NorCal Hwy 36 Reportage

Looks like I'm the first one home and on the computer (for an hour before heading up the hill).

GREAT ride!!!. Thanks to Mike (the mad one) for planning and taking the initiative (not to mention, getting his bike running so he could make it). :clapping: :clapping: And thanks to Steve and Cyndi for that back road route to Red Bluff from above Lassen -- it could have been a goat trail, but it wasn't!

Need to look up the part number for peg scrapers. Ground them pretty good on Hwy 36, but then this morning, Bill said I was leaving trails of sparks on 1 between Leggett and the coast. :lol: Good thing that area was foggy so the vegetation was damp. Seemed like I was riding the peg scraper around corners on some turns -- even got to the point where I started thinking I could get just the right amount of pressure from the bank not to start folding the peg up. Damn, that road and 36 are FUN!!!!!!!! Lost Coast Road was interesting and scenic, but damn rough. Seems like every one of those places on that route probably has a story of lives spent there -- couldn't help but be struck by that as we went by -- seems almost like the place was lost in time.

GREAT time at dinner last night! There were some drunks at our two tables, and WAY too much laughter. Reports were made this morning of at least one pillion (who shall not be named) who considered hurling (and had the flip up helmet from which to do it). Needless to say, that pair was NOT invited to ride anywhere but sweep. :lol:

Andrew (OrangevaleFJR) should be along with pics soon . . . that is . . . IF he ever got out of bed. (Anyone know if he ever left Fortuna?) We waited by his bike out front of the Motel for a while, but no glimpse of him at or after the appointed time. :blink:

Let's do it again!!!!!!!!!

Guess I'm the second. Great weekend and the ride across Hwy 36 was interesting to say the least. Can you say coming over a blind whoop into a tight left and right hand off camber twisty? And the scenery was awesome to say the least. One thing I found out in my learning of this bike is it will take way more than I can offer it and those Metzlers don't hold all that well on the very outer edges of the rubber. Sorry I pealed off before the coast run down to Fort Bragg today but I did want to enjoy those beautiful giant redwoods with something other than a blurr and I was a little tired. And MM2 I will get your Cobra cable back to you and thanks for loaning it, don't ask my why. The best part though was meeting up with all the good folks who ride FJR's and the party/dinner and non-stop motorcycling gab. Nice to meet Skyway and also the boys who came down from Oregon namly FJRay and Gotpackage, if I missed any I appologize. Can't wait for the next one and I do have a ways to go just to keep up with these guys! Thanks for a great time and diddo's to MM2 for settin it up!....PM. <>< :yahoo:

exskibum said:

GREAT ride!!!. Thanks to Mike (the mad one) for planning and taking the initiative (not to mention, getting his bike running so he could make it). :clapping: :clapping:

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Yeah MM2, thanks "DAD"

Need to look up the part number for peg scrapers. Ground them pretty good on Hwy 36, but then this morning, Bill said I was leaving trails of sparks on 1 between Leggett and the coast. :lol:

At least XSB didn't lay down a peg when we saw the 8 foot tall Bull Elk on Hwy 1. That sucker was scared and ready to attack the weakest link...good thing I have the loud full holeshot header system, the Elk was looking for a quiet FJR solo rider. Has anyone seen or heard from Orangvale FJR?? You know loud pipes save lives

GREAT time at dinner last night! There were some drunks at our two tables.

Whaa, I didn't see any drunks, but i did hear a little laughter.

OrangevaleFJR will being posting pics, but he has an excellent ride report on the "lost coast" on this here forum.

Let's do it again!!!!!!!!!

Just name the time and I'll be there for Hwy 36, but I don't have any snow chains

Hopefully next time I will be able to hook up and ride with some of you before hotel time. Didn't get to meet everyone but hopefuly next time. Thanks Mike for posting the ride opportunity. You guys come back up north I will try to meet up again. Hwy 3 and 96 are also mighty fine.

FJRay clowning at the expense of riding buddy Bob's flat. Plugged it and all was well.

https://i63.photobucket.com/albums/h153/ffn...00/IMG_1003.jpg

I feel bad for the guys who live in flat road states or have nowhere to ride like the Pacific coast. I put in around 500 miles of some of the best twisties in the states and over 300 miles getting to and from this wonderful ride. The weather was cool so it didn't drain you, the food was great as was the company of riders. But all that riding in the twisties sure wore out my arms and shoulders riding all those twisties. I mean some 180 switchbacks, 15 mph turns etc. But it sure was worth the effort and a whole lot of fun.

