OK- hey, the title made ya look, eh?
What a weekend !!!! Two rides in this report - but very few pics - too busy riding to stop !!
Let's start with Saturday the 23rd.
BigDolma takes me for a ride !!! and Wonky gets her Bags !! (352 miles)
BD showed up at my house at 06:30 hours - and off we go. We're off to South Bay Motors in National City, just a short 103 miles away. I've got the 9:00 am slot with the service department for
(1) Bags (they didn't come with the bike)
(2) the first service.
BD has all the gear - V1, 2610, XM, etc. He takes point and sets the pace - and we fly down the 5 fwy - and get there 30 minutes early. So - it's off to Starbucks !!
Back to SBMotors, ride on up, Ted is standing there grinning at me - (seems he wants an 06 for his own)
FYI - they had a beautiful black ZX-14 there - OMG !!! :blink: But I digress....
Bags get installed, service gets done, BD scores a 20% discount off of some goodies and another cup of Starbucks cause Ted likes his face ......
And we head for Pine Valley to visit B & N, friends of BD. B wasn't home, N was, so we said 'Hello' - N took pictures of Wonky.
Air temp is falling, low 50's at this point - lots of fog, mist, light rain.
BD knows I'm a returning rider, new bike, etc., so he takes it real easy on me. Thanks, BD !!
We leave Pine Valley, head towards Julian - and it's now REALLY wet, riding through some fog at 20 MPH, (I'm glad I used CatCrap) and I'm losing BD and the road markings, etc., just taking it realllllly slow and careful. Hands are effing freezing - air temp is now 41 degrees - did I mention I'm wearing some summer weight touring gloves? Useless. Arriving in Julian (famous for Apple Pie) we find a cafe to grab a bite - and we pick up 1/2 sandwich, cup of soup, chips, and a slice of apple pie - and really big cups of hot coffee - (I know you can put ice in the Roadcrafter pockets to cool - maybe I shoulda tried coffee?)
And BD reminds me of a Iron Butt trick - wearing dishwashing gloves over your riding gloves - So me, I heads off across the street to Julian Hardware - ask the cashier where they be - ---- and they were !!! However - THEY'RE PURPLE!! So I buy a pair ($2.48 with tax, thank you very much) and head for the bike.
We gear up, I pull the gloves on over my sopping wet useless touring gloves, and notice how well they blend with my HI-VIZ Roadcrafter. Truly a fashion statement. Hmmmm...... HiViz lime suit with purple rubber gloves - all I needed was orange boots - and Sesame Street would have been proud!! (this works, too !!!! hands are now warm, no chill factor, heat retained)
And NO, I don’t do balloon animals….and YES, children like most clowns. With helmets.
BigDolma was a true gentleman - he didn't even crack a smile - but I couldn't help but notice his shoulders shaking as we pulled away from the curb. Think he was cold, maybe ?
I'm hoping he didn't take a picture.
So - down the mountain we go, passing by the Pala casino - everything is WET - slow going, finally starts to warm up, and we cruise along until we hit the 15 north- and slabbed it home. 342 miles booked.
My Thanks go out to BigDolma - considerate, kind, a great person to ride with. If anyone has the chance to meet him, please do so. And I understand he can really cook. And he doesn’t laugh at your purple gloves… I think.
So - now to my ride on Sunday the 23rd with TurboDave98 -
TurboDave98 and his bud Hans ride my arse into the ground !! KaitsDad becomes a member of the Old Foggie Riders !! 468 Miles.
2:00 AM this morning (Sunday) the rain wakes me up. Hmmmm.... wife says, "you're not going, are you ?" and I says, are you kidding ? of course I am.
Get up at 5:00, on the road at 6:15 (still drizzling) and meet TurboDave98 and his fellow Old Foggie rider Hans at the Shell station at Foothill Blvd. and the 210 fwy. TD is riding his HUGELY FARKLED 05 - did I mention the farkles? Like the coffee cup holder for sipping on the way …..
Off we go - different gloves than yesterday - 210 west to 5 north - , pull off at Gorman. Air temp is 39 degrees. Hands STILL freezing. I gotta do the Vstrom Handguards.
