Thank you to those that have sacraficed for our freedom in this great Constitutional Republic! 
Thank you to those that have servered!  

Like a kid in the candy store, or perhaps the toy store; I can't wait.  As readers of this blog, you know I got cought short on cash in a loss of  a roof on my property in San Luis Obispo.

Bought the new ride.  2017 Indian Vintage Chief.  Was on a business trip to  Houston, Texas a month ago and visisted a motorcycle dealer. -  BMW, INDIAN, AND SLINGSHOT WOODLANDS You know just for fun.  Well it cost me.  Fell for a totally diferent ride.  It just was shipped to have a sidecar put on.   Pick it up the end of June.  Can't wait!   Highly recommend Woodlands Michael and the salesman ,Josh, were a great help with an out of state purchase.  If in the market, give them a  call -  https://www.bmwmcwoodlands.com

First ride on the Indian was certainly different.  The sitting position, the peg, or in this case, foot boards, and let us not forget the rear brake "pedal" on the Indian.  For those not riders; big diference between the Euorpean bikes and the American bikes.  The BMW, Ducatti, KTM, Triumph, etc tend to be for of a  "steeple chase" sitting.  The big American rides, Indian, Harley tend do be a more "laid back" riding possition.  I guess akin to the days of riding a horse.  Here in the great expanse of the Amercan plains or indeed now the long days in the saddle; we tend to sit back as in an easy chair and ride.    My BMW was quiet.  The Indian has a somewhat loud; but pleasent rumble to it. I like it - thumpity thumpity rumble.

Had the Indian shipped to HANNIGAN MOTORSPORTS to marry it to a sidecar.  Below is what it will look like.  My color is a dark blue and cream.

The preceeding blog post was the "Farwell To California".  Following here is the fastest and the longest trip I've done in recent memory.  In one week - seven days -  I drove from the Mid Atlantic to San Luis Obispo, California to close on my last property there. Then I had to inspect other possible investments in Saint George, Utah and the Star Valley of Wyoming. 

Was in the saddle for the eight days with brief stays in hotels.  Logged 6,797.3 miles!  One day I was driving for eighteen hours straight.  Now that is a long day.  Oh did I mention it was mostly in rain.  And that day was an omen of what was to come!  More on that below.
​
Saw a lot of this:

The route was Highway 40 to Highway 58 in Barstow, California.  BAck door to San Luis Obispo via
Highway 46. Plesant drive through the wine country of Paso Robles.  Wish I had the time to stop and sip the fine wines of the area.  It was late in the afternoon, and you know, I was tired. Had been a long drive. Left Flagstaff in the morning and the day before was a looooong day; started somewhere in eastern Oklahoma.    All I remember was my departure at around 4 AM; the night clerk told me the highway going east was closed due to ice. All the flashing red and blue lights made it look like a war zone with the police, ambulances and tow trucks attending to the crashes.   Well, I was going West.

By nineish I was in Tucumcari, New Mexico and drove the section of Highway 66 

In the hay days of Route 66 this was a thriving little town.  Now it is just a shell.   But even a shell can hold a pearl!   Been here before on many trips.  And as a regular reader of this blog, you know I don't miss a meal.  One of the best for diner is  DEL'S  and for breakfast KIX ON ROUTE 66.  

Let me tell you, the breakfast burrito above made of eggs, bacon, hashbrowns, cheese, chopped greenchile and smothered in red and green sauce; with the side of spicy  homemade sausage was .... well maybe I will go back tomorrow just for breakfast!  Don't pass this by!

With a full belly and coffee - lots of coffee; I was off again.  

Oh, if you are in Tucumcari in the evening dine at Del's.  Founded in 1956.
Still serving a great dinner!  Both owned by the family and the excellent meals and service shows why they are worth the stop.


Next stop was the Laguna Indian Reservation for a stop at the  San Jose de Laguna Mission.  Built between 1699 and 1701.  Still an active Catholic parish church serving the spiritual needs of the local Laguna residents.  A wonderful and well preserved  example of an old Spanish colonial mission.  You will find it about 40 miles East of Albuquerque on Highway 40.  So, stop in and say a prayer to Saint Christopher for a save journey.

If you have traveled highway 40 in New Mexico or Arizona you have seen them:

BOWLIN TRAVEL CENTERS have been in business for over 100 years.  This family owned business began in 1912 when Claude M. Bowlin started a trading post and traded with the Native Americans.  Today there are a total of ten  "trading posts".  So when you see the signs don't pass it by.  Great place to find a meal or a gift and fuel up.  I remember on one hot long motorcycle trip I stopped for gas and the best ice cream cone ever had!

Arrived in San Luis Obispo and the iconic place to stay is the MADONNA INN

All the rooms at the Inn are unique!  Below are but three.  The resturant is elegant and very good.  The coffee shop is a good bet for breakfast.   

