Way up north…

Well, maybe not that far north, but I’m in Nor Cal this weekend visiting friends and relatives.  That image crossing the Grapevine you see above is from the driver’s seat in my old Corvette (12 years old, to be exact, and I’ve had it since it was new).   The antiskid system doesn’t always work well with the Z06’s cruise control, so I turn it off when I’m rolling on the freeway miles.

Here’s another shot along the “Ruta de Fruta” (the region through Gilroy where the fruit stands are plentiful)…

Gilroy is California’s garlic capital, and the rich garlic smell along bucolic CA 152 is just amazing.   Beautiful scenery, with aromas to match.   To paraphrase Robert Duvall, I love the smell of garlic in the morning.

I’m heading over to Hollister later today, not to start any drunken brawls at a motorcycle rally (you old-timers will know what I’m talking about), but to visit my buddy Paul and get in some range time.   Paul recently completed a custom muzzle loader for one of his custom gun clients, and he’s test firing it for the first time today.   I’ll get a photo or two for the blog.

Wow, the China ride is coming up quickly.   You’ve seen the route…

It’s going to be a grand loop and I’ll be riding it with my buddy Joe Gresh (from Motorcyclist magazine) as well as many of the guys who were on the original Western America Adventure tour.  We’re flying over there in just two short weeks.  I am pumped up about this….another grand tour, another opportunity to explore places I’ve never seen before, another chance to check out and ride new Zongshen models, and another book in the making.  I can’t wait.

Time to grab another cup of coffee and fire up the Vette.   I’ll talk to you later, my friends.