PatrickLY – 2014 Four Corners

This Year’s Adventure Begins

PatrickLY — Thu, 27 Mar 2014 16:49:53 +0000

Here I go again – or more accurately, here “we” go. This year I’ve got company; at least part of the time. Robin will be there at all 4 corners and Newfoundland – and – I’ve got friends that will be joining me here and there along the way. Start date is April 2, 2014. In the rain??

This is “Plan A” – the A stands for Always subject to change……

Day 1 – Thousand Oaks to Petaluma (429 miles)

PatrickLY — Wed, 02 Apr 2014 12:28:51 +0000

Nothing fancy here, just a little ride up the 101. There was a lot of traffic leaving town and again in the San Fransisco area but since we didn’t bring the trailer we were able to maneuver our way through the congestion with ease. There is one thing I love about California that no other state offers – the ability to legally cut traffic on a motorcycle. Put the rain gear on – too late for the first batch of rain, took it off to eat breakfast and never put it back on; should have put it back on, but we didn’t. We were dried out by the end of the day though, so it’s all good. Lagunitas Brewery for dinner and an adult beverage or three and Motel 6 within walking distance to lay our heads and prepare for tomorrows trip up to Roseburg, Oregon.

Now that’s a mustache in need of some attention…..

Day 2 – Winston, Oregon (460 miles)

PatrickLY — Thu, 03 Apr 2014 18:03:36 +0000

Based on the weather man we were sure to encounter some rain today but it was supposed to be after 1:00. So – we started out without the rain gear but packed it on top so it would be easy to get to. Destination – breakfast 160 miles up the road in Garberville, CA. There was no rain but the last 100 miles of this ride was COLD. We only had one electrical connection for two sets of heated jackets so naturally, Robin is the one with the heat. When we stopped for gas with 100 miles to go, she saw how cold I was and gave me the controller. When we got to Garberville – she told me that wasn’t going to happen again. I knew it was coming but I was sure happy to have the Gerbings heated jacket working for that portion of the ride. I was planning on stopping tomorrow for another controller but when we got to our friend’s house here in Winston, he had an extra – WHAT LUCK. So, now we’re both hooked up for warmth. When we stop to get my bike fixed I think Rich will be looking for an electric jacket. Oh yea, I didn’t tell you – ALL Five of the screws connecting the latch to my right saddle bag lid are gone. Robin took the lid off and luckily caught it before it fell. Tomorrow we will be stopping at the Harley dealer and getting that taken care of. No rain all day was good. We really enjoyed our short visit with Bill & Debbie and are looking forward to seeing them again on our way back down in a couple days.

Day 3 – Tacoma, Washington (328 miles)

PatrickLY — Fri, 04 Apr 2014 08:00:46 +0000

Little bit of a late start this AM but we don’t have a lot of miles to do and the time we spent having coffee and chatting with Bill & Debbie was not only enjoyable but allowed us to leave after a local rain shower had passed. We caught up to that rain shower and many others throughout the day. The rain gear worked pretty well though and we were mostly dry through it all. First destination this AM was Latus Harley Davidson in Eugene, Oregon (about 75 miles up the road). Despite being short staffed in the mechanic department they got my bike in and go the saddle bag lid repaired. It did take two hours but for at least half of that time it was REALLY raining outside so we were kinda happy to be inside. Destination #2 was the Gerbings heated clothing store. I thought my stuff would work after Bill gave me everything I needed but I was about a foot short & needed an extension cord. They close at 4:30 though and my GPS said we would get there at 4:27. It was a fun ride up Interstate 5 in the rain trying to make the deadline. We pulled in at 4:22 but I now both Robin and I have our heat working (she found some electric glove liners at Latus’ that work VERY well). Last stop before the Super 8 here in Tacoma was Dirty Oscar’s Annex. Irish Death is their dark beer on tap, Parmesan tater tots, and their buns for their burgers are home made from pretzel dough. Food was excellent, company better. We laughed and went over the events of the day, and days past.

