600 Miles Accomplished

Bisbee, Arizona

N 31°25'38.68", W 109°52'38.67"

http://maps.google.com/maps?q=31.42741,-109.87741

I made it to my friend Kat's house about two and a half hours ago, just after dark. This timing is significant, as in the last hour of twilight it became apparent that my headlight had some difficulties. It and my gauges were only illuminating intermittently and it appears that the only headlight I have is a not-very high beam. Accordingly, as I was wending the last ten miles into Bisbee and darkness fell, the light failed completely. Thanks to other headlights, some streetlights, and working tail lights, I was not crushed for using stealth mode. Just a little fretting, fuse wiggling, and wandering later, I stopped to check my map - one house away from the goal. Success!

I think I'm getting into a groove because I am overall feeling better and less achy after today's 600 mile run than yesterday's 400.

My favorite learning experience of the day happened at 85 miles per hour. Thus far I had been snapping every snap on my trenchcoat's front closure, for completion's sake. After redoing them at every stop, on top of the straps for my legs, I thought maybe the redundancy was unnecessary, so I only did the outer set. For 30 miles of a state highway going 50 to 70, I was golden. Flash forward, oh, say, 20 miles or so past Tucson on I-10, in a curvy stretch through some hills and see me notice the wind catch the tails of my coat. No big deal, it happened before. Save that this time I have half the snaps securing the front and all at once those give out.

Poof.

My trenchcoat inflates and, secured at my shoulders with the sleeves and at my knees with the leg straps, does flap like a cape, but rather transforms into a drag chute. Now, I'm sure it looked awesome to the guy behind me, but in that split second I had a vivid image of myself as a flying squirrel suddenly flying backwards off the bike. Fortunately, thanks to my strong grip and general gravity, it only freaked me out and gave me an opportunity to execute an emergency roadside stop, buttoning ALL the snaps, and an emergency off-the-shoulder merge. Man, that bike can move.

So now, after a delicious meal of homemade pizza and blueberry pie, and quality time with Kat, Wyatt, and their dogs Bow, Arrow, and Quiver, it's time to go to sleep with the sound of the engine and the wind still rustling in my ears.

Not A Bad View

Banning, California
N 33°55'27.36", W 116°54'44.83"
http://maps.google.com/maps?q=33.92427,-116.91245

Got up early and now I'm headed east on 10.  The same road that will deliver me all the way to Florida. Here we go, long haul.

It's The Feet That Suffer

Pasadena, CA
N 34°9'03.07", W 118°7'26.31"
http://maps.google.com/maps?q=34.15085,-118.12398

Courtesy my kind hosts' wifi, we have two photos. One of myself kitted up, taken by Jim this morning, and another of my gracious bed-givers for the evening, Mary Beth and her flatmate Dylan.

The day was a success and my goal of Los Angeles was achieved around 1700 hours. For the last half hour or so of the run, I was convinced that I had somehow burnt my left big toe through the boot. Maybe I had absent-mindedly rested it against the engine block too long? It was a stabbing pain like a poorly trimmed nail.

Good news! The boot is just too small and was jamming the corner of the nail. My feet were the last thing I expected to be the chief discomfort, but they shine out next to the totally tolerable muscle ache in my neck, shoulders, and thighs. A fairly distant second would have to be my right wrist - some cramping after hours twisting the throttle.
Pasadena is officially classified as a good stop. Shortly after arrival a gaggle of giggling neighborhood kids complimented me on the bike as I went to find Mary Beth's address. I got the two-penny tour of her new place and got acquainted with her roommate over water in my glass and a red Two Buck Chuck table wine in theirs.
At this point I was already walking around half barefoot, my left foot getting fresh air after a day of suffering, and it was in this state I ambled outside to show them the bike. On our return walk we spotted the aforementioned gaggle trying to knock one ball from the branches of a fairly large tree with a second ball. I got them to toss me the ball and scored a hit on the first shot - and laughed as the first ball came to earth and the second nestled deep in the same bough the first had just left.
After an unsuccessful subsequent toss, I decided to try the direct approach rather than risk having two balls up the tree.

A quick aside, though, I promise it's related.  Last night on the porch of the Merry Go Round house, talking to Sheryl and Declan, Sheryl made a joke about my adventure being like the Littlest Hobo who traveled the country doing good deeds. I replied that I must have grown up to be a middling sized biker, committing moderately good deeds whereever I go.

