The Breakfast Club: Alberto's story (Gardnerville)

Thursday–Sunday, 27–30 Aug 2015

Alberto writes:

Pictures start here.

Thursday

I had done all the preparation and loaded the bike. I was ready.

Friday

Five am could not come fast enough. I saw the clock tick 4:58 am, “should I wait? And get up at 5:00 am - Nah!” And with that I got up.

I still had a few odds and ends to complete my bike. 6:00 am… I am outa here! Top off the Gas and headed to the downtown Starbucks where I will meet Rich Penrose. I know, I am early by one hour, so what? I have a book and that is good enough.

We had agreed to meet at 6:45 have some coffee and head to Sunol for breakfast with Markus Baur.

There is just no better way to get in the correct spirit of riding the bike. Calaveras Rd bordering the reservoir is it. Slow and winding. The city, the traffic and the hustle-bustle was left behind.

Sunol. We arrived a few minutes before Markus, not enough to complain about him being late. But, hey! Careful here. If you can find fault with Markus, you have a serious problem. A nicer guy cannot be found.

Today. Breakfast, was satisfactory, other details are not needed, I am certain that you have had similar breakfast at a million similar facilities. They are all the same offering the same fare for about the same price… Ten bucks, up or down one.

Right! Hit the road toward Livermore on highway 84. Markus leading, took a couple of strange turns. I had no idea where we were… Whoa! Basco Road and soon there after highway 4 toward Stockton. How in the world did he do this? To say that I was lost is a massive understatement. Once on highway 4 however, it was simple all the way to highway 88, hang a right and after a short ride… Bingo! Gardnerville.

Along the way, I must mention, short of highway 88, the Las Perlas trailer-lunch. Superb! Highly recommend this roach-coach. Believe it or not, you can google the trailer!

Markus, and I are staying at the Westerner where we found Roseville-Jerry and Rob Hyman already bathing at the pool. Markus suggested I join him and the others … Forget it! Water ain’t for this cat.

Little by little more arrived. By 7:00 pm we were ready for diner. Markus, Rob, Rich, Jerry and myself (Alberto). We all gathered at the Overland restaurant bar. Many of you know this place from prior dinners in Gardnerville, well, no more. It has expanded the bar taking over the old conference room. Remodeled, very yuppy, were us old bikers (well… You all, I do not partake on “old”) are no longer welcome unless it is to drink. We did.

Now time to eat. The overland restaurant has a pretty good menu… Yuppy, very yuppy. Much too yuppy. We decided to try the casino across the street. Forget it!! The smoke was serious enough to make your eyes water… We pretty much ran back to the Overland yuppy or not. A very animated dinner consuming Bison Burgers. Not Markus, you know him… Vegetarian.

Coming back to the motel, you guess it… Beer, and beer and more beer. By the front door of each room. They had a good time, yes, “they”, myself? Bedtime for Gonzo!

Saturday, August 29, 2015

Up at 6:00 am. Markus was up long before I opened a eye. More yet, Rob had gone to the near Starbucks and purchase a large container of coffee. What a guy! We all had a cup and by seven were ready for the real thing: breakfast.

It was decided on the Nugget Casino in Carson City, 15 miles north. It has a restaurant were we had agreed to meet Glenn, who lives in Carson City.

The place is not bad if you like the casino environment. The restaurant, Mustang Sally. Yes, Sally runs it. Well let me tell you, Sally can cook. It was superb! At the end of breakfast we all said good bye to Sally, but some said a “warmer good bye” - Glenn, the hot-dog is hugging and getting he special departure greeting. Very cool. You’d think that is were it ends… Nope, on the way out another honey calls on Glenn. What is it with this guy, here the expression “handsome brute” has a whole new meaning! Way to go Glenn.

After breakfast, time to hit the road. While getting gas, Markus takes off like a rocket… Huh? Where could he be going? Plumbed disappeared. the rest of us took highway 50 over to Lake Tahoe toward Incline Village. Highway 50 has been rebuilt and it is a magnificent ride. Crank the throttle over the sweeping curves you will not exceed your abilities.. It was a dream! We stopped at a vista point overlooking the lake. We have earned the right to such views. One word… Magnificent.

Here we parted company. Rob and Jerry back to Gardnerville, Rich and I toward Reno via Mount Rose to visit a old friend. Visiting Tom, this I can say: retiring here affords a incredible level of luxury for a penny! Wow!!

Rich an I headed back to Gardnerville on highway 395. Such winds! We were getting slap left and right. The sky while grey and cloudy did not look like threatening with rain. It simply looked imposing and making you feel small.

At the motel, the Westerner, many had arrived. Randy Hendrix, Leroy and his son, Carl, Dave Gallegos, on and on. Many whose name I do not know, but it does not matter, we all got along as old friends. You can attribute this to SMBC members, easy going… All of them!

I learned that Markus had gone on his own somewhere in Nevada. He’d taken some dirt road way in the back country, some nine miles deep. We all know he likes at times solo riding, but, better if he lets us know about where he’s gone. I was a little worried. Yes, yes, ” When you ride with us… You ride alone”. I don’t care, still I worried.

For the evening we all gathered at JT Basque restaurant. Crowded. Would we get it? It was debatable, but it proved to be a worth while wait. The food, far better than expected, ever more when they accommodated some thirty of us.

The celebratory dinner is now under way!

Dave Gallegos started the evening by honoring Sheila. Not enough could be said to honor the lady, for in the consensus of all, she was a Lady among ladies. Everyone was invited to stand up, identify himself or herself as Sheila would have insisted on. I cannot remember what everyone said, so I will write what I had to say: “if the measure of a person is the legacy they leave behind, we need not look very far and measure Sheila by Marco and Rob Hayman. Two fair people I have come to appreciate.”

