The Big Ride is Over

Yes, the big ride is over. It was very intense and anything but restful. We pounded out miles on some of the most beautiful roads in the country, let alone California.

We left at 6:00 am on Tuesday the 17th. We rode across Nevada on hwy 50, "Americas Loneliest Highway". We got our Highway 50 Passports stamped along the way. The majority of the drive was straight. There was a lot to look at though. I was never bored. There were some fun stretches: in and out of Austin, and a cool sequence of valleys right before Nevada. Tahoe was very fun to ride around. It was quite cool in the evening as well. We froze a couple of nights. We ate at a little bar and grill by the condo. They had some delicious buffalo/chipotle wings.

The second morning we made a Safeway run. We bought 50.00 worth of breakfast stuff. Our mistake was going hungry, we bought way too much. We didn't start riding until about 10 am. The first little while we made good time. Paul's bike started having trouble in Bridgeport, CA. His headlight stopped working and his bike wouldn't start with the starter. Paul turned around in Lee vinning and headed back to Carson to see if he could find a fix it. We pressed on the 120 into the Yosemite National Park. Instantly we were greeted with boulders and cliffs and trees. We even saw some tetons on the way into the park. Sorry, I did not get a picture. Yosemite was slow go. We only did 400 miles or so that day, but it took forever. We stopped in Sonora, Ca on the way home and had some very decent Mexican at El Jardin on the main drag there in old town. The frijoles there were amazing!! We came home on the 108. It was great at night. The road condition was remarkable and it was freezing over the super 9000 foot pass of Sonora. We got home after midnight.

The third day was supposed to start early. Yuki wouldn't get up, so we did not get started until well into the morning. Luke and Paul worked on his bike and found the problem. We made excellent time once we got on the freeway. We took 50 out of Tahoe and joined I-80 at Sacramento. 50 was great until we got into town. 80 is interstate. My bike fizzled in Vacaville. Luckily we were close to a very helpful dealership who found a coil for my Kawa at a nearby boneyard. 20 bucks and about 1 1/2 hours later (the entire stop took that long) we were on our way to San Fran! We did the touristy Warf and went to China Town to eat, nothing special, then rode across the Golden Gate. We went up hwy 1 to Muir beach and played until dark. We decided to go north to 580 then across the bridge to 80 again and go north to Truckee and then south around Tahoe back to the condo. It took forever. I had to stop somewhere out there. I think it was near dutch flat. I was falling asleep and pounded a Dew and a candy bar, also some beef jerky. I took some M&Ms for the rode, I think I dropped more than I ate, it is hard to eat them with one hand and a full face helmet. We got home about 3 am.

We left about 11:00 to head home. I stopped to take a pic on a cool turn overlook, then everyone left. I missunderstood where we were gassing up. By the time I got to gas I was in Carson with no sign of anyone. I just wanted to get home. Patty had a family thing that I was going to try and make, but our late night before made the cances slim. I still saw a glimmer of hope so I took off. I filled up in Reno, then again in Winnemucca, and again in Wendover. I made it home at 8:30. I tried to go back and find the group with some water and stories. They passed me in Delle and I did not catch them until Tooele exit. We arrived home at 11:30 pm approximately.

It was a lot of fun. I learned a lot. I know more about how I want to ride on the Big Ride 2009. Get ready, the countdown has already started.

JP