Tip Top Restaurant Carlsbad Trip on a holiday Monday 7-5-2010 with the usual gang of misfits (except Minita and Luis-they're NOT misfits!)

It started out GREAT...
I woke the hell up late, at 7:19 AM and the meetup time 8 AM at Starbucks by Best Buy on Chapman. GREAT.
Can you say, "Lightspeed"?
Luckily I had just washed all my stuff from the Mt. Pinos trip and it was still folded on the dryer so I just grabbed it all and started throwing clothing on, then realized I had taken a bath the night before and went to bed with my hair all wet.
So I had to stick my head under the faucet and blowdry my hair.
Bub, that saintly person that he is, moved my car and started my bike. I don't deserve such a kind, thoughtful man.
Know what else he did? He texted Johney and told him that I was on my way but going to be a tad late, would they wait for me? Johney replied with a resounding, "No".
He then said he was kidding, yeah, they'd wait.
I was (as usual) debating on 3 layers or 4, chaps or none, thermal t-neck/socks or no... I chose WISELY. Thermal T-neck, thermal socks, high boots (the ones I use for horseback riding), sweater w/hoodie, zipup aerobic jacket and my MC jacket. Again, luckily my passport purse was all together so I just had to throw in some money, put it around my neck with the camera, phone inside pocket, GO.
I left at 7:45, got there DEAD ON 8 AM.

We were waiting a bit because Johney called Luis, Minita and Pedro, and they got there around 8:15 or so, so we left at 8:19 AM.
Oh, yeah, I forgot. Guess who lead the pack? The AB is back in the saddle.
John R. and Johney asked me if I knew where we were going, and I pretended not to know..."uh, Ojai? Ventura?" John R. got exasperated and said no, Palomar Airport Road in Carlsbad. (Of COURSE I knew, I made sure I looked it up last night because I have it saved on Mapquest!) So they said for me to lead.
K. I was nervous because I don't think I've lead with John R. as TG, don't remember, just hoped I didn't screw up.
Nobody said it was supposed to RAIN, though. Ok, John R. said a foggy mist, but when drops hit the visor and stream down, plus you can't see a 'dry' track in your lane, PLUS the cars on the other side have their windshield wipers going, that TO ME is rain. We hit spots of rain suddenly, kinda cold rain, so I slowed down from my 75-80 to 70 and got into the 2nd lane. I appreciate the confidence that all the riders have for me, I really do. I guess I didn't let them down, I was told I did a good job. Hoped I did, I kept it steady speeds, when I noticed that the other side cars had their wipers going, I slowed it down and got over to the #2 lane.
We were supposed to hook up with Wayne around El Toro Rd, and John R. told me before we left that I didn't have to go over and go slow, he'd pick him up and they'd come up to us. Problem is, the independent riders in the group didn't know that so they went over 4 lanes and all of a sudden I'm looking behind me and everybody's over except for me.
I thought that everybody was supposed to follow me, you know, like 'into the jaws rode the four hundred' and that stuff?
We have too many independent thinkers around here, which is still ok anyway because of the Palomar Airport Road which came up a bit more suddenly than I thought, so the guys in the back went over.
(Guys, just kidding, you can think independently any time anywhere if I'm leading, because I appreciate it-Johney can usually read my mind, even from 7 bikes back and pretty much know when I'm gonna do something about the same time I do it. EXCEPT why did the back end guys get into the car pool lane when it opened up going north on the 5? I mean, I was debating it, but decided not to since  I looked WAY ahead and noticed that they both seemed to be going about the same and since I make the trip 3X a month, I know that the carpool lane goes slower than the regular traffic, so those that stayed with me left those in the carpool lane in the dust. )

Chapter 422 Ride To Big Bear 6-19-2010 (in lieu of Palomar) via Anaheim, Azusa, and CUC-camonga.

Ok, just kidding about that last part, but does ANYBODY remember that famous saying, 'Now departing for ANAHEIM...AZUSA...AND CUKE-CAH-MONGA"?

