Editor: Gregg Mitchell
Saturday, January 27, 2006, we will be meeting at the Moe’s Family Restaurant in Wixom, MI. Moe’s is located on Wixom Road, just north of I-96, across the street from the Ford Plant. The meeting begins at 8:30 AM
However late arrivers are always welcome!
The Road To Pescadero - Part 2
July 12- 28, 2006
by Dave Botsford
It’s Sunday morning and part of the tradition of coming out here is staying at my friend Glenn’s place in Vista, California which is six miles or so inland from Oceanside. Oceanside is about thirty miles North of San Diego on the left coast. Every morning, for the past seven years there is a rooster that has lived at the house in back of Glenn’s that would crow right before sunrise. I imagine some would be annoyed, but I liked it. It meant to me “Good morning. Come on, let’s do it and have a great day.” But this year there was no rooster. It must have crowed it’s last crow. Maybe the heat got to it.
After breakfast we went to North County House of Motorcycles, a new super dealership in Vista.
My front tire was shot so I bought a new one. While I was doing that Glenn had 12k burning a hole
in his pocket so he was looking at the bikes. He decided either to get a 03 Honda CBR Blackbird or a Yamaha Road Star, a 1600cc cruiser bike. I would have bought the CBR but he bought the Star. First I rode the bike around the big parking lot a few times; because he went and let his cycle endorsement expire I had to ride the thing home for him. What a whale, the bike that is, like sitting behind a desk but really comfortable. The only thing, though smooth on throttle, when idling the Star shakes like a dog pooping peach pits. Here it is December now and he still does not have an endorsement. What a goober. Later that afternoon I went over to my friend Leo’s to change the front tire. We changed the tire using a thirty five dollar tire changer that he made himself. We balanced the tire and went to put it back on but could not find one of the axle spacers. We looked all over, except one place, and could not find it. I thought, could it be possible that I forgot to put it on when I changed it last? After all, the tire was worn real funny. So I called all the dealers in the area and no one had one in stock. That’s just great, I can’t ride the bike like that. Leo measured where it would fit. Then he called his friend Chuck who has about eight bikes. He just bought a 06 CBR1000 and after 200 miles on it he didn’t like it so he bought a 06 Suzuki GSX 1000. And oh, by the way he bought his girlfriend one too and had those both equipped with Ohlin’s front and back. Anyways he has a Kawasaki 636 set up for the track and the spacer on it was the same size as the 51, so he called us over. Later this last summer when I got home Leo emailed me a picture with the spacer still on the balancer.
It’s Tuesday night and Leo on his GSX 1000 and I start to head up North. Normally we would leave Wed. morning but once again the Angeles Crest Highway/California Highway 2 was closed. So we decided to go up to Frazier Park and spend the night. We leave about 7:30pm up the Interstate 5 through metro Los Angeles. Traffic is light so it is not so bad. I think of some of the lyrics to the Doors song, LA Women .We get up into the foothills and there is a procession of trucks going up the grade that goes for miles. Really plays trick on your eyes at night. The only lights are our headlights and the road reflectors and the trucks, everything else is black because we are in the mountains but we make it to the motel in good shape. After we check into the motel we go down to Rocky’s bar, another tradition, for a couple of beers. The bartender is an unpaid professional comedienne. After every joke she tells she laughs, until she just about loses her breath. A dusky Henny Youngman, I’d say. The next morning we wait for Leo’s brother Javier who teaches at UC Riverside to ride up. He had a late class last night.
From Frazer Park we ride the Mil Portero-Cerro Noroeste Roads. These roads cover a lot of different terrains and altitudes. After all it follows the San Andreas Fault zigzagging and several 180 degree turns. There is an excellent write up on the http// www.Pasnit.com website. Noroeste empties out onto RT. 33/166 and we go north and we drop down into the desert. We go through Maricopa and stop in Taft for fuel and cold drinks. There are oil derricks all over, this being the Naval Oil Preserve. It’s hot here, well over 110º. North on 33 we have to go awhile before we get to RT. 58 and we high tail it.
