My Great Trek to the Midwest
Day 13, Saturday, May 20, 2006
Bakersfield, Ca to Home.

Day's Route Overview: The last day, finally home. And, a short day.
A quick jaunt up I-5, over 152, 101, and 85. A total of 229 miles.
Starting out: Trip / Odometer / Time: 9.1 / 35,526 / 8:34
Getting dressed, I find I don't count all that
well.  I'm one pair of socks short of what
would be good.  I put on a dirty pair and make
a mental note to air out my boots really
good when I get home.
I packed the bike, grabbed some continental breakfast, checked out, and got ready to leave
when I found that I left my helmet up in the room.  I guess the phrase about losing my head if it
weren't attached does apply.
At the motel, they have taken a lot of care to
make the pigeons keep in their place.  I'm
guessing that travelers do not take well to
unexpected droppings upon.
Under the gable, they installed netting to keep the pigeons from resting there.  The pigeons
figured out that the netting was not nailed to the roof so it makes a nice, comfortable coop
for them.
The three states on the west coast may not
have the best rest stops I've seen, but, with
the exception of those in the California deserts,
they are the most consistently good.

California has the most use of pesticides in our
agriculture.  We also have the most bugs on
the windshield.  Perhaps there is a relationship?

My grips are custom made to fit my hands.
Not by the factory, but by long, hard use.
There's something about a Harley that captures
the eye.  Even when quite covered with road dirt.
On the west side of Pacheco Pass, after 152 turns to 156, I came upon a cherry stand.
After not having enough access to fruit and vegies for the past two weeks, it was irresistible.

Evidently, the farmer had just freshly graveled
the shoulder for people to smoothly turn off into
his parking area.  I saw it coming, but it was still
exciting as Lola slipped and slid her way through
the loose stuff.  I was thinking, 5,500 miles and
I almost spill within 30 miles of home.  You can
just make out my curvy path through the gravel.

The cherries were available in 3 quantities, $8,
$10, and $14.  Wow, expensive!  I got the
middle size.  They were pretty good.

Done for the day and the trip:
113.0 / 35,755 / 12:30

ABC Letters: (none today)

Total: 229 miles, 3 hours 54 minutes
Trip Total: 5,536 miles, 120 hours 35 minutes

Updated: Monday, May 12, 2014 10:16:08 PM