Of Girls and Goats

[Tyler]

After returning from my Canada adventure, I decided it was time to revisit some of my favorite roads that are (mostly) right in my back yard. Hadn't seen my friend, Erin, in awhile so we decided to spend a cool Sunday goating around. Route looked something like this.

I didn't bring my "big girl" camera this time so caught a few images via my cell phone camera... it did a nice job! Up 9 to 35 and then down Tunitas, one of my favorites!

I love riding through the tall redwoods, dappled sunlight dancing on the road, the smells of the forest, and the absolute quiet when you turn off the motor and just... exist.

Lobitos Creek...

Verde Rd.

Purissima Creek Rd.

We made it to Half Moon Bay and lunched at Cameron's which Erin had never been to... I love sharing new places and roads with friends! We decided that we liked the roads so much, we'd just reverse the route and ride them all over again!

Higgins Canyon Rd.

Once Tunitas hits 35, it becomes Kings Mountain on the other side... another little gem but watch out for the many bicyclists that share the road with us...

And tight hairpins...

About 120 miles but it was a great day and a reminder of what gifts we have right here!

 

[Tyler]

The next adventure was the annual Pashnit Girlie Ride, organized by the fantabulous Donna/demenshea... this year we had 25 bikes and 27 lovely ladies coming from all over the place - from SoCal to Oregon - to alight in NorCal and ride some incredible roads and share lots of laughter and friendship.

The majority of folks had met up in Weaverville on Thursday but I couldn't get away from work then so met the group on Friday in Crescent City... left at 7 a.m. and just decided to head up 101 as it would be a 400+ mile day... traffic wasn't too bad that early in the morning but man it was COLD so I added a layer or two, knowing I'd have to strip it all off again shortly once it heated up... it seemed to be the process of the weekend... hot, cold, hot, cold... rinse repeat!

Outside of Laytonville... I knew there was a mosquito problem in the summer but this is ridiculous!

Beam me up, Scotty!

RAWR!!

By the sea, by the sea, by the beautiful sea

You and me, you and me, oh how happy we’d be…

(sorry… a brief musical theatre interlude popped into my head)

This was one of those moments... where you just stop and take it all in... the brilliant sun, the constant movement of the ocean, the colors of the flowers along the road, and the majesty and power of the sea...

This last stretch before Crescent City was like the forest was putting on some sort of magic show with light, shadows, and color...

Crescent City – peek-a-boo, I see you!

A rousing game of football…

I knew I shoulda asked them all to take a step forward…

Nighty, night… we’ll see you in the morning for more (s)miles!

 

[Tyler]

Saturday morning… gotta get it…

Day started out a wee bit foggy but we were on the hunt for elk!

But first a visit to see the lighthouse…

Deja moo…

Kharon led our group and tried a couple of squiggly lines on the map which resulted in our U-turn practice clinic for the day – first one turned to dirt and gravel so we turned around… 2nd one was closed about 4 miles in so we turned around… but they were really pretty roads so we didn’t mind…

Ally’s happy that she got all turned around!

Looking over the edge of the turnout…

We detoured onto Newton B. Drury Scenic Pkwy which is very scenic and well worth taking a ride down… we came to the big meadow where the elk were supposed to be… still not there but the meadow is pretty so we take a break…

No elk but something was bugging us…

Say cheese!!

Back out to 101, there off the side of the road we finally found the elusive elk!!

Hi ya, big boy…

Our lunch stop for the day… oh yeah, we take our girlies to very best gas station parking lots wherever we go… we’re good like that.

 

[Tyler]

Avenue of the Giants

Big trees…

Big personalitrees…

Then it was time to hightail it to Shelter Cove… the road in was quite exciting (understatement)coupled with the setting sun in your eyes but still enjoyable as long as you took it easy, dodged the dicey pavement here and there, and made sure you didn’t bounce your pillion off the back… we arrived to find the parking lot invasion almost complete… the other guests didn’t know what they were in for…

View from our hotel room…

Our room was on the 2nd floor… from the balcony was this cacophony of laughter… looking up I got quite an eyeful (and then some for which there are no pics… you’re welcome, ladies)…

Live music in the restaurant downstairs… he was pretty good…

 

[Tyler]

The sun started to set so I scooted out to catch a few shots before my dinner arrived… cool blues and purples in one direction…

Sky on fire in the other…

Caught these lovebirds watching the sunset…

When out on the beach there arose such a clatter,

I sprang from the room to see what was the matter.

Away to the window I flew like a flash,

Tore open the shutters and threw open the sash.

The fire on the beach of the new-fallen sand

Gave the lustre of mid-day to objects below.

