I've rode some miles the past few days. I rode with many more cars that I would like too. I also went through some stunning country, starting with the Napa Valley.
I didn't take many pictures in Napa. I just drank in the scenery instead. I stopped by one winery called
Madonna Estate. (No relation to the singer)
I didn't sample any wine. To tell you the truth, it was more of a bathroom break then wine stop. It's harvest time so I did see them crushing grapes and filling vats of wine.
I met a nice elderly man who worked there. He was from "The Old Country" of Italy. He was very nice and colorful. He worked at the winery a couple days a week. He was the kind of person you might expect at a small winery. Best I can explain right now. I loved his accent.
After Napa, I rode through the Bay Area mess. I do not want to do that again. I rode in that traffic for about 3 hours. Correction...stopped and started in that traffic that is. Some of it was fine...but most was like one big traffic jam. Many cars...all over the place. I did not have a safe feeling.
Even motorcyclists were crazy. I had at least 3 ride right by me in MY OWN LANE. I started to think that this must be a Bay Area thing and acceptable. To me no. Then a California State Patrolmen on a motorcycle did it to me. NO JOKE. He waved as he went by in the typically motorcycle friendly way. Traffic was very bad at the time but not so bad and to ride by me in my lane. (Is it ever?) I will have to inquire with some of my San Fran riders to see if this has become appropriate. (Update: I found out that this acceptable and some how by law motorcycles are allowed to share lanes like this. I like having my space quite frankly.)
Anyway, I gave up about 70 miles short of my goal. Around 630pm PT, I got caught in a 7 mile backup because of construction and I seriously could of walked faster. After an hour, I got fed up with this so I rode down the emergency lane, (Only maybe a tenth of a mile) to the next exit and got a motel room in Merced, CA.
Today I made up those lost miles and much more.
I continued to ride south on RT 99 to Bakersfield, CA. Anyone traveling, try a different road. 99 is flat...boring...and there just isn't much to see.
Next I hit Rt 58 East and then the scenery really picked up. I saw alot of rolling hills, windmills and started to get into the desert.
Rt-58 turned into I-40 and I began to see serious rattlesnake country.
When the scenery changes so dramatically, I really enjoy the ride. That's probably one of the reasons I didn't stop after it got dark.
I bypassed the Mojave National Park, because I really didn't have time to get in there and out. Besides...I was enjoying the ride too much to get off the road.
I did almost turn off here though...Classy name for a road.I wound up in Needles, California tonight. This is on the Arizona border.
Tomorrow I am heading to Flagstaff, AZ. I might head north to the Grand Canyon from there but I am tempted to just ride around Flagstaff. I hear it is quite pretty. Tomorrow will tell. It is another day.
