I'm on two wheels
Monday, January 26, 2009
States I have visited (so far)
Should be adding Arizona and hopefully Utah in the near future, depending on schedules on the next two out-of-state rides. ¶ 8:46 PM 0 comments
Should be adding Arizona and hopefully Utah in the near future, depending on schedules on the next two out-of-state rides. ¶ 8:46 PM 0 comments
Saturday, January 17, 2009
RIDE TO CRESTLINE AND BACK-FOR TOM
Here is the route with map stolen from Lynne's blog. She routed the trip, led the group very ably and we all had a great time. I just followed the motorcycle in front of me and it all worked out very well.
Tom a member of 230 is going in for some shoulder surgery next month and wanted to get in a couple rides before he is out of service due to the extensive surgery coming up.
Bright and early at 8:15 am, me, Johney, Lynne and Barry show up at Denny's in Brea and off we go to Chino to meet with Tom and Eric. These are all very good riders and members of STAR Chapter 230, as well. We arrived at Tom's and then all 6 of us headed for the 15 freeway and Highway 138 with Lynne leading the way. This is the turn-off for Silverwood Lake and Wrightwood.
We turned off at 138 and stopped at the gas station to review the road ahead. While gassing up a rider on a new 2008 Road Star stopped and chatted with me for a couple minutes. I am always amazed that another rider, often younger, would stop and talk to me and I actually have something to say that is of interest to them. Gave him one of my cards. Off we went and after negotiating the curvy parts came to Silverwood Lake and took a picture break.
We are heading up into the forest and the town of Crestline About 10 miles ahead. Looks like snow up there.
From here we start heading up into the San Bernardino National Forest towards Crestline and more really curvy parts. These roads have more curvy parts than a belly dancer. Suddenly on the side of the road is white stuff...could that be SNOW. Yep sure is.
With gravel and snow melt water on the road it made for some interesting curves for sure. I felt the back tire squiggle and slide a few times but no real threat to my vertical orientation. Going through Crestline for the first time in maybe 50 years, it was interesting but we just barreled through the center of town. Riding in a group really helps in traffic situations as motorists will often give way when they see a group riding in formation rather than dealing with just one motorcycle and basically ignoring them.
Up in those trees is the road.
Down below is Hwy 138 heading into San Bernardino
We stopped for a few pictures just below Crestline at a turn-out over looking the San Bernardino Valley area and from there headed to a restaurant known only to Lynne.
Well, after arriving at the very end of the stretch of old Route 66 in Devore, we found a hole-in-the-wall bar and a restaurant of dubious quality with a "B" health rating. Does the B stand for Botulism? It's on to Rancho Cucamonga just down the 15 Fwy and "The Hat" for sandwiches. While there someone said, "anyone want to go to Chaparral" and I piped in "sure I'll go". So it's off to Chaparral, a huge motorcycle super store back to the east in San Bernardino. This was just exciting for me to think that the group would take off and head in a new direction at the spur of the moment like that.
As we left the Hat stopped and took this picture, now that is a nice custom bike and paint job.
Chaparral is always interesting and I found a couple items to buy, and motorcycles to sit on. We then saddled up and took to the freeway heading south on the 215 to the 60 fwy. where Tom and Eric dropped off in Chino.
As we rode back doing about 70-75 mph, it occurs to me that none of any friends I have Before-Motorcycle would ever even think about doing what I am doing, have the nerve to try it or think I'm nuts for riding a motorcycle. My new circle of fellow riders and STAR members are becoming real friends and it is a life changing experience.
It's becoming obvious even to me, I am becoming a HARD CORE BIKER!
Total miles: 190, arrived back about 3:30. ¶ 7:16 PM 0 comments
Here is the route with map stolen from Lynne's blog. She routed the trip, led the group very ably and we all had a great time. I just followed the motorcycle in front of me and it all worked out very well. Tom a member of 230 is going in for some shoulder surgery next month and wanted to get in a couple rides before he is out of service due to the extensive surgery coming up.
Bright and early at 8:15 am, me, Johney, Lynne and Barry show up at Denny's in Brea and off we go to Chino to meet with Tom and Eric. These are all very good riders and members of STAR Chapter 230, as well. We arrived at Tom's and then all 6 of us headed for the 15 freeway and Highway 138 with Lynne leading the way. This is the turn-off for Silverwood Lake and Wrightwood.
We turned off at 138 and stopped at the gas station to review the road ahead. While gassing up a rider on a new 2008 Road Star stopped and chatted with me for a couple minutes. I am always amazed that another rider, often younger, would stop and talk to me and I actually have something to say that is of interest to them. Gave him one of my cards. Off we went and after negotiating the curvy parts came to Silverwood Lake and took a picture break.
We are heading up into the forest and the town of Crestline About 10 miles ahead. Looks like snow up there.From here we start heading up into the San Bernardino National Forest towards Crestline and more really curvy parts. These roads have more curvy parts than a belly dancer. Suddenly on the side of the road is white stuff...could that be SNOW. Yep sure is.
With gravel and snow melt water on the road it made for some interesting curves for sure. I felt the back tire squiggle and slide a few times but no real threat to my vertical orientation. Going through Crestline for the first time in maybe 50 years, it was interesting but we just barreled through the center of town. Riding in a group really helps in traffic situations as motorists will often give way when they see a group riding in formation rather than dealing with just one motorcycle and basically ignoring them.
Up in those trees is the road.
Down below is Hwy 138 heading into San Bernardino
We stopped for a few pictures just below Crestline at a turn-out over looking the San Bernardino Valley area and from there headed to a restaurant known only to Lynne.
