A SoCal Sojourn and Silver Linings

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Hi Tyler,thanks for sharing and taking us on your ride, you guys/gals know how to have fun. I get green with envy when ever I see you post a ride report.

Best regards

Surly(Steve)
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Steve, when are you gonna get your Aussie butt over here so we can take you on some of our favorite roads, hmmmm?
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Hi Tyler,

I can't take much more of this envy before I book my ticket. Sure looks a great way to spend some time. Sad about the puncture but seems you made some more friends, you know you can never have too many.

Best regards

Surly(Steve)

 
I am sooooooo lurking this thread! I feel like a 4 year old being read a bed time story by a 40-year veteran kindergarten teacher, my starring eyes glanced upward toward the reader.

"What happens next, Ms. Tyler?"

 
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I am sooooooo lurking this thread! I feel like a 4 year old being read a bed time story by a 40-year veteran kindergarten teacher, my starring eyes glanced upward toward the reader.
"What happens next, Ms. Tyler?"
Gee thanks 'Pants. Now I have to go through the rest of my day hearing Van Halen's "Hot for Teacher" in my empty head.

 
Hi Tyler,thanks for sharing and taking us on your ride, you guys/gals know how to have fun. I get green with envy when ever I see you post a ride report.

Best regards

Surly(Steve)
wub.png
Steve, when are you gonna get your Aussie butt over here so we can take you on some of our favorite roads, hmmmm?
biggrin.png
Hi Tyler,

I can't take much more of this envy before I book my ticket. Sure looks a great way to spend some time. Sad about the puncture but seems you made some more friends, you know you can never have too many.

Best regards

Surly(Steve)
Then my evil plan is working if it gets you over here!!! :D Yeah, the flat sucked but, as stated earlier, there are silver linings in almost everything... no one was hurt, the weather was great, we made new friends, Sally got to go shopping, and we got to finish the trip... you're right, one can always add a new friend or two to the posse! B)

E X C E L L E N T !!!
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Thank you, sir! :D

Full marks to Fly Bye/Robert for spending his day helping out Tyler. Damned decent of him.
Of course I can think of worse ways to spend a day...
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It was quite decent of him... when I insisted on buying him lunch, he said it wasn't necessary because he knew I'd do the same for him if the tables were turned, which I would... I then asked if he wouldn't insist on buying me lunch under those circumstances... needless to say, I won that debate! :lol:

I am sooooooo lurking this thread! I feel like a 4 year old being read a bed time story by a 40-year veteran kindergarten teacher, my starring eyes glanced upward toward the reader.
"What happens next, Ms. Tyler?"
Gee thanks 'Pants. Now I have to go through the rest of my day hearing Van Halen's "Hot for Teacher" in my empty head.
How about this instead?? :D

 
DAY SIX: Palm Springs to Kernville - https://tinyurl.com/qemhcva

The morning was sunny and mild and we wondered if we should put on any extra layers which we did and were very glad for awhile later... we bade goodbye to our special guest star, Lynn, before gearing up and hitting the road...
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We were a day behind schedule but back on track for the planned route... today would turn out to be what Frenchy has coined as "The Best Day Ever" and we could not keep the smiles off of our faces... passed the myriad of wind turbines lining the desert floor...
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A little bit of slab and then to Hwy 38 which was devoid of traffic and an absolutely stunning road...
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As we got higher up in elevation, the fall colors were seemingly putting on a show just for us...
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We looped around the north side of Big Bear Lake where most of the summer homes looked to be all closed up for the season... but the views were stunning...
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We had decided to skip breakfast and get on the road early so by now our tummies were definitely complaining... we stopped at the first place we found and it would turn out to be a perfect decision...
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If you ever find yourself at Big Bear Lake, be sure to stop in at this restaurant and say hi to Kathy who runs the place... great service, friendly banter, and yummy food...
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And to top it all off, a gentleman came over to our table to apologize for distracting Kathy with conversation and keeping her from our table... Sally and I both looked at each other in astonishment and, with childlike glee, she mouthed, "It's... FATHER CHRISTMAS!!"... we could not believe our good fortune and we both were just giddy... he graciously agreed to take a photo with us so Sally could show her granddaughter who we had met on our trip...
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We weren't sure how the day could get better but we still had lots of time... I had eliminated a road or two to make sure we didn't get caught in the dark on our way to Lake Isabella... so we headed for the upper part of 18, aka Rim of the World Hwy... first the big sweepers...
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And then... BAM!! The breathtaking view...
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Continuing on, we scooted down 138 which is a bit like Mr. Toad's Wild Ride for the first half or so and I have no photos because we were just having too much fun and needed all our concentration on the road ahead... the lower half goes by Silverwood Lake and has some nice sweepers and twists & turns as well...
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And then it was time to bite the bullet and hit the "boring" part... I15 to 395 to 58... pretty much straight, straight, and then for good measure... more straight...
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And some roadwork, which gave us ample time to stretch our legs a bit... remember, silver linings!
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When we got to 58, we broke up the boredom by playing photo tag along the way...
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The clouds were actually pretty cool looking and good energy all around...
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We were getting a little silly toward the end...
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Our final jaunt for the day would take us over Bodfish-Caliente Rd. into Lake Isabella... I had heard of this road many times but hadn't ever had the pleasure of experiencing it first hand... that was about to change... first on the agenda, sit and wait for the train to go by... and by... and by... sigh...
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But then, oh my!
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A solemn reminder...
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Straight in between the twisty sections...
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Country festive Halloween decor...
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Onward ho!!
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Bright bursts of color...
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Setting sun...
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Another reminder... we seemed to luck out on cattle sightings... as in none!
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Mo' twisties...
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Lake Isabella in the distance...
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The final switchback...
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Which someone's daddy didn't make it through... made me sad... I said a prayer for the ones left behind...
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155 through Lake Isabella and into Kernville for the night... we had gotten a recommendation from Wendy/Bionic Pelvis to stay at the Kern Lodge and it was a great recommendation... the owner moved us to a quieter room without us asking and, when Sally asked about a tub to soak in, she then moved us to a huge family-sized unit at no additional charge... two thumbs up!

