SMBC Spring Ride to Death Valley, 2005
Nothing is better than riding down the coast on a fine spring Sunday morning under blue skies with an ever-so-slight breeze. OK, maybe being in Death Valley with fellow riders might have topped it. Maybe. But for various reasons I didn't make it to Death Valley this spring. Fred, a misguided individual who feels the BSA Owner's Clubman Show is more important, suggested riding down to Paso Robles Sunday to meet those DV riders who spend the night there before going home. Dan thought that was a good idea. So did I. We did. I wonder if anything interesting happened in Death Valley? Perhaps one of the attending riders will write up a report and let us know.
[Click for Carl's pictures of the valley in full bloom.]
I waited at my normal spot Sunday morning, wondering if anyone else
would go to breakfast. The group typically passes 92 and Ralston
at 17 minutes after the hour, plus or minutes 2-3 minutes. At 7:21
I took off, heading to the scheduled breakfast stop, the Country Inn.
No one joined me along the way. I ordered breakfast as soon as I got to the
restaurant, not expecting any company. Stupid me. I should have waited
three more minutes for Jerry to arrive!
Jerry filled me in on some of the Clubman Show happenings over breakfast. The big news (to me) was Fred's low side on the way to the show Saturday, doing copious amounts of damage to the right side of his Norton. Hmmm, maybe you should have gone to Death Valley, Fred. After breakfast Jerry took off for the Clubman Show morning after ride. I followed him as far as Los Gatos then continued over 17 to the coast and then south.
There was little southbound traffic. I expected slow, Sunday sightseers
from Carmel to Nepenthe. Didn't happen. Even the usually crowded Nepenthe
was quite empty as can be seen in the parking lot photo, left. After being
fortified with a double cappuccino and beautiful views I continued south
along the coast. I passed maybe a dozen cars in 50 miles or so. Most of
them kindly pulled into turnouts to let me by. The good feelings lasted
until Cambria where it cost me $15.15 to fill my tank. Oh well, that's the
price of pleasure, I guess.