HHMC 2010. DAY 8 of 10

443 miles, but when you put it on that little map it looks so easy!

View HHMC Run 2010 in a larger map

If only we had more time, this looks like a GOOD place to be! We were finally into the rhythm of the trip and life on the road, but as it always does the end was nearing. We were just about at the end of our riding together.




Where are you fish!! I see you!!!



We woke up at the Coffee Creek camp ground and headed for the little country store just down the road. You'd think they'd have coffee right! They did. Nothing fancy, but it did it's job!






We fussed around there for a while and finally got going down the highway. Monkey and I buzzed ahead because we had a special stop to make up the road.


We headed north toward Fort Jones where my Grandparents lived and where my Grandpa was buried.
Now that's the kind of view a cemetery should have. Nice and peaceful farm fields. A lot better than a view of a freeway.




What a cool guy. I wish I had met him. Pictures and stories paint an image of a guy who was part mountain man, pilot, farmer and entrepreneur. Most importantly a man of his word.




Gotta get a couple views for mom and grandma!!


His old office. Looking well kept up!


Scuba Steve found the Cemetery and we all headed down to the gas station. "I had a long way to go and a short time to get there." So I said my goodbyes and wished them luck. As a good friend from another life always said to me "Don't wake up dead." I guess there's something so morbid about it you can't help, but laugh.
See ya!


I headed through "downtown" Fort Jones and on you Yreka.


And then there was one.
I hit the 5 freeway super slab for a short time and blasted down to the town of Weed, Ca. next to Mt Shasta. Yes, that a real town. (I guess it's less odd than Bagdad, AZ or WHY, AZ.)


Now that's a good gas station view!


I really wanted to make some good time even though it was halfway through the day so I didn't have to ride too far on the last couple days so I hit a side road to Susanville, Ca. Blasting along on the straightest road I'd see so far on the trip. I made good time and the view was great.

In Susanville I realized that I was back in too populated an area for me. I wanted to blast to Reno and past it as soon as I could. It seemed like the second I hit Nevada it got hot, dirty and busy. The traffic and drivers in Reno along the 395 were insane. I'd stop for water and to shove a clif bar into my face, but that was it!

Eventually I made it back up into the mountains and the traffic, to Lake Tahoe I presume, subsided.


I was enjoying the cool air and riding again. The miles were ticking by, but I was in no hurry as far as MPH went.


As soon as I started to see lakes and the mountain pass turn offs we'd done earlier in the trip I knew I was back in an area I'd like to camp. Also, one that would put me in a good spot for tomorrow.


I made it into the town of Bridgeport where for the first time I realized it was the beginning of Labor Day Weekend. The gas station was packed, the restaurants had lines and I decided I'd head up to twin lakes for some quiet camping.
Or maybe not so much. I spent an hour pulling into every camp ground to see reserved or taken spots. I prefer camping remotely anyway, but there was no where to remote camp. They had made sure that there were no little roads to go and remote camp off of. Except for one. It said "day use only"... and after all I wasn't even going to use it for a whole day. So I figured it would be all right!!
Just in case it wasn't and the fact that I heard a car coming down the dirt road I backed the Triumph down a steep hill to hopefully conceal it.


So, as soon as I made it down the realization hit that I may never get the bike back up it, but I had come prepared.



One of those giant beers of the gods took care of that problem. Until morning anyway.
I settled in and enjoyed my spot on the river. In a low profile kind of way. No tent, just the sleeping pad and bag next to the Trump. It was just me and "Hammond" at this point.
I have to admit riding solo today was odd. Not having a buddy to point things out to or stop and have a cold one with was sure quiet. Too quiet.


At least i had one of those noise machines about 10 feet from my bed. It was stuck on babbling brook though.


Sunset was... WOW!


Tomorrow I was going to travel the loneliest highway, lonely if you like using gas to run your bike.