We've finally got the bike now. It took a while ( a week late) but it arrived in one piece. US Customs was a doddle, signed a few pieces of paper, swore to be good and rode off into the sunset!

As soon as we had the bike in our hands and packed it with all our belongings we rode 30 miles up the coast to a place called Carpentira - nice campsite. Once there we promptly unpacked the bike and posted half our belongings to my brother (sorry Bro'!). With the two of us and all the gear the bike was a bit on the heavy side! We had to be really tough with ourselves because the only things we could post to my brother for safe keeping were those things we really really "wanted" with us, as opposed to the things we really really "need". Friends of ours who have done trips like this all say everyone has to go through it but when it comes down to it its still hard. It would be nice to have 3 pairs of undies but 2 will have to do!Anyway since getting the bike we've stayed in California for a little longer than planned just to check everything on the bike is as it should be. By and large all is OK. A few creases to iron out but nothing major. The worst problem to date has been a broken spoke going through the inner-tube on the rear tire (not much fun at 80 mph on a 6 lane freeway). Its hot work fixing a puncture on the side of the road but after 2:30 hours of brute force we were on our way again.

It took the whole of the next day to get the spoke replaced but we found a Honda dealer in Palmdale (great name!) who set his mechanic to work fabricating a replacement for us. After 3 hours he had made a new spoke, realigned the rear wheel, fixed a problem with the automatic chain lubricator and tightened up all the spokes front ad rear. About $200 work all on the house. The owner (Larry) rolled out the red carpet for us by ringing round all his mates so they could come and look at the bike and talk to us while we were given drink after drink and loads of free-bees.

Since we got the bike life seems to be alot like that. Everyone wants to talk to us, about the bike and then what we're doing. Most people think its great, some just don't believe us and others just look at us like we're mad and walk away as quickly as they approached us. Whatever, the bike's a great ice breaker. We're always eating with someone, getting advice from people, getting offers of a place to stay (some a bit dodgy!). We've even had people just walk up to us and say "Hot damn, that's a kick ass bike", shake our hands and just walk off again. (Liz didn't believe the Yanks really speak like that but now she knows they do!) I was standing in a coffee shop the other day and a guy walked past me, looked me in the eye, said "Ride safe man" and walked off. Now that just doesn't happen in England!

Aside from meeting people we've just been cruising around - deserts, mountains, beaches, all sorts. Yesterday we rode across the desert (in the Palm Springs area) and then up into the mountains and down to the coast at San Diago. In the morning we were cooking and by lunch time we were watching a bunch of snow-boarders. By teatime we were watching the surfers. California is a big place but you don't need to go too far to get a change of scene. We've been here longer than planned but we've enjoyed it (on the whole) Likes - the scenery and 'smoothies'. Dislikes - People asking "is that a BMW?" (No, its a bloody Honda) and petrol stations (every pump is different).