Part4 – Norcal Roads – You gotta be freaking kidding me, (Days 9, 10 & 11), 22, 23 and 24 May
Tuesday, 23 May (Day 10)
Warning…not as many pictures on this day as it was full of time in the saddle…enjoying the roads, enjoying the views. Maybe I will be able to salvage some GoPro from this day and post it up in the future…
I woke up plenty early this morning, looking forward to the new day's adventures. Karl told me he was going to take a rest day today, as he's ridden the day's roads before at WFO. He loved them , but felt that since he had already ridden them, was a bit tired, and that today was one of the few loop rides on the trip where we end back up at the same motel at night, that he would take the opportunity to take a rest day. We still had more than 3000 miles to go on this trip…so I think he made a good decision. Karl will have to fill you in on what he did on this day. My day was full…ended up being even longer, time-wise, than the 450 mile route projected to be…
I had stayed up the previous night after Karl had gone to sleep, writing shorthand notes about each day…I had missed a good number of days since the last update, so I was up for awhile. I was really psyched about the day's riding ahead…as I looked on the trip itinerary, knowing nothing about kali itself…THIS is actually the day of riding I looked forward the most on the trip. What a loop it was going to be!
I found however that I had squandered time in the motel breakfast area, as people were staring at the TV – which was reporting a devastation tornado in Joplin, Mo. God be with that city as it tries to recover. I grabbed a bunch of fruit and an egg, but was kind of pressed for time, so I did not eat as heartily as I probably should have. Just before KSU, I grabbed some ice and filled my Camelbak, then packed the rest of whatever on the bike…. Dave/Highlander was out and about as well…I spoke to griff via phone…rubbing it in as to the great time we were having out here in Kali…then the clock was beckoning. KSU was nigh, time to go griff…BUH-BYE!
I walked over to the bike as the others kind of looked at me…oops, KSU and I'm still getting the bike ready. Ray gives me a jokingly mean look and says, "Kickstands Up, means Kickstands Up!"
I told him I could have a tipover right there to comply with KSU…he seemed to be satisfied if I did that for him…but I didn't.
So off we headed, north towards Eureka on 101 until our appointed meetup with FarWestFastEddie at Kmart parking lot I believe. I think Eddie was nervous that the jackwaggens were gonna blow him off again. We didn't...this time.
So we headed east on 299…loving every mile. Rich/exskibum and Elizabeth leading with Dave/Highlander, RussPerry, Tom/2Wheeldealer, myself, FarWestFastEddie, and FJRay in various orders rotating around during the day.
We stopped in Willow Creek for a pit stop, I bought gas as it was a hike from the motel to Yreka for our lunch stop. I also bought some bottled water, as I had forgotten to put on my Camelbak for some reason as I rushed to get ready in time for KSU. We chatted for a bit then headed north from Willow Creek on 96. Boy this was gonna be GREAT!
I just enjoyed the scenery and the curves as we wound through some of the most beautiful forests, mountains and rivers. Whitewater on the Klamath as we wound forever in this Alpine land…I felt like I was in the Alps…never been there…but that didn't matter. I felt like I was in a foreign country, these were big mountains!
Occasionally we stopped for a one lane road with a flagger and "Follow Me" truck. However, there was no road construction going on, this was tree trimming and clearing work that required the use of the roadway by the crew. This was a first for me.
My new buddy Tom/2wheeldealer at one of those flagman stops…
Highlander, Rich and Elizabeth, RussPerry flashing the peace sign (that dude is all about world peace), FJRay
Eddie(FarWestFastEddie) – what a character
Eddie's nice 07
When they announced the Black Cherry color for the 07, and showed the color online…I wasn't too impressed…but up close and personal, I really liked how it looked. Who knows, when my '04 gets "used up", maybe I'll get an 07 like Eddie's…or maybe an 06 like Rich's…both those colors look great in my book.
We stopped at a bend in the Klamath River for a break. 96 goes follows along the river but goes up and down the mountains as it does so…sometimes its way up high…other times, you were down by the river…like at this break.
Looking back on southbound 96
Elizabeth took a photo of me by the river
My Kali and Oregon FJR riding buddies…Russ, Rich, Dave, Eddie, Tom and Ray (Lizzy out of the shot)
Me with my new buds…
Further on down the road I took a photo of this sign by the side of the road…
I presume it has something to do with this…
https://www.jeffersonstate.com/
…Dagnabbit, according to their website, they want to form their own state and take all the good mcy roads with them!
