Exploring the Backwoods on a URAL Motorcycle

I’m drawn inexorably to the woods and wild places. I always have been. Since I’m retired now I have plenty of time to get out and explore more often than I used to. So what does an old fart like me do with all this time ?

I roam around the woods. The night before I head out, I look at my old USGS topographical maps and see if I can spot anomalies. Mostly old overgrown logging roads or seemingly dead trails seldom used.

Today was such a day. I loaded up my Russian URAL motorcycle with my service dog, Ryland, and we set off to explore. This is the reason I bought the Russian bike to begin with. It’s got 2WD and I can get it into places that I can’t take my Harleys. Besides, it’s an older model that I can beat around the bushes with. It’s not very fast on the paved roads, but it excels in the backwoods.

Today we rolled around on some old logging roads, and crossed a bridge that skirts a bog.

This is the view of the bog from the middle of the bridge.

As we got deeper into the woods the logging roads seemingly ended. I shut off the engine and immediately heard rushing water. A short hike downhill turned up a creek flowing over some rocks. But the sound of water over rocks was louder just a little further downstream.

After climbing down a narrow trough in the hills, I found another small waterfall slightly bigger than the first one. The waterfall is not very big as waterfalls go, but there was a lot of water running through the tiny canyon. The hike to the bottom was pretty steep and rough climbing over and around boulders.

Here’s Ryland perched at the top of the small waterfall.

Being a yellow Lab, of course I can’t keep her from getting wet. She must have crossed the creek numerous times until she was completely soaked.

But thats OK. The URAL ain’t a show bike, and the floorboard is ideal for a soaked pooch. I have drain holes in the bottom of the hack anyway. By the time we got out of the woods and back to pavement again, she was fairly dry.