Banning Idyllwild Panoramic Highway [Archive]

alanmcorcoran

10-26-2010, 03:27 AM

Weather cleared a little Sunday and the wife, who is sick of hearing me practice my Christmas repertoire, suggested I "go for a ride." Headed out to Mile High Cafe, a place I discovered on the way back from Joshua Tree, Labor Day weekend. It's a 180 miler, about a tank of gas on the Strat. Half of it is high speed freeway and the other half is twisty mountain roads. Mile High is about as high as the name implies, and, after you leave and continue on towards Banning, it climbs above 6000 feet. Was a little chilly up there but still pretty temperate. They do get snow in the winter. I'll be out there six more times between now and 12/26.

http://s4.postimage.org/ehBSJ.jpg (http://postimage.org/image/szt5waec/)

http://s4.postimage.org/ehLRi.jpg (http://postimage.org/image/szzs1odg/)

http://s4.postimage.org/ehOlr.jpg (http://postimage.org/image/t01fl0v8/)

Moedad

10-26-2010, 01:26 PM

I'll be out there six more times between now and 12/26.

You already know how many times? Are you going to be on the Strat or KLR? Let me know if you'd like some company one of those times.

alanmcorcoran

10-26-2010, 02:28 PM

You already know how many times? Are you going to be on the Strat or KLR? Let me know if you'd like some company one of those times.

Goin' out to play the pianner. Chestnuts and fire and all that. If it's cold or snowing or looks like it might snow, I'll be taking the 4 wheel drive. All dates are in December - first one is Saturday the 11th.

http://s1.postimage.org/jfKl0.jpg (http://postimage.org/image/13352e7r8/)

Water Warrior 2

10-26-2010, 03:36 PM

Looks like a great way to spend the day. Lots of entertaining curves to practice your skills and sense of adventure.

alanmcorcoran

10-26-2010, 04:41 PM

It's good for practicing curves and the piano...

Moedad

10-26-2010, 04:52 PM

You already know how many times? Are you going to be on the Strat or KLR? Let me know if you'd like some company one of those times.

Goin' out to play the pianner. Chestnuts and fire and all that. If it's cold or snowing or looks like it might snow, I'll be taking the 4 wheel drive. All dates are in December - first one is Saturday the 11th.

How'd you get that gig? Did you sit down and start playing it like at the Rock House? And they said "Hey, do you want to come and do that some more?"

alanmcorcoran

10-26-2010, 05:26 PM

Pretty much. I asked them if I could play. Also, they had a bench and the piano wasn't a piece of shit. I am still not quite ready for prime time (thus my tendency to play out of the way places - last year I played three nights in Solvang) but, I'm getting there. I have 43 Christmas songs divided into A's, B's, C's, and D's. (I also have a couple of "forget it for nows.") If I can get them all up to A or A-, I'll start playing locally. I do have a date this year at the local Border's to ease my way in.

This was the first gig where they offered to pay me in something other than free food and drinks, so that's a big milestone. However, I refused the $. I might go with a tip jar. Maybe next year I'll have the confidence to charge (but, for me, it's not really about the money - but the idea someone was willing to pay was pretty nice.)

I uploaded an old Midi from 2008. It's a bit plodding and slow (I get really nervous when recording) but it gives you some idea of where I'm at. (this one I've worked on a lot since and it's an "A" now...)

EDIT: not sure what the issues is, but the .mid won't upload...

Moedad

10-26-2010, 05:37 PM

That's great! Maybe my wife and I will book a room at one of the B&Bs up there and drop by to listen.

What's the Borders store, date, and time?

Pretty much. I asked them if I could play. Also, they had a bench and the piano wasn't a piece of shit. I am still not quite ready for prime time (thus my tendency to play out of the way places - last year I played three nights in Solvang) but, I'm getting there. I have 43 Christmas songs divided into A's, B's, C's, and D's. (I also have a couple of "forget it for nows.") If I can get them all up to A or A-, I'll start playing locally. I do have a date this year at the local Border's to ease my way in.

This was the first gig where they offered to pay me in something other than free food and drinks, so that's a big milestone. However, I refused the $. I might go with a tip jar. Maybe next year I'll have the confidence to charge (but, for me, it's not really about the money - but the idea someone was willing to pay was pretty nice.)

I uploaded an old Midi from 2008. It's a bit plodding and slow (I get really nervous when recording) but it gives you some idea of where I'm at. (this one I've worked on a lot since and it's an "A" now...)

