Greetings from sunny California.....

...enjoying the great weather and trying to avoid getting sunburned.  Coming from a cooler than normal spring in Canada, we are really having a wonderful time.  We're not yet aclimatized to the heat, but hopefully within a few days, and keeping hydrated, we'll be fine.  Don't worry, we're all wearing hats and using lots of sunscreen.

Biggs to Klamath Falls: It was nothing to blog about....

Grant, looking at his future

The ride from Biggs to Klamath falls;  it was singularly uninspiring.  Breakfast at the Blackbear was an enjoyable interruption in an otherwise cold and less than enthusiastic wander over high plateau.  Riding from Bend was long and uninteresting, but the pavement is better than years past when the semi ruts were deep enough to eat a small cruiser.  We don't want to make it sound too dreary, but the idea out here is to find roads that are a thrill to ride.  Sometimes you have to ride through these areas to get to those. 

We had a faint hope of visiting Crater lake, but with the heavy snows up high and more forecast today in Klamath, it was a no go and time to head straight through.

South and better weather at lower elevation is the plan

Waitsburg to Biggs in the sunshine on great, great roads....

A fabulous morning in Waitsburg, up early, coffee and a stretch before we saddled up and rode to Walla Walla for breakfast.  A short ride on semil slab like roads, then onto some of the sweetest twisties with no traffic and excellent pavement.  For the pure enjoyment of riding a motorcycle, it doesn't get much better than this,

Down the Road

On  a bright Saturday morning, we left Cranbrook and headed south.  Immediately the skies darkened and by the time we hit the border, hail, which, after it we rubber suited up, subsided and by the time we hit Sandpoint, it was warm and sunny.  Hooked up again with Strips in Cour'dlaine, and a decent ride all the way to Waitsburg.  Some excellent roads and a pleasant evening in Waitsburg at the Whetstone pub while watching a playoff hockey game. 

Camping at the local fairgrounds on soft grass and a good sleep.  All good

Didja ever wonder....

Its like this; the CB's, radios that is,  have been a great accessory and safety tool when needed, BUT, when they don't work, a source of frustration that has focused the discussions around many a campfire and coffee stop.  They work, they don't work, I can't hear in front, he can't hear behind, the effective distance is at least several hundred metres, and on it went over the last 4-5 years of tour riding.  One of these years we should fix these things.

So, the executive plan for this year was to have them "tuned".  Get an expert to check them out, give us advice on what to do to make them all work together better.  Let's see how much we can get out of this aging and sometimes practical communications system.  That was the plan. 

Off we go to an experienced techie, who helped us define the issues, focus on reasonable solutions and make the adjustments to communicate more effectively and consistently.  Again, a great plan and armed with our newly minted knowledge, we proceeded to implement the changes. 

We did it, as designed, then tested our handy work.  Okay, so the end of the block might have been a long first experiment, but when Grant couldn't copy me at the end of Stu's driveway, a small inkling of doubt began to creep in...just a wee feeling of "what the hell did we do this time" moment. 

Ah well, the adventure continues and I am committed to talk with someone else and get more information.  Certainly the answer is out there somewhere...sort of like the expectation of intelligent life on this or some other planet, sort of,

jm

Northern California, or that is the general direction folks....

Okay, its been a while and not a lot of blogging action.  Time to change that.  We'll be heading out on Saturday, April 24/10; 5 from Cranbrook, 3 from Vancouver and perhaps 1 from Kelowna.  All this and the above will become more clear (or confused) in the posts that follow. Hast luego amigos....

jm

Whaaaat?

Okay, its the new year.  Nothing posted here since October/09 lads.  Time to get back to those activities which get the blood flowing to the brain.  A serious contingent has headed for Calgary MC show this weekend.  Trust its a good one. 

A typical evening in Saigon, Vietnam.  Over 4 million scooters are registered in this little burb. 

Calling this "look into my eyes"

As work progresses getting the new Honda ready for touring, I'll upate.  Feeling pretty good about it so far.

So, another couple months of sledding and its riding time.  Looking forward to catching up with everyone....jm