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DAY: 39  DATE: Thursday, July 26   MILES: 324  TOTAL MILES: 4297

LOCATION: Atascadero, CA

COMMENTS:

    "Get chur motor runnin', head out on the highway, lookin' for adventure"

    I had a great time at Kim's and Dave's. It's bitter sweet. I like being there but it's time to go. I hung around O'side til 8:40 hoping that by the time I hit LA the commute traffic might have died down. I didn't plan on shooting pictures today because I knew traffic would be tough and I'd have to pay extra attention.

    So off I go.  The first decision comes as I approach a short toll road which bypasses a section of I-405. Zumo tells me to take the 73 toll road! I say screw Zumo, traffic is flowing right along and I don't feel like messing around trying to find change. Over the next hill, around the next corner, the traffic comes to a stop for the interchange of I-5 and I-405. Sweet. But, the day IS really nice, I haven't been riding for 2 weeks so just bare with it. I hit several more areas where the traffic just crept along on my way up to 101. All in all not too bad considering that it only took me 2-3/4 hours to get to 101 which was about the 120 mile mark. I just don't understand how folks can do this day after day. Most cars have one person. If they doubled up it would halve the traffic. I got really spoiled walking to Fawcett.

    Anywho, this part of the trip was deja vue since this was part of the same route Connie and I took last year. The difference is that this year I'm continuing up 101 to San Fran whereas last year we hung a left in San Luis Obispo and followed 1 to San Fran. 101 goes inland a bit and therefore the temperatures are higher. While I was near the coast it was a comfortable 73 but once I headed inland it rose to 95 in some spots.

    I note when I stop for lunch that the electrical connector for my trailer has disconnected and been dragging on the ground for The Lord knows how long. Long enough to wear one contact on the trailer half to nothing. I'd hit a piece of debris going around LA and all I can think of is that it came back and hit the cable. Not a real crisis because I still have tail lights and the left blinker and brake light work. I can easily replace the trailer side connector. I've never put a security tie on the connector but will do so from now on. Glad I didn't lose the bike side connector, it's harder to find.

    I stopped here Atascadero because it leaves me with about 215 miles to San Francisco. I'd like to get there tomorrow around 2 hopefully before the Friday evening rush. Someone asked on my Blog if I plan motels in advance. The answer is, usually! In the evening I plan where I'd like to be the next day. If I'm on or near an interstate I don't sweat it because there are plenty of motels. But when you get off the interstates, even on US roads, it can get tough. Motels can be far and few between and if there is some unknown event going on nearby ... keep riding. The down side is that maybe you could have ridden further that day (that doesn't bother me since I'm not on a schedule) and maybe the motel is located in no-man's land with no services nearby. The up side is I don't get anxious because I know I have a hot shower and bed waiting in an air conditioned room. Yup, you're right, I'm a wimp ... but a comfortable wimp.