Moto trip: Day 3

We stayed at the Econo-Inn at Ashland sunday night....and did we ever sleep like logs! I remember saying "nighty-night" to Lyn and Anna, and "poof" I opened my eyes and it was morning already.

After filling up on coffee and waffles at the complimentary continental breakfast, we packed the bikes up for the long ride to Elk Grove.

The freeway was full of nice sweeping curves....I definitely didn't get en-tranced from the a bike's drone like I did once on a looong straightaway. A very scenic ride. I almost threw one fist up in victory when we passed the sign that said "Welcome To California", but we were passing an 18-wheeler so I passed on the celebration. :-)

I briefly thought about asking if we could stop in Weed, just so I could get a pic of me next to a sign like "Welcome to Weed". :-)

I could feel "success" nearing as the miles flew behind us. "145 miles to Sacramento" turned into 100, which turned into 50, which turned into 45 miles to Sacramento......then....

.......SWITCH---OFF......Like a big transformer clunking loudly as all power is shut down, the last leg of our ride was unfortunately delayed. Anna's bike lost all power...right there on the freeway, while going 80 mph......

I heard a different sound coming from Anna's bike (I was riding 2nd in formation so I heard her bike clearly)....she suddenly slowed, and went to pull over. I was following about 1 second behind, and desperately tried to slow from 75 mph to 15 mph in a very short distance, so as to not run into Anna as she pulled in front of me on her way to the right shoulder. Lyn almost ran into me in the process, but we made it to the side of the freeway safely.

We all dismounted. Lyn checked the oil....no oil registering on Anna's dipstick. "Oh crap" I thought. "I hope the engine didn't sieze up" .

Lyn ran 4 miles down the freeway to buy oil for Anna's bike Some oil put into the crankcase, and her bike started right up. A mile down the road, the bike died again. No obvious anomalies...no leaks, no loss of lighting, no loose wires or fouled spark plugs. That's it....time to call a tow truck!

The first tow company that Lyn called, was no help at all. After telling the guy at the shop that we were "7 miles south of Arbuckle and 44 miles north of Sacramento", and after clearly explaining the situation, the guy said " well, the tow would be cheaper for you if you take the bike to Sacramento".

"What?...as I'd mentioned...the bike is DEAD....won't run...."

*click* Lyn hung up.

Called another place in Elk Grove....it would take about an hour to get to us, but at least we could take the bike to my sister's. The hour was taking forwever....I had to pee badly, and was about ready to find a place by the side of the road....but there was no place to go without drivers seeing. Anna said screw it and went ahead to use the bathroom......I passed on the experience because I didn't want briars in my underwear!

Long wait for the truck, but after the truck got there, Lyn and I took off for the nearest Chevron to gas up and use the bathroom. Whew! I thought I was going to injure myself from holding it!

We figured that Anna and the tow truck would get to my sisiter's house first....but Lyn sure was riding like a bat outta hell....80 mph...in the dark, with other drivers tailing me. I had to concentrate on the fast 1 hour ride because my contacts were being blurry. I I lost sight of lyn, I wouldn't be able to tell her tail light from a car's tail light.

On the way to my sister's, we managed to catch up with the tow truck....geez, we must've been going fast. Eek!

Made it to my sister's house. We all went to In n' Out Burgers for food, then crashed.....another long day!

Moto trip: day 2

Crater lake was sooo much fun. I've never seen a lake so blue in all my life. There was still many feet of snow there, but thankfully the roads were dry. The ride to Crater Lake was beautiful as well, with lots of twisties. There was on part of the road near the lake that consisted of a lot of switchbacks.....that was "interesting" on my cruiser!

We stayed in Ashland sunday night, ate at an Indian restaurant that had the BEST chicken Korma I've ever had! We tried to convince the owner to move to Seattle, since he was looking to move anyway due to slow business. But alas, he's planning on taking on a Qdoba chain .....darn it.

Funny how long tours on a bike can warp one's sense of time. I've heard a few other bikers talk about "time-hold awareness....where there's this weird sense of disorientation yet full awareness of "now". The disorientation happens when we actually check a clock and wonder why its the time it is, based on the experiences of the day. For me, time feels as if it stopped, in a way. I'm a little in a weird state...not a bad state....just a little "weird". I don't quite know how else to explain it. I do know that my bike feels like a "part" of me now, as opposed to me merely controlling it.

Tomorrow....its off for the ride to my sister's house in Elk Grove California.

Moto trip day 1-more pics

Pics of the little church in Elbe, an with our Couchsurfing hosts in Eugene, Sean and Teresa.....

Moto trip day 1

After spening an evening trying to determine the best packing job for our legguage and gear, Lyn and I finally got our bikes ready to go at around midnight on friday night. Lyn spent the night at my house, and we awoke to my Mom who was being sweet and sent us off by making us pancakes for breakfast.

We went to pick up Anna Marie, then we headed off to the "end of the quarter" party for the Wushu class. Lots of great food and great company to start the journey....

We left the party early to go to the studio to wish the kung fu students much luck for their exams . I was bummed that I'd miss their test, but I know they'd do well.

Off we go! A relatively good ride to Eugene, where we stayed with "couchsurfing" members Sean and Teresa. Wonderful couple and great people! On the way there, we stopped several times to gas up....one stop was in Elbe where I snapped a pic of a quaint tiny church.....

In the morning, the plan is to visit Crater Lake then get to Ashland to a motel.....

moto trip: day 1

After spening an evening trying to determine the best packing job for our legguage and gear, Lyn and I finally got our bikes ready to go at around midnight on friday night. Lyn spent the night at my house, and we awoke to my Mom who was being sweet and sent us off by making us pancakes for breakfast.

We went to pick up Anna Marie, then we headed off to the "end of the quarter" party for the Wushu class. Lots of great food and great company to start the journey....

We left the party early to go to the studio to wish the kung fu students much luck for their exams . I was bummed that I'd miss their test, but I know they'd do well.

Off we go! A relatively good ride to Eugene, where we stayed with "couchsurfing" members Sean and Teresa. Wonderful couple and great people!

In the morning, the plan is to visit Crater Lake then get to Ashland to a motel.....

*sigh* darn gas prices!

Gee whiz. I remember when 20 bucks filled my car's gas tank. Maybe I need to get over my "fair weather rider" persona and just start taking the bike every day!

looking for my Tourmaster raingear right now! :-)

Getting pumped for the ride to Cali

I'm getting jazzed up for the upcoming motorcycle trip! :)) only a couple of weeks left to go.

We're going to "couch surf" on the way to Cali....kind of a foreign concept to me....meeting people along your travels and sleeping at their place for no charge! Of course, gifts and household assistance are appreciated. As cost effectice such lodgings are, it would be my first time couch-surfing and while I'm willing to try it, I'm a little iffy about it. Its all about "cultural exchange", and all members are verified and (most are) vouched for. That prevents the wierdos and sickos from showing up at your door, I guess.

The couch surfing project is kind of cool..... check it out..... http://www.couchsurfing.com

testing out this mobile logging stuff..

It appears that my mobile blog and my original blog (restita-musings.blogspot.com) aren't meshing correctly. So, please disregard this particular blog post while I test my blog configuration. :-)

In the meantime......one of my students had this shirt on....and I just had to take a pic of it (considering that we do routines called "monkey forms")! Pretty amusing!