Getting ready for the next trip here at the end of next week, heading back to one of my favorite riding spots for a big hare scramble/race event, and where I first took this thing for memorial day up in northern AZ, the Cinders! Lots of awesome riding, dispersed camping, massive hills, nice weather and breezes, ponderosa pines, and they finally lifted the fire bans so we can finally have a proper fire! I wont lie however that I am a little nervous about this trip in terms of rain, we are in the middle of Monsoon season here in AZ, where daily thunderstorms and heavy downpours can occur all over the state, so I'm hoping this thing will remain as water tight as it can, I'm sure it will, but it's still a concern of mine.
The Skamper has really only gotten small additions/mods to it, but they should make a big difference, I got everything that I wanted to get done for this trip, next I'd like to figure out a table and screen door, and maybe,
maybe if I'm feeling up to it, tackling the canvas screens, but I may just wait on that and just keep using it the way it is until I can get a new canvas.
Really I've been spending most of time prepping mine and my friends bikes, being a mechanic kind of automatically makes me the designated repairman of all friends machines, but I enjoy it so its all good.
Got me one of these cheapy ebay clock/weather stations, it even has a lil emoji face for "comfort level", I guess it doesn't like my garage too much.
Also wired up a patio light. I would have liked to retain the original patio light/grab handle assy, but like so many Skampers I've seen, the lens is long gone, and I didn't really have any luck find a replacement, so I made a trip once again on over to eBay and grabbed me one of these led units, nice and bright, and came with an amber lens to help keep the bugs down.
Since I'm here posting, here's some shots of the bike prep going on for those who also share a motorcycle passion. My bike, a 1997 Yamaha WR250, just got its internals all refreshed, new top and bottom end to keep her going in all her two stroke goodness, and some slick engine covers to boot! Having a small issue with it leaking coolant right now, but I should have it sorted for this event, I have the raptor as a backup, but still, two wheels are best!
This bike has been really good to me, and I take care of it religiously, the guy at the crank rebuild shop told me the crank was in great shape, but since the bike is over 20 years old and I don't know when it was rebuilt last, and it being a bit of rare machine that they don't make crank kits for it anymore, it was time to get it taken care of. Better to do it now in the "off season", as winter is dune and desert riding time where I'm out riding almost every weekend, rather then once or twice a month in the summer.
Also had to figure out my buddies 00 YZ250 shifting issue, a tear down and new shift rod later and hes ready to rip along with me.
And finally, everyone likes a bit of carnage don't they? Another buddy brought me his 97 Polaris Sport 400 quad, saying it lost all power on him and died. It still cranked which was a good sign, however it cranked too fast/smooth for my liking. A compression test leading to low numbers and a tear down of the top end reveled that his piston skirt had blown apart in several areas. Surprisingly there was no damage to the bottom end, although I have no idea where the rest of that piston went lol. Waiting on the machine shop to bore the jug out a bit, once I get it back he should be ready to join us.
I know this is a camper forum, but in my eyes camping in riding go hand in hand!