Sally soaked and we headed up to the brewery which is right next door and met up with the evening's special guest star, Wendy, for dinner... she and hubby, Mike, have a moto repair shop right around the corner... good to know if you're ever in the area and in need of a kick *** mechanic!
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Things were getting a little out of hand... or maybe I should say in hand??
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Turnabout is fair play...
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The waiter thought we were nuts and I'd have to say he would be correct! lol Wendy, thanks for dinner and it was great to see you again and hear the story of how Mike proposed... great story and great people!

But wait there's more... no ginsu knives but coming up... the Bristlecone Forest and Benton Hot Springs...

 
Ah Tyler. If only...

You are doing a stellar job with this RR. I wish I could see some of these things myself.

I admit to being jealous of Flye Bye. A day with you and a Lil Red Corvette sounds like something out of a movie.

How is the new CanAm working? Do you miss Clifford?

 
Ah Tyler. If only...
You are doing a stellar job with this RR. I wish I could see some of these things myself.

I admit to being jealous of Flye Bye. A day with you and a Lil Red Corvette sounds like something out of a movie.

How is the new CanAm working? Do you miss Clifford?
Never say never, m'friend... :D

The new CanAm is stellar... I am very happy with the upgrade... lots of bells & whistles (cruise control, ready to go GPS, heated grips, floorboards, hard bags, built in MP3) and they've reworked the frame/chassis so it handles SO much better than the RS. I toyed with the idea of keeping Clifford as a backup ride but, honestly, I think he needs to find a new home so he can have more adventures... still got lots of miles left on him! ;)

 
How is the new CanAm working? Do you miss Clifford?
The new CanAm is stellar... I am very happy with the upgrade... lots of bells & whistles (cruise control, ready to go GPS, heated grips, floorboards, hard bags, built in MP3) and they've reworked the frame/chassis so it handles SO much better than the RS. I toyed with the idea of keeping Clifford as a backup ride but, honestly, I think he needs to find a new home so he can have more adventures... still got lots of miles left on him!
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Great ride report. I have been in the area and it is a high priority to return to ride roads not yet ridden. Maybe in May 2014.

Regarding Clifford having lots of good miles left on him; he's probably got a leg up on most of the guys on this forum.
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Is it

"If it is not epic. It's not worth doing." - Tyler Risk ?

or is it

"Everything I do is epic, because I make it so!" - Tyler Risk ?

 
Great ride report. I have been in the area and it is a high priority to return to ride roads not yet ridden. Maybe in May 2014.
Regarding Clifford having lots of good miles left on him; he's probably got a leg up on most of the guys on this forum.
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Definitely put it on your list... I'll bet Fairlaner would be happy to guide you around some of them...

As for your last comment, ba zing!! :lol:

or is it

"Everything I do is epic, because I make it so!" - Tyler Risk ?
Sammie, I think you and I both know that life is what you make of it... ;)

Another epic report Tyler!
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More roads to put on the "need to explore" list!!

--G
So many roads, so little time, right G?? :)

 
I had the pleasure meeting Wendy at her shop and saw your skeleton buddies during the Kern County Rally, that Bodfish Caliente Rd. is a blast! What a treat for two wheels.

I'm hoping Sherman Pass is coming up.

 
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Once again, Tyler reminds me why I ride.

Thank You, Tyler. Sorry I ducked out early on the Reuben, Rueben, Sandwich Run and missed you.

You take beautiful pictures, and write beautiful pictures.

P.S. Robert; Thanks for taking care of the FJR forum's favorite lady.

 
I tried to identify a favorite picture, but after "backspacing and typing a new description" about 6 times, I declared it an exercise in futility and gave up.

Still, this most recent day is my overall favorite so far. I imagine you riding most of the day traffic-free with plenty of time to immerse all of your senses, my kind of ride. If that's not the way it happened, don't tell us. I'd rather let my imagination fill in the blanks.

 
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