I can't believe I forgot my camera that day. Well, always have the phone cam, so I used it.

Route was actually pretty cool, Ortega (of COURSE!), 15 N, 138 E through Silverlake, Crestline, RimForest, Sky Forest (yes, the old Santa's Village buildings and ornament skyway stuff is STILL there, but the big parking lot is now used for lumber storage), Hwy 18 through Running Springs, and Big Bear, with the return route 18 to 330 on down.

Just WAIT until you see the few pictures I DID take.

JUST WAIT. 

The first picture is the usual motley crew ahem, a nice amount of bikes just chomping at the bit to leave. Barry is, of course, one of them. Actually he, like all the rest, are waiting for ME. Whatever group I'm in, they have a very special shout for getting ready: if I'm in Group 2, the Group 1 Group Leader will shout out, "Group 1, 5 minutes! Lynne, get ready!" I repeat, if I'M IN GROUP 2, THE GROUP 1 LEADER WILL SHOUT OUT MY NAME. The group leader of the group I AM in will shout out, "Group X, 5 minutes! Lynne, NOW!"  I can't help it if I have a lot of things to keep track of like glove liners/gloves/helmet/glasses/purse/tankbag/camera and making sure it's all stowed away nicely and everything zipped up INCLUDING my pants...

Lunch. THAT'S a story in itself.

Leonard was coming by the different tables at the Teddy Bear Restaurant http://teddybearsrestaurant.com/

 (which I knew well from a previous 345 trip) and pointed out this particular menu item to me. By the way, does anyone remember back in the '70's when this restaurant was an Italien family-style dining, with big platters of italien food for everybody to dig in to? Just wondering...

Anyway, the menu item would be the star attraction at the Heart Attack grill in Chandler, AZ or whatever that place is called. This glorious tribute to breakfast AND lunch was called the 'Chicken Fried Steak Burger'. Holy CRAP. We have here a toasted burger bun with 1000 island dressing on it; lettuce; tomato (I didn't eat the tomato); pickles (didn't eat them either); chicken fried steak; 1/3 pound hamburger; cheese; fried egg; bacon; another bun. I asked them to put the gravy on the side. Oh yeah, a side salad came also on the plate. Below, I seem to have NO PROBLEM wrapping my face around that sucker. Below right, the monstrosity after I slathered some gravey on that sucker.

You can see the 'before' picture above, and the 'after' picture below. BOTH 'after' pictures. If you've known me for any amount of time, then you'll KNOW what the 2nd 'after' picture signified. It signified a pure and simple HELL for my poor husband approximately 36 hours from this point.

If you're wondering WHY I took so MANY pictures of this stupid lunch, it's because I have NEVER seen anything like this in all my years of feeding my face, and I was just amazed that a) there WAS such a thing, b) people would order it and eat it, c) I ACTUALLY ORDERED IT, and d) I ATE THE WHOLE THING.

And you wanna see something STOOPID? I had iced tea with my meal-do you SEE what's on the gravey plate? SPLENDA! Like some extra calories are going to be the death of me!

I've been tracking my caloric intake UP UNTIL NOW.

Now, I don't think I have a calculator or an Excel spreadsheet that can cover numbers in the gazillions.

If you know what the little blue pill is, then you can sympathize with Bub and be very very surprised you didn't have to send him a sympathy or 'get well soon' card. 

A little July 4th ride w/Bub to a few places planned, some unplanned, some planned but not done...the usual.

ORIGINAL PLAN:

Leave home and go to Walker's Cafe at Point Fermin in San Pedro. Reputed to be a cute place, a 'biker' bar (but not really), then to Roscoe's Chix and Waffles in downtown Long Beach, then ostensible to Cook's to check out the shopping and the bikes.

That WAS the plan.

