Bobbing
and weaving, we wound through the canyons and along the spine of the Santa
Monica Mountains on the Mulholland Highway through the Snake and past the Rock
Store so we could hook up with the PCH for lunch at Duke’s in Malibu. Because
that’s how we like to ring in the New Year.
Were
our fifteen bikes a boxer, no palooka would they be. We did not attack the
twisties with vicious body shots and head butts. No, we are more like The
Greatest – floating and flitting through route like a butterfly. It was poetry
in motion from the Starbucks in Porter Ranch to Duke’s.
Our
four first-timers with the group fit like well broken-in gloves, as though they
were born to the group of usual suspects. (List of riders and their rides
below) We had clean lines through twisties, nice tight groupings in traffic,
and exquisite spacing throughout. It was a joy to open the New Year with a ride
like this on a clear day with mild temperatures; in the mid-sixties on the coast
and low seventies in the hills.
We
had Johnathan on his orange/white High Ball, soon to be customized to take out
the white tank highlights. I think it will be an awesome look. Aaron joined us
on a Touring Cruiser, a model I hadn’t heard of ‘til this ride. Larene and
Roger came in from Bakersfield on a XC Touring and Vision, respectively, and won
the prize for longest commute to the meet point. Vickie won for overcoming
obstacles having repaired a flat and coming in from the Inland Empire on her
Honda F6B and getting to the Starbuck’s in time for a Martinelli’s New Year’s
toast before we put up our kickstands for the ride.
Kevin
joined us after his forced sabbatical to care for his beloved Dory who passed
away this past October after battling Alzheimer’s. We honored her with winged
ribbons Bev put together. We all miss her and it was not lost on us how poignant
this was for Kevin being his first holiday season and New Year’s Day without
her. We continue to hold him and the family in our hearts for his grief.
New
Years are for renewal. Rides punctuate our love for the road with friends,
new and old. Our rider’s hopes are for roads to new places and rides to refresh
our connections to familiar favorite roads and destinations. May it be so for
you.
Ride
well, keep the iron side up, and be blessed in 2018.
jerry
New Year’s Day 2018 Group:
Tim
Robertson – Vision (The Enterprise)
Bev Hope
– Vegas (Cloud 9)
Jed – Vision
Sue – Cross Country
Larene
Meng – Cross Country Tour
Roger
Meng – Vision
Steve
McLean Sr. – Vision
Kevin
Shaw – Vision (Nit Vision)
Todd Skaggs
- Vision
Shawn Frausto
– Cross Country (Sancha)
Vicki
Peterson – Honda F6b
Aaron
Staubach – Touring Cruiser
Stephen
Thrasher – Cross Country
Johnathan
Urazoff – High Ball
Jerry
White – Cross Country (Stick II)
Note: We had more
Vision riders than any other model. And, they let us know it.
 |
| Approaching Pt. Mugu |
