We met at the Golden Gate bridge, Chuck complete with route maps for out tank bags.
My setup was tested out save for an additional bag and deemed safe and secure for the ride. We headed up 101 for about 100 miles to Ukiah, CA. Weather was hot 80+ degrees, beautiful riding weather. I am still getting used to highway speeds on the bike, and the additional weight immediately made the bike feel different. The frame felt like it was flexing more, and I had some wobbling at 70mph and above, especially in corners. I think I have too much weight in the back, and that makes the front wheel lighter and less stable. I felt that in corners, it would get a little squirrely and would feel like it was going to loose traction. Happy to get off the highway we headed down to the coast on a beautiful road with long sweeping turns and some twists, but nothing too technical or demanding. Eve with the load I felt comfortable. Up the coast and then to Garberville where it was hot and the northern Cal hippie/grungy people really owned the place. Marijuana cultivation is the largest industry here, and they don't keep it subtle. Hydroponics stores/vans, dreaded hippies, and you know where you are, the heart of pot growing in the USA. We headed out to our campsite, afraid that since it was a walk-in only site, we would have to get there post-haste, and stake our claim. After a wrong turn and some delicious (to me and the KLR, not so much to Charlie) gravel road we found out campsite and also found out we were the ONLY people here...someone did show up later at night.
Day two started out nice and cool. It was hot the day earlier. We'd had temps in the 90's but it was a little cooler at the coast. The plan was to take it easy and not ride too many miles. Head up to the Redwoods and ride to the coast, simple, take it easy. We did 180 miles. Hard, hard miles. 180 miles in about 10 hours. It was beautiful, it was hard, it was fun!!! We headed up to the Avenue of the Giants (more pics and video! to come from Charles.) The road was, well, it was the road that threw everything at us. Cruising through 300 ft Redwoods, complicated switchbacks, gravel, random, surprise gravel, potholes, chewed up roads, and beautiful, perfectly paved stretches. We went from 3000+ feet to sea level and back up in the space of less than an hour. We battled, heat, cold, wind, sun, and shade. It was really the road that had it all.. Somewhere in the middle of all this I found my groove and fell into a sync with the bike. She purred, she was magic, she gave me all and I was in the zone for a while. It's always hard starting for me, almost like having to learn anew everyday. Also at the end one becomes fatigued from all the work; fighting wind, braking hard, turning, accelerating, etc. Riding is nothing like driving a car. Driving is very passive, almost like you're watching the scenery go by. On a bike, you smell things, feel the wind, the road, the engine, very different experience. It's on the one hand invigorating, on the other exhaustive. I can't believe it took me so long to discover this. (Though probably good, because I tend to be more cautious these days)
Some pics from the ride day 2. (more to come from Charlie. His iPhone has panoramic camera and he has a GoPro video, so stay tuned for that)
Pit stop to get the brews before the camp
To be continued.....
Have you taken off yet??? Wondering where on earth you are? Keep us posted please!!
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