2015 Christmas in Palm Springs

One day I went with Ken on his sales calls and we went to Apple Valley. The original home of Roy Rogers and Dale Evans. The museum was moved to Branson then the pieces were sold off.

 

 

 

Back in Palm Springs I was looking for something to do one day while waiting for my motorcycle to be repaired so I walked several blocks to the local Koffi shop. Right in front was the free trolley so I hopped on and did the complete circuit. Talked to some nice people and enjoyed the ride. So a few days later I decided to hike Tahquitz canyon. So I walked to the trolley stop and after waiting for about 20 minutes I decided to read the sign. It did not run that day so I started walking. I walked all the way to Mesquite road and up the hill to the canyon. At the visitors entrance it costs $12.00 to do the 1.8 mile hike. As I was making my decision my phone rang and it was my friend Cathie from Fleet Brake and she came and picked me up and we went for lunch at Smoking Burgers in Smoke Tree Plaza. What a great visit. The next day was Dec 30 and the rally started in Agua Caliente the next day. I finally got my motorcycle back. $329.00US and they replaced 5 clamps, Did an oil change and added coolant. Did not even diagnose the fact that my water pump needs replacing. Even though they came recommended to me. I will not be passing it on. So Thursday morning with tent and gear loaded up I headed south to the campout.

 

On the way to Tahquitz canyon.

How do you like my new trendsetting look? Pretty scary all right. Trying to make a fashion statement. Tent is up and I am ready for New Years Eve. Sun is shining bright but it is really rather chill and that night went down to 34F or about 1C. But I had my rock and kept toasty all night.

My friend Phil from Chubbock Idaho.

Sitting around the fire ring. Phil, Tim, Paul and Reid. You can see my tent way behind but that will soon be filled in as more arrive. New Years Eve. Hard to believe. This is the fifth year I have celebrated here. The next day I grabbed my swimming suit and a towel and headed the long way round to the hot pool. I had never hiked the canyon in the 4 previous years. Most do it at night. I really don't know how. I started out and then remembered there had been a cougar sighting and there I was doing this all alone. It took me several hours . It was very challenging and there were places I was unsure where the trail went.

 

 

I found myself perusing the rocks and crevices keeping an eye out for cougar.

Where did the trail go? If you look closely you will see giant steps chiseled out of the rock.

Looking back from whence I had come. As you can see the shadows are lengthening.

Where I was going. Sun has disappeared.

Was fascinated with how the cholla cactus grew all in a line like they were planted that way. Anyway I made it back to the hot pool and was shaking the whole time I was putting my bathing suit on it. BUT I MADE IT. Yeah. Jan 1 and I met one of my goals. Not that I made any resolutions. Nobody likes a sober, skinny bitch anyway.

The next day I decided to ride into Borrego Springs for lunch. I knew Turk was not around as he went to Vancouver Island for Christmas and New Years. So I just took in the sights and then rode back to the campout.

Scorpion.

Borrego Springs is known for its metal sculptures. On the way in are giant mammoths and herds of metal horses. I did not stop but went to this garden centre in the middle of town. On Christmas Circle.

 

 

 

 

And of course Kokopelli.

I had lunch at the Taco shop. There were lots of corvettes and motorcycles who had obviously made

their destination Borrego Springs that day. I went back to the campsite and enjoyed dinner there and good company around the campfire. We all regale stories of our many trips, roads we liked, great eating places and people we meet.

The next morning I crawled out of my tent to this glorious sunrise. Life is good.

And of course our Agua Caliente First and Last Chance Rendevous would not be complete without our chair sculpture. Done by the chair fairies after everyone has turned in for the night.

Packed up my tent and headed for Yuma. My friend Trish was expecting me.

The big blue tent was my friends Doug and Darien from Billings Montana. They spend their winters in Yuma and ironically were right around the corner from my friend Trish so we had a great visit a few days later. Will finish journey in my next episode.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

2015 Calgary to Palm Springs

2015 was drawing to close. I hesitated about going to California but this journey has been working for 5 years now and one never knows what the future holds. On a roll. Going to get caught up. On December 14 I flew to Palm Springs. Wonderful flight with WestJet as always and Karen was waiting for me at the airport. I did not take the bike out right away as some branches had come down off their fiscus trees and were temporarily blocking the doorway so had to wait for Ken to get back from Vegas. I was pleased to get a call from Jerry Murdoch from Colorado. I had met him at the BMW rally in Panquitch Utah. He golfs in Palm Springs for a month in the winter. We arranged to go to Riverside and check out the bike dealers, Malcolm Smith motorsports, Harley and BMW. Jerry drives a Scion car. Neat little car and surprisingly roomy. We were told at Malcolm Smith that there was a museum upstairs. Very interesting and some old Husquvarna in the mix.

 

We had a great day and then 2 days later we went to the Palm Springs Air museum. Jerry is very interested in things like this and is very knowledgeable in this area and an interesting person to go with. We went to a lecture about the Korean war and saw a Bearcat take off and do fly by.

