SMSoCal

2006 Ride

April 8, 2006

SMSoCal2006 Trip Report

It took forever to come together, and then it was over in a flash! But we had a great day of riding and the weather was perfect, you just couldn't ask for more!

The thought of this ride came about because Lynn and Ye were not able to host their yearly SMAZ this year. Something that Dave and I were looking forward to for some time since we wanted to try out our new bikes on some long runs! Because there was no SMAZ, I thought why not just host a ride here in SoCal? I floated the idea by Dave, who was all for it. Then I asked my dear wife if she would be up to it and she said "ah, yeah, sure, I guess", I then told her Diane was coming down and that made things better    (-:

So I started things in motion by saying something on SoCal Sabmag list and it was greeted with enthusiasm.  I set up the route in a very short time, because I had been over the roads, I knew what would be a good ride for the day.

Dave, Shawn and Diane met me in San Bernardino at my office on Friday. It was about 5:30pm, so I met them out at my bike (I had the V65 Sabre with me) and then I took them away from the major traffic (not that we didn’t hit a little leaving Redlands) and our last 25 miles was actually part of our ride. (From Gillman Springs to home)

The group (or should I say “Groups”) met at my place. Of course, Dave stayed with me, so we had his and my ST1300’s, Shawn and Diane showed up from their hotel on their ST1100. Pete, on a V65 Sabre brought Terry on a V65 Magna, Bill on his FJR1300, Mike D. on a VF1000, Rand on a Kaw 1200, Mike D’s Friend (never got the name) on one of Mike’s VF1000 and Gary on his V65 Magna (that he had just gotten running a couple of days earlier) with him. Then Pete Harper on his ST1100 showed up with Roger on his FJR1300. My son, Bobby (riding my old V45 Sabre) and his brother-in-law Eric on a Suzi SV650.

Pete and his group took off just a few minutes to 10, for their romp through the desert and up Palomar Mountain. The rest of the group that was following me were ready to ride a few minutes after 10.

We started at my house, wound around a couple of tracks of homes and headed north on SR79 to Domenigoni Hwy, then a left at Warren Road and a right at Ramona Expressway. Along Warren road are a number of chicken farms and dairy farms. Needless to say, Dave couldn’t stop complaining about the barnyard smells, like those that he had to put up with coming down 99. (-:  Twenty-Five miles later, we stopped at the Mobil Station at Ramona Expressway and SR79. We stopped there for gas and to pick up a Pashnit rider and his wife, Bob and Dorothy Farmer on a FJR1300.  

Once gassed up with Bob joining us, we made the left on Hwy 79 north and went a couple of miles to Gilman Springs Road were we took a left and headed northwest.

Gillman Springs is about 10 miles of farmland (as in more dairy farms) and a shallow lake on the left and GREEN foothills on the right. We followed Gillman Springs to SR60 Freeway, where we headed east through Beaumont (where the SR60 runs into I10) and continued east on I10 until we came to the SR243 turnoff at Banning.

Instead of turning right and following SR243 up the hill, I had decided that we needed to take a break at the Chevron Station. My thoughts were to gas up there, but anyone that needed gas had gassed up at the Mobil station, 25 miles back. We took our break, but since no one was gassing up, nor drinking anything, I figured why not go over to the mural that Dave and I had found a few years ago and get a group shot there.

Just as we were pulling away and getting ready to turn left at the light, here comes Terri on a V45 Magna, Tom on a V65 Magna, Dennis on his VMax, Lief on a new to him BMW and Mike S. on a old (77 or 78) BMW. What timing! We couldn’t have timed it better!  I had Bob Farmer (since he knew where the mural was) take the group over to the mural while I met Terri and Tom while they gassed up and then lead them to the rest of the group.  What I wasn’t counting on was Banning was having a Art festival of some sort, but we were lucky, there was only a couple of cars in the parking lot blocking the mural, so we were still able to get a group shot.

Our bike count went from 7 to 12 bikes. After getting a few group shots, I decided that 12 bikes was too much for me to watch from the front, so I asked Bob F, if he would mind leading the second group. Even though we all went up the hill together, I was relieved to know that someone was watching the rear.

