Los Angeles

Day 44, 14,000 km (or close to)

LA's looking a heap better than the day we started on this trip, still cooler than their average temps, but sunny and clear enough for us to see what Malibu, Santa Monica, and Venice Beach are all about.

Took a ride down to the Honda shop on Santa Monica Bvd with a peep at Beverly and Melrose.

The traffic is relentless and fast, but in another life, I wouldnt mind being a CHiP's motorcycle mountie, getting round these days on Kwaka Concours and ST1300's, neatly pressed short-sleeve uniforms.

The bird-life is understandably pretty good here too.

Tioga Pass

From Bishop, we headed north-west, with the Sierra Nevada on our left, past Crowley Lake, the 15 mile wide chaldera, (for now) a placid lake, noted ski-resort Mammoth Mountain, round the June Lake loop, then over another pass, Tioga, 9,000' odd, into Yosemite Natl Park.

As last year, hordes of people, lots of traffic, but nice ride as we lapped up the cooler temps, in fact a jackets on day.

Chatting to a Paiute indian at the motel, he said, 'tell them you're from the Bishop Reservation and you forgot your ID card.

Its old tribal ground and they have entry rights, not that I need a get in free, already having the season pass.

While no problem with the matching looks dept, I said, 'what if they question me, I need the 'kia ora' equivalant at least, which is 'manahou', he informed

and after that, no problem speaking A-merican..., riyght.

Nearing Yosemite

 After Yosemite, down a winding canyon to Mariposa, where the land opens out to rolling cattle country, much like Australia, dry, low spreading trees, to Merced, out on the flat, and the agriculture's getting more intense,

orchards, and just when you wonder what they are, helpful signs for folk just like us, marking

pistachios, peaches, drying plums, almonds, apricots etc

and interspersed with receding areas signaged 'native rangeland'.

Pulled in at a roadside fruit stall, huge juicy peaches and nectarines, with a bag of cherries to boot.

Wind was so strong, it was difficult biking into the setting sun, compounded by the thickening, speeding, California road traffic, but at least the wind took away the normal Gilroy atmosphere.

Its garlic central out here, a major processing town, but we were spared a night of sweltering in the wretched stuff, molested only by the size of the servings at the mexican restaurant across the road.

Next morning, over the hills, a pony 2000' this time, to a diversion back up the coast to Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk for brunch.

Again nice to arrive when normal people are up and about, and the sun out, with many attractions on the go at the Boardwalk and beach, beach volleyball, a triathlon swim, and all the fun of the fair attractions, merry go rounds, vertical thrillers, and one of the oldest original wooden roller-coasters, too much for the boy in some of us bikers, the first part of which was a multi-swerve drop into the dark, which had me thinking, maybe I prefer biking, but out in the clear one could drop a shoulder into the turns and it all ended too quick.

Excellent value for $5 though.

Big Sur

 After the customary Stagnaro Bros seafood chowder, and halibut and chips, it was down to CA1 highway, where the Big Sur coast did itself proud in fine sunny weather.

Imagine 80 miles of Bulli Point infested road, (like on the road to Taupo, but up to 10 times higher in places), pressed most of the way by the impatient California traffic, then at times rammed to a stop by some rubber-necker up front, wondering if you'd end up a Honda sandwich.

Made for an exciting ride.

Then into the seaside resort of Morro Bay again, 6 weeks after starting out, for gas up, soap/waterblast the bike at the carwash opposite, and overnight.

So to yesterday and the early morning run down the inland freeway, and diving off to the coast at Santa Barbara.

Plenty of tunes triggered to hum into the helmet

Santa Monica Bvd, Sheryl Crow was it?

26 miles across the sea, Santa Catalina is waitin' for me

San Fernando, Pasadena

through fields of intensive food crop, each field 40 humans each, bent in harvest,

strawberries, cabbages, peppers

little flags indicating the end of the last pick, I guess.

End of the road, Hacienda Hotel, LA

So.........

round to Mainfreight and crated the bikes up this morning

gave them a little pat for a job well done, and a safe voyage home

arriving in Wellington, 28 Oct approx.

Plane home tomorrow, some gone already,

adventure all but over.