Highway 58 according to Pashnit is ‘Heaven on Earth, revisited’. It’s roughly 82 miles of ‘ups and downs’ over two low mountain ranges with a great valley in between. Curves, sweepers and straights and roller coasters and hairpins cambered. The roads were engineered by a motorcyclist I swear. We turn off onto Creston Rd and stop for lunch at the Senor Sancho’s Mexican Cantina outside of Paso Robles. After some lunch we ride into Paso Robles home to Jake Zemke, Honda road racer.
After fueling up we jump on the famous G-14, which is also known as Nacimiento Lake Drive - Interlake Road - Jolon Road in that order. It runs from Paso Robles to King City on this leg. Only the first part has twists. The rest being fantastic high speed sweepers with the scenery a lot like the Bonanza set. The golden grasses inset with green oak trees. You can easily maintain speeds of 80+mph. Just before we get to King City we get gas and we start getting some of that Pacific air blowing down through the valley from Salinas. It blows the map out of my hands. We jump on 101 for just about two miles and the get off at Central Ave which is really a road that runs right through some artichoke fields for miles. We get on G-16 which is Arroyo Secca and that turns off onto Carmel Valley road. We are on the home stretch, but this road takes everything you got. It’s fast, slow, bumpy, wide, narrow, loose stone, dark, bright and beautiful. Once you get in the valley it smells like Carmel. Not a lot of elevation changes. It’s a valley road with at this time of year a dry creek. There is one turn out of hundreds that is totally flat hairpin and it’s hard to remember where it is, so I damn near go ass over apple cart at it every time. Carmel Valley Rd is about 52 miles and as we near the end we are whipped. We start to squirm and stand on the pegs as we get to the more urban area of Carmel. There we jump on Highway 1 into Monterey and head into town. Air temperature is a real comfortable 72º.
Just south and then west we go to where our motel is in the little costal town of Pacific Grove. We made it and in all its flamingo pink glory The Lovers Point Inn is where we are staying this year. It’s a block away from the ocean. So up on the third floor you can see the ocean and the dolphins. We walk up into town for dinner and all the little beach houses along the way have on a plaque, the house number along with original owner and the year it was built. Pretty cool. That night when I tried to go to sleep I got a dose of why it is called Lovers Point Inn. The bed springs were a flaying away. Lord has mercy, it wasn’t a young couple.
It’s Thursday morning and because of the opportunity given to us by not riding the Crest Highway/California 2, on the way up we will get to ride around in the Santa Cruz Mountains. First order of business is breakfast at the Breakfast Club in Seaside. The best Ortega chili’s omelet I have ever had in my life with sliced avocado’s and real sourdough toast. Javier has the French toast and that looks deadly. No wonder every time I have dined there during race weekends all the race teams are there also. After that we stop by the local cycle shop and pick up a can of chain lube. Everyone comments on that RC-51 with the Michigan plates. Man, did some knuckle head ride that all the way here. DOH!
Lubed up we hit Highway 1 up to Watsonville, the strawberry capital of the world. There are strawberry fields forever. Flatbed trucks with pallets of them. They made the world’s largest strawberry shortcake here. Through Watsonville we start going up into the mountains that are covered with pines, some of them Redwoods. The first sets of roads we are on are one curve after another as we climb. They are real bumpy and narrow and scenic. I can’t remember the all the names but Browns Valley Rd is one of them. After quite a ways and a ways up, I think we were over 5,000ft. We get on G-8 or Highland Road and then it becomes Summit Road. It is just another awesome road with everything on it. And when we cross Highway 17 and the road changes its name again to Saratoga Los Gatos Road or Skyline Drive or Highway 35. And it has just been repaved to perfection. It is kind of similar to having a Christmas in July. We stop at a vista point and you can see all the way down onto the sprawl of Palo Alto, San Jose and even San Francisco.
