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Steve Witmer rides Palomar Mtn. . . . in the DARK!


KMG_365

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Many thanks to "eaglemike", and the lovely Geneva for offering up their spare bike to Steve Witmer so that Carl, Kevin, David and I could join them for a fun-filled late day/evening ride through San Diego's back country! clap.gif

 

We got a bit of a late start but the weather and roads were perfect and other than a few minor hiccups--which merely adds flavor to great bench racing afterwards (how the HECK did you manage to drop the key with that HUGE fob on it down THERE??!! eek.gif )--I had a GREAT ride! clap.gif

 

I'll try to post up the few (two?) pics I took later today. Oh, and if you've never ridden DOWN South Grade road on Palomar in total darkness through the cool night air with the bats snatching the moths from mid-air as they're illuminated by your headlight and practically bouncing off your helmet, you really should try it at least once! thumbsup.gif

 

Thanks again to everyone who made it out! cool.gif

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Kevin_Stevens

Lessons learned:

 

- Humming "Don't Let the Sun Go Down On Me" to yourself inside your helmet doesn't work.

 

- "Meet at the casino for dinner" is insufficiently specific when there are 11 casinos within a five-mile radius.

 

- Don't follow the guy who says "I've only been up here once before".

 

- Don't bet the guy who dropped the key into the bodywork that he can't do it again.

 

- An R1150 lighting the way is very inspirational to keeping your speed up, when the alternative is being left alone on south grade in the dark. With the bats.

 

Thanks to all for the neat trip!

 

KeS

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'twas a great time. Getting to the top right a sunset..... Almost a little too much fun on the three glared-out corners........ The view as we started down was fantastic. Like Jamie said, it was a lot of fun watching the bats. One passed less than 6" from my helmet, I think. smile.gif Thanks for the great company!

 

all the best,

 

Mike

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Steve_Witmer

I arrived safely back in Richmond after a lengthy day spent in the seventh circle of hell (lots of time spent waiting in airports).

 

A special thank you to EagleMike for allowing me to use his very sweet VFR800. First time I had ridden one and very different from my RT, but a special bike in its own way.

 

The ride was the end of a four-day visit to San Diego, which I enjoyed tremendously. San Diego was beautiful and 30 degrees cooler than Richmond. The hospitality was fantastic and I noticed that San Diego has way more than its fair share of pretty girls. It just isn't fair.

 

We had an absolutely beautiful ride headed east out of the San Diego at about 5:00 p.m. before heading north in the direction of Mt. Palomar and Julian. It was astonishing to leave a city at sea level and arrive in the mountains about an hour later. Real mountains too! Our mountains here in Virginia are far more ancient and have been worn down by time and the appearance softened by vegetation.

 

The view from up high is like nothing we have here, and I now understand why people choose to live in California. It is magnificent.

 

It was great to meet some new friends from California, and I will be sure to visit again in the future. I may be back in 2008 to visit San Francisco.

 

Thanks to all who decided to come along for the ride. There is nothing quite like crossing the country to spend time with friends you have never met. thumbsup.gif It was great to meet you, and I hope to see you all again.

 

Next time we'll ride all day! Anybody for a ride out to Joshua Tree National Monument? grin.gif

 

P.S. The keys were recovered.

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Steve,

Glad to hear you made it back safely to Richmond and enjoyed your visit to San Diego. What a grand evening, riding through the back roads of San Diego and getting to the top of Palomar just as the Sun was setting and then ridding down South Grade after dark, wow what a experience that was. Count me in for the ride out to Joshua Tree National Monument when you visit us again

Thanks to everyone for making it a fun filled trip.

 

Carl

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