Redding CA to Oakland CA - 6.24.3013

It was 6:15 am and the sun was up, but you couldn't have found it in sky.  The storm clouds had taken the heavens hostage the day before and had no intent on setting the sun free, no matter how hard we prayed for it's exodus.  I don't know what it is, but, I always tend to wake up first these days.  Goddamn that blue collar time clock!  I tried to go back to sleep once I noticed everyone was still crashed out in that vending machine building, but, the anticipation was too great.  I also hate being the guy to wake everyone up.  I feel so rude.

I rolled my stiff and sore body off my mini air mattress on to the cement and did my best to stand up. I really should start stretching.  Especially since I've got a jacked hip that likes to cramp up in the most in opportune times.  Generally while I'm full throttle on the freeway or walking next to a pretty dame.   

I figured the shuffle of me deflating my bed might wake the boys in an unobtrusive way.  No luck.  I slept in my wet clothes that night with no sleeping bag so my pack up time was relatively quick.  My jeans were still damp as I opened the door to our roadside sanctuary and took a few pictures while putting my first nail in the coffin of the day.  I would've killed for some coffee. 

Dalen slept in the car so I went over to see if he was up.  He was awake, but, I wouldn't say he was alive.  We decided he'd be the one to rattle the cage.  Thom said he wasn't leaving until the sun was up.  Obviously he hadn't opened his eyes.  It was almost seven in the morning, and, although there was heavy cloud cover, it was technically day time.  The rain was still coming down pretty heavy, but, we'd decided the night before that we had to leave as early as possible since we had already lost too much time.  

Everyone got up and was slowly packing up their bikes.  Our spirits weren't as high as yesterday by any means.  It almost seemed pointless to put on rain gear since our clothes were still soaked.  Nothing had even come close to drying out and as far as we could tell, there was no chance of sun for days.  There's nothing like putting on wet gloves.  From what we saw on the interwebs, Ginger and Dennis didn't get hit with one raindrop their entire way to Oakland.  They were only a day ahead of us.  

Now it was time to see who's bike wouldn't start.  Of course Thom's knuck kicked right over.  If I remember correctly, Kia and Todd's started rumbling with little effort as well.  Kyle and I try to wait to start our "modern" bikes until everyone else's steeds are growling so they can focus.  

Nick's oil spitting girl wasn't wanting to run.  We gave him two bump starts and she still sputtered in rebellion until she'd finally call it quits.  Mind you, it was fucking dumping so pushing a bike in full rain gear through running water isn't exactly the way any of us wanted to start our mornings.  We'd much rather take a cup of warm coffee with a side of breakfast.  

Todd, Thom, and Nick pushed his shovel under a tree and debated about the potential reason it wasn't wanting to run. I think it was something to do with points.   Thankfully Todd had a spare set.  While they worked on that, I tightened and lubed my chain.  It only had maybe 500 miles on it at this point so it was still stretching out.   

Nick finally got her running.  Stress levels were at level red by this point and there were a few words exchanged.  Again, I won't go in to detail on here since this isn't fiction.

Finally, with all our gear covered in garbage bags and electrical tape, we were all running and ready to get back on the five.  Not stoked by any means, but ready.  We were roughly 240 miles from Oakland and on a mission to get there come hell or high water.  At this point, we'd prefer hell.  

We rode at a speed that everyone felt comfortable with to Redding.  It was about thirty miles from the rest stop.  We pulled in to a gas station for fuel for both the bikes and our bellies.  Our blood sugar was far lower than our tanks.

Thom and Dalen had to hustle to Oakland so they could get Dalen's baby running again.  We all decided we'd do our best to keep up, but, if anything, we knew where we were going, and would meet them there.  Thom swapped his carb out with one that Dalen brought down from Seattle right in front of the gas pump then ripped around the block a few times to get it tuned up a bit.  That gave the rest of us time to eat and chug some caffeine.  Gas stations were beginning to feel the most like home to me at this point.  We spent more time in those parking lots than in the saddle it seemed.

After everyone had their breakfast and loaded back up, we hit the road again.  It was raining a bit, but, nothing like what we'd just gone through.  While riding down I-5, we lost Thom and then Kia.  We new that Thom was on a mission to get to Oakland so we weren't worried.  None of us were sure how long Kia been missing though.  Kyle pulled up next to me to let me know and then I tried signalling to Todd, but, he didn't understand me.  We pulled over for gas and checked our phones.  Kia had ran out of gas.  As we were pushing our bikes out of the stalls, we heard a chopper and looked up to see Kia rip by on the freeway.  We started our bikes and got back on the freeway as quick as we could to try and catch up. 

