The Final Weekend

The riding may be over,but I am not going home until Monday, so still have a few days to enjoy.

On Saturday morning Sue & I drive into Pleasanton, where there is a weekly Farmer's market,with some colourful produce.

I want to buy some cowboy boots,so Sue takes me to the riding shop in downtown Pleasanton. Scarily the first pair I try on, fit perfectly , as do the first pair of jeans...this just does not feel right!

I want a pair of dark jeans as well, so we head over to Livermore to their sister shop where they have them in stock in my size...scarily these fit perfectly as well!

As the temeperature is increasing, Sue puts down the roof on her car and we cruise home.

We then sit in the garden to enjoys some wine,cheese and pate for lunch, before getting ready for the Burns Unit Gala Dinner tonight.

We arrive at the Marriot in Santa Clara, where the Gala is being held , to bizarrelly be greeted by a host of Star Wars Storm troopers..weird!

It is so lovely to meet up with the crowd again.

There are some very moving presentations about the work of the Burns Unit and the survivors they treat. Tyler's speech is particularly moving to those of us who know her. how there was a dry eye in the house I don't know!

After dinner & the presentations its time to dance  before saying goodbyes and see you agains to everyone...they don't get rid of me that easily!

The trip

Well what can I say, the last 10 days have been "Brilliant"!

2,365 miles of mootrbike riding, with 3 of the best companions; Dona,Sue & Scott

And of course,I can't forget our fluffy friends:

Unity

Froggy

Rocky

Bear



and of course,my ever faithful Loppy



Sue asked me what my best moment was ,which is a really tough decision to make...so many awe-inspiring places, but if you will allow me I have two:

One very shallow one,which is getting my photo taken with 3 handsome cowboys ;o)

but the other is riding through Death Valley, which totally blew me away with its beauty.

This has been a trip of many highs and honestly, only one low...that long,dark cold ride to Page, but even that was quickly forgotten once we arrived and saw the balloon in full night glow!

And the highs...well countless..
-the places: Zion, Death Valley, Valley of Fire,Grand Canyon, Sedona, Joshua Tree and even in its way Las Vegas!
-the jokes: "brilliant", "stupid cow", "George says" and Dona's constant Brit accent
-the Zumos: Dona finally being able to plot a route , & finding the 'near' button
-but mainly the laughter, from the moment we woke "Good morning' to the moment we went to sleep, every day was filled with laughter

Thank you Dona,Sue & Scott.   The pleasure has been all mine.

12 November

We wake with sad hearts-its our last day on the road,but we have some GREAT riding ahead of us.

So after a hearty breakfast at a nearby diner,we set out for the last time of this trip.

We take the 101 for a short distance,then we hit the GREAT biking roads: Indian Valley Road, (13 miles), Peach Tree Road (22 miles), Airline Highway-25 (36 miles). Awesome!

On my first trip out here with Carol, this was the road that we were told by Tyler we couldn't miss, which meant we ended up riding in the dark & cold to Yosemite. At that time I didn't think I would ever be back-but here I am again,enjoying what is just a great bit of riding-does life get any better?

even though it is a Friday,quite a few bike groups pass us the other way-a testament to its popularity.

We stop for gas at Tres Pinos. I'm beginning to dislike this town as it was here 3 years ago Carol & I said goodbye to Tyler & Dorothy and here I am again saying goodbye to Dona ;o(

Our final group photo

We ride together up to the junction of 101 & 680 and then with tears in my eyes wave adiós  to Dona.

We arrive back at Pleasanton, in good time for sue's conference call. Scott changes out of his biking gear and takes the truck,whilst I follow him to return the bike to Dubbelju.

Todays AWESOME route

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11 November

Donoa &  I surpass ourselves this morning, getting up & ; packed by 7.30am-although this may have had something to do with the fact we are now back in California where it is an hour later!

We take the 247 to Victorville

then up the 395 to Kramer Junction.

Both roads fairly boring and the latter half very windy-as can be seen by the number of windmills on the hillsides.

We finally arrive in Bakersfield,where everyone is releived to stop and get off the bikes!

We stop at Chuys for lunch. For table markers they give out soft toys - how cute!

It has warmed up now, so we sit outside to eat and enjoy the sunshine.

A disabled sign on a Harley parked outside -not something you see at home

We then take the 58 all the way to Paso Robles-what a glorious road-taking us through fruit orchards, and vineyards.

We arrive at Paso Robles and the Best Western,it is full but luckily the hotel next door The Adelaide has vacancies- what a great hotel,I would highly recommend it!

There Spa pool is open,so we change into our cossies and head over drinks in hand for a long soak.

The spa is very hot,so I decide to plunge into the main poll-bad move it is freezing,so after 2 lenghts in record time I get back into the Spa!

We go to Big Bubbas BBQ to eat,a popular venue. My eyes light up as we enter...there are cowboys ;o)

So I can't resist asking these 3 gorgeous guys if I can have my photo taken with them. My night is complete!

Todays Route

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