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Last Sunday I did something I've never done before. I went on a poker run (well actually they called it a turkey run). After a couple or three days of rain, the day dawned beautifully. I suited up, checked the tires dropped the small tank bag onto the bike and headed out the eleven miles to the start of the run. Checking in I was greeted by nice people who after giving me a discount as an AMA member also gave me a doughnut (I turned down the OJ) and a route sheet.
I re-jackjeted and followed four other bikes out of the parking lot. A quick squirt south down the freeway and an exit onto the notorious Ortega highway. It's a great motorcycle road, but the crotch rocketeers have caused an extremely heavey Highway Patrol presence and the rumors are that 1 -2 miles over the speed limit or crossing the yellow will get you a ticket. What was once an exhilerating ride at extra-legal speeds is now merely some fun. Following the four ( a gold wing directly ahead), I just cruised along. The gold wing guy needs some remedial thinking, I mused. On a road where people get killed because they either meet a motor home head on or shoot out over the edge into the canyon due to a lack of guardrails, this guy was staying awfully close to the yellow line on right handers. Most of which are blind and one of which is uphill, off-camber, decreasing radius.
Nevertheless, the five of us safely negotiated the Ortega and arrived at the cesignated check point in Elsinore where I drew a numbered card. I went into the grocery there for a bottle of water and the other four were gone when I came out. So much for group riding. I continued north along the lake and took the left turn that led up to Temescal Canyon Road. This road parallels the freeway and is a pleasant ride along residential/industrial areas finally ending up in the town of Corona. More two-lane blacktopping west through a dedicated dairy farming area (serious manure smells from the feedlots) led to a short stretch of freeway north to the city of Chino Hills. Off ramp to a short stretch of residential followed by an uphill tightly twisted two-lane called Carbon Canyon Road. You come down the other side to the town of Brea to the second check point, and my second numbered card. I gassed up at this point and continued back east along Imperial Highway until it met the freeway and changed its name. This eventually led to Santiago Canyon Road and a biker bar called Cook's corner (which I by-passed). A few back streets and a return to the starting point for a final draw.
The organizers used some magical matrix to determine that my "hand" was neither high nor low and I hadn't won a prize. They did however give me a nice pin (turkey on a bike), a spray bottle of Maguiar's polish donated by the dealership, and a meal ticket for lunch at local IHOP. I ate and headed home.
Total poker run distance was 125 miles. I thoroughly enjoyed the ride, even alone, and will probably do it again at my first opportunity. The day was truly magnificent sunny, extremely clear, and not too hot.
I will probably ride parts of the run again on my own, just for fun.
I re-jackjeted and followed four other bikes out of the parking lot. A quick squirt south down the freeway and an exit onto the notorious Ortega highway. It's a great motorcycle road, but the crotch rocketeers have caused an extremely heavey Highway Patrol presence and the rumors are that 1 -2 miles over the speed limit or crossing the yellow will get you a ticket. What was once an exhilerating ride at extra-legal speeds is now merely some fun. Following the four ( a gold wing directly ahead), I just cruised along. The gold wing guy needs some remedial thinking, I mused. On a road where people get killed because they either meet a motor home head on or shoot out over the edge into the canyon due to a lack of guardrails, this guy was staying awfully close to the yellow line on right handers. Most of which are blind and one of which is uphill, off-camber, decreasing radius.
Nevertheless, the five of us safely negotiated the Ortega and arrived at the cesignated check point in Elsinore where I drew a numbered card. I went into the grocery there for a bottle of water and the other four were gone when I came out. So much for group riding. I continued north along the lake and took the left turn that led up to Temescal Canyon Road. This road parallels the freeway and is a pleasant ride along residential/industrial areas finally ending up in the town of Corona. More two-lane blacktopping west through a dedicated dairy farming area (serious manure smells from the feedlots) led to a short stretch of freeway north to the city of Chino Hills. Off ramp to a short stretch of residential followed by an uphill tightly twisted two-lane called Carbon Canyon Road. You come down the other side to the town of Brea to the second check point, and my second numbered card. I gassed up at this point and continued back east along Imperial Highway until it met the freeway and changed its name. This eventually led to Santiago Canyon Road and a biker bar called Cook's corner (which I by-passed). A few back streets and a return to the starting point for a final draw.
The organizers used some magical matrix to determine that my "hand" was neither high nor low and I hadn't won a prize. They did however give me a nice pin (turkey on a bike), a spray bottle of Maguiar's polish donated by the dealership, and a meal ticket for lunch at local IHOP. I ate and headed home.
Total poker run distance was 125 miles. I thoroughly enjoyed the ride, even alone, and will probably do it again at my first opportunity. The day was truly magnificent sunny, extremely clear, and not too hot.
I will probably ride parts of the run again on my own, just for fun.