Wheatie's Epic 2011 Ride

Time for another entry...

Part1 – Heading Out: Beginnings, and the Southwest…Day 1 to Day 4 (Wheaton to Goleta) - continued

Day 3 – 16 May, Monday, Tropic, UT to Beatty, NV, about 375 miles.

Well, Day 3 dawned and we were just outside of Bryce Canyon National Park.

The surrounding residences are zoned a little differently than we have in Wheaton…my sleepy eyes thought at first that this was a jackass for Bust, so I took a picture. But a quick second peek shows that in fact it is a horse… sorry Bust.

I seemed to be extra pokey getting my stuff together that morning. Usually on this trip, when Karl and I were riding by ourselves and doing plenty of miles, we would have coffee at the motel, then head down the road for breakfast a couple hours later. But this morning we ate breakfast before we headed out on the road. The nearby restaurant was owned by the owners of the motel where we stayed, so you could either get a free pancake breakfast or a discount on their other breakfasts. We enjoyed a nice full breakfast. We headed out late at about 9:45am.

We headed over to Bryce. I got the annual pass at the gate after the ranger wouldn’t let me in on Karl’s pass. We had a number of National Parks to ride through on this trip and I will be using it later this year as well during a family trip to the Smokies.

I forgot one thing from yesterday, Day 2. Hell’s Backbone Bridge…HOLY CRAP !!!

I decided to take the short recon tour of Bryce and just head over to Bryce point. I’ve got to get back here with Louanne…she’s been raving about this area since we met three decades ago. After visiting, I now see why she raved so much about it. I’ve GOT to get back here…

The beauty was staggering...

Got wood?

Beautiful...

Karl and I loved this place...

I'm definitely coming back here on a tour of the southwest sometime so I can spend an extended time here exploring the park with Louanne.

After Bryce we headed west and south through Zion NP. Another great place to visit right next to Bryce…

Karl always seems to have a smile on his face, never seems ruffled or grumpy, always takes life as it comes. I think he is happy for another smoke break for one of his specialty cigars...

There was a pretty blue jay type of bird...just caught a glimpse of him as he left...

As we headed west and down the canyon walls via switchbacks into the floor of the canyon, we followed a car with Georgia plates…I think that guy was even more scared of heights than I am in a car. 5-10mph all the way down…never took his foot off the brakes…not once. Poor guy. I can just hear the conversation in that car on the way down….”I’m NEVER…I mean NEVER ever coming back here…ever again, you hear me Mabel?!” 

After Zion, we decided to bail on the planned route for the day and take the Interstate route past Las Vegas and then up north to Beatty, NV. We had been getting in late the first two days and decided we wanted to get in earlier that night. Also, though it wasn’t rainy, it ended up being very windy. It seems that Utah and Nevada are always very windy.

I had great fun following Karl on the Interstate that runs through the NW corner of AZ…that was fun at FJR speeds! 

…and NO, we did not stop to gamble in Lost Wages or visit those places of ill repute Beemerdons and exskibum were exclaiming about in the Spot Tracker thread. On the highway north from Las Vegas, I enjoyed the vistas of distant mountain ridges…but the Nevada land close-up was not pretty at all. Ugly in fact. Just seemed to be a bunch of mud/dirt. However, my view of Nevada would change on the way home as we passed it by on Hwy 50 later in the trip.

We did check in to Beatty at a decent hour, then walked over to the Casino next door for dinner. Food wasn’t great…but it was within walking distance.

I don’t see the appeal of casinos myself…but somebody must…they seem to stay in business.

Day 4 – 17 May, Tuesday, Beatty, NV to Goleta/Buellton, Ca about 515 miles.

Woke up and got going early after some coffee at the next door nut and candy store that was crazy big. We took some early morning pictures as we lounged in the sun sipping the StarBucks. Unfortunately my photos didn’t turn out due to operator error…sorry Karl.

We headed north for awhile, then headed west on 267 towards Death Valley NP.

I loved the twisting road as we headed down the east entrance into the Valley. Karl was leading and we stopped in Scotty’s Castle. He wanted to show me it, and it was a good time for a bathroom break. Nobody, I mean nobody was in the parking lot that early in the morning, and we were just stopping a short while anyways, so I parked my FJR for an easy exit.

I got my helmet off and noticed the groundskeeper on the mower was stopped right next to me and seemed to be staring at me or us for some reason. I had no idea what his deal was, so I just shrugged it off and walked towards the Castle and taking pictures as Karl told me a little bit about it. I had already read some about it while reading Death Valley Daze RRs on the Forum.

So as we are walking, I noticed a park ranger in his regulation shorts is saying something to me, so I listen up…”Hey, which one of you guys own the silver motorcycle? It appears to be parked in such a way to that cars might not want park in between your bikes…could you move it?”

I turned around and looked at the empty parking lot with the two bikes and assumed this guy was making a joke. I then looked at him and realized that he was serious.  “oh…parking Nazi I see…” ;-) So I told him that we were just stopping in to use the bathroom and would be gone in just a few minutes. He didn’t say anything…but I know he WANTED to! 

We did get him to take picture of us, though…so he must not have been too upset. (He could have been twitching though when I wasn’t looking.)

The ranger’s photo of us

Took some pictures of the palm trees cuz Louanne loves palm trees,

...took some of the Castle. What a neat place..but weird. Just weird history...

some cactus...

We decided with the miles we had to do, that we would just head west, and not south into the main spur of the park.

sand dune…

Took photos at Stovepipe Wells, where we had a short break…

It was fracken hot in Stovepipe Wells…it was 62 degrees. That’s pretty hot for mid May doncha think? Glad I brought the MiraCool vest, otherwise I would have passed out from the heat. Those vests kept the weather nice and cool and temperate everywhere we rode in California. Definitely a good investment…thanks for the recco guys. 

We had a breakfast buffet at bar in Panamint Springs…the only place in town…heck, it may have BEEN the town.

Saw some French speaking tourists/campers/college age juveniles cross the highway from the campground to the bar and generally started acting like jackasses. We kept our eye on them as they seemed to hang out around my bike a little too much for my liking. I saw one of them almost get his ass kicked by a guy when he evidently said something a little too familiar to the guy’s wife as they were walking by. That guy turned right around and got right down in that guy’s face and started yelling. You didn’t need an interpreter to understand that guy’s emotion. The jackass was a little more subdued after that incident.

After we gassed up at the gas station next door for over $5/gal, we headed west out the west entrance to the park. WOW. I love that west side! Switchbacks galore with great views over the drop-offs below.

I am following Karl out of the valley and concentrating hard on the turns here as you really don’t want to make a mistake here when all of a sudden this noise just grows in my helmet….WTF!!! I turn around to see what’s making that racket and to see if I am about to get run over, when I see it…an F-18 tearing across the sky to our left…whew. Thought I was gonna die there for a second. Even though Bugnatr warned us about it, it still surprised me. China Lake Naval Air Weapons Station is just south and west of DV.

Well, after that excitement getting out of Death Valley, we headed west to 395 south (windy as all get out) and then took 178 west. Beautiful ranchland areas…then into the Kern River area…WOW. Heading west on that part of 178 was a highlight of the day…WOW. That’s all I can say.

We took that road west into Bakersfield. It looked like we were finally going to get that rain that had been called for that day. Looked like the rain was also hanging out in the coastal mountains. I called my dad from Maricopa…we were running later than we thought we would be. I had hoped to ride 33 down to Ojai…but with us being late and it storming on the mountain and the gps saying 166 to 101 being the faster way to Goleta…we took 166. Pretty darn good sweeper road. Sorry to miss 33…have to do that some other time…if I ever pass this way again.

Airboss and I separated on 101 as he headed towards his motel in Buellton. I continued south and east along the ocean…got to my dad’s place about an hour later than I thought. Sorry dad.

My dad and his beautiful, lovely wife Joann that he married after my mom died had made special arrangements to take me out for dinner. I felt especially bad about messing that up. But Joann shrugged it off as if it was nothing. They ordered carry out from Outback Steakhouse. It was great food…we got more time to talk and catch up in their home while eating dinner there.

I got to meet one of Joann’s daughters for the first time. Lori's from the Bay area and was in town visiting friends and had waited there special until I came, which I thought was really nice. It was nice to meet and visit with a “sister” I never knew I had. I'm sorry that I didn't get a picture of me with her. Maybe dad has one that I can lift and use in this report.

Orange Tree in the yard behind theirs

Some pictures of me when I was growing up and when I had a very young family

Dad, it was great to be with you…and you too Joann. You are so good for my dad.

For next time...Next up…Part 2 – The Central Kali crazies…the FJRForum craziness begins.

2011 Kali Trip – Wheaton and Airboss do Kalifornia –

Sorry about the long delay between installments. I know the longer time passes, this RR gets more irrelevant…but I just need time between writing installments to recharge. Believe or not, doing this writing takes a lot out of me…I am not cut out for writing.

Now for the next day's RR installment…

Part4 – Norcal Roads – You gotta be freaking kidding me, (Days 9, 10 & 11), 22, 23 and 24 May

22 May (Day 9)

Well, this morning had a different feel to it. Kind of a day of transition…some of the south and central Kali riders were turning and heading south today. I had been riding with Fairlaner, Tyler, Beemerdons, et al…for a couple days…they were heading back today. Karl and I were heading north to new areas of Kali…with a new ride leader – Rich/exskibum.

