To: nedod@linus.mitre.org Subject: Toad 2 or Burnt Toad Date: Mon, 04 Oct 1999 00:21:02 -0400 From: gayathri (fw'd from LaBiker) Burnt toad 2 Thanks, Ln and Mark!!! First off, thanks to Ln and Mark for a fantastic bbq -- roast pig and bird to go 'round with lots of yummy sides and a great birthday cake. (who was that sexy man from North of Seattle -- what lovely hair!) Second -- the Toad Two, aka Burnt Toad was a success, as No One Crashed. *yay for us!*(the last two had a few crashes.. but I hadnt been on 'em.) The day started off cold and foggy -- did I mention cold? unfortunately, from one ski season to the next, I lose my glove liners, and my fingers were frozen by the time made it to Russ's house to meet up with Mark Drake (VFR) and Russ (ST1100 with Jane's pillow on board). Mark cracked me up with his bouncing about on the bike (he's got on-board music and it became a common sight to see him bouncing up and down and left and right to the music during the rest of the day.) actually, by the end of the day, I decided I need to get a cd player or a mini disk and install headfones in my helmet -- it would have really helped on the ride home (too much highway!). We end up at a gas station and met up with JimD (Super Hawk) and Sammy (yzf600) and Kevin K (Honda shadow 1100) and I think I'm forgetting someone here... -- the couple on the 'XX with the beetle bags... and then head up to the Lookout -- dont ask me what roads just yet, i havent looked at a map with Russ. There were a gazillion bikes! The Motorcycle Consumer News crew was up there to do a ride as well, so we waited 'til they all left and there were fewer bikes. I had the most expensive egg and pita sandwich ever... but it was still good to walk around, kick tires, and see what was there. Too many people were surprised at my mount, and again, too many weird old men flocked around, saying, "hey, I had a triumph in the 60's..." to which I had to resist saying, "hey, I wasnt even born yet!" (okok, that's mean, I know, but with squidboy out of commission, I cant take it out on him) Then, we head off and meet up with Lorraine A (Honda 'F3), her husbane Steve (vfr750?) in his brand new leathers, some guy with a BMW sportbike (who's name I never got, I'm so lame), and then headed off onto some other great roads... I made my one mistake for the day -- the road we were on was a bunch of sweepers, and I'd gotten into the groove of slamming into them and leaning over and accelerating hard out -- which makes you go faster into the next one, and which ends up picking up quite a bit of speed if you arnet being careful. After a few of these, the road suddenly tightened up (which in retrospect, and also after doing that road again, I should have been able to read as the surroundings changed from farmland to rocks and trees and hills), it wasnt a sweeping right hand turn around the rock, but a really TIGHT one, and I ended up over the double yellow, braking hard and then cranking it into the turn, hoping that no cage was coming. 3 seconds later... I see a cage. Ok, let's slow down a bit and look at the scenery... hey, wow, COOL statue of a horse hidden in the trees at the entrance to a stable or farm. This is pretty nice... at the end of the road, we all group up, and have to wait for kevin as he'd gotten stuck behind the big nasty horse trailer going really slow in the tight stuff... a woman on a '900RR comes by, catching my attention -- attractive blond who was quite possibly taller then me... (Brian K, you paying attention? Your dream gurl rode on by!) We then try to head for lunch up at Palomar, but all roads leading to Palomar were closed due to fire -- the smoke and soot was visible in the distance, and my lungs began to bother me... heading upthe hill to the road to Palomar, coming around a sweeper to see -- Bike Parts littering the road -- fortunately, the line was clear and all I really saw was a piece of a handlebarr and some unidentifiable bits... Lunch was at a mexican place that was handy 'cause it was there -- I wont forget the image of Lorraine in her white leathers leaping out onto the side of the road and doing a huge wave to make sure we saw her and the other bikes parked in the lot (she's so darn CUTE!). Then, Lorraine, Russ and the BMW guy with the cool tshirt figured out where we were going afterwards, and we headed off. Lilac Canyone Road? something lilac -- was great fun. My lungs were still bothering me, even after a couple of hits of the inhaler, so I was concentrating on breathing -- its pretty neat to be in a mindset where things like braking, shifting, leaning, throttle control are automatic, so that 105% of your attention is not on the mechanics of riding, but can be in the joy of riding (and breathing)! Side note: I ended up talking to Wendy (who's husband bought her a Harley Sportster as a wedding present) for a good part of the night about the mindsets of riding, and while riding a motorcycle, and learning to do it well is an emotional sport, you cannot ride _with_ your emotions, that they have to be in balance, just like the bike... She's working on an article about it, and I'm hoping to read it soon - - -- I say now, that getting on the bike puts me back into balance, as it forces a lot of these things aside. (more on this later, as during the immediacy of racing, I was still distracted by my partner's crash the day before, so its still not always...) I ended up following JimD for a good part of the afternoon -- I think he was being nice and keeping it slow for me, tho he'd still pull away after a while. His lines are different then mine, which is why i was having fun behind him, I'm trying to learn how to see someone else doing things in front of me, and not be distracted by them into doing the same things or altering what _I_ want to do. (Handy trick, that, on the track... its hard to pass someone if you look at them, but you need to look to see where they are and what they are doing to get by...) Then, we got to Mark Alpen and Ellen's house -- I think these roads to her house were the most challenging! (only kidding, but what fun!). The hippo was awesome, tho i didnt see the Emus, and the food smelled so good. *stuff stuff* Now, this is the RIGHT way to ride to eat, eat to ride, except I wasnt sure my leathers would zip up afterwards. I decided to leave with Ken, Wendy, Brian P and Kevin K as it was getting dark. note: the 5 North SUCKS. I think we were in traffic from Anaheim to the intersection of the 710... and the roads are a little too narrow to lanesplit safely at night. YUC! - - --Gayathri - - -------------------------------------------------------------- gayathri@world.std.com Calamari Club #002, WSMC #701 Beware of low-flying butterflies.