Making my own memories - PCH, May 2004 - Day 1
My childhood was weird, and I don't have many good memories from that time. Now, most of the happy memories from my married life seem somehow tarnished. When I think of places like Cambria and Victoria, I want new memories I can enjoy and be happy about, without being tied to old memories that are clouded by what I now know was going on at the time.
Instead of dwelling on the one-year anniversary of "the talk", I went on a three-day motorcycle trip up the coast, to make some new memories.
I woke up early Thursday with a headache, and needed some extra time for the Imitrex to work fully. I wound up leaving closer to 9:00am, instead of 8:00 as planned.
The Santa Monica Freeway was jammed from Downtown all the way to Cloverfield in Santa Monica, for no obvious reason. PCH was a pleasant drive, but I'll admit to some pain as I passed Gladstones on the one-year anniversary of "the talk".
I had a nice breakfast at a Coco's in Camarillo, stopped for gas in Goleta, and had a great time on Santa Rosa Road from Solvang into Lompoc. The ride up PCH thru Guadalupe to Grover Beach and Pismo was calm and uneventful.
I found out that in spite of my mapping program, Thunder Canyon did not actually go all the way through to the 46. After backtracking to PCH, I went onto reserve just before the 46, and pushed on into Cambria for gas - this was a vacation, and I didn't need to stress about making it all the way into Paso without running out.
I detoured up Santa Rosa Creek Rd. Afther the long day of riding, I lost concentration on a late turn and wound up in the dirt on the side of the road. No harm, no foul - just a reminder to keep focused.
Like last time, I got lost trying to find the motel. Once I got settled, it was too late for a movie. I had Mexican take-out from the restaurant next door, and made it an early night. The early morning medication and a long day in the saddle left me more tired than I expected.
