Saturday, August 17, 2013
Day 63 - I'm Back
Day 63 – Saturday:
August 17, 2013, miles ridden today: 45.0
This
is the End - 14,464 Miles
I
left Winnie’s early so that she and Liz can go on her quest for the remodeling
materials. It’s so hard to pick tile, and complimentary materials. Me, every three
months I awake before dawn, join a restless crowd at an old tool parking lot
sale in Culver City. Although Donuts and Coffee, an old tool swap meet
tradition provided by the Anderson Plywood Staff, is served, it wasn’t enough
to entice me to arise before dawn. I did drive by later just to see what was
left, and I did leave empty handed.
Arriving
home, I let the neighbors know I'm back, collected my mail, visited with my neighbor
Roman F. who just last nigh came home from the hospital. He’s quit sick now
with another bout of Cancer.
I
unpacked the motorcycle, did the laundry, arranged everything on the living
room floor as it all was packed on the bike so that I can reassess what I took,
what I used, and what isn’t necessary, so as to improve my next adventure. At the onset of the trip I told Winnie I would take a walk often to exercise; the evidence of my promise is one pair of worn out sneakers:
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| I haven't worn out a pair of sneakers since I was a kid! These will get trashed, and next time I'll take something more compact... |
Left message for Tom & Liz so that I may go retrieve Ringo whom they have been spoiling during my absence. Thank you guys!
Hopefully
in the next week or so I can put together a summary of this adventure, Lessons Learnt to apply to future travels. It will
be my last GNA’13 Blog. So, stay tuned.
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| Ringo - African Ring Neck Dove I miss the Old Guy (they live 25 years) |
It
was a great trip Folks, thanks for following along.
Friday, August 16, 2013
Day 62 - Day to Honor & Homeward Bound
Day 62 – Friday: August
16, 2013, miles ridden today: 243.0
Yesterday I said I'd elaborate on the sculpture that Jay said he’s most proud of, one that really affected both Ken and me - we have not forgotten those who are missing. Neither had Jay forgotten and he created the ultimate tribute to those who never came home.
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| Ghost of The M.I.A. |
Ken and I spent a
wonderful evening with Pat and Jay, visiting their friends Don & Lee S’s. home,
followed by a wonderful dinner at Old Stone Station Restaurant in Downtown
Cambria. Everyone was so glad to see Jay after 2-months being away. He’s such a
popular guy in town, everyone knows him.
We awoke to the aroma of
fresh brewed coffee, and living room conversations, before journeying downtown
for our breakfast at Linn’s Restaurant. Jay suggested Ken
and I both try the special Sausage Egg Benedict, it didn’t disappoint. We
visited the park bench in Fiscalini Ranch Preserve that Jay made in honor of Pat’s Dad. She wants
it refinished so we assisted Jay in determining the scope of work to be
performed. What a piece of Art, I hope the picture conveys this guys passion.
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| Bench Jay Made in Honor to Pat's Father |
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| Jay's Recently Restored 1943 BSA WWII Motorcycle He may be riding it in this years Labor Day Parade |
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| Saying Goodbye to 'ol Friends Pat & Jay |
At Santa Monica beach
Ken and I pulled over, said our goodbyes and he headed back to Seal Beach, and
I to tonight’s layover here in Santa Monica, tomorrow I’ll complete my journey
in Huntington Beach.
Thursday, August 15, 2013
Day 61 - Meeting an 'ol Friend on The Road
Day 61 – Thursday:
August 15, 2013, miles ridden today: 166.0
Some 24-hours it’s been!
So today’s blog will be more
lengthy than those of late…
Myself, I’m experiencing
the psychological transition between my road warrior mode to what lies before
me. Being with Ken and Greg, now meeting up with my kayaking friends Pat and
Jay, I’ll probably feel the void of not experiencing the unknown paths, not
knowing where I’ll lie at the end of each day, however challenged by the
excitement of rejoining those I love and miss so dearly. I’m so close to home
now, I’m excited, can’t wait to see Winnie.
While hanging around for
Ken & Greg yesterday I was catching up on things, one of which was reading
Jay B’s Travelogue of his journey with Minnie (the ’31 Model A). A truly
amazing and wonderful journey he had with the Model A club, his meeting old
& new friends and acquaintances across America. He and Minnie, nearing the
completion of a 12,000-mile Model A Tour of the Lincoln Highway and return
through Canada are on the final approach into Cambria, CA. During his journey
he came so close (20-miles) to my home in Massachusetts, I wish I had known this
so that my daughter and son-in-law could have had the opportunity to meet him.