The temperature readout on the 06 dash is cool - it works very well if you’re moving. You can look down at that dash and say “so that’s why my a%$ is freezing!” unlike the instant MPG feature – which I would gladly exchange for a voltage meter readout.
So - we have a MickyD’s breakfast, lots of coffee, and I’m thinking “ I need to figure out how to pee while wearing this suit” gee - maybe it's a good thing I got the HiViz.
And away we go, still climbing up the Tajon Pass on the 5, temperature holding steady at 39F,
And then we drop down the other side of the pass, and there’s a little bit of blue sky, temperatures climb to the high 40’s, and life starts looking up !!
166 Westbound - temps now in low 50’s, everything is green, incredible roads, just absolutely amazing.
TD is riding point, I’m staggered next, and Hans is bringing up sweep on his really pristine blue Concours.
[SIZE=36pt]And to everyone out there that is worried about TD being ok to ride after his surgery in December - let me tell ya - HE’S BACK !!![/SIZE]
TD takes my pic
“Ahh -- are we on the wrong continent? “
Now, I’m not watching the road signs, I just focusing on keeping pace (which was mild) and enjoying the scenery on rare occasion. Heading north on 33, TD comes to a stop – cause there’s a small herd of - get this - Pronghorn Antelope crossing the road RIGHT IN FRONT OF US ! So - do any of us take a picture? Nope. Not me, I would have had to reach into the pocket on my stitch and get my camera - and I was too busy gawking to do that - so on we went.
TD And The Moo Cows – or “Holeshot Cans to the Rescue !”
So as we continue along the road, we round a 30 mph curve to the tail end of a herd of cattle crossing the road – and we all start to beeping (I’d say ‘honking’ but the stock horns aren’t capable of that!) our little horns - have you ever seen cows laugh? So TD just starts blipping his beauty up to 4 grand or so - and each time the sound from those cans comes roiling out, the cattle flinch - like someone is poking them with something, and the proceed to show us their tails and vacate !!
I highly recommend Holeshot’s in cattle country.
This is a ride that I will never forget - beautiful green rolling hills, wildflowers, gentle temperatures, and the experience of blinking at the start of a 45 mph 4th gear roll on, and very rapidly realizing that I’m moving at close to the ton mark - just to pass a truck -
Holy Crap, who engaged the warp nacelles? ?? ?? I’m thinking I’m really gonna have fun with Wonky !! She keeps showing me her fun side, and I’m liking it !!
We stopped at the Jack Ranch Café for lunch about noon, (James Dean died here – there’s a memorial in the parking lot - ya just have to walk around all the RV’s to get to it) and spent about an hour just talking ‘bout stuff.
I have a lot of respect for these guys …. They’re honest to goodness real people. Exceptional Gentlemen.
So we head towards Bakersfield, fuel up , and catch the 5 south - climb over the grapevine, stop at Gorman (same Micky D’s we hit that morning) and it’s now up to 49 degrees and cloudy.
Caught some bugs here - sorry the picture is fuzzy, I couldn't see to well through my visor --
(Does anyone notice that those are Skyway's Sliders on TD's bike? )
So- I’m sitting there at the table, and TD says, “ we have two choices - there’s a fun but longer route we can take to get back, or we can just shoot down the freeway and go home” Now I’m beat at this point. It’s 3:00 PM, we’ve covered over 340 miles at this point, and I think I just might be able to do the longer, funner ride, when common sense kicks in (the Advil wore off) and I elect the straight trip home. Now get this - I’m rolling along in traffic following TD along, and I’m tired, hands are cold again, my lower back is in a knot, and I’VE GOT THIS S**T EATING GRIN ON MY FACE!!!
TD, Hans and I ride back to the Shell station in San Dimas, we say our goodbyes, and TD informs me that now I am an official member of the Old Foggies Riding Club - after riding with the two of them I didn’t have any choice.
I know that quite a few of the forum members know and greatly respect TD - and I certainly understand why.
I am proud to say that I’ve ridden with him - and would certainly not hesitate to do it again. I am so looking forward to the California Dreaming ride in July.
So my hat’s off to BigDolma and TurboDave98 for showing the newbie and his Wonky the ropes - what a great experience.
Thank You, Gentlemen !! This world needs more like you.
