The simple fact that I like bacon and tomato sauce on the same plate as my pancakes and maple syrup harks back to a habit picked up 20-years ago.

I was 16, finished with School in the UK and hadn’t fancied entering the ‘real world’ just yet and so applied for a Rotorary International Student Exchange. To my surprise I got accepted and so with that I waived mum, dad and my sister good-bye, hoped on a plane and landed in San Francisco. Within a week I was soon attending ‘Tulare Union High school’.

Lou and Jerry had been my first host family. Jerry had sadly died some years ago and although Lisa and I had been out to the USA before this trip, it was the first time we’d see Lou and her new husband Jack. I’m not naturally a nostalgic person but this area holds a place in my heart as does Lou (even though I’m appalling at staying in touch). This in my head, is where I grew up, and started that strange rollercoaster of a ride from boy to…bigger furrier boy? Away from the familiar hold of friends and family I began to find out who ‘I’ was. My own Dad, at the airport when I flew home, walked right passed me, I was that unrecognizable to him, although he’ll deny it to this day.

We’d arrived yesterday evening and Ashley had opened up the Lou’s stunning new house for us. Lou and Jack were returning from there own trip. They arrive back late and with all of us tired we greeted each other with hugs and put off catching p until tomorrow.

On this trip I didn’t manage to see both of Lou’s daughters, but the news that Ashley, Lou’s youngest, whom I’d left as a toddler was now engaged and getting and married soon was enough to make me feel…old! Ahhh, the rich tapestry of life?

To Lou and Jack thank you so much for your hospitality and friendship we hope to make it back to see you soon..

The ride was over all too soon.

Staff were already busy with the milling clients in the shop when we arrived. Candon’s beaming smile welcomed us much like it had last night and strong coffee was the order of the day, well at lest before anything remotely sensible was going to come out of my mouth…and maybe not even then.

You could feel the history of the dealership, helped along with one of the finest collections of vintage BMW’s you find anywhere. Hung on the walls or inside impressive glass cases. Irv Seaver’s is the oldest BMW dealership in the USA opening its doors in 1911.

The state of the art projector that David (General Manger) had rented was a good start to the day and an hour later all was looking good. Our trusted little laptop was talking happily with their gear and we’d not bumped into any technical gremlins.

The day pasted easily enough and by early evening and to a beautiful red sunset our bikes were being brought in to take pride of place in the showroom. Guests had already started to arrive and there was already a tangible buzz in the air. It was going to be a good evening.

With a full house and even the local TV turning up to film we kicked off around 7:30pm and in a blur it was over. The reassuring applause was welcome as we did our best to answer a barrage of eager questions.

To Evan, David, Candon, Brian and all the staff at Irv Seavers a big thank you for making us feel so welcome..

It was going to be a short day. This morning common sense had kicked in. How could we pass up the opportunity of a private all access tour of one of the finest zoo’s in the world? We couldn’t.

And so, with a new plan hatched and instead of heading out and down to Tucson, we headed due South to San Diego. We’d picked up the freeway easily enough and set a faster than normal cruising speed. It felt good. We were sat at around 85 and both bikes were feeling strong. Not too many nutters on the road.

87.3 miles later and we’d taken one wrong turn but knew we weren’t far from the motel that Randall had recommended.

Something’s wrong? “Lisa I’ve got to pull over” I yelled concerned and confused. Changing gear had been getting more and more tricky and I was making clumsy sloppy mistakes. Or so I thought.

Off the bikes and park up next to the freeway Lisa kept an eye out as speeding cars, bikes and trucks buzzed my head as I rolled on the ground trying to get an idea as to the problem.

Weird! As far as I could tell the small rotating connecting pin that pulls together the gear lever and the gear mechanism had simply worked itself loose. Tightening it back up did the job, although I still have no idea what made it come loose now and not at some other time in the journey.

15 minutes after our impromptu stop and we’d pulled into the motel. Paid and checked in.

The rest of the afternoon was spent meandering around one of the large shopping centres. We treated Lisa to some new makeup. She’d not had new for years and the conversation of her feeling un-feminine had raised its head recently. She looked great with a few new colors.

Dinner was courtesy of the small family restaurant next door.

We managed to hail a cab first thing this morning and $9 to get us through the traffic and direct to the zoo seemed fair.

As we bundled ourselves out of the cab Randall caught our eye, he’d been waiting eager to meet us at the gate as promised.

With handshakes and thanks given we were escorted past the large group that had been queuing to buy tickets via a ‘secure pass only’ barrier. Oh yeah, now this I like. Jim Miller was waiting inside and greeted us like old friends, he'd also joine dus fo rthe presentation at Irv's.

We spent 40 minutes touring the pri-mate enclosures…Fascinating!

The highlight had to be the ‘staff only’ glimpse we were given behind the sealed doors of the guerilla and Tiger enclosures. These animals close up are mesmerizing in every way imaginable.

Guys we cant thank you enough.

Again we were doing our Michelin man impression’s, layered up to busting with both warm and water-proof gear on. The slick fuel laden water from the road was sprayed across our visors and making it all the more difficult to see. A wiping had was only going to make it worse.

We needed to clear the mountains that surround San Diego. This is going to be fun. A few hours later and between the rain and low cloud visibility was getting dangerous and we were down to 30 mph, with our hazard warning lights on, hoping that some idiot didn’t drive straight into the back of us.

Cresting the mountain top we stopped for gas. A wall of light had hit us as we came over the top and the kind a break in the weather than you normally only see in films. To the west cold grey cloud and rain, to the east not a cloud in the sky and beautiful clear sunshine.

With a warm coffee downed we threw off our rain gear, packed it way as best we could and got back on the road.

And so the day went on and on. We’d stopped more than a few times. Lisa was really suffering and pushing it here was just silly. She had to be the priority.

We stopped at another small roadside motel

Denny’s was dinner and the Motel 6 right behind gave us a place to rest our heads.