Day Twenty Four - Sacramento to Santa Claria

Day 24 – June 29, 2008

On the final day of our 6,700 mile motorcycle journey to Alaska and back, we departed Sacramento at 0900 hours and headed south on Interstate 5 through the San Joaquin Valley. The temperature was a comfortable 75 degrees.

California’s Interstate 5 is a great freeway for making good time, as it’s posted at 70 mph for the most part, and it bypasses nearly every town, hamlet and village in the state, with exception of only the largest cities. We were driving about 75 mph and were still being passed by just about every vehicle on the road except for the largest semi-trucks and motor homes.

I have to tell you, Huell Houser will never do a California’s Gold feature on Interstate 5, nor will Fodors ever publish a travel guide for the route. It’s just plain boring, mile after mile, unless you are an agricultural aficionado where you are excited about watching grape vines, corn, cotton and rice growing. It is however California’s food belt and we’re lucky to have it.

As the afternoon wore on, the temperature surpassed the one hundred degree mark. Fortunately, the smoke of the previous day had dissipated to a typical San Joaquin Valley summer afternoon haze.

It’s important to understand that on long motorcycle rides, especially on hot afternoons, you can become incredibly dehydrated at an amazing rate. You just can’t seem to drink enough water to overcome it. There are now food servers from here to Alaska and back wondering how four people can possibly go through so many pitchers, not glasses, of water at a single sitting.

Just about the time we were ready to wilt from the heat we arrived at Harris Ranch, like an oasis in the desert, where we sought cool refuge and a fine lunch in the hotel dining room. The Harris Ranch facility itself is strictly first cabin, but the location is strongly announced miles away by one’s olfactory sense. The stock yards are way too close and the one hundred degree steer manure is not something to soon be forgotten.

The last 150 miles over the Grape Vine pass was its usual hectic pace trying to avoid being run over by the semi-trucks, motor homes, and travelers suffering from the typical Sunday afternoon “got-to-get-home-itis” syndrome. We arrived in Santa Clarita at 1700 hours (5:00 PM) to warm but clear skies. We snapped a couple of quick arrival photos and thirty minutes later I was soaking in the spa with a cold one.

It’s difficult to say goodbye to friends that you have just spent 24 hours a day with over the past 24 days, but I’m happy to report that after three weeks of riding 6,700 miles together, four days and 1,500 miles on the ferry together, and 72 meals together, we’re still all friends and looking forward to another ride together.

I would be remiss if I didn’t give special recognition to Sylvia, the Highway Princess, and our only female rider. While the Three Amigos motored along on their full-dress Electra-glides with built-in windshields, full bat-wing and lower fairings, hard saddle bags and tour packs, radios & CD players, and cruise control managing the throttle chores, Sylvia rode the 6,700 miles on her “Harley Low Rider” with only a windshield, soft saddle bags and a Nano I-Pod to keep her company. And, although she was chilled to the bone on at least three occasions, she never complained about anything. I even overheard her say to one of the several people we met on the road who was interested in our journey, "that riding in the rain almost everyday isn’t so bad.” We are very proud of Sylvia. Way to go Highway Princess, glad to have you along!

And, thanks to you to all of you who logged on and followed our journey. Your comments were appreciated and we hope you enjoyed our commentary and photos.

Until then, “Ride Safe.” (I know, it’s grammatically incorrect, but it’s a universally understood salutation by bikers everywhere.)

Sincerely,

“The Horck”