Eureka, California

Tuesday 21 July

Hi folks. Sorry about the odt file and your inability to read the last message. I’d tried to write my diary in Star Office, and maybe they use a different format, (or Farmside do), so this message I’m doing in MS Works in the hope MS format is more compatible. I can also embed pics into the text so here goes. Let me know how this goes.

Picking up the bikes

Yesterday, we picked up the bikes and headed off for a familiarisation ride, through the streets, (our hotel’s 2 blocks off Market St, one of the main drags), and out across Golden Gate bridge. Seemed pretty scary at the time, but left hand drive isn’t too hard to get to grips with, in the big city you’re mostly working in one-way traffic. Just go where all the other cars go, and pray you make the right turn-offs.

The bridge, as usua shrouded in fog, but we got the customary photo shot, with everyone, including the touristas, joining in for camera and pose swaps.

Golden Gate Bridge

Then back across the bridge and right to South Beach, deserted because it was so cold. I think Baywatch only happens on TV. And a navigate back to the hotel, during which the lead pillion took us into a 4 lane one way street, from the wrong end, which earned us a few toots and light flashings before we found an alley to dive down.

Main thing about left hand drive is to think through your entry into the traffic. Most incidents occur, mindlessly pulling out of laybys and off-road parks. Once you’re in it’s easy enough. But I spent a good half day getting spooked by traffic appearing on corners, coming at me on the wrong side of the road, without a driver!

We left SF early this morning. One of the Harleys wouldn’t start, so we’ve lost the trip leader and a rider, haven’t made it to the hotel yet, hope they got a fix or a replacement bike.

Over Golden gate again and up the coast on R1 the road was small and twisting, a huge Paekakariki-like climb and descent, and that was the pattern most of the way up the coast to Ft Bragg and Mendocino. The countryside was sort of Northland/Otago/Blenheim, rocky outcrops. If you were Aussie you would have felt at home going through gum tree groves, and if a kiwi, roadside fennel, blackberry, and variegated thistles. And gorse! Bloody poms been here too. Passed a few farms, disparate looking outfits, a few animals gathered around the barn, obviously hand fed. No stock on the hills, lot of rank grass, but very dry.

Nearing Mendocino

The run from Mendocino was great motorcycling, twisting and climbing, perfect surface, went inland where it was heaps warmer, then back down the last 70 miles through sequoia-lined, bloody freezing, 4 and 6 lane motorway here to Eureka, pop 28,000, at sea level again.

The traffic behaviour is great. Something to ponder on while riding, (bit like philosophising while you’re dagging or mowing the lawns). What is it that these peopIe have that we lack, that causes the average NZ driver to be the self-righteous, aggressive, bad-mannered prick that he is.

I decided it’s the wagon-train mentality. To make it out west, the pioneers best chance was to travel in wagon train convoy, and the co-operative inter-reliant spirit has stuck. We rode for hours today on no passing permitted roads, and all was cool.

And again, I didn’t see any gatherings of idle youth, or groups of girls tittering around. How much effect is the deeply religious ethic having?

Honda Ridgeline

Looks like the Japs won the war too. Honda, Toyota, and Nissan, rule the road. I’ve seen my next car, a Honda Ridgeline, 4 door, all wheel drive, open deck ute.
Out of 57motoring mags surveyed, its rated 2^nd most popular ute in USA behind Chev Avalanche. V6 petrol, but I can live with that till they put in a diesel.

It starts at US$28k for the basic, $32k for the auto highest spec.

486km today, and we’re still in California. 600km tomorrow up into Oregon. My bike went nicely but something sounded a bit noisy when we pulled up. A few of the boys are worried about their Harleys.