Redwood, bluewood, whatever you've got.

[kbasa]

OK, so I didn't take as many pictures this time as I have in the past, but here goes. You east coast folks are probably totally burnt on looking at this stuff, but we're proud of the good time we had, the good roads we conquered and the hosptitality everybody took part in.

It was a great, great weekend of riding, yakking and generally making new friends. And after all, isn't that why we're here?

Here's our driveway. 10am on Saturday. There's a bunch of folks inside getting wired up on coffee, a cherry strudel and each other's company.

http://kbasa.smugmug.com/photos/41314071-L.jpg

[kbasa]

I cleverly had my camera stashed in my tankbag, so no on the road shots here. The next picture I've got is up in Fort Bragg, which is up on the NorCal coast. It's been foggy while we've been on the coast, which has kept the visibility down, but we can still see huge surf from time to time on the left and peeks of blue sky on the right. Here in coastal California, the mountains at the edge of the continent work like a big fence and keep the fog along the coastline.

Lunch was at the Seal of Approval and you can see Burnszilla digging around in his top case, while Carrie and Darryl hang around out front.

http://kbasa.smugmug.com/photos/41314174-L.jpg

[kbasa]

This can of Blue Light managed to explode in his topcase and the aroma was wonderful!

http://kbasa.smugmug.com/photos/41314365-L.jpg

[kbasa]

OK, so I'm a New Englander to some degree, having spent twenty years or so there. Is that "Red Clam" Chowder like that stuff they try to pass off as chowder in Manhattan? I mean, come on now. Red chowder? That's unnatural.

Yeah, we've got bikes. We've got fog. We've got heated grips, thank God.

http://kbasa.smugmug.com/photos/41314491-L-1.jpg

[kbasa]

Off and up the coast we head. The fog is still hanging in there, but as we turn inland it dissappears quickly, leaving a beatiful, sparkling day. We head in through a coastal redwood grove and the road turns really twisty. Really, really, twisty and it's nicely paved. One after another, 20mph corners appear and we manage to get through them all on the RT land barge.

We get down to the end of the road and park to let everybody get regrouped. Darryl, Tina and Carrie are hanging and Darryl is telling us about watching the spark show as Carrie managed to drag a peg and her centerstand on the CS. After spending a couple days riding with her, it's apparent that the CS is not just a city bike. It carried all her camping stuff and hung with the big dogs everywhere we went. :thumb

http://kbasa.smugmug.com/photos/41314588-L.jpg

[kbasa]

As we're standing there, who shows up, but knary, Bob_M and SFDOC. They're going to go ride that same stretch of road. We shoot the breeze with them for a bit and then we split up, us to camp, them to play.

How cool is that?

http://kbasa.smugmug.com/photos/41315064-L-2.jpg

[kbasa]

We get to camp a bit later and find bikes parked all over, tents up and some folks just cooling out for the afternoon.

http://kbasa.smugmug.com/photos/41315626-L-1.jpg

[kbasa]

Honu's brother is there with his R1. :wave Hi Ky! Folks descend on it like cavemen seeing fire for the first time.

Much grunting and pointing ensues.

http://kbasa.smugmug.com/photos/41315750-L.jpg

[kbasa]

Bob: Look! Up in the tree! It's an Ivory Billed Woodpecker.

Honu: You're not getting my bike.

http://kbasa.smugmug.com/photos/41315995-L.jpg

[kbasa]

Much hilarity was enjoyed around the campfire. Burnszilla is bent. No two ways about it. He might be the funniest man that ever lived. I have no photographic evidence of that night, which is probably good, but I do have a photo taken from about ground level the next morning. This is a campsite in the redwoods. Big stump. Lots of pine needles, trees disappearing into the overhead fog.

And a couple guys whipping up some industrial strength coffee on two wicked neat coffee brewing arrangements. Thanks, guys. That shot was what I needed to start moving again. :hungover

http://kbasa.smugmug.com/photos/41362518-L.jpg

[kbasa]

Here's the guest of honor. I asked him what he wanted to do that day, but he was stumped. Jeez, I kill me sometimes.

http://kbasa.smugmug.com/photos/41362813-L.jpg

[kbasa]

This, my friends, is one well organized rider. Check the cooler. We had fresh ice for various distilled malt beverages. He had his laptop stuffed in there when he was riding. I think he had just about everything you need to turn a regular campout into a regular bivouac.