He would have gotten along fine with Dave: Cars! and Woodworking! Both artistic
individuals, and of course my wonderful outgoing (wonder where she gets that from?) daughter Monique would match his
“talkability”.
I discovered the Jay was
less than 24-hours behind me, and visiting the same sites I had on my journey
south from Washington, Oregon, into California. I left him an email and he
responded – we’ll hook up in the Monterey Area Thursday.
As previously mentioned,
I meet up with Ken H. and Greg W. late yesterday afternoon at Starbuck’s. It
appears they both had a fantastic ride up from Seal Beach, CA. Leaving at 6:00
A, they rode to Santa Barbara for breakfast then up the coast into Monterey, CA
by 4:45 PM. Unfortunately Greg had business obligations he had to be in LA for
on Friday, so he was going to reverse directions and ride home himself. He’s in
the midst of preparing a long ride back to Oklahoma in September, so this trip
was his shakedown run for the forthcoming the trip. He’s a real nice guy and we
will get together again down the road.
So after a fine
complimentary breakfast, Ken and I decided to give the Cambria Hostel a try for
tonight’s lodging; this after my relating my experiences to date with this form
of lodging. He’s adventurous and willing to try new things… Leaving Salinas, the
three of us rode back to Carmel where Greg will continue south and Ken and I
would seek the Tour d’Elegance Events until we hear from Jay B. Along the way
we turned off Route 68 onto a twisting G20 that takes you to Carmel Valley Road
(G16). We stopped along G20, parked the bikes illegally and waited for the cars
to pass by. They did not disappoint, hopefully I captured (I wish I had my Nikon SLR at this time, oh well) the elegance of
these fine machines and the excitement we experienced seeing them driven on the
road vs. being statically displayed in a museum.
Arriving at Carmel, we
fueled up and then the phone rang. It was Jay & Minnie; Ken and I agreed to
meet them in Moss Landing. While bidding Greg goodbye, we found a young
photographer at the gas station that obliged us “Old-Guys”, who rule, with some snapshots. Greg
headed south into the fog, Ken and I to the north for lunch with Jay.
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| Ken, George, and Greg |
Upon our arrival at the
Whole Enchilada Restaurant at Moss Landing we found Jay heavily engaged in
conversation with another traveler wanting to know more about Minnie’s
Adventures. Other curious individuals, including the staff and customers
queried Jay about he and Minnie during our meal. You can just imagine how
fatigued he must be, not only wrestling an 82-year old automobile on this
12,000-mile trek, but also satisfying the relentless inquisitions throughout
the journey. Ken and I witnessed only a sample of what it was like for him,
kind of neat watching him enthusiastically providing each answers to their questions;
but Jay looks extremely road-weary.
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| George & Jay w/Minnie |
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| Ken w/Minnie |
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| Poor Minnie loosing Bodily Fluids |
For Minnie, she’s the
come back kid! Eighty-Two years of roaming this earth (she’s been to I believe 13 countries and Australia) she could use
some Geriatric Depends to contain her hemorrhaging rear main oil seal. She had
a Starboard side list; when we mentioned it to Jay he opened the Rumble Seat to
enlighten us why. Not only did he stuff a Model A engine block in there, he
included crankshaft, camshaft, and whatever else one could imagine a well
prepared adventurer would carry to keep this old girl going. This car is “FORD
TOUGH”!
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| Engine Block & Misc. |
During dinner Jay asked
us our plans and when he heard us say we’re Hostelling in Cambria tonight, he
said no way and invited both Ken and I to stay at his and Pat’s home. We
agreed, but begged him to check with Pat first; you got to remember he’s been
away from home 8-weeks. So after our fantastic Shrimp & Avocado Soup, we
all headed south, but due to an oil-saturated clutch Jay decided to take Route
101 south in lieu of the Big-Sur US-1 scenic tour. Ken and I only stopped 4
times along our ride via US-1, however Jay and Minnie beat us to Cambria by
15-minutes.
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| Bixby Bridge - George & Ken |
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| Folks from Calabasas, CA |
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| Really Neat |
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| Wildlife |
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| Maria & Modo She from Austria, he from Germany (of Turkish Decent) they had just hiked from Sykes Hot Springs above Big Sur Station |
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| Who's Happy to See Each Other? |
Jay & Pat pulled out
the hospitality carpet; Ken is never going Hostelling with me now! Jay is quite
the artist in many mediums, and it was a real treat to share with him his many
creations. Tomorrow I’ll elaborate on the sculpture he said he’s most proud of,
one that really affected me in a most reflective way. Till then, hope you enjoy
today’s pictures.
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| Pat w/Don & Lee's Chicken |
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