ian408
07-22-2004, 12:09 AM
Greetings,
As many of you know, I actually drove to Spokane. More on
that later.
Driving up 5 with the AC full-blast, tunage on the iPod. I'm
finally on vacation!
http://ian408.smugmug.com/photos/6345655-M.jpg
Heading up the Columbia River Gorge/395, I spy Rally mode ON!
http://ian408.smugmug.com/photos/6345663-M.jpg
I was sworn to secrecy earlier. But now that it's over, I can
reveal the location of all that is holy...maybe not holy. Let's
shoot for sacred?
http://ian408.smugmug.com/photos/6345678-M.jpg
Check it out! It's Shaq!
http://ian408.smugmug.com/photos/6345688-M.jpg
Hmmm...do you think there's a message here?
http://ian408.smugmug.com/photos/6345742-M.jpg
Now to why I drove. A fellow rider went down in Goldendale,
OR. Since I hadn't left, I offered to pick him and his bike up.
Here's a shot of a KTM 950 wedged in the back of the truck
(GMC Sierra). Rear wheel removed.
http://ian408.smugmug.com/photos/6345654-M.jpg
The really cool thing is that if I hadn't done this, I would never
have met Joel. He and his SO are artists and stored the bike for
pickup later.
No comments on riding attire please :D
http://ian408.smugmug.com/photos/6345750-M.jpg
His SO made this. It's what I'd term performance art and is really
cool. Heck, anything this big that incorporates flames and that
you can walk through is really, really cool. This is Kasha posing
with her work.
http://ian408.smugmug.com/photos/6345748-M.jpg
Ok, now on to the MC part of the story.
After dropping the bike and its' owner off, I re-packed and headed
for the North Coast of CA. Heading up 1, I enjoyed one of the nicest
days I've had on the coast. Here are a few shots.
http://ian408.smugmug.com/photos/6415640-M.jpg
This is a monument to all sailers outbound for sea. Particularly
those in the Coast Guard, Navy and Merchant Marine.
http://ian408.smugmug.com/photos/6415642-M.jpg
I stopped at Stewarts Point and guess who I met? One of
Spokane's ERC instructors. Who, coincedently, was my first
MSF (well, pre MSF in the Bay Area) instructor! Holy cow!
And, he was on a GS too! Guiding some friends around some
of the fine twisty sections of the coast roads.
http://ian408.smugmug.com/photos/6415646-M.jpg
Winding my way farther North, I stop at Van Dame State Park
for a rest.
http://ian408.smugmug.com/photos/6415647-M-1.jpg
From there, on to Russian Gulch where I spent the night.
http://ian408.smugmug.com/photos/6415648-M.jpg
http://ian408.smugmug.com/photos/6415649-M.jpg
The next day, I headed up towards Legget. Stopping at the
Cabrillo Point Light House. The complex is being restored. The
lighthouse is complete and one of the keeper's houses is next.
http://ian408.smugmug.com/photos/6415653-M.jpg
At the town of Rockport, the road curves inland and merges
with 101. I speed down 101 headed for home. Past the towns
of Ukiah and Willets. Hopland and Santa Rosa. I arrive at the
Golden Gate and witness a ship crossing under the gate.
http://ian408.smugmug.com/photos/6415659-M.jpg
I meet a K-bike captain from Chicago. We discuss possible routes
to Santa Cruz. He's got two more weeks to get home. Lucky
him.
The coast offers some of the finest riding in California. On a clear
day, you can see the Farallon Islands some 13 miles off of the
Golden Gate. Enjoy the waves crashing on the rocks or a meal
at any one of the myriad of little cafes scattered along the
coast.
Every ride is different. Every year, bits and pieces of the
coast are reclaimed and the road changes. The weather can
be sunny and warm in the bananna belt (near Anchor Bay) or
cold and windy (Manchester State Beach).
If you come to California, I'd urge you to ride either the North
or South Coast. I like the North for it's unpredictability, great
scenic views and coastal communities.
As a last picture, I offer this panorama of a beach along California's
North Coast
http://ian408.smugmug.com/photos/6415830-M.jpg
Ian
As many of you know, I actually drove to Spokane. More on
that later.
