As In Life, Motorcycling Has Ups and Downs

Day 8 Motorcycle adventure. As in with so many other things in life, Motorcycling across the country has up moments and it has down moments, today was full of both, both literally and figuratively. I started the day riding on an absolutely awesome section of highway 20 that led away from the California coast and Fort Bragg where I had stayed the night. So after a brief but rueful goodbye to the Pacific I was winding my way through the coastal range on a road very similar to the one I had used to get to the coast the previous evening. What a difference being well rested makes. I didn't have any scary corners, I was just loving the flow from apex to apex pushing the bike hard, but always under control. I was absolutely loving this piece of road.

As I came down out of the mountains, where to add to my elation, I had amazingly, not gotten stuck behind one slow moving car or truck, I found myself in need of some fuel. I stopped at a gas station in Willits, CA and found that attached to the gas station was a little Taqueria that boasted in the window "Best Mexican Food in Town" obviously I had to see about that. I was blown away. I ordered two Tacos Al Pastor and proceeded to wolf them down with ravenous abandon. They were probably the best tacos I've ever had. I ordered two more. Wolfed them down just as lustily. Washed it all down with a litre of Mexican Coca-Cola and what a great start to the day. I walked outside and hit a milestone in my trip. I took the rain liner out of my pants, took out my winter liner and changed to my summer gloves. I was well and truly WARM!

Well, since I was now down in elevation, but up in mood, I guess the universe had to even things out. The valley I was riding through was hot. I started to get a little uncomfortable, but no big deal, I'm no stranger to hot days in leather. Them temperature got up to 95F on my on board thermometer. But the traffic was starting to pick up, and more and more often I found myself behind a slow moving car, or even worse being tailgated by someone trying to go 90 miles an hour. Then as I was navigating a small pass, coming through a long sweeping bend I got a shooting pain in my left forearm, I knew immediately what was happening, my sleeve was not tucked into my gloves as to allow the wind to pass through, and I had gotten a bee in my sleeve. The bastard stung me. And to think in high school, I befriended a wasp who I named Bo. I guess this guy didn't get the memo that I'm cool with bees as long as they don't sting me. So I promptly pulled the bike over, and on the side of the highway, hopping around like a madman threw off my glove, and started whipping my sleeve around to get the bee out. The little guy came shooting out, hit the ground, and I stomped him good, all whilst calling him all kinds of names I wouldn't want my mother to hear. You get out what you put in bee, bummer that you stung me. As you can see from the picture, it was actually a wasp, and therefore didn't leave a stinger in my arm, but man alive it hurt like hell.

So there was nothing else to do but hop back on the bike and keep riding. I kept a diligent awareness on how I was feeling, now not only was I hot, probably mildly dehydrated, but I now had a sting to worry about, the last thing I needed was to go into anaphylactic shock while riding a motorcycle. I am not allergic to stings, but of course I wanted to make sure to be mindful. I continued to feel ok so I kept riding and had probably the most miserable point in my day as I entered the Yuba City area. It was miserably hot, and I think I found every single red light in the horrible town. I was soooo uncomfortable. I get asked a lot if the leather is hot on hot days, and I always reply its not bad at all, as long as I'm moving. Well I wasn't moving in this town. and I was hot. When I get hot, I get mad. I was shouting a lot in Yuba City, a place I will never return if I can help it. But then, gloriously as I exited the town, the road started going up. And up, and up. The road wasn't just straight anymore, there were twists and turns. My mood improved so quickly, I was laughing in my helmet, for no real reason other than, there weren't cars everywhere, and the temperature was totally manageable again.

Looking out over Lake Tahoe as the sun got low in the sky.

Motorcycling Reflection: Inside the Helmet. How is it that water holds such awe for us on the whole? Large bodies of water seem so beautiful, whether the ocean, a pristine mountain lake, or a rushing river. Rain and snow are so often romanticized in literature and cinema. But then, water is the key ingredient to life, so it makes sense that we hold it in such high regard. I had just never really appreciated how universal the reverence for water in it's many forms, actually is.

As I neared Lake Tahoe, I stopped in the small town of Trukee, and had a burger at a place called Burger Me. It was a restaurant featured on the food network show Diners Drive-Ins and Dives, so I had high hopes. I was not disappointed. A big juicy burger with bleu cheese, bacon, sauteed mushrooms, and barbecue sauce, along with basket of onion rings was just what the doctor ordered after a long day of riding.  This was definitely a high moment. I then set out, the scenic route around Lake Tahoe, which made for some beautiful riding at the end of the day. 

Then as the sun went down, I crossed into Nevada and I descended into Carson City. I decided that I was going to stop at the first casino I came across and do one slot machine, just so I had the full Nevada experience. The place that drew me in was called Casino Fandango, I put a dollar in one of the slot machines, pulled the lever and lost a dollar, ah well thats why I don't gamble. But I had forgotten to bring my camera in so as to document my genuine Nevada casino experience, so I went back outside got my camera, and as I was taking a picture of the slot machine that ate my dollar, decided to do one more for the heck of it. I won big. So I cashed out before I got behind and made off with my money. Take that casino boss!

The sun was going down fast at this point, so I was looking for a place to stay. I came across a state park with camping just outside the town of Dayton, so it was there that I stopped for the night, set up my tent, and called it another day in the bag. It was all in all a good day. While some of the time there were some maddening moments, most of time it was great.

Mileage Day 8 - 333

Cumulative Miles - 2670

Song I sang most in my helmet - Yelling at the red lights in Yuba City by Michael Christopher (not actually a song per se)

Continental Divide Counter - 8

Here is an update on my bee sting, it itches some, but is mostly not bothering me anymore, its not really even swollen.