Walker Pass

Date: February 5, 2007 – 1 day
Departure: 1630 Return time: 1815 Miles: 55
Riders: myself
Route: Ridgecrest - Inyokern Rd - 14 - 178 - 14 - Inyokern Rd - Ridgecrest

Yesterday it was snowing up at Walker Pass. The road was even closed for a while until the plow was able to take care of it. It’s open today and I’m itching to ride my road king. This is the first weekend after I got it out of the shop. A few months before, I’d been t-boned by a little ole lady driving an ’87 Buick two blocks from my house. I went over the handlebars, breaking my wrist and some minor bones in my back. The bike did a 360 behind me and was nearly destroyed. The engine was still okay. Everything else on the bike was replaced. Special 105th Anniversary parts took longer. One part in particular would take much longer. This particular part was only cosmetic, so I was determined to ride today.

The usual leathers should be okay. How cold could it be with the sun shinning? With that, helmet, gloves, and boots as usual, I’m off. I’m just going a few miles anyway.

It’s a little cool going 65 mph toward Inyokern, cold actually. Sun’s beginning to go behind Owens Peak. Sky is beautiful, but the shadows are growing longer. Turning left on 14, headed south to 178. After turning back onto 178 from 14, I’m now heading practically straight into the sun. It feels a little warm even. I can clearly see the snow line up on the mountains surrounding the pass. Above 4000 ft nearly everything is white.

There are thousands of Joshua Trees going west on 178 up to Walker Pass. This forest is one of the few Joshua Tree forests in California and the world. These trees grow only in areas with certain arid climates and at certain altitudes. Just before Walker Pass as 178 winds left and right up to the top, the trees get thick. Joshua trees got their name, because some early settlers thought they looked like Joshua, holding up his arms to help the Israelites win the battle over their enemies. If you check the bible, you’ll find it was actually Moses that held his arms up in this fashion, and Joshua and Caleb that helped him keep them up. So, perhaps these trees should be called “Moses” trees. They look very unusual, almost alien with a layer of snow covering these cactus-like trees.

Walker Pass is 5250 ft. The famed adventurer Joseph Walker discovered the pass in 1834, while looking for a route over the Sierra. There are only 5 passes over the Sierra from the southern most tip up to Donner Pass on I-80. All of the passes north of this one are particularly known for their impassibility during the winter. Impassible for the heavy snow and extreme cold. A little west wind blowing over Walker Pass makes it considerably cold, colder than I dressed for that’s for sure.

The suns gone down and the thermometer is going that way rapidly. Time to head for lower altitude. The Joshua Trees and the snow were great to see, but I’m already looking forward to being out of here. Back down 178 onto 14, headed north back to Inyokern. I’ll remember to check the thermometer before heading out next time.

In the summer, my road king is a practically unbearable heater. That’s in the summer only.

Ten weeks later, my special, long awaited part is in. It’s the gas tank decal identifying my bike as a 2008 Road King Classic 105th Anniversary edition #2666 out of 3000. Finally, all back together. Therapy for my wrist however would take some more time.

Tom Lystrup

Angeles Crest Highway

Date: November 15, 2008 – 1 day
Departure: 1000 Return time: 1830 Miles: 297
Riders: Tom Miller
Route: Ridgecrest - 395 – Garlock – 14- Angeles Forest Highway – Angeles Crest Highway – I-210 - I-5 – Lake Hughes – Lake Elizabeth – Johnson – Avenue L – I-14 – Garlock – 395 - Ridgecrest

Beautiful day for a ride, I thought while sitting at my desk at work. Warm for a late fall day and clear. Wish I was riding somewhere right now. Where would I go if I had the opportunity to anywhere I want I wondered? Where haven’t I been? The California map on the wall has practically all the roads within 200 miles highlighted, indicating I’ve ridden those. It’s getting to the point, I’ll need to consider overnighters to get to roads I haven’t been on yet. A little more planning than I can manage today, so back to the unanswered emails in my inbox.

A few minutes pass and the phone rings. It’s my riding buddy Tom. He wants to know if I’m going to work all day. Beautiful day for a ride, Tom says. I’m shutting down now. Give me 15 minutes to get home.