– Life is GOOD –

Straight out of Diners Drive-Ins and Dives. We highly recommend this place.

Day 4 – Blaine, WA and back (297 miles)

PatrickLY — Sun, 06 Apr 2014 13:55:29 +0000

Slept in a little this AM and it was a good thing. Riding in the rain all day takes a little more awareness. Up until today the possibility and probability of rain has been something we had to deal with – today it was the ACTUAL rain that we had to deal with. No back roads here, just a run up Interstate 5 to our first corner then back. I think it might have not rained on us for 20 minutes total. But we knew it was coming and were prepared as you can be for such events; cold and wet, just put up with it and get the miles behind you. We did have a very nice start to the morning having breakfast with my sister Sharon and her wife Sheri. Took us a while longer than anticipated to get there due to a bad address I picked up off the interweb the night before and my GPS revealing its sense of humor. It was all fine in the end though – good breakfast with family and corner #1 DONE. A productive day in spite of the adverse weather.

With Sharon and Sheri (At The Original Pancake House) – Bothell, WA. April 5, 2014

United States Post Office, Blaine, WA – April 4, 2014

Day 5 – Winston, Oregon (332 Miles)

PatrickLY — Mon, 07 Apr 2014 17:15:54 +0000

Started the day headed for Olympia and breakfast at the Black Bear Diner with Robin’s brother Rick and his wife Stacy. The ride out was wet, but nothing like yesterday’s all day rain. Breakfast was very good and the portions there are monstrous if you ever go. Enjoyed the time and conversation with Rick & Stacy and were back on the road – this time without the rain gear. It was still wet here and there but nothing worth having all that extra rain gear on for. By the time we got out of Washington it was actually warming up. We were able to switch off the heat and eventually were riding without the chaps and winter gloves. Robin would like to mention that she was never warm enough to change out of her winter and heated wear. Looks like we’ll be out of the rain for the rest of the way – pretty dang happy about that!!

Robin with her Brother Rick and Stacy outside Black Bear Diner – April 6, 2014

Chicken Fried Steak & Eggs. That’s not a side of Biscuits & Gravy either, it comes that way!!!

Day 6 – Sacramento, CA (412 miles)

PatrickLY — Tue, 08 Apr 2014 10:47:24 +0000

Bill & Debbie were kind enough to put us up again on our way back south. Not only that, but for dinner, Bill made smoked tri-tip that was mouthwateringly delicious. He had a little gizmo for his BBQ called a NanoQ; I’m going to have to look into gettin me one of those. After we dinner we sat around the table talking and laughing about our lives until it was time for bed. After a sound night’s sleep we were up early and on the road by 8:00. The ride to Sacramento was very cold to start with, and Debbie, you were exactly right about the fog making it quite a bit colder. We stopped for breakfast at the Black Bear Diner again (it’s a chain, who knew…) but this time, I did not order the “Hungry Bear” portion and ended up with less than half as much food – and I still couldn’t eat the whole thing. That was in Grants Pass, OR – it was warming up as we went farther south and that was FINE with us. By the time we got to Shasta even Robin was shedding some of her warm stuff. At the last gas stop for the day (120 miles north of Sacramento) we were all down to t-shirts. The weather should be pleasant all the way – maybe even a little warm, a welcome change for sure!! Thanks again to Bill & Debbie, great people – great friends, great times. See you again in June.

With Bill & Debbie at their house in Winston, OR – April 7, 2014.

