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View Full Version : Some twisty bits...Carmel Valley Road, Carmel, CA


ian408
04-30-2007, 01:09 AM
Hola!

It's been a while since my last confession...er..ride report.

Work's been a major PITA lately. For the last three weekends, I've been involved in
one thing or another. Saturday was no exception. Sunday? That sucker was mine.

Originally, I was going to catch up on some much needed sleep when the phone rang
on Saturday evening. "What are you doing" said the voice on the other end of the
line. "Nothing" I replied. "Come over" and I swung by a friends to see the new love of
his life, a GSXR-750. "What?" you say. "A Suzuki in the BMW forums?". Yeah. Get
over it :D

Mr. Gixxr:
http://ian408.smugmug.com/photos/148125781-M-1.jpg

Brand new with less than 30 miles and a very nice looking bike too. A deal was
arranged for a ride today.

Our route took us to Uvas Canyon and the over to Hwy 152 and Mt. Madonna. Some
more back roads found us farther South in the town of Pajaro. By now, we are both
hungry and decided to eat in Monterey.

We had a nice table with a view--maybe that was because we were in that gap
between a late lunch and dinner. The marine layer was moving in as we ate and the
discussion turned to where to go next. We've gone Carmel before. Why not do it
again?

nice view:
http://ian408.smugmug.com/photos/148126383-M-1.jpg

Tasty food too:
http://ian408.smugmug.com/photos/148126742-M.jpg

Carmel Valley Road is truly heaven for those of us on two wheels. 40 miles or so
of twisted bliss. The area is home to the uberwealthy. There are several very nice
(read: world class) golf courses and "ranches" along the scenic road. It's all very
scenic.

the front gate:
http://ian408.smugmug.com/photos/148127602-M.jpg

I guess the thing that most appeals to me is the rural beauty of this road. I've ridden
it several times and I could ride it days in a row and enjoy it. It's a place where they
still deliver the paper to a box and folks congregate at the local grocery store.

the bikes:
http://ian408.smugmug.com/photos/148128129-M.jpg

someone's front yard:
http://ian408.smugmug.com/photos/148129392-M.jpg

paper?
http://ian408.smugmug.com/photos/148129793-M.jpg

If you come for MotoGP, you owe it to yourself to explore route G16, Carmel
Valley Road. You won't regret it.

Oh, and no speed limits were exceeded in any of many gears used to ride this road
(yeah, right :evil).

With nearly 300 miles on the ODO, I turned over 5000 miles on the GT and the
Gixxer, nearly broken in. I'd say mission accomplished!

Ian

dancogan
04-30-2007, 06:29 AM
Beautiful pics, and the food looked pretty tolerable, too! Another reason the left coast has to get more priority on the "must do" list. l Thanks for a great post! :brad :thumb :brad

RebeccaV
04-30-2007, 07:17 AM
Great report and pictures as usual Ian! That Suzuki looks like a hoot.

Rebecca

DarrylRi
04-30-2007, 08:51 AM
Carmel Valley Rd. is a great ride, and the weather was perfect over the weekend. My friend Sascha from Germany was here last week and we rode down CA-1 and over Nacimiento Fergusson Rd. and through Fort Hunter Liggett on Friday. Very nice indeed, before the tourists get out in force. Here's a shot of Carmel Valley Rd. from when I took Sascha there a few years ago:

http://darryl.crafty-fox.com/mcpics/2002/sascha/IMAG0138_med.JPG

redrider
04-30-2007, 02:23 PM
great post.have me drooling...:thumb

kbasa
04-30-2007, 02:36 PM
One of my absolute favorite roads. Were the wildflowers out?

Burnszilla
04-30-2007, 05:02 PM
Nice report amigo.
Who won?

BubbaZanetti
04-30-2007, 05:14 PM
sweet

i think i rode on that road:dunno

kbasa
04-30-2007, 05:48 PM
sweet

i think i rode on that road:dunno

You certainly did. That's the first road we headed down after we met up in Carmel with the other guys.

knary
04-30-2007, 05:51 PM
I hate you.

Are you going to the 49er?

kbasa
04-30-2007, 06:36 PM
I hate you.

Are you going to the 49er?

He better be.

ian408
04-30-2007, 08:08 PM
He better be.

Oh yeah baby!

The gixxer pilot is a way better rider than I. But I do believe there were no winners and
no losers this day.