Driving up 5 with the AC full-blast, tunage on the iPod. I'm
finally on vacation!
http://ian408.smugmug.com/photos/6345655-M.jpg
Heading up the Columbia River Gorge/395, I spy Rally mode ON!
http://ian408.smugmug.com/photos/6345663-M.jpg
I was sworn to secrecy earlier. But now that it's over, I can
reveal the location of all that is holy...maybe not holy. Let's
shoot for sacred?
http://ian408.smugmug.com/photos/6345678-M.jpg
Check it out! It's Shaq!
http://ian408.smugmug.com/photos/6345688-M.jpg
Hmmm...do you think there's a message here?
http://ian408.smugmug.com/photos/6345742-M.jpg
Now to why I drove. A fellow rider went down in Goldendale,
OR. Since I hadn't left, I offered to pick him and his bike up.
Here's a shot of a KTM 950 wedged in the back of the truck
(GMC Sierra). Rear wheel removed.
http://ian408.smugmug.com/photos/6345654-M.jpg
The really cool thing is that if I hadn't done this, I would never
have met Joel. He and his SO are artists and stored the bike for
pickup later.
No comments on riding attire please :D
http://ian408.smugmug.com/photos/6345750-M.jpg
His SO made this. It's what I'd term performance art and is really
cool. Heck, anything this big that incorporates flames and that
you can walk through is really, really cool. This is Kasha posing
with her work.
http://ian408.smugmug.com/photos/6345748-M.jpg
Ok, now on to the MC part of the story.
After dropping the bike and its' owner off, I re-packed and headed
for the North Coast of CA. Heading up 1, I enjoyed one of the nicest
days I've had on the coast. Here are a few shots.
http://ian408.smugmug.com/photos/6415640-M.jpg
This is a monument to all sailers outbound for sea. Particularly
those in the Coast Guard, Navy and Merchant Marine.
http://ian408.smugmug.com/photos/6415642-M.jpg
I stopped at Stewarts Point and guess who I met? One of
Spokane's ERC instructors. Who, coincedently, was my first
MSF (well, pre MSF in the Bay Area) instructor! Holy cow!
And, he was on a GS too! Guiding some friends around some
of the fine twisty sections of the coast roads.
http://ian408.smugmug.com/photos/6415646-M.jpg
Winding my way farther North, I stop at Van Dame State Park
for a rest.
http://ian408.smugmug.com/photos/6415647-M-1.jpg
From there, on to Russian Gulch where I spent the night.
http://ian408.smugmug.com/photos/6415648-M.jpg
http://ian408.smugmug.com/photos/6415649-M.jpg
The next day, I headed up towards Legget. Stopping at the
Cabrillo Point Light House. The complex is being restored. The
lighthouse is complete and one of the keeper's houses is next.
http://ian408.smugmug.com/photos/6415653-M.jpg
At the town of Rockport, the road curves inland and merges
with 101. I speed down 101 headed for home. Past the towns
of Ukiah and Willets. Hopland and Santa Rosa. I arrive at the
Golden Gate and witness a ship crossing under the gate.
http://ian408.smugmug.com/photos/6415659-M.jpg
I meet a K-bike captain from Chicago. We discuss possible routes
to Santa Cruz. He's got two more weeks to get home. Lucky
him.
The coast offers some of the finest riding in California. On a clear
day, you can see the Farallon Islands some 13 miles off of the
Golden Gate. Enjoy the waves crashing on the rocks or a meal
at any one of the myriad of little cafes scattered along the
coast.
Every ride is different. Every year, bits and pieces of the
coast are reclaimed and the road changes. The weather can
be sunny and warm in the bananna belt (near Anchor Bay) or
cold and windy (Manchester State Beach).
If you come to California, I'd urge you to ride either the North
or South Coast. I like the North for it's unpredictability, great
scenic views and coastal communities.
As a last picture, I offer this panorama of a beach along California's
North Coast
http://ian408.smugmug.com/photos/6415830-M.jpg
Ian