2010-06-13 H I G H L A N D E R visits the Hondarosa!

 H I G H L A N D E R visits the Hondarosa!  

Posted 14 June 2010 - 06:48 AM

Saturday evening, just home after partying with a neighbor bud's 50th, get the munchies for some popcorn, damn, nothing, maybe in the camper?

In the camper, rummaging around, hear a sound. WTFO, I know I've had a brew or two.. but could it really be, no, no freaking way...

..YES! It's my bud Highlander! He had several days for R&R so took off on the DL to explore. Found himself at Yosemite and thought "DCarver lives off 41 somewhere, I'll go rattle his cage".

So, after a few tall tales and adult beverages around the campfire Higlander headed to the Host hotel and me to la casa.

Next morning was waaay too early..

Highlander had time, so a route sprang to mind..

Getting ready.

As some of you know, Highlander and TwoWheelNut were tight. After Tim's death, Highlander kind of, well, needed some time is probably the best way I can word this. Still, somehow, we needed to have both Highlanders DL and Wabs (Tim's old bike) with a pix of Tim's Memorial Tree.

Foto Op Staging

Highlander staging..

Getting closer..

Almost there...

Damn, this foto stuff is hard work!

..to be continued

Posted 14 June 2010 - 07:51 AM

First stop was for food! Tina's, Santa Margarita, CA is always a good choice cause the route includes 229!
Saturday evening, just home after partying with a neighbor bud's 50th, get the munchies for some popcorn, damn, nothing, maybe in the camper?

Heart Attack on a Plate.

Check out this guy - a volunteer road trash pick up guy, riding a custom bike..

Highlander had never been to Pozo Ca. So off we go!

Just before the saloon is a bitchen dirt road that snakes over the mountains and ends up in Arroyo Grande. I stopped before the saloon to point this road out to Dave so he could mentally mark it for a future trip should he be in the area again.

After deciding to ride that one another day, I said "Let's go to the saloon for a picture". Dave's face went funny, and I thought it a weird reaction.
Crossing the street, I pulled Wabs up in front of the saloon for the foto opp and start removing my gloves and helmet.

Dave comes riding up, and in a no uncertain tone voice says

- "Doode, I ain't drinking no pitcher of beer at 10 AM"

Jeesh, no wonder he looked funny earlier. I found myself laughing at this for the remainder of the day.

Next destination - Parkfield CA, 'Earthquake Capitol of the World'. Of course, since we're both on mighty WeeStroms, we aint street pussies..

It was such hard work that Highlaner needed some extra energy. Uhh, Dave, just what you doing, son?

Everywhere is hay harvesting time.

Finally, Parkfield. For a Sunday, it was really quiet. Normally the place is hopping.

Sipping on a lemonade and diet Coke, we decided to take the dirt road out of town, northbound. I've never been on it, neither had Dave. Did I mention we ain't no street pussies?

It started as pavement -

Dry stuff everywhere. Fire season already.

Dirt!It was steeper than it looks in the foto.

A sign of things ahead? We weren't worried because A) we had smartly topped our tanks earlier and we're on WeeStroms, not them street pussy FJR's!

The summit.

Road closure? What closure? Hell, there were signs still up saying 'Road impassable due to Water'

..to be continued

Posted 14 June 2010 - 08:25 AM

..Almost there Tyler!

The little road from 198 south to Parkfield was a true pleasure. Kind of goaty, with cow poop everywhere, nice wide corners, and excellent vistas.

Highlander is a much faster rider than me, but all day he was content to eat dust and follow on pavement. I was wondering if he felt OK?

My thoughts about 'fire season' were right on track - we had just missed the bomber...

At 198/25, Dave headed north, I south.

It was truly an unexpected and great day! Seeing Dave again was way cool. He said "I've never just showed up, unannounced, at anyone's house before. Man, I'm glad you were home. Otherwise I was just going to pitch my tent on your lawn over there."

That my friends, is a total compliment!

See you again soon, my friend.

~fini~