Nice to meetcha, mang. Glad to see you got home safe! :wave

http://kbasa.smugmug.com/photos/41363034-L.jpg

[kbasa]

Just to see if his body would explode, we took Loraz to a breakfast joint that serves all organic foods. Organic eggs, bacon, coffee and even Heinz Organic ketchup. He seems to have survived OK. :thumb

http://kbasa.smugmug.com/photos/41363093-L-1.jpg

[kbasa]

Avenue of the Giants was today's sightseeing adventure. AotG is a road that cuts through a bunch of old growth redwood groves. Back in the old days, much of coastal California looked just like what Ian is riding through in this photo. But, with the Gold Rush of 1849, most of the coast was logged and the redwoods range started to diminish. What we've got left is still magnificent. These are trees that are hundreds and in some cases better than a thousand years old. There's virtually no underbrush in a redwood forest as not much sun makes it down to the floor of the forest. It's as close to a cathedral as you'll find outdoors.

http://kbasa.smugmug.com/photos/41363151-L.jpg

[kbasa]

http://kbasa.smugmug.com/photos/41363314-L.jpg

[kbasa]

Check the size of the felled tree in the background. This is a stump that was cut at an angle.

http://kbasa.smugmug.com/photos/41363581-L.jpg

[kbasa]

Ya look pretty good on that GS, Ian.

http://kbasa.smugmug.com/photos/41363829-L-1.jpg

[knary]

:lurk

[kbasa]

And from there, off we went, towards home. We wound up getting split up on the way home. Ian, Gale and Darryl headed south to San Jose and Santa Cruz and Tina, me and Carrie headed for the northern Bay Area.

I've always liked it when we have visitors from back east. I've only been in California for 6 years (this time), but whenever we have visitors, I feel like I'm seeing it through fresh eyes again. Gale was quite touched by the Avenue of the Giants and seeing him so affected made me look at the forest again with new wonder.

So, while you may have a perception of California that's been formed by the countless sitcoms, TV shows and movies, the real California exists just off stage, right out there a bit, right up the road.

Come and visit with us next time. We're headed to Death Valley in January, I believe. :wave

http://kbasa.smugmug.com/photos/41364067-L-1.jpg

[kbasa]

Oh yeah - nice call putting it together, Scott. :thumb

[BradfordBenn]

:lurk

What you couldn't scare up the last $107?

[DLilah]

I'm jealous. You certainly looked like you guys had better weather than we did going to Beemer Hill. Rainy and upper 30s to low 40s. Not sure what your temps were, but it sure looked sunny! :brow

Great pictures! Thanks for sharing. :clap

[PacWestGS]

As we're standing there, who shows up, but knary, Bob_M and SFDOC. They're going to go ride that same stretch of road. We shoot the breeze with them for a bit and then we split up, us to camp, them to play.

How cool is that?

http://kbasa.smugmug.com/photos/41315064-L-2.jpg


Spontaneous Laughter and we hadn't even 'CUT THE CHEESE" yet.

Thanks Dave, nice to meet you and Tina too.

Thanks for the 'Adventurer Pic' that ones getting printed..

Russ

[ian408]

What a delightful trip! I can't say enough about that. Just what the doctor
ordered too.

Great photos there Dave.

Ian

[PUDGYPAINTGUY]

Nice job on the pics Kbasa...thanks for the shared glimpse there ...looks like it was loads of fun...Thanks

[Cliffy777]

Excellent report David. I am awarding you an A for your fine blend of words and pictures.