I was kind of distracted that morning, as I was out checking out the bike, tires, fluids, etc…I saw on the sight glass that my oil was down at the bottom of the sight glass. Not good. Sunday. Northern Kali along the coast. It had been a little bit low the day before…but not this low. Karl says I haven't been burning it. It might be that middle engine shaft seal blowing oil by…in any event, I had to get oil from somewhere…and quick. We had plenty of miles to go that day and I didn't want to be late for KSU for my new ride leader. I went down to the motel breakfast area and quickly ate a little breakfast. I talked to MM a little bit about where I might find some oil, I talked to others as well. I went out the registration door and I see Beemerdons and Brodie on their bikes about to launch for points south. I asked in desperation if either of them might have some oil I could borrow. Beemerdons, bless his Irish heart, had some as a backup for Lucy Liu (his FJR) and said sure, I could have what he had. He gave Lucy Liu a splash and gave me the rest. THANKS Beemerdons!!!!!! You made a huge difference in this trip with your generosity…got my pulse back to normal.

I didn't know who all was going up north with us. As it turned out, Tyler, Erin, and CAJW +wifey were running with us that morning along the coast and heading inland on Skaggs Springs Rd. After that, they would turn south, and we would continue north. The northbound crew was Rich/exskibum with his GF Elizabeth, RussPerry, Karl and I.

After I topped off at the local station, I snapped this photo…Tippy Hedren…ah yes…

Once the crew was all set, we headed up HWY 1. What a glorious Highway. A bit brisk, but clear, not foggy…so we were GOOD. Others have much better photos, but I took a few photos as well as we headed up the coast…

We met up at Stewart's Point for a short break and photos. We then headed east across 1 on Skaggs…Rich in the lead, I was second, but I waved CAJW ahead as I was on an unfamiliar road and didn't want to hold anybody up. It was a neat beautiful goaty road at first. Something about goaty roads that make me feel like I'm exploring…I don't know why. I just love 'em. So were twisting and winding on this road for awhile, then all of a sudden we get to …a…RACETRACK???? What is this?? Who built this sucker???

Enough questions, it's time to move…people are leaving me in the dust! YAHOO!! I am moving along pretty good…or so I thought. Anyways, I am having a blast!

I get into a corner and am seeing that my bike is not set up to keep the pace I am going, I did not adjust the suspension…I was still in sightseeing mode…soft rear shock, and stiff front forks which I did not get dialed in before the trip (or during the trip..my bad)…in any event the front tire feels light and not feeling planted…so I back it off a tad. I wave Russ around so he can have some fun…he is a good rider and has fun chasing amazing supersmooth Rich/Elizabeth. I am such an average rider, being left in the dust by a 2-upper! 

At the east end of Skaggs Springs Rd, I see Rich, Russ parked to the right…so I pull up behind them. With my helmet on, I am just exclaiming over and over…"Holy Crap…HOLY CRAP. HOLY CRAAAAP!!!!" I hear laughter in the background…I now realize others heard my inner thoughts…and I laugh, too.

Well, the cold ocean wind is gone and replaced by inland warmth, so I strip out of my fancy yellow banana rainsuit for awhile. This would be repeated during the day as we jogged inland then out to the coast again.

We said our good-byes to those heading south…until next time. Please let there be a next time. Kali is too fun to only go once.

We had great fun, taking the twisty road out to the coast and then back north on HWY 1. Took some more photos at an overlook…I bet Elizabeth has some great pictures to share…

Rich and Elizabeth on his beautiful blue FJR

The northbound crew Rich/Elizabeth, RussPerry, Karl, and my bike as tail end Charlie…

As we headed up the coast, we saw scene after beautiful scene, rode curve after beautiful curve. Headed inland on 1 as it goes to meet 101. I am going to have to do that again after I get my bike dialed in.

The rest of the trip I kind of backed off the speed a bit…about ¾ of what I usually might do. I should have been good enough to just adjust things on the fly, I did adjust the rear and the front a little bit…but it still never felt right. So I enjoyed things in tourist mode a lot, occasionally wicking it up as much as I felt comfortable with on the bike. I could have asked someone to help..but I didn't. Quite frankly, the days were long and action packed, and I was still having great fun…so why spend other's time to work on that?

I have to admit culpability on something that happened next…"the flyby" past FarWestFastEddie in Garberville. Evidently Eddie had posted on the Forum the night before that he would be waiting for us in Garberville. Karl and I should have let Rich in on Eddie's desire to meet us on the way up to Fortuna…why we didn't, I don't know. That was the big first mistake…not clueing the ride leader into a meetup. I totally forgot about this meetup the day of the ride…oops 

The group was heading northward on 101 and were in a section just south of Garberville when there was a left lane blocker backing several cars up in the left lane. There was a slow right hand lane car actually just slightly ahead of the lane blocker. The gap got just big enough so Rich and Russ slipped through the knot. I slipped in through just as the blocker saw what was happening and decided to close the gap…I just got by, but Karl couldn't. NOW…the blocker has decided to find the pedal on the right and use it. So he is moving up on my rear view mirrors, and I see Karl has moved in behind him and gets past him and Karl pulls up to his previous spot on my six. Now Rich is moving, but just at a good pace…nothing to draw the attention of LEOs. The pickup truck, on the other hand, is continuing to move up on our group…getting closer.

It was about this time that we rounded a slight curve into a clearing…and on the left hand side I notice an FJR in a parking lot…hey that's an FJR! Then I notice the FJR rider waving…nice friendly guy. Then I notice him waving more vigorously…uh…what's going on? Then as the #3 rider, I see him turn around in disgust as our group passes him…I NOW realize that this may be the guy that we were supposed to meet up with. OOPS.

Now, that pickup is getting even closer on Karl's tail and getting my attention. Do we slow down and stop with this jackwaggen on our butts? With Rich not knowing anything of this meetup? Well, the right answer was to stop. Sorry Eddie, I know that I was part of screwing up your day and felt bad about that. Still do. I guess I was hoping that you would try and take off and try to catch us, knowing where we were ending up…oh well, thanks for shaking off that bad episode and having fun with us the next day. I owe you a beer for the next time out there…

The pickup eventually receded in the mirror…I don't know what his bag was, but his behavior definitely changed after we slipped past his little blocking deal that he had going on.

After that little excitement, we headed off to see the Giants. The Redwoods. One of the "must see, must do" things on this trip. Avenue of the Giants…never thought I would ever see them in person.

What was I thinking at this moment? I had thoughts of Orangevale, the iconic picture he took up here. I never met OVale...I wish beyond wish that I had…and that he was still with us in person. Andrew's ride reports were so thoughtful, so good, so perfect. I loved them. I wanted to meet the guy behind those reports…the guy that introduced me to California through his pictures and words. It didn't happen, and I am forever poorer for it.

Well, lost Karl in my rearview mirror…so I stopped. I finally turned around and found him at a wide spot in the road. Rich and Russ were up ahead and figure they would take a break somewhere's and wait for us. We continued north, and then I saw it…. A BIG ONE. I pulled over at a pulloff and stopped the bike…Karl pulled up alongside me. I stopped to take a picture…

Karl took one of me as well

Trees and sky

My FJR in NorCal…I don't know why, but I love this shot. It means something to me.

Karl going…"whoa, they've got some big trees around here."

dufus in yellow banana costume in front of a big tree they don't have around Wheaton

Watering the big tree…it looks like it could use some watering…glad I could help.

Well, after that little interlude, Rich, Elizabeth, and Russ come back for us. They are laughing at me, saying, "you guys are so easy, you stop at the first big tree you see!"  There are plenty more where that one came from. We continued on the Avenue of the Giants up north, big tree after big tree, tunnel of trees, spectacular!

It was getting towards the early evening, so we moved on ahead and got to Fortuna at a decent pace…I spot this guy there at the motel…

FJRay.

Now, like MadMike and others…I feel like I kind of know these guys from the stuff you hear on the Forum. I actually met Ray up at CFR in Nakusp in 09…but like all gatherings, you only get so much time with each person there. I know what Ray has done for others…Ray is a good man.

After getting settled at the Super8 in Fortuna, Karl and I ambled across the parking lot to see the others at the Eel River Brewery for dinner. Sorry about the bad indoor photos…I somehow changed the settings. Evidently a "point and shoot" is more than I can handle 

Tom/2wheeldealer, Elizabeth, Rich/exskibum, FJRay, RussPerry, Dave/Highlander…who ditched his FJR yesterday and hauled @ss up here on his Strom.

Me taking more photos of my new buddies, FJRay and RussPerry

Dave and Karl

Tom/2wheeldealer and FarWestFastEddie (Eddie is a riot by the way…I love his story telling)

Russ, taking a photo of me, with Elizabeth, Rich as well

Elizabeth offered to take pictures of us as well…I think she had a bit much already 

I am just teasing of course…I sat next to Elizabeth at the table. She is a real classy lady that seemed to really enjoy this mcy trip. Karl and I couldn't believe she hadn't been on the back of Rich's bike for years…she was really rocking with Rich on Skaggs. She was rock steady as a passenger…I was impressed with her as a person and a pillion rocking those roads the way Rich does. Kudos to you Elizabeth.

Well, it was time to head back to the motel and some rest after another fantastic day of riding. Thanks Rich for rocking today…he is the smoothest rider…2-up…he is amazing. I had a blast today!

Next up…Monday, 23May, Day 10. The "killer NorCal loop"…wait, was that just sasquatch I just saw?