I will add to these individual speeches by bringing Randy Hendrix to the fore-front. It was Sheila’s penchant for jokes that prompted Randy an “attempt at humor” - he blew it! But was funny in his own right. He proceeded to tell a three sentence joke. “A drunk walks into a bar. Sees a chicken on a woman’s lap and says, “what’s up with the pig? The woman replies “you idiot this is not a pig”. The drunk retorts, I was talking to the chicken”. Not the joke, but the telling that got everyone in stitches. Randy… You are okay.

The events moved onto Bob burns, aka Major Wwwoble. It was upon him to dispose of the, thus far, resented boot. Mentioning sundry and various flops by some attending. But, make no mistake, Mr Wob is the master of misdirection. Soon he was upon his pray… Without identifying the poor sap.

He commenced by pointing every mistake made by his intended victim. But focusing on a simple set of questions: “How many here have dropped their bike, once, during 2014-2015?” Many hands went up (I kept mine down). Twice? Three times? Four times? The count did not stop until he got to six times! At each count pointing the exact date and circumstance when the bike went down. Locations such as: By himself, in front of all of us, at Alice’s, etc. Bob continued “not content with dropping his small bike, he went to get a really big bike, all the way to a 650 pounder, figuring on doing big-time drops . - And for this many massive failures, we award Alberto Da Boot!”

Well, you all can have it. I had been hinted at the fact that really I had no competition… I was a shoe-in. Now it was my turn”.

“Thank you very much, I think. But let us be objective as to what is happening here: we are recognizing and giving an award to a man’s absolute incompetency”. Ahh, but you’d think that like in previous years the boot’s recipient claimed in his defense, “the award is given for no good reason at all” - Burns 2014. And prior years similar disclaimers to incompetency. This year, much, much different. “I accept this award with full knowledge that my level of incompetency is so far-ahead-and-above-shoulders that I have no peer. Yes, My incompetency so good, that you can say that I am actually talented at it. My wife has said so to me for the last forty years, you guys are late to the recognition”. I have much more to say, but, for the sake of brevity… Thank you very much!… I THINK!

By the way, Mr Wob stopped counting way too soon (maybe he gave up). There have been an additional three drops, making the year’s total at NINE! Now, am I proud of my stupidity? No, but, answering the question: “How does a man gain experience… From inexperience”. Anyone for a Bike-dropping lesson? Just email me, I will be happy to oblige.

The evening was quite animated, the wine flowed after which we all retired to the bar for some beer. Nothing new there.

Earlier in the afternoon. Before the ceremonies, by sheer coincidence Alberto goes over to Markus… “Hey Markus, I need your help.” Yes, Alberto, how can I help you? “Well, at the BMW rally I was taught how to lift a bike that has fallen and I’d like to practice, but I need a spotter - can we try this across the parking lot on the grassy area?”. Markus, great sense of team work … Sure, let go!

Fifteen minutes later, I had dropped and lifted the BMW 1200 RT, all 650 pounds four times. Very reassuring that, yes, I can do it. I need not fill with apprehensive-adrenaline the next time I drop the bike. In the years to come, will I ever drop the bike?. You bet! But I will be able to take care of myself, in the event. Thank you Markus.

The drinking of beer continued for some time at the motel. Not for long though, as we were returning to the Bay Area in the morning. Many were planing on an early start.

Sunday August 30, 2015

I am an early riser, not today! Barely opened my eyes by 6:30 am. Markus… Sawing logs big time! Quietly I got dressed and went out of the room to see if anyone else was up. Whoa!, most everybody is up and awake looking at their bikes and getting ready to go.

Many will have breakfast in Gardnerville, not fat from the Westerner. Others will have breakfast at the traditional facility on highway 88 near Kirkwood.

But first… “Markus, wake up”. Nothing. “Markus… MARKUS!!” I should have had a closer look… Ear plugs. A little shake of the toe and he responds. Easy going guy he is… “Good morning, citizen”. And realized the time. Ten minutes later he is ready.

By 8:00 am we all depart. Rob and Randy left 1/2 hour ago. Rich and I take off at a leisurely pace. 55 mph. Man is this a gorgeous morning! A bit cold, crisp, and clear. Not 5 miles away Marco, Fred, Tom and Markus go zooming past us at 70 mph. I thought to keep pace with them and though better… it to be a shame to rush such great morning. Slowed down and kept at it as God ordered me to: “Alberto, easy today, and have a great one”. I did.

5 miles later, Markus hailed me by the restaurant. Thank goodness as I had not seen the restaurant. They were all there… Not exactly waiting for me, but as usual on a Sunday Morning Breakfast, yapping in the parking lot. Inside were the others already ordering. It was just like we do every Sunday.

After eating, one by one they peeled off for their respective world. Rich and I continued at our lazy pace. Markus took off with Marco… Yes, like rockets! With the understanding that we would regroup at highway 88 and 26. There he was! Hailing me again as I almost went right by him. As it turns out highway 26 is hardly seen and you must make a left turn at Defender Grade - hardly side road that takes you to highway 26.

Highway 26 - for those that have not taken it, parallels 88 to Stockton… But what a road! It has no traffic other than the locals and many other motorcycle riders (going the other way, up the mountain). One word: fabulous, turns, mini ups-n-downs, surely you want to take this road the next time you have a chance.

Stockton, 205, 580, the parking lot highway at 580 & 680 (the government should do something about this, for it is shameful! 6 to 7 miles back up is not correct, and if they have not noticed it is because they are having too much fun dealing with global warming!

But, enough of my complaining, after all, a high caliber incompetent has no vote and certainly no rights!

I got home by 2:30 pm after a great weekend.