Day 13 - Nevada/California/Oregon

Day 13 – Sept 28th, 2005

Fallon Nevada to Klamath Falls, Oregon

Away from Fallon just after 10:00 a.m. At the suggestion of the front desk staff at the Holiday Inn where I was staying, I stopped in at the Stockman’s Business Office. Stockman’s owns the HI as well as the adjacent Stockman’s Casino, Steakhouse and Coffee Bar. The desk staff thought that they might be interested in making a contribution to the Hospice Ride as they are very service oriented. I met with a lovely lady Nancy, who walked me through the steps as I filled out an application which will be submitted to a review panel within a week. Nancy was quite knowledgeable about the hospice movement and wished me good luck and a safe journey home.

Alternate Hwy 50 into Reno, unlike what I had experienced so far, felt like rush hour. Numerous state patrol had many vehicles pulled over – I behaved myself. Just out of Fallon, I crossed the 2000 mile mark. I’ll be home in a little less than 1000 more.

I stopped for fuel in Reno; then at the suggestion of both Rod and Wensel, my master mechanic and friend who has kept my bikes running great for 34 years, I found my way to Big Valley Honda. I asked them to do a load check on the battery as I had experienced a couple of “quirky” starts. Thank you all for suggesting using the choke (and I have been because Honda’s particularly need it in the cold) but it is not mutually exclusive to cold starts and I have had this happen more often after I’ve made a pit stop. Press the start switch and it makes a very short sound like it wants to start and then – absolutely nothing. I have also found that, even though (unlike my Interceptor) you can start the bike in gear with the clutch pulled in – it doesn’t really like it. I am still coming up empty in my search for a dog-leg clutch lever. Can anyone send out an APB?

Big Valley Honda, in Reno, Nevada is a big, very hi-tech dealership. The GM sent me back to the service area and you drive your bike up a long ramp from the side of the building – automatic doors open and you are parked – right in front of the service desk. Very cool. They take it all from there and I wandered into the showroom area. There, my eye and interest was taken by a motorcycle that was up on a platform on display. It was a 1970 CB 750 KO, totally restored to original factory condition with an incredibly detailed binder showing its renewal, step by step. It was for sale and a business card was attached to the inside of the binder. I couldn’t believe my eyes. The person who had the bike for sale works for the law firm of the father son team of Laub & Laub who operate out of the Lake Tahoe area but have expanded to include other cities. I met the owner Mel Laub in Hawaii in 1984 and stayed at his home in Lake Tahoe in 1985 as well enjoying the use of his home near Sacramento on my way to Laguna Seca. We corresponded for several years and then lost contact. I called the number on the card and asked to speak to Mel but he was away on vacation - to Hawaii.

The service people checked the battery and said it was fine – a couple of loose connections which they tightened, added lock-tite and put it on a charger to top it up. They also lubed my chain and pronounced that although my front tire was definitely showing wear, would take me the rest of the way home safely. A little over an hour later they had it parked outside the service bay all ready to go. They told me they hadn’t made an attempt to re-load all my gear and I sure don’t blame them. It is quite a science and has a sequence that needs to be followed to get everything secured with all the bungees so it stays put. I asked him for my bill and he just smiled, shook my hand and wished me a safe journey. I send a very big Thank You to Big Valley Honda.

Taking 395 North towards Susanville, I crossed into California at 12:45 p.m. Going up the VERY secondary #139 out of Susanville towards Adin, I climbed and climbed. I overlooked the valley from such a height that it gave me those funny squiggles in the pit of my stomach. As far as days go, it absolutely does not get any better than this one. Bright blue skies, 80-85F, twisty roads, mountain passes, light to no traffic… I inhale deeply, over and over of the sweet, sweet smell of the mountain pines wanting to keep it as long as possible in my nostrils. 29 North takes me into Canby where I fuel at 3:45. The gas attendant told me I would find a Starbuck’s in Klamath Falls, Oregon. Yippee!! I haven’t had a fix since Fort Worth, Texas over a week ago. Back on 139 North towards the Oregon border.

Beckoning over my left shoulder to the West looms majestic Mount Shasta. Fluffy, cumulous clouds and a slight haze lend it an air of mystery.

I cross the border into Oregon at 5:00 p.m. and fuel in Klamath Falls at 5:30. It is 6:00 as I check in to the Holiday Inn and start the process of unloading the bike – AGAIN. It’s been a long and terrific day but I am feeling pretty tuckered out. It will be an early night for this cowgirl. Starbuck’s will have to wait another day.