Ó2001San Diego/ Wanderers
Motorcycle Club
From Mike Calderone
Hi, all club members. One of the items
that came up at our monthly meeting was making sure all club members are comfortable at the pace we are riding
in scheduled events. We were all in agreement that our lead riders should be riding to the weakest rider in the
group. We, as a group, will continue to address this issue until we get it right. We want ALL members, regardless of ride experience
to enjoy our scheduled events. We are also not concerned with what others outside our club think of our pace. As long as
we are not creating any safety hazards for anyone else we will ride at the pace that all of us can enjoy.
Scheduled club rides are not the time and place to test ones riding ability. We recognize we have new members, some with not a lot of riding years, some with riding experience on terrain vastly different than our freeways and twisty back roads. We hope that those of you who are not comfortable at our pace will not be inhibited in speaking up. We have also have 4 experienced riders who are willing to assist any of you who want to ride in small groups or just two on two to get better acquainted with our roads and riding pace. Rod Flemming,, John Q, Gary Steinweg, and Dick Useted. All of them have kindly volunteered the time to assist anyone who wants it. Also at the rides themselves, anybody who chooses can ask the lead rider to pair them up with one of our more experienced riders until they get more comfortable. To further address this issue we will be going forward with plans to hold meetings for lead riders. Any input would be appreciated.
Ride safe, mike
From John Q.
It started without doughnuts and coffee.
That's all I'm going to say about that....... maybe.
The Wanderers were 7 bikes strong 10
riders (3 pillions) and we picked up a couple of guests at the San Diego Harley Davidson takeoff point.
Bill Edwards led us from the lot, route
instructions taped reassuringly to his arm by Fran DelSanto.
Pretty creative there Fran and it worked! The first ride section involved a few miles
of freeway out I-8 and then some twists and turns until we found the parking lot at Flynn Springs Cafe. Everyone
picked another card and it was time for stage two,.off to Santee.
This meant more freeway into beautiful
downtown Santee and along Mission Gorge Road until we found "Wildside Custom Cycles."
Now these guys are a class act. Their store
is pretty new and, just a wild guess, the company coffers probably aren't exactly overflowing, but the proprietors
had set out a tub full of iced water bottles for riders.
We also discovered at rides end that "Wildside" had donated
almost all of the ride prizes. Most of us took quick tours of the store with promises from several (our Harley guests mainly)
to return for a better look later. If you happen to find yourself in the neighborhood of 9325 Mission Gorge Road, "Wildside
Custom" is right behind the Jack in the Box fast foodery.
Thanks for the H20 guys, nice touch.
Another playing card collected it was
time for stage three.
But wait, as the route sheet dictated
we'd be driving back through Santee dodging pick-em up trucks and SUV's all the way. There's probably a better way to reach
The Indian Cycle shop in Ramona than back from whence we've just come. Not to mention dodging all the Buick's making
their way to Barona. We hopped onto Highway 52 which took us quickly to I-15 and then to Highland Valley Road. VERY
un-Wanderer like, all this freeway but it's ok, we're riding!
Highland Valley was beautiful as usual
with so many orange trees still loaded with harvest.
I was probably the only rider tempted to reach out and pluck just one
piece of fruit as we passed----yeh right.
We made a quick stop at the Indian Motorcycle shop on Main Street then
(since we'd already done the final stage of the ride by coming up Highland Valley) just rode down the street to
our final stop, The Roadhouse.
Food, finally!
Did I mention the ride started without
doughnuts? Yeh,
I did.....sorry. Many
of our famished riders decided to chow down here and hope, maybe, they'd managed to collect a winning hand. Prizes ranged
from a Harley Davidson scooter...(down boys, we're talking "scooter" as in 2x4, roller skate wheels and
soap box here...Ok, they make them nicer now.
Also some leather and other goods. Nice stuff.
Hopefully the Wanderers helped raise
some needed cash for ABATE which is one of the prime sponsors of our upcoming Toys for Kids effort in November. Thanks
to all who contributed and to Bill who led us without fault through the entire route...Ok, except for the double
U-Turns in Santee as we hunted for "Wildside Custom Cycles". We've never circled the same dead end
court twice Bill. Could be a new record. <huge grin> (There but for the grace of God go I)....
Freeway'd Out
John Q. Lawrence
Thanks for writing this up JQ; he left
out a great lunch/breakfast (Brunch?) that he, Dick and I had later in El Cajon. And I'd like to add I had yet another u-turn
later in the day, all by mahself! Well, at least I wasn't leading anyone then! But I had my usual cafe de jour late in the
afternoon in much cooler (than elsewhere) Encinitas, and then found myself exploring old haunts just east of I-5
in coastal North County. Great twisties, scenic, and little traffic, all still possible even in crowded race track
season. Amazing.
