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dcarver

Well-known member
Joined
Sep 5, 2005
Messages
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Location
Creston, CA
20101113-Melancholy

Spurned by the current 'ClamChowda' ride I rode today in search of good ClamChowda. FredW said it could never be good if derived from a can. Hell, ain't he heard of Dinty Moore Stew, the best evah?

Nevertheless, I decided to stay local today, and take pix of things I see every day. Too often, I think, 'Life happens while you are planning something else.' So then, why not stay in the moment of the day? My 92 year old Dad says 'Today is a brand new day, one you have not lived before - why not make the most of it?'

So then, you can see where this going. I decided to take a new perspective on my local hood. To view at from a different angle. With the exercise completed, I can tell you it was a wonderful day. And isn't that goal?

So stay with me as we take a new look at the Central Cali hood of Atascadero, Morro Bay, Cambria, Templeton and Creston.

Atasacaero has two new bridges. This is one of them. Do you know where the other one is?

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Back in the day, HG Lewis founded Atascadero. BTW, Atascadero means 'mud hole' in Spanish. HG built this and now it's being 'stabilized' for future restoration when the economy improves. The last earthquake deemed it unsafe. It's a cool old building I hope we as community save it.

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I liked this motto -

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Breakfast at Hoovers. The waitresses are all cute, young, and wear tight tops. Hee hee.

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Stopped by my favorite NAPA store to buy KrZy8 new life lubricant. They will treat you right when you buy from them.

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We have a new memorial honoring Atascadero veterans. I'd never stopped before, probably been by it more than a thousand times. Today is a good day to stop.

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Lined with polished and waxed bricks, names engraved.

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One who gave all.

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I'm proud of our little town for doing this.

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Westbound on 41, heading towards Morro Bay. KrZy8 turns 59,000 miles young,working on her third odometer.

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The stacks of Morro Bay power plant. Orginally an oil burner, she now burns natural gas, and has been relegated to a Peaker plant - only generates during peak power loads. The company owning her wants to sell - their stock is parade rest. Potential new owner does not want or need this old 1950's plant - most likely she is doomed.

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Northbound on 1 now, heading towards Cayucous.

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Cayucous is a small beach town still having charm. Unlike Avila Beach, for example.

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Cayucous is now in the southern view of my rear mirrors, money-laden rich man town of Cambria lies ahead.

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Even gates going to nowhere are expensively and lavishly garnished. Pure copper?

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Cypress Mountain Road connects the Eastside of Cambria to 46 Eeast/West. A wonderful little goat road. Normally I try to ride at speed but today, well, 1st and 2nd were just fine. Sun-a-Shining, Bike-a-Purring, Mind-@-Rest. Lots of foto opps out here. I need to bring a group of peeps that like to take foto's along sometime for foto/ride shoot with emphasis on the foto part.

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I wonder how old this silo is? Is it really a silo?

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Or this tractor? Oh, I see the better side of Bustanut to pix right, too!

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OrangevaleFJR memories. I wonder how he and Timmie are doing?

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Meandering instead of speeding opens up opportunities. This group of hard-core bicyclists were from Orange County. They belong to a racing club, and this was a training run. The neat thing is they are completely family oriented. Dads, Moms, bro and sis too were out there. This is a huge climb. I felt happy to be fat and riding a 128 hp machine.

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Stopped at an overlook to watch the crazy bikers. Especially the gals in that tight tight Spandex.

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As I progressed through the bike group, I noticed the riders were all younger. Old peeps were off and pushing up the hill, these guys and gals just powered up like no big deal.

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This was the self-proclaimed 'old man' of the group - he was out front with the youngsters. He's 28. How's that make you feel?

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Another one for Andrew.

This is at the junction of 46 and Cypress Mountain Rd.

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Onto and into Templeton, CA!

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The grainery. Still in buisness today!

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You need to stop in and just look around this old-skool hardware store. Even the doors, hinges, and latches are old.

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And if you get hungry - this is very good steak house. Not the best, but still very good.

