Day 42 July 27 to Monrovia and back

mileage 265
total mileage 13,491

Today we made a run to Monrovia, CA for a housewarming for Mary, the ex-baby duchess. We got up there about 3:00 and had a great time visiting old friends. Martin and Darrel then headed North to Lancaster. Krista and I headed South to San Diego. The amigos have now split but we had a great time. I plan on staying with Krista thru the next weekend and then will head towards the Grand Canyon.

Day 41 July 26 to the forth corner San Ysidro CA

mileage 284
total mileage 13,226
camping fee...stayed with Krista



Today was to be the end of the Four Corner Ride. We didn't get up as early as planned because Darrel and I stayed up late playing Vegas 2 on his X-box.. :) We got on the road, heading to breakfast about 8am. After a large breakfast at Ottos in Lancaster we got on the way. It was already getting hot when we left. It was out thru the high desert heading towards San Bernadino. Originally the plan called for the three of us to ride togeather for a week or two. But a job change for Darrel changed those plans. It was nice for the three amigos to be riding togeather.





It took about three hours to reach La Mesa and meet Krista, my youngest daughter, who had borrowed a helmet and jacket, and was ready to go. In less than 30 minutes we were in San Ysidro. The four corner ride was officially over and now it was going to be the ride home.



We decided not to cross into Mexico but just take some camera shots over the border. A lot of people were crossing into the USA to buy products. Our econemy has gone way down with both the Canadians and the Mexicans coming here to save money.



Then we returned to Kristas' apartment. We were planning on going to the comic book convention but found that was sold out. So it was watch movies and discuss the ride.

Day 40 July 24 to Lancaster CA

mileage 74
total mileage 12,942
camping fee...stayed with friend



We got to sleep in the RV so no tents to take down this morning but there were about 200 peacocks and peahens making a lot of noise, not to mention the roosters. We got up in time to see the 15,000 gal water tank arrive and watched Robear direct the installation. Then it was time to go.

Thru the pass and to Newhall. It was time to check out the Way Station cafe. The food as always was great but for the first time in about 30 years I didn't know anyone working there. Life goes on but who would have guessed that.

Then it was on to Lancaster. The San Fernando Valley has now spread all the way there. A diamond lane and motorcycle cops giving out tickets, reminded me ov Virginia.



Darrel was cleaning his car and making room for our bikes as we pulled up. Tommorow is going to be a cleaning day and maintenance for the bikes. Then the three of us will head South. In San Diego we will pick up my daughter Krista and then head on to the forth corner, kind of sounds like the ninth monkey. :)

Day 39 July 23 to Sylmar

mileage 458
total mileage 12,865
camping fee...stayed with friends



After a long stayover at Wanda and Martins (thanks Wanda) it was time to get back on the road.

We left smokey northern calif to find smokey central calif and then down to Sylmar in the San Fernando Valley, in so calif. I wasn't sure if it was smokey or just smoggy, oh well it was one or the other or maybe both. The heat was really bad coming down the central valley and made for a long day in the saddle. We were both tired when we pulled into Pat and Robears to spend the night and visit as long as we could keep Robear up. Having to go to work is a pain, at least as best I remember.

Day 38 July 16 to Oroville CA

mileage 263
total mileage 12,470
camping fee...$0 staying at Martins' house



Today was a short run from Medford, OR to Oroville, CA. This is a route that both Martin and I have made many times because I used to live in Medford. We checked many possible routes but with the fact that there are over 1000 fires burning in Calif our possible routes closed down. We decided just to make the straight run to Oroville. The smoke was very heavy even in Medford, the winds had changed and blown the smoke into Oregon.

For those of you familiar with the route...from I5 we could Not see MT Shasta. We passed a temp helicopter field with about 20 helicopters on it, all with temp ID numbers. We did see proof that the gov't has the secret black helicopters. There were three of them on the field, flat black but with large PINK temp ID numbers. We also saw a sea plane based at Lake Shasta.



It was a long hot trip and we were happy to get to Martins. Just in time for his 31st Anniversary, Congrats to Martin and Wanda. We will probably take a week long break here until we can set up a rondevous with Darrell (Martins nephew). And the down to San Diego to pickup Krista (my daughter) and then on to San Ysidro, corner number four, the end of the Four Corner Ride. But I will still have 4000-6000 miles to get home.

