Found a picture of my Grandfather

Here is my Pop Pop looking very dapper on an Indian motorcycle….guess this is where I get my love of motorcycling

Looking over this picture I recalled one of me in July 2013 on my way to Canada

Ever so many obstacles- 425 miles

The ride home was fraught with things lost and almost lost.  Of course there was the requisite traffic as I traveled south.  So I took a picture of the Richmond Bridge (which is my requisite shot)

Then I was met by a police officer who swerved left and right to slow down traffic right in front of me.  This went on for miles until he finally stopped, got out, removed a length of chain from the road and let us pass

 

As I traveled further a car in front of me stopped short in the HOV lane and I had to swerve to the left to avoid an accident.  Then, further down the road, I lost my Italian patch off my jacket.  WHAT?  Honestly, the wind was so bad right around Hollister that it tore a patch off my jacket.  Oh well, guess it is on a journey now.

I was however undeterred.  Onward Dash and I continued. He riding like a demon (that 520 conversion is amazing.  So much power I can now pass people in 5th gear instead of downshifting to 3rd or 4th  May not seem like a big deal but it really is especially on a 40 year old bike).

Coming upon San Luis Obispo and just beyond my scarf decided that it may want to join my patch and tried to escape my neck.  I however captured the end of it (that must have been interesting to see) and was able to pull over and tuck it in my tank bag.

Once on the 154 I knew I was close and could not wait to be home

All in all, 1,200 miles to pick up Pimpzilla who, as it turns out, I am mailing to Colorado today.  That little monster is such a prince!

Got some pictures from Greg from when we met up and got Pimpzilla.  I have since mailed him off to Colorado for his next adventure (no way I was going to ride him there-ha ha)

They look so happy together–Greg’s 750 and Dash’s demure 550–he looks so tiny in comparison.

And a decent picture of me soooooooo

 

No motorcycling today. Instead we went kayaking…

(If you are looking for motorcycling skip to the next entry)

The day started bright and early.   Yummmm…

Okay we didn’t start out with Coors!  Here are Jennifer, Carolina, and Capo (before breakfast)

  It was perfect weather, so we floated about 

   
Until Jennifer spotted a rope swing.  She was the only one brave enough to climb the rickety ladder and land in the cold water below…

   
  

Tommorw I push for home after visiting RKA for a custom tank bag. That Cortech has got to go!
 

398 miles for….

Pimpzilla

  
Here he is enjoying some whiskey after our long voyage home.  

The ride today was actually lovely.  Twisties and sweeps in the morning and a long boring ride on the 5- so it was like an Oreo cookie (if you prefer the cookie). 

Began on the 12 and then transitioned to the the 29.  For Rick that was like the best of the 33. Really better than the 33.  Then picked up the 20 which was like the 150 & 154 so all and all a nice beginning and ending to my day. 

   
    
 
Dash did so well with his new 520 chain conversion so much more power without all the downshifting. 

After a horribly hot ride on the 5. (I was literally drenched and Greg mentioned I may be over dressed in my leathers. Ha ha-maybe it’s time for a textile jacket). We met up outside the turtle exposition at the Sundial bridge.  It was so nice to meet Greg in person.  Let’s ride in 2017 when we can do more than pass off PZ. 

  
And the bridge which is very beautiful

  

 And the requisite handoff of Pimpzilla

 
As a nice Sundial Bridge woman officer came to ask us to move our bikes- I was melting like Frosty the snowman in the green house- but Greg had an entire conversation which I eventually had to stop before I passed out.  

Pimpzilla was tucked into the panniers where he always rides with me 

  
I also got a smooshed penny which is a bonus!!!  I’m a sucker for a smooshed penny 

  

What a long boring ride it was…. 424 miles (Carolina can’t add–she had me going an extra hundred miles- 424 is correct)

The day began as all days do on the central coast in June–gloomy.  Requisite speedometer pic

  

Sidenote my speedometer gave up the ghost and apparently I was doing 120 miles per hour. Ha ha. Odometer works fine. I guess now I can do what I always wanted and return to the original speedometer. I will do that when I return. 

Back to the story….I rode through fog (you just have to believe me I didn’t take a picture).   Then the sun came out and I had to take off my heated gear.  Then the fog returned and I put my gear bag on.  Then the sun came out and I took off the gear. And so on went the ride.   At 200 miles it was so hot I had to laugh. 

  
I saw this.  Note the speedometer and how fast I am supposedly going. Ha ha 

  
And lots of this …

  
Finally some green …

 After seeing a bunch of goats and quite possibly the largest steer in the world I arrived at Petaluma which is a quaint downtown area. Thirty minutes later I was at Carolina’s house.  

In the end, the only good thing is I arrived safely AND I get to hang out with my friend

  
Tomorrow off to the Sundial Bridge and Pimpzilla