What a ride, what a bike!

[xprof]

Well, Brothers and Sisters of the Fellowship of the R1200R, I just had the BEST ride today. A few blocks from my house San Marcos Road, recently re-paved, winds its twisty way 3000 feet up the mountain in 7.5 miles, reaching the top at Camino Cielo. It's a fun ride to have right at your back door, even if you have to ride a bit judiciously to avoid upsetting the natives. The sky was clear and the temperature was 60°, a perfect day. At Camino Cielo the sign said "road closed ahead", which meant I would have it mostly to myself. What luck! It's a 15-mile ridge run at 3000 feet, with the Pacific Ocean on one side and the Los Padres wilderness on the other, a gentle rise-and-fall with continuous linked turns at 20 to 60mph all the way, in 2nd to 4th gear. You're either bending left, bending right, or in transition all the way, on a recently re-paved strip of silky asphalt maybe 16 feet wide the whole way, perfect for the smooth, powerful, flickable "R". I saw maybe 6 cars and one motorcycle as I carved the turns out to the end of the asphalt, vigilant for the rare dust or gravel strips on the surface. Red-tailed hawks soared to the right and left of me, and at one point a fork-horned mule deer buck jumped out and ran ahead of me for maybe a hundred feet! At Romero Saddle the ocean fog was running up and through the gaps, giving the little peaks a dramatic look. There I turned around and ran the 15 miles back, into the sunset, with the setting sun glinting off the Pacific, then descended the twisty and sporty 3000 foot drop to home, where I now sit with a cold Pacifico in hand. What a ride! And WHAT A BIKE!

[websterize]

You're either bending left, bending right, or in transition all the way, on a recently re-paved strip of silky asphalt maybe 16 feet wide the whole way, perfect for the smooth, powerful, flickable "R".

It doesn't get much better than that. Thanks for sharing.

[ShinySideUp]

Thanks for the ride! I've been splitting lanes on the freeway commuting all week and your post reminds me to get the heck out of Dodge this weekend!

[qgaex]

PLEASE!

Please all of you SoCal riders stop posting for six months!
I hate it when envy eats my kidneys....

Cheers anyhow

qgaex
+itrainsintheblackforest+

[Motorcycle_Girl]

Not fair! Actually I am happy for the heated grips...I can extend my season for a little while longer. Crossing my fingers for some decent weather this weekend

Celeste

[ka5ysy]

PLEASE!

Please all of you SoCal riders stop posting for six months!
I hate it when envy eats my kidneys....

Cheers anyhow

qgaex
+itrainsintheblackforest+

Come on down to Cajun country: I road all morning (about 150 miles. I was actually working. Honest !! ) until a squall line came through in the afternoon, it was 92 for the high today. Great riding weather

Besides, we have outstanding food here to boot!

[tobes]

Glad to hear you had a great ride Xprof. I'm always looking for new roads to explore and will be sure to check that run out in the near future.

[Coyote Crazy]

Camino Cielo. At Camino Cielo the sign said "road closed ahead", which meant I would have it mostly to myself. What luck! It's a 15-mile ridge run at 3000 feet, with the Pacific Ocean on one side and the Los Padres wilderness on the other, a gentle rise-and-fall with continuous linked turns at 20 to 60mph all the way, in 2nd to 4th gear. You're either bending left, bending right, or in transition all the way, on a recently re-paved strip of silky asphalt maybe 16 feet wide the whole way, perfect for the smooth, powerful, flickable "R". I saw maybe 6 cars and one motorcycle as I carved the turns out to the end of the asphalt, vigilant for the rare dust or gravel strips on the surface. Red-tailed hawks soared to the right and left of me, and at one point a fork-horned mule deer buck jumped out and ran ahead of me for maybe a hundred feet! What a ride! And WHAT A BIKE!

Mike,
Now you have let the cat out of the bag, I thought that little 15 mile tidbit was a well guarded secret.
I know when it is too hot back up the Hwy 33 area my favorite ride is a run up the coast (Hwy 101) to the Vandenberg exit (Hwy 1), just north of the Gaviota tunnel. I take Hwy 1 (Cabrillo Hwy) north (west) for about 14.6 mi. and then take a left (West) on Jalama Rd. and run out to Jalama Beach (just north of Pt. Conception) for a famous Jalama burger. (Jalama Beach County Park, let them know at the ranger gate you want to buy a burger, and you can have a 1.5 hr. free pass to the park). I then turn around and head back out to (Hwy 1) and proceed north on Hwy 1 for 2.75 mi. and then take a right on Santa Rosa Rd. A nice ride through the Santa Rosa Valley and vineyards. This brings me back out to Hwy 101 just south of Buellton. I go north on Hwy 101 to the next exit, Hwy 246 (Mission Dr.) and take Hwy 246 west towards Salvang for just .64 miles and then take a left onto Ballard Cyn Rd. I remain on Ballard Cyn. Rd. (a few tricky intersections) and I will eventually intersect Hwy 154 just east of Los Olivos and the famous Matties Tavern. (This is great wine area, many good wineries) I take Hwy 154 about 18 mi. and then left onto Stagecoach Rd. I follow Stagecoach Rd. under the Cold Springs Bridge, up to Cold Spring Tavern (nice place to stop for a refreshing beverage). I remain on Stagecoach Rd. for about another 2 mi. which brings me to an intersection back with Hwy 154, where I crossover to E. Camino Cielo Rd. This is the dessert, the frosting on the cake part of the ride, often midweek I have the road to myself. The view from La Cumbre Peak can be breath taking, often gazing over the Channel Islands and beyond. (Always want to stop and view, this road is not one you want to be rubber necking on.) When I get to the bottom I will choose a number of paths back south, often Hwy 101, or sometimes Hwy 192 (Foothill Rd.) to Hwy 150. I agree- What at Ride! What a Bike!!

[xprof]

Coyote, you do know my home roads well! Also the best places to eat and quench thirst. And your choice of ride is impeccable! Perhaps we'll meet on those roads sometime; mine is black, with a Cal-Sci screen, a tankbag, a tailbag, and license plate HEXHED1. Give me a wave!

[Dan-A]

Your description was very good! I know it is hard to stop when in a groove, but next time maybe bring a camera and stop for a few pics so we can see it.

[Coyote Crazy]

Coyote, you do know my home roads well! Also the best places to eat and quench thirst. And your choice of ride is impeccable! Perhaps we'll meet on those roads sometime; mine is black, with a Cal-Sci screen, a tankbag, a tailbag, and license plate HEXHED1. Give me a wave!

Hope to meet you on one of the roads. I will definitely keep I eye out for ya. Always looking for fellow R12R riders. Mine is Crystal Gray, BMW sport shield, BMW soft tail bag.

Got in a nice ride 2 weeks ago before the rains up on Camino Cielo.


Been just to busy at work to get in any good rides lately. This is our second busiest season (Halloween) before the Christmas season starts in December. When I am not driving my R12R I am driving locomotives and conducting for a local tourist line.

[xprof]

Coyote, that is a RIDE! Hard to top that one, short of a 747 or an aircraft carrier!