2026 Sweeping Winger ride report

[budman]

It has been a minute since I did a ride report and since I was able to ride 4 days in a row I consider myself back in the game. Still a ways to go to heal 100% but happy to make my third rally since busting the leg formerly known as Prince. (I will get to that).

Eureka was the destination. A new one for us. That means a real mix of weather conditions and we got that.

Thursday launch for me and I joined Planegray for the ride. We stayed in Westport at a historical hotel more than 120 years old.

We met in Petaluma and did 101 to 128 which is such a fun road. Light traffic some zippiddy dodah, a stop at Jumbo Win Win for a burger was great. Then the ride through the shadowy forest as we near the coast. That part is so serene and beautiful.

The coast was chill. Fogust as the locals call it greeted us the ride through Ft Bragg uneventful. Then beyond in the coastal countryside shortly getting to the Hotel where we checked in.

When I went to my room the first thing I noticed was there was only 1 hook and no place to hang my moto clothing

So laid all the stuff on the floor and changed. Then I noticed there was no TV. x 2.

Plangray’s Mrs drove in to hang with him for the night. We had dinner reservations at 6:30 so with no TV I went out and wandered a bit while they walked down to the beach.





At 5 the pub opened and I went in for a beer and read a Mendacino historical book about the area.
Really cool stuff. I love that shit.

Westport was booming around 1900.

Today’s population is 60 and where da fuk is Rockport the abandon City just north.

I did like the shirt. Almost bought one.
Get Sconed nice.



The food was good and the company great!!
Thanks for dinner Mr Gray.

They had entertainment too. Not bad.
For sure unique.


They had a house cat too

The rest of the evening was chilling watching YouTube on my phone and barfing.

A good Day 1.

 

[budman]

Day 2.
I slept good and woke up at 6:45 with no alarm as we did not have a huge ride and we’re hoping the fog would not affect the ride.

I had great hope at 7am when I looked out the window. Sun!!



I got this dropped in front of my room at 8am.

It was the best scone I have ever had. Coffee and fruit were top notch too.

At 9 they opened for a complimentary breakfast.
Very decent. Bacon, eggs and potatoes. Tell the how you want your eggs. That is it.

Worked for me!! Love the little watermelon heart so boutique.


Then we had a bit of time to kill before leaving.
So we packed and hung on the deck for a hour or so and got on the road right at noon.


And a staged barf salute of course!


The fog did not get better in fact a little worse but…. The roads were dry!! unlike the Hoho rally when 1 was wet all the way to 101. So let’s go!!


We only made it 3 miles before we got stopped at a one way and @planegray pissed off the woman with the stop sign.

She made mistakes with her communication that had him starting to launch and then she got ticked. Sort of a what the fuck look. I gave her a back…. But my visor was down.

She was signaling a truck that was part of the crew behind us to move up. I guess wearing a helmet blocks the view for the eyes in back of our heads.

After a long wait mostly watching her put her legs up on the door and playing with her hair we got the move on old people look and signal.

The road stayed dry and when we headed inland and hit the twisty part of 1 the sun broke out. Smooth flow was rolling now.


Traffic was light and we had a nice run. I love that section of 1.

We stopped at the bottom right before 101 because we always do. Partly because it pisses off the Harley guys that ya passed because they have to roll by and partly because it shocks drivers that now think “those crazy kids are old.” .

And a photo op.


My Du Cat is a pretty thing.


I have looked at that Drive Thru Tree 1/4 mile sign forever. Never went. Told Steve that and he said
“Neither have I want to go?” And then it was two teenage boys going yeah / no…. Sure… na… which ended when he said “Let’s do it”

Kids these days

$30 bux later (Thanks brother) I was snapping a victory photo.

 

[budman]

That is him. I swear.


Of course I took a turn.


Did I mention it had gotten hot?? 95.. only up 37 degrees from the coast. I told him I would like to do a quick stop at the market and get my cooling vest prepped before we hit Avenue of the Giants.

Turned out the Piney’s cooling vest had never been used because he is a tough stubborn SOB and today it was just him and me the weather Nancy boy and I was putting my shit on!! So he did too.

Feeling the heat before we leave.


The woman store attendant was super cool and let us use her pee tree across the street. Gave me some ice too. Thanks young lady.

Then off to Ave of the G!!

Then the moto Gods intervention. Plane man’s bike was running very hot and he was a bit worried so we bailed in search of cooler weather. It was now 98. I snapped a pic of where we were going to go.


We started to feel the cool and when I saw the outside temp hit 71 nearing Fortuna I pulled over for a vent closing moment. Paid off. Dropped to 59 rolling into Eureka.

Only a couple bikes were there.


Recognized most of the bikes but this one was all alone and looked interesting.

After some BS’ng we walked to dinner. We going to Fush and Chips but the woman freaked out when we showed up with seven people and pissed off mean dad. He almost immediately turned around and left and we followed.

Settled on Mexican across the street. They were happy to see us and I was happy to see a Cadillac Margarita hit my table.


khl/bikewanker/SFMCjohn/plangray

And red other 1/2 of the table

mean dad/Lonster/ me

Food was standard good Mexican and service great. Recommended. Chapala.

