Pismo Beach Overnighter

Last year a group of us took a little overnighter to Pismo Beach and came back with great stories of riding and wineries and outlet malls….Everyone who didn’t go said “we have to do that next year”.  And so the Annual Overnighter to Pismo Beach was born.  So this year we did it again – and just about everyone came!  

We gathered at Starbucks on Friday morning – 33 riders, 6 trailers, and 2 cars would make the trip in the end.  We started with 21 bikes in two groups with Brian Hefter leading group 1 and Gary Felkel leading group 2.  I opted to tail gun – using my knee as an excuse – ok I love to tail gun and I wanted to give other riders the opportunity to lead.  We were followed by Mike Fry’s wife Vicki who was riding in one car, and Gail Indorf, Marie de Putron and Daveta Jo Gallagher, rode up in Gail’s car.  We made our way up the 57 to the 210 to the 134 to the 101 – just getting out of town in time.  

We stopped for gas and then lunch at Chilis in Newbury Park.  They had been warned that we were coming by Patty Giambitti, so they were ready for us and got us seated right away.  Lunch was great!  It also gave us an opportunity to shed a layer as the day was warming up just right.  After lunch we made out way up the 101 to the 154 and took a nice scenic ride.  

Back onto the 101 and up to Pismo Beach.  The hotel was just as it had been last year and after we all got checked in we went over to the Winery and relaxed.  They have a nice selection of wine on their tasting menu - $10 bucks for 6 tastings.  Not bad!  I think we overwhelmed her though – about 20 of us went over lol.

Back at the hotel we all pulled out our folding chairs (everyone is pretty prepared these days) and took over a few parking spaces.  The evening was nice and we all had a great time chatting and relaxing.  Eventually we got hungry though and decided to try the Mexican Restaurant again that we tried last year.  I don’t think the staff was expecting us – at least 25 of us converged on them.  They actually did a really great job serving us and the food was much better than last year.  

Fed and tired we all returned to our chairs in the parking lot and relaxed for a little bit longer.  We were joined by Tom Schamber, who had ridden up after a work event, and Carol and Charlie Wolfe had ridden just a bit behind us. We were happy to see a small group of six from Chapter 109 had also made the trip and were staying with us.  We always have a great time with them, and they joined in like family.  By this time our group had grown to 39 – wow!

Saturday we all got up with a group going over to Huckleberry’s for breakfast and a group braving the free breakfast at the hotel.  I heard a rumor that the eggs came from robotic chickens but that was just a rumor.  Huckleberry’s was good and although some complained of cold breakfast mine was steaming and really great!  After breakfast we all gathered with one group taking “Brian’s Ride” up past the James Dean memorial, a couple going to Big Sur, another group going to Monterey and another group riding to Cambria.  

Brian’s ride was great – even though his GPS gave out and I had to lead – with all the road in reverse – well you would have to have seen it to understand.  We could not have asked for better weather, just a little on the cool side.  We rode on some of the most amazing roads – lots of critters.  At one point a very large Turkey Vulture swooped down and made a quick u-turn right in front of me – missing me by about a foot maybe.  Scared me to death.  His wing span was about 6 feet wide.  

Our ride took us to Parkfield California, the home of the USGS and the place where the Pacific and North American tectonic plates meet.  We had lunch at the Parkfield Café.  Really neat place – log cabin construction.  Most of the group had the tri-tip sandwich.  We were all expecting some shaved beef – no, each sandwich had two pieces of steak on them – so good!  After lunch we continued on down the road where the most earthquake activity had occurred with lots of movement to the pavement.  

As we rode I had to slow down suddenly when I thought I saw a calf on the road, only to get closer and see it was one huge dog (a bull mastiff, 120 -150 lbs.).  Lucky for us he just wanted to watch us go by and didn’t try to chase the bikes.    

The James Dean memorial is a tree with a metal angular structure around it, a few pebbles and some large plaques.  I understand that the actual place where his accident occurred was at the intersection we had just ridden through about 100 yards away from the location.  It wasn’t until we walked around the tree did we see the watch for rattlesnake signs – luck for us none were spotted.  After the memorial we made our way back to the hotel.  

