Rosarito
(DAY001 : Los Angeles - Rosarito : 190 miles)
Even if with a 2 month delay, Day 1 finally is here.
<Begin Bike talk>
If Katirga hadn't acted up, it could've come a couple of days earlier too. Lowering the bike at both ends by slightly less than an inch had seemed like a good idea at the time, and was working great too. But when I loaded my 60kgs of cargo in addition to my 70kg self, I ended up with pitiful ground clearence and a suspension prone to bottoming out, even with preload set to 4 (5 is max). The "lowering links" used for altering the rear ride height have the side effect of softening the spring action, and in this case it's more than acceptable. So, I go under the bike again to install the original links, do something really stupid, and drop the bike on myself! (It was the 13th, I wonder if it had anything to do with that.) With the rear jacked back up, but forks still lowered, I took her for a test ride and found nothing to complain about. When loaded, the rear would come down and correct the geometry further, at least theoretically. Only if I had tested that theory. Let me just say, I had to turn back yesterday as well, this time to raise back the forks. Now, the bike's all the way back up with shortened side and center stands, but I'd rather live with that or even lay her on a side if necessary than delay this trip further.
</End Bike talk>
Despite a delayed take off and large breakfast at Denny's, I made it to the border by 2PM. I was worried about long lines and an unattended bike during temporary customs importation procedures, but it was for nothing. Finding the Banjercito (where all that is done) was the hard part, but there were no lines and I was done in much less than an hour. A parking lot meant I did not have to park on the street and that sure was a relief.
In case you're following me, enter the "Aduane/Customs - to declare" line when you cross the border, and ask those guys for clear directions for the Banjercito. Getting lost in Tijuana is not the most joyful experience and appears to be quite easy. I asked, then got lost anyway. Then kept asking with almost no Spanish and found it. You'd think they'd put signs for it at the border huh? Think again, and feel very welcome.
I'm writing all this from the breakfast joint next to my $50 hotel in Rosarito, just south of Tijuana. When I pulled in yesterday sun was setting already and finding a place wasn't much fun. But I got to have some tacos al pastor before I went to bed and after this breakfast I now am certain of it: we've got this thing started!
Rosarito may be a lively gringo hangout in high season, but at this time of year it's just a bunch of empty bars with loud music played for whom nobody knows. My stop was for a different reason: As a principle I intend to avoid night riding unless it's absolutely necessary, and that rule stopped me 60 miles short of Ensenada. Maybe because I'm 2 months late and it's now the middle of winter, the weather is really cold. One of the problems with that is, holiday town hotels don't seem to have heaters and it's not fun to see your breath when you're in your room. Thankfully I had my insulated Fieldsheer pijamas! No, seriously. I slept with the removable liners of my ride gear, and they proved perfect for the purpose.
The motel in Rosarito
Even if with a 2 month delay, Day 1 finally is here.
<Begin Bike talk>
If Katirga hadn't acted up, it could've come a couple of days earlier too. Lowering the bike at both ends by slightly less than an inch had seemed like a good idea at the time, and was working great too. But when I loaded my 60kgs of cargo in addition to my 70kg self, I ended up with pitiful ground clearence and a suspension prone to bottoming out, even with preload set to 4 (5 is max). The "lowering links" used for altering the rear ride height have the side effect of softening the spring action, and in this case it's more than acceptable. So, I go under the bike again to install the original links, do something really stupid, and drop the bike on myself! (It was the 13th, I wonder if it had anything to do with that.) With the rear jacked back up, but forks still lowered, I took her for a test ride and found nothing to complain about. When loaded, the rear would come down and correct the geometry further, at least theoretically. Only if I had tested that theory. Let me just say, I had to turn back yesterday as well, this time to raise back the forks. Now, the bike's all the way back up with shortened side and center stands, but I'd rather live with that or even lay her on a side if necessary than delay this trip further.
</End Bike talk>
Despite a delayed take off and large breakfast at Denny's, I made it to the border by 2PM. I was worried about long lines and an unattended bike during temporary customs importation procedures, but it was for nothing. Finding the Banjercito (where all that is done) was the hard part, but there were no lines and I was done in much less than an hour. A parking lot meant I did not have to park on the street and that sure was a relief.
In case you're following me, enter the "Aduane/Customs - to declare" line when you cross the border, and ask those guys for clear directions for the Banjercito. Getting lost in Tijuana is not the most joyful experience and appears to be quite easy. I asked, then got lost anyway. Then kept asking with almost no Spanish and found it. You'd think they'd put signs for it at the border huh? Think again, and feel very welcome.
I'm writing all this from the breakfast joint next to my $50 hotel in Rosarito, just south of Tijuana. When I pulled in yesterday sun was setting already and finding a place wasn't much fun. But I got to have some tacos al pastor before I went to bed and after this breakfast I now am certain of it: we've got this thing started!
Rosarito may be a lively gringo hangout in high season, but at this time of year it's just a bunch of empty bars with loud music played for whom nobody knows. My stop was for a different reason: As a principle I intend to avoid night riding unless it's absolutely necessary, and that rule stopped me 60 miles short of Ensenada. Maybe because I'm 2 months late and it's now the middle of winter, the weather is really cold. One of the problems with that is, holiday town hotels don't seem to have heaters and it's not fun to see your breath when you're in your room. Thankfully I had my insulated Fieldsheer pijamas! No, seriously. I slept with the removable liners of my ride gear, and they proved perfect for the purpose.
The motel in Rosarito
posted by KATIRGA at
6:57 AM
2 Comments:
Ok Serdar,
I was already jealous about the trip and now you put the nail on the coffin reminding me of the tacos al pastor. Have a couple for me. Best of luck my friend.
And tacos al pastor reminds me of who!? :)
Gracias hermano, luck more than anything else!
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