I leave on another mini-Gypsy tour tomorrow morning, this one a ten-day solo motorcycle ride to Nevada and California. I’m staying with relatives and friends, mostly, hoping to catch up with old times and get in some good riding along the way. Here’s my itinerary:
Thursday, May 2: Tucson to Las Vegas, where I’ll overnight at my son’s house.
Friday, May 3: Las Vegas to San Jose via Bakersfield. This’ll be the longest single leg, almost 600 miles. Will stay with our goddaughter Natasha and her husband Natale.
Saturday, May 4: San Jose to Novato, a short ride. I’ll spend two nights with hashing friends there, perhaps working in a short ride up and down the Coast Highway on Sunday.
Monday, May 6: Novato to Lucerne (north central California) to see a couple Donna and I have known since college at Sac State. He’s a preacher now, so we’ll probably argue all night.
Tuesday, May 7: Lucerne to Auburn. I was going to spend two nights with friends in Folsom, but they’re dealing with serious medical issues and I won’t be able to see them after all. Instead, I’ll spend Tuesday night at a motel in Auburn and spend a couple of hours with another college friend who lives in the area. Possible side trip through gold country.
Wednesday, May 8: Auburn to South Lake Tahoe via Placerville. This is part of my backup plan since I can’t stay with my friends in Folsom. I’ll enjoy riding up Highway 50 through the high Sierra Nevadas, then overnight at a Lake Tahoe motel.
Thursday, May 9: South Lake Tahoe to Reno. The distance is short, but the ride will be long: I’m going to ride around the lake (something I’ve always wanted to do), head down Kingsbury Pass into Nevada, then north to Carson City and on to Reno. I’ll be staying with old friends, a former F-15 squadron commander and his wife. He, by the way, is recovering from knee surgery, so I’m sure we’ll have lots to talk about.
Friday, May 10: Reno to Las Vegas on Highway 50, the “Loneliest Road.” Another long day, about 500 miles. Will recuperate at my son’s again, then leave early in the morning.
Saturday, May 11: Las Vegas to Tucson.
All in all, somewhere between 2,000 and 2.500 miles, depending on how many side trips I manage to work in. Some of the point-to-point rides in California are short ones, allowing for extra exploration. The tour will be my first long one since having my left knee replaced. I’ve been practicing, and don’t think the knee will be a big problem, but if it is … if, that is, I’m miserable on my first day’s ride to Las Vegas … I’ll call everyone and bail. I can spend a day recovering at my son’s in Las Vegas and then just ride back home with my tail between my legs. Don’t think that’ll happen, but it’s good to have an escape clause.
Posting at Paul’s Thing will be light to nonexistent for the next ten days. I’ll post OTR (on the road) entries to Facebook, and will catch up with you all here when I get back.
Y’all ride safe now. I promise to do the same.