Seattle to SCal and back

[Hudson]

Fairlaner's got the route preplanned, and its a sweet one. We get moving quickly on Hwy 94, and 45 or so twisty minutes later we end up in Tecate on the border.

There are Border Patrol agents everywhere, and I fear for Richard's safety and hope he brought his papers.

A rumble, then a truck towing a Baja runner rolls in.

We learn the Baja 1000 is coming this weekend. We take stock of this entrant and come away impressed.

Richard heads back out on 94, and I struggle to keep pace. 94 is a great road, and reminds me of Mulholland across many parts.

I haven't spent much time on the Mexican border. In my youth, I was usually just crossing it to get to Tijuana and Rosarita. 94 strafes the border for several miles, so you can't help but pay attention. It's a fascinating study, so different from Canada where we don't have tall fences attempting to keep job hungry Canadians out of our country. The idea of a tall fence just seems weird.

Next to the border fence is a glider school. That seems especially odd.

But I don't have time to contemplate long, as Richard is off in a flash.

 

[Hudson]

Several miles later, Fairlaner suddenly darts off the highway, heading out out on a poorly paved road. Something doesn't seem quite right.

I pass a flatbed trailer that has a couch, several chairs, and coffee table bolted on, like someone's living room just sitting out on this trailer in the sun. Then this:

Then this:

It's getting weirder by the mile. We roll up to the Desert Tower and meet the proprietor of this zaniness.

In response to the proprietors gentle ribbing of Fairlaner's accent, Richard explains his English roots and attempts to defend the superiority of fish and chips .

I take a walk around. Something clearly doesn't seem quite right...

I find it conspicious that there is no Ms. Desert Tower, nor any other persons nearby except for the stray visitors. It's time to leave; this guy might have spent too much time out in the sun.

We take a nice long look at the view, then amscray.

 

[ahchiu]

Dave, looks like your having a god time while were freezing our butts off at home, have fun

 

[Hudson]

We head back towards Julian, and pass the border patrol. We pass inspection.

Fairlaner heads out on 79 in a hurry, and I push myself to maintain. Riding behind Richard and following his lines is great experience, but as The Man With No Name says, "A man's got to know his limitations."

We stop outside Julian so I can feed Niehart's lust for Pie ****.

While I am busy shooting pie images, the locals roll up to Failaner to compare rides.

One last look at the view and its off to Elsinore.

We made good time, but rolled into Elsinore at dusk. I wondered if we could make it through Ortega before dark.

We didn't. Ortega, always challenging, was even more so in the dark, against an onslaught of bright oncoming headlights. By the time we ended, I was spent. Awesome day, Fairlaner, awesome day.

Fairlaner had been super generous with his day, and had to head back home. I had a bit of time left, so I went up Avery Parkway in the hopes that my childhood haunt was still around. It was.

Santora's was Buffalo NY restaraunt until Dino, his mother and father and brothers, moved out to Mission Viejo in the late 70's and opened up a new wings place, way before it became trendy. They brought all kinds of NY specialties with them: Steak and Pan fried Dandeloin Greens, with a garlic aoili sauce and mozzerela melted on a fresh hoagie. Cheese pizza with a super sweet and spicy tomato sauce. But their wings are quite legendary. The family sold the restuarant several years ago, but visits frequently to ensure the recipes are honored. They are.

Fairlaner, thanks for an awesome route, terrific company, and challenging pace. I take back everything Niehart said about you.

Seriously, a true gentleman. Can't wait for the rest of the week.

 

[ahchiu]

Dave, if you have time check out the Marconi Automotive Museum and Foundation for Kids in Tustin. I went to high school with his son John Marconi.

https://www.marconimuseum.org/

 

[Panman]

Looks fun Dave, be safe.

 

[Tom Edison]

32 here now expecting a high of 40! Nice to see the warmth.

Keep it coming. Enjoy!

 

[dcarver]

Good stuff Mr. Hud! :yahoo:

 

[ynotride]

Awesome report. I'm bummed about missing the ride today.

