An Illinois Yankee in King Richard's Court

[Tyler]

I’ll put together a Photostory with all the pics later but here is a recap from the few days I was honored to join in the festivities…

Arrived in Paso Robles and found the Hondapotamus tucked in between the myriad of chase vehicles for the Amgen tour (and many lycra clad bicyclists wandering about… I enjoyed the view).

The Illinois boys followed shortly thereafter – funny how you have never met someone before but felt like you were seeing an old friend again. Dinner was at Big Bubba’s Bad BBQ where we met Beemerdons, FJRONAMISSION, and Don’s friend, Rudy. Food was awesome! After dinner, the bull was calling. Wheaton said if Fairlaner would ride it, he would too… I think he was hoping Richard would decline so he’d be off the hook. No such luck!!

Mark showed Richard up by giving the classic one-finger salute in addition to riding…

Which unfortunately proved to be his downfall…

It was clear that these two would be up to no good right out of the gate...

After being bested by the beast, we went outside to shoot the sh*t and were joined by a very inebriated young lady who started talking about… oh hell, there is just no way to describe it… you had to be there… for those that were…

Brian did his best royal wave impression…

The Illinois boys were non-plussed…

Or maybe it was amused… or something like that…

More to come...

 

[Tyler]

Bellies full, stomach muscles sore from laughing, we retired to our respective hotels for the evening… the next morning dawned a bit foggy but cleared up fairly quickly as we jetted along 46.

Cholame Rd.

I think Karl was enjoying himself…

We took the boys to Parkfield so they could say they stood on the biggest earthquake fault in California...

Parkfield greeting committee…

I can’t help but hear Elvis singing, “I’m all shook up….”

Onward to Indian Valley Rd…

On Peachtree Canyon, the Cluster Feckers blew right by the fecking cluster of our state flower… but it’s okay cause I got a shot for them…

More coming...

 

[Tyler]

Into Coalinga, we gassed up and the smell of tri-tip on the bbq wafted through the air so sammiches were purchased and we headed to Keck Park for a picnic… MM2 and TomInCa joined us as well…

Tom tried to get a knee down…

View along 198…

Getting ready to attack 25…

A few views along the way… funny how quickly it goes from green to golden out here…

Lots of yellow wildflowers still out putting on a show…

Vineyard along 25…

 

[wnyfjr]

I lived in San Jose for 5 years but didn't have a scoot then, so I somehow missed all these beautiful Kali highways. Thankfully Tyler, you take fantastic photos of it all and let us all share! Looks like everyone enjoyed themselves!!

 

[Tyler]

I lived in San Jose for 5 years but didn't have a scoot then, so I somehow missed all these beautiful Kali highways. Thankfully Tyler, you take fantastic photos of it all and let us all share! Looks like everyone enjoyed themselves!!

Maybe you need to schedule a ride out here... hell, we've got it all worked out for another Rolling Cluster Feck!!

 

[Tyler]

There the Rolling Cluster Feck really started gaining momentum… amazing what a couple of boys from Illinois can draw out of the woodwork…

Even the PNW gents made the time to come and visit… so good to see those wonderful, smiling faces!

No, Niehart, how many times do I have to tell you… I do not have any pie for you… get your own!

Hey, what are these boys up to??

Um, nothin’… nope, we weren’t relieving ourselves on the Hondapotamus… nope, not us…

Richard accepted some contraband being doled out by The Pie Man…

Hey, Fairlaner, what’cha checkin’ out down there?

I don’t think I can type what the look on his face is saying…

 

[Fairlaner]

Actually it was Simple Simon who was passing out the stoogies........

R

 

[Tyler]

Another night in the bag, we woke to blue skies and cool temps the next morning…

We headed up 9 to 35/Skyline and stopped for a group shot at the vista point…

And then it was off to Alice’s for breakfast with 30 or so of our closest FJR friends… the owner had set aside the side deck for us… service was great and food was delish!

I think George was having a good time!

Brian expressing his true feelings for his fellow riders… or maybe it was just OM.

The Hycles…

The Michaels…

MM2 with his favorite blonde… Barb had driven down with one of her bestest buddies, Kim, and they hopped around between sightseeing and visiting with the masses…

Niehart rode all the way down just to have pie at Alice’s…. this is his appetizer pie…

If Sam doesn’t get the f*ck away from my pie, I’m going to bite him…

Mark wondering if Sam was gonna get bit or not…

Pie Whore!!!

The parking lot had filled up by the time we finished…

 

[Tyler]

Then it was off down 84 to Pescadero Rd. and out to my favorite beach… the majesty of the ocean always touches my spirit… kind of zen like… seems Mark wanted to get up close and personal with it…

Poser, um, I mean poster shot…

Sam was enjoying the day as well…

Backtracked into Pescadero to Stage Rd… some weird guy was following me…

Hey OM, what’d you stop for?

Ooooooooooooohhhh… figures.

