Great Curves - Lousy Slabs - 257 miles

Time to check out of the old Ramada where we have been for three nights, and get on the road again for Leg 2 of our Great USA Tour.

With the very first packing of the three bikes, we were a bit slow getting under way. Closing the saddlebags and topboxes wasn't easy. But 8:40 saw us up on to the Freeway and taking the first wrong turn for the day. Something I was to do a couple more times. But the GPS always directed us back and after a while, we hit the Angeles Crest twisties over the San Gabriels. Third time for us, but first for the other two. They loved it.

Then it was down through Lancaster CA and along the Lake Elizabeth and Pine Canyon roads. Good fun these, through medium sized ranch country. Quite a lot of large houses suggesting this area might be a get-away area for well-to-do LA people.

Then it was on to I-5 and super-slab for the rest of the day. I-5 changed to CA99 and the land was flat and wide. There are a lot of orchards and vinyards fed by canalled water. The land seems to produce quite well - so long as they have the water.

Tonights digs are in Selma, just south of Fresno. The Super 8 motel is virtually surrounded by eateries so we found a good one and most of us tried BBQ spare ribs. Yummy.

Tomorrow we hope to have an early start and make our way in to Yosemite.

Charleen took a few pictures today - surprise surprise. Here's the best of them.

Just to prove we were here

Slowed us down a little

The big city

Tunnels jsut before my second slip-up

In clean air and good roads at last

Looking back at the road

More and more corners

We weren't the only ones enjoying ourselves

Our group

doing the corners

What to do with old tankers - make them into advertising billboards

Warmest we've been all trip

Pulled up for the day in Selma

LA Cruising - 117 miles

Today was the big day. Two bikes to be picked up. They guys were up early and eager.

Eventually they got down to Eagle Rider and had their bikes allocated. Coincidentally, they got bikes to match their helmets.

The next thing to do was a visit to WingStuff. Always a great way to begin riding a motorcycle in a new country is a mad dash on an LA freeway. They handled it well.

The return journey was much more leisurely as we cruised up the coast road, taking in the scenery and traffic. Good practice for the rest of the journey.

Tomorrow we get the AWRA leg of the holiday under way properly.

Todays Pics:-

"Hurry Up Bob"

Ken sets up the accessories

Second stop - coffee shop

Huntington Beach

...has a great view

and a great neighbourhood

Footpath?

California has gum trees

LA Relaxing

So we are in the big smoke for a couple of days.

Did an oil change on the bike, Dannenberg style. That is, go to Walmart and buy oil, a funnel and an oil pan.

Go park near the lube bay.

Drop the oil into the pan, take it to the lube bay and they happily add it to their recycle container. Give them the pan, then refill the bike. Might sound extravagant chucking away the pan and funnel, but they were no more than three dollars all up and the oil here is less than half the price we pay at home.

Next change, we will do a filter as well.

Then we searched a couple of tyre stores for some new 8" tyres for the trailer, but they all want to get them in "in a couple of days". No good to us. We'll get some up the road a ways.

Found a car wash and gave BRed a tub so now he looks shiny clean.

Spent the rest of the day relaxing and having tea and drinkies with the crew.

Tomorrow they pick up their bikes from Eagle Rider. I can tell you there are a couple of grown men here who are acting like kids on Christmas Eve. Can't blame them. But naturally, I've been ribbing them that Eagle Rider will be all out of Goldwings and they will have to make do with Harleys. They won't know for sure until tomorrow.

By the way, they are both doing blogs, so there will be at least three perspectives on this part of the trip.

Bob and Kerry's is at http://live2ride-go2up.blogspot.com

Ken and Christine's is at http://boneyken.blogspot.com

Nite