09-07-2020, 06:21 AM
09-07-2020, 08:38 AM
I do not miss any of the 4 seasons of SoCal (no particular order, although 2 usually follows 3):
1. fire
2. flooding
3. earthquakes
4. Santa Ana winds...although it might be good for southern Nevada now, to blow the "haze" back to SoCal.
I am a SoCal native, as were my parents, but have not been back since a month after my dad passed, 2 1/2 years ago, excluding Death Valley.
Only 103F today..10 degree drop from Sunday, with a forecast to 81 F on Wednesday.
Planning a ride with V rod friend, only he plans to take his Africa Twin.
Hope it is a little below 100F for an Arizona-Utah ride all next week.
822 miles from Las Vegas to Clarkdale, AZ (youngest daughter's family), to Flagstaff (lunch with former boss), to North Rim of Grand Canyon, then home through Utah.
No camping planned as overnight low in the Jacob Lake area for Thursday night, week, is expected to be 32F *** (might not bother Long Ranger!...what do you think, Eric?).
Wife and I went to North Rim in early June, right after it reopened from the Corona Panic and just before it closed, due to fires. Cape Royal looked like a good ride and that is my goal, this trip.
https://www.google.com/maps/dir/Aliante+...286863!3e0
https://www.google.com/maps/dir/Jacob+La...995674!3e0
*** In Feb, 1967, age 20, I bought a new CB160 (second bike, first new). Amazing top speed for the ccs, but I severely abused it. Broke 5 headlight rings from jumping it. One time I locked up the rear and the rear brake cable stud on the frame broke. Under warranty, the dealer did not want to weld, so ordered a new frame for it. I rode it from McGuire AFB, around the perimeter of Long Island (400 mile trip), almost to the airport (LaGuardia at the time?), without a rear brake. Maybe that is when I formed the habit of using the front brake so much.
It was memorable for several reasons:
1. two ferry boat rides (jumped off the Shelter Island north ferry before it docked). Highway 27 east, ferry to island then ferry to highway 25A west...sure does not seem like 53 years ago..I still remember the jump not quite clearing the water (concrete ramp, not dock) and the rear side-slipped a bit as the ferry was still moving in...yes, young and stupid!
2. camping in the rain with only a GI issue sleeping bag on a concrete slab to stay out of the mud
3. curling up close to the motor for warmth, hitting my head on the bike when I awoke (if I actually slept)...never want to camp that cold again!!
4. inoperable rear brakes on a 3 month old bike
5. dying in heavy rain (soaked air filter, not the first time)
6. Pushed UP off-ramp, paid to store at service station, then took taxi to airport to meet my grandmother (enroute to Ireland), then took bus back to base
7. sold bike back to dealer for 1/2 of the $575 I paid for it (just got orders to southeast Asia). My parents were happy, as I had planned on riding it from New Jersey to San Fernando Valley of SoCal!
https://www.google.com/maps/dir/McGuire+...474925!3e0
Bought a used 1967 CL160 in 1969, but it did not have anywhere near the performance of the 1967 CB160.
1. fire
2. flooding
3. earthquakes
4. Santa Ana winds...although it might be good for southern Nevada now, to blow the "haze" back to SoCal.
I am a SoCal native, as were my parents, but have not been back since a month after my dad passed, 2 1/2 years ago, excluding Death Valley.
Only 103F today..10 degree drop from Sunday, with a forecast to 81 F on Wednesday.
Planning a ride with V rod friend, only he plans to take his Africa Twin.
Hope it is a little below 100F for an Arizona-Utah ride all next week.
822 miles from Las Vegas to Clarkdale, AZ (youngest daughter's family), to Flagstaff (lunch with former boss), to North Rim of Grand Canyon, then home through Utah.
No camping planned as overnight low in the Jacob Lake area for Thursday night, week, is expected to be 32F *** (might not bother Long Ranger!...what do you think, Eric?).
Wife and I went to North Rim in early June, right after it reopened from the Corona Panic and just before it closed, due to fires. Cape Royal looked like a good ride and that is my goal, this trip.
https://www.google.com/maps/dir/Aliante+...286863!3e0
https://www.google.com/maps/dir/Jacob+La...995674!3e0
*** In Feb, 1967, age 20, I bought a new CB160 (second bike, first new). Amazing top speed for the ccs, but I severely abused it. Broke 5 headlight rings from jumping it. One time I locked up the rear and the rear brake cable stud on the frame broke. Under warranty, the dealer did not want to weld, so ordered a new frame for it. I rode it from McGuire AFB, around the perimeter of Long Island (400 mile trip), almost to the airport (LaGuardia at the time?), without a rear brake. Maybe that is when I formed the habit of using the front brake so much.
It was memorable for several reasons:
1. two ferry boat rides (jumped off the Shelter Island north ferry before it docked). Highway 27 east, ferry to island then ferry to highway 25A west...sure does not seem like 53 years ago..I still remember the jump not quite clearing the water (concrete ramp, not dock) and the rear side-slipped a bit as the ferry was still moving in...yes, young and stupid!
2. camping in the rain with only a GI issue sleeping bag on a concrete slab to stay out of the mud
3. curling up close to the motor for warmth, hitting my head on the bike when I awoke (if I actually slept)...never want to camp that cold again!!
4. inoperable rear brakes on a 3 month old bike
5. dying in heavy rain (soaked air filter, not the first time)
6. Pushed UP off-ramp, paid to store at service station, then took taxi to airport to meet my grandmother (enroute to Ireland), then took bus back to base
7. sold bike back to dealer for 1/2 of the $575 I paid for it (just got orders to southeast Asia). My parents were happy, as I had planned on riding it from New Jersey to San Fernando Valley of SoCal!
https://www.google.com/maps/dir/McGuire+...474925!3e0
Bought a used 1967 CL160 in 1969, but it did not have anywhere near the performance of the 1967 CB160.
09-07-2020, 10:00 AM
Great stories, Doc. Just as well you didn’t fall off in front of that ferry.
09-07-2020, 10:14 AM
Very jealous. Tomorrow’s high in Evergreen will be 28 degrees with 12-17” snow forecast.
AZ67 from Jacob Lake to the North Rim is one of my favorite rides, and of course a few nights at the lodge is always delightful. I imagine it’ll be closing for the season soon.
AZ67 from Jacob Lake to the North Rim is one of my favorite rides, and of course a few nights at the lodge is always delightful. I imagine it’ll be closing for the season soon.
09-07-2020, 10:23 PM
Going to be 86 here in Pennsylvania today, but mornings are a cool 67
09-08-2020, 06:36 AM
A few in a row rainy days, no riding 
09-14-2020, 02:53 AM
During hot times, I wear my mesh jacket, always, but I can ride down Pacific Coast Hwy to Huntington or Newport and back to my house. When I go out to Hesperia, my BIL and I ride early, on the road at 7am and back to his house and in the pool by noon.