A Mexican Misadventure

So I had this great idea:  after I picked up the bike from the mechanic, I would take a ride down to the Mexican border.  When I eventually hit the Canadian border in Glacier National Park, I can say that I have ridden across the U.S.  I know, south to north isn't as impressive, but this country is built in 2 dimensions, goddammit!  We have an X and a Y axis in these parts!  

Anyhow, I head south from the northern suburb of Santee.  There is actually a direct route down to the border from there.  I needed to familiarize myself with riding on California Freeways anyway and I was pretty intimidated to begin with.  I started to acclimate about 30 miles in and by the end of the ride was cutting across lanes like a native.  I hit the end of 125, which is about a mile north of the border, and everything is under construction.  There are detours in both directions and signage is either nonexistent or just plain wrong.  

I saw a sign for the border crossing and I went for it.  Keep in mind, this is in rush hour traffic.  Right when you would want to be muddling about in unfamiliar areas on a newly rebuilt motorcycle.  I flew down the on ramp and right at the end of the ramp is the sign "Next Exit: Mexico".  Ah, crap.  I came to a screeching halt, flipped a U turn right there and took off up the landscaping on the side of the on ramp.  I rode the wrong way right up the landscaping and the shoulder.  I guess this happens often because there was the equivalent of a dirt bike track through the brush.  

As close as I could get without doing anything else stupid

Having escaped potential detainment and guaranteed embarrassment I took off through the detours again trying to find a good place to take a picture.  I ended up finding a brand new housing development just north of the border wall.  This complex is as south as you can get without actually living in Mexico.  I was entertaining myself with mental images of tunnels and the theme song from "Weeds".  Having had enough excitement for one day, I headed back up to Mira Mesa for Chicken Paprikash with Dumplings!  It was my next to final meal with my hosts and it exceeded all expectations.

Stuffed to the gills and ready to roll

I was planning on saying my goodbyes that night and sneaking out the next morning, hopefully not disturbing Tim, Liz or the kids.  Liz nixed that plan with an offer of Pancakes and Eggs for breakfast.  I graciously conceded to her demands.  It wouldn't be polite to turn down fresh brewed coffee, pancakes with real syrup and panfried eggs.  Don't want to be rude, you know.  Liz and the kids saw me off in style!

I don't have many pictures from the first leg of the trip.  I took I-15 northeast to get on the eastern edge of LA.  In general I was cruising along but it was stop and go for ten miles before every Freeway Interchange.  When I hit northeastern LA, I took 215 due west and cut back to I-5 north.  This was all freeway, which is not conducive to stopping and smelling the high octane, diesel laced roses.  Next stop was Highway 166, which should count as the official beginning.  From here on out, I took state routes and highways all the way to Idaho.  I was planning on stopping at New Cuyama for the evening and camp there butNew Cuyama was only 250 miles from San Diego and it was still early afternoon.  That, and there was nothing there.  

New Cuyama's Tourist Attraction

Just west of New Cuyama you leave the desert plain and wind through the hills all the way to Santa Maria.  It is an absolutely beautiful ride and was just a taste of what Highway One was going to be like.  I blew through San Luis Obispo, though in hindsight I should have stayed with Tracy.  My bad.  I was eating up the miles and even more importantly, I could smell the ocean!

350 miles from San Diego, I find the ocean again

I found the ocean again in Cayucos, 350 miles from San Diego.  The coastline is gorgeous, and easily 20 degrees cooler than the desert east of LA.  Cayucos is a pretty little beach town.  I took a break and contemplated the pier.  It was under repairs and had a crane out on the end of it.  I couldn't help but wonder how well that had been thought out. 

Sunset in San Simeon over Highway One

At this point, I was rolling the miles in like crazy.  I didn't want to stop.  I blew through San Simeon with the intention of "I will just make it to the next town."  I hit the next town and I just kept going.  About two miles past Ragged Point, the highway started to turn into the famous, winding roadway of Big Sur.  I had ridden 450 miles that day, it was dusk, and this was not going to happen.  To add insult to injury, I came across a sign that stated "No Camping Off the Highway for the Next 72 Miles".  I called it quits for the night and backtracked to San Simeon.  They had a row of cheap motels with lodging available.  I managed to weasel a decent rate from the Motel 6.  While I was checking in, a lady ran in and demanded to know if the pool was heated.  With a completely straight face, the front desk clerk replied "No it isn't.  I am told it is very...refreshing."  I lost it and she left in a huff.  Not the right clientele anyway.

Not a bad beach for the No Tell Motel

All told, the first day I logged 480 miles, 30 of those being the backtrack from Big Sur.  I survived the freeways, made it to Highway One, and saw Elephant Seals!  It was a great day to start off an amazing trip.