We were facing a pretty strong head wind.  Most of the time we were all tucked low and drafting off each other with maybe four inches between front and back tires.  Todd had to pullover due to a leg cramp and we waited just up the freeway.  We never caught up to Kia or Thom.  In fact, we figured out that we were probably riding basically side by side Kia the whole time, missing each other at gas stations.  He got to Oakland maybe fifteen minutes before we did.  

Once Todd, Kyle, Nick, and I got on the 80 towards Oakland, traffic started to slow down.  This was my first time splitting lanes legally and I was pretty stoked.  Even with the wind and rain.  After twenty plus miles of riding the white dotted line, we got in to the city, checked directions and made it to what we thought was Lee and Cassandra's house.  We parked the bikes next to a giant palm tree, which I secretly peed on while Todd talked to Cassandra on the phone and figured out that we gotten street and ave mixed up.  Again we were back on the bikes and splitting lanes through downtown Oakland.  That thrill almost makes you forget that your ass is bruised and you're throttle hand is numb.  Not completely, but, almost. 

We got to Lee and Cassandra's where Kia was rearranging his load.  The garage was open and there was Lee working on one of the few bikes inside.  He and Cassandra greeted us with a peaceful and warm handshakes.  I noticed a Sporty in the back of the garage that I had seen countless photos of on the internet over the last few years.  I looked at Cassandra and realized that I had been following her blog, dustdevil.tumblr.com, for years.  I forget how small the internet makes this world seem. 

Kia, Kyle, and I swapped some quick stories about riding through the city while Todd figured out where Thom and Dalen were.  Again, we threw a leg over our seats, let the kickstands slam, and we rode ten or so blocks to Digger Darren's shop.  It was a cement building a full city block long with big orange roll up doors down the entire north side.  One of them was wide open with a few chops outside.  Obviously we were in the right spot.  Dalen's Knuckle head was already on one of the two benches and Thom, Dalen, and Digger were all elbow deep in troubleshooting and pulling the tranny.  I guess Thom had been there for a couple hours already.  He is a ruler!  He straight mobbed that Knucklehead to Oakland.

We back our bikes to the curb and kill the motors.  I swear to god my girl has gained 100 lbs.  It seems more and more difficult to maneuver her around. Who needs a gym when you push a fully loaded Sporty around all day?

Introductions were made, beers were passed around, and the relaxation began.  I laid down on the sidewalk to stretch my back and legs with my leather under my head.  It's funny how we adapt as we travel.  I've never been opposed to posting up anywhere, but, I've gotten even more comfortable any piece of pavement or cement I decide to rest on.  However, I was warned to not sit in any corners since they've most likely been pissed on a million times since the last rain. 

Kyle got ahold of Alicia, his old roommate, who recently moved to Oakland, and we decide to go grab dinner with her.  We all talk shit and shop while we're waiting for her to show up in a car to head downtown.  The reason I even bring up her car is, I've been on two wheels for for days and almost 900 miles.  Usually I despise cages, but, at this point, sitting in a comfy moving chair protected from the elements didn't sound half bad.  Plus, at some point along the way Kyle's exhaust had burnt through his jeans,boots, and socks and left a nasty bite on his ankle.  He wasn't too in the mood to ride.

Alicia picked us up and we headed downtown to some fancy hot dog joint.  Kyle and I had a beer with dinner and listened intently as Alicia told us about her first few weeks in Oakland, finding a place, getting held up at gunpoint, etc.  You know, the usual.  It's great to see a familiar face in a very unfamiliar city.  I don't think I've ever been to Oakland and although I've gotten pretty comfortable in the unfamiliar, it's always a little unnerving to be somewhere completely new. 

Kyle and I were doing our best to keep our eyes open as we headed back to Digger Darren's shop.  Sabbath was coming through the speakers as everyone was still hustling around to get their bikes ready for the ride down to LA.  Thom and Dalen were still focused on Dalen's Knuck.   Kia was rewiring his Shovel.  Todd was sitting in the middle of the shop getting pictures off his camera and on to his computer.  I can't remember what Nick was wrenching on.  I was in and out of nap land on the sidewalk when Kyle and I found the motivation to ride that excruciatingly long ten blocks back to the house to shower, throw out the bed rolls, and get some much needed sleep.

We had all decided to stay an extra day in Oakland so as to wait for the storm to pass and be able to enjoy some of that California sun.