The Biennial 100,000 Mile Party

Every other year my original BMW dealer down in LA, West Valley Cycle Sales, puts on a party for their customers who have ridden 100,000 miles or more on BMW motorcycles. WVCS is an old-time shop, family owned and run for the last 53 years, and so a party like this is a burgers and brats kind of affair.

I rode down to LA and stayed with my folks in Tarzana on the preceding Tuesday. This gave me the opportunity to enjoy some of the fine riding available nearby. I haven't ridden Fernwood Pacific Rd. up and out of Topanga Canyon and down Tuna Canyon in a great long while.

I think it was the winter of 1988 that washed out the lower part of Tuna Canyon Rd., and when the county cleared it an reopened it, it was as a one way road. Somebody big lives up there, because they've continued to improve this tiny mountain road. The pavement before the last few hundred feet down to PCH has been recently laid and striped.

It was lovely.

Also quite nice were many more roads in the Santa Monica Mountains. Here's another sample. This is Stunt Rd.

Anyway, on to the party. On Saturday afternoon, the crowd had already started to grow before the shop officially closed at 5pm. Laurie would greet each invitee by asking for their current odometer reading(s), tallying that up with her records, and writing the total on an Avery label that the guest was then instructed to wear.

Also, things began to get set up in the parking lot. The BBQ came out, with an extravagant parasol next to it to protect Don from the sun's ravaging rays. Room was cleared inside for some tables and folding chairs, and then chips and salsa, beans, and salads came out. Don fired the BBQ and got to work on the meat. The ice chests were breached and the party was officially on.

There was another surprise: Randy, who never keeps a bike a long time, had just this day traded his K1200LT in on a copper R1150R Rockster. He hadn't even ridden it yet. We all got to oooh! and aaaah! over it.

So, with all that excitement, everyone hung around, chatting, eating, drinking, and talking some more. A pleasant time was had by all!