On Highway 101 in Northern California, they're very generous to nighttime drivers. They have floodlights on the landslide areas, so you can see the rocks as they slide down to bury you. At one point on 101 in Oregon, my car got splashed by the spray from the waves that were crashing in. It's an awesome drive, especially in winter.

In Los Angeles County, Ventura Boulevard is old 101, and parts of it still remind me of the idealized view we had of the Southern California of the 1950's.
-Joe Offer-

Rita, what did Bill say when you sang THAT at an open sing?? I wish I coulda been there.

---

Well, Ferrara posted her recollection of this above, but I verified this with the recording.
-Joe-
(5 Aug 2008)


BLACK DENIM TROUSERS AND MOTORCYCLE BOOTS
Words and Music by Jerry Leiber and Mike Stoller
as sung on "The Diamonds Collection" -- Stardust CD-1010 -charted by The Cheers at # 6 in 1955
He wore black denim trousers and motorcycle boots
And a black leather jacket with an eagle on the back.
He had a hopped-up 'cicle that took off like a gun.
That fool was the terror of Highway One-oh-one.

Well, he never washed his face and he never combed his hair.
He had axle grease embedded underneath his fingernails.
On the muscle of his arm was a red tattoo,
A picture of a heart saying "Mother, I love you."

He had a pretty girlfriend by the name of Mary Lou,
But he treated her just like he treated all the rest,
And everybody pitied her 'cause everybody knew
He loved that doggone motorcycle best.

He wore black denim trousers and motorcycle boots
And a black leather jacket with an eagle on the back.
He had a hopped-up 'cicle that took off like a gun.
That fool was the terror of Highway One-oh-one.

Mary Lou, poor girl, she pleaded and she begged him not to leave.
She said: "I've got a feeling if you ride tonight I'll grieve."
But her tears were shed in vain and her every word was lost
In the rumble of his engine and the smoke from his exhaust.

He took off like a devil; there was fire in his eyes.
He said, "I'll go a thousand miles before the sun can rise."
But he hit a screamin' diesel that was California-bound
And when they cleared the wreckage, all they found

Was his black denim trousers and motorcycle boots
And a black leather jacket with an eagle on the back,
But they couldn't find the 'cicle that took off like a gun,
And they never found the terror of Highway One-oh-one.


Lyrics transcribed by "Robin Hood" (a legendary transcriber of lyrics), copied from http://uk.geocities.com/hyohsilver/words.htm which plays the recording over and over and over.....