I just couldn't accept the idea of riding my ST back east. I've lived in MD since I was 6, but every time I go out west, I feel this is where I belong. Some of my favorite places out west were Santa Fe, Lake Tahoe and Jasper AB which all have in common good hiking and skiing/boarding. So when I had a day to kill in Mammoth Lakes I decided to look for a condo, because ML has everything I like and more (free buses, a brewery and a laid back culture). I found a nice new condo within easy biking to town, a 5 minute walk to a bus stop and right next to a sports club with all the amenities one could hope for. So rather than ride east, I rode back to Mammoth Lakes, left the bike in the garage of my new condo and flew back to MD to prepare fro a cross country relocation.
Preparing for the move was more work than I anticipated. I had to get rid of 27 worth of stuff, minus a few pieces of furniture, some clothing and other odds and end that I could cram into a 5x8 trailer or the back of my tribute. What hurt most was selling my beloved Vmax, but I had no practical way to get it out to CA and it''s 90 mile gas range made it unsuitable for western riding anyway. I was very touched by the many people who expressed regret at my leaving MD, but I hope the friendships survive. The actual trip to CA was 4 hard days of driving in triple digit heat. It was at least as arduous as it would have been for the pioneers, if they had been towing overloaded trailers on highways in various states of disrepair and reconstruction. And it cost way more in gas than I would have figured.
Now that I've been here almost 2 weeks, I have taken care of some of the details involved in establishing residency
. I spent 2 days getting straight with the DMV and just today got an internet connection. I'm also working hard at getting acclimated to the altitude (8K ft.) and getting in shape for some serious hiking and snowboarding. I've become even more enamored with this location. I can walk out my door for an afternoon adventure into some very scenic wilderness areas. The John Muir trail is within a 10 mile hike and there are more lakes and falls within the area than I can count. My biggest regret is that I didn't come here many years earlier.