WE ENDED UP:

Going to Roscoe's first, because Barry was hungry and by the time we got there, smelling those LOOOVVVEELLY waffles, I'm glad we went there first

BECAUSE...

by taking 2nd Street thru Belmont Shore and Ocean Blvd. along the beach, I realized that around Walker's Cafe which was RIGHT across the street from Pt. Fermin Park which was RIGHT across the water from the Queen Mary which, on the 4th of July, has a HUGE fireworks show...well, that area around Walker's and Pt. Fermin would've been CROWDED with people hanging around for the show later.

So we didn't go to Walker's. Damn. Spit. Dirty drawers.

You may notice the parking we got, under the tree in the parking lot next to the restaurant, 1st space. Oh, YEAH. AND we went on Jazz Sunday, with live jazz music wafting into the dining area from the bar.

While we were waiting, I was chatting with the security guard and heard loud carousing going on at a place next to the parking lot. I asked him what it was, and he said it was a gay bar and on Sundays they have a 'drag' fashion show. Glad Bub and I didn't wear our leathers, although ME they probably would've left alone, but BUB...well, he'd probably get more passes than Joe Montana ever THREW.

Another cute thing, this one's kinda R- rated...the security guy and Barry were talking, and the security guy said, "Hey, if you don' get none from yer ol' lady, you always got da sheep!" They said this to each other and I heard 'em laughing, of COURSE demanded to know what they were laughing at and Barry told me. If I had thought faster, I could've made a snappy R+ comment regarding the appearance and state of the sheep lately.

After sharing the Herb's special (1/2 chicken, 2 huge waffles, all white meat which was 2 breasts and 2 wings) we decided to give Her Royal Pain In The Butt Jackie a visit at her Best Buy store.

So BACK onto the 405 S to her store, surprised her!

Then I decided that I need to look into helmet pads for inside my helmet since it isn't as tight as it used to be and I'm getting tired of wearing a hoodie shirt to make it fit right. (I was wearing the hoodie to keep any hair from blowing around, but it's gonna get hot soon) so we took Jamboree to Warner to the 55/5/57/91 to Cycle Gear in Fullerton. No helmet pads that are there but they can order them to the tune of $25. Looked at helmets, clothes, glves, shirts...you know, SHOPPING.

Up Harbor to Brea Blvd to gas, home and iced mocha coffee, then next door for a 4th BBQ and some family gossip.

Tomorrow? Maybe Tip Top for another waffle (I'm into waffles now) and get some pastrami and corned beef for Bubski?
If I get him that, I won't be able to go over Ortega to Palomar...oh well, I gotta do some work here at home anyway, take the dog in for grooming, get Jax another phone, you know, CHORES...
I still might ride more...as Auntie Mame said,
"Live! Live! Live! Life is a banquet and most poor sons of bitches are STARVING to death!"

Chapter 422's Pre-ride to Palomar Mtn. June 12th, 2010 and the official 'birth' of the "Pit Bull Wearing a Chihuahua Suit On A Minibike"

Beautiful weather, nice ride, nice destination, and of course STARBUCKS towards the end, always!

THE SHORT VERSION:

Started great, made a name for myself (or rather THEY made a name for me), saw Chapter leadership in action, learned a lot, you know, the usual great day of riding.

Leonard and Sissy have EVERYTHING for first aid, Michael likes snakes, Dan just kicks back.

Another short explanation:

-422 Pre-ride for Palomar Mountain June 12th.

-422 Regular ride for Palomar Mountain SUPPOSED TO BE June 19th, but found out from the bicyclist guy (whom we gave first aid to-he was experiencing anaphylactic shock, passed out behind the wheel of his SUV, we did the EMT thing) that there was a hill climb bike challenge on the 19th at Palomar so the 422 ride 6-19 ended up to Big Bear via 15-138-18 etc then back down 18-330-210-15 etc.

-422 Pre-ride for Palomar Take Two was Saturday July 3rd same day as 230's Mt. Pinos ride. I was TORN, believe me, TORN. (see 230 Mt. Pinos post for my decision)

-422 Palomar ride scheduled for Saturday July 17th.