[ibuzzard]

Wanted to tell an amusing story about Steve from Colorado,Springs, I think.Hope it doesn't embarrass him TOO much.Jim finagled a few days off from work and in true Airhead fashion made a run to Cali to attend the Bad to the Beach campout at Manchester.Turns out he was a week early - but that only freed him to ride some fine roads he'd never been on.He was really blown away to stumble into the campground,in the dark, and see a notice directing the MOA riders to the correct location.I know he had a great time-But still managed to break camp early for the 1500 mile ride and work on Tuesday.Good meeting you, Steve

[SNC1923]

Yet another wondermous travelogue. Looks like you all had a blast. Thanks for the enjoyable report, k. :clap

[Dick]

What a delightful trip! I can't say enough about that. Just what the doctor
ordered too.

Great photos there Dave.

Ian

Go ahead rub it in. :brow

Thanks for the write up and pictures.

[DarrylRi]

...at San Jose Airport. He should be home in a few short hours, and has a bunch of pictures to show.

But he hasn't got one of me with the R90S on its left jug, so that never happened.

I know I had a great time, and will look forward to the 2nd Annual next year!

[MrsKbasa]

...at San Jose Airport. He should be home in a few short hours, and has a bunch of pictures to show.

But he hasn't got one of me with the R90S on its left jug, so that never happened.

I know I had a great time, and will look forward to the 2nd Annual next year!


Yes he does have a picture, I saw it :laugh

[mistercindy]

Darn fine pics, Kbasa! :thumb Thanks for posting them!

And I gotta ask... Who is Honu?!? Tough to look cute in bike gear, but she's doin' pretty well, IMHO.

[lorazepam]

...at San Jose Airport. He should be home in a few short hours, and has a bunch of pictures to show.

But he hasn't got one of me with the R90S on its left jug, so that never happened.

I know I had a great time, and will look forward to the 2nd Annual next year!

Darryl, I wont post any pictures of the R90 listing to port if you send me my cell phone. I left it on the fused glass table I think. Thanks for your hospitality, your abilities as a host are exceeded only by your abilities as a chef. Thanks again, this has been such a wonderful trip.

[PacWestGS]

Darryl, I wont post any pictures of the R90 listing to port if you send me my cell phone. I left it on the fused glass table I think. Thanks for your hospitality, your abilities as a host are exceeded only by your abilities as a chef. Thanks again, this has been such a wonderful trip.

So that confirms it, there were two bikes that found themselves lying around without owners, oooh the shame. There was almost a third and it would have been very ugly for the that 'RED' RT to be lying around with its owner sprawled out on top of it, cameras would have been flashing into the morning dawn light, just to witness that one (friggin hills and pine-needles and ‘Electronic-Brakes’). :lurk

I'm glad everyone "Spent Enough Time With Their Motorcycles" on this trip. :wave

I can't wait 'till next year!!! :bottle

[ian408]

Ya look pretty good on that GS, Ian.

http://kbasa.smugmug.com/photos/41363829-L-1.jpg

Hey, does that bag make me look like Jed Clampet :lol

Dick, sorry you weren't able to make it. As pennance, I want you to see if
you can find Ing Bigfoot by the Fathoms. It's on the album called
Overboard. See iff that isn't some fun giddy-up music for 128 :bolt

Ian

[Dick]

Dick, sorry you weren't able to make it. As pennance, I want you to see if
you can find Ing Bigfoot by the Fathoms. It's on the album called
Overboard. See iff that isn't some fun giddy-up music for 128 :bolt

Ian

Christ just burn me the file - I can't even google it

[DarrylRi]

Darryl, I wont post any pictures of the R90 listing to port if you send me my cell phone. I left it on the fused glass table I think. Thanks for your hospitality, your abilities as a host are exceeded only by your abilities as a chef. Thanks again, this has been such a wonderful trip.
Deal! But, you have to send me your mailing address.

[Honu]

Darn fine pics, Kbasa! :thumb Thanks for posting them!

And I gotta ask... Who is Honu?!? Tough to look cute in bike gear, but she's doin' pretty well, IMHO.

I'm Honu. Does that answer your question?
Thanks for the sweet compliment - You're oh so kind to a greasy, dirty, helmet headed, camping rider. :D

[mistercindy]

You're oh so kind to a greasy, dirty, helmet headed, camping rider. :D
Ahhh, yes... A woman who knows the way to my heart!