First days of riding–South through California

After saying goodbye to all our friends and the cabin, we rode away in between the last few snow patches…

Before we left the cabin we got an invitation from Mike, who lives in Oakhurst, which is the southern entry to Yosemite National Park. We love invitations and it has been cold and rainy in the northern California, so it was great to look forward to a warm house and good company. The GPS told us that it would take us 4-5 hours… but… never trust the GPS! Because of all the rain we had to take a detour when we left the cabin, but after that we meet a detour on highway 49, which look us an hour. We finally got to Mike’s place 7 hour later, and we were freezing.

We got  inside, and I could sit in front of the fireplace to warm up

Mike has been down the Baja California Peninsula in Mexico several time on motorcycle… and over dinner he shared a his knowledge and experience from Mexico. I was busy writing on our map of Mexico. After our visit we felt so much more prepared for our trip into Mexico.

We felt welcome, at Mike’s place

We have already been to Yosemite National Park several times, so instead of going there again (and it is covered in snow this time of year)… Mike took us for a ride in the area.

 

First we visited the Center of California – which was moved to its exact location in 1996

After that we continued towards Mammoth Pool on a fun road. When we were almost at the viewpoint of Mammoth Pool we met this…

Yes –  a huge patch of snow. We didn’t even try to pass it. We still had a great view of Mammoth Pool (left picture), which was filled with water. The reservoir has not been full the last 6-7 year because of the drought.

 

We had a great weekend and left Mike and Oakhurst Sunday morning. BUT… we had to put in a needle on the map. The needle shows which country we are from (Denmark). That way Mike can keep track of all the people, who have visited the over the years.

 

We only went a mile away when Esben found out that he had forgotten his backpack, which among other things had his passport. We turned around rode back and there the backpack was sitting in Mike’s garage. Back on the road we were heading to the west coast to visit the Danish town called Solvang. We been to California so many times, but we have never made it to Solvang.

 

It was an hour until sunset, so we camped at a campground near Solvang. The next morning we got up, and rode to Olsen’s Bakery where we had a Danish breakfast.

We ate a crispy roll, which in Danish is called “rundstykke”, and it tasted just like home. It was fluffy inside and crispy on the outside – we loved it .

 

So visit Olsen’s Bakery and get a crispy roll put butter, cheese and marmalade on top. For dessert Esben ate a “fastelavnsbolle”, which is a bun with custard inside and chocolate icing on top. I ate a “kanelsnegl”, which is a cinnamon roll with cream cheese frosting. In Denmark I would get it with chocolate icing on top.

I also took some pictures of my favorite Danish cakes. In the left picture “Træstammer” (Marzipan Logs) and to the right “Romkugler” (Rum balls)

 

When you are in a Danish town, off course you meet Danish people. It was not people who lived in Denmark, but their family was from Denmark and immigrated to the United States.

First we met Asta and Veronica – Asta, who is the woman next to me (Camilla) in the picture spoke a little Danish

The two ladies had spend the weekend in Solvang participating in a congress about Grundvig. N.F.S. Grundtvig (lived from 1783-1872) is one of the persons, who has had at huge influence on the Danish Society. Today you will still se his influence in the public church, the Danish school system and political discussion.

5 minutes later Erling and his wife, Bente sat down at a table in the Olsen Bakery. Erling is 97 years old, his mother and father immigrated from Denmark, and Erling was raised in the US, still his Danish was really good. Erling and his wife have visited Denmark several times . From the left Bente, Erling and me (Camilla). Their names are also Danish.

After a great breakfast we walked around in Solvang to take a look, at all the Danish Buildings. This house was build in 1911, and was one of the first buildings, when Solvang was founded. From 1929 to the present it has been a restaurant. It was remodeled in 1963.

Almost all the building in “downtown” Solvang was pueblo with visible beams (In Danish: bindingsværkshuse), or they looked like it… because it was totally fake.

 

Here is a smaller copy of “Rundetårn” (Round tower), which was build in 1991. The size is 1/3 of the original tower, which was finished in Copenhagen in 1642. It is possible for tourist to visit the “Rundetårn” in Denmark and walk all the way to the top – no elevator! In the picture to the right you se a small copy of the Little Mermaid.

 

Solvang even has a Danish church – and it also looks Danish on the inside. The church was completed in 1929

We said goodbye to Solvang and rode south on highway 1. Our plan was to visit our friend Kitty, who lives in Lake Forest, just south for Los Angeles.

Before we even hit the LA traffic, we stopped to fill up gas… but both our bikes were leaking oil… too much oil.

The oil was leaking from the airfilter box – which is not right. Esben quickly found out that Douglas and him made a wrong modification. It was possible for Esben to make a temporary solution, so we could make it to Lake Forest.

Now I know how much me motorcycle loves me – se the heart shape of the oil

We got back on the road and hit the LA traffic. We finally made it to our friends place. It turned out that we stayed with our friend Kitty for a week… follow our website, to find out more about our stay south of Los Angeles.