Here is the next installment of What I have Learned…
So on Wednesday I decided to ride my bike to save fuel to attend a concert that I had purchased a ticket for months ago. I pondered it all week, and most of the day Wednesday, which caused me to leave way too late! So by now you have figured out that I am going… So I run around the house grab some clothes a tooth brush and some water – then BAM on the road!
Now I could not have picked better weather! 100% overcast the whole way across the desert…. but with my delay and pondering came issues .. my 6.5 hour trip was in a car that has better range than my 130 mi bike, and man does it get uncomfortable on a bike for an entire day!
Ok so After 4-5 Fuel Stops I arrive in Cali, saw the sun for a second, and then more clouds! Ok all is still good! I'm cruising along and now hit Riverside then LA .. Stop for gas one last time and now I need to flip my iPhone to GPS mode so I can navigate my final stretch .. what 1.5 more hours!! Wait its now 8 pm (been driving since 2pm) and my concert started at 7:30 pm … now the trip suddenly turns into its all about the destination not the journey .. but man do People for Cali drive NUTS!!! its like being in Jersey … but worse!! Ok so I live not without some added stress on the freeways (they are not highways)
Ok I arrive at the Phish Show just in time for them to go on set break lol… ok I need a beer and to unwind.. fought my way through sweaty hippies just to find out no beer! ok fight my way to the next stand .. wait on-line get to hand them my money, some rude cali girl cuts in front of me and buys her and 4 guys beer , then my turn .. guess what it was tapped out lol … I got the beer but had to hike around to find it and get cut off again by a rude AZ girl .. Just when I thought it was only NJ People that were rude lol
Ok Concert (half of it) was great, People in Cali are a lil weird but that's for another blog… ok off to check out the "Scene" since I dont want to sit in traffic on a bike.. not much going on .. so sit on the steps and some guy sits next to me – started some small talk and hes from a town near to where I grew up in NJ and went to ASU so random …
Ok off to sleep on the beach.. so finally the drunks are mostly gone and I get back on the bike .. and head south, I just remembered I forgot to eat dinner.. so found a Jack in the Box and got some food!
Now if I would have thought ahead I would have had a room paid for but the beach thing sounded cool
.. guess watched point break too many times as a teen. I roll into Huntington Beach (Surf City USA) and it is filled with drunks .. look at my cell and its 2 am ..nice, drop the bike off and head to the beach.. so evidently there is a beach curfew and a big tractor that "grooms" the sand all night … so much for my beach sleeping idea.. walk back to a bar and get directed to a motel – said it should cost $50 .. ..well if it wasnt filled it would have been nice – I end up across the street for $90 but better than getting arrested I suppose.
Ok now on to the fun part – I wake up early get some food at the lobby and head off to San Diego, stopping at every beach town I see, now in my head driving PCH has been a bucket list item .. it should have stayed in my head.. there are more 20-35 mph signs, traffic lights and cars than necessary .. this isn't like the movies where you are cruising as 65mph on the ocean the whole time.. lol .. now in a car you don't realize it.. but if you have to put your tired feet down every 15 ft its quite tiresome lol…
Ok after a stop in Laguna Beach for a drink and Suntan lotion – which cost me $15!!! I am heading South still, a quick stop at an overlook, mostly because it was infested with bees.. very creepy…
And then I decide I'm bored and want to head back home .. so the GPS brings me all way back to 10 and to a nice El Pollo Loco for late lunch and re-hydration … this is where it starts to get interesting! The wind picks up and a storm rolls in… ok well cant just hide in Cali gotta get home .. so luckily it just sprinkles but on the way to Indio I get pummelled with a huge tumbleweed.. had to kick it off riding up a hill with a tractor trailer next to me ! Glad I don't flinch !!
Ok gets crazy windy through Indio and into the windmill zone (hence why there are windmills there) Now I am just wanting to get home my body is super achy and my butt hurts .. now the good part is no sun again! so I am moving about 85-95 passing trucks and such stopping for gas trying to stretch and hoping the trip is through, I am now pondering why I was a cheap a** and wanted to save on fuel…
ok fast forward to AZ – Rollover to AZ after spending close to $5 a gallon for way too long in Cali and BAM a huge wall of dust in the distance…ugh .. I keep on going and it gets larger and larger .. what to do?? I stop and get ready for it, cover my face and put on some goggles and hop back on the bike to fight my way through… so I penetrate that and guess what is on the other side towards Buckeye.. a huge microburst! .. ok I stop at the rest stop and watch it .. lightening hitting all around me now.. ok cant stay here all night, I don the rain gear and keep moving!… Well I have to say it got dark way quicker in that storm and never got light again .. but if you ever heard the Metallica Song ride the lightening (I have a legal copy metallica dont sue me) I think I know what inspired them to write it now…
Ok out the other-side and only a few hours left…well as I roll up on Phoenix (after another fuel stop) I look down and see my rain gear is torn apart from the wind .. now this is the 1st time I ever used it.. soo boo to them… but the air feels amazing!
Raining Again …Ok guess I deserve more rain but as I roll into Mesa the temps are in the high 70's gotta love that!
Well The rain gear is trashed, bike is filthy, body still hurts, gas prob cost the same and if not I think I would have paid the extra!, hurt in the pocket a lil with the over priced room for a few hours .. but the trip itself was amazing!! So what did I learn – it was too short, If I allotted a few days and didn't rush it .. I think it would have been quite pleasurable ..
Good things: my Ipod Shuffle lasted the whole way there and back, saw the ocean, felt the cold air, emancipated myself from my camera finally, cleared my head, finally rode the bike, saw an 1/2 Phish show, tasted salt air on my lips and overall had an amazing experience.. again needs to be 2-3 days next time!
Nicholas Pappagallo
So, I am heading to San Diego in a couple of weeks. What you are saying is that I should not ride a motorcycle, but drive my Titan instead because although it will suck up the gas, it will save my (well padded) ass from hurting? (smile) Also, don’t sleep on the beach, stay in the “family suite” at my favorite Inn on the beach like I already planned? OK, I guess I can handle that!
BUT, what is the adventure in that?
I am staying 3 nights because, like you state, it takes a good 1/2 day to get there and same back due to stops, etc. Wish I could stay longer.
That’s too funny, Nick! Next time I see you, I will have to tell you about MY latest adventure…….one that does not need to be put on FB! ;o)