Well my California Motorcycle Tour starts two days early, tomorrow April 15th. My Honda Shadow 750 and I will be rolling out of Dana Point sometime around noon and heading north to Ventura. I’ll be spending the night with my mom there and then heading up Highway 1 early Thursday morning.
Riding Alone
One interesting observation I’ve made since I first posted the trip is how many people have asked and seem surprised that I’m doing this trip alone. I have a riding buddy Robert Prophet who initially was going to accompany me but business forced him to change those plans. Although I enjoy riding with him the more I’ve thought about it the more I feel that this is the kind of trip I need to make alone especially in the wake of my new life developments. Read On…
Slight Change In Plans
Last Friday I was laid off from the job I’ve had for eight and a half years. I’ve not been unemployed in 22 years so this is all new to me. The thought of canceling the trip of course did come up but I spoke to a good number of people all of whom are much more wise and mature than I am and the overwhelming opinion was go now. Go now more than ever. Go now or you’ll be miserable. So I am. I’m going to shorten the trip a bit. Same route just longer riding days but I really need to do this and so off I go.
Friends Of Bill
I know that a lot of Bill’s friends are following along this blog and have asked me if I was planning on stopping and meeting any of his friends during my trip. The answer of course is a resounding yes. I can’t say for sure in what city, town or county I’m going to meet with them but I’ll figure that out along the way. I love meeting Bill’s friends when I’m on the road. Even though we are strangers at first we always seem to have so much in common and we always part friends. I’ll keep you updated.
Thursday’s Route
Thursday I’ll be heading north on the 405 to the 101 north into Ventura. It’s a pretty easy 2 hour ride. The map below shows it pretty well. After tonight I’m not going to have my MAC to create these really cool and easy screen shots but I’ll figure it out.
Don’t forget you can sign up for email notices when new info gets posted to this blog. It’s totally secure and you won’t get any spam. The sign up box is at the lower right corner of this page.
Mike,
It is fitting you are leaving on April 15th, but by publishing the route, it makes it so easy for the IRS to find you…unless of course this is all make believe and you are really hot air ballooning across the arctic circle. Wish you well on your journey and venture. Had I known ahead of time, a handful of cigars would have found their way into your satchel. Will smoke on upon your return for some good stories.
My life has been inextricably linked with yours, which quite frankly, gives me cause for pause. When folks tell us they have a hard time believing in God, we chuckle and think, “Not us!” We are proof. “People don’t change.” Yeah, right!
You go cheffie. Have a great ride, enjoy life, and when you get home you’ll have a new perspective on life.
cigardough
God speed! And just remember:
Come mothers and fathers
Throughout the land
And don’t criticize
What you can’t understand
Your sons and your daughters
Are beyond your command
Your old road is
Rapidly agin’.
Please get out of the new one
If you can’t lend your hand
For the times they are a-changin’.