So, my moderately good deed consisted of shimmying up a very thick tree, with an audience, and shaking loose a blue basketball - all while wearing only one boot. I opened up my bread-baking blister in the process, but I had fun bringing tree climbing skills to bear and the wound was easily dressed.

We rounded out the evening with an amazingly good burger at the Hamburger Hamlet. I was expecting White Castle, but the name deceives and the restaurant is a thoroughly classy institution.

Okay, I need to sleep soon if I'm going to make tomorrow's goal. I just double checked the route and am feeling a little doubtful. I finished a 400 mile day today, but Bisbee is almost 600 away.

I'm sorry, foot.

Signs of the Times

93206, Buttonwillow, CA
N 35°23'28.05", W 119°23'03.78"
http://maps.google.com/maps?q=35.39113,-119.38438

Two warnings in quick succession: Severe Dust Area 40 Miles and Gusty Winds.
I am really grateful for the full face helmet. It has quite a bug collection and is aerodynamically heroic.

Lunchtime at Harris Ranch

N 36°15'11.84", W 120°14'19.78"
http://maps.google.com/maps?q=36.25329,-120.23883

Mmm, Subway sandwich.

I saw two coyotes, one living and one dead. Signs that say 'High Wind Area' mean it. A stretch of road can be beautiful and still smell strongly of manure.

200 miles to LA.

Newman, CA

95360, Newman, CA
N 37°22'21.26", W 121°7'22.59"
http://maps.google.com/maps?q=37.37257,-121.12294

Fuel economy suffers at 75 mph. Crop duster sighted heading north by northwest.

Mile 0

Thinkers Cafe, Top of Potrero Hill
20th St, San Francisco
N 37°45'35.69", W 122°23'52.49"
http://maps.google.com/maps?q=37.75991,-122.39791

Just a quick note from the crest of Potrero Hill. One last cup of coffee with Jim and Kevin and Uga before I fuel up and head out. It's a great view and the sky looks clear for a day's run to Los Angeles.

Maiden Voyage, Final Night

23rd St, San Francisco
N 37°45'15.76", W 122°24'42.49"
http://maps.google.com/maps?q=37.75438,-122.41180

Well, today was my final day in San Francisco and I spent most of it on the move. The first half of the day was spent divided between a southbound train and a southbound bus with Mishante.
We got to Santa Cruz around noon, confirmed the motorcycle would indeed start, and celebrated a ceremonial lap around Erik's new neighborhood with a feast of Little Caesar's.
After the meal, it was time to get down to business and actually relocate the bike to San Francisco. With a heady blend of fight, flight, and adrenaline I got on the bike, fueled up and made for the Pacific Coast Highway.
Aside from some initial hiccups with shifting and finding the right left turn, I made it onto Route 1 without incident and accelerated up to the posted 55. To the assumed chagrin of my vanguard on this two lane highway, I more or less stuck to the speed limit the entire trip.
The end of the story is that I made it back alive. For a first ride, I couldn't have asked for a better stretch of road or better weather - the clouds parted to a blue sky and for most of the run I either had the Pacific to my left or I was careening through forests and walls of hewn rock.

A few lessons I learned along the way:

1.  One layer is warm in the sun at 30 or 40 mph, in the shade or moving faster requires fortitude or more clothing. My legs started shivering off and on for part of the ride in the sea breeze and in the shade of the forest.
2.  Don't forget your earplugs. I did, and the wind didn't deafen me - this time. I can see how over hundreds and thousands of highway miles it could, though.
3. Wiggle your fingers and toes. Between the vibration on my left foot and the steady grip on the throttle with my right hand, I had to get creative with positioning to maintain circulation. 
4.  You wave to other riders with a hand angled DOWN from your handlebars. Put your hand UP if you want to see how a kite or a sailboat works. (Don't.)
5.  It is fun. Lots and lots of fun. The only sound I made was about halfway through as I rounded a curve in sight of breaking waves; I laughed out loud and filled my helmet with a "Woooooohoooooo!"

I plan to get up tomorrow at the crack of something, have a last cup of coffee at Thinkers with Jim, and hit the road with an end of day goal of Los Angeles. Wish me luck, and keep an eye on my little dot on the map.