Battling the Rain Gods…..Again !!

June 30, 2012

Medford OR 

Departed Tigard around 11am after a nice breakfast with the family.  The skies were cloudy but all was dry and warm.  So I didn’t don the rain gear…just leathers.  That was fine until about 20 miles north of Eugene when the rain started hitting me.  I made it to a gas station and put the gear on…including the Harley boot covers and face mask.  Two good moves as the rain varied from off, drizzle, light rain, medium rain, and then heavy rain.  I stayed warm and dry the whole time….I’m sure I looked like a bundled up bunny.  One time, when it was not raining, another Harley went by me weaving in and out of cars.  It was a chopper with apes and the rider was in jeans, tshirt, helmet and goggles.  He gave me a look of disdain as he passed me and Sophia as we cruised along at 65mph.  Oh well, I guess I’ll never qualify for the cajones club. 

Starting the Four Corners

June 30, 2012

South Medford OR 

I made it to Blaine on Friday the 29^th around 1pm.  Took some time to get a number of different photo’s.  One at the Marine Park on the bay, one at the Peace Arch Park and one at the Post Office.  I tanked up at the chevron but forgot to get their telephone number for the SC-MA form but substituted it with the Post Office phone number provided by the Postal Clerk.  George from West Coast FL took my pic at the Park and Peter, from Blaine took the pic at the PO. 

Angry NW Weather Gods

June 22, 2012
Chemult OR

Stopped briefly in Klamath to tank up for the ride to Eugene and then to Tigard.  I really would like to make it to Tigard tonight…and I think I can do it.  But then the weather gods got pissed….and did the same all over me.  I was at the north end of Upper Klamath Lake when the rain started.  It was already cold, but now got a little colder.  Then the rain got even harder and I knew there was no way I could go over the Willamette Pass at 5200 feet.  The temperature was dropping and I was only around 3000 feet and climbing already.

Memory told me that there was only one more town before the OR58 turnoff so I was trying to make that and hope there was a motel there that I could find a vacancy and hole up for the night.  As I rode, I kept alternating my hands down to the engine to warm them; they

Lava Beds NP

June 22, 2012

Lava Beds NP 

Woke up around 3am….a noise in the campsite.  Seemed Dell was up throwing wood on his fire.  I was warm…but not totally comfortable.  As I wiggled around inside the jungle bag I could look out through the mosquito net that was zipped shut and see the clear sky.  My feet felt trapped inside the folded sheet inside the zipped jungle sleeping bag.  Half asleep I tried to move my feet free, still felt trapped, then the claustrophobia set in.  I tried deep breathing, relaxing, telling my feet all is ok.  Didn’t work.  I felt trapped….got my hands free out of the bag and pulled the zipper down.  Got the towel off of my head, tried to breathe and relax….to no avail.  It felt like the one man tent was closing in on me.  I had to get out….but it was freaking cold out there.  An alternative came to mind…..unzip the mosquito net door.  Twisting around in the bag I was able to get my hand on the zippers and open it fully then push my body further up out from under the tent top.  Ahhh, sweet air, clear sky, stars aplenty.  I contemplated the Milky Way, the billions of stars, multi billions of planets, life beyond earth, innumerable species, unlimited new Gods for species to worship….I fell asleep. 

Heading North to Lassen Volcanic NP

Jun2 21, 2012

Camp Crag, Lassen Volcano NP 

Coming down the CA120 out of Yosemite was a nice treat.  Plenty of curves in the road as it descended down the mountain.  The temperature slowly warmed up and by the time I reached Oakdale I called it a day and looked for a motel.  Lassen Volcanic NP was a long ways north and there was no way I could make it today. 

Found a Motel 6, that used to be a Quality Inn, and checked ln noting a restaurant was right next door.  While unloading I met Wayne who was also rolling in from the Valley on his softail Harley.  Tomorrow he’s heading to Pleasantville to visit family.  After unloading I had a delicious hamburger in the Ryderz Family Restaurant and planned to have breakfast there also.  Afterwards, out by the bikes, Wayne showed up again to chat and Steve Bustos of Wildcat Excavation out of Las Vegas NM.  He and sweetheart were heading across Yosemite to Reno/Carson.  He wasn't sure if there were gas stops along the way or not.  Hopefully he was able to tank up in the Valley....and survive the crazies running around there.

