California or Bust- The Story

DAY 12
Ely, NV to Placerville, CA

This morning began for me much like yesterday morning, save for two differing factors...
1) My head was slightly aching once again as a result of another untold number of beers, only this time the beers were compounded with several shots of tequila
2) I didn't wake up to any rain, rather the threat of some pretty significant thunder bumpers and a flood warning for the entire Washington DC metropolitan area.

The Western desert seems more and more appealing as it's been one hell of a wet Spring in the mid-Atlantic region... I can't say we'd be getting much riding in if our bikes WERE here with all this damn rain...

Last night, Tuna's 'familia' threw a regular fiesta in celebration of his Brother-and-Law, Manolo Perez, turning 40. In fact, the fiesta was pushed up a week simply so Tuna and I could be there, as they were making concessions for our leaving out on Thursday. And let me tell you, these folks can throw down with the best of 'em! With only a handful of gringos in attendance, the DJ spun Latin jams with force... La familia y amigos were dancing, drinking, eating and just generally having a great time. Nelson's family are some of the finest people I've ever known and they'd give you the shirts off their backs for the asking. Viva Guatemala! What a party!

The fiesta gave Tuna and I an opportunity to catch up on a couple of details respective to the upcoming journey West, including the status of our bikes... Of which we had only a general idea of where they could be. The initial delivery to Lompoc, CA was to be between the 9th and the 12th of May, so we assumed they were close. I called Andrew in Lompoc to find out if he'd heard anything, and he hadn't. Worrisome...

After Tuna scrambled around for the business card of the driver who would be delivering our girls, I called the guy to get the scoop. Turns out he's in his home town of Oakland, CA and was now saying he would have the bikes delivered to the Dudley house on Tuesday the 13th. When asked why the extra day, the driver explained that one of their trucks had a trailer get away from them and wrapped itself around a tree... My heart stopped. I inquired with somewhat of a nervous chuckle, "Our bikes weren't on that trailer, were they?" He said no, wasn't his trailer, and I started to breath again.

With the knowledge that our bikes were still safe and sound tied down on the back of a trailer in Oakland, CA, a feeling of relief came over both Tuna and I, and we went back to the party... Meanwhile, Rigid and Scotty were continuing their journey West into California, and are now gearing up to make the day's ride down the famous Pacific Coast Highway toward Lompoc. Undoubtedly the boys are in need of a few days rest prior to our arrival on Thursday, and they'll find that at Casa de Dudley.

Below are the accounts and images as told by the guys themselves... As usual, a slideshow follows the blog entry... Enjoy! And thanks for reading!

Oh, and... Happy Mothers Day to all those whom it applies!

"Saturday, May10 2008.
Ely NV to Placerville CA.
446 miles today.
Total miles for the trip – 4717.
The day started COLD- 29 deg. Needless to say, we had another delayed start.
It wasn’t something that we were too concerned about, as we had the best $5.00 breakfast ever. This was in addition to the best, largest, and cheapest prime rib we’ve ever had.
Seems the casino types figure that if you feed ‘em well and inexpensively, they will spend the money saved on the games of chance.
They lost out on us, as we failed to succumb to the lure of the games.
I must admit that I contributed to the delay in my own small way.
It would seem that I have now confirmed that my CRAFT has progressed to Stage 4, where, I am told, there is no hope of remission.
I lost my f****** cold weather gloves somewhere between Bryce and Ely.
Fortunately there was an outdoor store a short way from the Hotel Nevada (from which we were able to successfully check out – and leave).
Appropriately attired, we commenced the run on the “Loneliest Highway”.
I would have to argue the moniker, as the roads over which we traveled yesterday were far more desolate and untraveled.
I would however, offer that they could rename it to “The highway with the most roads taking off at tangents to seemingly nowhere”. Or, “The highway with the most seemingly operable cars/trucks left unattended with no person in sight (and there were miles of clear sight in every direction).
Might be the western version of carpool parking.
One interesting note, we did come upon a 24’ sailboat at 7650 feet, at least 200 miles from the nearest water.
Did I mention the wind? No? Well for once, there wasn’t that much to be of concern. We did spy numerous dust devils though.
Rigid encountered some minor electrical anomalies that tripped an engine code and left his cruise control intermittent. Everything else is fine.
We did try to locate the Mustang Ranch for a photo op, but in our true intrepid fashion, it remained unfound and thus saved from out photographic assault.
We did see that they were responsible for a section of highway beautification and litter pickup. Glad to see they have retained their sense of civic duty
We followed highway 50 to Carson City (the nearest Harley dealer) just in case Steve decided to have them check his bike. The bike behaved, rendering the visit unnecessary.
We had, at some earlier point, decided to modify our journey and bypass the northern segment of CA for several reasons.
*Because we wanted to.
*Because it took more time than we though to see the sights.
*Failure on my part to take into account that the more the latitude and/or elevation increases, the colder it becomes (duh).
We now faced a dilemma:
Should we stay on the east side of the mountains and camp in acceptable conditions (not freezing), or run the mountains to get on the western side for a better start tomorrow (but arrive to late to set up camp – if we could find a camp site as none were indicated on the map).
Over a beer at a rest stop, we pondered this issue and came to the logical conclusion that it would best be decided by the flip of a coin.
Off we went over the mountains.
Lake Tahoe is fantasyland beautiful, and still had snow on the ski slopes. In fact, many homes still had snow up to their eaves.
We arrived in Placerville, CA at dusk only to find that this is a very expensive place – everything from gas to food to lodging.
Tomorrow continues the journey to that place held most sacrosanct to biker scum.
Hollister, CA. Where, over a July 4th celebration in 1947, the modern biker culture was born. Whether by the misguided representations of an over zealous, sensation seeking 4th estate or a movement that was destined to evolve anyway is now moot.
The Hadj continues, like moths to a flame.
Happy Mothers Day to all you mothers who may have accidentally found this sight.
News Flash:
When we woke this morning (courtesy of a call from Tuna – thanks buddy) the temperature was already warmer than we’ve been in what seems like forever.
Bad news, the forecast is for…………you guessed it – WINDY. Go figure.
If I wasn’t so busy trying to maintain my own bike, I would love to get a pic of Rigid tracking straight down the road – at a significant lean angle."