Well, after arriving at the very end of the stretch of old Route 66 in Devore, we found a hole-in-the-wall bar and a restaurant of dubious quality with a "B" health rating. Does the B stand for Botulism? It's on to Rancho Cucamonga just down the 15 Fwy and "The Hat" for sandwiches. While there someone said, "anyone want to go to Chaparral" and I piped in "sure I'll go". So it's off to Chaparral, a huge motorcycle super store back to the east in San Bernardino. This was just exciting for me to think that the group would take off and head in a new direction at the spur of the moment like that.
As we left the Hat stopped and took this picture, now that is a nice custom bike and paint job.Chaparral is always interesting and I found a couple items to buy, and motorcycles to sit on. We then saddled up and took to the freeway heading south on the 215 to the 60 fwy. where Tom and Eric dropped off in Chino.
As we rode back doing about 70-75 mph, it occurs to me that none of any friends I have Before-Motorcycle would ever even think about doing what I am doing, have the nerve to try it or think I'm nuts for riding a motorcycle. My new circle of fellow riders and STAR members are becoming real friends and it is a life changing experience.
It's becoming obvious even to me, I am becoming a HARD CORE BIKER!
Total miles: 190, arrived back about 3:30. ¶ 7:16 PM 0 comments
Friday, January 02, 2009
Cold-Foggy ride 01/01/2009
The first ride of the new year- 2009! and It was cold and foggy. A group of us from STAR 230 were invited by Stan, also a member of the chapter and the church group that organized the ride.
I met Lynne at Johney's home in Orange at 7:30 am, but discovered Johney could not make it due to flu conditions. 
So off we rode to Stan's home in Garden grove. On arriving at Stan's we were getting ready to go and I noticed Stan putting on these thin summer type glove, and I told him you better get thicker gloves or you're going to freeze a few fingers. I have learned that when it get cold out, it gets REALLY cold when riding at 60-70 MPH.
With temperature at 48-50deg., I had on a pair of Tourmaster insulated over-pants, my Tourmaster Sabre jacket with the liner, a pair of Tourmaster winter insulated gloves with a pair of ski type glove liners underneath and a neoprene face mask-it really works. I did not want to freeze!
Mist accumulates on windshield.
Lynne had a similar amount of cold weather gear as we learned what works best on a ride to Fallbrook and DeLuz canyon about a week or two ago, it was cold then as well.
We arrived at the church in Garden Grove and met up with a number of riders from Stan's church group as they showed up. Just as we were getting ready to ride off, Joe from Ch. 230 rolled in and joined the group ride. There were 11 motorcycles and one chase vehicle with 3 people in it.
The leader was on a bright red 2008 Honda Goldwing with navigation and radio-quite a nice package.
Here's the 230 group, me on the left with my neoprene face mask, Lynne, standing in a hole in the pavement, Joe and Stan. Joe cheats he has electric gear.
After a short stop in Palos Verdes along the coast even though we still could not see the ocean due to fog, we get ready to head back to Long Beach and a restaurant called Roscoes chicken and waffles, just off Ocean Blvd. in downtown Long Beach. I had never heard of it but both my kids know the place well. I had a chicken salad sandwich and potato salad...very good. Lynne had the waffle and chicken combo...very good she reports. Food was good but not inexpensive for some of the chicken combos. 
Wearing all that gear made a big difference in keeping me much warmer than on previous cold weather rides. Lynne, Joe and I rode on up to Fullerton and Cyclegear to check out New Year specials, but I didn't need anything. Lynne bought Barry a couple pair of gloves. ¶ 6:17 PM 0 comments
The first ride of the new year- 2009! and It was cold and foggy. A group of us from STAR 230 were invited by Stan, also a member of the chapter and the church group that organized the ride.
I met Lynne at Johney's home in Orange at 7:30 am, but discovered Johney could not make it due to flu conditions. 
So off we rode to Stan's home in Garden grove. On arriving at Stan's we were getting ready to go and I noticed Stan putting on these thin summer type glove, and I told him you better get thicker gloves or you're going to freeze a few fingers. I have learned that when it get cold out, it gets REALLY cold when riding at 60-70 MPH.
With temperature at 48-50deg., I had on a pair of Tourmaster insulated over-pants, my Tourmaster Sabre jacket with the liner, a pair of Tourmaster winter insulated gloves with a pair of ski type glove liners underneath and a neoprene face mask-it really works. I did not want to freeze!
Mist accumulates on windshield.
Lynne had a similar amount of cold weather gear as we learned what works best on a ride to Fallbrook and DeLuz canyon about a week or two ago, it was cold then as well.
We arrived at the church in Garden Grove and met up with a number of riders from Stan's church group as they showed up. Just as we were getting ready to ride off, Joe from Ch. 230 rolled in and joined the group ride. There were 11 motorcycles and one chase vehicle with 3 people in it.
The leader was on a bright red 2008 Honda Goldwing with navigation and radio-quite a nice package.
Here's the 230 group, me on the left with my neoprene face mask, Lynne, standing in a hole in the pavement, Joe and Stan. Joe cheats he has electric gear.
After a short stop in Palos Verdes along the coast even though we still could not see the ocean due to fog, we get ready to head back to Long Beach and a restaurant called Roscoes chicken and waffles, just off Ocean Blvd. in downtown Long Beach. I had never heard of it but both my kids know the place well. I had a chicken salad sandwich and potato salad...very good. Lynne had the waffle and chicken combo...very good she reports. Food was good but not inexpensive for some of the chicken combos. 
Wearing all that gear made a big difference in keeping me much warmer than on previous cold weather rides. Lynne, Joe and I rode on up to Fullerton and Cyclegear to check out New Year specials, but I didn't need anything. Lynne bought Barry a couple pair of gloves. ¶ 6:17 PM 0 comments
