Author Topic: Bucket list trip (Read 3214 times)

Chuck in Indiana · « **on:** April 13, 2019, 09:52:47 AM »

Two or three years ago, Guzzi Bob (RIP) led me up 33 north of Ojai for a bit. He said we wouldn't be able to get over the pass in Winter, but it was a good ride.
So. That went on my roads bucket. Also, as long as I've been coming to SoCal, I've never ridden the coast down from San Francisco.
Time to kill two birds with one Stone. Err.. MZ.

A Stone would have been a better tool for the trip. Running through miles of orange trees in bloom was a good start. Beats the hawg farms of Indiana..

33 crosses the Sierra Madre mountains, and is twisty, rocky, and desolate.

2019-04-13_07-33-45 by Charles Stottlemyer, on Flickr
After leaving the megapolis of Los Angles, it is a shock to *not see another vehicle* for miles. And miles.
Back later, time for breakfast..

twowings · « **Reply #1 on:** April 13, 2019, 09:54:15 AM »

Sweet!

Is CA-95 any fun?

ccoli · « **Reply #2 on:** April 13, 2019, 10:00:56 AM »

37 degrees here in Cheeseland. I'm green with envy.

Chuck in Indiana · « **Reply #3 on:** April 13, 2019, 10:11:40 AM »

Quote from: twowings on April 13, 2019, 09:54:15 AM

Sweet!

Is CA-95 any fun?

Never have been on it. Sorry.

Wildguzzi.com · « **Reply #3 on:** April 13, 2019, 10:11:40 AM »

Chuck in Indiana · « **Reply #4 on:** April 13, 2019, 10:14:28 AM »

Quote from: ccoli on April 13, 2019, 10:00:56 AM

37 degrees here in Cheeseland. I'm green with envy.

I saw the midwest was getting blasted again, especially Wisconsin and Minnesnowta. It's green here.

Mother Nature is healing herself from the widespread fires of last fall.

Chuck in Indiana · « **Reply #5 on:** April 13, 2019, 10:30:47 AM »

I'd waited a couple of days to leave, because the forecast said the 20-40 mph winds would abate on Wednesday. That didn't happen

and the wind gusts could blow you off your line.

Oh, well. Fortunately, I had the sense to bring my Winter gear. Stopped here to put my liners in, and saw the first bikes of the trip through the mountains coming back from the summit. (bunch of sport bikes wailing with the wind at their back.)

2019-04-13_07-34-09 by Charles Stottlemyer, on Flickr
Made the summit..

2019-04-13_07-34-35 by Charles Stottlemyer, on Flickr
and as far as I'm concerned, if you are ridingt 33, turn around and go back to Ojai.

I was headed to SF, though, so had to get there somehow..hung a left at 166 and beat into the wind.
This lunch stop (ca. 1953) may not have been in the middle of nowhere, but you can see it from here.

2019-04-13_07-35-38 by Charles Stottlemyer, on Flickr
There's food, gas, beer, and dancing. It's the only place in at least 50 miles where you can get any of that. No doubt, that is why it's still in business.
To be continued..

Chuck in Indiana · « **Reply #6 on:** April 13, 2019, 11:50:12 AM »

Ok time for bucket list road number two, so hit the 101 and cannonballed north for the rest of the day. Running 70-80 with a 30 know quartering headwind was brutal on an unfaired bike, but a guy's gotta do what a guy's gotta do..

400 and some miles today.
After a well deserved rest overnight, I started down the coast. Stopped at Moss landing to see all the sea critters. There weren't any. <shrug> When in doubt, seek local knowledge. I asked a young couple that were putting on their wet suits where to go. She told me.

No, actually she did. She leads kayak expeditions to see this stuff, so I back tracked and took a little sand road back. Fortunately, didn't fall off my 'sickle. "When in doubt, gas it.." Saw a sea otter laying on his back munching on a clam or something, and this herd of seals (no I don't know what kind) can't tell from this crappy cell phone picture..

