West Coast Ride – Day Four

Made it to California. If you look close you’ll see a sign in the main photo stating that the safety belt law is enforced. Well, I didn’t wear my safety belt all day because I’m a rebel. Not really. No really, I kind am of a bit of a rebel but I’m on a bike, no safety belts.

Made it to Clovis, CA safely and with ZERO rain! I’m staying with a good friend of mine and am so happy I decided to do so. She’s taken such great care of me. She’s washed my small amount of clothing, fed me and even bought me beer! Conversation has been great too. Everything from our kids/grandkids to dealing with loved ones lost to shitty road trip experiences. Oh, I finally got to meet her husband who happens to be a biker too. Plenty of conversation there.

Let’s get into the rest of the day. I awoke a little early today, 6:30. Too early so I rolled around for a half hour. Started out of the parking garage by 9:30. Had a small bit of a scare leaving. Speed bump in the garage. I pulled up and had to stop for incoming traffic. The front tire was over the bump but back was not. Once incoming cars had passed Libby’s back tire began to slip and slide on the speed bump. She stayed upright for me though. We’re getting pretty close.

Got out of Vegas a quick as I could. Big city traffic irritates me regardless of if I’m on a bike or in a cage (cage=car). After getting out of the city the view was much of the same as coming in. Why wouldn’t it be? Lots of dirt and brush that looked to be dead. And mountains all over.

I continued west into California. The difference in terrain between states just boggles my mind. Around the borders it’s much the same but it quickly changes a few miles in. In Cali I find more nothingness but it is so much different than what I’ve seen before. The dirt is a lighter brown than Arizona but the vegetation is much the same. Before long I am surrounded by mountain ranges. There are also smaller mountains sitting in the middle of all these larger mountains. In the middle of nothing, surrounded by much larger creations of the Earth. These are the kind of mountains I envision my father climbed as a young man. Heard many a story of those adventures.

I cross into Baker, then Barstow. Not much has changed except for the road. A few 20-30 mile sections of straight, rock out to the radio or fall asleep stretches. Hundreds of trucks out here. A few stretches of two lane, no passing roads, all 55mph.

I make my way up and over another mountain range. No hairpin turns but slow going. You don’t want to head into a turn at high speed not knowing what’s ahead, and the trucks are all moving pretty slow, a good sign to take it easy. I get into Bakersfield. Another good sized city.

After getting through Bakersfield the landscape changes drastically. The desert scene changes to vineyards and orchards. Maybe not orchards. Think it was nut trees, but all planted in perfectly lined rows. And an occasional field of yellow grass.

Driving through California is a bit different. Lot of traffic but I finally make it into the Fresno/Clovis area and find my destination. A home with a jacked up jeep out front and infinite hospitality inside. I’ll be well rested for tomorrow.

I didn’t get in the way of photos today. Hauled ass to get to Clovis. I hope to have more for you tomorrow. Rest easy friends. And please know, knowing you’re following along is a great comfort to a man conquering his unknown alone.