All ye of little sleep...I am home safe and sound.

I have to say, I could NOT have taken the holeshots today for some reason It was strange, I seemed to have a delayed reaction hang over. My headache started at 11:00 instead of when I woke up. It wasn't too bad though.

Remember, Sherri wasn't with me so I have to make an effort to get off the bike for some pics and I didn't do that very often. The on bike scenery shots are sorely lacking as I have a hard time getting good level pics from the bike. A few made the cut. Most decent shots are when I'm off bike.

The action shots of bikes coming at me are off bike...those I messed up were just due to lack of time. 3 seconds spacing...SURE!!! I wish!

The ride started in the early morning on Friday for me and I left Orangevale at 7am to get to Cameron Park to meet BBIII at the Shell Station. We rode a back road to 49 then across to Auburn where we met exskibum.

Here are exskibum and BBIII getting ready after our hellos



Here's an artistic pic of the tank



The road exskibum lead us up is another one of the many gems I haven't quite got to ride yet even though it's so close to where I live. There are so many nice roads here that roads that are definitely top class get left untouched. California...so many roads, so little time.



Historic 40 is always the best bet if you can skip the freeway



The morning sun hit the road at an angle through the trees. It was cool and felt great to be getting out for yet another romp with the FJR friends. I missed Sherri as I love sharing these times with her. When I'm riding, random thoughts and feelings float through my head and heart. I suppose I'm the same way when I write

Exskibum took us up Placer Hills Road into Colfax (thanks again for sharing that road with us!) and then we took 174 to Grass Valley. This road took us to 49 (about two tenths of a mile from FJROB's Foothill Care Care) where we skooted past Nevada City and headed toward Downieville.

It is so nice to ride these roads on a weekday after school starts again. So little traffic!

We took 49 to Gold Lake Highway where we got to see the battle markings and damage caused by a fire that ravaged this area just a few days before we got there. I noticed how the firefighters used the road as a fire break. There were marks of the red chemical that is dumped from aircraft on the road and the trees were saved for the most part as long as they were within 30 yards of the road.

Sorry...no pics of this, but I really enjoyed Gold Lake Highway as the the views from it are really quite good and there are some nice lakes up there. Looks like good DRZ territory to me!

We were on the way to 89 and that took us to Quincy and we met up with the BlueStreeks and Weekend Rider.



Here are exskibum and BBIII practicing the new Olympic Event, snychronized fuel filling:



Do we all know the personal space we find when we are on the bike, even when preparing to get on the bike? I bet we all have moments of deep personal thought even when doing something as simple as tightening up the cuff on our jackets.



We left Quincy and headed up to Lassen National Park and planned on going through Lassen and then toward Redding from North of Lassen and then cutoff to the SouthWest and head to Red Bluff.

Here's WeekendRider taking off and kicking the air as he happily jaunts off down the road.



The Bluestreeks are coming to lead us on our ride



We park in the shade and speak our final pre-ride thoughts



Then we are on the road again. 89 out of Quincy.



I just love alpine ranches



This place is still lived in



The trees seemed tall to me, but I knew these trees were nothing compared to where we would be Saturday afternoon!



A few action shots that are framed pretty well...notice the fall color coming in!



A poor shot, but worth taking. Lake Almanor is a big lake. from the road, this is the first glimpse you get of it, and then it is pretty much behind the trees.



There was a guy on the side of the road with a bail of hay. It was smoking and he was pouring something on it. I thought he was making a smoke signal, but in case he started a fire I figured I'd snap a shot of him.



Straight road through tall trees



A passing lane let me take a few action shots:

WeekendRider



BBIII



exskibum



BlueStreeks



Here we are being ushered through a construction zone



Then we got on the open road again



There are some really nice views from 89 on the way to Lassen



Here we are riding up to the Park Entrance



Lassen, here we are



Okay...with all the parks in California, I think Lassen doesn't get much attention. I suppose that's a good thing and perhaps posts like this might change this nice thing. SO...if it looks good, just be happy with the photos are stay away (just kidding).

I climbed a hill for this one!



The same view without the bikes



Notice the road snaking over the mountain. This is a FUN road to ride!



The summit





Action shots





Blurred...he's too fast





All these shots were taken while the riders came around a corner out of the trees into an alpine meadow that always just takes my breath away. There are a few places in the world where I have seen like this...they all involve big mountains.



I could end this report with that shot...but I will show you the rest.

The batteries of my camera died after that, thank goodness they lasted long enough to get that last one!

