| Author | Message | ||
     Ezblast  |
I do this ride to San Louis Obispo in the beginning of April - so I'm looking for a quick back road off Skyline/35 to Gilroy - the last time being 9 to 84 to 101 - all of 35 minutes after hwy 9 of freeway (a total of 50 minutes of freeway for the whole trip - not bad for a whole days worth of riding)) - not the biggest treat - still doable, but I resolved to try to find better, if it only added 1/2 hr to a hour to the total trip. Skyline/35 is a classic with a good number of Cali's finest back roads intersecting it. Scott and I took off on our Blasts to find those roads. The maps are vague but I new a name change of Bear Creak to Summit ,etc. type of thing - so we take off taking the short cut 280 to 92 to 35 - the fog and cold are wild - so at the 9/35 intersection we pull off to warm up - we laugh we know sun is just over the crest but its always good to greet it with hands not totally numb - back on the road - the twists taken with a bit of foggy caution - waiting for the break - as I see sun I twist the wrist on a road I know well (but never trust the fog ) and the pace gets brisker - we pull in to the Gas station across from Alice's and gas up - not far we will be passing 9 and into the unknown. Skyline becomes a shared lane road with no divider lines - surrounded by trees and dappling sun - sweet fun! Skyline ends at bear Creak where - according to the map - a left is to be made - we go left - back to two lanes and some faster curves - still excellent scenery with a few Wineries thrown in. So far the times not too bad but I'm douptfull because we are not even half way to Gilroy, but the quest must go on! We bump right in to 17 and that stops us dead scratching our heads. I know Summit is at the foot of the lake/reservoir but since said body of water is right in front of us its time to go around and find the road we are supposed to be on - a right is taken that takes us under 17 and across to a road that parrellels 17W and then turns in following the lake - but soon we start wondering about our choice. Out of a driveway pulls out a truck - I wave and the truck stops - directions exchanged - the road we are on intersects Summit! - taking the road is another example of great Cali twisties, but I'm looking at time and our gas reserves - I guess well try again another day. We head to Santa Cruz on another beautifull road to end our day on the Coast and hwy 1 back to SF. 5:30pm is coffee time to end the day and the Beanery is it! Over coffee Scott and I discuss our next adventure in Feb after I do some cam swapping and chaise down an electrical glitch - its always something - no biggie. First to get some better maps with actual names on those roads - lol - I just luv searching out routes! 8) Got Thump?! Just Blasting on the Dark side! EZ  (Message edited by ezblast on February 27, 2005) | ||
| Dino  |
Spent time in the area as a kid (Boulder Creek). How 'bout some pictures next time?! We wanna see what we're missing! | ||
| Pdxs3t  |
yes, lots of pictures please!  | ||
| Ezblast |
No problem I'll take some on the next trip - especially as I now have a better idea of the time involved - in the searching - lol GT - JBOTDS! EZ | ||
| Ezblast |
Sorry no pics, however just did 35 to 9 to 85 to Almaden to McKinley to Uvas to 101 to 25 then back to 101 to 129 and back up 1 to SF - totally sweet loop with some friends - Scott on his Blast and Mike on his Dyna - a totally sweet ride and definately something to look forward to on the SLO ride! The Route is set! Starting with the best coffee and pasteries in the city on 9th ave, then down and through the GG park to catch 35 at the parks end - then as described to 25 to Peachtree to Indian Valley to San Miguel and then 101 to SLO - total freeway time less than a half hour - the rest of the day dedicated to scenic twisties - on famous back roads! Those of you who ride Cali know at least parts of those roads and have a glimpse at how fun this ride is! I sure wish more where joining us - this really is a tight road combo and with 1 the return route - what more could ya ask for! Got Thump?! Just Blasting on the Dark side! EZ | ||
| Dino |
What do you mean no pix?! Geez, what are we gonna do with this guy. Last time I rode from GG Park to Cambria I took Hwy 1 all the way. I wanna see pix of other routes! | ||
| Ezblast |
You will after the next SLO ride - wouldn't want to ruin the suspense - eh? - I can garentee no complaints about the route though and that if the weather is nice - it will be one of the sweetest Cali rides you can do! GT - JBOTDS! EZ | ||
| Santacruzmtman |
There isn't really a back route to Gilroy from 35/9. I'm very familiar with all of those rds. What you could do is take Bear Creek rd. from B.creek or rt.9. Then cross 17 and go rt. back up the mt. on old s.c. hwy. That rd connects with summit rd. go rt to soquel-san jose rd. This is a great rd. similar to bear creek with lots of sweepers. THis rd. goes all the way to rt1 in Soquel. You can then take rt 1 s. to watwonville and get on 152 or 129 to go back over the hills and drop into gilroy. THat is probably the best backroute without ending up on dirt rds. Good luck and check the 1 HWY 9 FUN RUN thread in 'Storm Fronts' before your ride. Maybe some of us locals will want to join you.(me) |
