Ken, Johnny and I had planned on leaving at 5 AM on Wednesday morning, 4-2-08 and riding to Mesquite, Nevada to attend the Rally in the Valley. Well, as best laid plans of men and mice go, Ken had to beg off due to business obligations. Anyway, the weather had turned cold in the early mornings so I called Johnny and suggested that since we were both retired and Ken couldn’t go we should leave around noon on Tuesday 4-1-08. Johnny agreed and we left at 11:00.
We were both surprised that we rode through Sacramento, Stockton and Tracy without a traffic slowdown. We rode 600 miles and stayed in Buttonwillow at the Motel Homeland Inn for $41.95. I’ve stayed there before and it’s clean.
On Wednesday we rode to Johnny’s brothers house in Lancaster for a short visit and then on to Mesquite, Nevada. Total was 1,026 miles. Johnny and I went to the Hotel/Casino Buffet and I thought it was really great for $9.00.
NOW COMES THE EXCITMENT! Thursday, 4:30AM and the ear piercing fire alarm went off causing us both to jump straight out of bed. After, what seemed like forever, the alarm stopped and Johnny went back to bed. I think we was just about ready to go back to sleep when, what I guess was, the all clear alarm sounded.
I decided that since I was awake I would go down to the Denny’s for a cup of coffee. Well, due to the fire alarm all of the firedoors were closed and I wasn’t sure which way to go or if I should open one of the doors. Great fun.
After breakfast, Johnny and I rode to Utah to visit Zion National Park. After visiting the Zion Human History Museum we got back on our bikes to ride through the park. Just as we were pulling out of the museum parking lot the National Anthem began to play over my FM radio (how fitting it was to listen to the National Anthem while enjoying all that beauty of the park). We rode out the other side of the park and continued through the towns of Kanab-Utah, Fredonia-Arizona, Hurricane-Utah and then south on 15 through Arizona and back to Mesquite, Nevada. We were very close to Brice Canyon National Park but didn’t have enough time to visit.
On Fri. 4-4-08 Johnny’s relative, Jim, arrived and we visited the few vendors. Acid had leaked on one of the side covers on my 1200 before I bought it and the acid burn has always bothered me. Sue Hopper, who I’ve known for a few years now and enjoyed watching her create some beautiful Murals and pinstriping on bikes was there so I asked her if she could do something to cover up the blemish. She fixed it up and now I’m happy. That evening Jim and I really enjoyed the seafood buffet. Johnny is not a seafood fan but found plenty to eat.
Saturday 4-5-08 Jim, Johnny and I went on the surprise ride which included a ride through Snow Valley State Park in Utah. The weather was fantastic and the ride included a stop for pie and ice cream.
Johnny won a tire gauge as a door prize and I won a tee-shirt that actually fits me.
I was sure I had seen a Mexican Restaurant close by so we decided to walk, and walk, and walk and walk until we found a sports bar and decided on a sandwich. Oh, and then we walked back.
Sunday we left at 6:20AM and rode to Dunnigan after stopping for dinner at Bill & Kathy’s. (600 Miles).
Monday morning at 5AM I was awoke by a loud bang. I rolled over and there was Johnny holding the coffee maker upside down with several parts and trying to reassemble it. All I could do was laugh. He did finally get it back together and actually made a pot of coffee.
We left at 5:30 and it was 40 deg. (cold). I called Johnny on the CB and told him that I was taking the off ramp at Williams so we could eat and wait for the sun to come up. As I was exiting I seen Johnny fly by on the freeway. I took the on ramp and caught him and now we had to ride, in the dark and cold, to Willows for the next Denny’s. I was frozen through.
All and all, I had a fantastic time, great weather, beautiful scenery, wonderful ride, lots of laughs and a fantastic friend to share it with. Now I’m looking forward to many more great rides.
We rode almost exactly 2,400 miles and got 37.5 MPG even with the high winds in Mojave and Tracy (Approx. 40 MPH).
Ride Safe, Have Fun, Eat Ice Cream, Don Coons