US-50 Coast-to-Coast: Day 12

I was on the road in San Luis Obispo at 8:00 AM. I went across the street to the Chevron station and paid $4.49 for gas. At one point in the US 50 trip I paid $2.54 for gas, which was getting close to almost half the California prices. I cannot believe how much California gas costs compared to other states.  

It had rained over night, but in the morning it was bright and light. Looks like I was going to have a great day on my short ride to Orange County.  But, it was not to be. 

I headed down the 101 with the intent of taking the 166 west, and then Tepusquet road south until it hit Foxen Canyon road. When I got to the 166, I found out it was closed. Not sure why.  Perhaps mud slides from the previous night’s rain?  

Therefore, I kept going south on the 101 until I ran into Foxen Canyon road. I was surprised that there were not many cars on the road. I probably ran into 1 or 2 during the half hour it takes to ride the canyon back down to the 101, where I picked up the 154, which would take me to Santa Barbara past Cuchuma Lake.

The temperature was in the mid 80s at this point and very pleasant.

I went through Santa Barbara and then down to Camarillo along the ocean. I took one of the farm roads to connect with highway-1, so I could go along the shoreline in Malibu.  As I was entering highway-1 off Las Posas Road, I shifted and then it happened. There was no resistance to the clutch lever. The bike was drifting with no power. I pulled to the side of the entrance ramp to highway-1 and parked it. 

I got off and was fiddling with the clutch lever, when a car pulled up behind me and parked. Out jumped a lady and she said “Your chain is back up the ramp.  There is nothing I can do, so I am going to leave.” At which point she jumped back in the car and left.   She was right.  About 100 feet up the ramp was my motorcycle chain in the middle of the ramp. I looked down and “yup, my chain was missing from the bike”. 

I started walking up the ramp and a bike came down and parked. The guy jumped off and asked if he could help. I then noticed that he was riding a newer Suzuki dl650.  I told him my bike was the same as his. We discussed the chain and he suggested we walk up the ramp looking for any other pieces that came off.  We found none. 

We went back to my bike and he asked questions about my bike configuration and farkles.  At that point I noticed that he was wearing a Schuberth helmet, just like mine.  He said his name was Bob and he lived in Simi Valley. I asked him where I could get service.  He told me, but also said they were closed today (Monday).  Bob suggested that the clutch cable was severed by the chain when it came off. Good observation and thinking, because at this point I was not thinking too clearly due to all the things going on.  There was not much more for Bob to do, so he left going South bound toward Malibu. 

I researched my service options and there were none. I think it would take at least two days to fix the bike after ordering the parts. I called AAA and told them to come and get me.  The driver came after about 30 minutes. He suggested I tow the bike to a shop in my area, if it was within the radius of my AAA plan. I called, and I had a 100 mile radius, and it just so happened that my house was about 100 miles away. At that point Bob reappeared to see how I was doing.  Bob and I talked briefly.  At this point Bob is my best friend.  I feel that I had known him my whole life, and here he was giving me help and comfort on the road.  Going to miss Bob because we had this dl650 and Schuberth connection thing going. If you read this bob, then send me a message.

I told the driver “Home James”, and off we went to Orange County with the bike on the back of the tow truck. I got home about 3:00 PM. I suggested to the driver that he back up the truck so we can unload the bike into the garage. The driver had other plans. He parked up the hill, and told me that that I should roll and ride the bike down the hill, up my driveway and into the garage.  So, that is what I did. I got enough momentum to make the garage, and park it just like I had power. 

So, that was my day. Not the ending I was planning, but if I had to break down it was good that it was only 100 miles away from my home, and not in the middle of Kansas with 106 degree heat beating down on me, and the next town 200 miles away. 

So here is how the day stacked up. I was on the road for 7 hours, which includes bike and tow truck time. I did 155 miles on the bike and 104 miles in the tow truck for a total of 259 miles today. 

Regarding the total trip from Ocean City, Maryland to home, I did 4,052 miles which also includes tow truck miles.  A worthy adventure if I must say so. What is next?  I really want to do the Alaska to Argentina ride.  But, maybe I should do a few more long distance rides before tackling that one?

US-50 Coast-to-Coast: Day 11

I slept in since it was Sunday and was on the road in Sacramento shortly before 9:00 AM.  I rode the 50 for the last few remaining miles and kept going on the 80 until I reached Dixon, California. I logged the end of my highway 50 at 3,424 miles.  It was really hard to leave the 50 after following it for over a week. It was like losing following until I arrived in Sacramento, California. The highway was always marked, regardless if it merged with other highways across the United States. I will truly miss the 50.