When, what to my wondering eyes should appear,

But a bevy of ladies who’d been drinking some beer.

Great night’s rest and clear skies to start out our trip home…

A few views of Shelter Cover Rd. on the way out…

Hairpin doozy…

Dona, Holly, and I scooted down 101, braving the heat until stopping in Cloverdale for lunch with friends…

Clifford turned over 20K miles on this trip…

Again a repeat thanks to Donna for putting this all together… and to all the ladies who joined in and made it the spectacular weekend that it was… each of you was a part of the magnificence! Until we ride again…

 

[Tyler]

Final goat galore was this past Sunday... City Bike was having an event at The Junction out in Livermore and Val & Erin and I decided it would be fun to ride out there... it had been really hot the day before but supposedly it was going to be a little cooler on Sunday... um, yeah... NOT!!!

We started out with a bit of coffee and then along Calaveras Rd. which has been labeled as one of the top 10 technical roads in the Bay Area... fairly wide one-lane road (no centerline), lots of really tight turns, and can have lots of debris on it but this early in the morning, it was pretty clean and we didn't have too many vehicles to deal with other than a myriad of bicyclists... Val was busy fixing... um, something...

Posers extraordinaire!!! lol

The temperatue was rising as we headed out along Mines Rd., another one similar to Calaveras...

Miles and miles of this...

And this...

And some of this too...

Lots of moto traffic heading for The Junction...

These guys were huddled in the only patch of shade in their paddock... it was getting really hot...

 

[Tyler]

We arrived to find the event jam packed with people and just about any bike imagineable... old, new, electric, gas-powered... just wish someone coulda turned down the heater a bit...

Pretty much the uniform of the day when not ATGATT...

And along with the fabulous collection of bikes was a wonderful collection of friends too...

Thanks again for lunch, Robert!

We wandered around a bit but the heat was just becoming too much so it was time to get the cooling vests out and head for cooler temps...

We found a Peet's on the main drag in Livermore that was AIR-CONDITIONED!!! Sat for a good 1/2-hour or so to cool off and do some bonding... well, sorta...

And then it was time to saddle up again to head for home... reluctantly, we stepped outside into the furnace again with a little dread of having to put all the gear on again... desparate times...

Call for desparate measures...

Oh yeah, baby!! We needed to soak those cooling vests anyway so why not just soak everything else along with it...

Ahhhhhhhhhhhhhh...

The kids' faces were a little incredulous at first... these biker chicks were crazy!! But when they're parents were all hooping and hollering in support, the smiles abounded everywhere... I think we gave everyone a good laugh for the day!

But it was Erin who was the most dedicated and took ATGATT to a new level...

That's a hardcore way to clean your visor...

And with big smiles on our faces, and soggy boots squish-squishing all the way back to the bikes, we geared up, rode past the fountain and honked and waved, and then rode our soggy butts back home... my gear was still gloriously wet when I got home... that dip in the fountain really made the ride home so much more bearable and kept that smile on my face the whole way home... can't wait to get out there again and find lots more (s)miles... hope you all do too!!

FIN

 

[beemerdons]

Very Nice Ride Report and Fantastic Photographs as Always Tyler, Thank You!

 

[majicmaker]

Outstanding Pictures Tyler! :clapping: Your Ride Reports make me wish I was your next door neighbor!

 

[Tyler]

Outstanding Pictures Tyler! :clapping: Your Ride Reports make me wish I was your next door neighbor!

I think there are some units up for sale in my townhouse complex...

 

[Auburn]

Very cool Tyler! Good to see that Clifford is not a garage King

 

[allrider]

Be-you-tee-ful!!

Thanks Tyler

 

[Old Michael]

Great stuff, Tyler.

Killer photos.

 

[Fairlaner]

Nice Miss T........

R

 

[Tyler]

smartass

Pot? This is Kettle.

Very cool Tyler! Good to see that Clifford is not a garage King

Gotta git mah money's worth while the gittin' is still good!

Nice Miss T........

R

Thanks, Richard... B)

Be-you-tee-ful!!

Thanks Tyler

My pleasure...

 

[Fontanaman]

Wonderful ride report and great photos.

 

[majicmaker]

Outstanding Pictures Tyler! :clapping: Your Ride Reports make me wish I was your next door neighbor!

I think there are some units up for sale in my townhouse complex...

That would be Great! All you'd have to do is throw a pebble at my window and I'll be suited up in ten minutes! h34r:

 

[Surly]

Hi Tyler,

I am green with envy.

Best regards

Surly

h34r:

 

[Bustanut joker]

I find it strange that neither of these spices admit to "relations" with O'Keffee............