Mother’s Day Moto Trip
I left Milwaukie, Or. late Thursday (before Mother’s Day)evening around 7 p.m., beginning what would become a 2,647-mile Mother’s Day motorcycle trip through Oregon and California. My first night ended in Roseburg after a relaxed evening ride south.
Friday morning started with a stop at Cycle Gear in Medford to pick up a new helmet shield before continuing into Northern California.

Mt Shasta off I-5
From Yreka, I took Highway 3 through the Trinity Alps toward Weaverville — an incredible stretch of winding mountain road and beautiful scenery. Along the way I met a couple from Seattle riding a Goldwing and a Can-Am Spyder with their two dogs. We talked for a while, sharing stories from the road before heading our separate ways.
From there I continued on to Redding for a two-hour Thai massage, then pushed south to Woodland for the night so I could make an early stop at IKEA the next morning to pick up a comforter my oldest child wanted.

IKEA comforter
Saturday started early at IKEA, followed by a stop at REI in Elk Grove for a pair of OOFOS sandals. From Stockton I picked up Highway 4 over the Sierra Nevada.

I stopped in Murphys for lunch at El Arroyo, where I had some of the best enchiladas I’ve ever eaten — incredible flavor and exactly what I needed before heading back into the mountains.
The ride over the Sierras was spectacular: endless curves, alpine lakes, snow lining the roadsides, and mountain views that seemed to stretch forever. Some corners demanded little more than parking-lot speeds, but that’s part of what makes mountain riding memorable.


Gardnerville- I always take the opportunity to let my Basque cousins see what they’re missing.

By evening I dropped down into Gardnerville and eventually reached Mammoth Lakes, spending the night at the Shilo Inn and making plans to meet my cousin the next morning.
Sunday was one of those perfect days for motorcycling. After a solid night’s sleep, I met my cousin for breakfast. He pointed me toward a few roads worth exploring and drove me around Mammoth a bit for sightseeing before I continued on toward Yosemite’s east entrance.


The entire ride from Mammoth was beautiful — crisp air, mountain scenery, and plenty of reasons to stop for photos.


Later I rode up Pine Creek Road north of Bishop, another fantastic stretch of pavement with sweeping views in every direction.



From Bishop I continued south on Highway 395, one of my favorite roads anywhere. There’s something special about riding through that high-desert landscape with snow-covered peaks towering beside you.
Near Lone Pine I turned toward Whitney Portal through the Alabama Hills, a place I had never visited before. It absolutely lived up to expectations.


At the Whitney Portal Store I ordered a burger and fries that were far too large to finish, took a few pictures, and spent some time soaking in the scenery beneath Mount Whitney before heading back down the mountain.
That evening I arrived at my mom’s house to celebrate Mother’s Day with her.
Monday morning I had breakfast with my dad at his regular diner before spending a little more time visiting and cleaning the bike of bugs and road grime. Later I offered to take my mom to visit her brother again, but she declined, so I rode out to the family farm where my uncle lives.


My uncle has spent his entire life farming, aside from a few years away at UC Davis. Over the years he successfully expanded the family operation from row crops into oranges while somehow managing the many challenges that come with both farming and family business. He’s one of the most intelligent people I’ve ever known — the kind of person who easily could have succeeded as a lawyer, engineer, or in any other profession he chose. Thankfully for our family, he chose farming.


For the past ten years he’s also been battling a rare form of cancer. There have been surgeries, radiation, immunotherapy treatments, and more scans than I can count. Most recently he underwent surgery to remove a brain tumor, followed by radiation treatments that doctors warned could reduce his IQ by 10 or 15 points — which, as we joked, would still leave him at genius level.
I spent a couple of hours visiting with him and my aunts, who are helping care for him during recovery. Watching someone so sharp and capable fight through such a humbling process affects everyone who knows him. First came individual words, then sentences a few days later, and now we all wait hopefully for the return of his long, thoughtful explanations and stories. Day by day he continues improving, and we all continue hoping for the best.
After leaving the farm, I rode west along Highway 166 before turning south on Highway 33 toward Ojai. The route wound through beautiful countryside before eventually connecting me back toward Highway 101.

I passed through Santa Barbara, stopped briefly at a state beach campground to take in the coast, and then continued north to Atascadero for the night.

Tuesday morning I found breakfast by accident at AJ’s in Atascadero before continuing north on Highway 101 and cutting west to Highway 1 toward Santa Cruz.




From there I rode through Pescadero into San Francisco and crossed the Golden Gate Bridge, stopping at the vista point for photos. The wind was so strong it nearly blew the bike over while parked.
From there I crossed Highway 37 to 505 and made my way back to Redding, where I stayed overnight before a scheduled Thai massage the next morning.


Wednesday started with another excellent massage and cupping session at Naree Thai Massage — a place I make a point to visit whenever I pass through Redding. After lunch I took a cutoff road over to Highway 36 and rode west toward Fortuna. The road was outstanding: endless curves, deer crossing unexpectedly, and several fellow riders enjoying the same stretch of pavement.



After stopping at Berry’s Burger Bar for dinner, I continued through Eureka and north on Highway 101 toward Crescent City. Along the coast I was treated to incredible ocean views and even spotted a herd of elk grazing near the highway.



