Transport Potpourri 1

Random thoughts on different transport modes (from motorcycling):

Credence in a Cage - I was in mourning for another ride put on the shelf and sharing the road with so many people at 5:15 in the morning didn’t make it any better. Putting up my Pandora Credence Clearwater Revival while driving the cage through the mess that was the Grapevine seemed to get me a little worked up and, being in the cage (read Honda Civic) rather than on the back of my bike which I’d prepacked only the evening before, only seemed to exasperate the situation. I was heading north out of L.A.; where were all these other yahoos going? It was Monday and they should have all been at work.

Going up the backside of the Grapevine (or would that be the front side? I suppose it depends on your point of view) I was in a less than benevolent mood and the folks who generally don’t understand the principle of keeping to posted speeds or being in the proper lane when they don’t crawled deeper under my skin. What was I thinking? Being in the proper lane requires thought and purpose, two things that too many drivers/riders are want to do too many times. Too much.

Sitting here now and looking in the rearview mirror for the run up the state I think listening to Handel’s Water Music would have been better than “Born on the Bayou” and “Fortunate Son”.

My original plan had been to ride all the way to my folk’s place in Merlin OR, set my personal record for a long-haul day, and then spend several days there along with my daughter, son-in-law, and two grand-kids. I was then going to ride over to the coast and hug it all the way to Mexico thus completing California’s PCH in one ride of several days. I’ve already done most of it over different rides but this would have put it all together and earned the patch I bought a couple of years ago. Alas, the patch must wait for another time. I needed to be home for a most important date with the love of my life and the ride down the coast doesn’t hold a candle to that. Soon though, I will put together a ride on the coast from Canada to Mexico.

Making my way to daylight was a little problematic when it would have been so simple on the Cross Country. Nevertheless, I eventually found daylight. People don’t seem to get it that they need to increase pressure on the accelerator to keep to speed up the grades. It’s not that difficult, even in a Civic. Fear not, they make up for it on the downhill side topping eighty when a more sedate speed is recommended – the physics of stopping while going downhill requires more time and distance. Simple.

Once I found open lanes I was able to settle back for my stroll up the gut of California to Merlin where I would be rewarded with dinner with my sister, her husband Bob, my parents, and the Cornelius clan. ‘Green Onions’ by Booker T and the MGs played and I settled into the drive, resigned to a long haul.

Old Man River – I love being on the river and could be pretty happy finding a way to get guide-certified and take parties on rafting trips. The only downside to that would be seriously cutting down on good riding-weather opportunities. On this just completed trip to Oregon I made two short floats down sections of the Rogue River, varied in style but both worthwhile enough that made the drive over ride decision more than acceptable.

Matt, Ashley, and I took Bandit Singles (inflatable kayaks) from Hog Creek to Galice, the same trip I did with my son Daniel in June. The river is rarely the same twice and these two runs were proof of that. In June the water was high and running fast but smooth with many of the riffling rocks submerged enough to flatten out the run. This past week the water was down to more normal levels (in spite of the drought) and the rapids required more attention to safely navigate. The Bandits are made of superior materials to the Yahoos that we’ve used in the past and are more maneuverable and nimble, and as a result, are less forgiving than the Yahoos if you get a little sideways in the whitewater.

The next evening we took out a twelve-foot non-self-bailing raft big enough to carry five adults including my mom Betty, sister Denise, daughter Ashley, son-in-law Matt, and my two grandchildren, Teya and Jeremiah. That made for a raft full of love and four generations. It was very cool. Evening floats are generally on calmer sections of the river, almost a lazy section except that with a little headwind we had to work some to continue to our pullout spot before it got too dark.

I was in the guide seat on the back of the raft and feeling in my element with the others sitting on the sides and ready to provide some power when needed. Almost absentmindedly, I paddled most of the way down in a nice and easy rhythm, happy to have the kids with us and excited to be rafting as only the young at heart can get. We got them both in paddling positions, they caught on fast, and they have all the makings of real water kids. It’s a genetic thing. The wildlife for the evening was mostly aviary material; Egrets, Great Blue Herons, Mergansers, Canada Gooses, and more Belted Kingfishers than we generally see during a river run. We were treated to several Osprey, two of which flew around to show off their fresh catches.

LCPC Whitewater Trip on the American River
The section of the Rogue that we raft doesn't have this
extreme water, I just like the photo. And the people.

Whatever mode of travel you find yourself using, keep the iron side up and enjoy the journey of the day.

jerry

PS: Pedestrian – just finished a gimpy walk around the Rose Bowl with our dogs. In spite of my run-in between a knee and a lag bolt we were able to maintain our 3.0 MPH pace on the 5K course. Curmudgeonly observations: People who don’t have the energy to pick up after their dogs or get the bags to a trash can should leave the dogs at home. Pedestrians need to walk against the flow of vehicular traffic and stay off of their digital devices. Drivers and bicyclist alike (all motorcycle rides are cool) need to remember that pedestrians are numerous in the bowl area and have the right-of-way. They need to plan their parking and routing accordingly and be ready for walkers to abuse the crap out of their right-of-way.