What a weekend !!!! Two rides in this report - but very few pics - too busy riding to stop !!
Let's start with Saturday the 23rd.
BigDolma takes me for a ride !!! and Wonky gets her Bags !! (352 miles)
BD showed up at my house at 06:30 hours - and off we go. We're off to South Bay Motors in National City, just a short 103 miles away. I've got the 9:00 am slot with the service department for
(1) Bags (they didn't come with the bike)
(2) the first service.
BD has all the gear - V1, 2610, XM, etc. He takes point and sets the pace - and we fly down the 5 fwy - and get there 30 minutes early. So - it's off to Starbucks !!
Back to SBMotors, ride on up, Ted is standing there grinning at me - (seems he wants an 06 for his own)
FYI - they had a beautiful black ZX-14 there - OMG !!! :blink: But I digress....
Bags get installed, service gets done, BD scores a 20% discount off of some goodies and another cup of Starbucks cause Ted likes his face ......
And we head for Pine Valley to visit B & N, friends of BD. B wasn't home, N was, so we said 'Hello' - N took pictures of Wonky.
Air temp is falling, low 50's at this point - lots of fog, mist, light rain.
BD knows I'm a returning rider, new bike, etc., so he takes it real easy on me. Thanks, BD !!
We leave Pine Valley, head towards Julian - and it's now REALLY wet, riding through some fog at 20 MPH, (I'm glad I used CatCrap) and I'm losing BD and the road markings, etc., just taking it realllllly slow and careful. Hands are effing freezing - air temp is now 41 degrees - did I mention I'm wearing some summer weight touring gloves? Useless. Arriving in Julian (famous for Apple Pie) we find a cafe to grab a bite - and we pick up 1/2 sandwich, cup of soup, chips, and a slice of apple pie - and really big cups of hot coffee - (I know you can put ice in the Roadcrafter pockets to cool - maybe I shoulda tried coffee?)
And BD reminds me of a Iron Butt trick - wearing dishwashing gloves over your riding gloves - So me, I heads off across the street to Julian Hardware - ask the cashier where they be - ---- and they were !!! However - THEY'RE PURPLE!! So I buy a pair ($2.48 with tax, thank you very much) and head for the bike.
We gear up, I pull the gloves on over my sopping wet useless touring gloves, and notice how well they blend with my HI-VIZ Roadcrafter. Truly a fashion statement. Hmmmm...... HiViz lime suit with purple rubber gloves - all I needed was orange boots - and Sesame Street would have been proud!! (this works, too !!!! hands are now warm, no chill factor, heat retained)
And NO, I don’t do balloon animals….and YES, children like most clowns. With helmets.
BigDolma was a true gentleman - he didn't even crack a smile - but I couldn't help but notice his shoulders shaking as we pulled away from the curb. Think he was cold, maybe ?
I'm hoping he didn't take a picture.
So - down the mountain we go, passing by the Pala casino - everything is WET - slow going, finally starts to warm up, and we cruise along until we hit the 15 north- and slabbed it home. 342 miles booked.
My Thanks go out to BigDolma - considerate, kind, a great person to ride with. If anyone has the chance to meet him, please do so. And I understand he can really cook. And he doesn’t laugh at your purple gloves… I think.
So - now to my ride on Sunday the 23rd with TurboDave98 -
TurboDave98 and his bud Hans ride my arse into the ground !! KaitsDad becomes a member of the Old Foggie Riders !! 468 Miles.
2:00 AM this morning (Sunday) the rain wakes me up. Hmmmm.... wife says, "you're not going, are you ?" and I says, are you kidding ? of course I am.
Get up at 5:00, on the road at 6:15 (still drizzling) and meet TurboDave98 and his fellow Old Foggie rider Hans at the Shell station at Foothill Blvd. and the 210 fwy. TD is riding his HUGELY FARKLED 05 - did I mention the farkles? Like the coffee cup holder for sipping on the way …..
Off we go - different gloves than yesterday - 210 west to 5 north - , pull off at Gorman. Air temp is 39 degrees. Hands STILL freezing. I gotta do the Vstrom Handguards.
The temperature readout on the 06 dash is cool - it works very well if you’re moving. You can look down at that dash and say “so that’s why my a%$ is freezing!” unlike the instant MPG feature – which I would gladly exchange for a voltage meter readout.