2019-04-13_07-36-17 by Charles Stottlemyer, on Flickr
Much has been written about Big Sur, and I thought maybe it was over hyped. It isn't. Of course, you can't take pictures of this kind of stuff, especially with a phone.. but.. the road, engineering, and scenery is awesome. I know.. an overused term.. but stil..
Obligatory bike and bridge picture..

2019-04-13_09-19-40 by Charles Stottlemyer, on Flickr
For about 90 miles there is this

2019-04-13_07-32-42 by Charles Stottlemyer, on Flickr
and this

2019-04-13_07-32-18 by Charles Stottlemyer, on Flickr
and much more. It's a glorious road, and a red camero convertible was embarrassed with 35 horsepower.

Definitely worth the trip if anyone is on the fence about making it.
Spent all afternoon just riding, stopping, listening to the surf pounding, and being scooter trash.
Just be aware, gas and food

2019-04-13_09-33-36 by Charles Stottlemyer, on Flickr
is scarce and expensive. (Not Guzzi content)

This is the farthest south of the redwoods range..hiked around a bit.

2019-04-13_09-34-03 by Charles Stottlemyer, on Flickr
On the advice of PJP, stopped in an inexpensive motel (plan ahead, there are reallly expensive options) in San Simeon.
To be continued.. Dusty just called and said I was having too much fun for an Indiana boy..

oldbike54 · « **Reply #7 on:** April 13, 2019, 11:55:02 AM »

Oh , you are having too much fun

Dusty

PJPR01 · « **Reply #8 on:** April 13, 2019, 11:59:38 AM »

Yes!! Well deserved ride in heaven there Chuck! Just perfect...

Unkept · « **Reply #9 on:** April 13, 2019, 12:22:24 PM »

Awesome, glad you get to do it Chuck!

Thank you for taking me to California on this cold Madison morning.

-Joe

Chuck in Indiana · « **Reply #10 on:** April 13, 2019, 12:25:49 PM »

Just a couple more of the many photo ops. Actually, some of the best pictures couldn't be taken because there was no place to stop.

2019-04-13_10-00-16 by Charles Stottlemyer, on Flickr

2019-04-13_09-56-42 by Charles Stottlemyer, on Flickr
Where was I? Oh, I remember now. Needed gas for the machine, so ran down to Cambria, a cute little tourist trap, and fuel for the operator.

2019-04-13_09-56-02 by Charles Stottlemyer, on Flickr

Headed back to Redondo Beach in the morning. Passed an elephant seal rookery (sp?) No spell checker on this tablet.. but didn't stop. Too many cars.
The Skorpion was getting to be a bit peckish. Backfiring on closed throttle. Better take it to my local MZ dealer and get her tuned up. Oh.Wait..

Took 154 across the Santa Ynez mountains, a nice road to get away from the boring 4 lane. The rest of the trip was just droning down the interstates. Beat Google's time by 40 minutes. Lane splitting is a wonderful thing.

Thanks for following along. Hope you enjoyed it 1% as much as I did.

jwinwi · « **Reply #11 on:** April 13, 2019, 01:44:29 PM »

Drove down Hwy 1 from Monterey to SLO once and been wanting to go back on a Guzzi ever since. Thank you for the reminder of how spectacular it is. Time to start checking off the bucket list rides because the way it looks I won't be getting any younger.

Daniel Kalal · « **Reply #12 on:** April 13, 2019, 02:22:46 PM »

Quote from: Chuck in Indiana on April 13, 2019, 12:25:49 PM

...so ran down to Cambria, a cute little tourist trap

Chuck, if the village of Cambria qualifies as a "tourist trap" to you, your head might just explode if you ever stop for "The Thing" in Arizona...

Chuck in Indiana · « **Reply #13 on:** April 13, 2019, 02:37:12 PM »

Quote from: jwinwi on April 13, 2019, 01:44:29 PM

Drove down Hwy 1 from Monterey to SLO once and been wanting to go back on a Guzzi ever since. Thank you for the reminder of how spectacular it is. Time to start checking off the bucket list rides because the way it looks I won't be getting any younger.

The Grim Reaper casually mentioned that to me.. uh going on 4 years ago.

I've been checking them off religiously..

