It was a LH 747 first class one way flight from Munich to San Francisco which brought us to the USA in 2000. Our stuff was already somewhere in a container ship. Our dog "Julius" was sleeping in a cage in the container room in the plane and we enjoyed life from it's best site as the only passengers in the First Class. I think I have to mention, it was on company expense and high milage upgrading!
America and California here we come!
And picture it, when we landed at SFO.......it was not raining, it was pouring down .......Welcome to California !
After two weeks in the States the next dream came in, the first Goldwing, a 83` GL 1100, well not what everyone would declare as a "Dreambike" but for the beginning a cheap alternative and at this time we couldn't go together on the bike anyhow because of our dog. But after two more weeks the first sad thing here happened for us, we had to put to sleep "Julius" because of the cancer we knew about, but we didn't think it would be that early. But anyhow we have been happy that we took him with us although only for 4 weeks.
Now this was the time then the passion for motorcycle riding started.
We had 2 motorcycles ( BMW RT1100 and Honda Silverwing 500 ) back in Germany, but only for short weekend rides in summertime and we couldn't ship them to California because of too high costs for the necessary modifications, any other state in USA no problem, only CA, you don't get everything. So we had to sell the RT and gave the Silverwing to a friend who hopefully takes good care of it. Unfortunately it was stolen some time later.
The first tour together on our "
Emma "took us to Hwy 1, one of the first choice for an European.
That's the feeling we always dreamed about it. But in Monterey the
dreaming was almost over when "Emma" decided she doesn't
want to carry two people up a small hill and she told us and others
her unwillingness in a big black cloud behind her. So we tried to
talk to her on the side of the road and Reiner gave her full throttle
having in mind maybe there is only some dirt and dust somewhere in
the old Lady. And he was right, after some more of coughing black
clouds she was ok again at least for this tour which brought us as
far as Pismo Beach and back.
But this was also the time the first pictures of the new GL 1800 came out and unfortunatly a dealership right on the way to the office had the first one in the showroom. So guess what....... I got a call someday from my husband, who told me that there is exactly the one for us. A Illusion Red ( He loves red ) 1800 and it would fit him so good and it is so comfy esp. for the co-rider and yada yada yada......!
This was the day we became the owner of the newest Goldwing on the market and only after 2 month in the USA.
The following weekend we did Hwy 1 again, oh well what a difference and he was right it is very comfy on the backseat.
In the meantime both of us had to make the driverlicense for CA for car and motorcycle, what we did on the GL 1100, quite a challenge, if you are used to drive a RT1100. But anyhow I prefered in the beginning the backseat of the 1800, I had too much respect for this big machine and my husband is not the best co-rider, he gets easily bored there and then I can't do anything right. But I can tell you the time will come when we need a second bike for riding.
Old Emma seemed to be disappointed
about the new thing standing right beside her and we needed to repair
some things on her. After getting oily and dirty hands almost every
weekend we decided to look for a new home for her. We fixed the
electric, put in a new waterpump, did almost all the rusty parts and
then it was time to say good bye, we didn't regret it this time to
give away a motorcycle.
It lasted 4 month before we decided we need a second bike. The reason was I was allowed to drive alone one time and suddenly I knew that I have to ride myself again. The 1800 wasn't my kind of bike ( at least in the beginning ) since I prefer more the high seated position, but this bike feelt almost as good as the RT and with some practice I will handle it........
That was the time we found the GL1200 for a decent price and in a good condition, at least we thought.
And this was also the time the real riding and touring on two wheels began.
*LISA*