Disney Land Day 2

Hmmm...  I typed this up once but I guess I did not publish it.  Well, better late than never.

Using the fast pass for the Cars ride was super easy.  And the ride made us feel like we were in the movie!  It was worth the effort!

We rode more rides, including Space Mountain

And many other rides.  Marion wanted to jump on Mr Toads Wild Ride

Then it was time it leave DisneyLand and ride up to Pasadena to see Eric and meet Lulu.  We went out to the Dog Haus for some great burgers (I have simply NEVER been disappointed going out to eat with Eric) and then to bed to try to recuperate from 2 days of solid walking.

Disney Land Day 1

Here is the view from our room.  This is the California Adventure park.

We had a goal today to ride the new Cars ride, but we got in too late to use the fast pass, and I was not prepared to wait 2 hours to ride.  We will try again tomorrow.

Shopping?  Yes, Marion loves to shop and I enjoy shopping with her.  Many souvenirs. I have never really been a Mickey Ears kind of guy.  I enjoyed amusement parks as a youngster.  Theme parks not so much.  But caught up in Marion's excitement, I saw the Fantasia Sorcerers hat (with ears). I could not live without it!  It lights up!

We are tired but looking forward to hitting the parks again tomorrow, then it is out to LA to see my brother Eric and his girlfriend Lulu.  Fun times!

  

Independence Day!

We went down to San Diego for a day of shopping and fireworks.  Karen took us to the Gas Lamp quarter, named for the gas lamps that were installed when 'new town' was built outside old town, the Spanish fort.

I enjoyed the architecture of many of the buildings

We shopped til we were ready to drop, and then took a break in one of the zillion bars and restaurants throughout Gas Lamp.  We listened to live jazz at Croce's which is going to close soon apparently.  We shopped more, ate more, drank more and had a great day people watching.

The news said that San Diego expected 850,000 people to come for the fireworks. There were certainly more people than at the small town fireworks from my childhood, but it was not the crush I had feared.  We probably could have had a better view if we invested more time in camping out all day in a good spot, but we were not sure where that might be.  Turns out it did not matter.  With the multiple points used for the display, everyone could see a portion.  If I stood on tiptoe, I could see the coordinated displays from 3 barges, and more were going off to our left.

Certainly the best display I have ever seen.

I Made It

After the scorcher last night, I went for an early start, setting my alarm for 4:30. 4:15 my eyes opened up. I guess I am still on Ohio time.  At least it cooled down.  When I left at just before 5am, it was 95 degrees.  The gas station was not open yet, but I had a half tank so I got on the highway.  My paranoid mind was stuck on the idea of not making it to the next gas station, but I had a gallon and a half to spare when I did fill up.

The ride was mostly uneventful, other than it getting cooler as I approached the ocean.  My next fill up was at a cash-only gas station.  ?!?!?  Really?  They had an ATM so you could pull out money to pay cash for the gas.  Too weird!

Marion flew in to San Diego yesterday to visit her friend Karen.  When I got in, the three of us toured Oceanside and surrounding communities.  Here are some shots from La Jolla Cove:

A panoramic shot from the pier

Marion is the brunette, Karen is the blonde and I am the chubby one in the middle.

I was Wrong

I made a mistake.  I had previously said that the ride was hot.  I did not know what I was talking about!

I deviated from my original plan and decided to ride in to LA before I go to San Diego.  That way I can say I did the entire Route 66 corridor. I rolled out of the KOA around 8:30. The free breakfast was a disappointment.  Cold cereal.  No matter, I can stop anywhere for human fuel.  It was in the mid 60s when I left.  It got warmer.

I was a little worried about the brush fires but was not sure how close they were to my route.  What can you do?  I rode.