Part4 – Norcal Roads – You gotta be freaking kidding me, (Days 9, 10 & 11), 22, 23 and 24 May

Tuesday, 23 May (Day 10)

Warning…not as many pictures on this day as it was full of time in the saddle…enjoying the roads, enjoying the views. Maybe I will be able to salvage some GoPro from this day and post it up in the future…

I woke up plenty early this morning, looking forward to the new day's adventures. Karl told me he was going to take a rest day today, as he's ridden the day's roads before at WFO. He loved them , but felt that since he had already ridden them, was a bit tired, and that today was one of the few loop rides on the trip where we end back up at the same motel at night, that he would take the opportunity to take a rest day. We still had more than 3000 miles to go on this trip…so I think he made a good decision. Karl will have to fill you in on what he did on this day. My day was full…ended up being even longer, time-wise, than the 450 mile route projected to be…

I had stayed up the previous night after Karl had gone to sleep, writing shorthand notes about each day…I had missed a good number of days since the last update, so I was up for awhile. I was really psyched about the day's riding ahead…as I looked on the trip itinerary, knowing nothing about kali itself…THIS is actually the day of riding I looked forward the most on the trip. What a loop it was going to be!

I found however that I had squandered time in the motel breakfast area, as people were staring at the TV – which was reporting a devastation tornado in Joplin, Mo. God be with that city as it tries to recover. I grabbed a bunch of fruit and an egg, but was kind of pressed for time, so I did not eat as heartily as I probably should have. Just before KSU, I grabbed some ice and filled my Camelbak, then packed the rest of whatever on the bike…. Dave/Highlander was out and about as well…I spoke to griff via phone…rubbing it in as to the great time we were having out here in Kali…then the clock was beckoning. KSU was nigh, time to go griff…BUH-BYE! 

I walked over to the bike as the others kind of looked at me…oops, KSU and I'm still getting the bike ready. Ray gives me a jokingly mean look and says, "Kickstands Up, means Kickstands Up!"  I told him I could have a tipover right there to comply with KSU…he seemed to be satisfied if I did that for him…but I didn't. 

So off we headed, north towards Eureka on 101 until our appointed meetup with FarWestFastEddie at Kmart parking lot I believe. I think Eddie was nervous that the jackwaggens were gonna blow him off again. We didn't...this time.

So we headed east on 299…loving every mile. Rich/exskibum and Elizabeth leading with Dave/Highlander, RussPerry, Tom/2Wheeldealer, myself, FarWestFastEddie, and FJRay in various orders rotating around during the day.

We stopped in Willow Creek for a pit stop, I bought gas as it was a hike from the motel to Yreka for our lunch stop. I also bought some bottled water, as I had forgotten to put on my Camelbak for some reason as I rushed to get ready in time for KSU. We chatted for a bit then headed north from Willow Creek on 96. Boy this was gonna be GREAT!

I just enjoyed the scenery and the curves as we wound through some of the most beautiful forests, mountains and rivers. Whitewater on the Klamath as we wound forever in this Alpine land…I felt like I was in the Alps…never been there…but that didn't matter. I felt like I was in a foreign country, these were big mountains!

Occasionally we stopped for a one lane road with a flagger and "Follow Me" truck. However, there was no road construction going on, this was tree trimming and clearing work that required the use of the roadway by the crew. This was a first for me.

My new buddy Tom/2wheeldealer at one of those flagman stops…

Highlander, Rich and Elizabeth, RussPerry flashing the peace sign (that dude is all about world peace), FJRay

Eddie(FarWestFastEddie) – what a character

Eddie's nice 07

When they announced the Black Cherry color for the 07, and showed the color online…I wasn't too impressed…but up close and personal, I really liked how it looked. Who knows, when my '04 gets "used up", maybe I'll get an 07 like Eddie's…or maybe an 06 like Rich's…both those colors look great in my book.

We stopped at a bend in the Klamath River for a break. 96 goes follows along the river but goes up and down the mountains as it does so…sometimes its way up high…other times, you were down by the river…like at this break.

Looking back on southbound 96

Elizabeth took a photo of me by the river

My Kali and Oregon FJR riding buddies…Russ, Rich, Dave, Eddie, Tom and Ray (Lizzy out of the shot)

Me with my new buds…

Further on down the road I took a photo of this sign by the side of the road…

I presume it has something to do with this…http://www.jeffersonstate.com/

…Dagnabbit, according to their website, they want to form their own state and take all the good mcy roads with them! 

Speaking of other crazy things, I keep seeing signs regarding sasquatch in this area. I thought I saw one…but I didn't get my camera out fast enough…so who knows, maybe I didn't really see the sasquatch after all.

Well, it was getting to be late morning and we were about 35mins or so from Yreka which was our planned lunch/gas stop. We had been getting stopped by flagmen periodically during the morning and a car seemed to be ahead of us, but not moving very briskly. I was starting to get a little drowsy in the sun, poking along for the bit we were behind the car. I'm daydreaming…then I would catch myself daydreaming…telling myself to STOP THAT.

I started standing on the pegs and stretching as best as I could…we were in a straighter portion with only slighter curves (crazy dangerous curves in Illinois!!! ) and I found my eyes wanting to close and having trouble keeping them open. I was having a hard time focusing on Ray who was just ahead of me…I opened my visor for the rush of wind, hoping that would wake me up. I didn't have my Camelbak to give me a jolt of ice water ,so I started yelling in my visor, singing, getting up on the pegs, singing…all the time knowing we were only about a half hour west of Yreka and a break.

I didn't want to stop everybody as we were so close, had a long day of riding ahead of us, and already had a number of breaks due to flagmen. It seemed like nothing I did was breaking the slumber …we rounded a mild curve and it seemed to take A LOT more concentration than it should have. That's when I knew I HAD to stop…probably should have before that. I was NOT going to wreck my bike or endanger others. I was deadly sleepy.

Stopping for a short break and making others wait for a bit was a lot less inconvenient than a crash…so the first wide spot I saw, I made a dash for it. Russ quizzed me with the "thumbs up" sign…and I "thumbs upped" him back as I was not in distress, just needed a quick stop.

I powered down, got off the bike, cleaned off my visor, drank some bottled water from the gas station, splashed some water on my face, ate some roasted/salted pecans from my tankbag…and by the time I geared back up I was refreshed enough to make it down the road.

I powered up and started down the road and got to the next flagman…where I was once again behind the same car that was holding the group up earlier. After we get through the one lane area, I pass the car and see that FarWestFastEddie has come back to wait for me on the shoulder. He sees me and jumps ahead of me and provides a nice escort in front of me. All of a sudden we are on some great road, great sweepers!!! Wow, that was real fun, thanks Eddie for leading the way! In my drowsy state I am convinced I would have crashed on those curves…I was that far gone. Valuable lesson for me next time…stop earlier and don't let it get so far gone. Prepare even earlier so you aren't rushed when packing. Eat a better breakfast. Always bring your Camelbak. Get proper sleep…etc. Sorry to the others that I held up…

I saw Mt. Shasta's snowy peak off in the distance beyond the local peaks…wow, what a view! We meet up with the others who have stopped just before the turn south into Yreka.

We stopped for gas first…Highlander just made it on fumes. We ate at the Black Bear Diner on the south side of Yreka…good food there. Recommend it. Refreshed and rejuvenated we mounted the bikes for the mountain roads on the way back…FJRay is looking at my rear tire and tells me it looks like my rear tire is low. I pull up ahead out of my spot and to the side of the diner to get out of people's way. Thanks FJRay for looking out for other rider's welfare...this could have been bad to discover on the top of the mountain - midcurve.

I pull out the gage…12 PSI…uh oh. Was 42 psi this am. Rotating the tire on the center stand…I didn't see anything…neither did the others who looked. Spit on the valve stem…sure enough, just a little bubble. So I borrow a key from Highlander (Note: bring key next time) and tighten up the valve. I get out the foot pump and start pumping….I get tired, others laugh. Guy's say, how 'bouts using a compressor pump. I am easily convince at this point and Highlander breaks out his compressor pump and finishes airing it up.

The guys suggest getting a valve stem from the AutoParts place down the street, which I do. So now, I've had them wait for my sleepy head, my valve stem…making an already long day longer. Sorry guys…

So we are headed out of town aways and we are looking at the sky…lots of rain all in the direction we are riding…up in the mountains. Not wanting to be drenched and cold in the mountains before changing into gear, we change into gear at a gas station before heading up in elevation.

Now, fully geared and ready for the drenching that awaits in the mountains, we keep moving ahead at a good pace…confident that we are as ready as we will ever be…ready to take our punishment for having such great weather recently. Well, we got up and over and back down the mountain with showers everywhere except where we were, miraculously. We had some great curves to ride through though…fantastic riding! We get down by a boat ramp and parking lot and take a break. I quick check the tires…uh oh…16psi…down from 42 psi in Yreka. DEFINITELY got a puncture in the tire somewhere. So I turn the back tire once or twice, and still can't see anything. Neither can Ray. Eddie finds something…very hard to detect it. It was in one of the grooves/sipes…nothing stuck in it. He spits on the tire and sure enough…bubbles. Eddie found the leak! Yea! On the bottom of the tire.

So I am a tire plugging virgin, though I've looked many times at others doing it.. I get out the kit, ream out the hole looking to others to make sure I am doing it correctly. They nod their heads…

I coat the hole with the epoxy glue and put the stringy thing on the tool and push the tool all the way in. Doh! Whadda jackwagon! So I've now got my own version of dynabeads in the tire…pretty smart, huh? 

I then put a string on correctly, wait for awhile for the glue to cure, then borrow a knife from Highlander to cut the excess string. We fill the tire with air borrowed from Highlander's compressor…oops overfilled at 60 psi…back it on down to 44psi..call it good and get ready to move on down the road. The boys are antsy, cuz they know my foibles are cutting into their Eel River Brewery drinking time…sorry again guys.

Oh thanks Eddie…

We then head off to Weavervile, where we head west on 299..next stop…an overlook with a two thousand foot cliff!