If you have time go watch the Baja race.We go every year :clapping:

Heres my boy at the Baja 500 in March trying to help pit

 

[escapefjrtist]

Looks like a fun day was had Dave!

--G

 

[FarWestFastEddie]

Hudson, great adventure and thanks for sharing the photos and fun. Back to page two, the bladder on the back of the semi, is resin bound for a plywood mill, they take plywood south and bring back the resin in reusable bladders... talk about a full bladder, or bladdre for our british and canadian cousins...

FWFE

 

[TomInPA]

You my friend, have my respect. Pictures are rarely taken while following Fairlaner other than smoke stops.

Just catching up with the trip and ride report. Thanks for the break. If you get a chance to ride on the way back north, I'm sure we could rally a group of folks from the Sacramento area.

 

[Fairlaner]

Dave must be slacking.........no pictures from yesterday yet......i am sure he has pics from ACH which got oiled while we were sitting have lunch at Newcomb's Ranch....YUCK

R

 

[Auburn]

Hudson - awesome pictures!

 

[ynotride]

i am sure he has pics from ACH which got oiled while we were sitting have lunch at Newcomb's Ranch....YUCK

R

Now go look at your rims and swingarm. I did ACH a few weeks ago and there was a strech of newly oiled pavement. It took me 3 hours of scrubbing to get that oil off my bike :angry:

 

[Fairlaner]

We did Malibu this afternoon and Dave should be back to Irvine by now..........

R

 

[Hudson]

The day started well. I got through my work phone calls reasonably early and headed out to Fairlaner’s. Where I met the Fairlane, Richard’s namesake. It’s a honey of a Ford Fairlane, built solid with a red candy apple paint job that glows. Nice car.

I convinced him to head over to South Bay Triumph to visit a friend, Matt Capri. Matt’s a shorter older guy in his late 60’s that celebrated his 60th birthday by taking this bike and setting a Bonnevile land speed record for his class of 203mph.

Matt builds high performance kits for Triumphs, including this sweet Thruxton that puts out 150 hp. Suhhweeetttt.

Fairlaner busied himself by admiring the SMQ goodies such as the cool limited edition helment.

Afterwards, we blasted out to the start of Highway 2 and got busy.

About 30 miles in, we got held up by some road construction and stopped to chat with some supermoto canyon carvers.

The road crew told us they were sealing the roads but assured us that only the left side was being sprayed. Richard looked pissed until I reminded him that we drive on the right side in the states. We had to follow the pilot car up a few miles, and since Richard doesn’t listen to authority very well, they made a big sign so he’d understand.

We made it to Newcombs quite hungry and thirsty, and decided to grab lunch. It was a fateful decision.

 

[Hudson]

A number of foreign riders were visiting that day, and we chatted with some French and Canadian riders, and waited for the pilot car to come back.

Instead, the oil truck showed up.

And started to oil the road.

On the right.

****.

We decided to head back and pick up an alternate route, less tight but with nice sweet high speed sweepers. We quickly passed the French riders who seemed a bit timid.

Then the road opened up.

That’s the closest I got to Fairlaner before he lit the burners and disappeared.

Just awesome, but it was over a bit too soon.

No worries. We headed over to the Eye-talian moto bike shop and ogled Ducatis.

They had a nice carbon fiber Eric Buel Racing bike, for a cool $43k.

Richard got a bit too cozy with a Multistrada.

 

[Hudson]

You my friend, have my respect. Pictures are rarely taken while following Fairlaner other than smoke stops.

Plenty of those pix, Tom.

Fairlaner was just being nice, letting me think my riding was vastly improved.

Just catching up with the trip and ride report. Thanks for the break. If you get a chance to ride on the way back north, I'm sure we could rally a group of folks from the Sacramento area.

Working on a ride next week from Roseville.

 

[ahchiu]

Nice, keep them pictures comming.. :clapping:

BTW were suppose to get 1-2 feet of snow in the passes tonight