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.

With an Americano at my right elbow and the music of Rush in my Airpods, it’s easy to process what my next motorcycle adventure should entail. I’m sitting at Red Rock Coffee while the July sun warms Villa & Castro streets, not struggling to keep my bike upright against gale force winds on CA-5 or getting pelted by hail through Bakersfield.

And any reinforcement from the late motorcyclist, writer, lyricist and Rush drummer Neil Peart is welcome. This is why I return to his books for mental and spiritual guidance. It’s been three and a half years since we lost Peart to brain cancer, but his words and music live on.