HHMC 2010. DAY 2 of 10

So day 2, then there were 5. Short mileage day. about 100 miles.


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We woke up and asked Scuba Steve what his plan was for fixing the Sportster belt that died the night before. (not to mention that he had already had an adventure the day before riding solo when he ran out of gas and had to go door to door asking for some)




He took Monkey's, yah I don't plan these names, Dyna down the hill to see if he could get some cell reception. After almost an hour we are plotting his death since we knew that cell service was only a couple minutes ride down the hill. Someone did say, "Well if he has it all figured out and has a tow truck with him then it's all good."
Not ten minutes later we hear him riding over the pass. Wouldn't you know it the basterds got a tow truck flat bed following him! He rides up and goes, "So here's the plan. I am going to get a tow to Ridgecrest. There my new buddy Warren the tow truck dude is going to take me to the car rental place. Then I am going to drive a hour and a half to Victorville which is the closest Harley dealer that see's fit to stock a Sportster belt. Then I drive back where Warren's buddy a Harley mechanic will be waiting to install the belt. I should be back with you by 1 or 2." I gotta hand it to him for not giving up.
I had to laugh at the time he thought he was going to catch back up to us. It was already 10AM!! I don't see how, but we'll meet ya in Kennedy Meadows later today we said. Not sure if we'd see Scuba Steve again on this trip.



At this point coffee and greasy food was all we could think about so he headed over to Kernville. Blueberry Pancakes and all the coffee they had worked nicely to get our day started.


Kernville is a cool little town. I think most of it's money comes from river rafting, but it was way past the busy season making most of the town ours. This is a place we haven't missed visiting over the last three years. The Kernville Saloon!


Cool old Myers Manx an old timer was driving around town.




I think it was a sign that as we walked into the Kernville saloon on the wall, hanging around a sportster tank, was another broken drive belt.


Ah, poor Scuba Steve. Like good friends we.. uh... kept him in our thoughts.


Plenty of water for doing nothing.


You know you're having an important and task filled day when a good portion of it includes cheering on the people rafting along the kern in inner tubes.


After all that work we needed a break so we made our way up the Kern.
monkey


smokey


dirt beard


Heading up the Kern. The river is just on the left side of the road. A great scenic mellow ride.
I was taking video until... Sheriffs! doh! They just waved, no worries. Too early in the trip for a speeding ticket.


The best part of the ride today is heading up and over Sherman Pass. As soon as you turn onto it your climbing. The road starts out pretty good, but don't get comfy. As soon as you start to relax you come around the corner to a 50 yard section of the road that is missing. No biggy if your not going fast, just drop down about a foot into the dirt and pop back up on the other side. After 3 or 4 of these and a lot of sand in the corners we just relaxed and took it easy.
Cruising up the first part of the road.


Once we got to the top it was nice and green.






We headed down the other side toward Kennedy Meadows.


Down in Kennedy. The gas is for locals in winter so don't expect to fill up!




Our epic 100 miles was complete! After almost 600 the day before I was glad to take it easy.
We posted up at the bar/restaurant/store in town and enjoyed the easy life.


good day


Luxury bathrooms with a view and no door!




Well, as we're sitting there we are all talking about our plan to make sure that if Scuba Steve makes it he can find us. We are talking about putting notes with everyone at both bars, drawing maps, leaving messages and in the middle of the conversation the SOB shows up. Nicely done sir, nicely done. He had an epic day and so did we although in very opposite ways. Everything went almost exactly as he had planned it. I was amazed that it all worked out so well! Back to 5 riders.


We heard that the other bar in town, Grumpy Bears, was having a Prime Rib dinner so there was no way we were missing that!





The local folk who let monkey tend bar here whenever he wants. I only wish more places would allow that!


Easy living.


Another good day.


And so ended another good day after we had a fire and heard about Scuba's epic journey.


footnote: Scuba Steve told us about how he was going to sleep outside with no tent. It was pretty cold that night. Hmmm. More on that later.