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So-Cal bound

4K views 22 replies 7 participants last post by  Lockjaw 
#1 ·
My Ex-step son is graduating high school next week ( I guess I will use that as an excuse) so I though I would hop on the bike and take it down to Ventura. So here is what I am going to see on my trip South. San Francisco to Salinas, over 68 past Laguna Secca, Highway 1 from Monterrey to San Luis Obispo I have taken before, but never on a bike, so that is a no brainer. It is probably one of THE MOST scenic drives in America with 74 miles of twisties, and the cool blue Pacific ocean right there. Then on to Pismo Beach to hopefully hook-up with SLO-KLR for lunch, if Darin is not at a shooting match, or at work. From there down 101 through Santa Maria, Solvang, Santa Barbara, and into Ventura. I hope to take a ton of pictures, and post up some sort of "good" trip report. This is all going to happen next Friday, with the retun trip on Sunday! :character00201:

MB4
 
#2 ·
Safe travels, man. If you're inclined to slide through Sausalito on your way, I'd love to buy you a beer. I have Fridays off.
 
#6 ·
Not if you haven't gone to sleep yet. ;)
 
#8 ·
Frankie just did a keg stand.
 
#14 ·
Well let's see...

The first order of business is to say I am sorry to Darin, (SLO-KLR) for not calling when I blew through, twice, in neck of the woods. I am not going to make excuses, but, this is why...

I thought this would be an easy ride from North of San Francisco to Ventura, via Hwy 1. WRONG. I had allowed for a eight, to nine hour saddle time ride. Four hours were spent on Hwy 1, from Monterey, to San Luis Obispo. The traffic was, was, sucky at best. By the time I hit San Luis, I was tired. I was going to call but by the time I was there was about twenty minutes to choke down some food, and get back on the saddle, another 125 miles to go. That took another four hours, due to wind, Santa Barbara traffic (one hour, including spliting traffic, and having people intentionally trying to prevent me from spliting). Total time for 473 miles?
12 hours. My ass is sore. Hey and guess what? In thirty-six hours, I get to do it again, WHOO-HOO!

Sunday 5:30am. Back in the saddle again. The only thing I can think of is getting home, I am on a time restraint, need to be home by 3:00pm. I grab a handfull of throttle, and point the front tire North, my ass is still sore... Wind through Gaviota is putting me at a 45 degree angle, and people are pointing, and laughing, I get to Paso in time to refuel, and push on... (I think to myself... Self... Darin is not going to let me forget about not calling him... EVER, I'm an ass) I refuel and push on. I make it home at 3:14pm, and proceed to lay on the front lawn until someone either calls the cops, or my wife goes out to get the mail. The wife got the mail, and walked by me, and said "How was the ride?" I mumbled something, and crawled in the house, and mumbled some more.

Darin, I owe you, I hope you can forgive me. I will post up some meaningless pictures in the next few days.

This may seem like a negative report, it is not. I had a great ride, but planned it poorly.

Thanks,

MB4
 
#15 ·
Welcome back, man. I was afraid you defected. Sounds like an epic trip.

PS - Darin can't be mad at you...it's in the KPPMC bylaws.

- #1
 
#16 ·
Mark what took you so long :) Sounds like a good trip other than the wind.

Wednesday morning 9:37 I left Sac and arrived Santa Barbara at 7:30ish. I-5 to 156 to PCH to Santa Barbara. Met a couple of Canadians just before Big Sur and we rode together until the 405. Good guys, one with a Triumph Tiger and the other with a Honda CBF1000.

Thursday morning 9:30ish I we left Santa Barbara and I arrived in San Diego at 4:15. PCH (101) through Oxnard to Malibu (lunch on the beach) to I-10 to 405 to 5 to Eagle Mfg & Eng.

Saturday was a San Diego KLR Tech Day.

Sunday morning 9:30ish (there is a pattern here :confused:) left San Diego and arrived in Bishop at 4:40ish. Met a couple of FJR rdiers from San Diego. They were headed to Nelson BC. We rode together until the Tioga Pass turnoff. I-15 to CA-58 to 395.

Monday morning 9:30ish left Bishop arrived Sacramento at 4:20. 395 to 120 Tioga Pass through a very cold Yosemite to 120 Groveland to 120/49 to 49 Sonora to 49 Drytown to 16 to Stone House Road / Latrobe Road / Scott Road (The Roller Coasters) to White Rock Road to Scott Road to 50 to Home.

Highlights: PCH was excellent with only to construction sections. Santa Barbara was beautiful and I got a $159 room for $109. Malibu has its own beauty and the water is usually gorgeous though it was overcast that day. Mike and Geneva are excellent hosts and friends, Thanks. CA-58 is straight and narrow. Barstow is hot and noisy. The mountains of 395 parallel the beauty of the Alaska mountains. I did not enjoy Yosemite since it was cold and overcast. Groveland is quaint and I will return. The road out of Groveland must have been built by a motorcyclist. 120 and 49 are fun though could use less traffic. Stone House Road has a set of rollers I call The Roller Coaster. If you try WFO they will though you off your motorcycle. WooHoo lots of fun if ridden moderately. It was good to see home.

Thinking of riding Hwy's 36 and 299 next week. Thank you CalPERS.
 
#19 ·
Oh, Here are the meaningless pictures...

HWY 1 famous sign


"The bridge"




Some folks from Denmark checking out my bike, they were on a two week tour of the Western U.S.

San Fran on the way home, if you look over my left shoulder, you can see Lockjaws house


MB4
 
#21 ·
Nice to see you home Tim, Where are all YOUR pictures? You going to Clovertucky tech day? Should be fun, It's not too far! You can see your picture on the wall of shame........... If I can get Lockjaw up here early we can take a nice little ride to Zin's house, about an hour for a 15 mile ride to Cloverdale, all through Whine country, come up the day before? You too Rob, and Becky, plenty of room here...

MB4
 
#22 ·
My camera is working when it wants to so I gave up on it so the pictures are in my memories. I do want to return to BC though most likely not AK. Too many fing miles doing nothing but transporting my ass from Canada to AK. I do want to ride Fraser Valley then head west to Vancouver and Vancouver Island. I met two Canadian motorcyclists on my SoCal trip and one of them lives in the Vancouver. He knows where to ride and where not to ride.

Looking forward to Cloverdale and a day with you all. Hopefully I can replace the current photo. Give me a call any time you have a time and I will ride over. Nothing like a ride through Berryessa and wine country. speaking of wine I can load up the Gobi's on my way there.

later Dude
 
#23 ·
That would be cool, Mark. Good idea. I can probably swing it. Nice pics by the way.

I think you took that pic of the bridge from my living room window. :)
 
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