BIKIN' THE BINARIES (2005)
(Riding California Highways 1 and 101)
Day Four:
I could see no real good reason for getting up early because: a) It had been raining all night and I wasn't all that anxious to test my new gloves anymore and b) I only had 250 miles or so to arrive back home this day and I planned on making a prolonged stop just up the road in Santa Rosa to look at motorcycle and motorlcycle gear shops. So why hurry?
I took my own sweet time getting everything ready. Bought the local paper and headed down for a "included-in-the-price-of-the-room-make-it-yourself-waffle" breakfast.
a self-portrait taken in the reflective wall...just fooling around and killing time
I rode up to Santa Rosa to check out Moto Meccanica's new shop. They are my "local" Triumph dealer even though they are 200+ miles away and have done some mechanical work on my bike. I'm always like a kid in a candy shop when here. They not only a dealership for my beloved Triumphs but also for Moto-Guzzi, Ducati and Benelli. All are favorites of mine.
I've never seen this many of Triumph's new Rocket III's in one place
increased floor space at the new shop means more motorcycles on display
then across town to the local "Cycle Gear" to check out the Dainese leather gear...someday I will posses these!
I wandered further north still on Hwy 101 through scattered showers to the small town of Hopland (pop. 800). I like Hopland a lot and have stopped here MANY times. Generally when passing through I like to eat at the Bluebird Cafe (pie to die for) but the sun was peaking out at this point so I headed over to the Fetzer winery to have them make me a sandwich and eat in their delightful outdoor dining area.
it doesn't really get much better than this. Good food, good wine and lotsa smelly flowers...if only Becky were here to enjoy it with me, sigh
Hey, I can remedy that...I'll simply jam up Hwy 101 for home (we're getting close now) and get there just as she's getting off work at 5 o'clock!
But first I have a date with a tree. Not just any tree but a drive-thru tree and the last one I need to have completed the "holy trinity" of drive-thru trees. On previous trips I've bagged the drive-thrus in both Klamath and Myers Flat while on my bike. I have been to the Chandelier Tree before but only on 4 wheels. Actually it's my favorite of the three trees AND has hands down the most kitchy gift shop! I'm hoping to mount a "Guiness Book of World Records" sort of expedition during the ST.N's West Coast Regional Meet later this May wherein we'll try to do ALL THREE TREES IN ONE DAY 300+ miles)! We'll just have to see...
At about 5:00 p.m I made it home just before Becky arrived. Many bugs gave their lives on this trip so that I might ride. These are only this afternoon's.
Total miles: Odometer came in at a little over 1200 miles in 4 days.
Favorite Bits: Highways 35 and 9, the total of Highway 1 (can't be beat), Highways 58 and 229, Pinnacles and those crazy elephant seals.
Least Favorite Bits: King City and to a lesser extent Highway 101 south of the Bay Area.
Deep Thought: When travelling by motorcycle your bike becomes a member of the trip. It's almost like someone you are sharing your adventure with. This doesn't seem to happen when you travel on four wheels.
Trip Rating: B (too short and Becky wasn't with me)
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