Palm Springs, Mariposa California

Well after the broken clutch cable I got home and parked the bike and sidecar and Wednesday got on WestJet and flew to Palm Springs and Ken picked me up at the airport. Got the bike out and got it started and the next morning headed out. Ken led me up to 29 Palms and then through the Mojave to Lucerne Valley where he headed off on his sales calls and I went up to Barstow and then on to Mojave and Mariposa.

I arrived at the campground and set up

camp near Turk, Jack , Dennis and Tim. So I felt right at home. In fact the camping was like I was camping in my own front yard. On further inspection here was Reinhardt, Duncan and Vicki, Phil Funnell,  Michael McPeak, Rob, from BC and my friend Steve from Bainbridge Island. 400 in all attended this rally and it was very enjoyable.

This is Steve.

I arrived Thursday and got the lay of the land so on Friday I registered for the poker run. I set out by myself to negotiate the 150 miles and answer all the questions. Wow 186 curves between Mariposa and Coulterville and I did it 4 times. Will explain later. People think the have to go to Colorado  for curves and mountains. Oh no Central California has lots. The poker run led me to Adams Ferry Road a one lane two way road with crumbling edges and no shoulders that winds down to a bridge that used to be a ferry crossing and back up again. Thank God it was not busy. At one point I met 4 others on the poker run who said follow us. I don't think so. Those Harkov Brothers are just way to fast for me. Great people though and all 4 will be on the Three Flags Classic with me. I completed the run and was one of the first in with all the correct answers. But the hand I got was a dud.Nothing. Big fat 0. Oh well what fun. I forgot my camera so went back to Coulterville and Old Priest road diner the next day so I could take a few pictures. I had lunch at the diner the first day ..Walnut, turkey and cranberry sandwich. Oh so good. The next day they were oh so busy so I settled for a hamburger but it was very good also.

The Mariposa greeting team.

Taken from Priest road diner

 

 Coulterville is a quaint little town 25 miles out of Mariposa and I did the journey twice There and back.

 

 

Each evening there was entertainment in the beer garden and one could get dinner on the grounds. The breakfasts the wrestling club of Mariposa put on were very good and they were able to use the money for much needed equipment. Well today June 20 I am home and trying to get my Blog caught up but the bags finally arrived for my new bike and it stopped raining so I was chomping at the bit for a ride. I rode out to Strathmore and on the way home I was deluged by rain. I got wet buns and a wet pussy so now I am tired and will go to bed and continue my saga tomorrow til I catch up. Next is Yosemite National Park. Stayed tuned. Speaking of pussy...Here is one (Bentley) who comes to all the rallies on a motorcycle.

 

 

Cache Creek continued

That evening we had the sausage roast and I am delighted to note that there were 30 participants. Sadly it rained off and on all evening and as we huddled under a couple of tarps some water was pooling in the dips. Barry Pratt had the great idea to lower the pole. He sat down . The water swirled around . Found a hole and dumped directly into Barb Pomeroy's lap. Could not have been better if he had orchestrated it. To Barb's credit she never spilled a drop of her beer.  I got my rock heated up in the fire and it was warm and toasty all night. The next morning I went to Chum's for breakfast and headed out to Ashcroft to go to church. What an interesting little town and I took the following pictures of their park and history.

Picture of my friend Lisa. We usually manage once a year to be in the same place at the same time.

Peter and Nellie's rig

My tent at Brookside campground.

Barb after the water landed in her lap.

The threesome Steve, Barry Pratt, Marshall laughing at Barb's plight and Barry looking oh so innocent.

Joe and Bob We had dinner together Sunday night

This was taken in the park in Ashcroft. I had some time to kill before church.

 

 

 

I walked uptown and took this shot of the firehall and then went to church.

Zion United Church. So welcoming and peaceful.

 

 

Such a quaint little town. After church I rode to Lytton and encountered a rain shower on the way back but it was only for a few miles. The only thing is when I got back to the campground a lot of the others had left. There was just a handful of us left. That evening this boat pulled into the campground. Needless to say it attracted a lot of attention. They were from Florida and heading to Prince Rupert to put it in the water and then go to Haynes Alaska and down to Point Conception. When it is home in Florida it is in dry dock as he is a coffee plantation owner in Panama.

 

 

The next morning I packed up and headed for home.

I stopped at Craigalachie where the Last Spike was driven by Sir John A Macdonald for our cross country Canadian Railroad.

 

They have quite a nice memorial set up there. But alas at my next stop for fuel my clutch cable broke and I had to get me and the bike home. AMA towed me 100 miles to Deadman's Flats and Karl and Bo picked me up with van and trailer and got me home. Clutch cable ordered and on its way. On Weds I flew to Palm Springs to pick up the F650GS Awesome journey home for next episode.

Next 2 pictures were taken in field while I waited for the tow truck.

 

And so ends this episode.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

2014 New Bike

I have been having issues with my blog which is why I have gotten behind. When I use my home desktop it will no longer load the pictures. However we perservere and I am now on my laptop and hope this works. I went to the dealer on March the 1st -32C and snowing. Where is my new bike? you said March delivery. However late March it arrived and it was still snowing but I picked it up and struggled to get the 1000km break in oil change done. I rode around in the cold and managed to get to 969km before my appointment. I really do love it and look forward to summer.

