Al Bragg
New member
For the Memorial Day weekend my wife Shauna (AKA Quackerz) and I decided to ride up to San Jose, California.
We cashed in some of my reward points for a hotel in San Jose and booked a room for the weekend and off we went.
I got off work at midnight Saturday morning. When I got home I did a check of the spyder for anything wrong. All was good. We both had our Spyders in for service the week before.
So Saturday morning finally comes around when I wake up. We pack, load the spyders, and go. A beautiful 64 degrees out side sunny and clear.
We topped off around the corner from the house. Got a crescent at Jack in the box, and away we went.
North on the 405 freeway up the grapevine and over to our first stop in Grapevine California. Just about 116 miles. Gas and Go. Check our spyders over again just to see if anything is showing any signs of problems. Gas Filled, oil good, water good, and tire presser good. It’s now 75 degrees, but still nice.
Off we go again to Kettleman, about 100 miles. Quick lunch. Same thing as last stop, Gas and go.
After this stop we hit sever head winds. We will be fighting head winds all the way to our next route change at highway 153 west at Santa Nella.
Again gas and go.
Arrived in San Jose about 5:30PM as I recall. This stop was about 80 miles from our last stop. Just shy of 400 miles and 6 and a half hours.
We cashed in some of our reward point to get our hotel room, so I was not expecting much. Surprise!! The hotel was a brand new Hampton Inn and Suites. Our room was huge. And did I say a new hotel? There was still plastic our side our window to protect it from the painters.
Sunday morning breakfast was at the hotel because it was free. And worth every penny.
Oh never mind that part this is a hotel not a dinner. Did I mention that the room was free? That makes up for breakfast.
Anyway on with the adventure.
Our trip was planned to come up to San Jose to see the Winchester Mystery House in San Jose.
The Winchester house was cool. You can’t tale pictures inside anymore. Bummer!
We got here early, and boy that was a good thing because when we finished our tour, the place was packed.
Well this took up the morning. I would have to say it was pretty cool over all.
I enjoyed myself.
Well off to lunch. Can’t be out riding a spyder and not go eat. I think it’s a law or something, maybe in the owner’s manual.
Our choice for the lunch stop is Ivar’s seafood fish and chips. This was convent as it was located in the mall around the corner from the Winchester house. Also this is our favorite fish and chips place, and they have awesome clam chowder. And this is the only one I know of out side of Washington State.
Well the rest of the day was at the hotel. We wanted to rest for Monday Morning.
Monday morning. Up early for the free breakfast. And again it was worth every penny.
Gassed up by the hotel and off we went. First stop Santa Nella. Gas and Go.
100 mile later Kettleman,, gas and go.
100 Mile later, Grapevive , gas and go. No head winds, but the temp is about 95.
116 Miles from last stop and 7 and a half hours later home sweet home.
827 miles total.
Our spyders ran great. Mine is an 08 SM5, Shauna’s is an 09 SE5
We cashed in some of my reward points for a hotel in San Jose and booked a room for the weekend and off we went.
I got off work at midnight Saturday morning. When I got home I did a check of the spyder for anything wrong. All was good. We both had our Spyders in for service the week before.
So Saturday morning finally comes around when I wake up. We pack, load the spyders, and go. A beautiful 64 degrees out side sunny and clear.
We topped off around the corner from the house. Got a crescent at Jack in the box, and away we went.
North on the 405 freeway up the grapevine and over to our first stop in Grapevine California. Just about 116 miles. Gas and Go. Check our spyders over again just to see if anything is showing any signs of problems. Gas Filled, oil good, water good, and tire presser good. It’s now 75 degrees, but still nice.
Off we go again to Kettleman, about 100 miles. Quick lunch. Same thing as last stop, Gas and go.
After this stop we hit sever head winds. We will be fighting head winds all the way to our next route change at highway 153 west at Santa Nella.
Again gas and go.
Arrived in San Jose about 5:30PM as I recall. This stop was about 80 miles from our last stop. Just shy of 400 miles and 6 and a half hours.
We cashed in some of our reward point to get our hotel room, so I was not expecting much. Surprise!! The hotel was a brand new Hampton Inn and Suites. Our room was huge. And did I say a new hotel? There was still plastic our side our window to protect it from the painters.
Sunday morning breakfast was at the hotel because it was free. And worth every penny.
Oh never mind that part this is a hotel not a dinner. Did I mention that the room was free? That makes up for breakfast.
Anyway on with the adventure.
Our trip was planned to come up to San Jose to see the Winchester Mystery House in San Jose.
The Winchester house was cool. You can’t tale pictures inside anymore. Bummer!
We got here early, and boy that was a good thing because when we finished our tour, the place was packed.
Well this took up the morning. I would have to say it was pretty cool over all.
I enjoyed myself.
Well off to lunch. Can’t be out riding a spyder and not go eat. I think it’s a law or something, maybe in the owner’s manual.
Our choice for the lunch stop is Ivar’s seafood fish and chips. This was convent as it was located in the mall around the corner from the Winchester house. Also this is our favorite fish and chips place, and they have awesome clam chowder. And this is the only one I know of out side of Washington State.
Well the rest of the day was at the hotel. We wanted to rest for Monday Morning.
Monday morning. Up early for the free breakfast. And again it was worth every penny.
Gassed up by the hotel and off we went. First stop Santa Nella. Gas and Go.
100 mile later Kettleman,, gas and go.
100 Mile later, Grapevive , gas and go. No head winds, but the temp is about 95.
116 Miles from last stop and 7 and a half hours later home sweet home.
827 miles total.
Our spyders ran great. Mine is an 08 SM5, Shauna’s is an 09 SE5
hyea::clap:
