Back in the Saddle: Going to California: 2011

[Ypedal]

Entertaining Journey !!!....

Ride Safe !

[deVries]

plowing forward past Canyon Dam and onward to Greenville where me Uncle and cousins live. It is only 117 miles or so thus a relatively easy day if I can stop texting and writing run-on sentences and mount the dang bike and git on with it man!

Heya, that's good you'll have a chance to be with family AND have inet access to post pics too Does your phone shoot video too? Memory card for more storage? Would be cool to have a pic w/your bike next to the Harley dude! Tell us some stories too, since it seems you've accumulated some (Harley/Orficer ) by now & will have a keyboard too...

[grindz145]

Awesome Journey man!

You're average speed is pretty awesome for all that weight. Ebike touring is officially lagitt! (I mean we needed at least one more person than Justin )

Time for me to own up and do some touring myself.

[beast775]

thanks kingfish for posting,this is very fun .

[JennyB]

Lessions on food from yesterday:
1. Do not pack those little packages of honey from Denny's cos they like to explode
2. Do not pack overipe bananas in the same bag as the water/Gatorade cos they want to get squishy cuddly with everything else.

Been there, done that! These days I peel them first and put them in a ziploc bag. It doesn't stop them squishing but it keeps everything neater and saves me having to deal with the skins on the road.

[Kingfish]

This is a short quick oost to let you all know I am still alive and well and on the road.

As anticipated I did not have Inet service at my Unc's. The last trek was awesome and written down for backfill. I am now in Quincy, CA heading towards our family summer property near Johnsville. The is no Inet service there either. It might be a few days before I reach a pc - probably Sunday or Monday.

Lots of stories, fun, BEER, and more fun to share.
Gots to go now and catch that tailwind, KF

[liveforphysics]

This is a short quick oost to let you all know I am still alive and well and on the road.

As anticipated I did not have Inet service at my Unc's. The last trek was awesome and written down for backfill. I am now in Quincy, CA heading towards our family summer property near Johnsville. The is no Inet service there either. It might be a few days before I reach a pc - probably Sunday or Monday.

Lots of stories, fun, BEER, and more fun to share.
Gots to go now and catch that tailwind, KF

Sweet!

You're only 120miles away from Willow CA, where I will be fri-sat-sun this weekend to race in the 24hrs of Lemons at Thunder Hill raceway. If you can make it, you should stop by and watch the racing!

[thewmatusmoloki]

How could you resist an offer like that KF ........ Get into it.

[Kingfish]

I'm in Graeagle, CA at the general store next to a wifi hub. We're picking up some groceries. Sunday I plan to leave for Pioneer, CA. My Unc and Bro are coming up to the property Friday so - won't be leaving here till Sunday at the soonest. The trek will take me south on Hwy 89 through Truckee and South Lake Tahoe till I hit Hwy 88 which I'll take over the Sierras down to Pioneer for a couple of days.

After that I am going on to Fresno via Hwy 49 to Oakhurst then Hwy 41 south. Ithink the next Friday the plan is to head to Santa Cruz, Luke. Then SF after that -but I needs to check the calendar to be sure.

Anyways it's time to head to Cuccia's for dinner in Mohawk
I'll check in again if we come into town before I leave.

Cheers all! KF

[liveforphysics]

I'm in Graeagle, CA at the general store next to a wifi hub. We're picking up some groceries. Sunday I plan to leave for Pioneer, CA. My Unc and Bro are coming up to the property Friday so - won't be leaving here till Sunday at the soonest. The trek will take me south on Hwy 89 through Truckee and South Lake Tahoe till I hit Hwy 88 which I'll take over the Sierras down to Pioneer for a couple of days.

After that I am going on to Fresno via Hwy 49 to Oakhurst then Hwy 41 south. Ithink the next Friday the plan is to head to Santa Cruz, Luke. Then SF after that -but I needs to check the calendar to be sure.

Anyways it's time to head to Cuccia's for dinner in Mohawk
I'll check in again if we come into town before I leave.

Cheers all! KF

Sweet! Rememeber, this Friday, Saturday, and Sunday, all day I will be at Thunder Hill in Willow CA.

[Kingfish]

Just had late lunch at Gumba's in Blairsden. Best burgers in the county! Leaving in the early morning. Mods and fixes to ebike have been applied. Tomorrow I'll head south on Hwy 89 to Truckee. I'll check in once I can sneak a charge.

Glad to hear the news on ES.
Cheers, KF

[docnjoj]

If you are not careful you could rival Jack Kerouac! Absolutely wonderful stuff! Go KF
otherDoc

[Kingfish]

I am now in Truckee, CA having a late breakfast. Took less than 3 hours to get here; 57 miles and 2 mountain passes. Pack is nearly half spent but found an extremely friendly Union 76 station that will let me charge as long as necessary

Good day for riding; low traffic, modest temps, ok roads. I have a long ride ahead though around the west side of beautiful Lake Tahoe on a cracken day, then one more high mountain pass.

Food is here so I'll sign off for now. KF

[chroot]

@Kingfish- When will you be in San Francisco? Let me know, Edward Lyen and I would love meet you when you are actual in San Francisco.

[Kingfish]

@Kingfish- When will you be in San Francisco? Let me know, Edward Lyen and I would love meet you when you are actual in San Francisco.

I think next Saturday but I needstochech the schedule to be sure. The plan is to spend one day in the city visiting you guys

I levt Truckee about Noon after putting on about 1.5 volts. I am now at Meyers which is where US 50 and Hwy 89 split south of South Lake Tahoe . The weather is perfect for riding but the traffic is heavy. I pulled over at a Chevron minimart to rest in the shade and discovered a power outlet! Well needless to say I'm pulling off a quick charge before surmounting the next 2 mountain passes. I figure there is at least 60 more miles to go but better to be safe and on the happy side of the pack, yes

Not much else to say as I chicken-peck here, so I'll save the rest for backfilling.
Cheers all, KF

[Kingfish]

Greetings ye gentle ES peoples of the Planet Earth

I arrived at me other Unc's place after 11 hours of On the Road travel, safe and sound - although very tired and filthy. It was an epic day to be sure and I met many kindred peoples wanting to know about my venture - and where they could get an ebike like mine

Briefly, the Stats for yesterday are as follows:

Start V = 63.1; End V = 56.5 V - however I stopped twice to charge.
Total Day Miles = 177.1, over 4 major mountain passes and several minor ones - close to 10,000 total elevation gain.
Regen = 3.4% - however Ah used is buggered cos we don't know the RShunt values.
Vmin = 55.0
MaxS = 44.0 mph - a new KF land speed record!
AveS = 29.4 mph, also a new record.
Trip Time = 5:56:12
Total OD = 884 + 177 = 1061 miles.

Stopped twice to charge; first time was for 1.75 hours in Truckee, and the second time was at Meyers where Hwy 89 and US 50 split - for about 50 minutes.

Most of the time I was WOT Was stopped twice by motorists interested in my fast bike and where could they buy one like it

Heading down Hwy 88 towards Jackson was a hoot; I bombed it often. For that matter - the three best downhill rides to date have been Medicine Lake, Mt. Lassen, and Hwy 88 west of Kit Carson Pass. So far Mt. Lassen retains the highest pass to date at 8600 feet. Carson Pass is almost 8000. Luther Pass (Hwy 89 between Meyers and the Hwy 88 Junction) was not listed due to road construction - but that was one pretty drive.

For the most part this was a trouble-free ride other than ligament issues on the backside of the left knee - same issues as last week with the right knee. Lake Tahoe was spectacular - however as my Uncle says - "It's crawling like ants with people", and the traffic jams were as bad as I've ever seen - though being a bike, I skated through it.

Tomorrow I will leave for Fresno; it's a few miles longer, and another 1000 feet of elevation climb in much warmer weather. I have no doubts that I shall need to stop and charge for security-sake.