Everyone cleaned up and we were off to dinner at AJ Spurs.  Some chose to ride and a group also chose to walk the 1.8 miles to the restaurant.  This is our third time at an AJ Spurs and they did not disappoint.  We were seated almost immediately in their banquet room.  We were also joined by the riders from 109 – so glad they were there with us.  The food was so good and we were all stuffed when we left there.  I have to tell you the service there was really awesome.  They were nice enough to do separate checks for us and I didn’t hear of a single issue.  

We all returned to the hotel and hung out for a bit, but the most of the group turned in early.  I know I slept well that night.

Sunday we all got up and started packing it up for the ride home.  At about 7:30 some of us went back over to Huckleberry’s and a few decided to eat at the hotel.  Once we were all fed we all met back at the hotel and lined up to start the ride home.  We were now 23 bikes and 6 trailers in two groups.  We headed down the 101 to the 166.  I would swear that Scott Hamilton and Ken Indorf have ridden every road in California, but I was surprised to learn neither had been down the 166.  This is a really great road with some beautiful views and nice twisties. It is one that I would ride again if given the chance.  

We stopped for gas in Maricopa.  This gas station is memorable because it backs up to a house with a dozen dogs and cats that run free and usually come up to the gas station to take advantage of suckers like us who will give them snacks.  I was surprised that Barb Sanecki didn’t “accidently” take one of the puppies home with her – she was in love with the little guy and was trying to figure out how to get him in their bag to make the trip home.  

Back on the road we made our way down to the 5 and into the heat.  All weekend it had been a nice 60 – 70 degrees – then there we were in 90 degrees.  We stopped at our last gas stop in Valencia and were quick to take off any layers we could to cool down.  

At the gas stop in Valencia I called the ride and thanked everyone for joining us.  This was again a great trip and I have already been asked “we are doing this again next year aren’t we?”  So I guess we will see.  A few decided to press on home, but a large group of us decided to get lunch at Marie Callendar’s before heading on.   The manager at this Marie’s just seems to love us and remembers us each time we pass through there.  He set us up almost immediately at a large table in the bar and as usual the service was great.  Once we all were full and hydrated we made the last leg of the journey home.

Thanks again to all who came with us – really a great time!!!

OSC Poker Run

A small group of us gathered at Starbucks on our way to the Orange Senior Center and their annual Poker Run.  Usually we have a pretty good turnout for this ride, but I am guessing the current price of gas really kept some people away.  Myself, Susan Palaoro, Chuck and Patty Giambitti, Richard “Taz” Green, William Fields, Daveta Jo Gallager, and Brian Hefter, were joined by Don “Doc” Thomas and Andy and Michele Koller (these three are long time members of 230 who have not ridden with us in a while).  Once everyone arrived we headed off to the Senior Center, down Chapman to Olive.

This year’s Poker Run had a lot more vendors, a lot more big ticket prizes and much better food.  We all started out with muffins and coffee (water and soda too) when we got there and a quick look through the vendors that had already started to setup.  Raffle tickets were purchased and everyone took time to drop their tickets into the bags for each of the raffle prizes.  This year the big raffle prize was a 42” Flat Screen, and the 50/50 winner received a $300 gift certificate to Harley.  Lots of bags from Saddleman and some gift baskets.  There was also a party at Hooters for 10 people – lots of tickets in that bag. 

We all registered and pulled our first cards – always hopeful.  Normally we would have sped out of there as quickly as possible, but the first stop (LA Harley of Anaheim) was not going to be open until 10am, so we took our time and left about 9:45.  We were joined by a couple on a Suzuki scooter with a trike conversion for this leg of the ride – it was interesting but I think one trip on the freeway with us was more than enough for them.

The route took us out Chapman, up the 5 north, and off at Brookhurst.  We made a couple of turns and ended up on Orangethorpe and a quick left into the dealership.  Here we found donuts and more coffee, this made it difficult to get certain members of our group moving.  Once everyone had pulled their cards we were off back down Orangethorpe and out the 57 to Lifestyles. Amazingly there were MORE donuts and coffee there too.  More cards were pulled and we all got on our bikes to go.  Unfortunately, William had issues with his bike – dying battery, so he and Daveta Jo took a detour to her house to pick up a car and leave the bike behind.  They caught up with us back at the Senior Center later.  So the rest of us continued on, up the 57n to Lambert and a nice trip down Carbon Canyon.  If I haven’t mentioned it, the weather was beautiful, clear, and not too hot.  It made the ride down Carbon Canyon really enjoyable.  We jumped on the 71 in Chino Hills, then down to the 91 and off at Yorba Linda for our fourth card pull at Weir Canyon Honda.  The parking there was a little crazy, so we didn’t hang out there long (maybe as there were no donuts at this stop lol).  Off we went back down onto Yorba Linda and out to Anaheim Hills.  This ride was a really nice change from the freeway.  Some nice sweeping turns and hills.  A right onto Chapman took us back down and through to the Senior Center. 