So I'm confident in the sticky string concept as I've seen a few other repairs that have held up to twisty riding just fine. So we race ahead now as time is winding down…actually Rich keeps a pretty modest pace…I think he is concerned about the plug repair on this fairly curvy road. Dave/Highlander is now my personal mother hen as he follows behind watching over to make sure I get back okay...Thanks Dave.

We get to the overlook in the late afternoon early evening…it is a beautiful spot with a river wayyyyy down below….

Here, Eddie is leading the guys down to the edge.

Here, Highlander is getting a closer look

Rich and Russ get close and personal with the cliff as well

Wow…that is some cliff!!! (Notice I am NOT in any of the photos near the cliff...that's right. DID NOT HAPPEN.)

What a beautiful area…even with the overcast sky

Ray talking to Eddie as Dave has a seat and farts…

The river, one more time…

Then a strange thing happened…with the overcast sky overhead, a sliver of sunlight hit the faces of the mountain walls across the way. It was an unusual and beautiful light…almost like a Thomas Kinkaid painting in 3D right before me.

Time to gear up and head back to the barn...

Well, it was way beyond late, so we geared up and headed out. A few miles ahead, we hit a right hander and I felt it, right away. The plug got thrown and I lost all air right away in the curve, I negotiated the curve as best as I could and got over to the shoulder right away and started for the kit again. Dave said he could tell right away when I lost the plug as the rear wheel was getting squirelly on me. Rich and the others turned around and looked on as Highlander's pump worked for the 3rd time this day.

The reamer I think was too big for a single plug, so I used a double plug. I was rightly hard to get in. I did get it in and felt like this was going to hold just fine. I did back off the riding a little bit though…cuz I'm a pussy I guess. Dave motherhenned me all the way back to the motel. I got off the gear and walked over to the brewery for food and drinks. They close at 10pm on Monday and it was 9:15pm…that's how late we were…sorry again guys. I fully intended to make up for it and buy my riding crew a beer for their troubles, but the server didn't help me out with that one considering the size of our party. I decided that since I had such a huge lunch at the Black Bear…that I would just have a beer and call it a night. Wow…that was some beer. I forget what it was called but it was a great dark local brew with a higher alcohol content. It kicked my tired @ss. I was uncoordinated and slurry after one beer…I am such a cheap date. Thanks guys for all the great riding this day…it was a memorable…even with the tire delays. I am no longer a plugger virgin…maybe some day I will be a master at it like escapeFJRtist. That's all for that day…time for bed…because…

Coming up next…Tuesday, 24 May, CA 36…140 miles of mcy bliss...the road that has everything.

Part4 – Norcal Roads – You gotta be freaking kidding me, (Days 9, 10 & 11), 22, 23 and 24 May

24 May (Day 11) 385 miles 

Before I get into this day's travels, I just wanted to reflect a little bit on yesterday's riding companions…All of them were great to ride with, but I want to talk about one in particular. Dave. Highlander. The name Highlander is one that has been familiar to me seemingly since I logged onto the internet and started searching for all things FJR. I'd read about him in the ride reports or gatherings or goings on…I always wanted to meet him and share a ride. I finally got my chance. Yesterday was great fun in "the Alps"…everybody was great, but it was fun watching the guys in front "move out" when the curves starting hitting us left and right. Highlander is obviously a very skilled rider and enjoyed the curves as much as anybody…but when I had my tire plugged…it was Highlander that was right behind me. He could have been enjoying the curves…as there were plenty still to be had, but he stuck with me towards the rear. Thanks Dave…it was great to meet you, and even better to ride with you.

Moving on…this day was going to be the third day of the NorCal roads led by Rich/exskibum. This was going to be the day we head east away from the coast and end up north and east of Sacramento and nestle in Grass Valley. I am a little sad to be leaving the Pacific coast. Having enjoyed it for a few days now, experiencing great times with friends and seeing wondrous sights with my own eyes, knowing that with every mile I travel today will be farther away from that coast, and closer towards home and the end of this trip.

However, the tinge of sadness is mixed with the excitement of knowing the itinerary today…CA 36!...and later in the day, CA 49! I'd seen the picture with Tim/TWN at THAT sign…could it really be true? 140 miles of curvy roads? Being from Illinois, that just didn't seem possible. Well, I looked at Google and MS S&T preparing for this trip…and YES…that's what it shows! And that riding occurs today!

Woke up that morning and got all my gear packed up again (man, is it really possible to get all this stuff on a bike?), got a good breakfast this time, got my ice water, got good rest…so I'm good. I got lined up to leave the motel with today's group: Rich/Elizabeth, Dave/Highlander, RussPerry, FJRay, Karl/Airboss, myself, and tow additions to the group today…Doug/Bugnatr and his friend Tom on his BMW. So this party of eight was ready to move on down the road. We head south on 101 until the turn for 36…here we go…

The road wend its way through goaty sections, through a tunnel of Redwoods, then climbed…all the while turning this way and that. You are on this road and keeping sharp - looking through the curve, taking all the inputs and making judgements and corrections on the bars, on the throttle, on the brakes, on your position on the bike. When it is all going right, it is a feeling like no other. The scenery, the speed, the leaning, the ripping through the gears, and the others doing this same dance in front and behind you as the curving, snaking group of FJRs head east through the mountains, higher and higher as we climb away from the coast. And it is not just a "getting one with the machine" thing, as we are friends…no longer strangers. We were strangers, who became acquaintances over the internet, who have eaten dinners together, had a beer together, and become friends with this common bond. So this is almost a social thing as well…as we do this ride eastward. Watching out for each other, pointing out obstacles or things that might harm the other rider. Good times…this is what it is called. Good times.

We stop for a break…time to get out the camera. 

Purply kin of flowers...Deb, what kind are these?

Ray's not giving me the finger, yet.

Bugnatr and Highlander with rolled eyes listening to exskibum, talking about the length of his manhood...or something.

BMWTom and Airboss

Bugnatr explaining the facts of life to exskibum, while Highlander politely waits

RussPerry saying "hi". What happened to world peace Russ? Doncha care anymore?

Doug/Bugnatr and BMWTom had come over yesterday from Grass Valley not on 36, but on some roads south of 36 that parallel it. They did all that so they could ride back with us…or cuz it was a fun thing to do.  After this break, Bugnatr and his friend BMW Tom took off ahead, and RussPerry chased after them. I was happy in the group that I was in. We were crossing in a mighty Alpine area for a long while…left, right, left, right…the road goes on forever. 

We do decide to take another break…the three ahead were still ahead somewhere. It was a beautiful spot for a break, we could see white snow capped mountains to the north, and you could see the various ridges and valleys between here and there.

We heard a semi running through the gears, so we knew it was time to skedaddle..and fast. Doing 36 behind a semi is something I don't even want to contemplate. So we geared up, got down the road in time with the semi behind us. Up ahead a mile or two, BMWTom, Bugnatr, and RussPerry were lying in wait with their cameras. We've seen Russ's shots…but not Tom's. Rich explained about the approaching semi, and that we were going to keep going…although it looked like a very picturesque place for a stop. So we moved on…

At some point we finally crossed the ridge to the dry side of the mountains…and the scenery changed dramatically. Brown grasses, not as many trees, high mountain ranches with horses, quite different from the green alpine scenery just back aways behind us. This section of road was great fun as we rolled through the ranchlands with a few "dips and whoops" to give you "air" if you wanted it. –yeehaw!

We finally were approaching the outskirts of Red Bluff…and as others moved on ahead to look for the sign (You know which sign I'm talking about) that was taken down, but rumored to have been put back up at a slightly different location, I stopped to take a photo of animals in a fenced in ranch beside the road.

I moved on ahead and found the others…they had FOUND the sign…just a bit east of the old one. So we parked there and took a break.

Rich and Elizabeth...what a great riding couple

Since Gas stations were just a few blocks away, some had gone on ahead to fill up…FJRay being one of them. He was waiting for us there when someone got word to him that Wheaton wanted a picture of the group at the sign…with HIM in it as well. Now, he had filled up his tank AND his aux tank so he was loaded up good and top heavy. I am not sure the exact sequence but I think he may have stalled it…he can tell you if he cares to…but did a tip over. I think one of his sidebags got de-virginized. He wasn't REAL HAPPY when he came back for picture  It would really be rude if I didn't post that picture, wouldn't it????  Well, I don't want my head to get beat in by FJRay, so here it is.

Highlander, RussPerry, exskibum and Elizabeth, airboss, FJRay, Bugnatr, with BMWTom behind him...

Notice the scowl on FJRay's face. I think he means that finger for me… 

After the group shots, the rest of us got gas and then Rich and Doug figured out a good place for us to eat in Red Bluff near I-5. I forget the name of it (I think maybe it was Luigi's), but it was great! After lunch, FJRay and Highlander had to take off…Ray north and Dave south. Ray wanted me to get a Sharpie and autograph his scratched up sidebag, saying "Wheaton was here!"…but I just couldn't locate one. Bye Ray…thanks for catching that my tire was low in Yreka! Bye Dave…thanks for scrambling to get your Strom up here to ride with us!

So now we are heading east across the valley, east on 36, heading towards 89 south. We have Rich/Elizabeth, Doug/Bugnatr and his buddy BMWTom, RussPerry, Karl and I in this last group. Soon enough we have climbed a little bit in elevation, bringing the temps down. We stop for a break by a nice cool lake. We then move ahead and turn south on 89…not too long before we get to 49, we stop at an overlook, looking east across a valley way down below.

Rich and Liz...sorry we didn't have a chance to say goodbye here. Russ in the background...now THAT man knows how to use a camera.

