Luck Was Riding With Us!
After fueling in Santa Barbara, we hit a road called Highway 154. This road lead inland away from the coast and cut diagonally across the Santa Barbara coast. It was smooth with mostly high speed sweepers as it climbed over the Los Padres National Forest, and passed by scenic Lake Cachuma. Highway 154 paved over and bypassed the old Stage Coach road that used to be taken by horse and buggy from Los Angeles to San Francisco. A small portion of the old road still exists, along with the old saloon and horse rests that was used frequently by the travelers of the old west.
I was initially leading the group but I think I was way too tame. After hesitating to pass a slower car, I suddenly saw Jackie on her Hayabusa whiz by to pass the slower moving car, and then she disappeared into the next corner. She was immediately followed by Ken and Carl. After that, they were gone. On some of the straights I had to wick up my speeds to 100+ and I still could not close the gap. This went on for miles. As I entered a very long straightaway, I caught a glimpse of the 3 Musketeers at full bore, passing slower cages with extreme prejudice and blowing by a CHP officer assisting another motorist by the side of the road. The officer couldn�t do much because she was too busy! I could not believe the luck these 3 had so far! I thought that was just nuts!. The group stopped to help me catch up, and I told them to just leave me behind so they can have their fun and I can have mine without getting a ticket. Ken, suggested we just all slow down. I think he too was getting nervous after that lucky encounter with the CHP at 120+ mph! Jackie was a bit hesitant at slowing down too much. She liked speed and with her Hayabusa, it was very easy to achieve. I also think fatigue set in earlier for her, what with her backpack and her bike�s riding position, so time on the saddle while cruising at a more sedate speed was a disadvantage for her. However, on a multi-day ride like we were on, just in the beginning stages of a 480+ mile day, riding very aggressively eventually took its toll on a rider�s energy and his/her wits worrying about when the next CHP encounter will come.
Jackie took the lead at first. But after getting lost, I took over since I knew how to get back on the 101 Freeway. I think Jackie was also a little annoyed at the slower speeds I was doing, since I chose to ride at just over the flow of traffic to avoid attracting too much of the wrong attention. The Hayabusa just encourages big speeds and slowing down on it made the riding position more uncomfortable. This was one of the reasons I don't tour on my Hayabusa anymore.
I led the group back onto Highway 101 for the ride further north to San Luis Obispo, where we fueled up. I�m not quite sure what happened but Carl apparently cut off Jackie going into the gas station, and Jackie had a few choice words at Carl. Nobody got into any fist fights. Just a bit of hurt feelings which we immediately cleared up. We needed to keep things in perspective. We were less than halfway to our destination, on day one of a 3 day trip, so getting on each other�s nerves was the last thing anyone wanted. I guess that was inevitable up to a point. But being part of a group meant tolerating each other�s weaknesses while focusing on their good points. After all, the main goal of the trip was to have fun, not get stressed out. |