By now we are getting hungry its lunch time and what better place to have lunch then Alice’s Restaurant. Located on the crossroads of 35 and 84 it is a little opening in heavily redwood area. There is an exotic Honda NR 750 parked in front. It is also getting warm out. Most of the area has been seeing 20º to 30º above normal. After lunch we take Highway 84/La Honda Road through La Honda all the way to this goat trail called Stage Road. It’s been awhile and probably a lot longer before any improvements are made here. You know, just more of the same, real twisty and scenic road that rolls through the hills with old farms and ocean views. Stage rolls into a little town called Pescadero. Located about six miles from the ocean, it is a small town which dates back to the 19th century. My understanding that Duarte’s Tavern comes highly recommended. Also nearby is the Pigeon Point Lighthouse.
We are now back on Highway 1 southbound back to Pacific Grove. We have to go through Santa Cruz and the five o’clock traffic. Thank the heavens for lane splitting. We get back to the motel get cleaned up and the whole bunch of us walk down the beach to Monterey and Cannery Row for dinner. It is a little over a mile and you can see all the tidal pools and the Seals and Sea Lions just laying around actually getting ready to nod off for the night. Cannery Row is in full swing. We have dinner at Bullwackers Pub. After dinner we walk up and down the row taking in the bikes parked up and down the street. They have this one little area that some real exotic stuff. We walk along the beach back to the motel and at night you can see the lights along the shoreline all the way up to Santa Cruz. There are fishing boats with their lights on in the bay. We get back to the motel and Javier breaks out some Sierra Nevada and we talk about the days ride and what we should do next year.
It is Friday and we get up real early so we can get breakfast and head to the track. We go to the usual the Breakfast Club. All the AMA teams are there except the riders so is Dunlop tire. The track is just down the road but because they changed how we entered we have to get on Highway 1 ride a ways around which is 14 miles. We get to the track and the sun is already blasting and there is very little shade. Practice starts early and class after class goes out. Kenny Roberts Jr. leads the practice today. In the only race of the day Eric Bostrom wins the Formula Extreme. Both Eric and Ben have done quite well at this track. I know Eric has won some AMA Superbike races there and Ben has won both AMA and World Superbike races, doing a double a few years back there.
Ben Spies has been remarkable on the AMA Superbike this year and takes the pole for Saturday’s race. It’s time to leave and we ride out with a lot of others. And the funny thing is the younger riders can not contain themselves on the ride back doing wheelies and such. We stop at a light at the freeway entrance ramp to Highway 1 southbound for Monterey. Now mostly youngsters, we wait as some start winding up their engines. We join in egging them on. We see the CHP on the overpass directly above us, they don’t. Light turns green off we go the youngsters dropping the hammer. And flapping in the breeze are their tee shirts with this one girl up and around, causing some distraction. CHP signals the moto cops on the next entrance. As we get down the freeway four moto cops just blow by us lights flashing weaving in and out of traffic and nail the youngster’s way out in front, there is about eleven of them pulled over. We get back to the motel, clean up round everyone together and go to this Pizza joint were you order and then they bring to you. On the walls are pictures of famous people and people-people with the owner. So many it would be no wonder that your picture is up there or maybe yours. Robin Williams is. Good pie. Back to the motel, kick back watch the sun set on the ‘porch’.
It’s Saturday and the same routine as yesterday. At breakfast Larry Lovsome is there with the RC-45 that has the NASA foam seat. The sun is blasting away again today at the track, right around 90º by afternoon. Nicky Hayden records the fastest time in practice, but after qualifying it is Chris Vermeulen who puts himself in the pole position for tomorrow’s USGP. Ben Spies dominates the AMA Superbike Race. Some more shenanigans on the way back to the motel with a whole new group learning the ways of the California Highway Patrol. After cleaning up we go down to Cannery Row and it is happening tonight. Tomorrow is ‘race day’ and to secure a good spot overlooking turn two we have to get there early.
