Friday we went on a big ride. I did 353 miles, but I have to ride farther to our meeting place. We started in Devore, where we all topped up, then went up the Crest though Wrightwood to N4, and As it was a bit cool and Jack and I had on very vented jackets we decided to go down N4 to the desert so we wouldn't have to endure freezing our butts off at 8000 feet. Steve was dressed a bit warmer, but he didn't argue the point. The ride down N4 was fun and I was really getting the feel of the bike as Jack was leading and I was just playing keep up! Going across the desert of Ft Tejon and back up Mt Emma to Angeles Forest wasn't to bad, then we went to Aliso Canyon, Soledad and Sand Canyon, the up Bouquet Canyon, across Spunky Canyon. Jack and Steve stopped in Happy Valley for some gas, then we went on and to Elizabeth Lake and to Lake Hughes up where last week's fire was. We definitely got to see a lot of burned out area although we were kinda on the backside of it. Lake Hughes Road to Lake Casitas was closed so we couldn't investigate any farther west. But the fire was coming down some hills on the South side of Lake Hughes and was within about a mile of the town! We ate at the Rock Inn where I usually get jalapeno poppers, but I went for their Chili Size and that chili was the Best! Then we went out and headed back down to Sand Canyon where I got gas. I checked the mileage ended up with 59.8 mpg. I was expecting a lot worse as I was riding the Guzzi pretty hard! Jack lead us down through, Little Tujunga where I hung onto his taillight for about half way through, then he started to pull away so I didn't have him to follow and my skirt started blowing up in my face, so I slowed down a little. the heavier, slower steering than what I was used to started wearing on my upper back and shoulders! The Goose works one harder than the Bullet! Course, you get to go a lot faster,too! We rode to Sunland, then back up Lower Big Tujunga with me leading, to Angeles Forest to Mt Emma and back home the way we came.
It was a great ride, but I got home feeling a bit tired and sore, but we'll do it again later this week, I suppose. I get 54.5 on the return trip. It ain't a Bullet, but I guess I can survive with that!
I definitely got the bike broken in!
Bare