So now, we are heading west on 49…Doug, Tom, Russ and Karl move on ahead, but Rich and Elizabeth seem to be taking it pretty slow…in fact REAL slow. I stop and wait for them as I don't see them in my mirrors anymore…I wait…there, there they are. What's up with that I wonder? So I move on ahead and soon I don't see them…I wait again…there, I finally see them in the mirror. So I race on ahead and I note what my odo says when I lose sight of them. I continue on and meet Doug and the others who are on the side of the road waiting for me. I told them of Rich's pace and he says that Rich probably slowed WAY down when somebody showed him how little tread he had left on his tires. So Doug thinks he's just taking it easy to get home okay. In fact at the next town where we stop for a water break, we finally see them, they are slowly moving on by. They wave and Rich indicates that he's not stopping for a break…they are just in "get home" mode. Bye Rich and Elizabeth…it was good riding with you!

We continue west on 49, which was a little dusty, and with the sun more in our eyes, it was hard to see whether there was slippery stuff in the road in the curves, so I backed it off some. At some point in time, Tom and Russ split off from us and go their separate ways. Russ, it was great to meet you , chat a little bit on the SENA, and watch you ride. Tom, it was great to meet you and ride with you as well…post the video of us on 36 when you get a chance!

So now it is the three of us heading to Bugnatr's place because Doug has convinced his wife somehow to let two total strangers sleep in their house. I don't know how you did it Doug, but THANKS! We get to Doug's place and we have fine accommodations…the prime garage spots for our bikes…Doug even went and got oil and did an oil change on my bike for me that night…what a dude!

As nice a guy as Doug is, his wife Gayle is definitely the better half…man, did he marry up! She had fixed some marvelous chicken lasagna with white sauce for us. Mmmmm, good! Well, Karl and I were pretty pooped from the last few days of riding in NorCal, so we just relaxed and talked with Doug for awhile…bed felt good that night for sure!

Next up… Part5 – Last days in Kali –(Days 12 and 13), 25, 26 May

25 May (Day 12) Camels in the rain…and the Willo

Part5 – Last Days in California, 25 May and 26 May

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Day 12 – 25 May, Wednesday, Camels in the rain…and the Willo

Doug/Bugnatr had pulled out the stops for me today. First, he stepped up and organized and posted a ride linky to the Feather River Canyon area, then posted up a dinner meet for my birthday linky. Both of these events were above and beyond hosting both Karl and I for a couple nights at their place in Grass Valley. I want to say thanks again to Doug for doing this for both of us.

Well, the best laid plans of men, even good men, are subject to the forces of nature. There was rain in the forecast, and although rain was often in the forecast during our trip. This time it came. When Doug saw the forecast, he did some fancy dodging and last minute shuffling to still try and make this work…because tired or not, I was still up for riding.

On this trip I was like that little kid at the amusement park who has ridden the roller coaster for the umpteenth time and still tells the parents he wants to ride it again. I was all up for riding, even in the rain, so Doug did his best to oblige. The rain was supposed to be mainly in the am, so Doug planned a ride around some place called the Sutter Buttes in the valley, then he was going to take us elsewhere later on when it cleared up. SacMike was meeting us, as well as Gary/gfran who I had met briefly on Saturday at Alice's. fjROB and his wife Terry was also going to meet us…all this in spite of the rain forecast. Kudos to all of you for making the effort to ride with us.

But first, Doug thought he'd give us a brief tour of his business… Grass Valley Pest and Weed

That's right, Grass Valley Pest and Weed.  Doug tells us that employs others to take care of the pest part, but HE is all about the WEED part of the business. Hmmm, you don't say…he says he never inhaled.(but I believe that line now as much as I believed it in the 90s.)

Well, his wife Gayle was already working there (hmmm, wife works while the hubby goes off to play…hmmmm), so we talked to the Boss for awhile and then Doug shows us where his office is.  Actually Doug seems to be a hard working man; you know how hard it can be in the WEED business.

On to the ride now, we pick up Rob and Terry, then Mike and Gary at the gas station. It is sprinkling lightly just like the weatherman said, so we are heading west on 20, then turn north just west of Sutter as we look to take a tour of the Sutter Buttes (The world's smallest mountain range – clicky).

photo from Wiki-

I am trailing airboss and do something I rarely do - I roll through the 4-way stop sign in Sutter and sure enough a police car was monitoring that intersection from a parking lot. He promptly pulls out onto the road right after SacMike - who was just behind me. I am sure that I am about to get a ticket…he follows us for a long ways, but leaves at some point as we turn west to head around the Buttes. The Buttes are really mysterious looking in the fog and drizzle. It is raining harder now. We stop all of a sudden on this 2-lane country road…Doug is motioning to the right, as I stop and look, I see the head of a camel looking out at us from a barn door. Not a llama…a camel. So we're starting to really get rained on as we tour around the Buttes, not just a little drizzle now…some serious stuff. Doug finds a structure with some overhangs that we can park our bikes and wait out this hopefully brief period of pouring rain.

It turns out that we are in the Gray Lodge State Wildlife Area just north of the Buttes…

Now, we're dripping wet, some people are changing their gear…and Bugnatr is spouting off various factoids about the area like Cliff on "Cheers". Yeah sure there Cliff, I mean Doug. You know it's kinda hard to take Doug seriously with that Ole and Sven accent he has from the Minnesota motherland. You'd think he was auditioning for the movie "Fargo", the way he talks. So when I'm finally through zoning out on his accent I hear "…and that's how butter is made". So we all nod our heads like it was real interesting…Actually, that may have been SacMike with the butter presentation, but it's been awhile and my memory is a bit fuzzy…being old and all.

Back to the weather, the rain is NOT letting up at all, if anything the rain is pounding down even more. So the decision is made to head north and east to Gridley to have lunch, get out of the rain, and have some conversation. I forget what the place was called where we ate lunch, but it was a great Mexican place. We were dripping wet with our gear, but the owner/manager didn't frown at all. He was very friendly, as was all wait staff…good service.

They weren't real full at that point, so Bugnatr got us a place in the back where we could put our wet gear and have a good meal. It was real good…I would have had more, but I knew that there was a birthday steak dinner coming up that night. It was great to sit and talk with the others as we shared a meal together as good mcy buddies…none of whom I had met even but a few days before. Yet, it didn't seem to matter. Somehow, that's just really cool.

Well, we capped the ride at that lunch stop. SacMike and Gfran split from there after good byes. Rob and Terry headed back east with Bugnatr, airboss and myself. After they split off for their home, if anything, the skies opened up even more. No drops now, just one long river of liquid from the heavens…we weathered the last few miles in this wash…and I was soaked. 120 miles of riding…but that was enough. God's way of giving me a rest day I guess. 

We got inside the Bugnatr home, stripped off the garments and hung them out to dry wherever possible. Put stuff in the dryer as well. The rest of the afternoon, we relaxed at the Bugnatr mansion, surfing the web and finding out what Fairlaner had said this time <I know Fairlaner is not reading this>...

Well after a long hard day at work, Gayle came home and asked Doug if he wanted his slippers, pipe, and newspaper to read. Doug, ever the gentleman, burped and said, "not today darlin', but can you hand that new spittoon over…and clean this old one please? It's kind of full." Now, she gave him that knowing smile and went upstairs and slammed the door. Doug said not to worry, she's always like that.

A few hours later, everyone was all smiles as we headed out the door and into Doug's Bentley for the ride over to The Willo.

The Willo

Airboss, Gayle, and Doug the Minnesotan (or is he a Yooper…I'm not sure yet)

Karl and I…and the Bear

Sorry I don't have photos of the inside…but it reminds me of a good 'ol supper club from Cheeseland(Wisconsin for you out of towners). The food and drinks were great, the ambiance was right up my alley, and the friends there were great….made me feel special for my birthday. Rob and Terry came back for the dinner, and Sam/puppychow came for the dinner as well. I may have forgotten others, if so I apologize. (EDIT: Oh yeah, BMWTom and his wife were there as well!) Thanks all for making my birthday feel special! I even got a special birthday ice cream (coconut in vanilla –excellent) from the owner. Everyone there sang HB as well. You all are lousy singers – HA!

So, after all the planning done by Doug, I have to say that the day was a success. He did a lot of work, and Karl and I felt very welcome. Though the ride was cut short, I will now have a reason to come back and see the Feather Canyon area…THANKS DOUG (and Gayle) 

Another good day out in Kali...

Part5 – Last Days in California, 25 May and 26 May

Day 13 – 26 May, Thursday, Gold mining country, waterfalls, lakes, back roads, and a Thud pilot.

Woke up that morning at Bugnatr's abode…had to be out of there by a certain time because they were having some arborists come take down a HUGE tree that needed taking down. Doug said the guy had a crane coming and he was the type to come early as he was antsy to get going on it. He was. He came early with the crane. I'm sorry I did not get a picture of the tree or a decent picture of Doug and Gayle because they were the perfect hosts, but we did have to skedaddle, so no time for piccies. Thanks Doug and Gayle!

Karl and I headed over to the interstate for the quick ride over to Auburn to fill up and stop at Starbucks for coffee and to meet up with TomInCA. Now Karl enjoys a good cup of coffee, so a good strong Starbucks is what he prefers in the morning. I may have had something sweet to munch along with mine…as sweet breakfast pastries are a little slice of heaven to me. We parked our bikes next to a couple of County LEO vehicles shooting radar or something other from their vantage point in the parking lot near the road. There was a nice, sweet German Shepherd in the back of the K-9 unit squad car. He rolled down the back windows of the squad car after we parked our bikes. I think he was trying to see if the dog would get a "hit" on anything we were packing in our bags. Good thing Old Michael wasn't with us!  Nope, they didn't catch a whiff of anything. That stuff is WAY in the past for me.

