It wasn't s'posed to rain
Redbeard Emeritus
thru BayArea commute traffic in what was forecasted to be a
significant storm. And of course, I guessed wrong. The traffic wuz
no doubt it's usual Fri eve nightmare, but the storm did not
materialize until later. My loss.
So Sunday came and I had a superior plan. We had a date with some
very good friends up in the Humboldt Redwoods, at the grand old nicely
restored Benbow Inn. Very special place and easy to love. (To me,
arriving there is like slipping into an old favorite shoe.)
I'd watched the weather and had this all scoped. The Friday/Saturday
storm was to move out overnight Sat and we'll roll out behind it on
Sunday morning. Next storm: Tues late in the day. So we just roll
back home in front ot if.
Great plan. Unfortunately, the execution left a bit to be desired.
I've got this storm stuff all figured out. Well, for Central
California, that is. Guess there's probly some other parameters at
work as you head further north. <g> As we headed out of The Foothills
and out across The Big Valley on Sunday morning, it was pretty nice
out. In fact, clear and not very cold at all. But as we approached
Cache Creek Canyon, I was slightly concerned over a few dark clouds up
the canyon aways. And Shirley enuf, they dumped a few sprinkles on
us. No biggie. Headed past Clear Lake and the lake was definitely
milking more out of those last vestige clouds from the previous storm.
Enuf so that Connie decided to don her rain gear. (Not my style. <g>)
We had half of our 260 mile trip ahead of us and it was not shaping up
exactly like the plan. Reached GON2L US 101 and began rolling north
on the Redwood Hiway. The further we got into The Redwoods, the more
it dumped. And each time we hit a grove of 'em, it *really* dumped.
By the time we got to Benbow, I wuz pretty damn'd soggy. Hey, no
biggie. People don't melt.
Monday was truly glorious. But Monday wuz spent sightseeing in our
friends' cage. Perfect riding day but no riding. No sweat. Still
got the plan for the return. Roll out Tues before the storm starts
rolling in. Seemed even more solid since the previous storm rolled
out late. (Didn't seem probable that th' weather gods would make up
for that by bringing in the next one early.)
All too soon our little party was over. Roused Tues am to note that
it was already starting to sprinkle. No big deal. Just like the ride
up there. Some rain up in the Redwood Forest and then get out in
front of it by the time we reach Clear Lake or before. Or so I
figgered.
Butt we're having waayyyy too much fun over a grand, glorious,
leisurely breakfast, and are in no hurry for farewells. And finally
throw a coupla legs over (one each; I don't mean I wuz riding
sidesaddle) and roll out.
And we're screwed. It's damn wet. And over time, we're gettin wet.
And it's *really* cold. Down in the 30s. Bad combination. But still
I think I can get out in front of it.
Hmmmmm.... Well, not by Clear Lake (where I confirm at a gas stop
that the leading edge of the storm is about an hour in front of us).
Not by Woodland (where it's just minutes in front of us).
Finally as we roll toward Sacto, the storm is in our mirrors. And the
temps move up 10 very precious degrees. Butt after a day of riding in
the rain, we're waterlogged even under raingear. Even the dry and
"warmer" last hour of the ride wasn't the very most fun we'd ever had
on the bike.
Well, I s'pose heading out on th' scooter hundreds of miles from home
for a few days in mid December isn't the wisest thing to attempt.
Butt hell... got home, dried off, thawed out. Life still seems
pretty damn good.
A most fine time, indeed. This slug shouldda known better than to
count on his plan. Tho I must confess it was Shirley slugly weather.
--
R.E. #92 DOF#1 BC#1 BS#28 CCP LSMFT
'96 FLHTC-I "Mae A" R.I.P. "Mae-A...bilene, why caintcha be true?"
'02 FLHTC-I "Mae B" (th' last)
'46 Chief "Sweet Thunder Woman" aka Hypatia
Slick Willy
news:gfqetvg2669hhs7v6...@4ax.com...
