Why I had to...

[Valkpilot]

...get to San Diego in spite of everything.

On July 23, JC (Yodamaster) and I headed for San Diego, CA.  We planned two days out and two days back, with three days in that foreign land.

As reported in another thread, I had difficulties on day two, but had a deadline to meet in San Diego at 1000 on the 25th.

Day 1 was uneventful.  We left Denton around 0600 and landed in Albuquerque, NM about 12 hours later.

Up in the panhandle, we found a longhorn steer out in the middle of nowhere.  It's actually a huge metal sculpture, but there was nothing around for miles.



We also took the opportunity to take Old Route 66 through Adrian, TX, which happens to be the midpoint of US66 between Chicago and LA.



About the only business in town is a roadside diner.  So we stopped for PIE.






On the second day, I got to enjoy some nice scenery before the mechanical troubles started.  I might have mentioned once or three times that I love riding in the southwest.




The repairs on day 2 put us very much behind.  We planned to be in SD by nine pm and instead arrived at one-thirty in the morning.  I've got to hand it to JC for sticking with me.  The last five hours of the day were in the dark on lonely roads; first straight and hypnotizing, then windblown, curvy, mountainous, and critter rich (at least according to the deer and bighorn sheep warning signs.)


So, why the need to get there by a certain time and date?  Because my oldest son requested my presence, that's why.

He's a Captain in the Marines.  Since shortly after returning from his second deployment, he has been the commanding officer of Headquarters Battery of the 5th battalion of the 11th Marine regiment at Camp Pendleton.



We were invited to his change of command ceremony. He was transferring command to another officer and preparing to move to a berth on the staff of the 11th Marine Expeditionary Unit.

The Captain before the ceremony.



2nd Platoon waiting for the ceremony to start.



Captain Barnett about to accept the battery guidon from his 1st Sgt...



...and then about to pass the guidon to his successor.



The outgoing commander gets the spotlight.



His fiancé and mother were honored with bouquets.



His current battalion commander (far right) and former battalion commander (second right)  had their own CoC ceremony only 27 days before.



Very proud parents with the Captain and his wife-to-be.



As a Viet-era former Marine, JC was in his element.  My son and I were glad to have him there.



I think he's doing well on all fronts.  She's a Navy helo pilot stationed at North Island.



Following the ceremony, my son hosted a small reception (Del Taco burritos and beer).  His staff presented him with a frame containing the actual guidon used in the ceremony and an appreciative plaque.



I helped him clean out his office and move into the battery Executive Officer's office.  He was going to work in that role for a week before moving to 11th MEU.   We stopped and picked up the throttle cables he'd ordered for me.  He had to work on Friday, so I spent the morning installing the new cables and giving the bike a sponge bath in the parking garage of the hotel.  (is having the tank off four times a record for a trip?)

They live downtown, with a view of North Island.  We had a hotel a few blocks closer to the ocean.  

Here's the view from the hotel room.



And this was the view at the Zoo.



On Sunday morning, we headed out bright and early intending to make El Paso before nightfall.  We had to retrace the path ridden in the dark on Wednesday night.

It was easier in the daylight.



On this stretch Wednesday night, we were able to ride side by side for miles, illuminating the desert with over 300 watts light.



The rest of the trip was pretty uneventful.  We lucked out, temperature wise, with the only really hot sections being between Yuma and Tuscon, and from Abilene to the barn.  Most of the last two days had some overcast or showers that kept the heat at bay.

Was it worth the trouble and the effort to push on in spite of my mechanical problems?  Absolutely.

As my riding companero shown below frequently states, "It's all part of the adventure."

[Jess from VA]

Great reason for a ride. 

Great family.

Been awhile since I visited Pendleton, or MCRD San Diego, or Twentynine Palms.

Thanks for sharing.

[BnB Tom]

Yes.  It looks like it was all worth it 

[RainMaker]

Great story, great pictures.  You're a good dad to go to the ceremony.  Your son is certainly a chip off the old block and someone to be proud of, but you already know that.  Congratulations to you all.

As for JC, he must have been stoked up, ready to go and fight after being around all those Marines.  

Thanks for posting this.  

Mark

[Christbiker]

VP --- Ditto on what Mark stated.  Pride has two faces.  Your pride here is the very positive one.

Blessings,

Woody

[mario]

semper fi! 

congrats and great ride/event pics, thanks for sharing.

my man is on his way to oceanside,cali as i type via vstrom to help move our son back home from the usmc.  he's been in 5+ years and is to checkout on thursday. 

[Disco]

Looks like a great trip!   

[HayHauler]

Great report VP.  Thank your son for his service to this great country.  Looks like a great kid and you should be proud. 
Good temps huh?   Maybe we should have gone with you instead of up to Yankee land where it was hotter than Houston for the week that we were there. 

Hay
Jimmyt

[R J]

I spent a few months @ Pendleton, did boot in San Diego Recruit Depot and helped get 29 Palms underway.

Made several trips from San Fran to 29 Palms before it actually became a Marine Base.

Several old dilapidated semi trailers loaded with a bunch of parts for 39 to 47 vintage Fords that the USMC had before the spare parts move in 1950-1952.  I know of at least 15 trailers loaded with parts buried in the sand on 29 Palms.

The Engineers would dig a furrow about 20' deep. We would back the trailer loaded into the ditch, unhook wouldn't even take the effort to lower the trailer stands.   Just pull the 5th wheel lever and drive out.   Bob tail back to San Francisco, hook onto another already loaded flat bed trailer and do it all over again.     I personally hauled about 16 trailers down there loaded with parts, and there was 9 of us running back and forth.    Lots of $$$$$$ buried out behind the base in old OEM parts.

[Daniel Meyer]

 

Ride 'em hard! Congrats to your son...on several fronts!

[Houdini]

I spent the weekend in Kansas City with my brother who is in his 39th year of service, the first third in the Marines and the remainder in the Army.  He is looking forward to retirement next year but they are wanting to keep him with some exclusion to the 40 year max service rule.

[Hollyday]

VP,
Great ride report!
You and JC both clean up very well
Congratulations to your son on his promotion!.   He's a good lookin' soldier.

Glad you guys made it back home safely.

Hollyday

[Tx Bohemian]

It shows you're a proud dad, as you should be.

Congradulations to your son, and you!!

As I was reading your story I was a bit jealous.  It seemed like a great ride/adventure and for a fabulous reason. All dads can relate!!
I'm sure it would've been better if the trouble had to happen for it to be on the trip back, without the time limit. But it seems ya'll made the best of it.

[Big Ed]

Dave,

It goes without saying that you have many reasons to be a very proud Dad.

Congrats to your son on his promotion and gratitude for his service to our country.

Semper Fi...