Sept 28/08 - New friends - New Memories

Sunday, Sept 28th/08

We enjoyed a great hot breakfast that included Starbuck’s coffee at our hotel in Truckee, California. I had been up since 4:00 a.m. working on our Blog and updating photos. Rod finished his novel relaxing in the tub – his third since we have been on this trip.

We checked out at 10:00 a.m. and as we fired up the bikes to leave – I couldn’t find my prescription sunglasses. We both looked everywhere and couldn’t find them. Rod went back to our room to look and I went over our ‘luggage’ on my bike. They were no where to be found! We went back to the 50/50 Grill where we had dinner last night and to my great relief they were there. Whew! I will at the very least concede to the possibility of the key issue of yesterday.

We fuelled at Truckee on the way out of town. It is another glorious, sunny autumn morning. At this altitude, close to the Sqaw Valley ski area, the mountain air is very ‘brisk’ this morning but oh so unbelievably pure and fresh. The fall colours are even more pronounced here – a little further North – a few days further into fall.

Normally in California, I LOVE to ride the 101 along the coast and admittedly, I am missing the ocean I have lived near all my life. But, it is cold there now, (low 60’s) and we would most certainly be getting wet. I cling to the warmth of these inland routes as I know at home we will be facing rainy and gray skies for the next six months. There is time enough for my feet to go back to being webbed.

Rod has picked up a hitch-hiker. Somewhere overnight, an itsy bitsy spider has made a home on his bike. Now, at 65 MPH he is slowly inching his way up to the top of his windshield – on the outside! Now, he’s straddling the top and hanging on for dear life – ‘puckered’ right down I’m sure. He creeps along the very top to the left and then with a ‘leap of faith’ on this Sabbath day he spins his web out … out from the bike … and is … gone. I’m sure at his ‘forced’ displacement he is quite the little immigrant. A new home in a new land.

Down, down ,down the mountain we fly on Hwy 89 towards Graeagle. We press hard – fresh asphalt, newly painted lines, absolutely perfect for two wheels. Add throttle, lean left, sit up, re-seat – a little front brake – add more power into the curve. We are nestled in the embrace of a veritable Cathedral of monstrous Ponderosa Pine, Mountain Ash, Fir and Cedars.

From time to time I check my mirror to make sure Rod is still hanging in there with me. Sure enough he is, though a ways behind and in my mind I fancy I can hear him encouraging me to ‘let my hair down’. In a manner of speaking of course since my hair is pretty short. I can also hear my friend Keiko, who just celebrated her birthday (Happy Birthday Keiko) say as she has in an email to me – “Go Go Linda Sue”. I’m riding behind a brand new Corvette in an electrifying shade of blue, nipping at his heels. Now HE’s fun to chase !!!

An interesting phenomenon that I’d like to share regarding cornering on the bike. Sometimes, you come into the corner a little hot (translation – too fast) and you scare yourself a little. The natural tendency is to tense up – this is something that at times I still have to talk my way through. What you need to do is relax and drop the shoulders (hopefully they are not glued up around your ears) drop the death-like grip on the handlebars to a feather-light touch, LOOK where you want the bike to go, let it ‘fall away’ from you in the direction of the corner and then let the bike take over. Much like an airplane, it will tend to find it’s own way. Now emerge from the corner wearing … a smile.

We make a stop in Graeagle as I am inspired to make some notes in my journal. I have a perfect spot at a picnic table by the lake with the sound of a creek rushing by behind us. We meet Ken & Susie there who have just come in on a red Harley (we won’t hold that against them). Please drop us an email – we’d love to hear from you and meet up for a ride in the Pacific Northwest.

We set off again and for the past few miles have had a couple of sport bikes sitting on our quarter. Each time I pull out to pass I pull into the far right to allow them to pass us should they choose to do so. They seem quite content however to ride along behind us. We blow by a California State Patrol car while climbing up near 80MPH in a 55MPH zone. OOPS!!! I back the throttle off and add a little drag with the front brake. It’s kind of a dead give-away if the trooper sees the front end of the bike in a dive. He knows that you know – you’re guilty. I see a sign that there is a rest area in 2 miles. Seems like the perfect time to let the tires cool a little. We pull in and enjoy a 15 minute respite.

Murphy’s Law … again. Why is it that motorhomes (I’m sure this does not apply to you David & Rose) feel the need to be out in front – then drive 20 MPH below the posted speed in the ‘crooked’ parts then at full pedal to the metal through the straights where we might have an opportunity to pass? It’s really NOT that we HAVE to go fast (although we certainly like to) it’s more that we can enjoy the view a whole lot better when we’re not having to watch for the ‘cock-a-mamie’ antics you get up to trying to push your rig down the road in an effort to keep in front of us. One has been in front of me for a number of miles now and studiously avoids the many pull outs provided for the use of slower vehicles. Finally in frustration, I lay on the horn and miraculously he pulls into a pull out to let Rod & I pass then immediately pulls back out right in front of another unit. Go figure!

‘Paladin’ just LOVES being out on the highway on this adventure. When I picked him up 3 years ago in Texas he was getting 100 miles to a tank of gas. Robert, his former owner, insisted that I take with me a little jerry-can of extra fuel “just in case”. I filled the can in Fort Worth and carried it all the way to Vancouver without having to make use of it. At one point, I coasted into Fallon, Nevada on fumes but still made it after all. When I got ‘Paladin’ home, Rod changed it over to Amsoil, a synthetic oil product and it immediately picked up 150 RPM and started getting better mileage. Rod tells me I have been averaging 54 miles per gallon on this trip and we have not been running it easy. Now, I have just gone on reserve at 124 miles on the tank but I’m not quite sure how far to the next fuel station. I ‘sit a little lighter’ and back off the throttle a little to 65MPH and we pull into McCloud, California on reserve, fumes and prayer. My trusty steed has come 137 miles on this tank. We call ahead to Mt Shasta to reserve a room for the night and head off down Hwy 89 ‘bombing’ through the trees. Mt Shasta looms straight ahead in front of us as if, were we to keep going we’d run right into it and up the side. I have never seen it like this with NO snow on it.

The ever playful Pika’s are back – playing their death-defying game again. Those little beggars just love to taunt you.

We pull into Mt Shasta, check in to our accommodation and I write yesterday’s stories up on the computer on an outside picnic table while Rod relaxes for a bit. We walk the few blocks to dinner at Lily’s – a historical little restaurant that looks like you’re going to Grandma’s house for dinner. We enjoy a fabulous dinner there and meet some new friends as well. The table next to us is celebrating a special birthday and have come in from the San Diego area. Their daughter and family and new baby grand-daughter have surprised them by showing up from Medford, Oregon. A happy occasion and when they leave they send a couple of glasses of wine over to that “happy looking couple”. Thanks so much Bill and Zan – we’ll send you the photo and wish you all the very best.



On the table, there is a little oil lamp as “mood lighting”. I note that the etching on it is of Calla Lillies. My Mom’s name was Calla and I think it is neat as she has been so much on my mind this trip. I ask the waitress “could we purchase this little lamp as a souvenir”? She brings us a brand new one still all wrapped up. It will bring us wonderful memories of a very special time.