Speaking of other crazy things, I keep seeing signs regarding sasquatch in this area. I thought I saw one…but I didn't get my camera out fast enough…so who knows, maybe I didn't really see the sasquatch after all.
Well, it was getting to be late morning and we were about 35mins or so from Yreka which was our planned lunch/gas stop. We had been getting stopped by flagmen periodically during the morning and a car seemed to be ahead of us, but not moving very briskly. I was starting to get a little drowsy in the sun, poking along for the bit we were behind the car. I'm daydreaming…then I would catch myself daydreaming…telling myself to STOP THAT.
I started standing on the pegs and stretching as best as I could…we were in a straighter portion with only slighter curves (crazy dangerous curves in Illinois!!!
) and I found my eyes wanting to close and having trouble keeping them open. I was having a hard time focusing on Ray who was just ahead of me…I opened my visor for the rush of wind, hoping that would wake me up. I didn't have my Camelbak to give me a jolt of ice water ,so I started yelling in my visor, singing, getting up on the pegs, singing…all the time knowing we were only about a half hour west of Yreka and a break.
I didn't want to stop everybody as we were so close, had a long day of riding ahead of us, and already had a number of breaks due to flagmen. It seemed like nothing I did was breaking the slumber …we rounded a mild curve and it seemed to take A LOT more concentration than it should have. That's when I knew I HAD to stop…probably should have before that. I was NOT going to wreck my bike or endanger others. I was deadly sleepy.
Stopping for a short break and making others wait for a bit was a lot less inconvenient than a crash…so the first wide spot I saw, I made a dash for it. Russ quizzed me with the "thumbs up" sign…and I "thumbs upped" him back as I was not in distress, just needed a quick stop.
I powered down, got off the bike, cleaned off my visor, drank some bottled water from the gas station, splashed some water on my face, ate some roasted/salted pecans from my tankbag…and by the time I geared back up I was refreshed enough to make it down the road.
I powered up and started down the road and got to the next flagman…where I was once again behind the same car that was holding the group up earlier. After we get through the one lane area, I pass the car and see that FarWestFastEddie has come back to wait for me on the shoulder. He sees me and jumps ahead of me and provides a nice escort in front of me. All of a sudden we are on some great road, great sweepers!!! Wow, that was real fun, thanks Eddie for leading the way! In my drowsy state I am convinced I would have crashed on those curves…I was that far gone. Valuable lesson for me next time…stop earlier and don't let it get so far gone. Prepare even earlier so you aren't rushed when packing. Eat a better breakfast. Always bring your Camelbak. Get proper sleep…etc. Sorry to the others that I held up…
I saw Mt. Shasta's snowy peak off in the distance beyond the local peaks…wow, what a view! We meet up with the others who have stopped just before the turn south into Yreka.
We stopped for gas first…Highlander just made it on fumes. We ate at the Black Bear Diner on the south side of Yreka…good food there. Recommend it. Refreshed and rejuvenated we mounted the bikes for the mountain roads on the way back…FJRay is looking at my rear tire and tells me it looks like my rear tire is low. I pull up ahead out of my spot and to the side of the diner to get out of people's way. Thanks FJRay for looking out for other rider's welfare...this could have been bad to discover on the top of the mountain - midcurve.
I pull out the gage…12 PSI…uh oh. Was 42 psi this am. Rotating the tire on the center stand…I didn't see anything…neither did the others who looked. Spit on the valve stem…sure enough, just a little bubble. So I borrow a key from Highlander (Note: bring key next time) and tighten up the valve. I get out the foot pump and start pumping….I get tired, others laugh. Guy's say, how 'bouts using a compressor pump. I am easily convince at this point and Highlander breaks out his compressor pump and finishes airing it up.
The guys suggest getting a valve stem from the AutoParts place down the street, which I do. So now, I've had them wait for my sleepy head, my valve stem…making an already long day longer. Sorry guys…
So we are headed out of town aways and we are looking at the sky…lots of rain all in the direction we are riding…up in the mountains. Not wanting to be drenched and cold in the mountains before changing into gear, we change into gear at a gas station before heading up in elevation.
