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NorCal/SoCal ride 2011

:cheer::cheer:Congratulations Nate, Momma, and Layla!!!!!:cheer::cheer::rockon:
 
LMAO! My male dog does this too! What's up with that? But really I wish we (females) could do that!

Except for squirrel dodging, glad you all made it home safe.

And I think I'll be putting California on the "to see list"!

It looks like this will be a yearly event, if you want come out to do it with us. Of coarse there is great riding here in SoCal all year round so when you have the inclination and time, give a shout and we'll do any number of great rides out here. This was my first time for Angeles National Forest/ Angeles Crest and I'll do it again soon. Wow! What a great trip!
 
Congrats and many rep points to your wife, not too many women would probably be allowing any guys going off on a riding adventure like we just did when they are just weeks away.

Yes, what timing.
 
Yeah so, just had a baby! Layla is 23 hours premature but she is doing great.

Made it home with the cords showing on my rear. Actually, made it to the hospital...had to come straight here. I was 40 miles away when i got the news. Made it here with a few minutes to spare b4 my wife needed my help.

Just ordered some food...need to take a shower and maybe get to go to sleep in a couple hours.

Wow

DUDE!!!! lol that's crazy sh*t!!! CONGRATULATIONS TO BOTH ANGELA AND YOU!

I can't believe the timing... I guess this was your last multi-day ride for a while now, good thing you got it in "just in time" :rockon:

All the best...
 
Just some random notes while I can still remember them...

- As stated by others every element of this weekend went as planned, which has never happened on any group ride I've ever been on. Everyone showed up on time at each meeting spot. The group was able to thin out during the twisty bits and would catch up without delay. Nobody had any ego or attitude problems to bring the group down so conversations were fantastic whenever we stopped.

- The great "Carmageddon" event here in Los Angeles did not pan out as the media had hoped for, but it made traffic conditions perfect for those who were on the roads. No traffic of any significance at any point, No CHP presence on ACH at all, although we still kept the speed down and followed all of the rules of the road through that notorious section. And we were able to commute back from the upper San Fernando Valley back to Orange County with less than 1 mile of traffic splitting. I have lived here all of my life and haven't seen traffic like this on a non-holiday in 25 years.

- You may notice in the pictures that Jerry, Cliff and I are wearing Hi-Vis orange vests. I thought up a way to keep a clear distinction of leading and trailing riders that everyone would recognize. With large groups it can be difficult for the lead rider to tighten up on the fly without counting helmets or having the trail rider speed up to the front to indicate all is good. With the matching vests, the leading rider simply slows the pace until he sees the sweeper show up in back, then continues on his way. For the trailing rider, he can be confident that he has caught up, and anyone within the pack knows they can fade back if they want to slow their pace without worry of being left behind. It seemed to work well.

- The fuel challenge went as I expected. I saw 63.3 MPG for the first 100 mile section, best of the group. HOWEVER...it was close as both Defy and Vegas also saw about 60 MPG for this same section, surprising them as to how efficient a FZ6 can be when ridden at steady (but quick) speeds and higher altitudes.

- Weather was perfect. Meals were perfect, especially the Grizzly Cafe in Wrightwood. The food is well prepped and tasty at a good price, but the service continues to excel. They were full when we showed up and stated it would take about 25 minutes to accommodate us. The waitress took our orders on separate checks without asking, and the owner and his wife assisted in getting our food served as quick as they could. It was awesome, they appreciate the motorcycle crowds as that's what pays the bills.

- Another ride yesterday with the NoCal guys on their way out of town. Racebrooks, Vegasrider and I stayed with them thru Moorpark, Santa Paula and Ojai up CA-33 until we reached the junction with Lockwood Valley Road. They went their way (which appears to be epic) and we headed back towards Frazier Park. It rocked!

This was the best FZ6 group ride to date, and I appreciate the wonderful compliments from all of you. I really enjoy planning this event each time, and I know that the payoff is the great conversations we have when we sit down at the end of the day to recap.

