So, Final note's/thoughts.
Here's the final route.
[gmap]<iframe width="640" height="480" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" marginheight="0" marginwidth="0" src="http://maps.google.com/maps?f=d&source=s_d&saddr=Solano+Avenue,+Napa,+CA&daddr=Royal+Carriage+Inn,+Main+Street,+Jamestown,+CA+to:Yosemite+National+Park,+CA+to:38.11634,-119.17819+to:38.67076,-119.62759+to:38.88898,-120.00034+to:15+Highway+50,+Stateline,+NV+89449+(Harvey's+Lake+Tahoe+Casino)+to:39.09675,-120.16399+to:40.214912,-121.187028+to:40.485404,-121.427364+to:Woodsman+Hotel+%26+Lodge,+Mount+Shasta,+CA+to:41.3687,-122.54326+to:Carrville+Inn,+CA+to:Redding+Yamaha+Sea-Doo,+Twin+View+Boulevard,+Redding,+CA+to:McDonald's+near+Williams,+CA+to:Norfolk+Street,+Napa,+CA&geocode=FfIvSQIdgGG1-CnxcL256gCFgDG07GYTWdi3qg%3BFZAgQwIdA4HS-CHGX1YceTn9kg%3BFeXqPwId52rf-CmvY_I4_vGWgDFu4slULj8hGQ%3BFfSbRQIdMnzl-Cnhxy-RGLOXgDGtd6CZZw7kAQ%3BFagRTgIduqDe-Cktmyd4GdqZgDHu4c6LDHeDrA%3BFRRmUQIdrPDY-CnxIU2-QY6ZgDHb6IB8TnwTlQ%3BFYt4UgIdddzZ-CEhXDelOOvpsg%3BFa6RVAIdanHW-Cm_eyMFhtWbgDGSI9XIAZUa5g%3BFYChZQIdLNXG-ClPObyjfBSdgDEG_RujfVDeRQ%3BFRzCaQIdXCrD-CmhPqZQSE3NVDHjn3i0UqBy9g%3BFbw9dgIdd7a1-CGNr4qKlxpdDw%3BFXw8dwIdZCOy-Clv7lqi-gjOVDGstFy_KwA2zw%3BFSudcgIdt6qv-CFrH5cmiPJXAQ%3BFR8MbAIdxte0-CHXLgMWy7g_xw%3BFb98VQId9y-4-CEz3AkIscNGMilfyxR9lGSDgDGWSC_Ou7ooWQ%3BFSjDSAIdzY61-CmBI6cAJQeFgDFCErn2f1L3ug&aq=0&sll=39.724089,-121.190186&sspn=4.90864,10.821533&vpsrc=6&hl=en&mra=ls&via=3,4,5,7,8,9,11&ie=UTF8&t=m&ll=39.520992,-121.025391&spn=4.067611,7.03125&z=7&output=embed"></iframe><br /><small><a href="http://maps.google.com/maps?f=d&source=embed&saddr=Solano+Avenue,+Napa,+CA&daddr=Royal+Carriage+Inn,+Main+Street,+Jamestown,+CA+to:Yosemite+National+Park,+CA+to:38.11634,-119.17819+to:38.67076,-119.62759+to:38.88898,-120.00034+to:15+Highway+50,+Stateline,+NV+89449+(Harvey's+Lake+Tahoe+Casino)+to:39.09675,-120.16399+to:40.214912,-121.187028+to:40.485404,-121.427364+to:Woodsman+Hotel+%26+Lodge,+Mount+Shasta,+CA+to:41.3687,-122.54326+to:Carrville+Inn,+CA+to:Redding+Yamaha+Sea-Doo,+Twin+View+Boulevard,+Redding,+CA+to:McDonald's+near+Williams,+CA+to:Norfolk+Street,+Napa,+CA&geocode=FfIvSQIdgGG1-CnxcL256gCFgDG07GYTWdi3qg%3BFZAgQwIdA4HS-CHGX1YceTn9kg%3BFeXqPwId52rf-CmvY_I4_vGWgDFu4slULj8hGQ%3BFfSbRQIdMnzl-Cnhxy-RGLOXgDGtd6CZZw7kAQ%3BFagRTgIduqDe-Cktmyd4GdqZgDHu4c6LDHeDrA%3BFRRmUQIdrPDY-CnxIU2-QY6ZgDHb6IB8TnwTlQ%3BFYt4UgIdddzZ-CEhXDelOOvpsg%3BFa6RVAIdanHW-Cm_eyMFhtWbgDGSI9XIAZUa5g%3BFYChZQIdLNXG-ClPObyjfBSdgDEG_RujfVDeRQ%3BFRzCaQIdXCrD-CmhPqZQSE3NVDHjn3i0UqBy9g%3BFbw9dgIdd7a1-CGNr4qKlxpdDw%3BFXw8dwIdZCOy-Clv7lqi-gjOVDGstFy_KwA2zw%3BFSudcgIdt6qv-CFrH5cmiPJXAQ%3BFR8MbAIdxte0-CHXLgMWy7g_xw%3BFb98VQId9y-4-CEz3AkIscNGMilfyxR9lGSDgDGWSC_Ou7ooWQ%3BFSjDSAIdzY61-CmBI6cAJQeFgDFCErn2f1L3ug&aq=0&sll=39.724089,-121.190186&sspn=4.90864,10.821533&vpsrc=6&hl=en&mra=ls&via=3,4,5,7,8,9,11&ie=UTF8&t=m&ll=39.520992,-121.025391&spn=4.067611,7.03125&z=7" style="color:#0000FF;text-align:left">View Larger Map</a></small>[/gmap]
Made it 800 miles of the planned 1200.