Nice story R.E. Wish I could be on the scoot here. Be thankful that you
only have *rain* to deal with. It's been in the low 20's here and snowing
on and off for the past 2 days. Got about 6 inches on the ground and
waiting for the snow that's in the mid-west to dump on the Northeast. At
this point, I'm already dreaming of Daytona. ( just got the OK from dufas -
a.k.a my boss to take the time off work)
Barkeep, please give R.E. a drink and put 'er on my tab.
---
Regards,
Slick Willy
'73 CB 450
'03 FLSTF
Alan Gideon
Redbeard Emeritus wrote:
<snippage>
>
>Monday was truly glorious. But Monday >wuz spent sightseeing in our
>friends' cage.
Thanks for the sloggin' take along better have this here drink of brew I
be buyin' R.E..
Redbeard in a cage? perish the thought!
:^)
Alan
85XLX history
Redbeard Emeritus
<bgood...@luvfelines.com> writ:
>Redbeard Emeritus wrote:
><snippage>
>>
>>Monday was truly glorious. But Monday >wuz spent sightseeing in our
>>friends' cage.
>
>Thanks for the sloggin' take along better have this here drink of brew I
>be buyin' R.E..
Thanks for th' xmas brew. Most excellent.
>Redbeard in a cage? perish the thought!
Yeah. You just *hadda* lift that line, didn'tcha. Just couldn't help
yerself.
And not just any fuckin cage, neither. One of them flashy
thingamajigs with all manner of graphs and shit in front of ya.
(Howinhell are y' sposed to drive with all them distractions in front
of ya?) Fuckin thing was gettin 100 mpg some of the time. Hell,
IIRC at one point it wuz actually manufacturing gas.
tom koehler
(in message <gfqetvg2669hhs7v6...@4ax.com>):
>
> Well, I s'pose heading out on th' scooter hundreds of miles from home
> for a few days in mid December isn't the wisest thing to attempt.
> Butt hell... got home, dried off, thawed out. Life still seems
> pretty damn good.
>
> A most fine time, indeed. This slug shouldda known better than to
> count on his plan. Tho I must confess it was Shirley slugly weather.
>
> --
> R.E. #92 DOF#1 BC#1 BS#28 CCP LSMFT
> '96 FLHTC-I "Mae A" R.I.P. "Mae-A...bilene, why caintcha be true?"
> '02 FLHTC-I "Mae B" (th' last)
> '46 Chief "Sweet Thunder Woman" aka Hypatia
Thanks for the report... sounds like you had a good time, even with the wet.
Whenever I get in bad weather, I figger it is just the toll I pay for all the
good weather. Not a bad bargain at all.
Have an aquavit, on me. Skol! It'll warm you up real good.
tom k.
--
I will find a way or make one.
(Most likely from Hannibal, crossing the Alps with his elephants
during the Second Punic War about 22 centuries ago.)
Brian Wright
> thru BayArea commute traffic in what was forecasted to be a
> significant storm. And of course, I guessed wrong. The traffic wuz
> no doubt it's usual Fri eve nightmare, but the storm did not
> materialize until later. My loss.
>
> --
> R.E. #92 DOF#1 BC#1 BS#28 CCP LSMFT
> '96 FLHTC-I "Mae A" R.I.P. "Mae-A...bilene, why caintcha be true?"
> '02 FLHTC-I "Mae B" (th' last)
> '46 Chief "Sweet Thunder Woman" aka Hypatia
Great ride report R.E. I had to put on a fresh pot of Java just to finish
reading it. I don't blame you for not attempting to venture out into Bay
Area traffic on a rainy Friday, even if the rain held off. That's something
I sure don't miss.
I guess this would be a good time for a re-intro. I haven't been around the
VB&G for a couple of years so drinks are on me as long as the cash hold out.
A couple of years ago I moved from the mid-Calif. coast up to the Sierra
foothills and built a new house. I ended up having to sell my Lowrider
(refer back to building a house) and have been bikeless way too long.
