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2006-07-03 Hot Weather WFO Training Ride - Central CA dry, hot, brown..

...GREAT RIDE!

Decided I need to get my ass in WFO shape as I won't be getting a new saddle for the 06 until after WFO. Hmm. Why not make a heat run, mid day, on one of the hottest days we've had yet? Find out how well that mesh TourMaster jacket works, how much water is really needed, how much heat boils off the engine, see if I can stand it. Nothing like a solo run.

What started out as an 'exercise' ride turned out to be totally freakin' bitchen. The route was:
101 south from Atascadero, CA to 166 E (Santa Maria)
166 east to 33, Maricopa
33 to Taft
33 to 58 back home to Creston. About 170 miles.

On 166, just east of Santa Maria, I closed on a Harley guy. Not sure what kind of HD, but it had bags and a fairing. I was very suprised that he was willing (and capable) of running with me at well over the limit, one-cough-cough+ for miles on end. We stopped at New Cuyama for water, his 05 HD had 62k plus miles on it. Definately a rider. Destination for the night, Lancaster. Tempeature in the high 90's.

For those of you who live elsewhere, Maricopa/Taft is hot hot hot, brown, oil fields, not very pretty to look at.. Some would call it down right ugly. Not me. I noticed that all most all the oil fields, long dormant, are now back and pumping. The cost of oil has made it lucrative to get what they can now. Temperatures in the mid 100's, as indicated on the fjr.

The best part of the trip - hooked up with a white Porsche on hiway 58 / 33 junction. Hiway 58 is a twisty curvy, roller coaster rode and the Porsche driver was good; he maintained the lane, did very little braking, was running the PACE in the Porsche. It was fun tagging with him. After about 25 miles, he waved me alongside and yelled 'You Lead' so I did... ran it up to well, one-turdy-cough-cough and he was right there with me, but running a respectable distance should I encounter trouble. Truly a good cage driver! That P car sounded sweet too...

Funny how some rides, when they really shoud be tortue, turn out to be freaking great and some of the best planned great rides turn out the other way!

Whoo-Freaking-Whoo for me! smiley

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