Chuck in Indiana · « **Reply #14 on:** April 13, 2019, 02:39:04 PM »

Quote from: Daniel Kalal on April 13, 2019, 02:22:46 PM

Chuck, if the village of Cambria qualifies as a "tourist trap" to you, your head might just explode if you ever stop for "The Thing" in Arizona...

Thanks for the warning, Daniel..

bad Chad · « **Reply #15 on:** April 13, 2019, 02:47:06 PM »

Good work young Chuck.

wirespokes · « **Reply #16 on:** April 13, 2019, 03:10:27 PM »

Thanks for the photo essay, Chuck. Been a while since I've been there. I used to live in LA and rode north to SF often, but never been oh hwy 33. Looks like a good one!

Gliderjohn · « **Reply #17 on:** April 13, 2019, 03:32:49 PM »

What can I say?

GliderJohn

Moto · « **Reply #18 on:** April 13, 2019, 07:09:28 PM »

Wow. Thanks, I think. Makes me miss California beyond words. Glad you got to make the trip.

Moto

Green1000S · « **Reply #19 on:** April 13, 2019, 07:17:23 PM »

RT 33 Ventucopa.
A must stop for local pistachios. Best ones I've ever tasted.....

JJ · « **Reply #20 on:** April 13, 2019, 07:26:49 PM »

Lived in NORCAL (Pleasanton, CA) from 2006-2011 - - - As seen in these photos...some of the best motorcycle riding on the planet!!

Thanks for sharing your memories, Chuckster!!

Chuck in Indiana · « **Reply #21 on:** April 13, 2019, 08:15:25 PM »

Quote from: wirespokes on April 13, 2019, 03:10:27 PM

Thanks for the photo essay, Chuck. Been a while since I've been there. I used to live in LA and rode north to SF often, but never been oh hwy 33. Looks like a good one!

Well, it's "kinda" on the way.. and Guzzi Bob said I should do it. He was right, of course. Even Dusty has done it. "Oh, my.."

Muzz · « **Reply #22 on:** April 13, 2019, 08:39:18 PM »

Keep 'em coming Chuck.

Enjoy the ride.

Tom H · « **Reply #23 on:** April 13, 2019, 09:17:01 PM »

Nice!

Tom

oldbike54 · « **Reply #24 on:** April 13, 2019, 09:26:04 PM »

Quote from: Chuck in Indiana on April 13, 2019, 08:15:25 PM

Well, it's "kinda" on the way.. and Guzzi Bob said I should do it. He was right, of course. Even Dusty has done it. "Oh, my.."

I have in fact been everywhere

Dusty

Chuck in Indiana · « **Reply #25 on:** April 13, 2019, 09:43:26 PM »

Quote from: oldbike54 on April 13, 2019, 09:26:04 PM

I have in fact been everywhere

Dusty

I have too, now. Wrote a song about it..

twowheeladdict · « **Reply #26 on:** April 13, 2019, 09:57:49 PM »

Tusayan · « **Reply #27 on:** April 13, 2019, 10:20:53 PM »

Highway 33, eventually to 58 from McKittrick is definitely on the 'mainstream motorcyclists'

route north, then 101 to 1 on the coast if the hour is right for reduced traffic and moderate temps. The coast road to Carmel is generally either busy or freezing, take your pick.

I have vivid memory of 154 (San Marcos Pass) in 1984, a Suzuki Katana 1100 passing me at maybe 120 mph (I was chugging along at only 100 or so) with a girl in high heels on the back. Ride fast, take chances. Somehow we all ended up at Laguna Seca, plus or minus the odd fatality.

kingoffleece · « **Reply #28 on:** April 14, 2019, 07:58:43 AM »

Wonderful

Motormike · « **Reply #29 on:** April 14, 2019, 09:23:20 PM »

You don't see many MZ's around any more. I had an MZ Baghira for a few years. (They called themselves MuZ then) Fun bike, but when the U.S. distributor in Daytona threw in the towel, parts were hard to come by.

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Author Topic: Bucket list trip (Read 3214 times)

twowings

Wildguzzi.com

oldbike54

jwinwi

Moto

oldbike54