallon tank to the KTM;
The initial going was single track, which was awesome fun, and we even managed tp keep up a fairly respectable average speed;
Refueling took place after 120 miles, at the summit of the highest peak in the area ;
We were easily on schedule - averaging 40mph :-)
Then a minor problem, whihc was due to turn into a major issue !
The KTM suffered a rear puncture - I had a puncture repair kit., but no spare tube - we had forgotten to pack it. On initial inspection, the tube had actually shredded ! So we had to options; leave the bike where it was, or try to ride it to the nearest road (which was about 25 miles away).
Here is a video of the ride to the road.
After about 10 miles, all was going well, and we even managed to stumble across a rancher, who could confirm that we were heading in the correct direction to the nearest road - I had a GPS direction for the road, but no detail of the trails !
The trail towards the road took us over windy gap - which offered panoramic views of the area;
We had almost reached the road (still in the middle of nowhere) when the KTM finally had enough of riding on a flat rear tyre;
From here we tried to phone Caroline, who was waiting for us at Denio Junction - 70 odd miles away (by trail). - but there was limited cell coverage.
We decided to try to get to the nearest town , 2-up on the XR !
We arrived at McDermitt - which for a town had a casino (it is Nevada), a fuel station, and a shop;
We couldn't phone Caroline directly ( as she had not phone service), so we tried to get the phone number for the fuel station she was waiting at - directory enquiryies had not numbers for a gas station, an airfield, a motel, or any shop in Denio Junction, where she was waiting !!
We then resorted to our backup plan - phone Teresa (in Arizona) and let her work her magic !!! She managed to obtain a phone number for Denio Junction gas station, and the owners there tracked Caroline down (who was owl spotting ! and chatting to some local minors!).
Caroline then set off for McDermitt - some 150 miles by road.
We consoled our selves in the local snack shop :-)
Whilst waiting, Doug, who's bike we had seen the night before, and we suspected was doing the transam trail, showed up at the fuel station;
Caroline arrived within 1.5 hours, so we set off back to collect the KTM, and swap Phil onto one of the motocross bikes.
We eventually left McDermitt at 3:30, and had the remaining 20 miles by road to McDermitt, and 50 miles by trail to Denio Junction.
We had strapped the 2 gallon tank to the XR, but on the trail (with the bumps) it kept falling off the back, whih meant we had to keep stopping to strap it back on. It was also positioned so that it stopped me sitting back to read the GPS and roadbook - which meant it was difficult to navigate.
We must have made a couple of wrong turnings in this spaghetti junction of trails and cattle tracks, as we eventually ended up on this tiny cattle track beside a river, with the GPS track the other side of the rocky hill. None of the roadbook directions were making any sense - so last resort - out with the maps !!
I figured where we were, and tried to turn off to try to get back to the trail, which worked surprisingly well :-)
After a few more miles, we caught up with Doug - who had been lost for over an hour !
We rode the last few miles together to Denio - arriving after 6:30 - over 3 hours for 50 odd miles !!
By this time Caroline was back at Denio, and had made friends with enough of the guests and locals, that we attracted a welcoming committee :-)
She had even managed to acquire the last remaning room at the motel - that the 4 of us could squeeze into.
Denio Junction is an odd little place - it's the only property for miles. It is an airfield, a fuel station, a shop, a bar and a motel , all rolled into one. A fantastic, and very friendly place. We were made to feel incredibly welcome here;
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