Sunday morning Javier and I get there at 7am and get a good spot but we have to wait a couple of hours for the rest to show up. We darn near have to physically fend off people trying to freeload into our spot. There is one USGP practice before the race and because it is getting so hot out they move the race forward and move back the AMA Supersport and Superstock races which were both won by the way by Jamie Hacking. They move the USGP up because the heat is starting break up some of the new asphalt that was laid down. Well most of us think that Nicky may not do it this time starting a lot farther back, but as they came down into Turn two, Nicky was right in the thick of it and by the 18th lap he passed Vermeulen to take the lead for good. Two years in a row Hayden takes the checkered flag. As we leave I notice that this year it was much easier for us to go to and from the track but people taking the buses it was a nightmare. The road buckled in some places from the heat and the heavy buses on it.
Monday morning we meet the LA gang and their ring leader John Alexander at a gas station just north of Carmel Highlands on Highway 1. Another tradition on these trips is to have breakfast at the Deetjens Big Sur Inn, located in the heart of Big Sur. There are about eight of us including a Sportster. The whole ride down except when we went inland was foggy, real foggy which made it hard close the face shield would become covered with cloud droplets. We roll through the little burg of Big Sur. The sign says it all ‘Relax you are in Big Sur.’ About five miles later after going turn after turn knowing that you could go right by this place with the visibility as it is, we make it with the help of the crazy front runners standing on the side of the road waving us down. John has the big room reserved for us. Deetjens was built back in the 30’s. Tradition also is to order the stuffed Sourdough French toast with blackberries and cream cheese. ‘It is to die for’ as John traditionally tells the ones who never had it before. I met John on the VFR list about six years ago. We get going and head south down Highway 1 to Cambria. Before Cambria, right off the highway is San Simeon State Park where you can see the Sea Lions sunning themselves. Up in the hills you can see the Hearst Castle. In Cambria we get off Highway 1 and go down Main Street which turns into Santa Rosa Creek Road.
This road is another one of them thar goat trails, where the quality is poor at best. But the scenery is best with a great view of the Pacific Ocean. This is just another road that is found in Pashnit with great pictures and 3-D maps. Rosa Creek stops at Highway 46 and we go east to Paso Robles. Groan it’s getting really hot out now as we stop for gas. It is 112º and it really takes it out of you. After drinking our guts full of water we get on Highway 101 down to San Margarita and get on Highway 58 and ride it ‘backwards’. That’s 82 miles of now lefts are rights, rights are lefts and ups are downs and no service. We arrive in Taft where it’s about 115º we stop at a gas station that a sign says ‘Welcome Race Fans’. The owner has this irrigation thing set up with water misting down over where you can park your motorcycle. She had big tubs of iced down water and Gatorade. I am whipped and we are not even half way home yet. But we are refreshed and for awhile and we will be up in higher elevations on the Mil Portero-Cerro Noroeste Roads and it’s another backwards ride. We stop in Lebec for gas, drinks and lunch. We take Interstate 5 until we get to Gorman and take Gorman Post Road to Highway 138 eastbound very briefly then on to N2 or Pine Canyon Rd.
This road also follows the San Andreas Rift so it’s very twisty and canyon like and once through Lake Hughes it becomes Elizabeth Lake Rd which is more sweeping and fast. These roads I cannot find on Pashnit and they should be one would think. We end up in Palmdale and it is 5pm and it is time again for gas but it has slightly cooled off at about 95º. We take Highway 138 to Fort Tejon Road / Valyrmo Road / Big Pines Road. It starts off a pretty straight road and then you start doing some mountain climbing with some hairpins thrown in for good measure. A look back and you can see a great photo op, hazy ridge line after ridge line as the sun is only about an hour from setting. Turn after turn the trees are getting larger and now you are in the Angles Forest at around 7000ft and soon on Highway 2/Angles Crest Highway heading for Wrightwood. In Wrightwood we find Lone Pine Canyon Rd which is also on the fault line. But this one goes down hill fast all the way down to Interstate 15 and from here the one painful ride in traffic where each mile goes on forever. Javier splits off to Riverside, so long buddy till next year, the lucky bastard has only a few miles to go. Leo and still have about an hour of torture left before us.
