D2D Day 1 Santa Clarita, CA to Grants Pass, OR - 650 Miles

Greetings from the road Friends and Family,

Lane Greenberg and I are finally off on our latest motorcycle adventure to Dawson City, Yukon Territory and points north of the Arctic Circle, after several months of preparation and planning. Leaving Santa Clarita this morning at zero dark thirty, we have already violated two of our basic rules for successful cross-country motorcycle riding. First, we're not riding. We're trailering our two Kawasaki KLR 650 motorcycles to Olympia, WA, where our 5,000 plus mile ride will actually commence. Secondarily, we had lunch at In-n-Out Burger along Interstate 5 today. Our routine is to never eat fast food on our rides. But, if you have ever had the pleasure, or misfortune, of traversing the length of California on Interstate Five, then you know the choices are Jack-in-the Box, Taco Bell, Carl's Junior, Green Burrito or In-n-Out Burger (Harris Ranch not withstanding).

We had clear skies and fair weather all day thanks to a 20 knot headwind right on the nose significantly impacting gas mileage, as one might expect. Why is it always a head wind? Disregard, it's a rhetorical question.

In an effort to keep the honest people honest while parking the truck, trailer and motorcycles, I removed my side-mounted one gallon gas can and locked it in the truck. Unfortunately, the rubber pad that I had secured between the mount and the gas can with indoor double back tape to preclude the heads of the mounting screws from punching holes in the bottom of the plastic gas can, departed the motorcycle somewhere along the Grapevine, adios. Indoor tape John? Really!

Our original goal for the evening was Redding, CA, but we arrived at 2:30 pm and elected to push on arriving in Grants Pass about 5:00 pm, clocking 650 miles today. After looking at some 500 miles of San Joaquin Valley farm and pasture land for hours on end, approaching Lake and Mount Shasta was a welcome change. I've never seen the lake so full; it absolutely was beautiful.

We enjoyed a nice supper in Grants Pass and walked over to the local Wal Mart where I purchased a color coordinated red plastic placement for one dollar, which I brought back to the hotel and promptly fashioned into a new gas can pad, secured with out-door double back tape. Improvisation is the key to a successful trip.
Tomorrow we are off to Olympia,WA where we will store the truck and trailer and and begin our three-week motorcycle journey in earnest.

Please stay tuned.