June 14 – The plan was to get a semi-early departure Friday morning to make it to Motorcycle Mania in Fernley before they closed at 5 PM. Matt had left GZ the Third in Deanna’s capable hands there a few days before. The trip is 400 miles, so the 9:30 departure should have left plenty of time. However, 8 miles after leaving the house while pulling into a gas station, a pull on the clutch resulted in a broken clutch cable. It was the original cable, so not a big shock, though I checked it regularly and it had not given the usual warning. A couple of calls to the local Honda dealers revealed they had none in stock and would be a week out. My buddy Steve asked if I could get a used one somewhere and I thought of a local m/c wrecking yard. I called and was told they had a lot of cables. So I rode back home unable to disengage the clutch. Luckily, traffic was light, I hit all the lights and I never had to stop at any intersections. Once down to the yard, the proprietor directed me to a wood box outside. Here is what I found. Lots of cables, indeed –
Not a needle in a haystack, but close. After pawing through speedo, tach, and brake cables for a few minutes I found clutch cables, but all were way too long or too short. I decided to walk the yard to see if there were were any CB750s. I found this –
The frame is a ’75 F, the engine is an earlier K, the front end was something I didn’t recognize, but there was an aftermarket clutch cable on there. The cable was nearly completely seized, but was otherwise intact. I figured some cable lube would free it up and at least it was the right length. Sure enough I was able to free it up back home. A little black electrical tape wrapped around it to fix some chafed through spots on the sheathing and it was good to go. We were back on the road with only a 3 hour delay. That put us in Fernley too late to get to Motorcycle Mania, but they opened at 9 AM Saturday morning, so no problem. We set up camp at Fort Churchill state park about 25 miles south of Fernley. It is a pretty good campground if you are ever that way.
June 15 - Back to Fernley the next morning to Motorcycle Mania. Thanks to Deanna for helping us out, She said she was sorry to see GZ go.
Just an abandoned bar somewhere out of Winnemuca, I think –
On US95 north, back in the wide open spaces –
On NV140 headed toward Denio, it opens up even more. The sign made GZ a little nervous. He is a little bit of a city boy. I guess it should be obvious by the way he dresses –
A little break about 60 miles farther –
Here’s some pix in and around Denio, NV. I like the camper –
Harney County line, which also happens to be the Oregon line, but that isn’t mentioned. Shows what they think is more important out here –
As it turns out, it wasn’t 179 miles to gas after all, only 125 or so. Fields, OR is a very nice spot and Fields Station usually has gas –
Frenchglen, OR –
SE Oregon has its share of lava flows -
Harney Lake –
Back in Idaho –
June 16, Sunday morning at Mountain Home, headed for the handoff in Carey, ID with Motorfist and crew –
Looking back the way we came on US20 –
Hill City, ID –
Innaresting –
Carey, ID and the handoff to Motorfist and crew. Thanks to Josh, Michelle, and Dave. It was great to meet you –
Here is something for Studebaker fans (I are one), a decent Gran Turismo we spotted at Fairfield, ID –
All in all, a great 3 days of riding, weather was ideal, the bike was perfect except for a small hiccup at the beginning, met some good folks, what more can you ask for? 1325 miles, accompanied by GZIII for 706 of them.
