Sacramomento....

Day 9-11



Less than 20 days before take off.



My arrival in Sacramento was warm and very welcomed. The ride thru the remainder of the Central Valley included the world famous cities of:

• Firebaugh




• Madera




• Merced




• Turlock




• Modesto




• Stockton




• and Lodi

and if you've never heard of at least 3 of these places you need to look at an atlas more often. I mean, they have the best truckstops west of the Sierra Nevadas.

I arrived at my good friend Josh's home in the quaint town of Roseville, CA approx. 20 miles east of Sacramento, CA on the I-80. He gave me a welcomed hug and handed me a beer. Ice cold, and much appreciated. After taking down a couple on Josh's porch that looked straight out of a Twain novel, my old college roommate DavidJo and megaphone mouthed friend Xtizzle (Christina for short) met me for some dinner. It was good to catch up on old times and see how Xtizzle's wedding plans are coming along.

Manishevits, DavidJo, Angeloco, and Xtizzle (the bride to be)

I won't be able to attend the wedding, so I won't be able to object to the union of Christina and Lawrence, saving him from a life of hearing aids and sign language. And you know I would be all over that garter. You chumps would not have a chance!!! Just kidding. In all seriousness, I wish my two friends the best of marriages, an everlasting friendship, and a growing love.

Day 12

Today, I met my brother Phil(MyAZ) at his home in Lincoln, CA. After a quick ride to Peryn, CA to pick up his smoking and shaking rig of a bike, we headed down to Mid-town Sacramento to grab a bite and a beer. Ripping thru traffic along-side my brother is an adrenaline rush to say the least. Rolling hard and fast thru Sacramento gridlock is much more fun when you have someone to do it with.

Rolling hard thru the Sacremento Green Valleys.

Dinner was spent together with lots of family. My Aunt Betty, Uncle Jaime, along with their whole crews all converged on an innocent pizza shop in Shingle Springs, CA. But most importantly to note in attendance was my Grama Margie. All who know her, have an idea where I get my voyaging spirit. She has been on the move since her and the rest of my great/grand family moved from the Kansas midwest to California. No one has been able to settle her down in 80 years and I dont' see it happening anytime soon. I appreciate and love my Grama immensely and I am glad that I was able to find her before I take off on my own adventure. I think I will see her again before I leave for Espana, but its always important to give appreciation and take advice for those have accomplished much, and have seen even more.

Tonight, I rest up and tend to my Sunburned face and arms for a big day in Downtown Sacramento to meet up with Evan, Chris, Lawrence, Nicole, Mike, and more for a day drinking session at the Sacramento Beerfest, Gaucho Style. If your around and down, you know who to call.

I wanna extend a true thank you to Josh, who has been a fabulous host for the past 3 days feeding me teriyaki carpet chicken bowls, keeping a fridge with cold brews, babysitting me, and having a puffy nice couch ready for this surfer. Raise a beer to Manishevits when you get a chance. Le chaim.

"Life is either a daring adventure or nothing" - Helen Keller