From Crescent City I turned inland on Highway 199 through Grants Pass and finally north on Interstate 5 toward home. I stopped in Roseburg for In-N-Out, coffee, and hot chocolate to help push through the late-night ride home.
Sometime around 3 a.m. Thursday morning, I finally rolled back into Milwaukie — tired, grateful, and satisfied after an unforgettable 2,647-mile journey.
I left Milwaukie, Or. late Thursday (before Mother’s Day)evening around 7 p.m., beginning what would become a 2,647-mile Mother’s Day motorcycle trip through Oregon and California. My first night ended in Roseburg after a relaxed evening ride south.
Friday morning started with a stop at Cycle Gear in Medford to pick up a new helmet shield before continuing into Northern California.

Mt Shasta off I-5
From Yreka, I took Highway 3 through the Trinity Alps toward Weaverville — an incredible stretch of winding mountain road and beautiful scenery. Along the way I met a couple from Seattle riding a Goldwing and a Can-Am Spyder with their two dogs. We talked for a while, sharing stories from the road before heading our separate ways.
From there I continued on to Redding for a two-hour Thai massage, then pushed south to Woodland for the night so I could make an early stop at IKEA the next morning to pick up a comforter my oldest child wanted.

IKEA comforter
Saturday started early at IKEA, followed by a stop at REI in Elk Grove for a pair of OOFOS sandals. From Stockton I picked up Highway 4 over the Sierra Nevada.

I stopped in Murphys for lunch at El Arroyo, where I had some of the best enchiladas I’ve ever eaten — incredible flavor and exactly what I needed before heading back into the mountains.

The ride over the Sierras was spectacular: endless curves, alpine lakes, snow lining the roadsides, and mountain views that seemed to stretch forever. Some corners demanded little more than parking-lot speeds, but that’s part of what makes mountain riding memorable.


Gardnerville- I always take the opportunity to let my Basque cousins see what they’re missing.


By evening I dropped down into Gardnerville and eventually reached Mammoth Lakes, spending the night at the Shilo Inn and making plans to meet my cousin the next morning.

Sunday was one of those perfect days for motorcycling. After a solid night’s sleep, I met my cousin for breakfast. He pointed me toward a few roads worth exploring and drove me around Mammoth a bit for sightseeing before I continued on toward Yosemite’s east entrance.



The entire ride from Mammoth was beautiful — crisp air, mountain scenery, and plenty of reasons to stop for photos.




Later I rode up Pine Creek Road north of Bishop, another fantastic stretch of pavement with sweeping views in every direction.



From Bishop I continued south on Highway 395, one of my favorite roads anywhere. There’s something special about riding through that high-desert landscape with snow-covered peaks towering beside you.


Near Lone Pine I turned toward Whitney Portal through the Alabama Hills, a place I had never visited before. It absolutely lived up to expectations.



At the Whitney Portal Store I ordered a burger and fries that were far too large to finish, took a few pictures, and spent some time soaking in the scenery beneath Mount Whitney before heading back down the mountain.

That evening I arrived at my mom’s house to celebrate Mother’s Day with her.
Monday morning I had breakfast with my dad at his regular diner before spending a little more time visiting and cleaning the bike of bugs and road grime. Later I offered to take my mom to visit her brother again, but she declined, so I rode out to the family farm where my uncle lives.


My uncle has spent his entire life farming, aside from a few years away at UC Davis. Over the years he successfully expanded the family operation from row crops into oranges while somehow managing the many challenges that come with both farming and family business. He’s one of the most intelligent people I’ve ever known — the kind of person who easily could have succeeded as a lawyer, engineer, or in any other profession he chose. Thankfully for our family, he chose farming.


For the past ten years he’s also been battling a rare form of cancer. There have been surgeries, radiation, immunotherapy treatments, and more scans than I can count. Most recently he underwent surgery to remove a brain tumor, followed by radiation treatments that doctors warned could reduce his IQ by 10 or 15 points — which, as we joked, would still leave him at genius level.
I spent a couple of hours visiting with him and my aunts, who are helping care for him during recovery. Watching someone so sharp and capable fight through such a humbling process affects everyone who knows him. First came individual words, then sentences a few days later, and now we all wait hopefully for the return of his long, thoughtful explanations and stories. Day by day he continues improving, and we all continue hoping for the best.

After leaving the farm, I rode west along Highway 166 before turning south on Highway 33 toward Ojai. The route wound through beautiful countryside before eventually connecting me back toward Highway 101.

I passed through Santa Barbara, stopped briefly at a state beach campground to take in the coast, and then continued north to Atascadero for the night.

Tuesday morning I found breakfast by accident at AJ’s in Atascadero before continuing north on Highway 101 and cutting west to Highway 1 toward Santa Cruz.




From there I rode through Pescadero into San Francisco and crossed the Golden Gate Bridge, stopping at the vista point for photos. The wind was so strong it nearly blew the bike over while parked.
From there I crossed Highway 37 to 505 and made my way back to Redding, where I stayed overnight before a scheduled Thai massage the next morning.


Wednesday started with another excellent massage and cupping session at Naree Thai Massage — a place I make a point to visit whenever I pass through Redding. After lunch I took a cutoff road over to Highway 36 and rode west toward Fortuna. The road was outstanding: endless curves, deer crossing unexpectedly, and several fellow riders enjoying the same stretch of pavement.



After stopping at Berry’s Burger Bar for dinner, I continued through Eureka and north on Highway 101 toward Crescent City. Along the coast I was treated to incredible ocean views and even spotted a herd of elk grazing near the highway.



From Crescent City I turned inland on Highway 199 through Grants Pass and finally north on Interstate 5 toward home. I stopped in Roseburg for In-N-Out, coffee, and hot chocolate to help push through the late-night ride home.
Sometime around 3 a.m. Thursday morning, I finally rolled back into Milwaukie — tired, grateful, and satisfied after an unforgettable 2,647-mile journey.