Bill E.
Great write-up, John Q.! For those
of you who saw our little tumble in the parking lot, be assured of two things: the bike is fine and Rod's wrist is sore but otherwise OK; however,
I broke my big toe and he had to shoot me (grin).
For those of you who didn't see it, in the words of Rosanna Rosannadanna, - ”Never mind.”
Rose
From Gary Steinweg
Took a short to medium ride with Dawn
today. Got
started around 10 a.m., and did the Lake Wolford, Palomar Mtn, Hideout for lunch, Santa Ysabel & home route.
About 105 miles.
Dawn hasn't ridden much over the last
six months, and we need to build back up, both in ride endurance, and confidence in the curves. It was a gorgeous day for riding, saw a LOT
of bikes out there. Dawn rode just fine.
When we stopped for lunch at the Hideout,
we discovered that they didn't really have any food there today because they were preparing for their "Thunder
in the Back Country" thing where they expect about 3000 bikes to show up to tomorrow. Last year it was held at the Hideout, and
they had a problem handling the crowd.
This year they're doing it at some lake in the Temecula area.
So, for lunch, Dawn and I back-tracked
to the Lake Henshaw cafe where there were a bunch of bikes gathered outside, but no one was really inside getting
any lunch. We
did, though.
After lunch Dawn said she wasn't sure
she was going to be able to make it back home because she was so sleepy. I told her if she was to fall asleep, she
should fall off on the RIGHT side of the bike to avoid falling into oncoming traffic. She didn't do either, and we got back to the
house around 2 p.m. at which point she levitated across the family room horizontally and hit the couch with a snore.
Oh, well.
Gary
There’s a little bit new and a whole
lot of old on the Wanderer’s Website this month.
The old?
Well, it may be a “forest for the trees” thing but I went “wandering”
through the site this month and rediscovered some pretty neat stuff! Have you re-read the Fukawi Legend lately? How
about looking into the “Odds-n-Ends” area to revisit some great stories submitted by club members past and present
including the collection of “get off” stories.
The new? Well you may have noticed there’s a new motorcycle
chasing your cursor around the main page these days.
Yes, it’s someone’s Kawasaki Nomad. In the “Past Rides” area you’ll find
fresh stories dealing with our considerable contribution to the ABATE poker (poker, I hardly knew her!) ride this
month along with write-ups for the Casino Tour ride and Anti Destination “event.”
We have some new names in the “Members”
area this month. Click
on the e-mail link and send a welcome to Bruce Childs and Bonnie Collins. Oh, and while you’re there scroll down to
Ron Growels name and open his brand new personal homepage.
You’ll find a beautifully written recap of his and Grumpy’s trip to Seattle
and back along with photos.
As always your suggestions for the site
are welcome.
Yours,
John Q.
Lawrence
From Ron Growel
About a week ago, Dick Useted and I
returned from a very enjoyable two week adventure...our "Border to Border" ride, mainly along the Pacific
Coast, from San Diego to Seattle. The main purpose to visit my daughter and family in Tacoma. For those interested in the ride report and
photos, please visit:
http://members.home.net/rgrowel/ and
click on the "Too Much Fun Ride Report" link.
I'm a novice at web site construction
(this is my first attempt), so any comments would be appreciated. Hope you enjoy.
Ron
From John Q.
I received a very nice letter from Joe Beautz today. His "Virago Star Cruisers" club was organizing the Simi Valley rally in September (6th-9th) which had been posted as a "future ride" on our web site some months ago.
It seems even though invitations went
out to several California clubs associated with the Virago Owners Club along with the Wanderers, pre registrations
as of July 15th weren't sufficient to promise a successful rally.
Wanderers who'd pre-registered are probably receiving your checks back today. You will probably have to cancel any room reservations you made for the event yourself, however.
Those who put off, well, it's too late. Sad
since the last rally several years ago was reportedly (before my time) so successful..
Bummed
John Q.
For the summer, club meetings are being
held the fourth Saturday of the month, 10 am at the Country Choice Restaurant. It is located at 8910 Troy St. in
Spring Valley, near Bancroft.
Country Choice has plenty of parking,
takes plastic, the food is good and plentiful. The restaurant is very close to several major freeways (the 8, 125
and 94).
