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| Balloons over Yuma |
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| After riding through the Imperial Dunes, cruised by El Centro, at several miles below Sea Level, we climbed up the Mountains West on I-8. First stop of the ride is the Desert Tower. |
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| 4 levels of interesting "stuff" then on up to an observation area. You can see everything on the first floor for free, but to go on up to other levels, or to take the outside stroll through rocks and scary things, you have to pay $6.50. I was thinking I'd probably seen enough, but being the Gentleman that he is, Lanny had already paid for 2 tickets. What at guy. It also came with a quarter from the Docent to use in the telescope. He gave me the quarter, but I did share it with Lanny. |
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| Swiss Army Bike. Pretty cool, and in a condition that would be easy to restore to original. If you cold find parts. Asking price reduced to $4800. Would have probably been less if they removed all the Swiss Army Knives from the Saddlebags. |
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| This is the source of the Eerie sounds in the night |
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| This guy just arrived in one of the UFOs down the street |
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| Not exactly an antique |
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| This would be my room of choice of rooms on a cold winter night |
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| I should remember who this is, but the name has slipped my mind. But I like the picture |
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| I was trying to figure out how they got this heavy desk up to the 3rd level. duh...Lanny showed me how it easily was broken down to 4 or 5 parts. |
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| We made it to the top, first thing I saw was these 3 large dogs out playing. This is a max zoom. |
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| Solor Panels on top of a nicely painted building. "Been ridin so long...Singing the same ol' song" |
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| We'll be up close to these pretty soon |
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| Badlands of California. And Interstate 8 |
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| CHP patiently waiting to nail someone. |
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| Several outbuilding and living areas down there. We saw a few young men, a few very little kids, but no ladies of any age. |
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| Yep! Our bikes are still there. Well, Lanny's bike. My little Scooter. |
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| Zoomed in with my phone |
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| One of 2 entrances to the Tower |
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| Hard to read, but tells about the tower. |
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| Entry to the caverns |
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| Gate Guard |
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| Lanny braved the higher levels. I think he went up there to look for a better sell phone signal |
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| One of the Dentists from South of the Border should come over and work on these teeth |
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| Another greeter |
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| Toe Tower looks a lot smaller from over here |
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| It worked! He's on line! |
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| Creepy thing in bushes |
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| We had a good time exploring. Was easier to get up than it was to come down |
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| Ready to saddle up |
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| Cacti of many kinds |
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| Our neighbor Craig has been looking for a nice pull trailer. This would be perfect! |
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| A red UFO along with the other stuff here |
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| I mentioned on Facebook, that John (Coyote) finally gave up on the Dallas Cowboys. He came out here, and opened up this thriving business. |
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| Lanny probably talking to his motorcycle. He had to buy an iPhone to control it. That's not a joke, it really works that way! |
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| Late breakfast in a very nice old restaurant |
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| I turned down the beans, rice and tortillas. Pretty boring, but it tasted good |
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| Needed gas. California is a shocker at the station. |
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| Expensive. But...not real good either... |
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| Perkins Store |
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| Makes up almost the whole town. |
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| After a brisk ride up Highway 73, we arrive in Julian, CA |
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| We have had several ride destinations that have ended here. A favorite VROC pie place |
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| Not just Apple, but all kinds of pies. |
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| Lanny talking Gold Wings with a Cowboy |
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| We like this place too |
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| We just realized that if we dallied around any longer, it would be very dark by the time we got to our destination. |
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| Julian street |
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| Many, many, shops of all kinds |
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| Even horse and buggy rides |
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| Time to boogie out of here. |
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| A stop down near Santa Ysabel at the Mission |
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| Beautiful Fall Day |
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| 650 cc of Rolling Thunder |
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| This well known place is closed for remodeling |
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| All the facilities you might need |
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| We were a little late for the wedding |
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| Lanny thinks we're at the site of this old store |
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| This is were I lost to sock from my mic. Still worked all right for the rest of the trip |
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| Henshaw Lake |
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| Birds |
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| We're here! Lanny's Sister, Sheri, and husband, Ken have been waiting for us. A beautiful home, and the Rib eyes were delicious! |
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| Evening around the pool |
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| Ken at his outside kitchen |
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| A gardener's cottage in the back |
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| Lanny and Sheri catching up on the news |
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| The next morning, after close to 80 miles of a couple busy freeways, we arrived West of Simi Valley at the Ronald Reagan Library |
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| Entry to the very large facility |
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| He was a good man |
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| Lanny and Ron |
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| Feeling very Patriotic |
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| Didn't know what to expect, but was pleasantly surprised at the huge variety of exhibits and stories we saw and heard. |
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| Oval office. All the Docents were excellent speakers and told true stories about all these areas. |
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| Part of the Oval Office. This is an exact replica |
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| One of the several examples of Nancy's actual dresses. Most of the displays explain where she work each of the outfits |
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| REALLY good pilot! Flew Air Force 1 in here, flaps down, slam on brakes, and here it is! |
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| This airplane really gets my heart beating, just being near and inside it. |
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| Kawasaki escort bikes. |
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| A large room with White House trees from many decades |
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| Entrance to AF 1 |
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| Welcome aboard, Mr. President |
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| Offices, electronice, press room, a suite with bed. Very functional. We were told of some of the interesting things that had taken place in these rooms on the plane. |
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| New Police BMW that led Reagan's funeral parade |
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| Marine 1 |
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| Reagan's Limo. Well built car |
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| Marine 1 Cockpit |
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| Engine intake |
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| Loud pipes save lives! |
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| Large sections of the Berlin Wall, Lanny crawled through several of them, and popped out here. |
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| Lanny ran the legs off this pony! |
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| From the North side of the Complex. Smoke from California Fires |
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| The South Lawn |
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| Fine Dinner Sheri had waiting for us. Another battle with Las Angeles traffic. Either Fast, or Stopped. And some lane splitting. Was very glad to get off the scooter tonight! |
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| They do everything together. Even wiping up a coffee spill. |
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| Gracious Host and Hostess, And just very nice people. Was a real treat meeting them. |
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| Brothers-in-Law |
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| The last "Goodbyes" for this trip |
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| Well know biker hangout. But, they don't open until late morning |
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| I remember gong by Cooks Corner years ago, but the streets have all changed a lot. Nothing looks familiar |
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| On Highway 94, East of San Diego a ways, is this little town. We've been on Old highway 80 for awhile. Several very small communities, Perfect weather, lots of fun things to see. Lanny polished off a couple of huge tacos here. I had some excellent coffee. |
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| Free Birds |
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| Transportation Museum. Closed |
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| We've been following the border most of the morning. Here's a section of the Wall. |
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| Border Patrol vehicle sitting on a high place, watching the wall |
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| The White complex is in Mexico. Big house. |
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| Lanny says he found a trail that illegals use. He's checking it out. |
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| More wall pictures |
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| This bridge goes over a wash on Historic Highway 80 |
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| RR tracks look like they haven't been used for awhile |
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| The town that I-8 bypassed |
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| Nice place |
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| Hot Springs |
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| A school |
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| Almost ready to jump back on I-8 for the Blast home. |
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| One of Lanny's pictures |
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| That's it for this trip. We're going to plan another one soon. But...There WON'T be any Gridlock lane splitting! I'm too old for that any more. Thanks Lanny. And Sheri and Ken. it was all good. Especially your coffee! |
