October 11, 2015
Our child and his bride moved to the Los Angeles area earlier this year. We visited shortly after they got into their apartment, so my wife and I drove out to seen them a few months ago.
On the drive out there – and even more on the drive back, I got this thought – a two-up Saddlesore? See some of my other blog entries about this if you’ve not yet read them.
“Wanna go see the kids for lunch?”
“For lunch?”
“Yeah, ride out, have lunch, visit with them a bit, then come home. A Saddlesore 1000 - for you!”
“Okay!”
So, we improved the gear situation a wee bit, then on a bit of a whim, a ‘practice’ run. Let’s do a few hundred miles – for lunch!
So, the practice run was roughly 500 miles, and we really didn’t push the pace on this. Is she comfortable? I’m keeping in the back of my mind the most she’s done is a bit over 600 miles at a time.
We send the child and his bride the location of where we’ll meet. They were truly amazed that I could find a place close to the freeway that everyone would enjoy the food.
The evening before, my brother-in-law came over to sign our start-of-ride documents for the Iron Butt Association. He was absolutely amazed that I would take his sister all the way to southern California, and back, just to have lunch.
October 17, 2015
The alarm didn’t wake us, the clap of thunder did. This is very odd at this time of year. Omen? I hope not!!
I watch the storm via weather radar, and finally note that it’s actually passing to the north-east. Once it clears, it turns into a bit over an hour delay...we roll down to the start location, close to the freeway. Fuel the bike, and the clock is ticking; let’s go!
There was absolutely nothing unusual about the ride there to California and our lunch destination. The ride pace was respectable, and the choice for the turn-around point, which conveniently had gas close by as well, was a big time saver. In fact, we beat them to the location by a good ten minutes. Not only did they have our tracking link thru Spotwalla, but my wife was periodically texting with them.
I had planned a 90 minute lunch break. It took right at eight hours to get to this location, located in Sylmar.
The ride back home? Well, that was a little hairy at the start. I did get some additional practice with 'filtering', as European riders call it. When traffic is like that on many of the roads in the region, that was the solution that worked the best. Not nearly as adept as my SoCal riding associates, and I’ll readily admit it. Unfortunately, I just don't get enough time riding there to hone my skills. Forty minutes worth – that’s some hard riding!
When we got ‘over the hill’ along Interstate 10 and into the desert, it was once again hot. Now, I knew it wasn’t going to last long, the sun should be setting in a couple of hours. A planned Palm Desert cool-down stop was arranged. Here, I was going to deviate from the route we took getting there, simply to ensure a full 1000+ mile ride was achieved. We skirted along the Salton Sea, and admired the remains of humanity that’s littered the shoreline for decades.
At about the 800 mile mark as we droned along Interstate 8 in California, shortly after a fuel stop in El Centro, I warned my bride that there may be a bit of whimpering and maybe a wee bit of whining coming from me at any time.
“There’s no such thing as whining and crying in LD riding! Wasn’t that what you told me?”
Hehe…love this woman! When you’re on one of these rides with someone else, they get to participate in all the weird stuff that’s done as you’re droning along.
The stop before last was in Gila Bend. I knew I was not going to make it to the Casa Grande area (~70 miles) with the fuel I’d purchased at the previous stop in El Centro. Knowing the pace was still more than enough to achieve our desired result, now it was do whatever was needed to finish the ride. A wise rider, eons ago, said “Go slow to go fast.” It’s time to take those words to heart.
Stop in Gila Bend, get a quick snack, a hug, and time!
Now, a final 130 mile dash across the desert late in the evening. We’d started the day - also in the dark - along this very same stretch of Interstate 8, and we’ve both traveled it many times in not only visiting family that had lived in various areas of California in the past, but to vacation there as well.
Get to the gas station right on the corner, the one that’s closest to home. A couple of singles – enough to get that last receipt.
Got it – we’re done.
Home, park the bike, crawl into bed. Just like it was planned to be.
Three months later, this arrived.
Now my wife has a complete understanding of why we do what we do.
What’s next? I have no idea.
Or do I?