We’re off. I forgot to ask where. Heading down 395, taking the Garlock cutoff to 14 (I love this road for the 45 mph curves easily taken at 65 mph or so). South onto 14 past the 58 turn off to Tehachapi, exit Palmdale, to top off.

Tom asks if I’m ready to go get some lunch. Sure. We’re off again. Back on 14 headed south, exit 14 onto 138. So we’re taking the Pear Blossom Highway. East or west I wonder. Actually neither. We head south on the Angeles Forest Highway. That routes not highlighted on my map, I thought to myself. How does he come up with these rides to places I haven’t been to yet and where’s lunch from here?

We continued up Angeles Forest Highway until it passed Upper Big Tujunga Canyon Rd on the right and in a few minutes arrived at Angeles Crest Highway (State Highway 2). We turned left headed east. Angeles Crest Highway is a great road for bikers, sports and touring types. Sports bikes pass the touring bikes at incredible speed, so you may not get a very good look at them before they’re gone from sight. That is until you see them parked in front of a black and white with flashing lights. Angeles Crest highway is getting more attention by law enforcement these days.

Our trip was casual, very few cars or bikes on the road. We got to enjoy the twistiest virtually by ourselves. The hills, overlooks and vistas are spectacular. The back side of Mt. Baldy can be seen around nearly every bend. We passed through several wooded areas with the smell of evergreen pines among other trees with autumn color leaves of red, orange and yellow all around us.
After several miles we came to a café. Newcomb’s Ranch Café is 33 miles west of Wrightwood, 17 miles east of where we turned onto Angeles Crest from Angeles Forest Highway. Angeles Crest Highway runs from Glendale all the way to Wrightwood, then heads down to 138 (Pear Blossom Highway). Several years ago there was a landslide that closed the road east of Newcomb’s to Wrightwood. If you go to Google Earth, you can zoom in and see the extent of the damage that was caused. It will probably be a while yet before the road’s repaired and open to traffic.
Newcomb’s nearly always has a selection of motorcycles and sports cars in their parking lot. Mostly bikes though. Newcomb’s has mixed reviews online as far as food and service go. Our lunch experience was excellent for both. The pastrami was particularly good. The place looks recently remodeled. Restrooms are nice. I’d recommend it.
Back on Highway 2 headed west. The sun’s shining, there’s little wind, no traffic to speak of. How could this be better? We pass the Angeles Forest turnoff. We must be taking Angeles Crest all the way to Glendale. Now that’s better. The road winds out in front of us, left, right, wide turns and narrow turns, rarely needing brakes. I can easily tell when Tom accelerates or decelerates by his exhaust. Some say it’s loud. When I hear it I know what to expect. I follow in like manner. We’re starting to see glimpses of the Los Angeles basin. It’s actually fairly clear out there. Before I’m tired of the twistiest, we’re out of them and getting on the Foothill Freeway (I-210) headed west. Now where, I wonder? Exit Foot Hill Freeway merging I-5 headed north. We must be taking I-14 back, I think. Tom pulls into the left lane passing the I-14 exit, headed up the “grapevine”. Traffic is increasing quite a bit. We exit at Lake Castaic, headed for Lake Hughes canyon. This route’s highlighted on my map. I’ve been down this road before so Tom didn’t pick a new road this time. Have not been up it I think to myself. I wonder if Tom knows that.

We take Lake Hughes up to Elizabeth Lake Drive (N2) and head east. This is another windy road passing small communities homes, parks Lake Hughes and Lake Elizabeth. We turn left at Johnson Rd and head north over the foot hills. We must be going to “the shop” (Antelope Valley Harley). I love going to the shop, the new bikes, the familiar faces, the smell of leather. My wife on the other hand, has a different perspective. She’d rather be about anyplace else. This can be a dangerous place if you brought the right plastic, the kind that has a high balance remaining. Tom shows me all the latest bikes and newest features. The new rocker has a foldaway pillion seat. Check out the Screaming Eagle Softail with the springer front end. Low on the comfort factor, but maxed-out on style. We better make tracks, the plastic in my wallet is heating up.

Fire them up, head out the back way. From the front of the Antelope Valley shop, both exits feel like the back way to me. We top-off, call home to check in and hit I-14 headed north. Sun’s going down off to our left. End of another great ride. To think, I could have wasted the whole day at work. More unanswered email in my inbox, I’m sure, but it will keep for another not so nice day.