 

[budman]

After dinner Lonster was taking the guys to the Farmers Market. After thinking about it I went. I was thinking about Prince and whether or not it might affect me if I walk a bunch.

Honestly it was packed and huge and pretty dam cool.



SFMC surveying th haps.


Eurekans letting their kids play in the street.


It was a proper turn out. Streets packed in every direction.


Then it was chill and party time. The motel parking lot will do just fine.





Eventually said good night to the boys and the bikes. No late night bar shenanigans for me.


Good day.

 

[SFMCjohn]

no TV? fancy. hope they had WiFi.

 

[budman]

Day 2
Plan was to get on the road by 9:30 and follow Lonster to 299/96/ Bald Mountain and back to 101 Not a big day but the first time that Prince would ride 3 days in a row and I was expecting a 300 plus mile ride home on day 4. I felt pretty good though.

Turns out a bunch of guys chose to join us including SFMCjohn and rally rookie Mike/ mthomaso on his BMW 1000.

We rolled out just a minute late and it was chilly.
Took a bit to lose the overcast and get some temps going and but that time we were in the flow.

Lonster said he was going to be chill (must be a bag thing - they were new). His 80ish pace was just fine to feel the flow thru sweeper after sweeper.

Great flow felt good and a bunch of headlights followed. Turned out the pace was a bit fast for John and his KLR but no man is left behind.

SFMCjohn

When we got to the turn off we pulled over and everyone grouped up. A woman in a SUV pulled up and started talking to me but with earplugs in I could hear nada and did not was to dismount to walk over to save Prince from additional work. I asked Lonster to go see what she wanted.

She wanted to tell us a fire up the road had it closed. Shit. I was so looking forward to riding it and Bald Mountain. Never done it and stories of asphalt glory had me anticipating a good time!

Lonny gave us options.
Ride 96 until it was closed and go back the same way or head to Weaverville take 3 to 36 and back. That would add 4 hours he said.

Dr_SLO

I knew I was not up for that long of ride so said to the boys do your thing. Nate, Russ and Stefan are hard core riders and I was surprised they came with us to go until we could not.

Lonster ————-—SFMCjohn————-Planegray


Go Go ————KTM_Russ ———Lonster

So off we went. 96 was good right away. When we got to the Hoopa Tribal Lands it felt cool. The small Native American part of me said yo!!

Not to far beyond full stop as the CHP had the road shut down. Despite pleas we were sent back.

Another pacing on 299 had me smiling. Big smiles actually. Once back to Eureka we stopped at a 24 hr truck stop restaurant and grubbed. It was good!!
View attachment 1786459337720.jpeg
Then Lonster took some of the group up to some tower. Mean dad and I decided to roll straight to the motel. Mthomaso followed.

Time for a beer and look forward to the dinner gathering. Mike told me “You guys ride fast!”

Just a bunch of OG’s rocking the road man!!
Really it was not anything crazy and without bags Lonster can be tough to keep up with.

An hour later the other showed up and we hung out for a while.


bikewanker



The next post will explain the amazing adventure I had when I returned to my room which led to a scathing review of the Travel Lodge.

 

[N4teTheGreat]

Man, seems like a fun rally.

 

[budman]

It was fun, but the weather challenges of Eureka means be preparred.

So Saturday
First I have to tell you the check in on Friday.
"Hi I am DK" blah

Here is your key sir room 267 or whatever.
Me: I reserved a first floor room. I am just recovering from a broken leg and that is wrong. I organized our visit and was the first person to make a reservation.
Him: Sorry sir we don't have anything on the first floor (LIE!)
Me: This is bullshit.

Planegray had a first floor room and offered to swap with me. Thanks Steve.

Within a few hours mthomaso / Mike showed up and went to check in. He went to his room upstairs and found someone else in his room. Swipe the key and "Who are you?"

He went back to the office and guess what. Here is a room on the first floor..!! <-- Thus the lie to me.

Whatever.

Saturday comes and I go ride and when I get back my room door is open..
I walk in an all my shit was gone.

I went to the office with a bit of attitude since this was the second fucking.
Me: What the hell is going on where is my stuff?
Him (a different him): The reservation was only for one day so I had to clean the room.
Me: One Day?? NO WAY. What the hell?
Then we got into the name thing as Mr. Gray was on this room and I had to explain the first fucking.
After a bit he said I can extend it and you can have the same room.

It took a while to get my shit back and they only gave me some of it. So I had to track down the dude that spoke english to say where are my pants and shoes!!

Turns out in another bag with 5 of Lonsters chairs.

The last fucking was really meant for someone else. I just caught them in it.
I had spilled a quarter size drop of coffee on the sheet way down by the foot of the bed. I decided lets look at see if they changed the sheets. The bed was made tight and right. When I rolled down the cover the sheet was not changed. I thought that was standard practice and it not being done was the third that told me we are not going back to this place.

 

[bikewanker]

Budman, good ride report and photos.
Do you have names for all your lower appendages?

 

[budman]

Budman, good ride report and photos.
Do you have names for all your lower appendages?

No...

Lonster gave me that one. He said you keep using your leg as a reference on doing stuff.
He called it the leg formally known as Prince.

I will get back to the report tonight.