First ride in the USA

Picked the bike up this morning. Started first thing and with a couple of others picked up some petrol and got a few miles under our belts. Probably the biggest thing that hits you are the scarcity of road signs, rules, arbitrary speed limits and steady ques of cars going slowly. Driving on the right comes fairly naturally as I’ve driven on the Continent a lot – plus on a bike you’re not sitting on the wrong side when driving. So, not tempting providence I hope, it was a lot more relaxing than driving in Ipswich – which isn’t that stressful itself.

Most of the rest of today and tomorrow will be spent chilling and getting everything ready for Saturday. Then it’s doing some long hauls for real, though everybody whose driven/ridden here before says a hundred miles in the states feels like fifty in Europe. Have also checked and the temperature in British Columbia and Alaska is mid teens and low teens respectively – and getting warmer. So that’s OK then.

I’ve arrived.

Well I was impressed with Heath Row airport and United Airlines. This was my first long haul flight and everything was very painless. I’d also pre-booked my plane seat in economy and had done well – I was facing the middle bulkhead on the 777 I flew on and could stretch my legs fully out and recline. The downside was that just as I got comfortable a woman and her baby came and sat next to me. Say no more!

Got through American immigration very quickly and walked out of the airport to see the coach to Santa Rosa just about to leave with another guy from the tour on it. We then crawled past the crowd coming from the American Open golf championship – which is being held in SF this week. Next onto the Golden Gate bridge and past Alcatraz! After a 30 mile ride through Californian countryside we arrived at Santa Rosa and caught a taxi to the hotel where we were met by three other group members and had a cold beer. As it was now 5am UK time bed was high on the agenda – though I must admit I haven’t slept that well as I think jet lag coupled to thinking about the challenge ahead has impacted a bit.

Will pick the bike up after breakfast and start discovering what riding in America is like!