So after the rainy day on Wednesday, it was sunny and cheery this morning. We basked in the sun, chatted for awhile as we waited for Tom and Hycle to show up. Hycle said he would drop by to chat for a bit before he headed off to work. Thanks Mike for taking the time to stop by…it was good to get to know you a little better. 

Tom is a very good photographer as well, as you may have noticed from his RRs on the Forum. It was great to head to the various stops along the way that day and get the story of the local history or local scuttlebutt. I eat that stuff up…

So, at the appointed hour, we got saddled up and Tom took us east on Forest Hill to the old Forest Hill Rd so we could see the bridge over the dammed up area that never was dammed. Damned maybe, but never dammed. 

For scale. notice the construction crane at the top of the bridge

That was a fun road to go down and then back up on. We continued south on 49 to Coloma to the Marshall Gold Discovery State Historical Park. We stopped on the one lane bridge where Tom pointed out the place where Sutter's Mill is…

Looking back on Sutter's Mill

The bridge

The snowmelt swollen river

TomInCA

Other side of the river

Tom had us continue on this road across the river through the back ways, I believe it was Mt. Murphy Rd for awhile, then he took so many turns that I lost track and just enjoyed the experience of riding unknown roads on a beautiful day…I loved it.

Tunnel of trees

…and some of the local inhabitants 

Peaceful day with sunshine… 

Tom took us through the back roads for a wonderful tour. Here we are on a road (Maybe Rock Creek Rd just north of Placerville?) above a river swollen with snow melt… 

Tom stops for a break at a great spot…a little waterfall on the left side of the road. Karl and Tom with the little waterfall behind them... 

Karl

TomInCA photos (all used with permission)

Me in front of the waterfall

Karl and I

The area was beautiful…

waterfall pool

rock and earth

We came down and crossed a river/creek on a neat little bridge 

TomInCA photos - all Tom's photos used with permission -

We passed through Placerville and weren't ready for a meal stop yet, so we continued on and took a road (Pleasant Valley Rd?) east to Jenkinson Lake.

The Lake and area are beautiful! These pictures don't come close to showing how intensely blue that lake was. Wow. 

snowcapped mountains

trees and water

Tom asked us if we were up to an adventure…He said that this was the Mormon Emigrant Trail, and he said that the pass was most likely closed, but that it was a fun area and we could go past the barricades and check it out. We did. I don't have photos of all the rock and mudslides on the road, but there were some…just to make it a unique little adventure.

Eventually though, we had to turn around...

…just shortly before we have been able to head north towards Pollock Pines on another fun little road. Tom grew up in the Pollock Pines area and knows all the roads in the area for sure.

Some of Tom's photos from that area...(with permission)

After the turn around...On the way back...Tom's photos still

Karl

Me

We ended up stopping for gas and lunch in Pollock Pines (I believe). Great little Mexican bar/restaurant.

Tom's photo...

They had an unbelievable special on burritos…I think it was $2 lunch burrito specials or something like that. I thought they were little baby ones for that price, so I ordered two. But they were not…they were big. So I only ate one burrito as I did not want to ruin my dinner with my Uncle and Aunt that evening. They were good and hit the spot. Well, Tom knew I needed to get back to my Uncle's place in Lincoln early that evening/ late in the afternoon…so we wound our way west. West through Placerville (A place I've heard of many a time on this Forum), then west on Green Valley Rd I believe. At Lotus Rd or thereabouts, airboss split off for his motel up in Auburn, whereas Tom and I continued west towards Folsom.

We took a short detour into a state recreation area at Folsom Lake where Tom showed how the snow melt had caused the reservoir levels to rise so high as to cover the much of a parking lot at a boat ramp. He showed markers out in the water where the boat ramps normally occur. Nearing the end of our ride together, Tom asked me if I wanted to enter Lincoln from the south or the east. We headed on the west side of the reservoir and I wanted to enter Lincoln from the east…so I split off from Tom to the right at Auburn-Folsom Rd as he headed straight.

Now kudos go out to Tom, because he stepped up at the last minute, literally the day before, when life got in the way of Rich taking us around on that Thursday. This whole day happened because Tom took the time to do that for us. Tom is very knowledgeable of the area and very engaging. Karl and I sure appreciated it. THANKS TOM!

So here I am again, riding alone in the California afternoon sun…thinking about this trip. It was great to have time to just think back on all the various happenings on these last ten days in California:

1. Death Valley, Kern River and my Dad's.
    
   2. Pacific Coast off SB and KJ at Morro Bay.
    
   3. Rt 58, the Penny bar in McKittrick, and meeting my FJR friends at Big Bad Bubbas BBQ in Paso Robles.
    
   4. The San Andreas fault, the hills of central Kali and chasing the Wing up to Hollister.
    
   5. Alice's, Tyler and OM from Pescadoro Beach to GG, the hills near Bodega Bay.
    
   6. Hwy 1, Skaggs, and Avenue of the Giants.
    
   7. Killer NorCal loop in the Alps.
    
   8. Hwy 36 and Rt. 49
    
   9. Riding in the rain with friends, the Willo.
    
   10. The back roads of gold mining country.

What.

A.

Riot.

Well, I promised my Uncle that I would call about half an hour before arriving to give them a little "heads up", so I stop after getting on 193 going westbound and make the call.

I looked around me and liked what I saw. There's just something about a grove of trees and the hills that are so irresistible to me. 

It harkens me back to days on my grandparent's farm in the summertime and the grove of trees west of the farm house in the pasture grasses.

So I head west on 193 towards Lincoln. Wow. Great set of curves once you get west of Newcastle! However, just before I get onto that set of curves, a semi turns onto that road just before me at a stop sign. Now those who know me know that I am not shy about making a pass, but there was just no safe place to do it. So I sat behind him in agony and frustration. I think it was a test from above…or below.

Either way, I passed…the test. I did not risk life or limb for this one set of curves…no matter how delectable. I told myself that I would get them tomorrow when I went to meet airboss in Auburn.

The rest of the day and evening was a glorious one of spending time with my Uncle James and his lovely wife Sharon. I had the overwhelming sense of trying to take this all in…as I had never been one on one with my Uncle before…to savor it like the fine evening that it was.

My Uncle James

He showed off the plants, -flower and vegetable- that he was tending. 

Here was a man, who had grown up on a farm (He was my mom's youngest brother…one of six brothers my mom had), become a combat fighter pilot, become an airline captain and instructor, and was now tending plants and taking beautiful photographs. My Uncle James did everything well. Believe me, my mom beamed with pride whenever talking about him. And what 7-8 year old boy doesn't want to be a fighter pilot like their Uncle?

I talked motorcycles and of past memories of him and my mom. I asked him about lots of things, things I've wondered all my life. I asked him about his time in his 20's when he was in the Air Force, flying the F-105 Thunderchief over North Vietnam. He was the best of the best and got his choice of what to fly. He chose the F105…a supersonic fighter bomber...

WIKI PHOTO

The F105 (LINKY) was nicknamed the Thud. So he was a Thud pilot. He shared some stories and insights I had not known from days long ago.

He and his wife Sharon also gave me a tour of their place in Lincoln. A beautiful house, with many beautiful things that they thought of or designed together. A wonderful place. A wonderful home.

One element of interest to me was a heritage photo wall/piece that showed many things from the family farm in Newman Grove, Nebraska.

Photos of my cousins (as I remember them) during the 70s sometime at the mailbox in front of the farm.

My mom is in that piece, and I am as well if you were present there and looked hard for a young man in his 20s. My grandfather's name plate from that mailbox. The whole piece is just really well done and exquisite…for me, one who cherishes my farm memories.

Sunlight out of the farm kitchen window...

My Grandma (Danish) and my Grandpa (Swedish). Both of their families immigrated to America in the 1800s to work in the farm fields of northeast Nebraska.

aerial photo of the farm buildings, the farmhouse, the chicken coop, the pig barn, the cow barn, the equipment and storage buildings...we roamed around here and the fields a few summers growing up. This I am claiming as my ancestral home...although it is no more.

I love barns too...

Thanks Uncle James for this great ending to my last full day in California.

Now to continue...

Chapter 6 - The Long Way Home - The Last Chapter

Day 14 – 27 May, Friday, - HWY 50 - Unexpected Pleasures

Well, the trip back. The long trip back awaits. The trip out is just as long, but there is the adrenalin of the new day, the unknown ahead. These last few days, I would have to just be open to comes my way, ratchet down the expectations, but yet still expect something. I've got 2000 miles to go…I've got to have something to look forward to during the homeward journey.

Before I get into that, I have to go back a little bit and thank my Aunt Sharon and Uncle James for their hospitality. Sharon fixed some wonderful meals and fixed breakfast special at 5:30am PDT (Hear that JB?) so I could be ready to get to Airboss's motel in Auburn at 7:00 am. It was a great visit and though I packed in as much to that visit as I could, it was not enough. Thanks, it was a great visit!

I left Lincoln and headed eastward on 193 ready to get those curves I couldn't rock yesterday. So I was ready, knew they were coming up. Passed a car easily to have some clear space in front of me. Up ahead in the distance I see a car…with a truck in front of it! I don't have a whole lot of time before the curves start so move it up to see whether I can get by before the curves start. No such luck…so I am chomping at the bit…these are my LAST twisty bits before I hit the Interstate and straight roads east! I cannot believe it. The car backs of the truck a little bit, so I find a gap and slip through it. Now the truck…I do a pass I'm not proud of, but I'm a big boy and made the choice, right or wrong, and was willing to live with the consequences. I enjoy the fruits of that pass with a nice dance with theFJR, revs up, rocking left and right, accelerating…for those last few sweet miles before the interstate beckons.

