Left Behind

Day 20 Thursday, May 6, 2010



My alarm sounded at 6 AM. I got up, got dressed and packed. Bruce didn't wake up. I had finished my blog and transferred pictures and went to bed at about 12:30 AM. I took my lap top to the breakfast room. I was the only one there from our Group. I had breakfast and labeled the pictures. There were 49 of them. As I finished, C.E. and Ken came in. Soon, Chuck and Ken walked in. They were having breakfast when I packed up and returned to the room to pack my bags in my Motor like the others had already done. Bruce was still in the room and was leaving as I walked in. By the time I packed my Motor and was ready, the others returned. We left at 8:47 AM.



Chuck led us onto US 99 southbound. After riding 31.3 miles, we stopped in Merced, CA. at 9:15 AM. We gassed up and took a short break. We left at 9:29 AM with Jan leading.


Before I start with Jan's lead, I have to mention that yesterday, when Bruce was leading, he led us to Harmon Junction, NV. for 110.3 miles. He was excited that he holds the record of leading the longest leg. He was excited, the others cursed him for not stopping to pee! Now back to Jan. Jan took over leading and took us southbound on US 99. We were riding through several cities and 115.2 miles later, we stopped in Tipton, CA. at 11:05 AM. It was early in the day and none of us really had to go. Jan beat Bruce's record. When we stopped, Bruce knew that his record was broken and he went to Jan, laughing, and told him that he knew what Jan was up to. While we were at the gas station/mini-mart, we took a break. We left at 11:30 AM.


Jan continued to lead. It was pretty close to lunch time and we had plans to stop at a Wendy's. No, you got it wrong! We weren't looking for a Subway. Chuck found a Wendy's on his Droid in the north side of Bakersfield. We got off of US 99 and rode to Wendy's for lunch. We had ridden for 57.0 miles and it was 12:20 PM. It was a nice change of pace. Wendy's was very good. Don't worry, we ate healthy. We were done and we left at 1:22 PM.


Jan led us back onto US 99 and we rode onto US 58 towards Needles, CA. We rode for 8.9 miles and stopped at 1:32 PM to get gas. Most of us could have continued for more miles, but like it is said in the group, "A B C - All Bout Chuck!" He needed gas. We were still in Bakersfield. We were done gassing up and left at 1:45 PM with Ken in the lead.


Ken took us on US 58 and we were making some good time. Remember, we just had lunch and we generally stop for a needed break in 20 to 30 miles. Ken led for 58.7 miles and got off on an exit to a small town named Mohave. The exit ramp was circular. We rode the circle half way and Ken pulled off into the dirt. There were two large piles of dirt and rock. We parked our Motors and Ken told us that if we needed to pee, go for it. We thought that Ken was going to stop at a gas station/mini-mart. There was nothing in sight that resembled that. After we were done, Ken apologized and said that he would stop soon where there were facilities. We all told him that we didn't need it because we all "went!" We left at 2:41 PM.



We rode through some pretty country in Tehachapi. We stopped in Tehachapi last year. We woke up to snow on our Motors. We had to wait it out. We also call this town, "Too Hot To Pee." OK, say it fast...TooHotToPee. We rode over the mountain. Awesome! We had ridden for many miles and then we rode into Barstow. We were on US 58 and there was construction. There were two lanes with a double yellow lines in the center. We were behind traffic and a semi. The scenery sucked! It was desert and nothing really worth looking at that would help keep us awake. It was 82 degrees and we were all still wearing our jackets, except for C.E. We were on US 58, then changed to I-15 and then to I-40. These changes helped keep us awake. Ken did a great job going from highway to highway. We didn't get lost, nor did he lose us. We continued to ride, passing a few exits with gas stations/mini-marts which would have been perfect for us to stop, get a drink, take off our jackets and wake up. Nope! Ken didn't stop. We passed the exit for Newberry Springs and about a mile later, Chuck and I noticed that Jan was not behind us. We slowed and Ken, Bruce and C.E. extended the distance between us. We were slowing and Chuck was riding on the shoulder, hoping to get the others attention. The others finally started to slow, and about two miles from the exit, they stopped by the side of the road at 3:59 PM. Chuck and I rode up to them. Ken got off his Motor and walked back to us. Chuck told him that we were missing Jan and that he probably pulled of at the exit we had passed. I asked Ken if he was trying to break Jan's record for longest distance leading. He told me that he wasn't and if anyone needed to stop, they should have told him. We tried to get him on his CB but he ignored us. (Ken doesn't have a CB) As we stayed there waiting for Jan to catch up, I got off my Motor and decided to take off my jacket. It was 82 degrees and uncomfortable. I told Chuck that it was 82 degrees and I was going to take off my jacket. He nodded, agreeing with me. He was standing my his Motor and was about to take off his jacket when he looked up and told us that Jan was coming. We could hear his Motor about a mile away. As I looked in Jan's direction, I hear the other three start their Motors. I was still folding my jacket and putting it in my trunk bag when I heard the others ride off! I looked at them ride eastbound and Chuck and I looked at each other...shocked that they would just leave us. Chuck quickly got on his Motor and I was still standing at the rear of mine. Chuck told me not to worry because we could catch them. I had asked Chuck, "Why in the hell would they just leave us?" Jan rode up and stopped. We told him what had happened. I finished putting my jacket in the bag and prepared to get back on the Motor to leave. We left at 4:05 PM. we caught up to the other guys about a mile away. They had stopped to wait for us. We we stopped behind them, Ken got off his Motor and walked back to us. Chuck told Ken what had happened and I asked Ken if he was trying to beat Jan's leading record. He told me that he wasn't. Ken told us that if anyone wanted to stop and take a break, all they needed to do is tell him. We left eastbound, now that the Group was reunited.