After a quick day in SLO, off for Star Valley, Wyoming   As you may have read above, this was not a vacation.  There was a timeline to keep to.  Over nighted in Saint George to visist a posible property and left in the mid morning.  Blased up Interstate 15 through Salt Lake and took Highway 89 to Bear Lake and onto Afton, Wyoming.  "89" is a beautiful Fall drive.  Below in April, before the trees leaf out it was rather bleek.  

When you get to Bear Lake stop and enjoy a Raspberry shake.  As you can see it is more of an ice cream
Trully a treat!

I arrived in Afton to check the properties I was interested in; but a family emergency required me to depart the night of arrival.  Turned out, thankfully, all was good.  The drive back to the Mid Atlantic on the other hand was not so good.    

It was a light snow at10PM inAfton, as I assended the mountains driving back to Salt Lake the snow intensity increased.  It snowed all day long as I turned East.  In fact as I continued on Highway 70 East of Denver - in the snow - it became a blizzard and found out later the "Colorado State trucks I had seen on the side of the highway were closing the highway as I passed by!  The snow turned to rain and indeed drove home all the way from Wyoming in snow, blizzards and rain.

As noted 6,797.3 miles in eight days.  Mostly in rain and snow.  Not interested in doing that again!

​

Born in Hollywood, California - when Black and White TV was relitively rare in homes.   Most of the cars on the "new" Hollywood freeway were American made.  Moved to Sherman Oaks when a lad of four.  Attended Dixie Canyon Elementary.  High School was Ulysses  S. Grant.  School mates were Tom Selleck, Micky Dolenz (The Monkeys)  although I did not know them.  College, well tried it for a couple of years at LAVC; but as a working photographer it was hard to pass up assignments and attend class.  So I dropped out.  

Went to war in Vietnam.  

​After the war, came back to the San Fernado Valley for a year or so and desided to give Alaska a try.   Worked in advertising. Ended up a director/producer for the local ABC TV station in Anchorage, KIMO.  Returned to California and moved to San Luis Obispo.  

All and all, spent most of my life in Southern California.  That was then  -  The best times to be there.

One  of the great excusions is Poso Saloon about an hour north of SLO.  Over the years many a ride  for lunch.  As you can see from the themometer below,   best  to visit in the Spring , Fall or Winter.

​For a great day at the beach go down to Avila Beach.  Short fifteen minute drive from SLO.  For breakfast, lunch or dinner try the Custom House in Avila!

Did a lot of living while in California.  The best place to have spent the early/mid years.  Riding the bikes in the mountains and the deserts, sailing the coast and Lake Tahoe, skiing Mammoth and Heavenly, scuba diving off Avila and the Channel Islands, rock climbing and repeling the great local climbs in and arround SLO, kayaking and of of course flying all over the State.  Cant tell you how many times would fly over to Harris Ranch for breakfast; or up to Morgan Hill for a good meal.  Heck I remember one night talking to a guy that had never been to Tommy's in LA for a burger.  So we jumped in the 210T and an hour later rented a car at Van Nuys airport and drove to Tommy's in downtown LA.
​That's it, about three hours total back in SLO.   The most expensive buger I have ever eaten!

Those were great times to be in LA.  Used to go to Sunset Bulivard spend a few hours at WHISKY A GO GO listening to The Doors, or Johnny Rivers.  Go down to the Golden Bear for folk music.  Spend the summer days on the beach of Malibu or Santa Monica.  

Learned to fly at....wait for it -  Coffin Air Service.  Back then you had to do spins to get your license.  We did them over the Glenn View Cemetery!   My instructor was Hank Coffin and in his seventies.  Great pilot and wonderful instructor.  I soloed under eight hours and was fifteen years old.

Great memories!

Below:  Sailing Lake Tahoe.  Diving of the Channel Islands, Riding th California desserts.
Riding and camping at Alabama Hills,  Rock Climbing, Kayaking the coast off Shell Beach.

Above:  Skiing Mammoth Mountain and "teaching" my son to fly.

​Set aside the nit  wit (communist) politians and California is a beautiful State.  In my opinion the most diverse in what it offers of all the States.   I mean you can really ski in the morning and have dinner at the beach the same day!

Allow me to reminisce .  I have had a blessed life living in California.  

Spent the last morning waiting for the dawn at Pismo Beach.  Left an hour after this photo was taken.
Goodbye Kalifornia - Good Luck!

California - is in my soul.   There is beauty.  There are to be had great and wonderful memories.

And if you are to live there; you will have high blood pressure and learn to swear like a China Sailor when dealing with the State government and many of the local dictators too  -  SLO is one!

​Go there for the beauty and   - - - -  the Assembly and Moonbeam!

​