Day 7 – Thousand Oaks, CA (395 miles)

PatrickLY — Wed, 09 Apr 2014 14:11:55 +0000

Up with the sun this morning and a fairly early start in an effort to beat the heat and get home at a decent time. Very doubtful that Rich will be able to beat the traffic since he has so much city riding to do to get home but Robin and I shouldn’t have too much problem. Hwy 99 kinda parallels Interstate 5 southeast through central California. We were on Hwy 99 which more of a “rural” route. Interstate 5 doesn’t really even go through any “towns” after you leave Sacramento until you get down to Los Angeles. Anyway – along with rural goes farm equipment on the roads. There was a livestock trailer at one of our gas stops that was leaking the contents of it’s floor all over the ground. The odor was enough to make you gag and it took some effort to avoid the “slick” left in it’s wake on his way out of the station! We were making pretty good time on old 99, in fact on this whole trip I don’t think anyone really passed us on the road. That is until we got our tail feathers clipped in Bakersfield. A motorcycle officer for the CHP thought we should have a little chat that included a reminder that 80+ mph in a 65 mph zone was a little too fast. We thanked him for the warning and were back on the road looking for the local A&W because it was HOT and one of those is kind of a ride tradition. The A&W that my GPS took us to (only one exit south of where we got pulled over) had turned into a Popeye’s Fried Chicken place. Nothing else really on our way before we were going to be going our separate ways. SO – one last tank of gas, we said our goodbyes and we were on the last leg of this trip. The cooler air going up over the Grapevine was very nice and although it was hot in the valley, it wasn’t that bad.

Home for a little over a week now and then I’ll start on the next 3 corners of my little adventure. Should be pulling out of here on April 18th – see you all again then…..

Last leg of this trip. Leaving Bakersfield, CA – April 8, 2014

Day 8 – San Ysidro, CA (241 miles)

PatrickLY — Fri, 18 Apr 2014 14:03:06 +0000

Got on the road this morning heading for corner #2. We stopped here and there along the way and it took most of the day to make this rather short (comparatively speaking) ride. First stop was to see some dear friends of ours in Claremont. It was sure good to see Glenn & Marlene again. On down the road to the Menefe area. Lester just closed on his adobe hacienda about half a mile off the paved roads. The walls of that house are two feet thick!! After exchanging a little paperwork we were back on the road for corner #2. I made a bit of a mistake here and couldn’t get both of us in the picture – won’t happen again though. From there we headed over to our daughter’s house. Dinner with all the children was great, family is the most important thing, and everyone is doing well………

All filled up and ready to roll.

San Ysidro , CA – April 18, 2014. Sadly no tripod but Robin and I were both there.

Grandpa and Annabelle. Can’t wait to take her for her first ride.

Day 9 – Peoria, AZ (374 miles)

PatrickLY — Sat, 19 Apr 2014 23:44:44 +0000

Cool & overcast this AM and heading out on my own for a while. Robin will be back with me when I get down to Fort Lauderdale, FL for the last two corners – I miss her already.

Leaving Lemon Grove, CA. April 19, 2014 (in my new Les Wheatley Equipment Rental t-shirt)

Found a great motorcycle road this morning. Hwy 94 eastbound out of San Diego.

This sign means – Good Motorcycle Road Ahead.

April 19, 2014 (374 miles)

On Hwy 94 there was a guy taking pictures. He puts the pictures up on his web site and if you want one, he’ll be happy to sell you prints or a digital images kinda like the pictures at the end of the log ride at Disneyland. I saw him when I went by but I was going way too fast to try to stop, so I turned around and went back to see if he got my picture and to verify his web address so I could go look at them. We talked for about 15 minutes about motorcycles, cross country rides & bucket lists. I would like to thank Doug Aguillard from www.motophoto.us for the images and hope he enjoys going “along for the ride” as a blog subscriber.

Going up Hwy 94 – courtesy of Doug at www.motofoto.us

Things started seriously warming up after that picture was taken. Doug told me that this weekend the Yuma Prison Run was going on and I thought I might go to the ride end point at the fair grounds there in Yuma and check it out. Wrong – too hot to be standing around just out of curiosity. Hwy 8 to Gila Bend (pronounced He-la) then northbound to the slab. Rolled into Peoria around 4:00 PM. Looking forward to some more family time here in Arizona.

P.S. Checked out that web site and – I’m putting the next Yuma Prison Run on the calendar.