At Dixon, I went south on the 113 until I hit the 12. The 113 was rural and very interesting. It was remote but at 10:00 AM there were many cars.  

The traffic was very heavy on the eastbound 12.  We were bumper to bumper in construction traffic as I drove east towards interstate 5.

At one point I had to stop for a draw bridge to let a large ship cross. I stopped the engine and got off to shoot a few pictures.  I wish I was closer to the bridge as it rotated 90 degrees to let the ship pass.  This is the area where there are many water ways. Jeanne and I came through on the 12 last fall during the heavy rain storms. 

I rode to Lodi, California where I signed up for a wine club at a winery that Jeanne and I visited last fall. Once done at the winery, I rode straight south on the 99 until I cut over to i-5 at Stockton. The temperature was in the low 80s at this point and it looked like rain in the south. 

I headed to the 152 and went west until I hit the I-1 and went south through Carmel, and on to Big Sur. The temperatures dropped into the middle 70s as I hit the coast. I officially went coast to coast upon hitting Big Sur. 

Once in Big Sur the rain clouds moved in. It sprinkled lightly, soaking my jacket. The rain felt good after the heat of the last week. No need for rain gear. I stopped at the Big Sur Bakery to have a latte and muffin. The Big Sur Bakery is a favorite of mine, and the rest stop was much needed before the switchbacks going South. 

I have done Big Sur via motorcycle about 10 times. Big Sur never fails to deliver. Big Sur is where the earth meets the ocean in a dramatic and sudden fashion. I would rate Big Sur as one of my favorite places on earth.  I could not pass up an opportunity to go through Big Sur on my way home.

There were a gazillion people in Big Sur, stopping at each look out.  Cars were jammed into every nook and cranny.  There were always cars in front of me. Passing cars was pointless, because there was always another car around the corner. 

The smells on this part of the trip were incredible, especially with the rain.  Early on there were the smells of the strawberry crops. In Big Sur there were the smells of licorice from rain soaked vegetation.   Getting close to the ocean the smells were from the sea salt, or from the kelp washed up on the beach. There were also smells from the groves of eucalyptus trees as I entered Morro Bay. The smells are the best part of riding a motorcycle: they are always changing. 

Once into the southern part of Big Sur, the traffic got better and the last 50 miles was just great. I checked into my room in San Luis Obispo around 7:30 PM. I rode 387 miles today with 10.5 hours duration, and 7.5 hours of moving time. The ride today was great and was one of the better days on the coast -to-coast ride. Tomorrow I will finish the last part of my ride. 

US-50 Coast-to-Coast: Day 10

I stayed overnight at the Cooper Queen hotel in Ely. Interesting hotel, in that it is a casino, that also has a swimming pool inside the casino. I was on the road at 7:00 AM.  The temperature showed 55 degrees as I left and then went to 52 degrees once I was on the road. There were many clouds that looked like rain clouds in the distance. It felt really cold after riding for an hour.  I only saw about 10 cars the first hour.  After all, this is the loneliest road in America. 

After about an hour there was rain on the ground which looked about an hour old. The temperature stayed in the lower 50s, so I put on my rain gear in order to stay warm.  You could see rain falling in the distance, but it never rained on me.  I kept dancing between the storms as I have been for the length of the trip. 

There are a number of historical points you can stop at during the ride. Old forts or stage coach stops are some of the points. There are also a number of hot springs along the route, but I have never stopped since you need to ride on dirt roads. 

The road is great out of Ely. You ride at 7k feet through chaparral forests where the road twists and turns at 65 MPH. Once out of Fallon the temperatures started to increase and got to the low 80s. 

The road from Carson NV to Lake Tahoe was great.  A high speed road that initially twists up and down the mountain to the lake.   There were a billion people around Lake Tahoe. You would think that you were in downtown Las Vegas with the Casinos and all the people walking around. 

The road in California from Lake Tahoe to Sacramento was great fun, but the temperature got to 96 degrees as the road hit the base of the mountain. Further up the road, it once again twists as a two lane road through the forests. Further down the road turns into a 10 lane highway. It is ironic that the road in Ocean City, Maryland starts as a two lane road at the base of a bridge and at the other end in California, it ends as a 10 lane major highway in what is really a desert. 

I will reach the end of highway 50 in the morning. Then I will end up home the next day after riding from Sacramento to Orange County via Big Sur. 

What a crazy day with much variation. From the salt flats in Nevada to the forest of the Sierras.  From wet roads in the desert to dry air in the mountains.  There was an incredible 50 degree variance in temperature during the course of the day.  

I checked into my room at 4:30 PM, which makes a 9.5 hour ride.  Total distance today was 451 miles.