Recently I fell into a deal I couldn't pass up. A buddy bought an '03 FLSTC
about 7-8 months ago and nobody ever saw the damn thing. Finally I see him
one day getting out of his car while I'm visiting down in the Bay Area. I
start giving him shit about it being a nice day and he isn't out riding. He
tells me that he hardly ever rides since he got his new girlfriend and the
bike just sits in the garage gathering dust. Then the kicker. He says if he
could find someone to take over the payments he'd let it go. Weeellll, let's
go take a look at it says I. It's exactly what I expected...brand-spanking
new looking with only 1100 miles on the clock. I take it out for a spin just
to make sure he hasn't fried the motor or trannie. Rides great...I'll take
it. A quick call to his credit union squares the deal with me taking over
the payments and we load it into the back of my pickup for the trip home.
Damn right I took it right then and there. No time for him to change his
mind. So a new ride with no down payment, no sales tax AND he had just made
a payment on it that day so I got a free month.
I wasn't real keen on all the 100th Anniversary stuff all over the place (he
paid for the gold key package). Christ...isn't that big ass medallion on the
tank enough? So I've spent the time I haven't been riding taking all that
shit off...including the tank medallion. By the way...whoever posted the
link to the website for removing that thing...thanks! Great descriptions and
step by step color photos...perfect. There may be some out there saying that
I'm taking value from the bike by doing this. Well, to me the value of the
bike is what I think of it. As I did on the FXDL...this is going to be my
bike and barring any calamities, will be mine for a long time. It's gonna be
what I want and not what 50k other people may have as some sort of collector
's investment. That being said, who's ready for another round?
-Smokey
'99 FXDL (gone but not forgotten)
'03 FLSTC
West Coast Joe
SNIP a great report...Butt I jus gotta say:
And you call yourself a northern Californian!? Pfff! Going up the to
the North Coast and NOT expecting rain?! There are no weather Gods in
that area, just weather devils! Sheesh man, Shirley you shudda known
better. <G>
Hey, great report anyway...and I do admire you for getting out there
in December up to the coast.
I got the rain gear on and took a ride out to our local coast (Drakes
Beach/Point Reyes area)yesterday to watch the waves. Holy crap! Talk
about tides! I watched as over 20 footers were breaking right near the
shore. The Mighty Pacific was anything butt "Pacific" yesterday. There
is nothing, and I mean nothing so awesome as standing there and
watching such power, making one feel like an ant in comparison. Those
who have heard the body trembling rumble of a 20 foot wave smashing on
the sand know what I'm talking about. Thunder, lightening, tornados,
hurricanes all pale in the face of an angry Pacific storm! Believe it
or not, there were a handfull of surfers out there getting thrown
about like corks in a washing machine! And they call bikers nuts!
WCJ
Ralph
"West Coast Joe" <twowhe...@hotmail.com> wrote in message
news:80db8b47.03121...@posting.google.com...
> Beach/Point Reyes area)yesterday to watch the waves. Holy crap! Talk
> about tides! I watched as over 20 footers were breaking right near the
> shore. The Mighty Pacific was anything butt "Pacific" yesterday. There
> is nothing, and I mean nothing so awesome as standing there and
> watching such power, making one feel like an ant in comparison. Those
> who have heard the body trembling rumble of a 20 foot wave smashing on
> the sand know what I'm talking about. Thunder, lightening, tornados,
> hurricanes all pale in the face of an angry Pacific storm! Believe it
> or not, there were a handfull of surfers out there getting thrown
> about like corks in a washing machine! And they call bikers nuts!
> WCJ
would be considered a ripple.....
Got to see some waves fairly close and personal once.... The sub I was on
had to be on the surface to get a part flown in for the sonar boys. I was up
on the tower and the waves were at least as far above me as the tower was
from the water line at rest. This was somewheres off of Kauai winter of
'89.....
