Friday–Monday, 2–5 Apr, 2004
Marc writes:
It’s a good thing that the date for the spring ride has become fixed in recent years as the first weekend in April. Otherwise Carl might be in line for his second boot due to Death Valley weather conditions. Last time it was a desert storm. This time it rained.
rain drops keep falling on my head
rain at furnace creek
I’m not talking about the storm clouds that are often between the bay area and the desert, I’m talking about cold and wet weather entering the valley and warm and wet weather in the valley. It came down quite hard at Furnace Creek around lunch time, Saturday. At least the folks who stayed at Stovepipe wells were warm. It was cold in Beatty, Nv.
Ted’s K11RT
Fred’s Moto Guzzi
But I’m getting ahead of myself. I met Ted on 101 just south of 92 and we rode to breakfast at the Cozy Cup where we met Fred. Fred had started the ride with mechanical difficulties. Hitting the starter ofter resulted in nothing. Flicking the high/low beam switch seemed to have some relevance to making the bike start.
Then, about 60 miles from home his speedo cable broke. Aren’t Moto Guzzi’s fun!
After breakfast we continued down 25 to 198 and stopped for gas in Coalinga. Then it was 33 to 46 and problems for Ted. Just before reaching 99 Ted’s bike started acting up. He decided to head north toward a relative’s house instead of taking a chance of breaking down in the mountains. Fred and I took back roads to Ca 155 over Elkhorn Summit (which was dry) and into Lake Isabella for Lunch. After lunch Fred couldn’t get his bike started. Flicking high/low beam and playing with the headlight relay and pushing the bike did nothing. I played with the kill switch and the bike started. The rest of the trip Fred’s starting procedure was to hit the starter then play with the kill switch until the bike fired, usually within a few seconds.
Dave and Derrick
Dave
Tom and Rich
Derrick
Sunday morning was the somewhat traditional breakfast at Panamint Springs for some of the riders. After breakfast several groups left Death Valley for Paso Robles. Fred and I rode 178 to 58 into Paso Robles, arriving about 4:30. Within 15 minutes or so Rich and Ginny arrived as did Tom and Jill. Later that evening Glenn showed up and lastly, Jerry.
Monday morning Rich and Ginny decided to head up 101. Jerry, Fred, and I followed my back road path to Cambria for breakfast then went up the coast. Fred had never been to Nepenthe so we stopped there for coffee and a snack. The next stop was Carmel for gas. Fred wanted to add some oil to his Guzzi, and bought a funnel. Due to the location of the fill plug the funnel didn’t help. I held the bike as we leaned it over so Fred could add the oil. Aren’t Moto Guzzi’s fun!
oil for the Guzzi
the honda needs a repair
Jerry does roadside repair
Upon leaving Carmel we took Ca 1 up the coast to 84, then up 84 for an obligatory stop at Alice’s. We noticed a screw loose on Jerry’s bike giving Jerry a chance to show his roadside repair skills.
I put 1295 more-or-less trouble free miles on the bike. This was the first time I’d stayed in Beatty in quite a few years. No more. If I’m going to get rained on, I at least want the rain to be warm. Next time I’ll make reservations early enough to stay in the valley.
Pictures from Carl