Pick up day

A few days later. Thank God for the new cover.

This was on a ride to put my miles on. Here I am at The Big Rock near Okotoks. I was on a looking for crocuses ride.

I reluctantly parked my new bike in the garage and took out the bike and sidecar. I needed the sidecar to bring home plants from Aspen Crossing. What a wonderful Mother's day I had. Went to UMCI motorcycle breakfast and then to church. Then I rode to Aspen Crossing and enjoyed brunch on their patio. I got a couple of shrubs for a friend and when I got to town called and he was home. So we planted the shrubs and he made me dinner. A fresh pork roast, peas and little potatoes. Just delicious and then we played a couple games of cribbage and I went home. It just made for a perfect day. So because the sidecar was already out and there was indication they might clean our street I did not want to have to many vehicle out so decided to take bike and sidecar to Cache Creek on the long weekend to Cache Creek.

I was thinking if there was snow or rain through the Rogers Pass ( and there certainly could be at this time of year) that the bike and sidecar would offer a little more protection that the new bike and my luggage was not here yet either. So on Friday morning I headed out. It was a nice day and a great ride.

I stopped at the A & W in Revelstoke and this tree was in blossom and it was a beautiful day.

Still some snow on the heights but gorgeous none the less. I arrived at the campground and was delighted to see a lot of my friends from BC and us Alberta folk who made it. 30 in all for dinner.

It was a great meal Rick and Irene did it a little different in that we had a 50/50 and with the clubs half we had wieners, sausages, buns,chips and dessert. It was great. Unfortunately it did rain when we started to eat. When I arrived I set up my tent and because everyone already had gone for dinner I hwalked up to the store and had a nutritious supper of chips and ice cream. Sounds well balanced to me. The next morning it was overcast. We went to Chums for breakfast. Back at the campground I tried to get some of the group to go for a ride but amid words of it is going to rain and possibly snow I headed out to Logan Lake with absolutely no idea where it was. I went back to Savona and saw a sign leading off to Tumkwa Lake so I took it. I was on this little country road with no shoulders and it wound through the woods. I saw a beautiful red headed woodpecker and a couple of deer in a glade. At one farm 3 cute little burros had their heads over the fence. However I did not get a photo as there was no place to pull over. I headed up till I found a small Lake and asked some fellas on quads if I kept on this road where would it go and they replied Logan Lake. Great that is where I was headed anyway.

First Lake I stopped at. I believe it was called Leighton.

 

As you can see by the clouds rain was definitely threatening but not a drop so far. And it certainly was not dampening the spirits of all the people camped in this spot. On to Logan Lake.

 

 

Then I said Where is this mine they keep talking about? Oh well I'll just head for Ashcroft I saw a sign pointed there and I knew that it was only 10 km to Cache Creek. Oh what is this at the side of the road? A huge pit and tailings pond. It is one of the biggest copper mines in the world. I went up to the viewpoint and took these shots.

 

 

I headed back to Cache Creek and never got a drop of rain until I stopped to talk to Michael from Peachland on a BMW. Go figure> He wanted to know if I wanted to hear a joke. ME! NEVER!

Unfortunately it was an old favorite about what you get when you cross an onion with a donkey.

Either an onion with really long ears or every so often with a little bit of luck you will get a piece of ass that brings tears to your eyes. On that note I will finish for tonight. Tomorrow is another day at Cache Creek and then the trip home where I flew to Palm Springs. Stay tuned.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Western Montana BMW meeting 2nd attempt

Okay. Down to some serious work. I have a lot of catching up to do and some marvellous new adventures. In March I again took Phyl and myself to Montana. This time we went to Fairmont Hot Springs. We travelled to Missoula and stayed over night. Visiting again with Art and Betty. Then we went to Anaconda. On the way we encountered these fascinating sculptures by a man by the name of Oates. These are outside in the yard and he is so talented he has pictures and bronzes and other art forms in the building behind the owls and the giant mammoth is standing on the tail of a mouse. What an incredible talent.

 

I loved this little donkey. He has a daisy in his mouth.

This is a very majestic eagle

We continued on our journey and got a room in Anaconda. That evening we started up the road to Wisdom but encountered snow and blowing snow so decided to turn around and had dinner in Anaconda. One neat thing we saw while we turned around was a kite snowboarder. He zipped effortlessly up and down this empty field.

 

 

The next day we got up and had breakfast and headed back to Philipsburg to the candy story. I introduced Phyl to the joys of this great place. The Sweet Palace with fudge and chocolate and every kind of candy imaginable. Then off to the meeting. Many rode their motorcycles because the day was tolerable and they did not have far to come. About 18 in all. I enjoyed a lovely swim in the pool before it started so we could head home right after the meeting. My intent was to stay in Great Falls but managed to miss both exits so we stayed in Conrad overnight. They were renovating the Super 8 but it was a good place to stay despite the snow overnight. Great trip. When I got home I worked and picked up my new bike and worked and worked but now that spring has finally arrived I am off on a new adventure and can hardly wait to tell you about my Cache Creek trip and the 49er rally in California and Awesome Yosemite Park.

 

 

Trip to Western Montana BMW meeting

Thought I would catch up on some of my blog but it is beautiful out there and I am currently in Mariposa California so I think I will go for a ride instead . Having trouble loading pictures so will try again.