Date: Sat, 1 Jul 2000 23:33:58 -0700 (PDT) From: Kathy Gill Reply-To: kathy@motogrrl.com Subject: Day One : Stumble out of the gate To: wetleather@micapeak.com Status: RO Am fed and ready for bed in Ashland. My first 500 mile day. The time spent at Rich's tweaking the seat was well spent. It fits great. The day started with my waking up to hear rain. Wondering what time it is. Looking at the clock - OH SHIT. 5:30 am. I'm supposed to leave the house at 5:45. Gonna be late - wish I had a cell phone number to call and advise of my tardiness. Get to Dennys at Southcenter at 6:25 -- just before the gang (3 couples) of BMW riders was ready to depart without me. It's cold; my vest is in the compression sack with my "cold weather clothes." I content myself with warm gloves, which I thankfully pulled *out* of the compression sack last night. Down to Centralia (Chehalis? The one with the outlets) for breakfast at the family restaurant place on the corner. OB WetFood: DON'T order scrambled eggs there. They taste like they're made with sour milk. They come pre-packaged in a milk carton thingie. Omeletts, pancakes and sunny side/over easy are all OK. Gas up. Mercedes tips over her new F650. Ouch. Bag clasp breaks. Turn off bike, pull bungee cords out of pack. Bungee bag on. Get on bike. Who gave me the warning last night? The one about not doing anything to your bike's gear just prior to a big trip? BAH. You jinxed me. ;-) Bike won't start. No Power. No Lights. Nada. [what is it about me and bike electrics?] PULL everything off bike. Check all fuses; none are blown. Turn key; power. Magic. Maybe the 30 amp master was loose? [no, this happened one more time today - stopped on I5 for traffic accident. repeat/wash. call herb from Roseburg - ask if I should disconnect the old brake light - he says yes. am entertaining other solutions. ] Proceed south. Start obsessing (yes, CB3, I was obsessing) about the fact that I can see the bike registration in its ziplock bag. Sitting on the dining room table. But no picture of my putting it in the any bag. Approach Vancouver; realize it's Saturday, it's past 10 am, I can get a copy! I leave the group - to rejoin them in Salem. Find the BMW dealer in Salem after many false starts. Lots of folks, including Truman. :-) Am feeling pretty good for someone who has ridden >250 miles and who has had 8 hours sleep in two nights. Head south to Roseburg. Stop at Harrisburg and take a power nap. Funny how the concrete did *not* feel hard. ;-) Down to Roseburg - Daryl was there - then on to Medford. My first visit thru Grant's Pass (JC and I were on secondary and tertiary roads last year). Rogue Valley is beautiful! And this looks very different from what I remember the area just east of us looking like. Meet Craig Hanson at Medford and discover he's teaching CLASS in August. Cool! He tells me about the heartburn BMW had when he added Ducati to his line; shows me his "race" (track) bike. Finally get to Suzanne's (my girlfriend) in Ashland about 8:30. They drive me to dinner (ribs, spicey!) - and now we're back. I'm headed for bed. Have decided to wake at 6, not depart at 6. TAFN, Kathy