to
Hwy 680 to San Jose. Duane left the freeway just before I had to get on Hwy 101 to meet with Steward Bowen for breakfast. Stuart had to bow out of the ride, do to some motorcycle electrical problems. We had a nice breakfast at Denny’s off Hwy 101 and then Stuart led the way to the Sheriffs department starting point. Thanks Stuart, I think I would still be looking for it right now if you hadn’t been there. Upon entering the parking lot and getting directed to a parking place I was waved over by Duane who had saved me a place already. Thanks Duane for saving me a place and keeping those Harley riders out of it. Duane never did see his friends who were supposed to meet him there and he missed breakfast just to meet them.
The parking lot was full of Harleys, Hondas, and some other brands of motorcycles and LOTS of POLICE PEOPLE. While looking around the parking lot, we found fellow member Dale Bird and his wife. We also met their friends who came with them on a Honda. I’m sorry but I can’t remember their names at this point, old age again I guess.
I went to will call to get my registration stuff while Shirley got in the potty line. I got my stuff before Shirley got out of her line. REAL long line to the POTTY and LOTS of people NEEDING to go. After Shirley did her thing it was time to go to the ceremony for the Peace officers who gave their lives in the line of duty. It was a beautiful ceremony with a chaplain, color guard, bagpipe
player,
and bugle player for taps. After this we were told to line up by twos in a
staggered formation and get ready for the run. We were also told to keep FOUR
car lengths between EACH BIKE. Yah Right. No way. Now the fun was to begin.
We started off in a two by two, side by side formation and headed for the freeway. ALL intersections were blocked off for us by Police officers from all different areas. It was kind of strange having a Police officer directing us to go through stop signs and red lights. What a concept. I could get used to that. It was a little weird at first, but fun never the less. Onto the highway we go. Our group of three Voyagers and one Gold wing were somewhere in the middle. I COULDN’T see either end of the bikes from where we were. All those bikes, side by side, must have stretched out for over FIVE miles. Shirley got some real good pictures of our fellow rider and the line of bikes, both forward and to the rear. She also got a couple of REAL good pictures of my HELMET. She did an excellent job on the pictures and later Duane said he thought she was going to fall off our bike the way she was turning around so much.
Have you EVER seen traffic stopped on a FOUR-lane freeway before? It was a beautiful job by the California Highway Patrol. Thanks Guys and Gals of the C.H.P. That sight was worth the money for the ride itself. We truly must have made some people very mad at us, if they were in a hurry. This was done numerous times without any problems that we could see. We continued to
Hollister
in GRAND style with our escorts doing a FANTASTIC job all the way. When we
got to Hollister, it was like being in a parade going through town. The streets
were again blocked off for us by the Hollister PD Thanks. We finally reached
our destination, Bolero Park, outside of Hollister. We were herded into parking
places and after stripping off layers of clothes, we headed for the food.
Bar-B-Que. chicken and something else I couldn't recognize, salad, corn on
the cob, bread, and beans. It wasn’t too bad for as much as they had to cook.
After filling our tummies, Shirley had to go AGAIN. Too much tea at breakfast I guess. AGAIN, long lines for the ladies, short lines for the men. It doesn’t take us as long. Our line was moving so fast, some of the ladies, including Shirley, decided to try the men’s line. HAY, no problems with me. It worked out pretty good for the ladies too.
We milled around for an hour or so waiting for them to call off raffle ticket numbers and decided to head home. The trip was uneventful. We stopped once for gas and once for a butt rest and banana split.
Duane had 360 miles and we had a total of 300 miles by the time we got home.
Would we go again? I think so. Only time and a new seat will tell.
Robert Webb
NorCal Voyagers Club