Now, fully geared and ready for the drenching that awaits in the mountains, we keep moving ahead at a good pace…confident that we are as ready as we will ever be…ready to take our punishment for having such great weather recently. Well, we got up and over and back down the mountain with showers everywhere except where we were, miraculously. We had some great curves to ride through though…fantastic riding! We get down by a boat ramp and parking lot and take a break. I quick check the tires…uh oh…16psi…down from 42 psi in Yreka. DEFINITELY got a puncture in the tire somewhere. So I turn the back tire once or twice, and still can't see anything. Neither can Ray. Eddie finds something…very hard to detect it. It was in one of the grooves/sipes…nothing stuck in it. He spits on the tire and sure enough…bubbles. Eddie found the leak! Yea! On the bottom of the tire.
So I am a tire plugging virgin, though I've looked many times at others doing it.. I get out the kit, ream out the hole looking to others to make sure I am doing it correctly. They nod their heads…
I coat the hole with the epoxy glue and put the stringy thing on the tool and push the tool all the way in. Doh! Whadda jackwagon! So I've now got my own version of dynabeads in the tire…pretty smart, huh? :blink:
I then put a string on correctly, wait for awhile for the glue to cure, then borrow a knife from Highlander to cut the excess string. We fill the tire with air borrowed from Highlander's compressor…oops overfilled at 60 psi…back it on down to 44psi..call it good and get ready to move on down the road. The boys are antsy, cuz they know my foibles are cutting into their Eel River Brewery drinking time…sorry again guys.
Oh thanks Eddie…
We then head off to Weavervile, where we head west on 299..next stop…an overlook with a two thousand foot cliff!
So I'm confident in the sticky string concept as I've seen a few other repairs that have held up to twisty riding just fine. So we race ahead now as time is winding down…actually Rich keeps a pretty modest pace…I think he is concerned about the plug repair on this fairly curvy road. Dave/Highlander is now my personal mother hen as he follows behind watching over to make sure I get back okay...Thanks Dave. :clapping:
We get to the overlook in the late afternoon early evening…it is a beautiful spot with a river wayyyyy down below….
Here, Eddie is leading the guys down to the edge.
Here, Highlander is getting a closer look
Rich and Russ get close and personal with the cliff as well
Wow…that is some cliff!!! (Notice I am NOT in any of the photos near the cliff...that's right. DID NOT HAPPEN.)
What a beautiful area…even with the overcast sky
Ray talking to Eddie as Dave has a seat and farts…
The river, one more time…
Then a strange thing happened…with the overcast sky overhead, a sliver of sunlight hit the faces of the mountain walls across the way. It was an unusual and beautiful light…almost like a Thomas Kinkaid painting in 3D right before me.
Time to gear up and head back to the barn...
Well, it was way beyond late, so we geared up and headed out. A few miles ahead, we hit a right hander and I felt it, right away. The plug got thrown and I lost all air right away in the curve, I negotiated the curve as best as I could and got over to the shoulder right away and started for the kit again. Dave said he could tell right away when I lost the plug as the rear wheel was getting squirelly on me. Rich and the others turned around and looked on as Highlander's pump worked for the 3rd time this day.
The reamer I think was too big for a single plug, so I used a double plug. I was rightly hard to get in. I did get it in and felt like this was going to hold just fine. I did back off the riding a little bit though…cuz I'm a ***** I guess. Dave motherhenned me all the way back to the motel. I got off the gear and walked over to the brewery for food and drinks. They close at 10pm on Monday and it was 9:15pm…that's how late we were…sorry again guys. I fully intended to make up for it and buy my riding crew a beer for their troubles, but the server didn't help me out with that one considering the size of our party. I decided that since I had such a huge lunch at the Black Bear…that I would just have a beer and call it a night. Wow…that was some beer. I forget what it was called but it was a great dark local brew with a higher alcohol content. It kicked my tired @ss. I was uncoordinated and slurry after one beer…I am such a cheap date. Thanks guys for all the great riding this day…it was a memorable…even with the tire delays. I am no longer a plugger virgin…maybe some day I will be a master at it like escapeFJRtist. That's all for that day…time for bed…because…
Coming up next…Tuesday, 24 May, CA 36…140 miles of mcy bliss...the road that has everything.