Leonard sent the route out, Collin followed up with his wonderful turn-by-turn Publisher file, so I had a pretty good idea of where we were going and the temperatures thereof. I HATE HATE HATE HATE to be cold!

This trip was especially important riding-wise in that last year's Palomar ride was less than wonderful because I really started doubting my riding around then, so I wanted to see how it'd be on this trip.

On this trip we were to go UP the back way then DOWN the front way, the 'spastic colon' twisty way. I personally would've preferred the twisty way UP, but hey, I'm game and up for almost anything.

Route overview:

-Met up at Wingstuff

-Ortega Hwy to Grand/Clinton Keith for gas and Starbucks (GOD I love this group!!!);

-Thru Temecula around 79 to Lake Henshaw cafe/resort http://www.lakehenshawresort.com/

 (pretty good food), DIDN'T fall over, was christened;

-Up the back Palomar Road which seemed like we were riding thru some low clouds, it got cold, misty/foggy, just like going thru a cloud, WISH I could've taken a picture, I really really do;

-Stopped at the observatory (where it was sunny and warm!!). Here is a link where, in the middle of the page, you can download an audio tour free as an mp3 to an iPod, phone, whatever. http://www.astro.caltech.edu/palomar/visiting.html

Last year's trip paid off regarding being able to go into the observatory for free and that there were pins for sale at the observatory gift shop http://www.astro.caltech.edu/palomar/giftshop/

-Down the twisty way which was WEIRD since it almost seemed like we were going thru clouds again, it was cold, misty/foggy and damp AT 2 PM IN THE AFTERNOON;

-Back around thru 76 down towards Temecula and around a corner just in time to see a gentleman in an SUV having a great deal of probs;

-Back out and around to Mission, to Starbucks at College Town Center and a de-briefing of the day's activities.

I didn't mention that we hooked up with the El Cajon STAR Chapter at the Lake Henshaw cafe!!! Marge and Sissy did NOT let this opportunity get away from them to exhort/tout/inform these folks about the August 21st fundraiser, Run With The Pack!! http://www.star422.com/Default.asp?ID=205&pg=Run+with+the+Pack+Fundraiser

Chapter 230 July 3, 2010 ride to Mt. Pinos

Here's how it went, like, as if I were a 'normal' person:

Met at the usual time, at the usual place, went ga-ga over the usual Jetsons-type motorcycles (see pic),  left at the usual time, 1st gas stop Agoura. 2nd gas stop Ojai. Next stop Mt. Pinos Nordic Center after a lot of curves and twisties.

Last gas/food stop in Lebec and the 5 Freeway at Chevron and the Los Pinos restaurant.


I ‘tapped out’ at Diamond Bar Blvd to get off at Brea Canyon, home around 5:30 PM.

Here’s an interesting switch-I was actually in Group 1. I don’t REMEMBER the last time when I’d been in Group 1. Kinda nice, doing everything first before everybody else gets there.

It’s always the little things that screw you up, the little things that I had taken for granted, namely Bub and I/the two of us as a ‘team’ at gas stops and stuff, where we’d take turns going in for a potty break and pumping gas. This became REALLY apparent to me when I had waited for a pump to be open, pumped gas, parked, took off the helmet / gloves/1st aid fanny pack, walked over to the potty & waited in line behind 2 other ladies, and then while I’m in line waiting for the ladies' room, I hear the yell “GROUP ONE, 5 MINUTES!” I don’t know if was somebody actually saying it or it was a sarcastic remark, I said “Yeah, RIGHT”, but it was then that I realized that in the scheme of motorcycle group gas stops, it takes a LOT longer for just ONE of you (one of me) to do all the gas stop stuff, do the ‘setter’ thing (which includes pants, belt AND leathers, not to mention all the unmentionables that I just mentioned), put all that shit back on in the correct way, walk back out, yada yada yada. It was ALSO then I felt somewhat disconcerted and embarrassed to see everybody in my group getting on their bikes and plugging in their helmets. Of course I DIDN’T want it to be even CLOSE to being left behind (they wouldn't forget ME, would they? Would they? Sniff) so I hurried up but did forget to do my belt. At least I didn’t forget to do my PANTS. Either way, on the road there’s not a helluva lot you can do about it then. I guess I’m just spoiled rotten by Barry.