Woke up at 5am full of energy and ready to start.  The first thing I did

Yosemite Valley

June 19, 2012

Yosemite

Camping in Wawona was a real family affair.  It seems at the Harley is a magnet bringing many wonderful folks from around America to look at it and chat with me.  Clay and his son Cody were the first to stop by.  Cody was so enchanted with Sophia’s chrome that he want to touch it.  Later, Mike from Bentonville in NW Arkansas stopped by.  He’s a Harley rider but is RVing with his 95 year old father who was treated to his life long dream of seeing the Sequoias further south. 

Got up around 6:30 and started loading the bike.  As I walked towards her I noticed that the right flagpole was leaning inwards a little.  So I went 10 feet to the rear to look at the alignment and yep, it’s leaning…something is amiss.  With the saddle bags removed I inspected the bolt that anchors the pole to the frame…it was solid tight.  Aha, then the problem became evident.  The Brazilian wood broom handle from which Jerry and I constructed the flag pole, was cracked where we notched out 2 inches of wood to accommodate opening the top of the saddle bag.  Darn!  How do I fix that! 

Wawona Memories

June 19, 2012

Yosemite 

The ride out of King’s Canyon was down CA180, around Fresno andnorth on CA41.  That brought me into the south entrance of Yosemite in the late afternoon.  It had been a warm, pleasant drive….ok, a little too warm with the Bohn Body Armor…but not all that bad.  Just prior to entering the park I stopped at a gas station in a small town (Fishtown??) and tanked up.  

Fish Town has a campsite so I pulled in there with hopes of finding a place….no luck…they were full and people were waiting hoping someone cancels so they could get a spot. 

Luckily, I decided to roll the dice on Yosemite.  At the entrance gate (free entry ‘cuz I have a “Senior Pass”) The ranger was kind enough to bird dog me to Wawona reservation center.  He thought that if there

Giant in the Sunlight

June 19, 2012

King’s Canyon

The ride on to Kings Canyon went well.  Speeds were very moderate…don’t think I ever saw a limit exceeding 35.  The air was nice and cool at this altitude despite the sun burning down on me and Sophia.  The scenery, whenever I could see through the massive trees was awesome.   

Coming around a bend I spotted a large turnout area and pulled over to take a break and drink some water and found a photo op.  On the opposite side of the road, basking in direct sunlight was a huge Sequoia gleaming red as could be for the world to see.   

I repositioned the bike to the other side of the road, in front of the Redwood giant, just as a car pulled in and parked up ahead of me.  I asked the gentleman as he got out if he would mind taking a photo for me and when he replied with a “be glad to” I detected an accent.  His name was Leon and he was from Barcelona Spain.  He had his young daughter with him and they were riding the Sequoias in a rented convertible having a good time.  I think he did a great job getting the photo for me J. 

Getting out of Sequoia NP

June 18, 2012

Sequoia National Park

Woke up at 6am and started breaking camp.  15minutes later visitors started stopping by.  First was Ranger John, then Raymond of Bakersfield.  Raymond and his family were in the site next to mine.  Then Ranger Ernie came by and he chatted of his days in the military and his Harley riding back in ‘42 when he was 15. 

I kept working away at setting my load and strapping it all down while everyone was swapping stories.  A glance at my watch as I was departing showed 8:20am which meant that I would make it in time for the hourly let through at the construction site. 

The ride up the mountain was full of hairpin turns with speeds posted at 15 and 25.  It was certainly slow going.  My arrival at the construction starting point was 8:50 so I had 10 minutes remaining.  There were people from China there and they were admiring the bike while I was chatting with (Ok, I can’t remember if it was Mark or John) and his wife Marilyn.  They’re from Phoenix AZ and ride a Gold Wing.  John (Mark?) owns a food store in the city and is able to take occasional time off to go on trips.  I hope they check out the blog so they can correct my faulty memory for names. 

Cars at the head of the line started coming to life so I jumped on the bike and got her started (which is why I didn’t write John/Mark’s name down) and we began our advancement to the beginning of the construction.  As I entered the construction road I knew I was going to be challenged.   

Martin from Ulm Germany

June 18, 2012

Had to put a plug in here for a young student from Germany who kindly took a photo for me.  His name is Martin and he is attending college in Flint Michigan.

C ya mañana,

Gonzo

Twitter: @GonzoCrossUSA

Blog:  http://www.GonzoCrossUSA.blogspot.com

Email: GonzoCrossUSA@gmail.com

Cell: 949-433-0761

On the Road Again

June 17/18, 2012 Father’s Day
Bakersfield/Sequoia National Park

I finally made it….finally got on Sophia, my Harley Road King, and headed north out of Orange County. There was a lot to finish at home before I could actually depart. Some things are still left undone, but they are minor things….the kids are going to be much more comfortable now.

Of all days it was Father’s Day. But I was able to spend most of the day with the kids and