EDIT: not sure what the issues is, but the .mid won't upload...

alantf

10-26-2010, 06:29 PM

http://s1.postimage.org/jfKl0.jpg (http://postimage.org/image/13352e7r8/)

So .......... this was a picture where the ghost of a child that wasn't on the original photo appears, right?

Spookier than zombies, or what?

alanmcorcoran

10-26-2010, 07:07 PM

patrick_777

10-26-2010, 07:40 PM

Why are you and Busyweb not cruising around together?

alanmcorcoran

10-26-2010, 11:16 PM

Well, for one thing, Southern CA is a big place and we don't live that close to each other. A bigger reason is I generally am a solo rider. Moedad and I seem to get along pretty good on rides, but that was a surprise. Maybe because we're both former bicycling nuts and spent some time in a pace line. I suspect he's generally a solo rider too. As is BusyWeb, for that matter. There's pluses and minuses to having a riding buddy and, for me at least, I'm more comfortable being accountable only to myself. I don't usually plan my rides out - I go when I go, stop when I feel like it and change the route if I feel like it. Sometimes I speed, sometimes I don't.

But nothing's set in stone. Like I said, I've been a few decently long rides with Moedad and they went pretty well from my perspective.

Moedad

10-27-2010, 04:12 PM

Alan is the only one I've ever ridden with. He might be right about the bicycling thing. When you ride longer rides like centuries (100 milers), it's really hard to coordinate any kind of regular training schedule with another rider just because of the sheer amount of time you have to spend in the saddle. Hours and hours, up to 250-500 miles a week, depending on what ride you're training for. Even more if you're doing a double century. You can get a partner once in a while, especially for short weekend or weekday rides of 20-30 miles, but that doesn't cut it when you're training to do 100 miles or more, so you're pretty much on your own most of the time. I don't do that kind of riding any more, but I still have the mindset of solo riding. I like having a riding buddy, but I like riding alone just as much, or even more depending on circumstances. Like Alan said, being able to change your mind and not worry if what you want is or isn't what the other guy wants is a BIG plus. We both seem to be adaptable in that regard so what riding we've done together has worked for both of us, I think.

bonehead

10-27-2010, 04:32 PM

That's what riding should be like-no agenda. The only way to cruise in my book.

blaine

10-27-2010, 04:48 PM

That's what riding should be like-no agenda. The only way to cruise in my book.
:plus1: :) :cool:

Sarris

10-27-2010, 05:29 PM

Most Saturday and Sunday mornings I lead anywhere from a couple of pals to 6 or more for 150 to 200 mile rides. Most other times I ride alone.

I enjoy the camaraderie and input from others as to where and what route to ride. Must be a Harley thing? :??:

:)

Moedad

10-27-2010, 06:57 PM

I enjoy the camaraderie and input from others as to where and what route to ride. Must be a Harley thing? :??:

:)

Well, I don't know about Alan, but I haven't been riding long enough to develop a stable of buddies to ride with. I think it would be great fun with a small handful of riders, but very few of the friends I'd make enough personal space to ride with have bikes (I'm not very sociable--good listener, but holding up a conversation is not one of my strong points in general). Every once in a while one of them will say "Let's go for a ride some time." and I say, "Okay." That's as far as it gets. I suppose if a riding buddy was a priority, I'd try harder. Part of it is one of those time things again--trying to coordinate schedules with other people is a lot of work. Seems like the more I plan stuff the more it comes to pieces as the whatever-it-is gets closer. People are just too stinking busy anymore, at least here in SoCal they are. I try really hard to be unbusy (much to my wife's displeasure) so I have "me" time, but most of the people I know don't do that.

Sarris

10-27-2010, 07:09 PM

Water Warrior 2

10-27-2010, 07:49 PM

I have to admit to liking solo riding the most. Riding with Lynda is nice too since we have radios to communicate with without reverting to hand signals or guessing. A real boon when we get separated in heavy traffic and loose sight of the other rider. I did go on a few Sunday rides with a group of Vstrom riders a few times but it was not to my liking and seemed to be a little too much like a race to get nowhere particular. Lynda and I like to just wander around and play "what if we take that road ?"

Moedad

10-27-2010, 08:10 PM

Hey, WW, did you notice the extra bike listed in my profile yet?

