Our Friend Frank Sobiecki Motorcycle Diary

With kind permission by our friend and best neighbour ever I wanted to share this fascinating trip that he wrote.

A 1,000 motorcycle run through California, Nevada and Arizona By Frank Sobiecki

Well, I did it. A 1,000 mile motorcycle butt run across the Southwest.

When I started out the weather was fine, however when I reached the desert areas the wind began to pick up. Riding my motorcycle with a luggage bag behind me, made me somewhat top-heavy. I basically had to lean into the wind as I was riding. The 30 mph winds were manageable, however the unexpected 50 mile an hour gusts were a little unnerving. My first stop was for lunch in a small mining town called Randsburg, California. Not much there, but I was able to get the local history from a ninety-eight-year-old bartender. After lunch I headed out to Olancha, California, which is located just west of the entry road into Death Valley. Stayed at the Rustic Hotel (aptly named as this is the worst hotel I've ever stayed in, in my entire life).
The next morning was cool and very calm. I headed east on Highway 190. I was practically the only person on the road that morning and it was just the perfect day to be riding a motorcycle across the desert. Climbing to about 5000 feet in elevation I came to a ridge line overlooking a vast desert valley. At first I thought I was looking into Death Valley. Later I realized I was looking into the Panamint Valley. I stopped for coffee at the hotel/restaurant near the bottom of the Panamint Valley. I was very excited making it this far and very much enjoyed my coffee while looking at the austere and beautiful surroundings. I received many stares and glances as the locals and tourists realized I was all alone riding through the desert. Riding out across the Panamint Valley and crossing over the easterly rim and seeing my first glimpse of Death Valley gave me any natural high that I have never felt before. Being able to see 50 miles to the north, 50 miles to the south and 50 miles to the east with nothing obstructing my view, was pretty amazing. The glimmer of the white salt flats was expected but nonetheless an awesome site. With a gentle wind at my back, I literally felt like I was floating down the highway into the valley of death. It was an undescribable feeling. I visited Stovepipe, Furnace Creek, Devils Golf Course, Badwater and rode the Artist Drive on my way out.

The rest of my trip through Pahrump, Nevada, Las Vegas, Kingman Arizona, Laughlin Nevada, Joshua Tree National Park ( via old Route 66 ) was also a memorable experience. Just thought you'd like to know how my Death Valley experience went.

Naomi Campbell

Which is a woman's worst enemy ? Answer, another woman. You only have to read Jan Moir from the Daily Mail to see what I mean. Jan Moir writes: " However, what I recall most about that day -when she met Naomi- apart from Naomi's whiny self-justification was the fact that she ate only a plum and went a bit bonkers when she discovered she had lost one of her emerald earrings. ' I'm going back, I'm going to retrace my steps every inch of the way of the way. I've only had those earrings for two days', she cried, as her limo did a screeching U-turn on Park Lane and we sped back to her hotel suite. ' I'm going to my hotel room to walk over every inch of carpet to find it', she declared - which is exactly what she did. Everyone else just had to sit downstairs and wait for hours. So don't tell me that Naomi is not a woman with a keen interest in jewels or who does not appreciate their value or worth. Then Jan Moir writes: 'One might have thought that Naomi would have been pleased to assist in such a serious and solemn matter'

First of all, I haven't met a woman who doesn't like jewelry. I haven't met one who doesn't.
In fact, there is a song that says: ' Diamonds Are A Girl's Best Friend' because we love them. To point her out, as if she is sinful for appreciating jewels is silly. Maybe is cheer envy why other women write such bitchy articles because Naomi can afford to get the most fabulous jewels that anyone can imagine but in Naomi's case, no doubt companies will fall over themselves to sign her to model their jewels. Don't be surprised if Naomi suddenly appears modelling for Garrard's or Tiffany's or any of those powerful companies. It is after all, those companies who should make sure how those diamonds are extracted. No use critisezing her.

On Jan Moir's last bit ' One might have thought that Naomi would have been pleased to assist in such a serious and solemn matter.' Well, no. A powerful man like Charles Taylor no doubt still could send around one of his henchmen to kill whoever testifies against him. So I can understand why Naomi wouldn't have been thrilled to testify. In cases like such, the police usually change the name and addresses of the witnesses.

FRIENDSHIP

People come into your life for a reason, a season or a lifetime. When you know which one it is,
you will know what to do for what person.

When someone is in your life for a REASON, it is usually to meet a need you have expressed. They have come to assist you through a difficulty, to provide you with guidedance and support. To aid you physically, emotionally or spiritually. They may seem like a godsend and they are. They are there for the reason you need them to be. Then, without any wrong doing on your part or at an invonvenient time, this person will say or do something to bring the relationship to an end. Sometimes they die. Sometimes they walk away. Sometimes they act up and force you to take a stand. What you must realize is that your need has been met, your desire fulfilled, their work is done.

Some people come into your life for a SEASON because your turn has come to share, grow or learn. They bring you an experience of peace, or make you laugh. They may teach you something you have never done and they usually give you an unbelievable amount of joy. Believe it, it is real but only for a season.

A Life time friendship teaches you lifetime lessons, things you must build upon in order to have a solid emotional foundation. Accept the lesson, love the person and put what you have learned to use in all other relationships and areas of your life. It is said that love is blind, but friendship is clairvoyant.

Thank you for being a part of my life, whether you are a reason, a season or a lifetime friend.

What is your most annoying thing ?

For me it is anything to do with the council. Look at what happened only yesterday. I went to the town just to post a package at the post office, parked my car in the only space available there, walked to the parking metre to insert a coin and it swallowed it without giving me a parking ticket. I was in such a hurry that I hadn't noticed that this particular car park machine wants to have your last three letters of your car registration. Like if I'm likely to know it by memory, so I had to camel a long way back to where I had managed to find a tiny space to park my car to read whatever those letters are.. whilst a lady behind me had to patiently wait until I came back with my car registration letters. Anyway, I push the correct buttons for each of the three letters, inserted the 50 pence coin and nothing ! No ticket. I was incensed the machine had swallowed a pound by now without producing the blessed car park ticket. So.. I thought I would encourage the machine by giving it a good karate kick, then another one but the machine wouldn't budge ! Theoretically I had already paid for two hours of parking without having my ticket, so this meant that if the car-park inspector came and see my car didn't display the proof of payment he could slap me with a fine ! Also I would be damned if more of my money would go into this hungry cash-cow machine. When I looked back, I already had a crowd of people around me. So rather than find another machine, I walked out hoping I wouldn't get a parking ticket in the meantime whilst I went to the post office to post my parcel. So this meant I had to do everything in a great hurry to avoid a parking fine. Another annoying thing that the council has done is that they have narrowed the white lines which separate each car, so you can park your car within the white lines but these are so narrow, that there is no room to open the doors ! So needless to say I had to squizze out of my bearly opened door without my handbag and with great difficulty I had to yanked it out of the car... all this I had to do, whilst minding not to scratch the next door car, parked beside mine. It is very lucky that I'm not a fat woman and I was able to squeeze out of a narrow 50 cm space gap. The council does this, in order to be able to squeeze in more cars like sardines in a can. A canned car park. Phew !

Our New House

Well, this space that you see here, is where the stables used to be and it will be our living room.
Yesterday we went to see the oak being placed. Then there will be wooden arches inside the structure. The door will lead to the kitchen and where you see the small window will be Peter's office. Its beginning to shape up after the stables were pulled down. The builder said that it was on schedule for October so maybe we will have a warming house party. Although we won't be moving over there until the spring.