Tom Lystrup

Bagdad Cafe Route 66

Date: 17 January 2009 – 1 day
Departure: 0920 Return time: 1630 Miles: 230
Riders: Ridgecrest Activity Group
Route out: Ridgecrest - 395 -58 - 40 - Route 66,
Rout back: Route 66 - 40 - Route 66 - Silver Lakes - 395 - Ridgecrest

To all that went on the ride today, we know how perfect a day it was. The only thing that could have made it better is if more of our group could have ridden with us. The destination was great. Weather was great. Food was… good. Company was excellent. Those that went also know how in Huell Howser’s words, “absolutely spectacular” the Route 66 Museum was.

We left RC at 0920 and headed south on 395, to I -58, I-15 and I-40. Pulled off I-40 at Newberry Springs and stopped at the Chevron for a break. 3.5 miles later, we pulled into the Bagdad Café (right where my GPS said it would be). Ordered lunch. An hour later, some were getting their food when others were finishing desert. With one guy cooking and one guy serving, they were busier than a ah… I’ll just say, they were real busy. Next time I’ll call ahead. Maybe it will make a difference, maybe not, but it’s probably still a good idea.

We gassed up back at the Chevron and took Route 66 that parallels I-40 back to Barstow. Well almost to Barstow. We had to get back on I-40 for a few miles. On this short segment of Route 66, we were treated to a traffic-less stretch of road with a few little hills, riding just a mile or so faster than and right next to a long freight train. Amazing! How many roads can you think of where you can do that. The “Mother Road” is one. We pulled of I-40 at Main Street Barstow and toured downtown for a couple miles. Then turned onto First St which goes over an old trestle and curves down to the Train Museum and the Route 66 “Mother Road” Museum. What a great little place. The memories of a simpler time. If you haven’t seen this place, it’s worth going to all by itself. If you’re a train fan (and I am), take time to see the Train Museum as well (I’ll be going back for that). Although the museum is free, most did not leave before first pulling out their wallets for some great stuff.

Most of the group headed straight back, but some of us took Route 66 out of beautiful downtown Barstow to Silver Lakes and browsed the community around the lake – and some of the cul-de-sacs as well. Then we cut back to 395 and headed home, arriving about 1630. There were 13 bikes and about 20 people that joined the ride. We logged about 235 enjoyable miles.


Tom Lystrup

Joshua Tree National Park

Date: 19 January 2009 – 1 day
Departure: 0800 Return time: 1830 Miles: 470
Riders: Tom Miller
Route: Ridgecrest - 395 -18 - 247 - 62 - JTNP road - 10 - 15 - Route 66 - Silver Lakes - 395 - Ridgecrest

When I checked the outside temperature, the thermometer was in the blue (30 degrees). I decided two sweatshirts, thermals and two pair of socks under the usual leather were in order. With GPS programmed, I picked up my friend Tom and we headed out. It was overcast, but Tom said it was expected to clear and be warm. I was looking forward to a great day of riding to Joshua Tree National Park. Neither of us had been through the park before, but I was confident the GPS new exactly where we were going.

Highway 395 is a long boring stretch of blacktop, with a lot of traffic and a major trucking route. Having ridden it a lot, I know it as well as I do other highways in and out of Ridgecrest. Highways 395, 178, 14 all converge in the Ridgecrest area. So I ride these roads a lot and knowing where the curves are, where the speed limits change and where passing lanes are makes a difference, especially when riding at night or in poor weather. Although I expected it to be dark on the ride home, the weather and roads for this trip were excellent.

Our first stop was in Apple Valley where Tom suggested we top off. We got back on the road headed east. The sun was up and it was overcast, but I could see off in the distance it was clearing just as Tom said it would. We were now on Highway 18 headed toward 247 and finally 62.

We arrived at the Joshua Tree National park entrance and stopped at the visitor center to pick up the usual National Park map. All National Parks maps and trip planning guides are available at http://www.nps.gov. Tom and I walked across the street to a pizza trailer serving New York Style pizza. Tom got cheese, mine was pepperoni. For $3, it was perfect. Tom noted, New York style is eaten by folding the pizza in half. With mine properly folded, I made quick work of it. A diet Coke washed it down.