SF peoples: I am reviewing the schedule and it looks like I will only have two days rest before heading back north. Therefore I would like to push out one day's delay. New Schedule is as:

Tuesday Aug 9th - Fresno
Saturday Aug 13th - Santa Cruz; Luke, let me know if this is a problem
Sunday Aug 14th - SF
Monday Aug 15th - SF (tentative if it works out)
Tuesday Aug 16th - Fort Bragg; a challenging day
Wednesday Aug 17th - Eureka
Thursday Aug 18th - Port Orford; Rassy, let me know if this is a problem
Friday Aug 19th - Lincoln City
Saturday Aug 20th - Aberdeen; another challenging day
Sunday Aug 21st - Back to Mars, er... Redmond

Anyways - dat's da plan. I hope to be able to post pictures and backfill when I get to Fresno.
Thanks for your support, KF

[dbaker]

Wow 44mph Any wobble at that speed

[Kingfish]

Wow 44mph Any wobble at that speed

The trailer would maybe quaver if a car went by or a gust of wind or a cobble in the road - and when that would happen then I'd just ebrake to bring the speed down a notch - and then try again

But really - most of the time it trailed real nice.

I also tried not to imagine myself spread out over the asphalt like gue
~KF

[dbaker]

Positive projections

[chroot]

@Kingfish, awesome, We are looking forward see you at SF this saturday or sunday. Keep us inform for best time meet up.

[grindz145]

Inspiring! Over 1000mi trip! Keep up the good work

[liveforphysics]

Saturdays this time of year are almost always racing/track days for me, any chance of making it by Friday? Then you could come race with us?

[Kingfish]

Saturdays this time of year are almost always racing/track days for me, any chance of making it by Friday? Then you could come race with us?

The issue that I have is that I have (or will have by this time) ridden over 1200 miles to see my family and have only two days to visit with them. Therefore I would like to take one more day and rest before making the fast trip back.

When I leave Fresno to go to Santa Cruz, understand that this is 160 miles over a 4000 ft elevation climb; this is turning into possibly an "average" trip for me but by no means an easy trek. I'm just plain pooped out at the end.

After a long arse ride my first thoughts are on securing the room, setting up to charge, getting my shower, fetching something to eat, and then going to sleep. I might have time for a beer or two but after that - it's beddy-bye for ol' KF.

My suggestion is that we pick a time and a place and I shall meet you. I hope it is convenient though if not - there's always next time

Alternately, I cannot do Fresno to SF in one day - that is too far for my lil' body. Santa Cruz is a perfect resting point though - and it's been a long time since I've seen the wharf and Boardwalk.

Luke, can you pm me your contact details? Probably faster to work something out over the phone

@Choot: Will do!!

Right now the weather in Pioneer is really pleasant and not too hot; I am hoping this cooling trend holds for tomorrow.

Thanks and Cheers to all, KF

[Kingfish]

@Kingfish, awesome, We are looking forward see you at SF this saturday or sunday. Keep us inform for best time meet up.

Might be a good time to pm me on where/when to meet so I can begin to study the best route. It is a relatively short ride from Santa Cruz; only 75 miles (3 hours) depending if I go Hwy 1 or Skyline.

Best, KF

[Rassy]

Wednesday Aug 17th - Eureka
Thursday Aug 18th - Port Orford; Rassy, let me know if this is a problem
Friday Aug 19th - Lincoln City

Hey Kingfish, thought I'd be seeing your schedule one of these days.

On Wednesday, Thursday, and Friday I'll be camping and fishing at Gold Beach. Hoping to put a King Fish in the boat. Chinook (King) Salmon (Fish), for those of you not familiar with these fish, there are several distinctly different varieties of Salmon, with the largest one being the Chinook, hence the common name King. Most of the ones we catch are in the 20 to 30 pound range, but we often hear of some exceeding 50 pounds.

Anyway, I'll PM you with contact info, and at the very least we can catch a bite to eat while you rest and charge. The campground is just a few blocks from 101 at the South jetty of the Rogue River.