Setting out on a "Tour of a lifetime"

I'm in a hotel in Venice Beach, CA, where about 18 moto-journalists from all over the world are gathering in preparation for a California tour that my contact characterized as a "tour of a lifetime." I'm certainly honored to be among the 18.

The tour is sponsored by EagleRider, the really big boys in the motorcycle rental business and organizers also of tours. Heading out tomorrow, we'll ride the Pacific Coast highway through Big Sur, visit Yosemite, and visit a lot of other places as well. Considering that we'll take four days getting to San Francisco, you can understand that the operative word here is "tour."

For tonight, we're encamped at the Erwin Hotel in venice Beach, right on the boardwalk. Yes, the pictures you've seen and the stories you've heard are true, there are a wide assortment of very peculiar people here. From the outrageously dressed bum who bills himself as the world's greatest wineo (his spelling) to surfers, roller bladers, medical marijuana dispensaries (Step in and get legal right now!), to the shops, restaurants, and all the rest, Venice Beach is, shall we say, colorful.

Tomorrow we head out. I'll be riding a Heritage Softail, so for the first time ever I'll have a chance to spend some real seat time on a Harley. Maybe after four days I'll finally have a better understanding of the Harley mystique. I've just never been a Harley guy. Most of the other riders will also be on Harleys, although Donya Carlson, writer for Rider magazine, will be on a Honda ST1300. That's the bike I would have chosen had I not had this desire to really experience a Harley, finally.

On the first day we'll head north, stopping for lunch on Stearns Wharf in Santa Barbara, with our destination San Luis Obispo, where we'll be staying at the Madonna Inn. I've never heard of the Madonna Inn but my wife's friend swooned when she heard we were staying there, so I guess it's pretty special. I'll let you know.

Day Two has us stopping at the Elephant Seal Rookery and San Simeon, with lunch in Big Sur. We'll be in Carmel for the night at La Playa Hotel. The materials we've been given say "The hotel is recognized as theh Grande Dame of Carmel." Again, I'll let you know.

Our third day will carry us inland, to Yosemite National Park. We'll be staying at the Yosemite View Lodge. I have been to Yosemite on a bike before but never stayed there. I'm definitely looking forward to that.

Finally, on the fourth day, we'll ride on to San Francisco, cross the Golden Gate Bridge (both ways, I presume) and end up for the night at the Radisson Fisherman's Wharf. Following a champagne breakfast and farewell the next morning we'll all head our separate ways. I'll be staying an extra day in the Bay Area to visit a friend and then head home on Wednesday.

So there you go. I don't think there's any question that for me this is indeed going to be a tour of a lifetime. I'm the kind of guy who's happy just throwing my sleeping bag out on the ground next to my bike. Fancy hotels and restaurants are not common to my experience. I hope I can deal with it.

Whatever happens, I'll be giving a day by day report I invite you to come along. I'll be your eyes and ears.

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