It is well past sunset and we stop for gas in Temecula and it is funny out of our mouths at the same time we remove our helmets ‘Hell never again.’ As in we will never again try and ride that stretch again in one day. The only thing that makes this moment better is chocolate milk and a big Snickers bar. We went for 475 miles on some real hardcore roads in miserable hot conditions in a 14 hour time frame. And to be truthful it really burned me out to the point where I don’t think I have ridden more then about 50 miles since You might not think so but I’ll be ready to go again come next year, because I’m already dreaming about it.
Pictures at:
http://www.stingerb.com/motorcyclepage.html
A lot of these roads I mention can be found using Google Earth.
Some good websites:
http://www.deetjens.com/home.htm
http://www.pashnit.com
http://www.posthoc.com/pescadero.htm
http://www.canneryrow.com/
REMEMBER
It doesn't pay a reward, but your articles will be appreciated by all your fellow members and your local editor AND you will earn points toward the SMOTY Award! If nothing else - you'll get to see your name in print, somewhere other than on the Post Office bulletin board!
A special thanks to Dave Botsford for the article featured this month!
MICHIGAN SQUADRON RIDING EVENTS - 2007
One of the traditions of the Michigan Squadron of the HSTA is to organize a few events each year specifically for our State Squadron. These events are not sanctioned or official events of the HSTA, but are limited to those who are current members of the HSTA. Details for the 2007 schedule are still developing; however, you can mark your calendars and start planning for the following:
May 16 - 19, 2007
Mountain Brook Resort
Sylva, NC
A Michigan Squadron Hallmark - 11 years and counting -- May in the Smokies! Ride Headquarters will be at the Mountain Brook Lodge near Sylva, NC at the edge of the Great Smoky Mountains - (605 miles from the I-75 I-275 interchange). We'll be riding on the best roads found in Western NC, North GA and Eastern TN for three glorious days. This event has limited space and reservations are required. There is space for approximately 25 people, with accommodations in cabins ranging from a private bedroom to hide-a-beds and rollaway beds.
GENERAL RESERVATION - $ 165.00 + $ 15.00 = $ 180.00
Covers lodging, taxes and landfill fee only for the 4 nights. You will be given your choice of cabin and sleeping arrangement (bedroom or hide-a-bed) in the order in which your reservation is received. The additional $ 15.00 covers a catered dinner at Mountain Brook - on Saturday evening - our last night there.
STATUS:
There are 3 General Reservation spaces left at the resort at this time - we have 24 people signed up to stay at Mountain Brook so far and 10 people who intend to stay off site.
If you'd like to attend this event there are three alternatives --
Contact me and check for space at the resort. If there is something still available I’ll ask you to send me a check ASAP. If all the space is taken, I’ll put you on the "Stand-By List". I would contact you if there is a cancellation at the resort.
Contact me and request one of the added cost options at the resort that are listed below. You would need to send me your money for the reservation and I would secure the spot at the resort for you.
Find and reserve a Motel/Hotel room for yourself off-site from the resort. You would still need to contact me and advise if you are planning on going to the event, but you will be staying off-site. If you wish to join us for the traditional Thursday evening picnic and the Saturday evening BBQ at the resort, you will need to send me $ 15.00 per person per dinner prior to the event taking place ($ 30.00 per person for BOTH dinners)
The added cost optional space left at the resort is the following:
# 7 Mini Romancer - Queen Size Bed, Whirlpool Tub - For Couple - $ 555.00 for 4 nights
Romancer Cabins $ 650.00 ea. for 4 nights
# 12 King Size Bed, Whirlpool and Sauna, Covered Parking
# 14 King Size Bed, Whirlpool and Sauna, on hilltop w/ gravel drive, Covered Parking
NOTE - Add $ 15.00 per person to the above pricing for the Saturday night dinner.
Local Motels / Hotels
In Sylva / Dillsboro - 8 - 9 miles north of MB
Holiday Inn Express, Azalea Motel, Comfort Inn, Blue Ridge Motel, Best Western River Escape Inn
In Franklin - 8 - 9 miles south of MB
Days Inn, Hampton Inn, Microtel
Hocking Hills Twisty Tour
Lancaster, Ohio, June 1 - 3, 2007
Event Organizers – Don and Janet Pennington
Details to be announced soon!