We got to Red Bluff via a VERY fun road with a Great view from on high down into the valley. I don't know the route we took from Lassen so if anyone can chime in, I'd appreciate it.

We got to the Travelodge in Red Bluff. The place is right on the Sacramento River and it's obvious they don't take enough advantage of that. Oh well...

Anyway...the next shots are of us at the Dennys next door on Saturday morning.

MadMike was there as was Painman



FJROB and the Bluestreeks



Self protrate (of my wrist) and the wrist band that Rob gave me to commemorate my new DRZ



Bluestreeks and FJROBs (Steve, Rob, Terry, Cindy)







We parked on 36. No during the ride shots...the road was a little too fun and I left the camera in the sidecase.





Action shots on 36







Miss big rocks.



Flat tires get a lot of attention



Some pics...



Then BOOM! we were in Samoa at the cookhouse. If you've never rode 36, it's incredible. 140 miles of twisites, views and a couple of straights. Hear me? 140 miles...wow!

After lunch we went South to Fortuna where we debated on where to ride. A few of us, me, FJROBs and Uber Cools when to see the redwoods on the Avenue of the Giants. Others went to ride the lost cost highway. I was too tired for that. I wanted to go commune with nature so I took off 27 miles down from Fortuna. Brad got better pics than me of this area. My camera squeezed out this lousy shot right before the batteries died. It does no justice to the setting, but the people are what's important and the FJROBs are great people. See how happy they are and how well Terry's reflective piping works



The next day we headed home. I was alone, the last to leave. All the FJRs were gone and I left at 8:48 am. I got home at 4:30. Along the way, I caught up with FJROBs and we rode together down 101 to 1 through Fort Bragg and then on to 20 where I started passing cars and never saw Rob again..but I called him and he made it home okay with chord showing on his back tire!

This is a shot South of Fortuna on 101



I put the camera on low light setting and got this effect...



FJRROB rounding the bend on CA 1 before we got to the coast



Then we got to the coast



View was so nice I took two



FJR's, open air, ocean, fun



And that's all I took.

Thanks to everyone...sorry I didn't get pics at dinner...it was great to see everyone and oh well...I didn't get everyone on camera...pretty bad of me...hopefully other riders can fill in the gaps!

Funny, I have some of the same shots from when I went through after WFO. Amazingly, the ponds in Lassen were still mostly iced in, too! Sorry, I missed the thawed versions.

Looks like y'all had a good ride, too. :good:

WOW, Andrew!! Sherri has some competition -- great shots! A couple in Lassen are really stunning, especially that last one! The few I took don't compare. I promised someone I'd show her the shots taken by our ride photographer, and you certainly didn't disappoint -- she'll love those! Thanks for that special effects shot through the trees (looks like Hwy 1 out of Leggett heading south toward the coast), too -- that'll nicely augment my description to her of the colors rushing by where the sun filtered through on Saturday, making it seem like we were in a kaleidoscope at times.

So, was it really Bill's Holeshots or was it the California Blonde and Organic Amber that put you behind schedule on Sunday?!? :lol:

Something also tells me you are absolutely right about dual sport roads in the area you mention! I have a friend with an old mining claim out there.

When you said: "Do we all know the personal space we find when we are on the bike . . . ?", you captured what most motorcycle riders know, and few others imagine. It doesn't happen like that in a car, but who of us is not mentally rejuvenated by the thrill of hte ride and the mooments of contemplation that the scenery and the experience catalyze?

exskibum said:

I promised someone I'd show her the shots taken by our ride photographer, and you certainly didn't disappoint -- she'll love those!

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Someone? Don't make me bring my steel toes to the next get-together! Be afraid. Be very afraid.

toecutter said:

exskibum said:

I promised someone I'd show her the shots taken by our ride photographer, and you certainly didn't disappoint -- she'll love those!

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Someone? Don't make me bring my steel toes to the next get-together! Be afraid. Be very afraid.

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Oh ****!! Here it comes. I thought I'd skated through that gauntlet with this group. :blink:

And I had to go and carelessly post that!?! hno-smiley:

I believe I'd best get down to the sporting goods store and buy a cup. :slow_en: :dead:

exskibum said:

And I had to go and carelessly post that!?! hno-smiley:

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I been cuttin' trail on ya since the Tom Petty evidence surfaced.
I love a good "intervention".

Well what a great weekend it was, it was filled with all kinds of wonderfull thing just mentioned by the many riders that went and discovered hwy. 36, and you can thank MM2 for thatand let us not forget the restraunt he chose believe me it was worth the ride and dinning experience the food was great, a must on your to eat list.

