ADRIAN'S LOG:
AUG 27, SUN:
After staying up late nights all week working on maintenance "issues" of dubious importance (eg. taking apart Adrian's engine to find whirring noise and then putting it back together, leaving 3 extra mystery bolts and noise louder; painting Carl's bike black because he is jealous of Adrian's ride), finally stayed up all night Saturday for reasons not recalled[Editor's Note: Installed skidplate, handguards, aluminum panniers, headlight shield, etc]. Truck blows head gasket near Lacey. Carl accuses Adrian of destroying his truck. Adrian wants to beat the crap out of Carl. Tone set for trip. Rally anticlimactic.
AUG 28, MON:
Rally continues to suck. Carl thoroughly enjoys showing off bike upgrades to strange old men in attendance. Took bikes for off-road ride, Carl wants to turn back halfway through. First hint of Carl's true colors.
AUG 29, TUES:
Do some work on article at library, then decide to go for long ride in beautiful countryside. Discover angry messages from Carl because am missing seminar on pannier packing. Finally catch slide show by veteran motorcycle adventurer "Coach" which is relatively engaging. End of show, Coach needs walker to leave. "After all my adventures, to think, I only broke my back once," he says. Carl & Adrian pester him for advice, contemplate worst-case scenarios in Mexico. Carl buys supplies at local hardware store to make ghetto highway bars(2' PVC pipe with endcaps in which to store tools) and windshield(hard-hat faceshield attached to bike with metal strapping & duct-tape).
30TH WEDNS:
Wet morning, bike won't start. Takes about 2 hours to figure out it needs starter fluid. Carl has in meantime tried to convince Adrian that carb must be rebuilt. Finally get underway, take care of truck situation by leaving it at a Centralia RV storage place and stay in Portland with Craig Terry. Adrian sets bike on stand wrong, bike falls over, Carl snaps pics, then has cow. Go for beers and Craig leads visit to strip club.
31ST AUG THURS:
Spend all day at dealer in Vancouver getting Adrian's fork seals fixed. Go back to Craig's with jug of Carlo Rossi sangria (Carl's fave), have dinner. Carl is expansive on subject of European knowledge.
1ST SEPT FRI:
Adrian spends morning working on article, then finally underway. He locks motorcycle key in house, reverts to spare. Carl jealous of Adrian's dry bag, has to stop for one at outdoor store. Adrian has great burrito. Ride to California, mountain scenery terrific. Realize put speedo gear in backward. Bike mysteriously out of gas, roll to gas station in middle of nowhere. We both break our shutoff switches, but get my speedo fixed. Siphon gas out of Carl's bike for family out of gas in now-closed station. Hotel in Yreka with attractive Indian girl behind counter.
2ND SATURDAY
Carl impossible to get moving in morning, the bastard sips his coffee like old people...drink coffee. Adrian leaves Carl in Yreka and ride to Redding Kawasaki dealer. Carl shows up fuming, argument ensues. Meet KLR owner named Cam in Cycle Gear parking lot, who insistently offers his assistance and use of his shop any time. Spend next 4 hours in Redding for Carl to mail extraneous items home. Replace headlight, get new spare keys. Incredibly long haul from Redding to LA, mostly at night.
3RD(3AM) SUNDAY
Go down never-ending, unbelievably twisty canyon road to Malibu in middle of night. Carl insists on stopping halfway through to smoke cigarette to calm nerves & rest tired brake hand. Adrian in high spirits, eagerly anticipates scraping pegs. Find Ryan Jones's house at 3AM. Awoken-neighbor threatens to shoot. Fierce argument ensues when Adrian lays claim to bed over couch, builds to trip-threatening intensity. Wake up early to find food and coffee, find only fish and chips. Resolve argument. Work on article. Carl works on bike, complains about not being underway. Spend evening riding around LA. Stopped at intersection, Adrian tips his bike over, Carl beams and whips out camera. Go to Hollywood & Vine, take pictures. Carl has a beer and begins acting strangely. [?]
4TH MON LABOR DAY
Adrian finishes article, then we ride through South-Central. Find motorcycle shop, visit Walmart. Have to wait til morning to meet Ryan at post office to get Adrian's helmet. Carl threatens to title entire trip "The Great Helmet-Chase 2006"