New sign in town…

 

[Tyler]

We gassed up in Half Moon Bay and then scooted along 280 and the Great Highway and my super-secret route through the Presidio of SF… first view of the city…

Legion of Honor…

An Illinois Yankee at the Golden Gate Bridge…

The original plan was to do the Marin Headlands loop but the road was closed due to construction so instead we headed toward Sausalito and took a right into Fort Baker for some views of the bay, the city, and the bridge…

Thanks, OM… love you too… just the way you are… bastid…

Look at that smile…

OM and Brodie were having such a good time, they broke out into a song and dance routine…

The locals were not impressed…

Off to Marin and some of the lovely backroads in the area… still pretty green out there…

Lovely lupine…

 

[Tyler]

And then to Bodega Bay where all the various riding groups congregated for the night… the Bodega Bay Inn and Suites was a great place… nice rooms, beautiful view of the bay, and the staff was very accommodating for us, including a homemade catered meal for the group…

Rich and Elizabeth were there and all smiles…

Roger entertaining the crowd with his humorous anecdotes…

Duck, Mark, DUCK!!

OM was having a good time... really... he was... I think...

Richard expressing his opinion on dinner…

Dessert…

I’ll show you mine if you show me yours…

Mark gave a presentation on farm animals…

Kicking back after dinner and enjoying good friends and tall tales…

Setting sun… day is done…

 

[Tyler]

Sunday morning came all too quickly… I think we wore poor Erin out!

An amazingly clear morning greeted us… no fog, although it was chilly and windy out… no matter to this hearty crowd… off up the glorious Hwy 1…

Hazy out and hard to get a good shot…

Our motley crew at Stewarts Point…

Yup… next on the agenda…

The east side of Skaggs starts out through heavy redwoods, bright green ferns, and dappled sunlight… it was like another world… then opens into rolling hills, valleys, and vistas…

The west side… well, if you’ve ridden it, you know what that’s like… one helluva YEE HAW kind of adventure… I’ve only stopped on that section once to take a picture because it is just too damn much fun to stop… this time was no different so I’ll use the pic I took a couple of years ago… yeah, it is just like that!

Rich is a man after my own heart… old school technology!

Karl needed a smoke after that (reminds me of a joke... someone asked "Do you smoke after ***?" and the answer was, "I don't know... I've never checked"... :lol: ... ok, enough digression) and did his best Steve McQueen impression for me…

And Mark had said “Holy Crap” so many times along Skaggs that he had to strip down from all that excitement (gotta love a man who can strip on the side of the road... )

It was here that we had to say farewell to our fine feathered fellow Cluster Feckers (try and say that fast 3 times!)… I had to get back home to the realities of work while the rest continued their way on to Fortuna… Erin and I took a few more roads through the wine country before getting some lunch and finally succumbing to the freeway to get home…

And so my story telling ends here for this part of the journey… Mark and Karl, what can I say? It was truly a pleasure to be able to share a few (s)miles and generate some memorable memories for you to take home with you… hope there will be a return trip one of these days as California won’t quite be the same without you. Thanks for giving us a reason to get out and enjoy life and friends… wishing you a safe journey back home and look forward to seeing your version of the events that transpired!

FIN

 

[Niehart]

Damn, now that was a ride report. Good stuff and thanks, Missey, for setting this stuff up.

Carl and, um well I guess, Mark, it was a pleasure! :yahoo:

 

[puppychow]

Tyler, what can I say? You have a knack for both capturing magical moments and labeling them with perfect captions! Bravo! Very well done! Great to see the smiles all around!

 

[Gramps]

I’ll put together a Photostory with all the pics later but....

Holy crap you go more? :blink:

Great report Tyler. Looks like you & the Illini boys had some fun.

 

[zed88]

This looks like to much fine. Time to head to cali on the bike!

 

[FarWestFastEddie]

Tylerbabe, a GREAT Ride report and pictures. Helps putting names and faces together!! Bearded Brodie and Brian in pseudo mullet!!

I can now see I should have gotten off my backside and ridden down and joined you'all in Bodega, I would have had the chance to meet the elusive Barb! Good Job!!! you get an atta girl!!

FWFE

 

[Panman]

Thanks Tyler, nice seeing what we missed out on.

 

[Tyler]

Holy crap you go more? :blink:

Yeah, a few more... thought I'd wait and see what some other folks posted and then put together a Photostory with the best of the best (with permission). What the hell are we all going to do now that the Cluster Feck is heading back home? Guess I'll just have to start making some **** up.

I can now see I should have gotten off my backside and ridden down and joined you'all in Bodega, I would have had the chance to meet the elusive Barb! Good Job!!! you get an atta girl!!

FWFE

Eddie, you shoulda been there! B)

This looks like to much fine. Time to head to cali on the bike!

We've got it all dialed in so come on out!!

Thanks Tyler, nice seeing what we missed out on.

Kev, it was wonderful seeing you when we could... there will be more days and more rides...