Two things made this ride particularly memorable: 1) Finally being able to ride Angeles Crest all the way through to Wrightwood (twice); and 2) It was freaking HOT!

Mike Sleeman ('99 VFR) and Wayne Brenner ('04 ST1300) met up with me ('05 ST1300) at the Newhall starting point as planned.  The first part of this ride is right up Little Tujunga Canyon Road -- a short but sweet road that took us over the hills toward our next meeting point.  Very light traffic along Little Tujunga made for a particularly nice ride.

In Sunland we met up with Brian Tinkler ('01 VFR), Dennis Horgan ('03 VFR) and Gilles Guezille ('05 BMW K1200 LT).  It was already getting warm so we didn't waste a lot of time getting going.  Again, traffic was relatively light heading up Big Tujunga Canyon Road and even Angeles Forest Road.  However, one we got to Angeles Crest we did hit some typical traffic, but not bad.  Ever since they repaved the road a few years ago, it's been in superb condition with miles and miles of twisties.

After a short stop at Newcomb's Ranch to ogle the bikes (an antique bike club was there as well), we headed up Angeles Crest to Wrightwood -- 29 miles of some of the best twisty pavement in Southern California that we haven't been able to travel on for several years due to a landslide and subsequent rebuild (including repaving much of the eastern side!).  Despite the many groups of cruisers keeping their speeds well below the speed limit, we managed to maintain an entertaining pace (thanks, Mike!) through to Wrightwood.  A real treat to be able to ride that road again.

Traveling through Wrightwood to Cajon Junction we realized it was going to be a scorching hot day.  Temps over 100° encouraged us to get going quickly and push on to Arrowhead for lunch.  The ride up highway 138 was great, as usual, and we took an alternate route around Lake Gregory.  The crowds at Arrowhead Village weren't as bad as feared, so 45 minutes for lunch and rehydration was sufficient (with a great view of the lake).  While we thought it was hot in Arrowhead, it only got worse as we headed down Highway 18 into San Bernardino where our various temperature gauges all agreed it was 110+ degrees out.  Ouch!  After stopping again in Cajon Junction for gas and refreshments, we got underway expecting the heat to continue -- only to be surprised with some clouds that blocked the sun enough that temps were back down into the high 80's by the time we hit Wrightwood!  Ah, relief.  86° actually felt chilly!

Given the treat of riding the Crest in the morning, we went that way again back to Newcomb's Ranch for another refreshment break (after briefly playing tag with a new BMW K1300GT which proved it was up to the task of maintaining a very brisk pace through mountain roads).  Leaving Newcomb's, we headed down Upper Big Tujunga (to switch things around a bit), then across Angeles Forest back to Big Tujunga Canyon and down to Sunland where the last of us parted ways (a few head peeled off at various earlier points to head home more directly).

Thanks to everyone who came out for the ride.  Hopefully we'll see you in Mammoth next month!