Day 37 July 14 to Crater Lake

mileage 227
total mileage 12,207
camping fee..still at Cats'



Dori and I had tried to get to Crater Lake when we lived here but always at the wrong time and the weather didn't cooperate. This time the weather was awesome and at the lodge we even met another rider on a four corner ride.





tommorow we will update blogs and do Laundry.

Day 36 July 13 to Medford OR

mileage 493
total mieage 11,980
camping fee...$0 stayed with Cat



Gene and marcia took us to breakfast at a new place "The Kickstand". A motorcycle themed place that doesn't want to be a motorcyclist hang out.

This was the weekend of the Seattle to Portland bicycle ride. Both Martin and I have done this 200 mile bicycle ride before. We decided to follow the bike route from Napavine to the Vader hill. We had a blast doing it.

I then went South thru Portland and then cut over to the coast. But the coast was cold, windy and foggy so I decided the heat of the valley was preferable. I cut back over to I5 and then went South to Medford. And even though I was a day early Cat let me camp in the backyard.

Day 35 July 12 to Chehalis WA

mileage 458 a long day on side roads
total mileage 11,487
camping fee...stayed in Genes' front yard

Martin and I headed south from Federal Way and crossed the Tacoma Narrows Bridge turning us north again. We crossed the island, passing the naval bases and finally crossed the floating bridge by Port Townsend. We covered 157 miles before getting gas, Martin was a little nervous. We stopped at a casino for breakfast, they were having a car show there. The waitress let us officially open the lounge. Then it was just a matter of following the coast to Neah bay. It was a great day to be riding.




We then started south again, thru Aberdeen and towards Chehalis. Then Garminita decided that we should return to Aberdeen at which point we ignored her, back seat drivers, and continued south.



we were late getting into Chehalis but still my friends Gene and Marcia were waiting for us at Plaza Jalisco. It had been 38-39 years since the last time I had seen them. The talk went on late into the night, for me, maybe 10pm? The neighbors welcomed us by doing late night burnouts. We returned the favor with early morning exhausts..:)

Day 34 July 10 to Blaine WA Corner 3

milage 281
total milage 11,029
camping fee...staying with friends

Today was the run to corner three, Blaine, WA. Martin and I got up and had some coffee while I did my laundry. The bike was a lot lighter without all the camping gear on it. A real hot rod!!

It was fun riding togeather again. Stopped for breakfast after about 150 miles and then on to Blaine. Got some nice pictures at the Peace Arch Park and then we went to the city hall for some more pictures. We finally found a girl with taste for motorcycles and she sat on my bike first.. :)

Then the unexpected happened. A lady came out of city hall and asked if we were on a four corner ride. When we told her that we were she said to come inside, that they had official certificates for us. They filled out the documents and then also gave us Blaine, WA pins. Wow! Of course this means thay we will have to get pins for Key West and Matawaska.

The ride back was uneventfull except for the horrible Seattle rush hour traffic.

Tommorow is a off day and then Saturday we will leave for Neah Bay and Ozette (not Cozette).

Day 33 July 9 to Federal Way WA

milage 499
total milage 10,748
camping fee..stayed with Martins' sister

Another long day in the saddle....I love it :)

Crossed thru Oregon (no sales tax) and into Washington (no tax on food) I love it here but most of the day was in the desert. Once again high winds meant poor gas milage. Pulled into Federal Way about 5pm and had a great dinner with Martin, Ellen and Craig. Then lots of comparing notes with Martin.

Tommorow it is off to corner three and then a quick return.

Day 32 July 8 to Caldwell ID

milage 444
total milage 10,249
camping fee..stayed with friends.

Back on the road after an 8 day stop to visit Melissa, Paul, Harlee and Wyatt. Not to mention the 4th of July party with Cozy and Max.

It felt good to be back on the road, I really missed it. I plan to meet Martin in the Seattle area and then go on to the third corner. I expect two long days to get there.

I didn't take any pictures, I have been accross that section many times and was trying to make time, while riding at a sedate 65mph indicated, true 61mph. People are still flying on the highway, 80mph while pulling a trailer, don't they care or understand fuel milage?

Made it to Caldwell about 5pm, just in time for an iced coffee before Gary closed the espresso stand. We picked up a pizza and diet pepsis and went to his place to join Bonnie. Lots of talking about motocycles, trips and friends. I had a great time as always. The wind from the Utah border to Caldwell was about 30-35mph. This caused my gas milage to drop to about 30mpg. A horrible thing to have to worry about milage on a motorcycle but sometimes it costs $20 to fill up.