23-SEP-2006
The call of open roads...
It's that time of the year that we need to temporarily leave everything behind for a few days, pack up and ride into the sunrise and sunset, whatever that fancies us.
Time to shake off the baggages of life. Time to get on a long road trip on our motorcycles. Time to answer to the call of open roads. Ride to where ever that calls us. Just friends, bikes and the roads...
02-OCT-2007
Motivational poster
I made this motivational poster to email to the other guys to incite their excitement so the trip won't be dropped...
This picture was taken on Sept 2006 on highway 58, California, between freeway 101 and 5.
Sierra plan
Originally, the plan was to ride to Mammoth Lakes, California, then go on to Yosemite and surroundings. Little Dragon, Mono Lake, Bodie ghost town, hot springs etc...
Plan moved from Sept to late Oct and the snow already started in Mammoth Lakes. This plan was dropped...
Tri-state: California - Nevada - Arizona
Due to snow and rain up North, we changed plan in last minute and decided to find places that are dry and not too cold: we are heading into the desert and see places that we haven't seen before.
Isn't this what motorcycling is all about? Free to roam. Answer the call of open roads and smell the roses (or cactuses)...
Here are the markers on this map:
1) Monrovia, mile 0
3) Laughlin, mile 267
6) Meteor Crater, mile 490
10) Phoenix, mile 726
11) Sonoran Desert Monument, mile 784
15) Lake Havasu, mile 1019
18) Monrovia, mile 1335
Oct 11, 2007: Who's going?
Originally, 3 of us committed: Vu, myself and Eugene. Then Kevin joined us. Today, Eugene said he's going to bail (chicken out?) and Kevin is not feeling well. It looks like we are back to the original '2 amigos': Vu and myself.
We are going and the trip is on! 7 days to departure!
Oct 13, 2007 - 6 days to departure...
Kevin just emailed that he's definitely in for the ride so it'll be 3 of us.
The route is still in planning and here is the new route, about 1600 miles total. We'll see...
Oct 14, 2007 - 5 days to departure
I checked my Honda CBR-1100XX over and over. Chain/sprockets replaced. Tires are good. Brake pads are in excellent shape. All nuts and bolts are tight...
Things are pretty much packed: first aid kit, shop manual, tools, rain gear, hot and cold weather clothing, heated vest, waterproof leather gloves... Glad that I have a set of 3 Givi hard cases.
17-OCT-2007
Oct 18, 2007 - 1 day to departure!
It's always exciting to go on a long motorcycle trip. Explore new roads and see new places, from the seat of a motorcycle. Free to roam, without any obstruction to the view.
My 1997 Honda CBR-1100XX's odometer has 39416 miles. Let's see how many miles I'll put on it after the trip...
18-OCT-2007
Hack before the trip...
I need to power my GPS with a cigarette lighter outlet but there is no easy mounting place on a motorcycle.
I wired a cigarette lighter outlet directly to the battery through a fuse then ran it out from under the seat and taped it to the left side of gas tank. My Navman iCN 510 GPS resides on my tank bag and powered from this lighter outlet. Not the best position but it works.
The power connection for the Widder heated vest also came out of the battery, under the seat then to the right side of the gas tank.
While wiring the cigarette lighter outlet, I found that 1 of the wires to power my Widder vest was half-broken after 7 years. I cut off the ring, resoldered a new ring on it and it's as good as new.
19-OCT-2007
Oct 19 - Departure
It's exciting! See the unknowns, new places, new roads and new sceneries...
We are filling up from the gas station at Monrovia before heading out to freeway 210 East.
Day 1 - Monrovia, California to Laughlin, Nevada - 280 miles
This was the actual route map of day 1. We rode to Barstow via freeway 15, then take the fame route 66 to the city of Needles, and from there heading North to Laughlin...
19-OCT-2007
Barstow, California
First stop: Barstow, California. 100 miles from Monrovia, our departure point.
We met 2 couples on 2 big Harleys here, wearing leather jackets and vests. They came over and talked to us and we found out that they are British and came over from London, England, rented 2 Harleys and tour Route 66.
Then a gentleman riding a Harley walked over and chat. He is a solo rider riding from San Diego to Kingman, Arizona to visit his brother, riding route 66.
Cars can never connect people like a motorcycle does...