20180212
Our child and his bride moved to the Los Angeles area earlier this year. We visited shortly after they got into their apartment, so my wife and I drove out to seen them a few months ago.
On the drive out there – and even more on the drive back, I got this thought – a two-up Saddlesore? See some of my other blog entries about this if you’ve not yet read them.
“Wanna go see the kids for lunch?”
“For lunch?”
“Yeah, ride out, have lunch, visit with them a bit, then come home. A Saddlesore 1000 - for you!”
“Okay!”
So, we improved the gear situation a wee bit, then on a bit of a whim, a ‘practice’ run. Let’s do a few hundred miles – for lunch!
 |
| Texas Canyon, Cochise County, Arizona |
 |
| Chiricahua Mountains, Cochise County, Arizona |
 |
| Oh, this isn't 'good' food by any means. This chain left Tucson decades ago. |
We send the child and his bride the location of where we’ll meet. They were truly amazed that I could find a place close to the freeway that everyone would enjoy the food.
The evening before, my brother-in-law came over to sign our start-of-ride documents for the Iron Butt Association. He was absolutely amazed that I would take his sister all the way to southern California, and back, just to have lunch.
October 17, 2015
The alarm didn’t wake us, the clap of thunder did. This is very odd at this time of year. Omen? I hope not!!
I watch the storm via weather radar, and finally note that it’s actually passing to the north-east. Once it clears, it turns into a bit over an hour delay...we roll down to the start location, close to the freeway. Fuel the bike, and the clock is ticking; let’s go!
There was absolutely nothing unusual about the ride there to California and our lunch destination. The ride pace was respectable, and the choice for the turn-around point, which conveniently had gas close by as well, was a big time saver. In fact, we beat them to the location by a good ten minutes. Not only did they have our tracking link thru Spotwalla, but my wife was periodically texting with them.
I had planned a 90 minute lunch break. It took right at eight hours to get to this location, located in Sylmar.
The ride back home? Well, that was a little hairy at the start. I did get some additional practice with 'filtering', as European riders call it. When traffic is like that on many of the roads in the region, that was the solution that worked the best. Not nearly as adept as my SoCal riding associates, and I’ll readily admit it. Unfortunately, I just don't get enough time riding there to hone my skills. Forty minutes worth – that’s some hard riding!
When we got ‘over the hill’ along Interstate 10 and into the desert, it was once again hot. Now, I knew it wasn’t going to last long, the sun should be setting in a couple of hours. A planned Palm Desert cool-down stop was arranged. Here, I was going to deviate from the route we took getting there, simply to ensure a full 1000+ mile ride was achieved. We skirted along the Salton Sea, and admired the remains of humanity that’s littered the shoreline for decades.
At about the 800 mile mark as we droned along Interstate 8 in California, shortly after a fuel stop in El Centro, I warned my bride that there may be a bit of whimpering and maybe a wee bit of whining coming from me at any time.
“There’s no such thing as whining and crying in LD riding! Wasn’t that what you told me?”
Hehe…love this woman! When you’re on one of these rides with someone else, they get to participate in all the weird stuff that’s done as you’re droning along.
The stop before last was in Gila Bend. I knew I was not going to make it to the Casa Grande area (~70 miles) with the fuel I’d purchased at the previous stop in El Centro. Knowing the pace was still more than enough to achieve our desired result, now it was do whatever was needed to finish the ride. A wise rider, eons ago, said “Go slow to go fast.” It’s time to take those words to heart.
Stop in Gila Bend, get a quick snack, a hug, and time!
Now, a final 130 mile dash across the desert late in the evening. We’d started the day - also in the dark - along this very same stretch of Interstate 8, and we’ve both traveled it many times in not only visiting family that had lived in various areas of California in the past, but to vacation there as well.
Get to the gas station right on the corner, the one that’s closest to home. A couple of singles – enough to get that last receipt.
Got it – we’re done.
Home, park the bike, crawl into bed. Just like it was planned to be.
Three months later, this arrived.
Now my wife has a complete understanding of why we do what we do.
What’s next? I have no idea.
Or do I?
20180212
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