Looks like a lost master link is all that happened, so a new chain and my bike will be back on the road! I got it all apart last night. Wound up having to grind the pins out of a couple links and pop them apart in order to unjam the chain. But engine fired right up once I got it free. Was stuck in 5th gear with the chain jammed on the front sprocket but it appeared to shift normally, and when I started it no leaking from the shift shaft so I didn't bend or tweak it, nor did I crack the case anywhere important. Little pieces broken off on the case cover, but I can live with that... EBAY!
Out of all the gear I took...
The rain gear went unused... but I'm glad I brought it just in case.
The gloves I own are not winter gloves and I need to invest in some better gear before it starts getting colder. Seriously would have been miserable if it was 5 or 10 degree's colder...
Bringing the laptop turned out to be a brilliant idea, not just for keeping people updated on what was going on but for entertainment while sitting on the side of the road waiting for a tow.
The only other things that were unused were a pair of socks, a small towel, a bottle of water, and a dressy shirt.
Overall, I consider this trip a Win.... Despite how it ended I am not complaining. I had a great time, I saw some amazing sights... I have no reason to say that my trip was "ruined" by the chain breakage. I will start planning the completion of that route... jump back up to shasta and continue towards the coast or something, we'll see. It will be done, oh yes, it will be done!
The big fail was leaving my souveniors at the Redding Yamaha dealer parking lot... I called them and they are supposed to be mailing them out luckily but still, no trophies!
Best parts of the trip....
Highway 120 from Groveland to Yosemite and then back out to Tioga Pass... by far the best highway I've ever ridden. The prettiest I've ever ridden. The... the.... Just by far the best part in my eye.
Lassen/Burney falls: I remember going there when I was a kid... but to go back now and see places I remember... stores I remember buying bait... campgrounds I remember... etc. I was disappointed in the visitor center at Lassen, when I was a kid they had a lot more to purchase and the selection was limited unfortunately... 2 magnets and both too bulky and too weak to go on a toolbox.
Stewarts Springs Road. - Mt Shasta. I had looked at this road when I was planning the trip. I couldn't find any information on it if it was dirt or paved so I decided to go around a longer way to be safe. When I was in Mt Shasta the manager of the Original Black Bear rode and first words were "Are you doing Stewarts Springs?" It was forest road heaven. I am really glad however that my chain didn't let go on it as it would have been a hefty hike out of there as I don't think it was a common commuter road so waiting for someone might have been a long wait.
West shore of Tahoe from 7am - 8am... amazing roads, no traffic, great views, and very warm... definitely a highlight to the trip.
Worst Parts of the Trip...
Besides the obvious ending being bad, probably the worst parts of my trip....
First hotel I stayed at in Jamestown, the royal carriage inn... having a fat arab couple walk on you while your sleeping is always a little perturbing. The bed was tilted and well used.
Harvey's, the concierge was about as useless as they come. asking about breakfast and was told that there were no good diner's in town unless you went to Denny's or Mcdonalds... and the buffet would be serving at 8am. She also couldn't tell me if the pool/hot tub was outside or inside the hotel.
From the west shore of Tahoe til Sierraville was about the coldest part of the trip... definitely didn't have the right gloves for cold weather I found out.
Leaving lassen on 89, was about as boring as I5 except it was a 2 lane highway and you had to constantly watch for deer/Bigfoot. It was straight for miles, pine tree's on both sides, no traffic, no view, no stops, no towns, no gas, no food, no no NO!
What would I do differently next time?
Nothing.
Well, not break down? and have a better set of gloves.
But the lack of reservations, the route, the trip. I would do it exactly as I had done it. I can say I've done all of 89. I can say I've seen Yosemite, Lassen, Shasta in one trip. I can say my bike climbed moutains.
Definitely would recommend Platinum AAA or equivalent, 200+ miles of towing was a life saver considering I had only upgraded a few weeks before the trip.
Now I am planning the completion of this trip... Figure I can do a quick run back up I5 and start where I left off on 299....
Soon.... very soon!