NOW the not-so-great stuff...

Here’s the SHORT VERSION:

Felt my riding skills in the curves SUCKED due to some external feedback and some mental feedback. Felt that way for almost a year now.
Was starting to come back to feeling kinda ok about curves, but was still freaking about them.
Double whammy, today’s ride brought up mental anxiety towards curves that had laid Barry out, AND him not going on the ride to help ‘get me past’ this anxiety.
Angst and fear can make you sick, even after the fact.

I lived through it, even rode (I feel) with some style, but am still waiting for the Ibu 800 to kick in to take care of the aftermath. Kinda like a tsunami after an earthquake-there’s still residual STUFF going on.
Below the pictures, the LONG version...

Pictures underneath of the end destination, Mt. Pinos Nordic Base. Also below, the bikes lined up with ONE BIKE NOT ON ITS SIDE ON THE GROUND. Guess whose bike I be referring to?

And below, I hate my smile, but Keith took a nice pic of me. Thanks, Keith, you are now one of the few who can be trusted to actually know how to take a picture without 500 feet of sky above one's head.

THE LONGER VERSION:

For the past 7 months, I had been REALLY REALLY questioning my riding ability, but was kind of coming around now. Ish. A few rides, a few areas, I felt like I was kinda getting better, BUT hadn’t been on the ride that we had been on where I SAW him go down. THIS one. Mt. Pinos. 2008.

THIS ride made me nervous, enough so that I was just trying to maintain some semblance of a ‘person’, a body on a ride. I felt so alone & lonely because Bub wasn’t with me. Lonely and fearful, not a good combo. Others tried to make me feel like I was ok, thank you SO much Terry and Vickie Bishop, and Jim Rawlinson.

I don’t think anyone, really, except Bub knew what I was going through, but THIS time Bub wasn’t going to be there to help me get thru my anxiety. DOUBLE problems.

1. Projecting my memories and shock of those events into my own riding skills, and

2. Apprehension about my own riding down those routes where those events took place.

Anxiety can wreak havoc with your brain, it can make you lose sleep, it can make you doubt your inner riding self-time. I mean, didn’t you ever worry about something SO much that it almost took over? Didn’t you ever worry yourself SICK? Yup. BINGO.

I didn’t get to sleep until 3:15.

I was thinking of NOT going, up until 7:35 AM.

Well, obviously I went. Hence the pictures.

Just as obviously I didn’t have any problems. Part of me would like to find out from an external source how I did on these curves (or maybe I DON’T want to!) I personally think I did ok; ok in that I wasn’t talking myself through them, I was just feeling and doing them. How did I know that? Because I got some NICE lean angle, so nice that I was expecting a floorboard scrape a time or two. When you lean into a curve and you wait for the scrape, and you’re NOT freaked out about that gawdawful metal scrape sound, that tells you somethin’. Somethin’ GOOD is goin’ on.

The anxiety, though, took its toll in the form of a back of the head-ache and upset tummy that made themselves known to me just before going into the restaurant. I KNEW I shoulda stayed outside, but went in, tried to play it safe with tortillas and butter, but after everyone got served and I STILL hadn’t gotten my order, I cancelled it, went outside to the fresh air, drank some water & cleaned my visor and windshield. You KNOW something’s going on with me if I don’t EAT. THAT right there is proof that something strange is going on inside. The other proof is that I took a total of 5 pictures. 5. TOTAL. That’s it. No more. 4 are up there.

Oh, yes, I was injured slightly today, twice: bit my tongue, and broke a nail at the last gas stop.

Next step, I don’t know, but I did bury the idea of selling my bike.