I hit the interstate, rocketing up the ramp and backing off a little bit to fit into the flow of traffic. Before long, I'm at the motel parked next to airboss' bike. No airboss, but he is along shortly. I know there is a small system to our west that we are just ahead of…so if we can keep ahead of it for the 600 miles today, it will make the day go SO much better.

We head out with Karl and his RD in front. Karl keeps a great pace, faster than I usually travel, but with his RD, I'm willing to be corrupted and take the chance of a ticket. I don't have my raingear on as it is not raining, but it IS getting colder as we climb towards Donner Pass. Even though it's interstate, it's still fun to climb with the FJR in the mountains…hey, simple pleasures.

It ends up being 37 degrees at Donner Pass…so plenty chilly. As we go downhill towards Reno and stop at the first exit, it begins to rain a few drops…with lots of drops behind us up towards the pass. Stopped and put rain gear on to warm up and for possible rain.

We exit I-80 at Fernley to get on US50 and gas up at Fallon. Pretty flat in Nevada so far. With the Memorial Day weekend, US 50 actually had some traffic. We even had to wait for traffic to go by once or twice sometimes before performing a pass… "Loneliest Hwy" my ass. 

We are headed towards Middlegate for breakfast as Bugnatr said it would be a good place to eat. (I think he told us that he got that info. From puppychow). So we're cruising along US50 at a pretty good clip and looking at our tripmeters/gps cuz Middlegate should be here soon. Is that? What is that? No…couldn't be, looks like an abandoned trailer park so we head past. Whoa…airboss puts on the brakes and we do a U-eee. Yep, that was it. We knew the place was supposed to have "character", just didn't figger on this much. 

It was even more interesting inside. Great place to stop…had a great breakfast about noon there.

Bugnatr also recommended that at Eastgate we detour on old US50 (now called 722) over the mountain. Definitely a fun little way to go…anytime you can catch another road going over the mountain, instead of around, it's good. Photos while going around… 

This is a familiar theme on US50 in Nevada…little mountain ridge with 7500ft passes, then long straight aways. I had written off Nevada as being ugly earlier on this trip, but not here…not on US50. Beautiful mountains to look at and make the trip interesting, then you get to go over them or around them. Either way, there's a curve involved. I loved Nevada's US50…it was an unexpected pleasure.

My favorite places were the curves east of Austin, and the scenery east of Ely....Wish I could take pictures on the fly...otherwise, I'd have a ton more.

Trying to stay under blue sky - ahead of the front

After each stop, it seemed like the front caught up with us...

In Ely,NV looking west down Main Street

Looking east...

Heading south out of Ely, the mountains on your west...

Beautiful

East of Ely aways...

again, so beautiful...

Cross-section of Nevada soil at an embankment...

Classic Nevada US50

with the FJR this time...

We may have exceeded posted...I don't remember. Surely by accident if we did.

Another scene of beauty was as we approached the Great Basin in far eastern Nevada…

wow...

so serene...

blue beauty…wow. These photos don't come close to capturing what I saw. Just stunning.

Another shot of the long road ahead...

Karl found a bouquet for Tyler… 

A fellow rider on a StreetRod on his way to some races in Utah. 

Karl and I were trying to stay ahead of the storm front most of the way, so our stops weren't very long. We were successful keeping ahead of it. However, stopping for the night meant that we would likely be in it tomorrow.

We checked into the Delta, UT motel with 600 miles done. After a little bit, we walked across the street to a Mexican restaurant. What we had was great! Karl and I checked the forum…then called it a night.

Now it is rumored that we may have explored the upper rpm ranges of 5th gear during our traverse across Nevada. That is totally untrue. I have the GPS reading to prove it right here…just a second.

Uhmmm, something must have happened to that…can't seem to find it.

Next time...

Day 15 – 28 May, Saturday, I-70 –Head for the Rockies

Continuing on...

Day 15 – 28 May, Saturday, I-70 –Head for the Rockies

Well, waking up, we got back into the familiar routine we had when we headed west: showers, coffee, pack up, head down the road out for a few hours, then late breakfast. Somehow, we woke up to sunshine…that was unexpected. Yes!

Packing up 

We took HWY 50 east to I-70…stopped at a rest stop.

Loved the scenery around us… 

We blasted east in Utah with some high winds…must be a regular thing in the desert country of Nevada and Utah. We took a breakfast stop very late morning in Green River, UT...so Colorado is not too far away now. At Green River, we just closed a very large loop. We were in Green River on Day 2 of our trip, just before we headed south towards the canyonlands. We were back on road we had done before, we knew the road ahead and knew that we would make good time on it.

As we got close to Fruita, CO, Karl passed a semi…then took an off ramp! I checked the rear mirrors, put on the binders and snuck behind the semi to take the ramp. I followed Karl to the Colorado visitor center in Fruita, which was also home to the Western Slopes Colorado Vietnam War Memorial. Knowing a little about Karl's Vietnam War experience, this was an excellent place to stop. It was a sunny day, we were making good time. The memorial was very meaningful and stunning with the Huey mounted as if in flight. How many soldiers in Vietnam looked for help from the Hueys in that war? I'm sure they were a very welcome sight to the soldier in desperate straights… 

Airboss seemed to get quiet around this memorial.

We then took a break at our next gas stop near Glenwood Springs…the grassy mountain slopes across the river looked velvety in the early afternoon sun. 

The rest of the day was spent going over road I was very familiar with since travelling this area on the way out and for NAFO 2008. Somehow that seemed to make the time pass more quickly as you looked for familiar landmarks or looked forward to sweepers that you knew lay ahead. The temperatures at the Eisenhower Tunnel were far less brisk than that morning almost two weeks before. The snow was melted, everything looked a lot different. So now we are on the downward slope to Denver, and once we are there, Fort Morgan is just down the road. It seemed like a pleasant day of riding, meaningful, with good scenery, and 600 miles closer to home.

We got to Fort Morgan and I just got some fast food from across the motel parking lot. Brought it back to the motel room, checked out the forum and called it a night. It was going to be a long day tomorrow and we needed our rest…because we were getting up early…5:00am CDT (Which is 3:00am PDT…hear that JB?) Went to sleep with the sound of rain hitting the motel room windows…great.

Next...

Day 16 – 29 May, Sunday, Crazy Winds, Crazy Clouds, Weirdos and Wankers

Continuing on...

Day 16 – 29 May, Sunday, Crazy Winds, Crazy Clouds, Weirdos and Wankers

The longest day. That's what this was going to be. I knew it when I planned it…no way to get around it. I had fun out in Kali, today's the day I had to pay the piper. A long day in the saddle…with two, count 'em two photos taken during the day up until we separate at the Truck Stop in IA. So Fairlaner, you can look at the two photos and move on I guess.

Wasn't thinking about too much when I woke up, just that it's time to go…it's dark out, cuz it ain't sunrise yet, and time to put one foot in front of the other. Got some coffee, packed up, and were on the bikes and KSU at 6am CDT/5amMDT. Leaving Fort Morgan, CO in the dark…but twilight will be coming shortly. No rain starting out…so atleast that's good. Took the on ramp to I-76 east and got up to speed…

Everything is fine until….WHAM! Not 5 minutes into the ride, the interstate road comes out of the bathtub arrangement and up exposed to the elements. Crosswind HELL! Not your average crosswind, not an annoying crosswind, not a tiring crosswind, but a concentrate and stay on the ball or you'll get blown off the road crosswind! This continues mile after mile, buffeting and blowing around, and only about 900 miles to go. No way we can keep this up for hours…as we turned eastward on I-80, the death grip can now be relaxed. Whew!

I enjoyed the sunrise…but would have enjoyed it more without the hellacious crosswind. I enjoyed the transition from night time to the lightening of the twilight before dawn. It hurts to get up early…but I think dawn is God's visual reward for the effort. I love it every time…it can be magical if you appreciate that sort of thing. I learned to appreciate that stuff during morning paper route delivery before school in junior high.

So during the crosswind, I'm looking to the west and see storm clouds, backlit with twilight color, showing heavy rainfall in some areas. Uh, oh…this could really be bad news, crosswinds then storms all day. I remember seeing a sign that early morning saying "Omaha, NE – 408 miles". Whoa.

Karl and I seemed to be riding in a low lying cloud all day…a constant mist hit our face shields and riding gear. Karl took over and kept the pedal to the metal…he's good that way.  The 400 turned to 300 to 200 to signs for Lincoln…so we knew we were almost across that long state. Before noontime, we stopped for gas and had our breakfast west of Lincoln in York, Nebraska at a truck stop. 

We headed out after much coffee, eggs, sausage, toast w/jam, and hash browns…

The plan was to gas up next on the north side of Omaha…I was in the lead, so of course I messed that up. My used gps was having issues and powering down, but no big deal, it's just I-80 east for hundreds of miles with the bypasses around the cities. I forgot that 29 on the east side was in Iowa and out in the boondocks, no fuel there….so I am passing what little gas stations they have on the northwest side of Omaha. Oh well, Karl passes me up (I think he flipped me the bird) after we get into Iowa and pulls into a Iowa Welcome center rest area.

I think we are going for a pit stop, and then a quick check of the closest gas stations on Karl's gps. So, it's warming up,the sun is starting to shine, it's after lunch, it seems to be drying out, so I am going to strip out of my raingear. I notice Karl talking to somebody for awhile (Karl can shoot the breeze with anybody) then turning and heading for the restroom.

