This post by
FJRONAMISSION asks for people to post the routes of some of their favorite rides. Here's one of mine.
Tepusquet Road in Santa Barbara and San Luis Obispo counties. 16 miles of twisty bliss through tree-lined ranch land and Central Coast chaparral, between CA-166 and Foxen Canyon Rd. The southern section is mostly fast sweepers, while the northern section has tighter, more technical turns. I once ran into a rafter of wild turkeys sitting on the road on the upper section. Depending on the state of the road way, you have to keep an eye out for tar snakes, and there's occasionally gravel in the corners in the early spring after the rains.
Google Map of route.
Sign-post on east-bound CA-166:
About mid-way through the ride:
My First Rode Trip:
I have to travel once a month from Los Angeles to San Luis Obispo for work, a two day trip. I originally was drawn to my FJR due to the hard bags and the Hat Box (trunk), and the idea that I could occasionally take the bike on this monthly trip and leave the car at home. There was always some reason I could not ride the bike, so six months later thing finally fell into place, and I was able to down size all the work CRAP I need to take with me and do the trip on two wheels. Day one there was time restraints so I had to slab it all the way to SLO, but day two was all mine and I could take my time and explore some the these back roads. I will restrain from comments on: Tractor Trailers, RVs, SUVs, Farm Equipment, sight seers, and Harley Riders.
I started day two leaving SLO on the 101 and exited on HWY 1 (PCH) south in Pismo Beach, headed south towards Santa Maria to connect to SR166. I could have stayed on PCH down through Lompoc and I’m sure it would have been a beautiful ride but I wanted to experience Favorite rides - Tepusquet Rd.
On PCH, you pass through Eucalyptus forests, open farm land. The sights, the sounds, the smells, well, Ok some of the smells through the farm land weren’t so great… :lol:
I connected to SR166 and passed through Santa Maria, and didn’t realize I had to get back on the 101 north to continue on the 166. I found Tepusquet road without any problem thanks to your picture. Tepusquet road has twisties up the yeng yang. When the road heads up the mountain it narrows to less than two lanes, more like one and a half lanes and no marked center line. As I’m riding up this mountain I kept thinking about Old Michael and how FJRs don’t fly, and riding solo if I did go off the edge I doubt if anyone would find me for days or maybe longer because the place is so out in the middle of no where. So I didn’t push it and decided to ride my ride and enjoy the beauty of the area. The northern section in the twisties has fresh asphalt which made it nice. The ride was beautiful, I saw quail, butterflies, dragon flies, cows, horses, open meadows and only two cars, one truck and a bicyclist. The only part I didn’t like was the section that goes through a wash that was paved with gravel.
I got to the intersection of Tepusquet road and Foxen Canyon road and didn’t have a clue as to where I was. I thought Foxen Canyon was part of the TWN Memorial ride and I figured weather I went right or left sooner or later I would wind up some where, so I went left and wound up at the intersection of the 101 and 154. At that point I had enough and road the 101 to Oxnard, exited on PCH south through Malibu and finally headed home on Topanga Canyon road. All and all it was a great day, tiring, but an adventure I’ll not forget.
:clapping:
