Wow!  2007 was rapidly coming to an end, and I hadn't done a SaddleSore in over a year.  So it was time to mount up on the new bike and give it a try.

Squeeze Inn SS1K - 1,012 miles - 16 hours, 45 minutes.

I have had a plan since late spring.  On the Food Network show called Diners, Driveins, and Dives, I saw a segment on a burger joint in Sacramento called the Squeeze Inn that constantly had lines of people waiting to get a burger.  I just had to go.

After some great weather earlier in the week, the weekend turned out to be nasty.  Cold and foggy in So Cal.  Possibly worse further north.  I decided to go anyway.  I was able to get out of the house at 3:26.  It was cold, but I was wearing many layers and mostly comfortable.  Gas in Sylmar (1 mile).  Gas in Tehachapi (94 miles so far) where it was quite cold with a wind.  The road down the hill to Bakersfield was damp.  As I went north on CA-99, the sun finally came up, that is if I could have seen it, the fog was present, but not too thick.  CA-99 did have a 100+ vehicle pileup in the fog just a week before.  Luckily, visibility was never worse than 500 feet.  At the gas stop in Selma (231 miles), I removed my outer glove covers for the next leg.  The fog had lifted.

Clothing selection (being from So Cal, I have not felt the need to buy electric clothing, so I wear layers)

As it would end up, those outer glove covers would be the only article of clothing that would find itself in the saddlebag.  I wore everything else while riding for the day.

Gas in Ripon (351 miles).  Then up to the I-80, east to the CA-49 in Auburn, then to Grass Valley for the next gas stop (466 miles).  The gray low cloud cover was darkening as I headed west on CA-20.  It was drizzling by the time I was in Marysville.  Glove covers back on.  Gas in a very damp Colusa (526 miles).  Then over to I-5 in Williams.  As I started to head south, I was hoping that Sacramento still did not have rain.  Alas, that was not to be.  Light drizzle when I got to the Squeeze Inn (602 miles so far).  There is a small counter to eat in the Squeeze Inn and some tables under the cover out back.  I placed my order and waited for a stool inside.  I did luck out and got a place to sit minutes before my order came - a Squeeze w/Cheese - the specialty of the house.

I wolfed down the burger, which was quite excellent, and made my way back outside.  It was 1:50 on a drizzly afternoon and when I left at least 15 people were waiting in the rain to get in!  Wow!

Once I got back to CA-99, the rest of my trip was just backtracking - Ripon (661 miles) - no rain finally - glove covers came off so gloves can dry, Selma (784 miles) - sunset just after I left, Tehachapi (918 miles) - glove covers back on, and finally Sylmar Chevron (1,011 miles).  Then home!

February 9, 2008 - I received my certificate today.  This is the thirteenth IBA certificate for my wall.  Now to plan a 2008 trip.