2006-11-06 Candy Butt Association Inaugural Ride

... Inaugural Ride CC CBA Ride Report #1  

Apologies to those that are winterizing their bikes, but what a freakin' GREAT ride today on the central California coast for this Candy Butt Association rider. The local weather reporter stated last night 'unusually warm weather, with no fog on the coast. Temperatures on the coast can be expected to be higher than inland.

This, my friends, means that 1) a warm and no fog coast is a good thing 2) Being a Monday in November = little to zero traffic, all of which = 3, a GREAT ride. Let me digress... I've been wanting to hold a 'welcome to my back yard' kind of party for this FJR community for some time now. BBQ, campfire, and 2 good rides. So I've been secretly cataloging rides for that occasion. This ride, however, is too good not to share. It's OK, I have other rides close to the vest...

This trip had several criteria.. The first to ride a road I've never been on before, even though I lived here for 25+ years. The second was to create a loop to and from the Hondarosa (my ranchette) that would be fun and achievable for any Candy Butt Association (CBA) member in the FJR community. You may represent the CBA group (BrunDog, you listening?) .. we like to stop often, read historical markers, have great food, explore that little side road, and not just be held slave to miles of endless miles just to proclaim we did a 1,000 mile day.. (no offense to those that like doing that) And boy oh boy did I luck out today.. It took some wrong turns, and some of them turned out to be 'right' although I didn't know it at the time... but exploring is so much fun.. especially when you have plenty of gas, a couple of bottles of water, and munchies too. On to the ride..

I left the Hondarosa at 0700 sharp. A nice breakfast at Wilsons in Paso Robles, back on the road at 0800. River Road, it parallels 101, from Paso Robles to San Miguel. This road has many ranches, mostly farm land, and the Salinas river, dry to the above-ground eye but huge underneath, is just off to the West.

San Miguel is a neat little town. Especially if you get off the main drag and cruise around the back streets. Which I did, since I couldn't find the little unnamed back road I was looking for.. Mostly Hispanic, the houses are well cared for, and pride can be seen just by observing the houses, yards, and painted fences. The mission, documented by TWN, has finally started to be rebuilt by volunteers.. making adobe from scratch just as it was 100 years ago.

Finally found the secondary paved road.. You have to pretend you want to head to Parkfield, then head north on 'Indian Valley Road'. This is the E ticket road... It crosses into Monterey County, and some of the ranches on this road are beautiful. Think very desolate areas, where the Salinas river has cut some major gorges, I recall thinking 'it's a little grand canyon, who would of thunk it?' and found a 180 acre ranch for sale.. With nice ranch house, plenty of shop houses.. and it got me to thinking I'd like to buy it.. but how?

Indian Valley Road eventually dead-ends to Peachy Canyon or Peach Rd.. which in turn drops into Hiway 25, a very well documented back road that leads into Hollister. I was pleased to see 'Old Airline Hiway' that cuts west to Hollister Hills state vehicle recreation area, where I have done many a MX race. Into Hollister, a quick bite at Mickey D's.. (I know, I know, sprinkle some Lipitor on the burger and call it good to go)... then 154 over to Monterey and the coast.

This was the best part of the trip.. for those of you who are still with this picture-less diatribe, let me just say that some of the best bike rides in CA are on the coast, hiway 1, from Monterey to Morro Bay.. and today, the ride was absolutely PERFECT. I did not see one, I say it again, I did not see *ANY* RV's on the road today. The entire run I was behind cagers for maybe 15 minutes.. and the weather was perfect.. warm, no fog, fresh tires, and me, myself and I had a great ride bending the twisities then slowing way down to enjoy the scenery. I stopped at Lime Kiln state beach and reconnoitered for a possible camping trip next summer.. and stopped another 3 times for other campgrounds along the way. A trip highlight? Following a very old guy in a BMW cage.. and he knew how to drive; obviously a manual tranny, the car was flat and level, even while aggressive in the corners.. and he was really trying to get away... me, I was paying attention, but the Allman Brothers' CD was playing 'Ramblin Man' and I was, not sleeping, but not aggressive either.. but the ol' boy did know how to drive, and I was content not to pass... he eventually pulled over for the 'photo moment', and I did so too. He walked back to me, and before I could explain I couldn't hear him so good due to the ER6's plugged into my ear, I could hear him say 'I knew I should have brought my FJR today!' Turns out he has an 05, farkled, but didn't know of this forum.. He does now.. Great guy, and it was fun/nice to meet him.

Hiway 1 led me to Morro Bay then east to Atascadero and finally back to the Hondarosa where my doggie was very happy to see me.. I had told him that I was only going out to get some milk, (15 miles away from home) then ended up with a very nice ride... Mileage - 322 Departure Time - 0700 Return Time - 1800 Saddle Time - approx 9.0 hours.. Sorry for no pix.. Need to get Orangvale involved in these rides..

Ride stats;

Mileage - 322 Departure Time - 0700 Return Time - 1800 Saddle Time - approx 9.0 hours..

Sorry for no pix.. Need to get Orangvale involved in these rides..