I wanted to leave San Jose the morning of April 22 so preparations were made early. I use a T-Bag for luggage since it will hold enough for a week on the road. I was able to get started about 0730 and was off. After stopping at Casa de Fruta for coffee I continued on Hiwy 152 all the way across to Hiwy 99 and south to Selma, California where I had made arrangements to meet my niece, Tami, for lunch. This was a quick 170 mile ride and I was able to meet her, her husband Mike, and their son at the arranged time for lunch. We had a great feed and good talk and I was off again at 1400 or so. I continued down 99 to Bakersfield. This Hiwy has some good memories for me, as a young man while home on leave from the service I made a few trips from Sacramento to LA along this road with my Dad who owned a small trucking firm. He moved mobile homes from factories in LA to the dealers in the Sacramento Valley. Never got to spend much time with him after I left home at 18 so these trips were a special treat.
I left Hiwy 99 at Bakersfield and picked up 58 to head through Tehachapi, the climb from the valley floor to about 4000 feet really gave me a chance to test the bikes power, I was not disappointed. I was able to maintain a steady 75 MPH all the way to the top and down the other side to Mojave. This new motor has about a 15 HP advantage over the Heritage and the bike weights at least 125 lbs less. At 75 I calculated the mileage to be about 40mpg which was great. The bike is comfortable, with the seat still under consideration.
From Mojave it is another 100 miles or so to Barstow where I planned on overnighting. This made for about a 450 mile day which is good for me. I only do that kind of mileage once or twice a year these days. I normally ride about 125 miles a day and that only when I do the once or twice a month local club events.
I had planned on staying in Barstow for a couple of days to see some of the local sights, but the lure of the road was too much, so I called the hotel in Laughlin and arranged to arrive a day early.
From Barstow to Needles is about 140 miles of Interstate 40. There is not much to see except the vast desert vistas. There are some settlements of a few people but not many. It is hard to imagine the crowded streets of San Jose when transiting this area. I am constantly amazed at the beauty of our country when you get away from the cities and the people. I can't think of a better way to see it than on a bike. About 40 miles before Needles the old Hiwy 66 crosses Interstate 40 and having heard of an alternate route to Laughlin, I left the superslab here and proceeded up Geoffs Road through the heart of the Mojave Desert.
Geoffs Road is a 20 mile detour over Route 66 which connects Hiwy 40 with California Hiwy 95. Mostly it parallels the railroad so I amused myself with waving at the engineers on the trains. I do feel there is a connection between truck drivers, train engineers, and motorcyclists. At least we all share similar attitutudes about being tied down.
A few miles north towards Vegas on 95 and I got onto Calif 163 and proceeded the last 15 miles into Laughlin. It was mostly downhill these few miles and I really enjoyed the way the bike handled the downhill sweepers. It was a new road and lightly travelled. I ran a good bit over the speed limit but didn't feel the least bit crowded.
Laughlin was a sight for a sore butt. I had covered about 650 miles in two days on a new bike with an old bottom. But I made it just fine. I had a room in the Flamingo Hilton for five nights and was looking forward to the action.
There were more bikes in Laughlin than I would have expected on a Tuesday evening. I managed to park right in front of the Hotel entrance in the area normally reserved for valets, but this week it was all set aside for the bikes. The Hotels really go out of their way to make us feel welcome, considering that they sell out about 11000 rooms at 110 or so apiece for at least three days and maybe four and their gratitude is self evident. After check in a hot bath and some dinner were first on my mind. The room was great overlooking the river and the Flamingo Amphetheatre which would host the Doobie Brothers on Saturday night.
After cleaning up and eating a steak I lost a few bucks playing slots and keno which was to repeat itself over and over the next few days. I am the worst type of gambler, I love it, and I am lousy at it.
Over the next few days I played cards, drank too much, ate too much and exercised not at all. I did ok for a change on the Poker Tables, should have stayed with that other than the machines. Next time!
All of the major hotels had their parking lots devoted to vendors so window shopping was the in thing. About the only thing I bought was TShirts and patches for my levi vest. But their was lots of stuff to look at including new bikes from every manufacturer imaginable. Seems as tho the big bucks has taken over the biker lifestyle. Most of new custom creations were in the 25-40000 range which is way over my limit.
I had read in some of the info they gave me on check in about a concert happening on Friday night up the hill at Harrah's. It was a benefit given by Paul Revere and the Raiders for all Vietnam Vets and related charities. I decided to go so I bought a ticket and Friday night got on my bike for the first time since Tuesday and rode up to Harrahs. In the parking lot I notice a lot of patch holders, this isn't unusual at Laughlin but I knew there was "bad blood" between the Hells Angels and the Mongols and I thought it chancy to see so many of them together at opposite ends of the parking area.
The concert was terrific. Paul and the Raiders have been at it so many years that the show is very polished and very "together" to top it off they have become quite outspoken in the support for Vietnam Vets and their associated problems. The music was great and along with the concert every one got a copy of their latest CD entitled "Ride to the Wall". Paul and Omar, his drummer, are both avid bikers and in the last few years have made it a point to ride to the Vietnam Memorial in DC for the Memorial Day activities. They usually play a free concert and are associated with the Rolling Thunder POW/MIA movement. They invited me to go along for the ride but time and money never show up at the same time so I had to pass for this year, but it is a definite "to do". I was moved when Omar autographed my CD for me and wrote "Welcome Home" on it.
I stood around for a while and shot the breeze with some other vets but soon had the itch to get moving again. I am not very good at mixing with people and, even though I like people a lot, just can't cope with too many at one time. Crowds are ok as long as I can be alone in them.
I made my farewells and walked down the hill from Harrah's Amphetheatre to the lot by the main entrance where I had parked my bike. Again I was struck by the feeling of impending violence in the air but shrugged it off as paranoia and too much LDS as a young man.
It took about an hour to cover the short distance down the strip, it was an event though. People, cars, and bikes, bikes everywhere. Harley events are one place where political correctness has a new meaning, no one is bothered by lack of mufflers, or open containers, or bare breasted young ladies. At least I wasn't.
Along with my other mental aberrations, I can't sleep very much either, my wife calls me a "sprint sleeper" among other things. I can nod off but don't last long. About 4 hours at a stretch and I may as well get up and about. Consequently I am comotose most of the time, but I get by. Saturday morning early I went down for breakfast and heard the news about the killings up the hill at Harrahs. Guess I wasn't too surprised. I doubt if many of the old timers were. An element of violence is always present but usually can be ignored or avoided if you have any street sense at all. Just adds to the flavor of it. I am amused by the numbers of young boys who approach an old 1% to tweak his tail and then crawl off, surprised at how fucking quick that old man kicked their ass. Yuppies, Rubs, and the like are numerous, but they are mostly tame and safe mortgage holders and daddies, watch out for the old bikers with dead eyes. Don't mess with them!
Saturday night it was time for the Doobie Brothers. What a show. The boys can still rock out with the best of them. Downed a couple of JD shots and drank a few brews, it was heaven for this old boy. Played some more poker after the show and got to bed about 0200 Sunday morning for a fast two hours sleep.
Was packed up and out loading the bike by 0500. As soon as the sun was up I gassed up and left Laughlin for the ride home. I had planned on going straight through. Since I was bone tired and brain dead anyway I figured a 550 mile ride would pass uneventually, which it did.
Will I go again? Yes I will.
Am I afraid of the Motorcycle Clubs? Not personally. They are somewhat like forces of nature and some caution is required. Common sense.
Laughlin is a great run if you know what to expect. Keep your cool and party up a storm. Be respectful, use your brain and enjoy.
BATCHMO