Ok, so where do we ride next time??? I am already thinking about routes, and next year will include a BBQ at my home for the group meal.
 
Hey John (Jerry):

When we rode out of Wrightwood, a few miles down the road there was a really big left-hander, like a 200º turn. I can't seem to find this turn on the map...I was going to look at it again on the satellite view in Google...
 
Congrats Nate! Who'd a thought that after saying our farewells in Hollister your next stop would be at the hospital to help deliver your new baby daughter. :rockon:
For you this was a truly epic ride weekend...:D

Working on videos and pics today, can't wait to see what recorded. Ride report will be forthcoming soon. In the meantime I want to everyone who came on the ride this year and who came to the dinner on Friday night. I think that is was even more epic than last year and I didn't think that could surpass last years event.

A huge, huge shout out to John for planning and facilitating this ride, it went flawlessly and as John has already stated everyone was awesome to ride with. And thanks to John and David for showing me the lines through ACH what a spectacular road.:thumbup:
 
Thanks, y'all.

23 days, not hours, right?

No, 23 hours. But I can see how that could be easily misunderstood so I'll explain. She was due August 16th so she came over four weeks early. However, July 19th would have marked 36 weeks which is considered full term. She was 23 hours short of hitting the 36 week mark so she is considered a premature baby and has therefore been placed under observation. She is perfectly healthy, just need to make sure she stays that way.

Sorry to threadjack...I rode my motorcycle to the hospital and ran through the halls without even taking my helmet off so this is sorta on topic.

I will post pics from the ride at some point soon....clearing my card to make room for more baby pics now.
 
Thanks, y'all.


Sorry to threadjack...I rode my motorcycle to the hospital and ran through the halls without even taking my helmet off so this is sorta on topic.

.

So will you have pics holding your newborn in full gear? That would have to be a first if you managed to do that.
 
Hey John (Jerry):

When we rode out of Wrightwood, a few miles down the road there was a really big left-hander, like a 200º turn. I can't seem to find this turn on the map...I was going to look at it again on the satellite view in Google...

This one has to be it, everyone remembers going through for the first time:
Google map link
 
Yup, I remember that corner very well. :thumbup:

Did some preliminary viewing of the GoPro footage, and although my technical video skills were a little lacking this weekend, I did get some shaky footage of ACH after Wrightwood with Nate, Kenny, David and John in front of me.
My wife was looking over my shoulder while I was previewing the footage and after a couple of minutes she said it looked like we were going rather fast. :eek:
I reminded her of her pointing out to me not long ago that yellow speed signs are only a "recommendation" for the speed for corners and not the actual speed limit, so I was freed on a technicality since we were probably close or slightly over the actual speed limit in the corners. :BLAA:
 
This is how the evening ended...sitting in a bar at the Courtyard watching a high-speed pursuit on the telly and having some adult beverages..

picture.php

And... racebrooks and I got talked into escorting these idiots out of town tomorrow. Another long day in the saddle!

You can read all about it here:
Wild 3-Hour Police Pursuit Ends On The Grapevine « CBS Los Angeles
 
This one has to be it, everyone remembers going through for the first time:
Google map link

I remember when John and I were taking a break on the parking lot which is on the inside of that turn and suddenly heard a big crash.... details here: http://www.600riders.com/forum/usa-pacific/18619-man-down-angeles-crest-highway.html

Another video which includes that very specific turn (end of the video) and 2 FZ6s... [ame=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VAEcSfXzoKE]‪Two FZ6s on Angeles Crest Highway 3/22/08‬‏ - YouTube[/ame]

As you can tell, I am thrilled to be at work today :D
 
Yeah so, just had a baby! Layla is 23 hours premature but she is doing great.

Made it home with the cords showing on my rear. Actually, made it to the hospital...had to come straight here. I was 40 miles away when i got the news. Made it here with a few minutes to spare b4 my wife needed my help.


Wow

Nate,

Congratulations to you and your wife on your new baby girl, Layla. If life imitates art, Layla will have you on your knees, Laaaayyla.....

Best wishes

Randy
 
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