The Fresno Overnighter

[socalrob]

Work demanded that I take a quick trip to Fresno this weekend. A client contacted me to update an old 2001 title survey of a student apartment complex in Fresno, CA done by a retired surveyor who's records I bought a couple of years ago. A survey update requires that I or an employee visit the property & update the map for any changes. Normally takes about 4 hours on a site like this. Seeing as it is 250 miles away, & I'm pretty busy, I quoted him $6,000, which he liked as it would cost about $9,000 to do the map from scratch. So Saturday night, at 5:45 pm, after all kids soccor obligations were completed, I'm on my trusty RR & taking off for Fresno.

To get to Fresno from LA is a buzz up the Interstate 5, up through the Tejon Pass (about 4,500 ft.) & down the "Grapevine" to the San Jaquine Valley. The Tejon Pass is notorious for winds, & the grapevine is a steep, winding grade, all with lots of big rigs. Then, from the bottom of the grapevine, take the State Highway 99 north through Bakersfield to Fresno.

It was forecast to be about 45 degrees (F) in the San Jaquine Valley, so I bundled up with my BMW Commuter jacket, 2 shirts, draggin jeans, & BMW overpants. Also, wore a baclava for the first time. BTW, it really works great with the headphones for my IPOD.

The ride started off great, zipping at 80 mph or so out of LA, pretty happy with my newish HID headlight kit. Really does light up the road. Stopped in Gorman, near the top of the pass, to buy gas, as I had started off pretty empty. I pull back onto the freeway, and wham, the headwinds/crosswinds really pickup. I'm talking moving the bike 2 or 3 feet in the lane. Of course its absolutely pitch black out, & theres something pretty surreal about being buffeted around on the bike, the big trucks, debris blowing over the road, & actually knowing your destination is still almost 200 miles away. Of course the Greatful Dead on the IPOD does help. Still, only 25 miles or so & I'll be down the Grapevine & I'm pretty sure the wind will die down.

Then I see the "Caution, severe winds next 27 miles" sign. Crap, what have I been riding through? At least my gear is keeping me warm. Too bad I didn't spring for one of those heated liners though, that would have been jumblies.

Anyway, I make it down the Grapevine, hit the 99, the wind dies down, & I'm off through the San Jauquine Valley, no problems. I havn't had dinner yet, but the Dead tunes are still rocking, so I'm just rocketing along at 80-85mph indicated, not a worry in the world. I finally see my first bike on the trip, its a HD, but its on a trailer. I get to within about 60 miles from Fresno, a town called Delano, & stop for fixins.

New York steak & shrimp, $9.99 (Perkins Cafe). Sure beats LA prices, but then again this ain't LA. Back on the bike I switch to Atlanta Rythym Section, put on another warm shirt, & rocket away again.

That is, for about 2 miles, until I hit the dreaded "Tule Fog". This is the very dense ground fog formed around the Tule River that has been responsible for those 150 car pileups that you may have read about from time to time in Central California. Once in it your options are limited, as if you slow down too much you risk getting rear ended, if you go to fast you may rear end someone stopped or slowed on the road, if you pull onto the shoulder some idiot behid you will probably follow you & run you down. So, while freezing cold, the fogs not that bad, so I'm still pretty hopeful. Fogs spotty, I'm with some drivers in the slow lane that seem like careful locals, were all cruising about 60mph. Everything is cool. The fog lifts, I take off for a few miles, & whamo, I'm really having trouble seeing. Just before the fog closed in on me, I saw a big rig in my lane (the slow one) about 250 feet ahead. Fog closes in, that truck just disapears. No lights ahead, no lights in my mirrors. I can barely see the road. I'm down to about 35mph, the slowest I figure I can ride & not risk death from behind. I keep expecting to see the back of the big rig, but its not there.

In the meantime, is it the fog or my visor? I wear glasses, so I know I'm screwed if I open up the visor & the fog wipes out my glasses. Thank god & wore my Held gloves with the little squegee rubber on the index finger of my left hand. The fogs so thick I'm wiping the visor about every 3 seconds. In fact my left hand is getting cold & wet from not being on the nice toastie heated grip. Its now so foggy I can't see the overpasses. This is really freaking me out.

Finally, a little break in the fog, & I can just make out the tail lights of that truck. Figuring its now or never, & ride for that truck, & just as the fog closes in again, I'm in contact. I hang with that truck, sometimes within 30 feet just so I can see the tail lights. The truck driver is going between 45 & 60, but I figure its safer than loosing him. Its so foggy & crappy on my visor I'm now whiping both the inside & outside surfaces. After about 40 miles of this, the fog actually lifts so that I can see car lights a few thousand feet down the road. I pull around the big rig, give him a big peace sign, & I'm off at 80mph again to Fresno.

Hit the hotel (a nice Ramada) about 10 pm. By the time I got checked in & the bags off the bike the fog had snuck up behind me & enveloped Fresno.

In the morning at least the fog had lifted, the day was just grey, cold, & miserable. I got the survey done by about 11:30, & I'm off for LA. Of course I have an Indian Princess meeting with my 9 yo at 3pm, so I gotta cruise. Its the Beatles now, riding down highway 99 at 85-95mph, just making great time.

Then the fog swallows everything up again. Except this time, at least the visibility never drops below about 500 feet, but it does leave everything wet. I slow it down to about 70 (thats hangin with the cars), at least until a jetta rockets by about 95, & I figure what the hell, the roads more or less dry, & I keep pace. The fog lifts, another speeder keeps pace with us, & were all cruising at anywhere between 85 & 120. The RR is just running perfect, the sportshield has a real sweet spot at about 95. I finally hit the Grapevine, this time going up hill, its fun slaloaming through the slow cars & trucks. Of course the temperature is now dropping down to about 40 degrees.

Finally, about 30 miles from home, the sun comes out, it warms up to about 70 degrees, & I know why I live in LA instead of the central valley. Made it home at 3:05, got to the meeting by 3:10, life is good. & I got paid for it!

The movie should have been "Escape to LA".

Rob

Disclaimer: All discussions of speeds exceeding the posted limits are for entertainment only, & the rider never did actually exceed the posted limits.

[taosports]

I can barely see the road. I'm down to about 35mph, the slowest I figure I can ride & not risk death from behind.

Yikes Glad you weren't listening to The Doors "The End"

What an adventure Rob...thanks for taking us along!

[bmwdave52]

Rob, take some of that money and buy a Gerbing jacket liner, temp controller and heated gloves. Just for "in case". You'll never regret it.
Being warm while riding in fog makes life much easier.
BTW your description of Central Valley Fog is right on.

[1MPH]

Thanks Rob, I enjoyed the adventure. Glad everything worked out o.k..

Jack

[beekstersocal]

good wtite up rob ,i felt like i was with you the whole way