A family at the visitor center noticed our motorcycles. Their little boy was fascinated at them. His father said his name is “Harley” and wants one of his own someday. We followed them to the entrance station. Harley kept looking at us out the back window of their SUV. At the entrance station, I used my “America the Beautiful” national parks annual pass to gain admission for Tom and myself. Harley and his family departed ahead of us. We waved good-bye.

The road through Joshua Tree is paved, well maintained and perfect for motorcycles. Although the speed limit for most of the park is 35 mph, it seemed fast enough for picture taking while riding. There are many points of interest along the way with markers ahead of time for those planning to stop. There are forests of Joshua Trees to wind through, exhibits of picturesque, expansive desert and mountains, large boulders for climbing, natural springs, and cactus gardens.

On the way to see a couple of these spots, I took the camera out to get some shots on the road. I’d taken what I thought was several good shots, but trying to manage a camera while riding is not the easiest thing to do, especially with winter gloves on. The camera was off. After turning it on, I managed to get some good shots. A little editing at home and most would be presentable.

First stop was the Cholla Cactus Garden. From a distance a cholla looks kind of fuzzy, but closer inspection should convince you to keep hands off. The fuzziness turns out to be thousands of long, thin sharply barbed spines. Cholla is also called the “jumping cactus”. If you get close enough to one, the slightest touch will cause a part of it to jump off onto you. A close encounter with a cholla will not be soon forgotten. We shed some layers before continuing along the windy road through the park, picking up a little speed to add to our enjoyment through the “twisties”.

Stop number two was at Cottonwood Springs. An interesting and beautiful spot where water flows somewhat slowly out of the ground to add some green to the otherwise brown desert terrain. There were several fan palms at this spot and of course a few cottonwoods. There’s a well marked trail to a 3.5 mile distant Lost Springs many hike to. Tom made it up to the top of the first ridge, so see what was on the other side. If you want to know, you’ll have to hike it as Tom did, but you can probably imagine.

Leaving this area, we followed a rather large motor home for a few miles, then he politely pulled over so we could pass only to get behind another, which also pulled over for us. In a couple more miles we exited the park back into the uncivilized race on I-10 and headed west. Next stop Palm Springs Harley - closed Mondays. Strike one. We gassed up and headed for Quaids Harley in Loma Linda.

When we got to Cabazon, I remembered Hadley’s Orchards and pulled off to check it out, only to find it wasn’t where I thought it was. It was at the next exit. After seeing it, I signaled to Tom and we pulled off and headed back. Hadley’s has been serving date and date/banana shakes since I can remember, more than 50 years anyway. It’s a great stop for fruit, nuts, dates, lunch and shakes. I prefer the date variety and Tom had the date/banana, both excellent. Back on the road to Quaids – also closed. Strike two.

We decided to try Victorville Harley, so we headed up Cajon Pass. You’d think there’d be a checkered flag at the top, cars are going so fast up the pass. We did see a couple black and whites however. Finally Victorville Harley was in sight. You guessed, empty parking lot like the rest. Strike three. Next time I’ll take batting practice by looking up operating hours before heading out.

Tom suggested Route 66 through Silver Lakes. Off we went at a good pace until we got behind a tanker in no hurry to get back to the plant and no where to pass. The sun was going down off to our left as finally the tanker pulled off. We stopped in Silver Lakes, geared up again in preparation for the cold and headed west into the sunset. As we got on 395 headed north, light was fading fast and the traffic headed south was a continual stream of bright headlights. Quickly we caught up to a tractor trailer rig in front of us. He pulled onto the shoulder and signaled us to pass, which we did, just to get behind another that didn’t want to pull onto the shoulder. So we waited for an opportunity to pass. A long time we waited. Finally an opening and Tom accelerated past the truck, cutting it close, with definitely no room for me. I knew however that a passing lane was coming up. In 30 seconds, the truck took the right lane. Highway 395 may be long and boring, but riding it often has its advantages like knowing where the passing lanes are. I caught up to Tom as we headed down into Kramer Junction “Four Corners”. We gassed up and headed for home.

Another beautiful day and a great ride to enter in the books. I’m reminded after putting on another 470 miles, I better get the 25,000 mile service scheduled quick and new tires and maybe brakes. Although riding is fun, it takes a little work to enjoy it.

Tom Lystrup