how i spent my summer vacation

[rickyboy]

WOW ! Is what keeps coming back to me. I just got back from a 12 day road trip that took me from Sumas Wash. down through Idaho and Utah , stopping to see Bryce Canyon and Zion Nat. park. then moving on to Mesquite, Vegas, and up to Reno and across California taking an unbelievable hwy. #36 to reach the California Redwood and "the Ave. of Giants". From there it was on to the west coast of Oregon to do the coastal route up as far as Newport. From there it was straight home on th I-5 up past Seattle and on to Sumas and then home to Langley BC Canada. A tad over 5,500 kms. or 3,400 miles.
I had visions of what it must have been like doing the ride through the Zion park with the KawaNow members on the Western Region Rally. I'm even more sorry I had to miss that now. Not a lot to say about the trip until my buddy and I got to Bryce Canyon where we thought that the trip really started. But was it "frigg'in hot! ! Vegas was well over 110 degrees. We ended up renting a car to go from Mesquite to Vegas for the day. We just didn't see the sense of riding in the heat, and then spending the day gambling only to ride back in the heat. Actually unless the outside temp gauge was broken on the rental, it showed 118 going home at 10:00 PM..
There is a lot to say about the trip from there on but way too much to put down here. An outstanding point was the hwy. 36 across California through the fires. It was the only road open. Fire fighters were working along the sides of the road finishing up where the fires had past through. But the road was a bikers dream curves and turns and what have you for almost 140. miles. I have heard of the Dragons Tail and this must come close to what that is like. Suggested speeds ranging anywhere from 15 to 55 miles per.. The coast of Oregon was it's usual beautiful thing. Even if that's where it started to get wet and cool. But believe me the cool was welcomed after the high temps of the south. But this being my first real BIG ride it was a real thrill for me at the age of 54. I plan on doing a ride like that every year from now on. I hope to post some video of the ride in days to come. I am back on vacation and heading down to my cabin in Sumas for some day rides and R & R.
later Bros. and Sisters