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Heading home to Creston now - this family have been traced to being one of the first to settle this area.

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The darker grapes are still on the vine, the leaves turning color are the closet thing we have to the Eastern peeping experience.

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Neat new building on a dirt going to nowhere. Did they run out of money? What's the intent?

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Hey, Creston? It's been a great day,time to head to the barn.

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Two for Tim -

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The sunset looked promsing, so I took the 426 out for some last pix.

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That's it.I learned today. I like learning. I feel good. I like to feel good. A simple day, a simple ride.

Life is good I think, and head home to nice glass of Whiskey, a warm fire, a fun cat, a good dog and a great woman.

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..and NO, I never got no ClamChowdah!

FredW sez he'll send me some in a can? :p

 
Nicely done, Don.

The steakhouse HAS to be better than Denny's, eh?

The gate looks to be made of steel, not copper. Whadda I noe, I are knot uh medal werker.

I simply must get down there and take a "photo ride" with you.

 
Gee Don, while you were riding around, every other motorcyclist in our county was stopping by Clement Salvadore's near Atascadero, to pick up an item from his extensive collection of factory riding gear. Apparently he picked up quite a bit of this stuff as a staff writer for Rider magazine. A lot of it, he had no use for, and it was brand new. He offered the items at half the original price and set up the proceeds to be donated toward The Wounded Warriors Fund to assist in the recovery of vets from the Iraq/Afghany wars.

I got a well used Chase Harper Euro Touring soft luggage set for my "new to me" Vee Strom 1000, and a nice pair of slightly used First Gear riding boots which were marked "Free". I DID leave a small donation. Kudos to Clement :clapping: . It's going to be hard to fill these boots. Fortunately, Clement and I are about the same size.

Gotta get the DL ready for the trip to Cabo with the Burrito Ballerina, are you going with us Don? :eek:

 
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My 92 year old Dad says 'Today is a brand new day, one you have not lived before - why not make the most of it?'

That's it.I learned today. I like learning. I feel good. I like to feel good. A simple day, a simple ride.

Life is good I think, and head home to nice glass of Whiskey, a warm fire, a fun cat, a good dog and a great woman.
I like the way your dad thinks, Don... B) Oft times, while flailing about to find some sort of enlightenment, it is the simplicity of life that is truly it... as long as we take to time to slow down and enjoy it.

Nice report! :clapping:

 
..and NO, I never got no ClamChowdah!

FredW sez he'll send me some in a can? :p
so, what about pie ??? :yahoo:

great report and pics...Old Michael, Fred, and your desire and talent to take a ride with a ride report in mind are not in my genes

but ya'll have encouraged me to plan to do so soon...I'd love to torture inspire my Yankee and Canadian snowbound peeps by sharing the local ride during our very mild winter :)

let's ride safe and be careful out there,

Mike in Nawlins'

 
Don,

Great... no, no... awesome RR. You didn't just get the ride, you got the emotion, perfectly.

It ain't about who gots the best chowdah... or coffee, or chicken wings. It's definitely about recognizing what really cool stuff we do have. That whole "grass is greener" thing is seriously overrated. Nice job picking up on that.

I know people that live near some of the most special and spectacular scenery, and yet they just can't see it any more. And who among us doesn't do that to one degree or another? Whether it's our surroundings, our circumstances, or maybe the people that we are routinely surrounded by... it's all to easy to take them for granted.

No, sir. You'll get no cans of yucky chowder shipped from me. But I'd sure like to share a bowl with you in person some day. Either here if you make it out this far right one day, or there if I can ever get out to the Honderosa, or better yet, maybe we'll meet in Hyder on the way up. And I'll be the one with the home-made chowder and the big silly grin. ;)

 
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Nice work, Don. As always. Inspires me to do a local RR one of these days myself, but maybe a little closer to summer. Enjoyed the ride along with you.

 
Fantastic report!

Stuck around the house tried to be helpful this weekend. Now I think a little Monday morning ride is in order!

 
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