Water Warrior 2

10-27-2010, 08:16 PM

Hey, WW, did you notice the extra bike listed in my profile yet?
Hey hey hey !!! When did you get a Weestrom ?? What color ? Mileage, farkles, how do you like it so far ??

blaine

10-27-2010, 08:27 PM

Hey, WW, did you notice the extra bike listed in my profile yet?
Hey hey hey !!! When did you get a Weestrom ?? What color ? Mileage, farkles, how do you like it so far ??

Congratulations.Some pics & info please.

Moedad

10-27-2010, 08:46 PM

Hey, WW, did you notice the extra bike listed in my profile yet?
Hey hey hey !!! When did you get a Weestrom ?? What color ? Mileage, farkles, how do you like it so far ??

I picked it up last week from a retired guy up in the high desert, so I got to ride about 80 miles to get it home. I am very impressed. Love the 6th gear! At one point I wasn't watching my speed on the downside of a 4,000 foot pass when I saw I was going 90 mph. In my defense most of the traffic was doing near that speed and that bike is so much smoother than my Nighthawk that I didn't even notice. It's blue with 17k miles and looks brand new. It's got the grip warmers and wind deflectors, and a powerport, as well as a Cee Bailey windshield (less buffeting than my Nighthawk, which is also why I didn't notice my speed). Also came with a set of quick release racks and Givi hard bags. I'll post some pics when I have a chance. But I really like it so far. I'd like to get a skid plate and set of crash bars, but other than that I'm a happy camper in regard to farkles, at least at this point.

alanmcorcoran

10-27-2010, 11:41 PM

We meet at a local breakfast spot at 8:00 AM on weekends and who ever shows, goes.We figure out where to go, what basic route to take, and approximate time we want to get home over breakfast.We normally go to "I Don't Give a Shit", "Where Ever", or "Who Cares". Sometimes it's a real destination, but most times not.Not much planning other than that. Simple and easy. :)

That's how it used to work when i was in a cycling group. It mostly worked out, mainly because (luckily) we were all relatively close in ablility most of the time. Occasionally, we'd have a straggler and the rules were sort of loose on that. Some of us would wait and others were content to let them catch up to us at the lunch/rendezvous. I did that ride nearly every week for about ten years, until I moved away from the area.

A lot of the appeal of that group was that we all got along pretty well, which is rare for me. In most groups, I don't fit in that well and usually there's a number of people that get on my nerves too, so, I generally don't seek them out.

Water Warrior 2

10-28-2010, 01:50 AM

Moedad, sounds like a great buy you found. Be sure to join up with Stromtroopers to learn an amazing amount of info about the bike. I also had my bike sneak up to high speed a couple times too. That perfectly balanced 90 degree V-twin is awesome. You will be very happy with it.

Moedad

10-28-2010, 03:07 AM

Be sure to join up with Stromtroopers to learn an amazing amount of info about the bike.

Ha! Been a member there since 2008. Knew someday I'd get one, so I joined up soon after I got my GZ. Was getting the GZ serviced when I saw a flat black Wee at the local Suzuki dealer and I was smitten.

Water Warrior 2

10-28-2010, 03:06 PM

Moedad

10-30-2010, 09:22 PM

Here's the new-to-me bike.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v11/danmartin56/Motorcycle%20Stuff/WeeStrom008.jpg

Hey, WW, did you notice the extra bike listed in my profile yet?
Hey hey hey !!! When did you get a Weestrom ?? What color ? Mileage, farkles, how do you like it so far ??

I picked it up last week from a retired guy up in the high desert, so I got to ride about 80 miles to get it home. I am very impressed. Love the 6th gear! At one point I wasn't watching my speed on the downside of a 4,000 foot pass when I saw I was going 90 mph. In my defense most of the traffic was doing near that speed and that bike is so much smoother than my Nighthawk that I didn't even notice. It's blue with 17k miles and looks brand new. It's got the grip warmers and wind deflectors, and a powerport, as well as a Cee Bailey windshield (less buffeting than my Nighthawk, which is also why I didn't notice my speed). Also came with a set of quick release racks and Givi hard bags. I'll post some pics when I have a chance. But I really like it so far. I'd like to get a skid plate and set of crash bars, but other than that I'm a happy camper in regard to farkles, at least at this point.

Water Warrior 2

10-30-2010, 09:33 PM

Wow that bike looks almost new. I see you have a center stand too, lucky you. Be sure to make sure any skid plate you get is compatible with the center stand. Hand guards are optional too. A really clean nicely taken care of bike from the looks of it. Did you get a service history ??