| Author | Message | ||
     Ezblast |
Maybe its just me, perhaps I'm way out of line, but I show up at these various bike meetings and there is usually a topic - hill climbing, racing, whatever - but I'm there about the ride! I want to here about what roads you went down, what they are like, what you saw on them, and their conditions. I want to hear about technique, tips and pointers for enjoying the ride even more. The spectator side of things - racing, shows, and these meetings mean very little to me. I started riding because it offered a type of peace that is unique, and is fun to participate in! I say - get off your collective arses talking about riding and go ride! So who's with me on exploring and enjoying some of the best roads that California has to offer on this next San Louis Obispo ride this 2,3,4 of April? I garrentee a great ride, great scenery, and great fun! Surely there are other folks who feel this way here and enjoy riding - what better way to express it than to ride! So come on Blastards - join me and the gang for a great ride - meeting at the Beanery at 9th and Irving at 8am on the 2nd of April to enjoy a fantastic adventure! Talk takes you nowhere, its your bike that will get you there! The gauntlet has been thrown! Who will answer this call for adventure?! And who will just stay home and wish they did - the decision is your! Got Thump?! Just Blasting on the Dark side! EZ  | ||
| Ezblast |
The cammera really disapointed me - I took a 113 pics - all masively blured, but I worked hard to save these few because of their special memories. This is a cool lush time of year - great for long rides - so easy on the eyes. I was looking forward to this ride - I've been and continue to put maximum hours into this new position - just to shape it up to workable - lol - even if no one else showed - I was ready to go! So I'm waiting by the coffee house - the Beanery - and waiting impatiently to relax on the road in the ride. Then Dallas pulls in on his loaded stock red Blast(PICS) with an excellent - detachable luggage rack that he had fabricated (PIC), and and we are both smiling - this trucker likes to put on the miles and in the end he'll do over 4000 just for the trip! I point out the coffee and bakery - two of SF's finest - but he has already eaten breakfast, and is more interested in the ride, so we pour over the details, soon Scott pulls in and he goes right for the coffee - a couple of smokes later - we are on the road. We take off North on 9th ave. into Golden Gate Park and follow the turn taking us through the park to the Coast. This park is always beautifull and an easy way to warm up the tires a bit before hitting 35 on the coast. The ocean to your right, if you time yourself right you can cruise the lights - a really promising day unfolds as the weather stays partially cloudy and 35 proper is aproaching us now as we ride the 35/280 part - the most beautiful section of the hwy. For only a few miles, then we peal off to 9/35 to 35 proper - very nice and the fun gets entertaining - es's and curves galore - surounded by greenery and dappling sun. At Alices (PIC) we beat the Brunch rush and get to watch the groups poor in for their days ride - a light repast and a tour of bikes is in order - we do spot an Black M2 and 'Parkway Blue' Blast amongst all the bikes - and there was a nice collection of basically everything - lol - it is at this point that Dallas asks for the first of three times - 'It gets worse from here - huh?", I smile - responding - 'Nope - it gets better!' We take 35 to 9 and the curves get tighter - and the greenery surounds us as we enter the old town part of Saratoga and head for 5 min. on 85. We get off at Almeden - thank you Pashnt.com forum for this advice - and head for more back roads - the Uvas Reservour is our next stop and again Dallas asks that question and gets the same reply - lol. The ride is surounding me with beauty and peace - the roads we ride we have practically to our selves - it doesn't get any better than this and the pavement blends with the road changes - 25 to PeachTree to Indian Valley (PIC) - all beautifull with the road narrowing around us - the yellow line disapears on Indian Valley for most of it to reapear at San Miguel and the pictureque Mission. We gas up here and relax before our charge into San Louis Obispo on 101. A little over 20 minutes later we pull into SLO and head right for the station to gas up, oil, and air check for tommorrows ride - as I pull out my bike back fires and for the first time ever my carb is blown off the boot - lol - I screw it back on and all is well - thank goodness for springs - no harm no foul - we pull in and pull up next to two hopped up yellow Blasts and an 883 Sky Blue Sportster. We get off our bikes and smile - Dallas asking the third and final time that question and my response. James, Eric - and his friend Kyle come out - we are well met by the Southren Blast contingency - 6 last year and six this year - I smile to my self - at least we're breaking even and that Sporty was cool. A night of meeting, greating, food, and conversation ensues - It was a totally fun night - I thought to myself that a lot of Blastards are missing a good thing here - Buellers are definately interesting folk - James - quick of wit and bike - a calculating engineer and a quick smile peeking through a beard, Eric - a frugal cavaleer, his friend - Kyle had a greet dark wit and was definately up for the ride, Dallas - a guy who loves to eat up the miles and some good riding tales as well, Scott - always ready for a challenge and determined to have fun!, And me - the humble Blastaholic - lol - it was a great night! To be continued - we find out about what the sign 13 miles of curvy road and bumpy road mean combined and the fun of a day with friends and then latter - we all know about Cali's happy cows, but what about their cowboys? - lol - for pics - thanks Eric - http://www.badweatherbikers.com/buell/messages/20164/43413.html?1112796389 Got Thump?! Just Blasting on the Dark side! EZ (Message edited by ezblast on April 06, 2005) | ||
