July 23, 2012-

Updated on July 26, with Group Photo taken on the first day.

The day finally arrived to hit the road to the Great White North, Aka Canada.  We all met at Fred and Susan's house and hit the road just after 8: a.m.  Last minute preparations were being done to the bikes as we assembled for a group photo.  Click on all photos to enlarge them

L-R, John and Barbara, Linda and Brian, Carolyn and Mike, Fred and Susan, Terry, Sharon and Steve

"Fred we have to fix this CB.  The world needs to know that call sign "Hambone" is on the interstate.

It was a warm and beautiful morning as we left the Antelope Valley.  Fortunately for us, the sun chose to play hide and seek as it moved between the clouds overhead while we rode.  The result being that temperatures did not get too hot as we descended down Highway 58 into Bakersfield from Tehachapi.  

Once in Bakersfield, it was straight up Highway 99 to Visalia where we took a gas stop and break.  We were greeted by temps approaching 100 degrees by this time and shade was at a premium.  We managed to get all the bikes parked in the shade as we rested.

T-Rice

By the way, if you want to experience the true smells of Bakersfield, the only way to go is on a motorcycle.

We stopped in Clovis for lunch and chance for me to shake some gremlins out of my motorcycle's electrical systems.  A quick disconnect and reconnect of a battery cable reset the bike's electronics and Linda and I were back in the music.

Once we reached Oakhurst, just outside of Yosemite National Park, we turned on to Highway 49, which goes through much of California's gold country and is appropriately named after the gold rush 49er's.

"Hambone" and Carolyn

Fred leading with Terry and Mike close behind.  On Hwy 49 heading to Coulterville

Fred and Susan, with Terry on their tail. on the way to Coulterville.

We stopped and took a break in Coulterville.  It was still fairly hot so we quenched our thirst in the Magnolia Saloon, which calls itself the " Oldest Operating Saloon in California", having been established in 1852.  It is part of the Hotel Jeffrey, which was built in 1850 for stagecoach passengers.  It has burned down and been re-built three times over the years.

It was still so hot here that the kickstands on some of our bikes were sinking into the asphalt, and this was while the bikes were parked in the shade.

Around 6 p.m., we made it to Sonora, California, which is our first overnight stop of the trip. It was a good day on the bikes.  Tomorrow our destination will be the Town of Chester in Northern California.