Southern California: A hidden gem.

The staff at Motorquest were very helpful and efficient. The bike was ready and prepped when we arrived (Eagle Rider - please note) and the paperwork was quick and efficient. They turned out to know Kevin and Julia at Globebusters and Nigel Richardson through his guiding work in Alaska. Adventure Bike riding really is a small world.

They asked where we were heading and I outlined a route up the Pacific Coast Highway, the world famous Route 1. Graham and I had ridden it in 2008 in dense fog so, while I can say I've ridden it, it doesn't really count if you couldn't see the ocean at any point. So this time I thought I'll do it properly and Sue can enjoy it too.

It's shut. A major landslide near the southern end that will take a year or more to clear and a bridge out near the north end. So definitely no way through.

Motoquest suggested a few routes and recommended I bought some Butler maps. Butler maps are designed by bikers for bikers and show all the good motorcycling roads and grade them as G1 to G3. Link them together and you've got a route.

That's why we are in Ojai. The road north is the Maricopa Highway. Widely regarded as one of the top motorcycle rides in California. It climbs to 5100 feet, twisting through the canyons of the Los Padre National Forest. Then down and past the nodding donkey oil wells to Taft and then 70 miles without a truck stop or gas station over two ranges on the Carissa Highway. 

Finally arriving after a long but exhilarating ride at Cambria on the Pacific coast where Sue found us a charming B&B, Happy Hour with fellow guests, dinner and bed.

Tomorrow we head north, but not via Route 1. A rather more indirect route....



Comments

  1. Graham5 June 2017 at 00:22

    Have fun and stay safe. Keep it shiny side up! Gx

    ReplyDelete

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