| Ezblast |
Day two starts early for me - since I want non hotel coffee and the only place with fresh worth a darn is the 7-11 4 blocks down the road - sigh - only caffee open on a sunday in SLO - lol - the day is overcast and chilly - I should probably have worn a t shirt under the shirt and regret not doing so - still there was no rain and the temperature was still survivable. So we are about a half hour from taking off - and a conversation about the comfort of the Corbin seat between Eric and Dallas has them swaping seats for the ride - after Dallas takes 10 minutes to remove the rack that he had fabricated - a really solid device that mounts at the Bungee holes - very slick and heavy duty - he should pattent and sell them - lol - and we're off! We pull into the same gas station as last year - lol - and again its closed! I laugh - I know the first small part of this route - we press on - the roads a pleasant blend - quick James in the lead and me chaising him - lol - follage and the occasional car the only reminder that these are not our private roads - then we come up to a double sign as we enter a new road - 13 miles of curves ahead promises the first and the second declares bumpy road - well we where warned - lol - a KTM would have been a better choice of ride, but we managed it nicely - no falls and some teriffic scenery the payoff (PICS) - including a 57 Chevey truck parked by a creek surounded by vegitation and a nice creek by our sides for most of it. At the end of that section - we stop and take our bearings for the next part, and see a couple on a CBR going back the way we came out - I and the others wave, pointing to the signs - twins to the ones we saw entering that section of road - I sure hope they're alright - lol - the day blends into restfull riding and we start for the Bay side of the ride - more nice roads follow and before heading back we stop at Morro Bay for a photo op - (PIC) - by now we've had loads of fun, talking, getting to know each other and enjoying together a really nice set of roads - now its back to SLO we go! As we gather up for dinner - a leasurely 8 block walk to Mo's - we talk about the ride and how Saro, Lotti and Ryan would have loved it if they had been able to come - heck anyone would have had fun on this ride - it was awesome! Enjoying some fine BBQ we talk about everything under the sun and enjoy a good evening creating friendships. At the evenings end - Dallas lets us know that he'll be leaving early to get home in time - he'll do 4000 miles by the time he pulls up to his door, and wants to do it again in August/September - lol - I suspect he had a good time! In the morning we are set to depart - hands are shaken and smiles shared - it was a great time! As last year - Scott and I head for the coast - 1 will be our relaxing ride home - filled with the beauty of the coast line! This ride is a classic, and I'm sure it is a must do for any out of state biker, for me it was just relaxing, however, there is one thing that made me stop and take a picture to try and add to the worlds collection of California coastal shots - everyone knows California cows are the happiest the world over, but what about the cowboys? (PIC) He looked pretty happy to me - I took close to 20 pics just to get that one - he probably knew I was there, but he just didn't care - he was busy working and enjoying the day - totally cool - the coast was a perfect cap to a great weekend - winding roads and great scenery all the way home - a mild sunny day kept everything perfect! Its a pity more didn't join, but it didn't hurt a thing, and only made the ride more personal and easier to relax into. I'd do it again most anyday - it was that much fun! Yes - yellow is getting faster - great bikes guys - but Black is still the fastest - ;0)- is Red on the come back trail? - stay tuned - lol - perhaps next year? - perhaps - Got Thump?! Just Blasting on the Dark side! EZ (PICS) http://www.badweatherbikers.com/buell/messages/20164/43413.html | ||
| Ezblast |
Check the link above - more pictures added - lol GT - JBOTDS! EZ | ||
| Dino |
EZ - Looks like y'all had a great ride. Back a few months, Ferris and Denise took a weekend at the coast and reported on their experiences on Santa Rosa Creek Rd. Sounds like it hasn't changed in the interim! Dry Creek Rd, that you took from 46 to 1, is not too bad, but landslides are common during wet winters. Enjoyed the story and the pix. BTW, didja figure out what was happening with the camera? | ||
| Ezblast |
It just refuses to give a good pic past 10 feet unless you take a series - lol - I took 20 of the cowboy to get the one fair - lol - the ride was tight though and next time a better camera will be involved - lol GT - JBOTDS! EZ |
