American Heat

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  Posted by HDBeech October 18, 2010 - Filed in Rallies & Events - 2,297 views
  

  Last Saturday, October 16th, Lucky and I decided to go to American Heat in Palm Springs.  We planned on going the scenic route ...  aka: Ortega Highway ... but the weather changed our minds.  We woke up to sprinkles and lots of wet roads. 

  We left around 7:30 am and I know our new next door neighbors thought we were crazy!  First, they see us taking out the bike to ride in the rain and then they see us packing a blow up kangaroo!  Joey!

  We met up with Terry (Wheels) and his wife, Cheryl in Temecula.  We were supposed to meet at a gas station, but Lucky and I were there early and hungry, so we grabbed a breakfast burrito at a small Mexican place acorss the parking lot.  I guess Terry must have seen all the CycleFish stickers and flag on our Road King, because in they walked.  It was still about 60 degrees when we left Temecula, so I'm wearing layers of clothing and leather from head to toe.  I hate being cold!  Took the 79 to the 371 towards Palm Springs.  A nice windy road with relaxing scenery.  I saw a sign that said "Bighorn Sheep Crossing" but I think that was a lie.  I've NEVER seen those darn sheep!

  As we got up over the 371 to the 74, it quickly went from 60 degrees to 95 degrees.  Needless to say, I was boiling in my layers of clothing!  Pulling over to a retail parking lot, all four of us began to strip our clothes off.  Not ALL of all clothes...so get your minds out of the gutter!

  As we approached downtown Palm Springs, we noticed very few motorcycles on the road, and when we arrived at the American Heat venue (a closed off 6 block area on Palm Canyon Drive) we were surprised to see that there weren't many people at all.  Lucky and I had gone to American Heat about 9 years ago and it was packed with bikes.  This year, we were able to park right away and real close to the vendors.  Probably a sign of this sad economy.

  We hooked up with Russ and Cindy (BikerCrap) and our other friends, Kevin and Bea.  Actually found seats at a bar called Hair of the Dog and had a few beers.  We also took a few pictures with Joey.  Joey likes Palm Springs!  Walked around the vendors and checked out the show bikes and did alot of sweating.  I still can't believe you can drive only 60 miles from 60 degree weather to 95 degree weather!  Only in California.

  Found a burger joint and proceeded to eat a regular sized burger that cost $12.00!  We also noticed that the place normally charges $12 for a pitcher of beer, but for the "Welcome Bikers", we now had to pay $16.50.  Nice.  Time to head out, because now we are broke.

  Terry and Cheryl had to go to a birthday party and Lucky and I decided to drop by and see the grandkids.  On our way home (in the dark), everything was fine until we got to the 241 Toll Road.  It was Halloween scary.  The fog was so thick, I don't think Lucky could see but maybe 5 feet ahead of him.  We were surrounded by fog and it was wet and cold.  God was watching over us as we rode through it and made it home safely.

  Well, it was great to meet Terry and his wife Cheryl!  We had a fun time.  That's what I like about Cyclefish...when we don't want to ride alone somewhere, we find someone on Cyclefish to ride with!