The throttle bug bit me again in late December 2013, and I picked up a 2004 Moto Guzzi California Stone for $3,400 off Craigslist in San Francisco, about 40 miles north of our house in Mountain View. I knew of CityBike because of Maynard’s longtime contributor status, but hadn’t read a copy in years. My boss mentioned a fella named Gabe Ets-Hokin, who I emailed in September 2014 about possibly writing a column for Bicycle Times, the magazine I edit. We spoke a few times, and finally met at Alice’s Restaurant for lunch in late January.

Recently, Gabe texted to ask if I was interested in driving the `15 Harley-Davidson Ultra Limited (featured on the April cover) down to the Harley Fleet Center in Carson, then driving a new Triumph Tiger 800 XcX back to Oakland for Editor Surj. I said yes without hesitation, despite never having ridden to Los Angeles and back, let alone ridden a Harley. I was confident saying yes because my Goose is a fairly big cruiser, and I’ve driven it 8,000 miles all over the Bay Area.

On a clear June morning, I rode 150 miles to Sea Ranch, California, to interview a vacationing rock guitarist. He's 62 years old, lives in Los Angeles, and a few days prior, rode a loaner Scrambler Ducati 1100 Sport from Foothill College in Los Altos Hills. His pal Jason had arranged to hand off the Sport for a week of riding in western Mendocino County, where Jonesy often vacations to clear his head from the craziness of LA.

Steve Jones is the host of "Jonesy's Jukebox," a popular radio show on 95.5 KLOS in Los Angeles. The former Sex Pistols guitarist is considering a major move to northern California if he can find the right property. I rode a Scrambler Ducati 1100 Special three hours north to meet Jonesy, who was funny, relaxed, and more keen to talk about bikes than music.

A triumphant return home to Mountain View, California from our first enormously memorable European motorcycle trip was barely a week old when we were told the lease on the address we’ve called home for nearly 17 years wouldn’t be renewed. This is where we raised two dynamic teenagers; entertained friends and family from around the world; cultivated a fine array of flowers, plants and trees; enjoyed flybys from hummingbirds; took care of countless dogs; and garaged nearly 30 motorcycles on a rotating basis.