Home! Early start after a quick cup of coffee put us home just after 8 before the valley had really started to heat up. Parked the bike, unloaded most of it and called it a day. Seemed like way to early in the day to stop riding but since home was the days destination I guess I was done.
A few minutes of reflection, later in the day on this the tenth annual guys trip. Realized, without looking up exact numbers, that we have been on the road about 250 days and covered 75,000+ miles. Along the way we have visited the continental US and two Canadian provinces. We have ridden tens of thousandths of miles of great roads, hundreds of beautiful sights, hundreds of interesting people. All condensed to 215 posts, several hundred pictures, and thousands of memories and stories.
There have also been numerous short trips and the fall ride with the wives to New Mexico, Utah, California, Wyoming, Montana, Nevada, and Colorado.
Many more to come.
Sunday, June 5, 2016
Friday, June 3, 2016
DAY 21 END OF THE ROAD (ALMOST)
Good early start and headed down the road California has done a great job with upgrades to I-40. Started the day all interstate but smooth and nice temps. Then we got to AZ and things went down hill in a hurry, the temps started to climb and the road turned to a series of potholes and construction zones.
Stopped in Seligman for lunch at Westside Lilo's and a short section of Route 66. Found out that the Days Inn was full in Chino Valley but found a welcoming mom and pop place that very much suits our needs. A quick run to Safeway by Jake for adult beverages and a few hours of r and r before dinner.
Tomorrow we will get up early and head the last 95 miles or so to home. We could have easily done that today but kept coming up with excuses to spend one more day like, to hot, to much traffic, need gas, have to us the bathroom, I have one change of clothes left, you get the idea. I promise wives, kids, grandkids, we will make it tomorrow.
Of course once home there are the weeks of stories and reminiscing followed by the dreaming and planning for next years ride.
Stopped in Seligman for lunch at Westside Lilo's and a short section of Route 66. Found out that the Days Inn was full in Chino Valley but found a welcoming mom and pop place that very much suits our needs. A quick run to Safeway by Jake for adult beverages and a few hours of r and r before dinner.
Tomorrow we will get up early and head the last 95 miles or so to home. We could have easily done that today but kept coming up with excuses to spend one more day like, to hot, to much traffic, need gas, have to us the bathroom, I have one change of clothes left, you get the idea. I promise wives, kids, grandkids, we will make it tomorrow.
Of course once home there are the weeks of stories and reminiscing followed by the dreaming and planning for next years ride.
I'm just hangin' on while this old world keeps spinnin'
And it's good to know it's out of my control
If there's one thing that I've learned from all this livin'
Is that it wouldn't change a thing if I let go
And it's good to know it's out of my control
If there's one thing that I've learned from all this livin'
Is that it wouldn't change a thing if I let go
No, you never see it comin', always wind up wonderin' where it went
Only time will tell if it was time well spent
It's another revelation, celebrating what I should have done
With these souvenirs of my trip around the sun
Only time will tell if it was time well spent
It's another revelation, celebrating what I should have done
With these souvenirs of my trip around the sun
I'm just hangin' on while this old world keeps spinnin'
And it's good to know it's out of my control
If there's one thing that I've learned from all this livin'
Is that it wouldn't change a thing if I let go
And it's good to know it's out of my control
If there's one thing that I've learned from all this livin'
Is that it wouldn't change a thing if I let go
Heard that Jimmy Buffet song today and still a favorite, have quoted it before but it still brings a smile. I'm not sure why but on the bike heading down the road with the radio blaring and the throttle cranked you can just feel the years peal away, getting younger by the minute. Just got to try and hold on to that feeling bucking reality as much as possible.
Thursday, June 2, 2016
DAY 19 AND 20 JUNE 1st and 2nd
DAY 19
Left this morning under clear skies and great temperatures. Headed down some great two lane along lakes and rivers before starting to lose altitude and gain temperature.
Turned south on CA 49 which follows some of the route taken by the miners during the gold rush. We rode by Sutter's Mill scene of the original gold strike, now a tourist attraction, packed with people on a weekday?
Changed route to get Bruce a tire in the capital of the state of Nevada and made the decision to spend the night.
DAY 20
Great morning for a ride with temps in the mid 50's and clear skies, beautiful riding weather. Headed south on 395 (our main route for the day) with the snow covered Sierra's on our right down into the Carson Valley an area it's hard to believe is in Nevada.
Continued south past the towns of Lee Vining, Big Pine, Lone pine and several lakes. The passes over the mountains that were closed when we passed here on May 15th are now all open to traffic, As yoda would say "the urge to turn west is strong in this one, yes" but time forces us to press south and east.
Last 75 miles or so bordered on miserable with to many trucks , to many potholes, and to many digits on the thermometer.
Going to stretch trip with one extra night in Chino Valley tomorrow before an early morning trip down the hill and home.
Left this morning under clear skies and great temperatures. Headed down some great two lane along lakes and rivers before starting to lose altitude and gain temperature.
