A Ride in Memory
Posted on 13. Apr, 2009 by Coach in Open Road
We all ride for some reason. Some of us love the wind in our hair, the freedom of the road, or maybe just because it looks cool. Whatever your reason, for those of us that have been riding for a long time, there may be another reason as well. The search for our youth.
I began riding my first Harley in 1977. A big 1974 FLH Police Special. And I rode that big hog cross country for the better part of 2 years. I had a lot of adventures on that bike, a lot of adventures I would love to revisit. But there is one particular recurring ride that I have been thinking a lot about lately.
Kern River. Yup, in the late 70′s, this was the place. Bikers from all over Southern California would ride up to the Tubs and Slides, named for the natural formations in the rocks at the Kern River.
Memorial Weekend kicked off the start of Kern Summer. Although we would ultimately ride there several times during the summer, Memorial Weekend always set the tone.
1978, we had been preparing for the ride for several days now. EZ and I were going to go it alone this year. Just the gear we packed on our bikes. We had been hearing a lot of other guys talking about the run this year, so we were going to get there early. Just call in sick on Friday, done!
The ride up we were so excited that we had a (typical) hard time staying anywhere close to the speed limit. Once we started our run near Lake Isabella, it was on.
It always seems like our bikes run better in elevation. Maybe they enjoy the winding roads and the cool winds as much as we do. But the roar of my drag pipes in those canyons were sweet melody to our ears.
As we passed the lake we were joined by nearly a hundred other bikes beginning their run up the river. So much for an early start of it. The sound of all those bikes rolling through the winding road of Kern River made the mountain tremble. This was going to be a great weekend.
I will never forget the friendships, the sounds and the sights of that Memorial weekend. We camped and partied all weekend to the sounds of Led Zeppelin, Humble Pie and Harley Davidsons. The beer was cold, the air was cool, and the sounds were loud. Just the way I like them.
I heard a few years later that they closed access to the tubs and slides. When I try to find information on the area online, I come up empty. Nobody seems to remember the ride and good times we all had up there. But I’m going back.
I know you can never relive old memories. But I sure can go and enjoy some new adventures. There may not be the parties and other bikers, but I can still ride the windies of Kern River and camp next to the old logging town. Maybe you can join me!
Coach
One Response to “A Ride in Memory”
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KC
08. May, 2009
I know the road well that you ride to the Tubs and Slide. I grew up in Johnsondale, the ‘Old Logging Town’, The Slides and Tubs you mention were on Alder Creek above Johnsondale. I`ve spent many a day at the slide and the Tubs. Did a lot of ‘Skinny-Dippin’ there. Drank many a beer and smoked-up a lotta good stuff there too. I left there in ’76 when I was 28. They closed the mill in ’78 or ’79. Lots of memories for me up there.