Changing Gears Trip Log

This is Paula Tomlinson's trip log for the 2005 US leg of the Changing Gears Harley ride.

Friday, September 23

Today was our second practice ride, and our destination was California Harley-Davidson. These practice rides are to get us familiar with riding together as a group and to get some time on our particular bikes (some ride pretty much the same kind of Harley at home; others, like me, are used to a different style of bike altogether).

Our 20 bikes are divided into 4 groups of 5 bikes, each with a lead rider and a sweep rider. Each group lead is prepared to lead in case their group gets separated from the other groups (due to traffic lights or whatever), but we all need to know the route since any one of us could get cut off in traffic.

I'm riding sweep for the second group. When we need to change langes, the lead signals the sweep to pull over to block (hold) the lane for the rest of the group.

It's also my responsibility to pump gas for my group at each gas stop. I soaked everyone in gasoline yesterday, but did much better today.

My group consists of Cathy ("Fearless"), Diane ("Miss May"), Rhonda ("Indy" -- there are two Rhondas in this group, so her nickname is really needed), Donna ("Boston"), and me.

Meanwhile, the cameras went with the dogs to Disneyland! Unfortunately, Disneyland has some kind of rule about not letting dogs in, so we had to go to the second-most famous attraction in Orange County: the Bark Park.

This is a teeny little fenced-in park, kind of a wart on the side of the Orange County fairgrounds. We wouldn't trade it for the acres of off-leash space at Marymoor, but there is something to be said for being able to sit in a chair and know your dog can't get out of sight.