The road up to Idyllwild was clear for a good portion of it. Dennis, Leif and Mike S. all took off and decided to play, but the rest of us resisted and just followed me up the hill, which was good, because we had three new riders with us, (Bobby, Eric and Gary), so once we hit the snow level, with all the water and sand being all over the road, we had to take it extra easy through a number of places on the north side. But once through Idyllwild, we got to the south side and the roads were fairly clear.  We had a real nice ride up and through Idyllwild, but we didn’t stop there for lunch. We continued on to SR74 and rode another 20 miles to a little café that Bob Farmer knew about where the 74 and 371 meet.  The café, called “Paradise Corner Café” was a great spot to stop for lunch. Their food was excellent and I don’t think any one went away hungry. I need to keep that place filed away for the next time I’m in the area!  (-: After eating, Terri, Tom, Gary and Eric all headed back by going down the 371 towards Temecula.

SR74 actually starts back at the coast in Orange County as Ortega Hwy, but we jumped on it just outside of Idyllwild. And is it ever a fantastic road since it has lots of curves, straights and everything in between.  This portion we were on, goes through Mountain Center, and then after passing SR371, it starts down hill to Palm Desert. Now before you come to Palm Desert, there is an overlook where you can see forever and see the road below, winding back and forth several times before straitening out going into Palm Desert. So we stopped there and chatted a bit and took pictures. When we were ready to leave, Bob and Dorothy had to head back, so I’m sure they went back SR74 and took it all the way to Hemet, while the rest of us started down the hill to Palm Desert.

Once we were in Palm Desert, I started looking for a gas station. I know there were some there someplace, I just couldn’t see them from the main road. We followed that road, which seemed like forever until we finally found a Mobil station!    Yeah!  Break time. Everyone gassed up and we took a good 30 to 45 minute break.

Our intentions were to turn around and head back up SR74 to SR371. From SR371 and work our way back to our place by 4pm. So much for plans. It was already after 4pm and Chris and Bobby didn’t want any more mountain roads. So Dennis and Mike S. decided to go back that route, while the rest of us took off for the freeway. What my wife and son did not know about was that there is always WIND, VERY STRONG winds, going across I10 through Palm Springs. And boy did we get hit by it! I think I either got a few bruised or broken ribs from Chris hanging on so tight!…;-)

So by now, we were down to myself & Chris, Dave, Bobby, Shawn & Diane and then Lief. After getting wind blown on I10, I decided we needed a little break so when we got to SR79 in Beaumont, we took a 20 minute or so break. We then took SR79 across the mountains into Hemet/San Jacinto and then retraced our path on the first part of our ride (Dave complaining about the barnyard smells again…;-). By the time we got back to the house Dennis and Mike were waiting for us. They ahd been there for about ten minutes, so if we wouldn’t have stopped, we would have beaten them by at least ten minutes. But I’m sure all were glad we stopped.

So, we had our little BBQ for those that decide to come back, Dennis, Lief, Mike S., Shawn & Diane, Dave, Bobby and Chris & I and my other son, Brett (who was doing most of the cooking). We had enough for twice as many that showed, but that was okay, nobody went home hungry. 

Dennis and Lief left around 9:30pm and Shawn & Diane and Mike S. left a little after 10pm.  Sunday morning, Shawn & Diane came to get Dave, so after breakfast, I decide to show them where Chaparral was located in San Bernardino. I’m sure they were wondering where I was taking them at first, because I went up SR79 to Leon Rd, then Scott Rd to the 215 north. At Chaparral Shawn & Diane looked at the new bikes, Dave did a little shopping I did a little looking at helmets until I saw that Shawn & Diane were back at the bikes ready to go.

We took off and went to the Shell station were we had gassed up the year before on our way to SMAZ 2005. I said my good-byes and off we all went, Dave Shawn & Diane heading north and I was heading south and to home, arriving about an hour later.

What a fantastic weekend, everyone seemed to have a great time and I was sure glad we were able to hook up with everyone at one point or another. And this ride alone, we met a number of new folks! I want to thank all those that came with us for this little ride and tell all those that decided not to come, that you missed on heck of a great ride! Who knows, I just might have to do that again sometime!  (-: 

See all the pictures: SM SoCal Ride Pictures