Rog BS#207
Redbeard Emeritus
Joe) writ:
>Redbeard Emeritus <redb...@volcano.net> wrote in message news:<gfqetvg2669hhs7v6...@4ax.com>...
>
>SNIP a great report...Butt I jus gotta say:
>
>And you call yourself a northern Californian!? Pfff! Going up the to
>the North Coast and NOT expecting rain?! There are no weather Gods in
>that area, just weather devils! Sheesh man, Shirley you shudda known
>better. <G>
Bu.. bu.. butt it WASN'T S'POSED TO RAIN!
>Hey, great report anyway...and I do admire you for getting out there
>in December up to the coast.
>I got the rain gear on and took a ride out to our local coast (Drakes
>Beach/Point Reyes area)yesterday to watch the waves. Holy crap! Talk
>about tides! I watched as over 20 footers were breaking right near the
>shore. The Mighty Pacific was anything butt "Pacific" yesterday. There
>is nothing, and I mean nothing so awesome as standing there and
>watching such power, making one feel like an ant in comparison. Those
>who have heard the body trembling rumble of a 20 foot wave smashing on
>the sand know what I'm talking about. Thunder, lightening, tornados,
>hurricanes all pale in the face of an angry Pacific storm! Believe it
>or not, there were a handfull of surfers out there getting thrown
>about like corks in a washing machine! And they call bikers nuts!
>WCJ
Down near Half Moon Bay is Maverick's Beach. Nothing to write home
about. But when the conditions are right (sometimes in the winter) it
draws worldclass surfers from all over. (And kills some of 'em.)
This is not the day for it (we're between storms), but there's some
great live cams out there along the coast for the surfers to check
before they head out from home.
Here's one:
http://www.surfline.com/surfline/livecams/getsurfmapsurfbreakreport.cfm?alias=maverickscam
Old Crow
<redb...@volcano.net> wrote:
>I passed up a big kickass party Fri nite due to concerns over sloggin
>thru BayArea commute traffic in what was forecasted to be a
>significant storm. And of course, I guessed wrong. The traffic wuz
>no doubt it's usual Fri eve nightmare, but the storm did not
>materialize until later. My loss.
I can attest to this. I only *thought* I had a lousy commute. I'll
take an occasional deer encounter over your traffic anytime.
>
>So Sunday came and I had a superior plan. We had a date with some
>very good friends up in the Humboldt Redwoods, at the grand old nicely
>restored Benbow Inn. Very special place and easy to love. (To me,
>arriving there is like slipping into an old favorite shoe.)
>
>I'd watched the weather and had this all scoped. The Friday/Saturday
>storm was to move out overnight Sat and we'll roll out behind it on
>Sunday morning. Next storm: Tues late in the day. So we just roll
>back home in front ot if.
>
>Great plan. Unfortunately, the execution left a bit to be desired.
>
Karma. That's what I call it <g>.
You know, it didn't rain a drop in Arkansas...all weekend...until
Monday morning. Maybe it's me.
>I've got this storm stuff all figured out. Well, for Central
>California, that is. Guess there's probly some other parameters at
>work as you head further north. <g> As we headed out of The Foothills
>and out across The Big Valley on Sunday morning, it was pretty nice
>out. In fact, clear and not very cold at all.
Indeed. I didn't hit anything on the way to the airport except some
light sprinkles in the Altamont Pass area.
<snip some>
>Well, I s'pose heading out on th' scooter hundreds of miles from home
>for a few days in mid December isn't the wisest thing to attempt.
>Butt hell... got home, dried off, thawed out. Life still seems
>pretty damn good.
Glad you had a good ride despite the weather. Sounded like fun when
you were tellling me about it.
>
>A most fine time, indeed.
As was my son's and my visit on Saturday evening. Thanks for the
hospitality(pass this on to Connie, Dennis and Kelly as well)...we
enjoyed the whole evening a lot.
You'll notice I didn't say a thing about the rain prior to your post.