The pictures tell how beautifull the roads were to ride and the landscape as always is very beautiful to seen.

Now some things that happen and are not seen on a ride that could effect the rider.

On my way to meet up with the bluestreeks in Maryville and begin our journey for a fun 3 days of riding. The bluestreek's pilot knows those back roads in that area very well. I might say those are some fun roads to ride on our way to Quincy. As we were heading down the road and into some twisties I cracked open my clear lens on the helmet to get some fresh it was warm out and I thought that would dothe trick. I cracked the lens open on my helmet and low and behold I felt something on my beard I tried to get it out by opening the lens all hte way and that did not work. The next thing I felt was a stinging sensation, T hen I did an emergency stop to remove my helmet and remove what ever it was. I just got stung by a bee the ones that are in the forest and are around when you are eating at your camp site. I knocked that sucker off and stomped on that dude. It is now monday and I still hace a swollen spot on my jaw. Glad iam not allergic to them.

On our way out of Red Bluff and about 10 miles into the ride I was able to slow down and watch a fox hunt for it breakfast as we were heading down the road. A sight so see it is something i will not forget.

The next thing That I saw was a deer go across the road about 200 yards in front of me I slowed down and watche it for a while and then headed some where to its morning nap or go out to breakfast some where. I was never in harms way when the crossed the road. Anice sight to see if you are not trying to get your bile stopped and avoid hitting it and really ruinning your day and motorcycle.

Then I stopped at a local business I think thetown name was mad river pop. 20 nd a little general/bar combo store. I went in to get a coke and the young lady that waited on me was very peasant. As I spoke with her I kind of sensed that maybe she could use some clean duds and some soap on -a-rope ( these were private thoughtsnever spoken). Then I went out side And was looking at there out building where it was where they sold hamburgers hotdog etc..... What caught my eye it was a amping trailer about 16 feet in length made into a stationary cooking trailer for there restraunt to serve burgers etc...... and then there restroom facility was to parta pottys behind the cooking trailer. Just some thing you see and are different that make the ride all that more enjoyable .

I know I had a great time and love to explore and see whats out there

A big thanks toall that went and a big thanks to the one and only "MM2" your weekend guide

one happy weekend rider

Mike (MadMike), thanks for putting this ride out there. I really liked the loose structure with a meal bringing everyone together. The only downer was I didn't get to see enough of your smiling face!

Dave and Diane (Highlanders), it was great getting to know you both, Christy and I look forward to riding with you again. Following you over Hwy 36 was a pure pleasure, I was happy and Christy wasn't panicked, that's a tall order to fill.

Our picture taking is seriously lacking (damn you Andrew and Sherry for setting that bar so high) but we'll practice.

Rich (Exskibum) and Bill (BBIII) provided the cherry on the weekends Sunday with a peg scrapping pace down the coast that made my jaws ache from smiling, Christy… not so much.

Come on now Bill, an elk standing eight feet tall? Just kidding, to the top of that rack it was an EASY eight feet!

Christy now knows anything said with this group will be out for world consumption soon after. I told her she was lucky her words were not folded, spindled and mutilated for the usual dramatic effect.

Break on Hwy 36



A better picture of Chisty's helmet than Mike(?) behind



Lunch Time at the Cook House







At the scenic overlook on Hwy 101





The obligatory standing in trees shots

Of course the best picture on our camera was taken by Andrew :blink:

exskibum said:

Bill said I was leaving trails of sparks on 1 between Leggett and the coast.

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That is an unbelievable stretch of gnarly, twisty, grinding blacktop! :yahoo:

It's like you have come up for air at the bottom! :lol:

Sounds like you guys had an amazing time!

Signed: Jealous...

Thanks to everyone who showed up for the little adventure. Its the people who make the rides fun, the scenery and roads make one's heart sing. It was waaaayy kewel to have the Highlanders back riding again. And yes, for those who decided to follow me, I did let a little of the Madmike out on Hwy 36, and it was fun, wasn't it Andrew!?! What a great ride!!! Hwy 36, then the Lost Coast. Sunday we rode through the Avenue of the Giants and down Hwy 1 to Point Arena for lunch. 788 miles, average riding speed was 50 mph. Considering the amount of 10 mph switchbacks and potholes on the Lost Coast ride, a pretty good average.

A few pictures of the roads and the miscreants involved:

Hwy 36 has straight sections......

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And straightaways....

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Riders coming to the rest stop...Bluestreeks and fjrvtx1300s(?)

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Hwy 36 has right turns...

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And left turns...

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Bridges....

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and forest.

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