Apparently - you aren't suppose to ride the trails when the gates are shut. But, the trail I was on was not behind the gate. It apparently doesn't matter though. If you see closed gates you can't ride the trails (I learned that today). BUT - here's the loophole that saved me (and the fact that I wasn't carrying any narcotics). If the gates are shut, only street legal bikes can be on the trails - and both my DR and RR are. I find that an odd rule/law. If the gates are closed, it is because there is too much water on the trails in their opinion. So I figure they don't want the ATV and dirt bikes rutting up the trails.
There was a lot of water on the trails yesterday. And there is always a lot of deep sand! - I ended up having to turn back on this trail where I lost SPOT.
Notice "Vera" - she's a K-9 dog working for the kind officer in the above picture.
The Officer told me that if she finds something she will scratch the paint off my bike trying to get to the "find". I've heard these narcotics dogs can tear a car apart trying to get to the drugs. Great. Good smart dogs. But my bike doesn't have anything on it, so if she scratches it - I'm going to be really pissed. (I had a small pocket camera on me - getting 'action' photos)
I think her nose got a little too close to the cylinder heads and exhaust. She prefers to work cars rather than motorcycles.
"She seems to be losing interest, Sir." (I didn't actually say that to him. I just sort of stayed quiet hoping Vera truly knew what she was doing and wouldn't make a mistake about me or my bike..........)
Nope, nada, nothin'..... no narcotics. I'm free to go.
So I told him why I was out there - to look for SPOT. That interested him. He took down my information in case someone turns in SPOT to their lost and found. I spent another couple of hours looking for SPOT, but never found him. He must have fallen off and either a) landed face down which means he can't pick up satellite anymore, or b) someone found him and turned him off.
He sends out signals every 10 minutes and I have the coordinates of his last signal. It was on the trail. I walked/rode ten minutes past that point, backtracking, and searching everywhere - even in the puddles, and could not find him anywhere. So, I'm going to give it a few days and see if anyone turns him in. He is registered to me, so they could not use him even if they tried. If he doesn't show up - I'll have to get another because I had become pretty dependent on him.
I suggest they make these units so that when they fall, they always land face up. But they would probably suggest I secure SPOT better if I'm riding trails. That would no doubt be an easier solution.
Hopefully Mr. Spot will turn up soon. 