Turned south on CA 49 which follows some of the route taken by the miners during the gold rush. We rode by Sutter's Mill scene of the original gold strike, now a tourist attraction, packed with people on a weekday?
Changed route to get Bruce a tire in the capital of the state of Nevada and made the decision to spend the night.
DAY 20
Great morning for a ride with temps in the mid 50's and clear skies, beautiful riding weather. Headed south on 395 (our main route for the day) with the snow covered Sierra's on our right down into the Carson Valley an area it's hard to believe is in Nevada.
Continued south past the towns of Lee Vining, Big Pine, Lone pine and several lakes. The passes over the mountains that were closed when we passed here on May 15th are now all open to traffic, As yoda would say "the urge to turn west is strong in this one, yes" but time forces us to press south and east.
Last 75 miles or so bordered on miserable with to many trucks , to many potholes, and to many digits on the thermometer.
Going to stretch trip with one extra night in Chino Valley tomorrow before an early morning trip down the hill and home.
Wednesday, June 1, 2016
DAY 18 MAY 31ST I COULD DO THIS OVER AND OVER
South on the 101 from the hotel cool weather beautiful scenery and a fast smooth road. Took a side loop off the 101 into the thick redwoods then back to the 101. Quick stop at Redwood Harley in Eureka and back on the road. At Leggitt we stopped for a break and gas before heading down one of the best roads in California, which has several, Highway 1.
At the store next to the two pump station I pulled into a spot with a downhill grade. This is not a good idea on a bike with no reverse and something I try hard to avoid but this time made the mistake of not backing in. An old drunk sitting out front said "I used to ride bikes the got them reverse gears on that thing now?" I told him no they still didn't have reverse and he looked at me and said "ya-all kinda stupid aren't ya" I couldn't disagree but when I left I cut between parking blocks onto the porch around the ice machine and up the hill. Stupid don't ride that good.
Then it was on to Highway 1 twists and turns cool temps, mile after mile of great pavement, lightly traveled. You dodge and dip into the redwood forests then back out to appear on a bluff a hundred feet above the ocean. Then it's back into the trees with a steep downhill grade suddenly back in the sunlight ten feet above the water. The forests so thick with moss covered redwoods and ferns five feet high on the ground blocking out most of the sun. The bluffs lined with cypress tree limbs permanently bent away from the steady offshore wind.
He wore black denim trousers and motorcycle boots
And a black leather jacket with an eagle on the back
He had a hopped-up 'cicle that took off like a gun
That fool was the terror of Highway 101
Well, he never washed his face and he never combed his hair
He had axle grease imbedded underneath his fingernails
On the muscle of his arm was a red tattoo
A picture of a heart saying "Mother, I love you"
He had a pretty girlfriend by the name of Mary Lou
But he treated her just like he treated all the rest
And everybody pitied her and everybody knew
He loved that doggone motorcycle best
He wore black denim trousers and motorcycle boots
And a black leather jacket with an eagle on the back
He had a hopped-up 'cicle that took off like a gun
That fool was the terror of Highway 101
At the store next to the two pump station I pulled into a spot with a downhill grade. This is not a good idea on a bike with no reverse and something I try hard to avoid but this time made the mistake of not backing in. An old drunk sitting out front said "I used to ride bikes the got them reverse gears on that thing now?" I told him no they still didn't have reverse and he looked at me and said "ya-all kinda stupid aren't ya" I couldn't disagree but when I left I cut between parking blocks onto the porch around the ice machine and up the hill. Stupid don't ride that good.
Then it was on to Highway 1 twists and turns cool temps, mile after mile of great pavement, lightly traveled. You dodge and dip into the redwood forests then back out to appear on a bluff a hundred feet above the ocean. Then it's back into the trees with a steep downhill grade suddenly back in the sunlight ten feet above the water. The forests so thick with moss covered redwoods and ferns five feet high on the ground blocking out most of the sun. The bluffs lined with cypress tree limbs permanently bent away from the steady offshore wind.
He wore black denim trousers and motorcycle boots
And a black leather jacket with an eagle on the back
He had a hopped-up 'cicle that took off like a gun
That fool was the terror of Highway 101
Well, he never washed his face and he never combed his hair
He had axle grease imbedded underneath his fingernails
On the muscle of his arm was a red tattoo
A picture of a heart saying "Mother, I love you"
He had a pretty girlfriend by the name of Mary Lou
But he treated her just like he treated all the rest
And everybody pitied her and everybody knew
He loved that doggone motorcycle best
He wore black denim trousers and motorcycle boots
And a black leather jacket with an eagle on the back
He had a hopped-up 'cicle that took off like a gun
image: http://static.urx.io/units/web/urx-unit-loader.gif
That fool was the terror of Highway 101
Vaughn Monroe
Headed inland from Fort Bragg on highway 20, just another great road, rivers, forests, farms. Good friends, a good bike great roads and weather, can't get better.
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