Ken continued to lead us eastbound and got off the interstate in Ludlow, CA. at 4:31 PM after riding 31.7 miles. We stopped at a gas station/mini-mart. We all gassed up and when we finished, we parked our Motors out of the way. We went into the store and bought some drinks and snacks. We all sat on the sidewalk just outside of the door of the store. We ate, drank and watched the people come into the gas station to gas up. We saw a "Vago" biker gang member ride in. I was looking for a Hell's Angel biker to ride in and confront the Vago. Nothing like that happened. We watched people walk into the store and they would talk to us before entering. As we were sitting drinking and snacking, a LOUD anal belch came from my left. I falsely accused Bruce because he was laughing the loudest. I was corrected and told that it was Chuck. I apologized to Bruce. There was a man who was pumping gas into his car that, when Chuck broke the sonic boom with his fart, looked up at the Group. Chuck was lucky that the man's wife was inside the store and didn't hear Chuck. We laughed a little more. We left at 5:06 PM with me in the lead.

I lead the Group back onto I-40 and eastbound. I thought that we were going fast. I had my cruise control set at 78 on a posted 70 zone. There were cars passing us as if we were sitting still. I had my navigation system set for the Best Western Colorado River Inn in Needles, CA. As we got into Needles, the navigation system led us right to the front door. Two years ago when we were on our Route 66 ride, we stayed at the same hotel. Chuck, Bruce and C.E. entered to "make the deal." They did and we checked into the hotel. We rode our Motors to our rooms and were fortunate to be able to park in front of our rooms. We took our bags from our Motors and put them in our rooms. We returned to our Motors and tucked them in for the night, We knew from two years ago that dinner would be next door at, "Juicy's River Cafe." Also, breakfast will be there tomorrow morning. We went to Juicy's for dinner and when we were done, we returned to our rooms. I went to my room and completed today's blog. I clicked to Publish the Post, and unfortunately, lost it. I had to do it again. I did it again and the same thing happened. I lost it again. The third time, I went to the lobby, hoping that I would have a stronger wi-fi signal. This time it worked.

Today, we rode for 489 miles. Jan broke a leading record and Ken tried to do the same. Instead, Ken, Bruce and C.E. left Chuck, Jan and Me by the side of the road. They didn't wait for us to be ready. OK, they are fired. We have three openings available. We have applications available. We are looking for three good riders who are loyal and considerate enough NOT to leave your friends behind.

Tie a yellow ribbon around the old oak tree, we're coming home we've done our time! We will be headed for home tomorrow. Actually, Chuck will be riding to N.A.U. to be with his family as they watch his daughter, Genna, graduate. Congratulations Genna! Jan will be going home to Lee. Bruce and Ken will be riding to Chino Valley and checking into the Day's Inn. They are going to go to the Retiree's breakfast on Saturday. C.E. and I will follow Chuck to Flagstaff and then turn south onto I-17 and heading home. I will be good to be home again with our families. It's been three weeks. It's time! There will be one more day of riding and one more blog. So, until tomorrow...