Our day, in a nut shell.
January 15th, 2007 by JonnoTouristy stuff in San Fran (Click for Todays Photos)
Hello all. Seeing as we won’t have the luxury of updating all the time when we start heading south, we thought we would update as much as we can, while we can.
This morning we drove from Walnut Creek to San Francisco to attend church - I got to try out my KLR, while josh borrowed Torstens 650cc scooter. A 650cc scooter. 650cc. Scooter. Torsten had entertained us the night before with stories of him utterly destroying a guy on a Honda CBR 600 from the lights with his scooter. It wasn’t long till Josh was putting it’s power to good use on the freeways.
My first experience on the KLR was totally positive. You ride very upright, sitting high above cars and sports bikes. It was super comfortable, and had enough power to keep up with Josh on the hellscooter. It’s certainly not a sports bike; not nearly as quick as my old CBR 250, but the real power is in the amount of torque that it generates. It handled great.
Interesting fact about California: you drive on the right (no shit). This does not take as long to get used to as you’d think - after 10 minutes on the road, it all feels natural. I imagine it would actually be far more difficult adjusting in a car, with the control seat on the opposite side. On a motorbike, no problem - all the controls are where they normally are. There are two notable differences in driving law to NZ: 1. If you are on a red light, but the way is clear for you to turn right (short turn, not crossing any lanes of traffic), you can do so. 2. There are stop sign intersections everywhere (4 stop signs, like the intersection at Real Groovy, Wellington). They work perfectly, without a hitch - why? The stop sign law seems to be that the first person to get to the Stop sign goes, then the next person who was waiting, etc, and it all works. This is down to the fantastic temperament and courtesy of the Californian driver, sorry to say it but they are way way WAY better then NZ drivers.
Anyway, enough about road rules. We arrived at the Glide Baptist Church in centre city, unfortunately getting there a bit late to most of it, but what we did see was a musical/spiritual experience. Glide is a liberal church - inclusive of gays, homeless, any and all types of people, and fiercely anti war. Most of the sermon we heard was about the people banding together, and standing up for what’s right in their community…. it was great! Completely different to the somewhat drab catholic church experience in NZ.
After church, Josh and I did tourist things, had a look around the City. I mauled a guy in Union Square. That’ll teach him to offer ‘Free Hugs’. After wandering around, we jumped back onto the bike/hellscooter and met Josh’s friends Bill and Amy Melcher, and their supercute daughter Venice (see photos). Bill and his neighbour Nathan took us up to a place called Twin Peaks, overlooking the entire city. We snapped a few more photos, and watched the Sun go down. Afterwards we headed back Bill and Amy’s place and gorged on Chocolate Cookies. Another day of roughing it, I’m afraid.
Thanks to everyone that suggested names for my bike, keep them coming!
Peace, etc, Jonno
January 16th, 2007 at 9:37 am
So Good to hear its all going well and yu’r enjoying San Fran. Fotos are really great with the KLR looking like a nice bike. Hellscooter looks amazing too. How do you get to the donk past all that plastic? Yur Trade Me auction closes tomorrow 3pm your time - filter has reached reserve - 2 bidders so far. Les and I met all 2day on 2007 planning - he’s back to himself - Yay!!!! Mum and I planing our France trip in detail. Booking this week. Jan’s back soon. More name suggestions for the KLR - Phat Fred aka Fat Freddy’s Drop, Thanks for keeping us all in touch. AB
January 16th, 2007 at 7:55 pm
RE. Californian drivers .. well, the
other person may be carrying a gun .. after a couple of drive-by shootings everyone became very polite. However, it’s also the case compared to Sydney drivers. NZ drivers remind me of Polish drivers circa 1973 - “I’m driving a tank, get out of my way !!”
January 17th, 2007 at 7:47 am
Hell scooter looks wicked! your bike looks like it should do the job too! Hope your dad gave you a time of ‘Elephant’ (leather preserver) to rub into that cool leather jacket and keep it water proofed! It’s great that you can find the time to keep us all informed of your adventures. Ride carefully - over and out!
January 17th, 2007 at 7:32 pm
Heya California Love all up in here hahahahaha
Mate its look so amazing, and considering that its winter it looks as though you have had some great weather.
RE driving I have heard from many travellers in NZ from overseas that we are shocking drivers hahaha. BTW yep in a car try changing gear with ya right hand.
Anyway better get back to work. Keep safe.
Cya
Anthony
January 17th, 2007 at 10:10 pm
Alex, that sounds like an advertisment ! Adam.
January 18th, 2007 at 12:41 pm
Hey Jono, those photos looked amazing. Its great to keep an eye on your website gets me all motivated and excited about travelling. As for a name for your bike, take something from the old glory days of uni, try ‘’SPECTRON'’ (west coast envi field trip that i tagged along on). If I recall rightly anything with that name you can attach warp speed to, might help if you get stuck in a sticky situation.
Have a good one,
Phil
January 18th, 2007 at 7:17 pm
hahahahahaha
The Starship Spectron. Oh those where the days, o-warpspeed hahahaha
January 19th, 2007 at 9:55 am
Hey Bud! Just got back from the cooks today!
One more massive thank you for all you did to help with our day. Very much appreciated.
Glad to hear that you are well and doing great. Keep up the updates when you can!
Take care!
Tim and Lindsey
January 23rd, 2007 at 4:44 am
Hi Jonathan,
Good luck with the travel!
The reason they’re so courteous at 4 way intersections is that car insurance is HUGE over here. In Vancouver they built a roundabout (very rare here) and they had to put 2 pages of instructions in the newspaper so people knew how it works. Even then people drove up to it and stopped and used it as a 4 way stop!
from Helen Vaughan
January 24th, 2007 at 3:24 am
Just got back from Shanghai this morning… Try driving in China. Nzers are kindi kids compared. Nose in front is the only rule. Getting ur nose in front is the game. Even then the other guy doesn’t always give way. Didn’t see any bikes but. After you guys have done S America, we’ll all need to get onto the Silk Road! Cheers, Uncle T
January 24th, 2007 at 7:04 am
Call her Whero. Very representitive don’t you think! X
January 24th, 2007 at 11:52 pm
Hi Jonno & Josh
Great to read that you have started your journey.
All I can say is watcht out for all those senioritas on your way through Mexico- some might bite.
And as for a name for your bikes - use the KISS principle
What about Locokiwi 1 and Locokiwi 2 with a picture of a small kiwi on the front wheel cover.
Also if you want areally good detour you should go to the Yucatan peninsular to see some fabulour Mayan/Aztec ruins and the local beaches around Cozumel. Keep on riding easy Riders
February 26th, 2007 at 9:17 am
Oh, man. As a San Franciscan living in Wellington, I’m constantly amazed at peoples’ inability to understand what to do at that intersection by Real Groovy! Actually, not so much “amazed” as “frustrated”, and really, “frustrated” is too strong a term for a chronic event that takes ten seconds when it should take two. What’s eight seconds among friends, eh?
I’ll not comment on my general impression of the driving abilities of Kiwis, though. It’s not polite for guests to speak thus
Also, for your sense of scale, the Bay Bridge (the big bridge with an island in the middle, that you crossed to go from Walnut Creek to SF) would stretch from downtown Wellington to Petone if it were relocated here.
Oh, and also also: it’s no big deal shifting a standard transmission with your other hand. I had no trouble adjusting to shifting with my left hand after 15 years of shifting with my right. The thing that gave me any trouble at all was a period of constantly activating the wipers in my Japanese-import Honda when I wanted to signal a turn. Eventually, we got a Holden, so the turn indicator lever is now on the correct side of the steering column.