SF and Monterey Bays Aprilia owners - let's ride

[flywheelz]

Good luck Potere.

Anyone interested in a ride from Monterey to San Simeon and back on Sunday? est 9 am departure?

I would love to ride to San Simeon Sunday, hell, I'd be happy to ride to the 7-11 and back... BUT.. the day after I saw you guys at Laguna I took a spill at work and dislocated my shoulder. I'll be getting my riding thrills vicariously from you folks for a while. Post pics.

[Punter]

Sorry to hear that!! I'll be sure to post vids from tje go pro if i can figure out how to edit the damn thing

[Punter]

Ride was awesome, despite traffic. I'll post vids when I get a chance to edit. Pic for now:

[flywheelz]

Beautiful day. What is that red/black bike on your left , a Buell ?

[potere]

The epic ride to highway 36, June 1-3:

Sara and Duncan live in Fortuna at the beginning of 36. They graciously offered to lead a ride the first weekend of June although we had only met via email after I bought a pair of Aerostitch pants from Sara via BARF. Neither Ken nor I had ever been in that neck of northern California and what a neck it was.

We started Friday by hitting the coast highway just north of San Francisco and rode 11.5 hours to Fortuna. Duncan got off work early Friday and started riding south to meet up with us part way, a bonus for sure. The bonus was that at the point where 1 goes inland north of Ft. Bragg, the road goes into the forest and the fun starts with tons of twisties, about 10 miles or so of it. That was just a taste of what 36 would deliver, a mouth watering ONE HUNDRED AND FORTY MILES of twisties. Maybe if you lived in Switzerland you might be jaded by that, don't know.

The coast was a bit foggy in spots, this was just south of Bolinas



The highway was a pleasure, nice flowing turns for miles



We stopped for lunch in Point Reyes Station. It really caters to the SF Bay Area tourists, very little charm on the main drag, shops and restaurants. Get 1/2 block off the main street and it was very country and rustic though.



Our guest photographer with Ken:



We stopped in Tomales, a tiny berg for a few pictures










A clip of that area. The temperature was perfect for riding, weather clean and clear, with very little traffic at all, just idyllic.




Farther still was Bodega Bay, the spot Hitchcock chose as the backdrop to The Birds. We stopped north of town for a few pictures









Those are seals sunning at the rivermouth







4 Min video as we get farther north, more evergreens, denser vegetation from the heavier rains the storms bring from the gulf of Alaska




We found Duncan, or more correctly, he found us since he knows the roads and we didn't.




We finally get to the beautiful Mendocino coast.






A video of the look of the Pacific Coast Highway. It's into the sun but you get the idea of the route right at the edge of the boundary between the Pacific Ocean and North America, next stop, Japan across the water..



We arrived at dark in Fortuna after 11,5 hours in the saddle up highway 1. I had guessed it would take 10. The next morning we prepared at the motel to get onto 36.



There were other bikers coming and going to other directions between Washington, Oregon and California.



This was an incredible 10 mile section of forested road where highway 1 turns inland and meets 101. Since Duncan knew the road well, we were able to wick it up a bit more than we might have.




This sign is actually at the eastern end of 36 while we started at the western side




If you want to find 36, here's how you get to it from the Super8 motel, pretty close.



Here's an example of 36 at the beginning.



Geared up and ready to go after lunch somewhere in the middle of 36




Our group leader



j/k

[Punter]

Beautiful day. What is that red/black bike on your left , a Buell ?

Yep. 1125 CR. Nice bike. Sitting in the back of our pick up truck at the moment. Stator failed 15 minutes from home.

[JC120]

Thanks for sharing those great pics and videos. I'm hoping to tour around up there soon with my time off and light summer work schedule. Northern California is where my heart is but I haven't been threw there on a bike yet.

[Punter]

For anyone interested:

The girlfriend and I are planning a ride Sunday - early - to meet another rider in Saratoga, then to Alices, San Gregorio and probably slab it back on 1.

We have to be in Saratoga at 9 am so probably 7:45 departure.

Route likely to be something like this:

http://maps.google.com/maps?saddr=16...2,4,5&t=m&z=10

I'm a moderate pace rider, GF and other will be at a very easy pace. We will have sweep car following.

[potere]

I'm a definite maybe. This friend better have big hooters to warrant leaving that early.

[Punter]

I think she might be playing for the other team. I'm afraid some coffee in Saratoga and some nice tight turns will have to do.

[potere]

The June weather is weird in Monterey this year, very little fog. Time to take advantage of it.

TIME: 9am Sun June 24th
PLACE: Old Fisherman's Wharf, Monterey (opposite Figueroa St)
Where To: Santa Cruz Mtns and Alice's restaurant.

[Punter]

Potere, looks like we'll be travelling a similar route. How about we meet you at the Seaside shell station at 9:15? We probably won't go up to Alice's but will do the Soquel/summit stuff.

http://maps.google.com/maps?saddr=Ca...5,6,7&t=m&z=14

[potere]

The one next to the Home Depot? OK.

You up for a small detour off Freedom Blvd? Don't want to post secret details here though.

[Punter]

I think so. Will have to check with the group. My girlfriend, Oceansides from BARF and his girlfriend are coming along too. A couple of other riders, Hibs from BARF and a friend from work are also considering.

[potere]

TIME: 9am Sun July 1st
PLACE: Old Fisherman's Wharf, Monterey (opposite Figueroa St)
Where To: Santa Cruz Mtns and Alice's restaurant.

Went to the track yesterday (video here: http://youtu.be/wBmhPcqZBv0), another track day this coming Sat, July 7th so tomorrow is my only chance to get out and ride for awhile. It'll probably be really foggy here so it's a good day to go into the hills and get away from it. Yah, late notice, oh well.