As I crossed from New Mexico in to Arizona, it was getting to be time to fuel up my bike.  There was no missing the first exit because there were 400 billboards proclaiming "Indian City" which apparently has the best blankets and beaded belts.  The state had their sign for gas and food, so I pulled off.  The pancake house looked like it had been closed for ten years, and so too the Armco gas station.  I poked my nose in to the Indian city and in fact they did have nice blankets. $80 was more than I thought they were worth.  At least they had Gatorade (which proved very valuable later)

It was getting warmer.  The next exit had a line of billboards telling me that even cheaper blankets and belts were to be had.  Also, the state gas/food sign.  I pulled off the interstate and in to the gas station-trinket store.  The pumps were cordoned off and the last price they had was $2.87 a gallon. <sigh>

Hey, did you know that blistex in unusable at 103?

I ate some peanut butter crackers at the third exit which actually DID have an operation station.

I rolled through Flagstaff and tried not to let the earlier disappointment color the rest of the day.  I really did enjoy the ride.  It was like I was riding through a road runner cartoon!  But so real and so beautiful.

The heat was still rising and I was drinking great quantities of water.  I frequently pulled over to drink some gator aid and dip my shirt in the cooler water.  It hurt to put it back on but I felt human again for the next ten minutes.

 I began to be concerned about the engine temp.  It was still at normal temp, but I have a trailer with all the aerodynamics of a barn, and i40 is 75mph, with most traffic exceeding that by a bit.  I started to back down the cruise just to be safe.

When I stopped in Kingman Az it was 109.  I guess the brush fires were not too far off.

Fuel up me and the bike and back on the road.  Temp going up. 111. More water.  Wet the shirt again.  Back the cruise down more.  115.  116.  The temp needle moves up above normal.  Now maybe this is normal behavior, but I sure don't like it. I realize my paranoia might be dehydration based so I drink more water.  I am still sweating, which is good.  Getting close to the CA border and I promise myself ill take the first hotel with a pool.  Back the cruise down more.  Pulling up hills at 55 and the temp needle rises again.  117.  Down to 50mph as I cross the ca border.  Now I promise to take any room with a shower!  First one I find is in Needles.  I have had a shower, a change of clothes and a beer.  My bike is in the shade, and it still reads 115, although some of that may be from the engine.  Oh, my iPhone did not like the heat either.  This was when I pulled in to the hotel.  I had to get my camera to take this photo.

Sorry for the bad shot.  I was overheated too.

I am going to do something I don't really relish - I am setting my alarm.  I will turn in early, and roll out around 4 to beat the heat.  But hey, that is 7 eastern, which is the timezone my body is still in.

Marion's plane just landed safe in San Diego.  I get to see her tomorrow so I am happy!

Wow is New Mexico Beautiful!

The ride today was hot. Still pushing water.  I played cat and mouse with a storm system that wet my windscreen a few times, but it was too hot to consider rain gear.

I knew I should have made a left...

Riding through Texas I was in move mode, trying to make time.  When I got to New Mexico I had to stop for some pictures.

And is this a Wile E. Coyote shot?

Stopped at Grants NM with 1923 miles in the trip.  Had to hurry setting up the camper because the storm was threatening.  The rain came, the wind blew and the thunder boomed.  I enjoyed a cold one while I caught up on my organizing.  The tent did not blow down, but I was treated with this view coming out of the tent

That is a pretty good way to wrap up the day!

America's Main Street

Oh, I was looking forward to getting this shot. The Rainbow Arch Bridge.  There are some places where you have to look for the old 66, but this is one of the key icons.  The rest of the day was spent looking for other signs.

I would say that this Skyliner is a good sign.

Restored gas stations - check.  But more than the 'historic' 66 diners and museums, I have enjoyed being off the highway and in the local towns.  Take the minivan out of this small town shot and it could be from any era.

On the ride, I am almost to Texas.  1349 on the tripometer.  HOT ride today.  Pushing water.  Three bottles between each fillup.  I am picking up some Gatorade to keep the electrolytes up.  Had a great evening at the KOA ( near Foss?) visiting with the neighbors and am ready to turn in.  Good fortune will see me to Albuquerque tomorrow.