To reach the Country Choice simply take
94 East to the Bancroft exit. Turn right (south) and continue until Bancroft turns into Troy. The restaurant is
around a right hand bend in the road. There is a map on our home page.
La Mesa Hot Rod Night: Come sit and
sip and watch the chrome go by! Thursdays are "Hot Rod NightsLa Mesa. Motorcycle parking is on the street
beside "Por Favor" restaurant where we will "try" to reserve a table. If sitting doesn't work
for you then you can do plenty of walking and looking at some beautiful hot rods and motorcycles. This is an "every
other" Thursday event for the club, rotating with Friday nights at Packards.
Mike Calderones Ocean/Mountain/Desert
Ride:
We will leave from Dennys on Kearny
Villa Rd at 9AM and do a short stint on freeway and then at Solano Beach head up the coast. Will do another short
stint of freeway getting past Camp Pendleton and then get off at Ortega Highway in San Juan Capistrano for a gas
stop and butt break. We will then go into Cleveland National forest and thru the mountains and stop at Lookout
Cafe that has spectacular view of Lake Elsinore. Hungry? You can eat there. Down the mountain and into the desert
at Lake Elsinore, will take country roads to old town in Temecula and end up at Temecular Beer and Wine Garden.
We can all depart our separate ways from there. The trip is about 110 miles, maybe 20 freeway miles.
Packards Night: Decompress from your
work week at Packards on Main Street in Ramona. This is an every other week ritual started a couple of years ago.
North County area riders gather at the base of Highland Valley road, just off the I-15 for a 6:15 pm departure.
San Diego, South Bay and East County
riders gather at Burger King in Lakeside at Highway 67 6:15 pm. Both rides are approximately 45 minutes allowing
for plenty of sunlight for coffee sipping, posing and talking about motorcycles.
This is an ever other Friday night event,
rotating with the Thursday evening Hot Rod shows in La Mesa.
La Mesa Hot Rod Night: Come sit and
sip and watch the chrome go by! Thursdays are "Hot Rod Nights" on Main St. La Mesa.
Packards Night: Decompress from your
work week at Packards on Main Street in Ramona.
La Mesa Hot Rod Night: Come sit and
sip and watch the chrome go by! Thursdays are "Hot Rod Nights" on Main St. La Mesa.
3rd Annual Desert in the Moonlight Ride
Ron Growel is leading this adventure. We'll depart from Packards in Ramona at about Dark:30PM. (Time to be announced
later but moonrise is 7:01 pm). It won't be a Harvest Moon ride, but still should be pretty spectacular. The route
will be as last year Santa Ysabel past Lake Henshaw, down the glass elevator to Borrego Springs, up Banner Grade
to Julian, returning to Ramona.
WANDERERS TREASURER RPT -
07/28/2001
1. 06/23 Last
reported balance=..................................................
$639.75
2. 06/24 Jun
nwsltr expenses Pat Sammarco=...............................
$28.76(-)
3. 06/30 Bob
Matias – patch=.........................................................
$25.00
4. 07/01 Bruce
Childs & Bonnie Collins new=..................................
$7.50
5. 07/10 Jul
nwsltr expenses Pat Sammarco =...............................
$26.52(--)
6. 07/28 Current
treasury balance=.............................................
$616.97
Notes:
1. Available
Funds:
Current
treasury balance =...............................................................
$616.97
*Dec
charity t-shirt reserve =...........................................................
$300.00(-)
**Nwsltrs
8/01 - 4/02 @ $28/mo set-aside =..................................
$252.00(-)
Available = ................................................................................................................. $64.97
*(T-shirt
set-aside will become available after the event)
**(Remaining nwsltr expences from present thru 04/2002)
2. 32
paid memberships - 51 total members.
3. All
listed members paid thru 04/02.
WANDERERS
PATCH ACCOUNT SOLD
1. 06/23 Previous
reported account balance =.............................
$189.00(-)
30
2. 06/30 Bob
Matias - 1 patch =.....................................................
$25.00
31
3. 07/28 Current
patch account balance =.................................
$164.00(-)
31
03/21 John Q took possession of
6 unsold patches.
03/21 Gary S took possession of
16 unsold patches.
03/24 John Q delivered 1 patch
to Jim Hotz, holds 5.
04/17 Don P took possession of
5 unsold patches.
Gary 11.
04/22 John Q delivered 1 patch
to Jim Webb, holds 4.
06/30 John Q delivered 1 patch
to Bob Matias, holds 3.
Summary: Don
P - 5; John Q - 3; Gary S - 11
Regards, Gary Steinweg
Wanderers Treasurer