Outside of Bakersfield, we pulled over to a rest stop and Jim, with a sh*t-eating grin, announced that we were going to unload the bikes for a "riding shot." Soon I am alongside a dusty side road taking shots of Tom and Jim riding choppers past vast fields of cotton; dead plants with unmistakable big puffs of white. Photos completed, we loaded the choppers and drove for another hour until we were in the foothills. Jim grinned and the bikes were unloaded again as the light of day cast chopper shadows against the green hills, with me being sure to capture images.
Locked and loaded again, we crossed the mountains into the high desert, and you got it, Jim gave me the grin again. I even stood in the middle of the highway taking photos of Jim and Tom going by on either side with brown dirt and cacti in the background. This was an ongoing photo shoot, all within the variety of available California topography. We made a good five stops and photo opportunities, then Tom jumped in his Lincoln and headed south.
Clark took a look and this long-faced kid, and asked, "Are you ready to head to Louisiana?" We crossed the Colorado River before I was really sure we were going to Daytona Beach.
Along the way, McMullen flew into Mardi Gras, where we put the finishing touch on Tom's recreation of the famous Easy Rider cross country trek. Through the years, I can't remember how many times loyal STREET CHOPPER readers would bring up that story about the famous ride that Tom McMullen did aboard those long, radical AEE choppers. I'd just smile that sh*t-eating grin and agree. What a great start that was to my long career with motorcycle magazines. -Later, Steve