I took off along with my friend Christian on my 33rd birthday, riding dual-sport motorcycles towards Idyllwild, a mountain town I've been through a few times before for hiking or climbing trips. I picked up a new bike a few weeks ago and wanted a short "test" ride, loaded up with overnight gear. We cut through Temecula and rode the Palms to Pines highway, a beautiful stretch of pavement that literally takes you from the desert floor to the forested mountains. We peeled back down the next morning, stopping for breakfast at a country cafe in the middle of nowhere, and were home in time for fireworks on the 4th.