Yesterday was an odd day.
I spent hours and copious amounts of cash at Sears buying tires for our sole car. Our GM vehicle with a mere 40,000 miles awakened one morning last December seized. The GM dealer asked me if I wanted the good news or the bad news. Being the optimist, I asked for the good first which was followed with a glib, “the good news is you have an extended warranty”. So our holiday gift from GM came in the form of a new engine. Anyway, my train of thought is derailing. Back to yesterday.
Gary has gotten word that a friend our ours, Bill, lost his Spot GPS locater on a foothill ride over the weekend. We live an hour or two, depending on routing choices, from the spot where the Spot had issued its last tracking signals. Gary volunteered that we ride up into the Sierra Foothills and give the search a go, that is if I ever returned from Sears…
By 2pm we were on the road riding in full sunshine. The warm heavy air flowed right around my waterproof jacket proving the need for venting when riding in warm weather. I was surprised to discover that there was no venting offered in my G-Line gear, as I remember thinking that there was. I also remember reading that waterproof gear is notorious for not breathing. I was certain I was smothering.
So, overly-warm and bounding over Gary’s planned route we headed to the last spot Spot spotted itself at.
When I ride with Gary I don’t generally ask what route we’re taking. I know it will be well planned and fun, albeit a bit hairy at times if the road surfaces become too varied. Well today was no different. We rode a sweet pretty little goat road by the name of Sand Ridge Rd. In the beginning it wound quietly through the farm lands in a narrow lane under the newly greened trees and over meadows of wildflowers. Midway, we were both surprised to learn, the road deteriorated into uniform dirt and gravel, twisting over the same rolling hillsides to an ever narrowing lane. Gary gave me a two minute coaching and pep talk to make sure I was game. Bring it on, I mumbled through my helmet!!
Gary’s ride choice for the day was his beautifully preserved 78 Kawasaki.
I don’t think the trail lasted many miles but it seemed like forever, this serious gravel section of Sand Ridge. It was perilously dusty and had some traffic, which was actually very courteous, stopping to let us pass. I allowed some space between Gary and me so that the dust would settle, but just when I could breathe again, my white knight would be waiting around the bend to make sure I was safely achieving my dirt hill climb. And a climb it was, complete with washboard surface, twists and turns and all the while I was smiling in my helmet but longingly searching the horizon for pavement. Ahhhh….blacktop in sight and a husband applauding me.
Now down to business, let’s go find Spot.
We located the coordinates and parked, knowing we would probably have to walk a bit to find it. We looked at the road and called Bill to see if he had ridden straight through or had recently been on the side road the Spot swore it was near. He’d ridden straight down Sly Park Rd. with no detours so we decided it must have fallen off on one of the two curves nearby. We tromped around searching until Gary called out, “there it is!!”
First sight of Spot
We spotted it under a split rail fence. Gary got his camera out and documented the sighting. It had landed face up with no damage really aside for one scrape where it had hit the asphalt. Impressive. See spot run and run and run. It was still flashing its slow green tracking bleep when I retrieved it.
The reason we carry these devices was now tested without heinous incident. I was suddenly feeling quite secure knowing I always ride with mine monitoring my pathway.
Let me get it!
It’s still running!
The red arrow shows where Spot said it was trapped, but it was about 100ft off. I am on the phone with Bill telling him Spot would be coming home.
We stowed Spot and Gary led the way to another adventurous goat trail winding us down the foothills to the highway and home.
Our first simulated geocaching had netted us a friend’s Spot. Now to see Spot home.