Temecula - Wynona - Julian - Palomar - Temecula

Ah yes, it was another picture perfect Southern California day, with sunshine, blue skies, mountain roads, the roar of about 20 old Brit bikes, and promise in the air.

The federal debt may be out of control, unemployment may be going through the roof, and the economy may be in a freefall, but for those of us who spent the previous day polishing and tightening nuts and bolts on our old Nortons, Triumphs, BSAs (and yest a Matchless too), it was a start of a glorious day.

Thanks to Will and the guys at British Iron Association San Diego,  www.britironsd.com/BritironSD/Home.html  and to Bib of the Southern California Norton Owners Club www.socalnorton.com/ for getting everything organized and getting us motivated to get out on our bikes and do what they were built for - riding.

Amazingly, we started out on time from the Swing Inn in Temecula, after plenty of time spent gawking at each other's bikes and comparing notes about the latest goodies and fixes, of course. 

Here's a couple of shots of the starting lineup outside the Swing Inn.






East on Hwy 79 to Santa Ysabel

This first leg starts out nicely, once you get past the traffic lights and strip malls to get out of Temecula, that is.  The group quickly breaks up into smaller packs as we hit red lights and a few people with twitchy right wrists quickly set their pace. 

The first interesting sight was a '79 Triumph with a front wheel that just wouldn't stay on the ground - Nice!!   (My old Triumph didn't do that!)

Only problem with the Hwy 79 is that if you get stuck behind a truck or motorhome, it can take a long time to find some space to pass them.  That was my only complaint over the first few miles - otherwise the asphalt was smooth and silky, my Commando was purring under me, and life was just about perfect. 

I snapped a few photos while riding, just past Warner Springs, when the road widens out a bit and it's relatively safe to ride side by side for a few minutes.

Here's a nice looking 75 Commando - is this Dave?  (Didn't get his name)






East Grade Road up Palomar from the 76 at Lake Henshaw: (the back way)

This 11 mile stretch has plenty of twisties, though it is not as challenging as the South Grade.  But it is not as crowded either!  The first 2 miles coming up have a few rough patches of asphalt (at least by my "spoiled" standards), but then everything smooths out.

Here's my Commando pulled over to check out the view over Lake Henshaw, and waiting for the slowpokes to catch up...



Talk about embarrassed!  As I was winding my way up the twisties, thinking I was doing pretty well threading into the turns, a guy roars past me on a Harley Road King!  Shit!   So much for my riding prowess.  Damn.   Oh well, I still enjoyed the rest of the ride up, even if I had been shown up.  Getting passed on the twisties by a hot sport bike is one thing, but getting passed by a 700 lb hunk of Milwaukee iron, that's embarrasing! 


Home via Valley Center, Escondido, and Del Dios

Three of us (Rock, Rich and myself), who live in North San Diego county, peeled off partway down Palomar and worked our way back toward the coast via Valley Center.  Nice way to finish the ride, but damn it got hot!