The Portland Trip - Part 2

I have to admit that I probably enjoyed photographing the event more than just spectating. It was a combination of both really. The speeds at which these guys flew by made them incredibly difficult to capture.

Rossi made a great push at the end and halved the distance between Pedrosa.

And the results.

In between the races I spent a lot of time with the neighboring campsite who were very generous and hospitable. This fellow here is named Dirk. Nine days ago he was in El Salvador and he decided to blaze a trail to Laguna Seca to see MotoGP. He recently spent 3 months in Central and South America on his KLR. The very trip I plan on doing, and on the same bike! So I talked his ear off and he was a huge inspiration and comfort to my anxieties about the KLR. In that suave German accent he said, “Zee KLR…she can…she can do anything…” and I was convinced. Check out his trip at Dirk’s Motorcycle Diaries.

Rossi was a favorite of mine to capture some shots.

The AMA Daytona Superbike races followed the MotoGP race. The 28 bikes filled up the corkscrew.

A three bike crash happened just at the end of the corkscrew (foreground). I managed to get it all on video (more on that later).

It’s amazing how tightly grouped they can get.

These guys were slower than the MotoGP guys so I got some closer shots.

A technique I’ve never had to use before: Following the subject so that it is crisp and the background blurry.

Chasing eachother on the exit of the corkscrew.

This is the shot that made the hours of shooting all worthwhile for me. The sparks trailing the bike screams, “I’ve giv’n her all she’s got captain, an’ I canna give her no more!”

Back to touring! It was time to head north to Portland. I crossed over the Golden Gate.

The KLR in her natural habitat. Minutes later I dropped her for the first time. It wasn’t too difficult to right her, but with a full tank of gas it might have been another story.

A couple of those magical minutes before sunset.

The next day I reached the end of California Highway 1. An all around great experience.

At the sight of this crazy crap on the side of the road I slammed on the breaks for a chance to take a pic of “big stuff”.

Passing through the red woods. A humbling moment.

Finally made it to Oregon!

The Douglas Firs stretched on endlessly, creating a kind of tunnel vision down those long expanses of road.

I spent a couple days with my friend Danny. I hadn’t realized it had been over two years since we last saw each other. I had a great time. He showed me around his neighborhood that I was very envious of and I got to meet a lot of great people. Oh and we saw the M. C. Escher exhibit at the Portland Art Museum that blew me away. Was sad to leave, but I’m sure our paths will cross again soon.