California 2020 – Page 21 – Not Your Average Engineer

January 31, 2020December 20, 2021

Over the Diablo Range on Highway 198

I took off very early from Palm Springs on my return trip to Monterey so that I would get back before dark. I took the 62 up to Yucca Valley where I jumped on the 247. Going by Johnson Valley my hands nearly froze off from the cold desert air. I saw a number of built 4x4s heading to Johnson Valley for King of the Hammers. Then in Lucerne Valley I got on the 18 toward Victorville where I got on the 395 up to Kramer Junction and Highway 58 through Mojave and Tehachapi and on to Bakersfield. Then across on 58 to the 5 where I went north a bit before I got over to the 33 up to Coalinga where I got on the 198 over the Diablo Range and then I met up with the 101 back to Salinas where I got on the 68 to get back to Monterey. It was a very long day of riding!

January 30, 2020December 20, 2021

Around Palm Springs

We walked around Palm Springs during the lunch break from the conference. What a beautiful city in the desert!

Palm Springs has their own walk of fame. Here are some of the more interesting stars that I found.

After the conference, we walked through the night market on the main drag of Palm Springs. There was tons of art and other interesting things to sell.

January 29, 2020December 20, 2021

Anza-Borrego Desert, the Salton Sea, and around

I got up very early again and went for a ride on my Honda Pacific Coast PC800 up Highway 74 and then along Highway 371. Then I took Highway 79 down to Highway 78 and out through the Anza-Borrego Desert to the Salton Sea where I got on Highway 86. Then I wound through the palm groves around Valerie, went by La Quinta, and then got on Highway 111 to get back to the conference in time for the morning sessions.

The whole route I took is amazingly gorgeous. It was freezing going over the mountains before the sun came up though. Next time I’ll wear my heated riding gear.