The museum has so much to see that I need to go back to take it all in.

This is out in front. Jerry is talking to one of the volunteers about the big antiaircraft gun on display.

 

 

Okay I am not really flying.

 

 

Missed the bearcat on the fly by.

The next day I got the bike out of the carport to find I had a gas leak.

I went with Ken to Temecula and then the next day had the bike towed to Sam's Motorcycle in Rancho Mirage. Albiet it was Christmas but they did not even look at it for one week. So I ended up staying at Ken and Karen's for Christmas. I finally got the bike back the day before Agua Cliente but will continue the blog at that point.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Quincy BMW rally

Well I left off last post at Quincy. I want to finish this chapter so I can get to my last trip and be caught up. Oh what a feeling, to be caught up. I love this BMW rally. Lovely campsite and wonderful riding roads in the vicinity.

Naturally my many rally posts include pictures of tents and motorcycles. Where once was an empty field a city sprang up. I was early of course and on Thursday it was set up to tour a sawmill in Chester. I rode up by myself and was delighted to find 3 others who had stopped in on their way to the rally. One being my friend Chris from Missoula Montana. It is too bad more did not take advantage of the opportunity. It was a great tour and the sawmill is a private family owned affair. On the way I had taken a wrong turn and went aways on HWY 70. It looked like rather a neat road so the next day I suited up and headed out and to my surprise and pleasure Chris from Missoula and Kurt from Bellingham joined me. So not only did I have a great ride but I had great company also.

We made a stop at this power plant.

Here is Chris and Kurt

This roadhouse is across the river and I think next time I want to make it a destination.

Belden Town on Yellow Creek is where we stopped. Unfortunately I did not get any more pictures of our trip as there were high bridges. Curves to die for. And tunnels. One called Elephant's Butt tunnel.

The resevoirs were way down and the bridges so high. It was amazing. We went through a city called Oroville and returned on smaller road 69. I swear I saw my own taillights going around the last corner ahead of me. Awesome curves. I at some point was praying for just a little straight stretch so I could relax and breath for just a moment. Later in Alberta on a long straight stretch I found myself praying for just a few of those amazing curves in California. Never happy. We arrived back at Quincy in time for dinner and awards. Then something very different. At the fairgrounds is a 3/8 mile dirt track and Saturday night was the stock car races. What fun. For $9.00 ea about 100 of us joined the locals.

 

Dewayne Harkov and I and the rest of the crowd enjoying this great time.

 

Even B modified.

The lady( yeah woman power) driving this car was way ahead. IN a groove. Doing great and then one of the cars in the back got a flat tire. They do 2 laps on a yellow flag so they have time to fix the tire. On restart everyone starts in the same position they were in but it gave everyone a chance to catch up and she got in traffic and did not win. Robbed for sure.

This guy called CRASH and rightly so is sponsored by a paint company and I swear paint was all that held this poor car together. Absolutely enjoyed the evening. Packed up and left the next day. Stayed in Ridgecrest with Jimmy and Dee Dee overnight then headed for Palm Springs and flew home the next day. Another great, great trip.

Came back to my tent to finish packing up and Lucky was wearing my shoes and waving goodbye.

Thanks Tony.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Quincy BMW rally

Boise Idaho to Quincy

Here is my bike in Dave Hall's garage with his great grandson looking on.

Dave at the restaurant we had lunch in. He had to go back to Boise for appointments and I went south to Winnemucca.

I camped at the KOA and went up the road to a new restaurant and had a great salad for dinner. I met a nice couple camped next door and we chatted til it got dark. The next morning I packed up and because I thought it was to early to get in at Quincy I went through Truckee over Donner Pass and into Nevada City. I then rode to Marysville looking for a campsite. Back to Grass Valley and I saw the trailer symbol on the fairgrounds but they don't do tents. So I was sent to Collins Lake. I spent $30.00 for a campsite on a dirt pile at Collins Lake with a porta potty down the road.

Donner Pass. 3 young girls celebrating one of their birthday parties. For some reason or other they thought I was great  and we had a fun visit.

Tent at Collins Lake

I had planned on staying for 2 days but got a text message from Tim saying he was already at Quincy. I promptly checked out and headed up 49 along the Uber River. I had no breakfast so when I saw this little place turned in for a great breakfast.

Next stop Quincy for the next 5 days. I put my tent up pretty much where it was before. Tim and I went for dinner at the Chinese food place. The next day a few more turned up and eventually 15 of my friends had joined me in our little park. Turk, Jack, Kurt from Bellingham, Dennis, Tony and his brother Jim, Peter from Victoria. Steve Culley. What fun and Kurt even cooked me dinner one day. I rode up to Chester to take in the sawmill tour. It was terrible only 3 of us participated. I met Chris Reeves from Missoula Montana there and another fellow from Victoria BC.

Went to one of our favorite restaurants for breakfast with everyone.

 

 

With all those new Redverz tents the campsite was getting crowded. Getting ready for dinner so will publish and get back at it later.