I thought this rater restrained of me<g>. Of course, I wasn't on a
bike, so I figured I didn't really have a "ride report" as such.
Nobody cares about our flight/drive...it wasn't all that neat.
--
Old Crow 24 hours in a day...
'82 Shovelhead FLT 92" 'Pearl' 24 beers in a case...
'95 Jeep YJ Rio Grande Co-incidence? I think not.
ASE Certified Master Auto Tech + L1
TOMKAT, BS#133, SENS, MAMBM, DOF#51
Redbeard Emeritus
writ:
>On Wed, 10 Dec 2003 10:46:22 -0800, Redbeard Emeritus
><redb...@volcano.net> wrote:
>
>>I passed up a big kickass party Fri nite due to concerns over sloggin
>>thru BayArea commute traffic in what was forecasted to be a
>>significant storm. And of course, I guessed wrong. The traffic wuz
>>no doubt it's usual Fri eve nightmare, but the storm did not
>>materialize until later. My loss.
>I can attest to this. I only *thought* I had a lousy commute. I'll
>take an occasional deer encounter over your traffic anytime.
Hey. That ain't *my* traffic. I left that shit behind years ago.
And avoid it every chance I get. (Guess yer convinced to fly into
somewhere outside the BA next time, huh?)
>>I'd watched the weather and had this all scoped. The Friday/Saturday
>>storm was to move out overnight Sat and we'll roll out behind it on
>>Sunday morning. Next storm: Tues late in the day. So we just roll
>>back home in front ot if.
>>
>>Great plan. Unfortunately, the execution left a bit to be desired.
>Karma. That's what I call it <g>.
Y'know... I don't really like you very much.
>>A most fine time, indeed.
>As was my son's and my visit on Saturday evening. Thanks for the
>hospitality(pass this on to Connie, Dennis and Kelly as well)...we
>enjoyed the whole evening a lot.
Will do. Great to see you and meet th' other Wally.
>You'll notice I didn't say a thing about the rain prior to your post.
>I thought this rater restrained of me<g>.
And now yer just so effusive with unbridled enthusiam over it you
can't even type "rather."
>Of course, I wasn't on a
>bike, so I figured I didn't really have a "ride report" as such.
>Nobody cares about our flight/drive...it wasn't all that neat.
I wuz looking forward to raggin on you about it.
Old Crow
>
> Hey. That ain't *my* traffic. I left that shit behind years ago.
> And avoid it every chance I get. (Guess yer convinced to fly into
> somewhere outside the BA next time, huh?)
Yup, Sacto it is...
>
> >>I'd watched the weather and had this all scoped. The Friday/Saturday
> >>storm was to move out overnight Sat and we'll roll out behind it on
> >>Sunday morning. Next storm: Tues late in the day. So we just roll
> >>back home in front ot if.
> >>
> >>Great plan. Unfortunately, the execution left a bit to be desired.
>
> >Karma. That's what I call it <g>.
>
> Y'know... I don't really like you very much.
>
Sorry...cheap shot. <sfsf>
> >>A most fine time, indeed.
>
> >As was my son's and my visit on Saturday evening. Thanks for the
> >hospitality(pass this on to Connie, Dennis and Kelly as well)...we
> >enjoyed the whole evening a lot.
>
> Will do. Great to see you and meet th' other Wally.
>
T'anks.
> >You'll notice I didn't say a thing about the rain prior to your post.
> >I thought this rater restrained of me<g>.
>
> And now yer just so effusive with unbridled enthusiam over it you
> can't even type "rather."
>
Gimme a break, it was early. Musta been jet lag...yeah, that's it...jet lag.
> >Of course, I wasn't on a
> >bike, so I figured I didn't really have a "ride report" as such.
> >Nobody cares about our flight/drive...it wasn't all that neat.
>
> I wuz looking forward to raggin on you about it.
And don't you beleive that that thought didn't cross my mind<g>.
--
Old Crow
'82 FLTC