Changing Gears Trip Log

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

Wednesday, September 21

Few photos on this leg, as the cameraman did most of the driving. Paula did take some video, but if you think these photos are slow to load, you really don't want to see how long it would take to view video.

We got to see the ocean today (sorry, only on video tape). We drove through or near places we visited during the Navion convention in Santa Maria (San Luis Obispo and Oceano). This route took us over some of the same stretches the motorcycle ride will cover, so it gave us an advance peek at how that looks. Our speed stayed up pretty good until we hit Los Angeles, and then that last 20 miles seemed to take forever (and we couldn't spot any celebrities in the other cars).

The real fun started after arriving at the Westin. As Ron headed off to find La Palma, Jet Blue was getting ready to land with a messed-up nose gear. Pretty unlikely to result in any deaths (unless somebody fell off the emergency slide), but it seemed like just about every ambulance in Los Angeles was marshalled up right outside the Westin, so Ron sat in a parking lot to wait out the stream of flashing lights and sirens. Meanwhile, Paula was partying, having a lovely dinner, and getting lots of free swag. Cancer patients have all the luck.

After Jet Blue made a perfect landing (wish we could keep the nose wheel that centered on our landings!), Ron punched up La Palma on the old GPS. Did I mention that we've become so dependant on the GPS that we would drive off a cliff if it said to? Anyway, no joy -- the GPS couldn't find La Palma. Some cogitation revealed that the idea of staying in La Palma emerged after we selected which maps to download into the GPS. The notebook computer had the complete North American maps, but we forgot to bring the cable needed for the laptop to talk to the GPS.

In olden days, one might just buy a map at a gas station, or (if one was female) even ask for directions. But the geeks in the audience have probably already guessed the correct solution, which went like this:

• Use GPS to locate and drive to nearest Fry's Electronics
• Purchase necessary USB cable.
• Go back to truck, get out AC inverter, plug in GPS and laptop
• Use laptop to create new map database that includes La Palma
• While waiting for database to download to GPS, listen to satellite radio, eat grapes from electric ice box, and play Solitaire
• Look for AAA card in case truck needs a jump
• Finally get GPS updated and then blindly follow its directions to hotel

The La Quinta in La Palma has no fridge in the room, but is otherwise quite nice (and has a laundry, which will be needed soon). It's conveniently located amidst tech-geek companies, and all the amenities are nearby, such as a Chevron and a Kentucky Fried Panda.