Sunday, June 04, 2006
Yuma, AZ to Buellton, CA
This report fills in a gap in my reports - the leg from Yuma to Buellton.
I left Yuma early because I had a lunch date with my Customer Service Rep in Brea later that day; I knew she had a tight schedule and limited time for lunch. If I left about 0530, I could get to San Ysidro, get the 4 Corners thing done and still be in LA in time for lunch.
Temps were pleasant in the desert in the early morning - only 75*- and weren't rising too fast until I got near the mountains when they rose to 91*, moderating in the "mountains", but not much. At Jacumba, I took the worst screwing ever on gas - $4.00/gal for mid-grade - ouch! Can't say I'm fond of California's fuel delivery system either - takes both hands to get the gas into the tank: one to hold the "evaporation recovery system" lock in place and the other to pull the trigger - PITA.
Got to San Diego and the San Ysidro in good order without getting too lost. Found the phone number quickly, then found the Post Office. Now, how to get a picture on my bike in front of the PO sign?? Easy - ride on the sidewalk! Got the photos, what else do I need? Checked the rules - I need a gas receipt, not a receipt for the overpriced coffee I just bought,so back down the street, top off the tank, get the receipt and a duplicate for my records, stuff all into envelope, back to PO, and drop it in the slot. Done! On to Brea.
I used to work for a large company called Beckman Coulter, based in Brea, CA. I worked with 3 ladies who took care of my customers, worked up complicated prices quotations and proposals and booked orders when they came in. They were as much responsible for my success as I was and I owed them a lot. Before I was laid off, Nancy, my CSR, knew of my plans for the M/C trip and I had promised to take her to lunch on the way through. I'd been to the Home Office many times before, so I at least knew my way around that part of town.
We met in the lobby and I followed them to a soup and salad place where we had an excellent lunch- not only the food, but also the conversation - good to see all of them again. I miss talking with them regulalrly - they're geat ladies!
Got headed north and west from Brea and again ran into one of the major reasons why I couldn't live in/around/near LA - traffic - there are people EVERYWHERE!!! After 2 hours of high-stress driving in LA traffic, I finally headed north again on US101, a road that was to become my friend for the next several days.
By the time I had passed Santa Barbara, I was pretty well shot and started looking for a place to stop. About that time I came upon the Buellton exit, saw a Days Inn sign and decided that this was as far as I was going today. Fortunately, the Days Inn had a very nice room - park next to the door and walkout to the pool - sweet!
Had an adult beverage or two, ordered pizza delivered, devoured it and hit the sack - long day.
Later,
Mike
I left Yuma early because I had a lunch date with my Customer Service Rep in Brea later that day; I knew she had a tight schedule and limited time for lunch. If I left about 0530, I could get to San Ysidro, get the 4 Corners thing done and still be in LA in time for lunch.
Temps were pleasant in the desert in the early morning - only 75*- and weren't rising too fast until I got near the mountains when they rose to 91*, moderating in the "mountains", but not much. At Jacumba, I took the worst screwing ever on gas - $4.00/gal for mid-grade - ouch! Can't say I'm fond of California's fuel delivery system either - takes both hands to get the gas into the tank: one to hold the "evaporation recovery system" lock in place and the other to pull the trigger - PITA.
Got to San Diego and the San Ysidro in good order without getting too lost. Found the phone number quickly, then found the Post Office. Now, how to get a picture on my bike in front of the PO sign?? Easy - ride on the sidewalk! Got the photos, what else do I need? Checked the rules - I need a gas receipt, not a receipt for the overpriced coffee I just bought,so back down the street, top off the tank, get the receipt and a duplicate for my records, stuff all into envelope, back to PO, and drop it in the slot. Done! On to Brea.
I used to work for a large company called Beckman Coulter, based in Brea, CA. I worked with 3 ladies who took care of my customers, worked up complicated prices quotations and proposals and booked orders when they came in. They were as much responsible for my success as I was and I owed them a lot. Before I was laid off, Nancy, my CSR, knew of my plans for the M/C trip and I had promised to take her to lunch on the way through. I'd been to the Home Office many times before, so I at least knew my way around that part of town.
We met in the lobby and I followed them to a soup and salad place where we had an excellent lunch- not only the food, but also the conversation - good to see all of them again. I miss talking with them regulalrly - they're geat ladies!
Got headed north and west from Brea and again ran into one of the major reasons why I couldn't live in/around/near LA - traffic - there are people EVERYWHERE!!! After 2 hours of high-stress driving in LA traffic, I finally headed north again on US101, a road that was to become my friend for the next several days.
By the time I had passed Santa Barbara, I was pretty well shot and started looking for a place to stop. About that time I came upon the Buellton exit, saw a Days Inn sign and decided that this was as far as I was going today. Fortunately, the Days Inn had a very nice room - park next to the door and walkout to the pool - sweet!
Had an adult beverage or two, ordered pizza delivered, devoured it and hit the sack - long day.
Later,
Mike