So - we have a MickyD’s breakfast, lots of coffee, and I’m thinking “ I need to figure out how to pee while wearing this suit” gee - maybe it's a good thing I got the HiViz.
And away we go, still climbing up the Tajon Pass on the 5, temperature holding steady at 39F,
And then we drop down the other side of the pass, and there’s a little bit of blue sky, temperatures climb to the high 40’s, and life starts looking up !!
166 Westbound - temps now in low 50’s, everything is green, incredible roads, just absolutely amazing.
TD is riding point, I’m staggered next, and Hans is bringing up sweep on his really pristine blue Concours.
[SIZE=36pt]And to everyone out there that is worried about TD being ok to ride after his surgery in December - let me tell ya - HE’S BACK !!![/SIZE]
TD takes my pic
“Ahh -- are we on the wrong continent? “
Now, I’m not watching the road signs, I just focusing on keeping pace (which was mild) and enjoying the scenery on rare occasion. Heading north on 33, TD comes to a stop – cause there’s a small herd of - get this - Pronghorn Antelope crossing the road RIGHT IN FRONT OF US ! So - do any of us take a picture? Nope. Not me, I would have had to reach into the pocket on my stitch and get my camera - and I was too busy gawking to do that - so on we went.
TD And The Moo Cows – or “Holeshot Cans to the Rescue !”
So as we continue along the road, we round a 30 mph curve to the tail end of a herd of cattle crossing the road – and we all start to beeping (I’d say ‘honking’ but the stock horns aren’t capable of that!) our little horns - have you ever seen cows laugh? So TD just starts blipping his beauty up to 4 grand or so - and each time the sound from those cans comes roiling out, the cattle flinch - like someone is poking them with something, and the proceed to show us their tails and vacate !!
I highly recommend Holeshot’s in cattle country.
This is a ride that I will never forget - beautiful green rolling hills, wildflowers, gentle temperatures, and the experience of blinking at the start of a 45 mph 4th gear roll on, and very rapidly realizing that I’m moving at close to the ton mark - just to pass a truck -
Holy Crap, who engaged the warp nacelles? ?? ?? I’m thinking I’m really gonna have fun with Wonky !! She keeps showing me her fun side, and I’m liking it !!
We stopped at the Jack Ranch Café for lunch about noon, (James Dean died here – there’s a memorial in the parking lot - ya just have to walk around all the RV’s to get to it) and spent about an hour just talking ‘bout stuff.
I have a lot of respect for these guys …. They’re honest to goodness real people. Exceptional Gentlemen.
So we head towards Bakersfield, fuel up , and catch the 5 south - climb over the grapevine, stop at Gorman (same Micky D’s we hit that morning) and it’s now up to 49 degrees and cloudy.
Caught some bugs here - sorry the picture is fuzzy, I couldn't see to well through my visor --
(Does anyone notice that those are Skyway's Sliders on TD's bike? )
So- I’m sitting there at the table, and TD says, “ we have two choices - there’s a fun but longer route we can take to get back, or we can just shoot down the freeway and go home” Now I’m beat at this point. It’s 3:00 PM, we’ve covered over 340 miles at this point, and I think I just might be able to do the longer, funner ride, when common sense kicks in (the Advil wore off) and I elect the straight trip home. Now get this - I’m rolling along in traffic following TD along, and I’m tired, hands are cold again, my lower back is in a knot, and I’VE GOT THIS S**T EATING GRIN ON MY FACE!!!
TD, Hans and I ride back to the Shell station in San Dimas, we say our goodbyes, and TD informs me that now I am an official member of the Old Foggies Riding Club - after riding with the two of them I didn’t have any choice.
I know that quite a few of the forum members know and greatly respect TD - and I certainly understand why.
I am proud to say that I’ve ridden with him - and would certainly not hesitate to do it again. I am so looking forward to the California Dreaming ride in July.
So my hat’s off to BigDolma and TurboDave98 for showing the newbie and his Wonky the ropes - what a great experience.
Thank You, Gentlemen !! This world needs more like you.
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For a decent pair of winter gloves, check out the Tourmaster Winter Elite.
