Saturday, July 26, 2008

2008 July 26 - Princeton-by-the-Sea

2008 July 26 - Princeton-by-the-Sea
{Click on any picture to view it full sized.}

Today's Ride was not really scheduled. I bought a set of Givi E21 bags from Uwe and decided to ride to the Coast to pick them up. At the same time to ride down to near Half Moon Bay for a bowl of Clam Chowder.

Anyway Uwe lives in Pacifica just up the street from the fanciest Taco Bell in the country.
The Taco Bell restaurant at Pacifica State Beach is rated No. 9 on the Travel Channel's World's Best Fast Food Stops.

Front {Taco Bell photos by Uwe}

Back
Back

Uwe, his wife Rad and I head south from Pacifica on Hwy 1 heading for Princeton-by-the-Sea.
This short 12 mile trip goes over the infamous Devil's Slide:

"Immediately north of Devil's Slide is a stretch of California's State Route 1, famous for closures and landslides, which also is referred to as 'Devil's Slide'. Construction of the road began in 1935 and was completed in 1937, replacing the steep, narrow, and winding Pedro Mountain Road. It is known for the landslides and erosion that often occur during winter storms, sometimes making the road impassable. The first major landslide destroyed much of the road in 1940, and a cycle of building and destruction has prevailed since."

{Wikipedia photo}

We are to meet Red Beard and K. C. at the Princeton Seafood Company. Red Beard is waiting and has a parking spot saved. Just as I arrive the car next to that space leaves. So I park there and now we have two parking spaces. Uwe and Rad arrive and park. Then while we are saving a place for K. C. a rude Harley rider and his ruder pal on a Moto Guzzi from Marin County plow into our parking spots.

The Take-Out window of the restaurant.

The old salt guarding the entrance.

Figuring out the after lunch Ride. Turns out that this was a fruitless exercise since Hwy 1 heading south was a parking lot. The weather was gorgeous. The views along the coast can be spectacular. And were the sight seers out in large numbers today.

Today's Specials. Actually I think they are the Specials everyday.

K. C. and I have the bowl of clam chowder with a 1/2 order of warm sourdough bread. Rad has the same except she only has a cup of chowder. At $6.95 {$2.00 for the bread} this was a pretty good deal.

Uwe has a cup of artichoke soup and a grilled chicken sandwich. Uwe is not a sea food fan.

Someone snapped this photo with my camera as K. C. and I were looking at the map.

Uwe's sandwich.

Red Beard had the fish and chips. It looked good, but I had ridden all this way for a bowl of clam chowder.

After lunch we had a route planned heading south on Hwy 1. Well, that quickly changed as we ran into a 3 mile long line of cars. We can lane split in California, but you need multiple lanes to do this. Hwy 1 is a two lane road here {as well as most of it}. So no lane splitting. We turn around and head north back to Pacifica then up the hill to Skyline Blvd.

It has been quite cool on the Coast. As we are now riding the spine of the Coastal Range it is becoming quite warm. We stop to remove some gear and figure where to next. But we are very near the route to the San Mateo Bridge. So Red Beard and I bid our farewells and head back to Fremont and Stockton, respectively.

That is Uwe's new to him 1998 BMW R1200C in the foreground.

Red Beard and my 1999 Cardinal Red Triumph Legend with the new to me Givi bags. One of the bags I was using took a ride down the highway when I did a poor job of snapping it in place.

You can view K. C. photos of the rest of the Ride at:
K. C. 's photos of todays Ride

After Don, and Red Beard headed home we continued south along
Crystal Springs Reservoir. We stopped at the old Woodside Store
built in 1894. A local place of interest.


After a quick stop at Alice's restaurant, we went west to
San Mateo County Park for ice cream at the park store.

End

Sunday, July 13, 2008

2008 July 13 - Sandy Robinson Ride

2008 July 13 - Sandy Robinson Ride

{Click on any photo to view the full size image}
Photos by Sandy Robinson

Sunday morning {6:00 AM} picture as we get ready for today's Ride:
Breakfast in Isleton at the Rivers Edge Café

Our guest of honor, Sandy shows up. {photo by Sherm A.}

Sandy had French Toast with Honey Ham

Gathering in the parking lot at the Jelly Belly Factory. Don "VSP" talking to a new member from Elk Grove, Barry Gorman VROC #26707 and his friend from Sacramento. Both are Vulcan owners.

Bikes lined up under the Jelly Belly sign.
{this photo by Sherm}

Off we go on Pleasant Valley Road. This is a nice easy road that is used by a lot of bicyclists.

Along Hwy 128. Sandy took this one over her shoulder.

The Corners {Moskowite Corners} nothing is open. So we take a short break and head up the road to Turtle Rock.
Turtle Rock. {photo by Sherm A.}

The inside of the store at Turtle Rock. A bunch of signed dollar bills on the ceiling.

The more popular portion of Knoxville-Berryessa Road.

Lake Berryessa.

Here are some cows along the one lane portion of K-B Road. Sandy shortly will quit taking pictures as the road surface becomes extremely rough. She was not pleased with my choice of this one lane section of rough road.

The entrance to a closed Homestake gold mine. Where we recover from the ride over Knoxville-Berryessa Road.
We have a gas stop and rest break in Lower Lake. Then we decide to "free for all" along Hwy 29 to Buster's. Hwy 29 is too busy and passing opportunities too few to go as one big group. Sherm and Jim S. engaged in their "drag race" along the way.

{Buster's photos by Sherm A.}

We make it to Buster's Southern BBQ in Calistoga. Skid, Sandy, David J and Sherm's brother-in-law, Richard.

Happy Wanderer, Jim S with a mouthful and Cat.
After lunch we split off as everyone is going a different direction. I lead a pack of five bikes along Silverado Trail to Hwy 12 to I-80.

If you click on the View Larger Map it will become an interactive Google Map and you can zoom in or even use Street View for a Virtual Ride.


View Larger Map

Almost home. This is on I-5 about 3 miles from home. Note the "great" condition of I-5 through Stockton.

The riders:
Skid and Sandy Robinson
Sherm Acord
Cat
Jim S
Jazzhound
David J
Barry G
Mike, A New Vulcan Owner from Sacramento
Happy Wanderer
Nite Lite
Don "VSP"

Uwe and Rad drove and met us at Buster's for lunch. As did Sherm's relatives from Hidden Valley, CA.

END

Saturday, July 12, 2008

2008 July 12 - Jest Kaw Pasture

2008 July 12 - Jest's Kaw Pasture

{Click on any photo to view the full size image.}

Jest had another Kaw Pasture. Pizza and pies for dessert. Some swimming and BSing.

Skid, Sandy, Cranky and K. C.

Skid, Sandy, and Colleen

Lauren, Jest and Colleen's daughter.

Jest ordering Pizza

No Comment!!!!

Red Beard.


Cranky, pigging out!!!!!!

Steelman and Son


Oh my gawd!!!!!!

Water wings ??????

Uwe and Rad.

Lauren watching two beached whales.

The Blues Brother's ?????????????



Uwe just bought a BMW R1200C to replace the Nomad that went over the side of the road on
the May 31, 2008 Ride.

Pumpkin, Banana Cream and Fresh Peach Pies for Dessert.

Eating dessert.

~end