Chevrolet and Autism Speaks Team Up to Drive Autism Awareness

Spread the word: Chevrolet has teamed up with Autism Speaks to drive home the message of autism awareness. During April – Autism Awareness Month – visitors to the Autism Speaks website (www.autismspeaks.org), can click on the “Help Chevy Help Autism” icon and take a virtual test drive of the 2008 North American Car of the Year – the all-new Chevy Malibu. Chevrolet has committed to a minimum contribution of $500,000, but every virtual test drive taken gets Chevrolet closer to its goal of donating up to $1 million to Autism Speaks to support its mission of increasing awareness of autism and raising money to fund autism research. Those who complete the virtual test drive will receive a free 30-day online trial of XM Satellite Radio. Read more and visit the Autism Speaks home page to take the virtual test drive.

Ceasar Chavez Holiday

State Holiday, I was not allowed to go to work, so I hooked up with these guys who also were celebrating the State Holiday.Alan and Tim showed up at the house early for a short ride to Buttonwillow to have breakfast.

Had to fuel up and get some cash before we took off.

This is where we had breakfast. Don't know why I didn't have lunch, should've had the rib eye. They have a barbecue sauce that some say is to die for...Guess I will have to make it back out there for an evening ride to try their barbecue.
Here are our bike's, it always amazes me how people gravitate and look at the ol'classics. The bike on the left is my classic, '97 Road King.

Happy Easter Sunday

One Of Those Days...

I work with a individual that believes and says on a regular basis, "Everyone needs a mental health day off of work from time to time." Well, today was one of those days!After being at work for two hours I slipped out the back door, jumped on the Road King and headed nowhere in particular. After wondering around some country roads I came across Allenworth State Park.In August 1908 Colonel Allen Allensworth and four other settlers established a town founded, financed and governed by African Americans. Their dream of developing an abundant and thriving community stemmed directly from a strong belief in programs that allowed blacks to help themselves create better lives.

An unavoidable set of circumstances made it impossible for the residents of this tiny town located 30 miles north of Bakersfield to achieve their founders’ dreams over the long term. But the town did remain home to a handful of families and individuals throughout the 20th century, and true to the courage and resolve of its founders, the town has survived and persevered, earning the well-deserved title “The town that refused to die.”
The sign in the background reads, "Welcome To The Farming Capitol Of California"

And the sign isn't lying! You could smell the "aroma" for 20 miles.

Up the road a few miles I ran into this "Indian Casino"
Definition of a "Tachi" is a Japanese sword. Hmm, maybe a Japanese Indian!
I had lunch and then headed home.

Kern River Canyon

I pulled the Road King out this evening and headed towards the Kern River Canyon.The Kern River is a river in eastern California in the United States, approximately 164 miles (264 km) long. It drains an area of the southern Sierra Nevada mountains northeast of Bakersfield. Fed by snow melt near Mount Whitney, the river passes through scenic canyons in the mountains and is a popular destination for white water rafting and kayaking. It is the only major river in the Sierra Nevada mountain range that drains in a southern direction.

This is a California Landmark that is near the mouth of the Kern River Canyon. One mile north of this marker on May 1, 1776, Francisco Garces of the Franciscan Order, crossed the Kern River in his search for a shorter route from Sonora, Mexico to Monterey, California. He was the first known explorer to describe this river, which he named Rio De San Felipe.The river is also well known for its danger, and is sometimes known as the "Killer Kern". A sign at the mouth of Kern Canyon warns visitors, "Danger. Stay Out. Stay Alive" and tallies the deaths since 1968; as of April 8, 2007 the count was up to 238. Bakersfield-born Merle Haggard's song Kern River recounts just such a tragedy. Most recently, as of July 9, 2007, the head count for the number of deaths is now 250.

This guy stopped and asked me if I needed any help. He had taken the day off from work and spent the day in the Kern River Valley enjoying his ride.

Snow melt from Mt. Whitney, the highest peak in the lower 48 states, feeds the Kern River, which provides drinking water for Kern County. The river is important riparian habitat, including critical habitat for the Kern Canyon Salamander.

This picture is taken from the mouth of the Kern Canyon, obviously looking west at sunset.The Lower Kern below Lake Isabella is a fishery unto its own. This section of river flows from the dam at Lake Isabella over 40 miles to the city of Bakersfield. This section is famous for its Small Mouth Bass as well as very large Rainbow Trout. It's also home to Large Mouth Bass and Crappie.

The canyon is very rugged in places.Here is a picture of some California Poppy's
(click on picture to enlarge and see the poppy's better)
The poppy is the State flower of California. A common myth associated with the plant is that cutting or otherwise damaging the California poppy is illegal because it is a state flower. There is no such law. There is a state law that makes it a misdemeanor to cut or remove any flower, tree, shrub or other plant growing on state or county highways, with an exception for authorized government employees and contractors (Cal. Penal Code Section 384a).

Narducci's Cafe

Narducci’s Café is located on East 21^st Street in Old Town Kern. If you are not from Bakersfield you might question why you would go to eat here. To appreciate Narducci’s Café, you must know some Kern County history. Narducci’s is located between Wool Growers and Pyrenees in the old Amestoy Hotel. When entering, you can tell you are walking back in time, back to the days when the Basque sheepherders would meet for a bountiful lunch. Back then the restaurant and bar were on the ground floor and the hotel was upstairs. This was “Basque Town” located in former Sumner, California before being annexed into Bakersfield. This was the location of Maitia’s, Wool Growers, Noriega Hotel and much later the original Red Pepper. Later, Jimmie Narducci bought the building and business but still kept the heritage of its previous owners. One may ask why go there? It’s for the great food, the atmosphere, the locals and the history.

Lumpy's bike out front

This is my buddy Ed, he arrived at Narducci's early, but that is the way he rolls... the gal behind Ed seem to like what she see's. (click on picture to enlarge)

Here is E-ZEE-G, looks like he got his fill of the "Rib Eye" lunch

Chuy's Bike Night

Wednesday night is Bike Night at the local Chuy'sTim, Sherri and Steve are co-workers of mineSherri and her husband just bought a Road King ClassicSteve's Deluxe.
He recently installed new handlebars, having the wiring ran inside the bars. This really has a clean look.Sherri's Road KingTim's Standard. Here he is B.S. ing with Harold.

Anonymous said...

Where's Lumpy's bike????