HALACIOUS 9.1
Vienna, WV – July 20 – 22, 2007
Event Organizers – Hal and Donna Kramer
Details to be announced soon!
M.O.B. - 2007
Michigan's Ohio Blitz – 2006
Sept. 14 - 16, 2006, SE Ohio
Event Organizer – Gregg Mitchell
Details to be announced!
HAZARDOUS TOUR
Hazard, KY, Oct. 4 - 7, 2007
Event Organizer – Gregg Mitchell
Details to be announced!
January 27, 2007
Michigan HSTA Monthly Meeting
Moe’s – Wixom, MI
8:30 AM
April 13 – 15, 2007
HSTA T-19 Ride – Mena, Arkansas
June 24 – 27, 2007
STAR – Ashville, NC
Registration Information is available in your latest STAReview! This event is shaping up to be one of the best and biggest STAR events ever. Register Early!
NEW FOR 2007
MEMBERSHIP RECOGNITION AWARDS
All Michigan HSTA Squadron Members are invited to participate in the Membership Recognition Awards Program that we are starting this year. The plan is to track activities and volunteer efforts of all the members during the year and present awards for outstanding achievement at an Awards Banquet at the end of the year or early in 2008. The Awards Banquet may be combined with the post-motorcycle show dinner.
Following are the categories that have been designated for awards at this time:
New Member Recruiter of the Year
Perfect Meeting Attendance 2007
Most Events Attended 2007
In addition there will be a Squadron Member of the Year Award. Points will be earned by each Member towards the SMOTY Award according to the following schedule.
Attend a meeting - 1 Point, 1.5 Points if you ride
Attend an Official HSTA *EVENT - 3.5 Points
Attend a Michigan Mostly *EVENT - 3 Points
A Published Article in the Michigan Newsletter - 2 Points - Limit of 4 Articles in the year towards the award
Recruit a new Squadron Member - 3 Points, Limit of three recruitments per Member in the year towards the SMOTY award only
Organize an *EVENT for the Squadron - 5 Points - Limit of 1 per Member in the year towards the award
Organize a *GROUP ACTIVITY for the Squadron - 3 Points - Limit of 2 per Member in the year towards the award
*SD Bonus - 2 Points - Limit of one per Member during the year
Note the following: An *EVENT is defined as a multi day ride. These include but are not limited to the following:
T Ride (HSTA) - April
MMM9 - May
H2T2 - June
STAR (HSTA) - June
Halacious 9.1 - July
Mail Pouch Fly-By (HSTA) - August
MOB - September
River City Ride (HSTA) - September
Women's Ride - TBD
Hazard Tour - October
(HSTA) - denotes an Official AMA Sanctioned National HSTA Event
A * GROUP ACTIVITY is considered to be a single day get together or ride. This may include a cookout, lunch ride, after meeting ride etc. In order to earn credit you must present a clear case of organizing and putting the activity together. The customary "Breakfast Run" to Pinckney will not be included
*SD Bonus will be awarded at the discretion of the State Director to volunteers or organizers of other activities or services that benefit the Squadron.
RULES
The Member with the most points at the end of the year will be Michigan's SMOTY
The State Director / Newsletter Editor is NOT eligible for this award
The SMOTY Award cannot be won by the same individual 2 years in a row
For the individual(s) listed below - this will be your last Michigan Newsletter if you don't renew within the next 30 days AND advise me with a call or email. If you feel this information is in error - call me. If you wish to renew and need a form, let me know and I'll send you one or print out the copy at the HSTA Website -------- www.ridehsta.com
We're going to miss you if you don't renew
Marshall Montgomery,
Farmington Hills
Current Squadron Membership – 113
The HSTA Michigan Squadron and Newsletter belong to you - the Membership. Both of them can only be as good and as interesting as you make it --- so take the time once and awhile and contribute. If you've got something to say about a ride, your bike, perhaps a trip you’re planning - whatever -- send it in for the newsletter – To:
Gregg Mitchell, 2998 Powderhorn Ridge, Rochester Hills, MI 48309 MI_HSTA@voyager.net
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