> > Just came back from a three-day trip to the coast and back, > what a ride! We left Antelope Saturday morning around nine, > arrived at Bodega Bay at three. This ride generally takes two > hours, but this time I charted the trip to avoid freeways and > big highways. We found some of the most beautiful landscape > we have ever seen. The farmlands around Woodland are peaceful > and cool in the morning sun. Lake Berryesa was as clear and > calm as any reflection pool. The hills surrounding the Napa > valley, both east and west, were asking for the KLR to > straighten the roads, and I accommodated them. As we were > leaving St. Helena, we were directed by a "some-day" rider to > take Spring Mountain road over to Santa Rosa: "you will love > it on that" pointing to the bike. We did. We were the only > traffic for the 50 mile stretch, for good reason: the road > was as twisted as wild raspberry vines, inclines reaching 20% > (I'm sure) and a surface that would put any suspension to the > test. Awesome! > Sunday we started north on Highway One towards Point Arena, > where we wanted to visit the lighthouse. On the way I > fulfilled a wish I have had for many years. At Bridge Haven, > on the Russian River, a road starts into the hills; I have > ridden my mountain bike a few miles back, but have never gone > to the end. Sunday we did. Willow Mountain road starts at sea > level, on Highway One and ends many, many feet higher (a > thousand maybe?) 15 miles into the coastal range. The road > was an excellent challenge for both me and the bike, top > speed: ~20 mph due to the ruts, mud holes, switchbacks, steep > inclines, loose gravel, etc. you know the good stuff. We got > back on Highway One after coming back down and headed off to > our original destination. The ride back to Bodega Bay was > good, hooked up with a group of BMW DS'ers looked like R1150 > GS's but could have been 850's, regardless, these bikes were > dressed to the max! I'm talking about dual 8" driving lights > mounted on the brush guards, every hard bag BWM makes, as > much electronic gear as NORAD. BIG bucks. Needless to say the > KLR never flinched under the pressure, we just did fine :^). > Surprising how those big (overloaded) boys can corner, I hit > the left peg on one corner as I was pushing pretty hard, > looked in the mirror and there they were, single file, > cloning each others motions, all hitting it as hard as I was > (well maybe not AS hard...). > Monday was the trip home, 2 hours on the freeway, wife > sleeping most of the way against the way cool backrest. This > was a good test for the Joe Rocket Ballistic jackets and > pants we just bought, they did great for the cost, warm in > the cool morning air on the coast and cool in the valley's > heat. All seams held together, nothing fell off, so they pass > my first round of testing. I will be posting some pic's on my > web site soon. > > --- > Rev. Chuck > :^)>+ > A13 > http://klr650.50megs.com > ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ > > > > Get your FREE Email at http://mailcity.lycos.com > Get your PERSONALIZED START PAGE at http://my.lycos.com > > -------------------------------------------------------------- > ---------- > Accurate impartial advice on everything from laptops to table saws. > http://click.egroups.com/1/4634/5/_/911801/_/959663596/ > -------------------------------------------------------------- > ---------- > > Visit the KLR650 archives at > http://www.listquest.com/lq/search.html?ln=klr650 > Support Dual Sport News... dsneditor@... > Let's keep this list SPAM free! > > Visit our site at http://www.egroups.com/group/DSN_klr650 > To unsubscribe from this group, send an email to: > DSN_klr650-unsubscribe@egroups.com > >
[dsn_klr650] coast trip (wordy)
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- Posts: 205
- Joined: Thu Apr 06, 2000 3:03 pm
[dsn_klr650] coast trip (wordy)
sounds like a great trip. i abandoned the area in preparation for all you
out-of-towners showing up. what do you mean Willow Creek road ends? you mean
turns back into pavement? that was the first dirt (except for my driveway)
that i took my klr on. the "road closed" signs really help keep the traffic
down.
anyway, i went up the coast on saturday, then cut back in to 101 and cruised
down to laytonville to a bbq/party at a friend's property. did all the
sensible things, like getting drunk and taking cute chicks for helmetless
rides around the property. monday i went from laytonville over to dos rios
(nice twisty dirty road), through covelo, then took forest road m1
(supposedly a major forest thoroughfare) to the south through mendocino
nat'l forest. the first 20 miles was pretty open, and suitable for a pickup
truck, or possibly even a passenger car if driven carefully. then it splits
off and gets strictly 4wheel drive suitable (or 1 wheel drive, in my case).
m1 goes up to 6000 feet or so, and i had to ride through and around some
snow (fun with a heavy load and a bald rear tire). spectacular views, lots
of little roads and trails going off in various directions.
if i recall correctly, bill m. had this road in mind for a group ride back
in march. based on my experience, it's a good thing we cancelled. it would
certainly have been under several feet of snow.
mark weaver
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