Motorcycle Adventure, 2012

[pru7536]

Day 9, June 10, 2012, Sunday

I was up early and on the road at 0510 from a great evening with my old friend in Salt Lake City. It was a chilly start and seemed to get colder the further west I went. A quick stop to put on extra gear made a significant improvement. All interstate riding, which I do not care for, but being impatient with places to go makes it a necessity. After 410 miles of being thrashed by the wind I holed up early in Winnemucca, NV. I stumbled into a fellow rider from North Carolina who had a mission to look at the Pacific Ocean, then go home. He was on a dual sport Kawasaki and now plans on shipping it home and flying back. We had evening chow together and yapped about motorcycle adventures in general. You sure meet some great people on motorcycles when thousands of miles from home.

 

[pru7536]

Day 10, June 11, 2012, Monday

I was up at 0400 and made a couple of comments to some of the pictures my missus posted for me on facebook. By the time the bike was packed, fueled up and I got organized it was 0600 when I got on the road headed west again. It was downright cold, so I put on all my gear and it was a comfortable although somewhat boring ride through western Nevada on I-80. I spent a little time in Truckee, CA and it was a perfect stop to get warmed up. It didn’t take a lot of time before I had to pull over and pull off all the cold weather gear as I was roasting by 0900. Hopefully I will not have to ride this route again as the freeway through Sparks/Reno is twisty, crowded and under renovation. I finally made it to my destination in Sonoma, CA around 1420. After a couple of detours, I had ridden 379.7 miles today; 3311 thus far on the adventure. I thought I was going to cut back on the mileage, but I have a place to stay with a long lost relative, so hopefully I can take a day or two and give the geezer glide a rest; I sure need one.

 

[pru7536]

Day 11, June 12, 2012, Tuesday

I woke up at 0500, made a pot of coffee and walked out into the crisp, clear, Sonoma, CA air. It is beautiful out here. The bike got a good nights rest too. We are not going anywhere today so I will try and reconstruct the trip log as I have fallen a little behind on it. I decided to leave the geezer glide resting and walked about a mile into town to look around. It is a really beautiful place. Later in the day my long lost cousin of 37 years took me up to a relatives house in the wine country for a visit. It is a gated property overlooking some spectacular views. She then took me into Sonoma for the weekly farmers market. I’m not much on crowds, but I spoke to some very interesting people and had a grand time. I will rest up one more day here in Sonoma, then head south and visit my brother in laws brother in Nipomo, CA. After that it will be time to head back toward the east coast. Hopefully I will have time to smell the roses because it seems like I have been in a constant rush to get where I needed to go.

Not exactly a Motel 6, but I think I can squeak by here for a day or two.

Downtown Sonoma,CA

Farmers market, Tuesday evening (only a couple of hours ago). I like this place.

Ok, I'm up to date on the adventure now. Tons more pictures on facebook at "Motorcycle Adventure, 2012".

 

[pru7536]

Day 12, Jun 13, 2012, Wednesday

A relaxing day with no riding and no pictures.


Day 13, June 14, 2012, Thursday

As I expected when I have somewhere to go, I didn’t sleep very well. When I woke up at 0100 I forced myself back to sleep. At 0230 I gave in and got up and loaded the bike. By 0315 I was underway and thought I would miss all the San Francisco traffic; wrong! I try and avoid big cities, but my options were limited. By 0500 I was on CA 101 and the activity was significantly less than it had been. Being ahead of schedule for my next visit to my brother in laws house I went through Hollister, CA and down Hwy. 25, a scenic byway. Having the entire road to myself suited me perfectly. Arriving in Nipomo, CA 328 miles later at 1130, it was time for lunch and a little relaxation. Pictures to follow.

 

[lorne]

i have enjoyed following your adventure so i wanted to say keep it up. sounds like your having a great ride and seeing some great places. i always look forward to the pics.....ride safe and enjoy

 

[pru7536]

I finally made it to the Pacific Ocean. Pismo Beach, CA

I am constantly amazed at how many crops are grown in this country.

I had Hwy 25 to myself.

 

[marcus22]

your trip is awesome! thanks for posting!

 

[pru7536]

Day 14, & 15, June 15 & 16, 2012, Friday & Saturday

A great couple of day in Nipomo, CA. I slept better here than I have thus far on the trip. Friday and Saturday, the geezer glide got a good rest. I gave her a sponge bath and got the majority of the big bugs off. My brother in laws brother, Brantley, is an exceptional host and it is a pleasure to visit with him. We went to Morro Rock to take in the sights and feed the ground squirrels. He then took me to Montana De Oro Park where we met an interesting couple visiting from Germany. There were plenty of great photo ops. As Saturday afternoon rolled around I got my dirty clothes washed and packed up. With the exception of one small bag, the bike is ready to head back eastward tomorrow. If my weather luck holds out, I will have made it across the country twice without being soaked. Maybe I shouldn’t have typed that.

 

[pru7536]

A Couple from Germany touring the US.

Headed for Morro Rock.

Brantley and I at Morro Bay.

 

[pru7536]

Doing a little advertising for "Chops Garage"

My new Morro Rock friends.

Montana De Oro Park, CA with Morro Rock in the background.