We all pulled our last cards and then raced for lunch.  This year’s lunch was really nice.  The Food Ministry provided Hot Dogs, Brisket, Pulled Pork, beans, rice, salad, and more.  The afternoon was spent waiting for the raffle tickets to get pulled.  In the end, Patty won a gift basket from Storage Wars, and I won a nice T-Bag from Saddleman.  None of us won any of the grand prizes this year (If Glenn had been there I am sure he would have won the 50/50 – too bad Glenn).  I understand that they ended up with over 100 riders this year.  Which was more than the last couple of years. 

Tom Maldonado took time at the end to thank everyone who had helped.  He called all of us from 230 up to the stage and thanked us for our continued support.  A nice end to the day.

October Chapter Ride - Crystal Lake

For those of you that don’t know, I had a total knee replacement six weeks ago.  So this ride was very important to me.  I realize that I surprised a lot of people when I pulled up on my bike Saturday morning – but it felt great to be back in the saddle.  We had a really great group for the ride.  After a little socializing we called the meeting to order.  We were joined by some new riders: Johnathan Hinds, Dave Vance, and Todd’s daughter Delany Withey.  We also welcomed back Doug and Cindy Reeves who were with us for their third ride, more about that later.  There were announcements of the upcoming OSC Poker Run, and the overnighter to Pismo, info on the Holiday Party and November fundraiser for the OSC.  Then it was the all important raffle.  Winners were William Fields, Mike Fry, Patty Giambitti, Richard “Taz” Green and Chuck Giambitti.   For once the 50/50 was NOT won by Richard “Taz” Green – but in fact was won by Johnathan Hinds. 

Time to ride – we ended up with 24 bikes and 34 riders broken out into three groups with Dan Dobler, Brian Hefter, and Gary Felkel as Ride Captains.  Brian was being trained by Terry Bishop who was riding his wing, and I was riding as a tail gunner.  Each group was evenly populated and then we were off down the 5 south to Ortega Highway.  For once there was no construction to prevent us from keeping a really nice pace through the mountains.  The weather was cool and it was a great day for a ride.  We transitioned from Ortega Highway to the 15 north and to our first gas stop in Norco.  After we all gassed up, we were off up the 15 north again to the 10 west and then off at Euclid to make our way up Mount Baldy.  This area has some of the most amazing houses – huge houses with big yards, really nice.  We all were picking out our favorites.  We started up the mountain and then we transitioned off to Glendora Ridge Road, and then San Gabriel Canyon Road. We then turned on Crystal Lake Rd and made out way up to the Café for lunch.  This was a really great road with lots of nice turns and twists.  At the end of the road we arrived at the Crystal Lake Campground and the café and amazingly we found Wayne Moye there waiting for us.  Some of the group had brought their own lunches and a bunch of us had pre-ordered our lunch from the café.  They were really nice and accommodating there.  They have been having it rough since the fires earlier this year – really cut their business down – so they were really happy to see us and make sure we had everything we needed.  And that included some great brownies!!! 


Once we were done with lunch we headed back down the hill and onto Glendora Mountain Road.  After about 150 miles of twisties it was really kind of sad to hit the bottom of the mountain and back onto four lane roads.  We made our last gas stop in Azusa and after some discussion about the current gas prices we saddled up and then it was back to Orange County via the 210 and the 57 south. 

Back at El Torito it was time for business.  After announcements on upcoming rides, it was time to vote our newest members into the group.  Doug and Cindy Reeves had completed their third ride with us and were voted in with our usual flair.  Doug required the help of all of the ladies to ensure his votes – Cindy was a shoe in.  Of course we weren’t influenced by the fact that she brought homemade cookies for everyone!

I really enjoyed my first ride on my new knee.  It was a little rough but really worth it.