I see this person walking out towards the parking lot with her cleaning equipment, picking up trash or whatever. So I am stripping out of my gear and this woman starts talking to me. I'm kind of doing my thing there in front of her as she is chatting away. And as I pay attention to what she is saying, it is not about the weather or anything, it becomes very personal. Like embarrassing personal, deep dark secrets personal, and she's talking a mile a minute, while I'm stuck there changing gear…wishing I could cover my ears, and yell "LA LA LA LA LA…" so I wouldn't hear about the time this black guy propositioned her while she was cleaning a restroom and the personal things that happened thereafter for the next 10-15 minutes (where's Karl…help!). So I'm done with my gear and trying to make no eye contact with this person hoping she gets the hint…but she doesn't and keeps on blathering. She finally stops whatever it was she was trying to tell me, as Karl gets there, so I ask her for one thing. I ask to take her picture…I say that she is going to be famous on the internet.

…so I head over to the restroom, and as I'm walking that way, I turn around and she has snagged someone else to tell her deep dark secrets to. (oh dear). 

Welcome to Iowa! 

So we get up the road a piece and Karl picks out a gas station, I call Louanne to give her a progress report…and she asks why the SPOT is not on. I tell Karl and he turns it on…I guess she kinda liked that SPOT after all…and liked to know where we were and that we were safe.

We stopped again in east central Iowa and I got some big cookies from a Subway to go with our coffee. Karl didn't want 'em so I ate them.  It was relatively clear and pleasant weather through the rest of Iowa.

The next stop was our last stop…the I-80 Truck stop in Walcott, IA. "The World's Biggest Truckstop!" This stop would mark the end of Karl's and my travels together. I didn't feel like having a meal, with all the cookies in my stomach, and the urge to get home, so I just had an iced tea instead. So we took some "last of the trip photos" at the truck stop before we departed and headed our separate ways.

Karl, it was great riding with you bud!

Karl wanted me to give you the whole Truck stop tour...so here are trucks INSIDE the truck stop.

Bye Karl..."man about North America". What a stud.

I would close the trip report here with those photos, but this is not the end. I am not in my driveway…I am 180 or so miles away. Stuff can happen.

Well, I once again rip down the on ramp, enjoying the thrust out of the FJR engine. I get into traffic and see immediately that there are two semis side by side doing the double nickel on the interstate just west of Davenport, IA. There is a car in front of me…then the blocking semi in the left lane. The truck cabs are lined up with each other so I presume they are jawing at each other or something. Mile after mile…never seen it go on for this long. And I am pissed. I've been up since 0Dark30 and these two clowns are having some sort of game going on blocking people….we've got quite a line now…and the cage behind me is starting to crowd me as well. So Bart the Blocker in the left lane pulls slightly ahead of Willy the Wanker in the right lane…not enough for the car to take a chance on it…but Bart just kind of holds it there for awhile…toying. Well, I am rabid…and I see a gap, and I shoot it! I shoot just ahead of Bart, stay there for a little bit and give him the best salute I can think of and then head off….not too fast, but moving along anyways. Not proud of the move I made. I just made it.

So now I'm free, gettin' home to see my kin…I look up ahead and see something in the median. SLOW down..now. Sure enough, a County Mountie is parked in the median. No flashing lights, no siren..whew. That would have been BAD after the big dramatic salute I just gave…to have those truckers laugh at me, while I'm fuming on the side of the road…getting a ticket on the LAST day of my trip.

So I continued on…chastising myself for almost getting a ticket, crossed the Mississippi, then headed north on I-88 which would take to me Wheaton in about 150 miles or so. I found a sedan, in this evening light, that was doing a good pace…and stuck on her tale all the way to I-39. I looked around and all the farmers' fields had standing water ponding and drowning the fresh shoots of planted crops. It has really rained here just ahead of our ride today. Seems like our timing on this trip has been unbelievably good as far as weather goes. Out of 10 days in Kali, 9 were without significant rain…and even the 10th was rideable…just not fun for pleasure cruising. Out of the 6 days blasting out and back, only parts of two ended up being a rain nuisance. Karl and I were very lucky as far as weather is concerned. 62 degrees in Death valley…perfect. No significant fog in San Fran or along the north coast. No 100+ degrees in the Central valley. Cool and dry – perfect riding weather for a mcy trip. Very fortunate indeed.

It was coming to the home stretch now, 50 miles or so away. Traffic started getting thicker closer to suburbia…and faster too, so the pace was good. I can count the miles to my exit on one hand now…almost there. But not yet, keep your radar up.

I get off at the Naperville Road exit, 4 miles from home. As I cross under the tollway, a bunch of squiddly rice rockets following of all things, a Harley Full Dresser mothership, pull out in front of me. They then sit at the red light with their right turn signals on, so I can't turn right for home. MY HORN SOUNDS. My day is done, get outta my way you turkeys. So they peel off to the right and I pass them as I head into the left lane. They appear stunned at the acceleration of this fully loaded down bagger. The Harley guy with his girl on the back looks at me and tips the cap. I have no idea what his bag is, taking the kids out for a drag race? A couple of them were spinning tires and appeared out of control…and not like a "I meant that" sort of way. More like, I've never been taught, and I'm in over my head and don't even know it sort of way.

So I take it real slow, take a few deep breaths, calm down and keep my radar up for enemy for the last few miles before I get home. I pull into the driveway and into the garage about 9:45pm CDT…having left Fort Morgan, CO about 6am CDT. Not a bad day.

Not a bad trip.

Not a bad trip at all. 

Epilogue.

You know, some people will measure this trip by the number of miles ridden. Others will notice a certain speed indicated...as life is all about speed and the "rush of excitement" one gets on a bike. I measure it by those things, yes. But also the number of curves ridden, the number of memories generated, and the friends (new and old) I get to meet. Thanks everybody for all your hospitality and kindness while we were out your way. You guys were great.

Thanks also for reading this stream of consciousness RR and ignoring the typos and poor photos. Hopefully it will have given someone a small glimpse as to what this trip was like. I don't know if it achieved that...but I tried.

EDIT-

I should also make special mention here to thank people who made special efforts to help me before and during this trip. I don't want to wait until the RR is done as that may take too long to provide a timely thank-you.

Rich/exskibum - NorCal routes, snow reports, and ride leading...THANK-YOU! Thanks for everything! It was fun to ride behind such a smooth rider. 

Skaggs Spring Rd. HOLY CRAP!!! 

Tyler - CenCal routes, organizing rides, organizing dinners, and MORE organizing...and ride leading. You did heaps of work for me girl...much more than I deserve, and more than I can ever repay you for. Thank-you so much.  It seems strange to think that we just met...seems like I've known you for a long time.

Griff - My riding buddy that couldn't make the ride. Griff made all the reservations for us three...and then didn't get the benefit of his own labor. Sorry you couldn't make the trip...airboss and I made the best of it.  Thanks for all the work you also did pre-ride to change the CCT, install sparkplugs, do a TBS, change fork oil, and all the other stuff you do helping to teach me the basics of FJR maintenance. THANKS buddy.

KJ/George - Thanks for being my first tour guide out here...you did a great job...making efforts so I could see Morro Bay and the Rock, AND doing the Trooper mod to my bike.(I like the mod...and my son David smiled a great big smile when he heard it for the first time)

I had great fun riding with you, seeing your art work in your barn, and eating at Maggie's Diner. Thanks! Thanks also for lending Rudy out to us to lead us the next day...we had great fun following him down 229 and 58 to McKittrick and back.

Richard/Fairlaner - Thanks for being the man at party central at Big Bad Bubba's BBQ. I had a great time...thanks for telling the man at the mechanical bull controls to take it easy on my old body. The thoughts of blowing out a knee just as this trip was starting up with thousands of miles left to go did cross my mind.  Thanks also for the hints regarding the GoPro setup on my bike...that helped alot. It was also fun to try to hang with you for a little bit on Peach Tree road with the GoPro going.

Doug/Bugnatr - Thanks also, bigtime, to Doug/Bugnatr and his wife for hosting us at their house in Peardale. You guys went way over the top to put us up. We were pretty whupped by the time we got to your place, and you guys let us just hang out and relax. I appreciated the ride you set up and I also really appreciated the birthday dinner you set up just for me. I had a really nice evening...and have already worn the "Willo" restaurant tee-shirt you gave me with pride. THANKS!

TOMinCA - At the very last minute...the night before I believe...we found out that Rich was not able to lead for the last day we were in California due to mechanical and real life getting in the way issues. Tom stepped right up to fill the gap and took airboss and I on a great ride. It was a great way to spend our last full day in Kali....thanks Tom. We really appreciated what you did for us there...that was huge. 

Last, but not least, Karl and I want to thank every one of you who came out to ride with us. We know it wasn't about us, because it doesn't take much for people to want to get out and ride. We just had a great time meeting new FJR friends, and reacquainting with friends we've met before. You guys all rock!!! 

EDIT: Dagnabbit, I knew I would forget somebody. The morning we left Bodega Bay, I looked at my oil level and it was down to the bottom of the sight glass.  I had to get some oil...on a Sunday even...in NorCal. Fat chance. Well as Beemerdons and Brodie were heading for points south, I asked if either of them had some oil. Beemerdons gets off his already loaded bike, and gives Lucy Liu (his FJR) a splash of oil and then hands me the rest of his quart. Thanks Don!  I know that messed up your party plans later...but my bike needed it and must have really liked your oil. It kept all of it.  You really can count on FJR riders to help out in a pinch...that's been my experience for sure.

Until next time...