Well my Easter Weekend Ride actually started when I had to fly out to my California office for an audit. Since I was going to be there anyway I called my close friend Marion up and asked if I can ride one of the multiple bikes in his stable. His Dad (90+ Years old and still rides) and he have always told me that one of their bikes was mine anyway, so I called to see which one was mine for this trip. So for this trip I got to ride Marion’s daily ride
, a 2005 GL1800 its the 30th Anniversary model for those that care.
Anyway, I am out their way on business for most of the week, Monday – Thursday. I fly to Bakersfield Monday afternoon and while in the parking lot of the restaurant where I take a couple of staff to dinner to, I see this contraption:
It looks like alot of fun. Anyone know what it is?
Tuesday we leave for Ventura where we have operations and we go audit one of the rigs. We head back to the Hotel around 4pm or so to get checked in before we head back out again to audit the night shift. While out on the hotel balcony taking a picture of the Venture hill side, I made a new friend.
Tuesday night we go back out to the rigs and then call it quits.
Wednesday morning we get up and drive to the town of Brawley, CA. This is way down near El Centro, in the
Imperial Valley south of the Salton Sea. I learned a very importantant life lesson here. I AM VERY ALLERGIC TO THE AIR DOWN HERE! I hope that you all bought Benadryl stock last week. Because I sure took enough to make their asking price go up.
Oh Well... The drive down to Brawley from Ventura was as eventfull as one could expect on a California freeway.
I did see this unique motorcycle being driven by a woman west of Palm Springs though:
As well as some very impressive wind mill farms:
Oh.. and I can't let you all not see what Brawley looks like
I know this is where I am looking for a vacation home!
Leaving the rig Wednesday night I thought this was a cool photo op. The color of the sky with the moon on the rise as a back drop to one of our older rigs.
Thurday morning we wake up and hit the rig one more time (just to let them know were there
then beat feet back up to Bakersfield. Gary had to stop and buy fuel around Tehachapi and I could not let this photo op get by:
Well by Thrusday night I am at my friends house outside of Visalia and am pretty much in VEG mode. Friday is a down time day where I catch up on emails from being on the road for a couple of days. I like to think that I helped around Marions house a little with errands that he had to run. And performed an oil change on his GL1800. After several good conversations and multiple beers later we call it a night.
Saturday morning my ride starts:
Sunrise in the orange grove, the sun is coming up over Seqouia / Kings Canyon park although my cheap camera is washing out the magnificant colors of the mountains and sky!
And my therapy provider for this weekend!
It was quite cool departing their home that Saturday morning!
I leave thier home and make my way due west on highway 198 towards Coalinga, Ca. That is where I will hit my first curves. But along the way I drive by this place where it all started between Marion and I.
They have a new main gate from when I was stationed there........................... wait for it.... wait for it.... 18 YEARS AGO! And can you believe that they would not let me just ride around base?
I rode up to the main gate and asked for permission and all, even said that I was station here the year that he was born.... Can you believe that he still would not let me pass????
So after not getting my way I leave the base (believe the above if you want too...
) and resume my travel on 198
Miles and miles of this:
Until I get to the intersection of 198 and I-5, where I stop for breakfast.