NORTH OF STEAMBOAT SPRINGS COLORADO
Swamp is a serious adventurer who’s ridden all over the Americas on dual sport bikes. Here’s the intro his latest “Mexico to Canada: Solo on the Continental Divide” with the Coyote Saddlebag, Zigzag Handlebar Bag and Pronghorn Straps:
“After having one of my motorcycles confiscated by a band of illiterate, Ecuadorian customs officials in early July 2014. I returned home and started piddling around with my 2007 BMW G650 X Challenge. Changing the oil, oil filter, air filter; installing new tires and some other modifications and tweaks. The bike had previously received no love from me. I just rode it, never washed it, rarely changed the oil, never changed the filters. Every time I rode it I would try to rag the motor out. It never complained. Never boiled over. Never leaked. Anything.
Swamp keeping it the “Go Light, Go Fast, Go Far” way, solo on the Continental Divide Trail
I usually like white bikes but the paint on THIS one (yes, its paint not just white plastics) always bothered me so I sanded the plastics down and put a few coats of green paint on it. The bike seemed to say ?Jeez, finally!? I let it set for a few weeks. Only riding it down to the river a few times to go fishing.
On July 20th I woke up, made coffee and walked outside. It was foggy; pretty thick. ?Ya, I think I?m going to ride the Continental Divide?.
New Mexico mud
Five days later, July 25th both the X-Challenge and I were riding through the border town of El Paso Texas then working our way into New Mexico where we would meet up with the Continental Divide trail near Hurley/ Silver City. As far as planning and preparations went, well; I ?prepared? for maybe two hours. I had some containers for extra gasoline, one pair of socks, one pair of underwear (wearing both ), a rain jacket, batteries, flash light, small air compressor, some tools, a knife, a lighter, harmonica, protein bars, a trash bag and a camping rig the size of a football. Basically the same shit I?ve carried with me for eight or nine years now.”
El Vado Reservoir
“I LOST MY TAG SOMEWHERE ON THE WAY TO CUBA NEW MEXICO. THE TAG IS A BARBER MOTORSPORTS TAG THAT HAS ?SWAMP? AS THE NUMBER. IF YOU FIND IT SEND ME AN EMAIL: SWAMP@ENDUROEARTH.COM”
Here’s Swamp’s comments about the Giant Loop gear in the conclusion of his ride report:
“Giant Loop Coyote bag (woocommerce-58923-827388.cloudwaysapps.com) : I?ve had this bag for a few years now and its still holding up despite having the hell beat out of it. The Giant Loop guys have treated me well and have always answered the phone and returned my calls and e-mails. Their customer service is excellent and I believe that their products are excellent. The bag is just that, a bag. Put whatever you can fit in it, its not complicated. On this ride I lashed an extra 1/2 gallon of gas to the top of the bag with no problems using a set of pronghorn straps. The Coyote is the perfect size for this ride.. however I found it strange that I rode The American Flesh Eater Route from California to Alabama (1 month ride) using the smallest giant loop bag (the mojavi) but used a larger bag for this ride.”
“Also, the Pronghorn Straps are friggin’ sweet! Probably my favorite “new thingys” for the bike lately.”
End of the Trail