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the darth peach rides on .....and then some......
I've yet to find an explanation for why we all fell in love with the motorcycle.
For some it's an identity. For some it's a means of transportation. But for all, it is a source of joy and great contentment. A chance, for those moments inside the helmet when nothing else matters, to think of nothing else but what lay ahead.....and sometimes, directly ahead............ With that, I invite you on my latest journey. Kind of an unplanned, head clearing one. San Francisco to Hwy 1 up towards Eureka. to Petaluma (home for a few days to work) Up to N. Lake Tahoe over to Yosemite and Mammoth and home, solo over the Sonora Pass 108. (that was one of my favorite parts) http://thedarthpeach.smugmug.com/pho...0_P4itN-XL.jpg I'LL BE ADDING PICS AND STORIES REGULARLY TO THIS THREAD, AS I'M ALWAYS FINDING ANOTHER COOL ROAD TO RIDE ON!!! So. Cal trip starts post #406 (page 28 for some) 7/25/2010 BRITISH COLUMBIA, HYDER-ALASKA, VANCOUVER ISLAND #7102 (page 474 for some) It started with a small dinner set for ghostryder, aka Jay, who rode his 1200gs from Atlanta, Ga to Ca. Just Sean, best known in some social circles as, well, 'Sean', got a few ADV riders together to welcome Jay. His ride report http://www.advrider.com/forums/showthread.php?t=380898 As usual, I was late having come from HERE (Got on 880 instead of 680) and ended up sitting all the way at the other end of the table from Jay. Didn't really get much of a chance to chat. http://thedarthpeach.smugmug.com/pho...2_z7hm3-XL.jpg Close to the end of the meal I asked him where he was headed next.... http://thedarthpeach.smugmug.com/pho...1_xHZCG-XL.jpg 'North' he replied. Well, I live north so I offered to ride with him as far as my town or a little farther if need be. I tossed out the idea to stop in San Francisco first and see the city at night and cross over the Golden Gate bridge when the towers are lit up.... Jay, game. As I quickly learn, is pretty much his MO. Here we go.........The first portion of the pics are not so great.....bear with me...... http://thedarthpeach.smugmug.com/pho...2_JL6e2-X2.jpg At the top of Lombard saying 'hello' to everyone http://thedarthpeach.smugmug.com/pho...8_ZKoAL-X2.jpg Must sacrifice the body for the art. (you'll see plenty of this on the jaunt north and east......) http://thedarthpeach.smugmug.com/pho...6_NmEr6-X2.jpg http://thedarthpeach.smugmug.com/pho...9_CEAY6-X2.jpg Of course had to show him Broadway..... Kid in a candy store? http://thedarthpeach.smugmug.com/pho...4_7zmna-X2.jpg Lets get out of here!! http://thedarthpeach.smugmug.com/pho...36_xbS4p-M.jpg Heading north over the GGB....... http://thedarthpeach.smugmug.com/pho...1_7zonC-XL.jpg |
So Jay decides to grab a hotel in Petaluma and we agree to meet for breakfast in the AM. I take him out to Pt Reyes to eat at my beloved Pine Cone diner via the D st extention from Petaluma aka the Pt Reyes-Petaluma Rd.
We stop at the Nicasio Resevoir for some pics........... http://thedarthpeach.smugmug.com/pho...2_u5mpH-XL.jpg http://thedarthpeach.smugmug.com/pho...53_krhao-L.jpg The most interesting thing as I came to learn, was to see all of this through someones eyes that hasn't seen it before..... Up to the Tahoe part, a lot of the coast in the next series of pics is something I see almost every day. I was inspired to look closely at the things I take for granted.even on a muggy day....... Happy to have Wi-Fi and food... http://thedarthpeach.smugmug.com/pho...55_aXQ9u-L.jpg So at breakfast he asks how far north am I going to ride? I shrugged my shoulders and said, Tomales, I guess......about 30 min north of here on 1. Onward............ http://thedarthpeach.smugmug.com/pho...3_fpLnN-XL.jpg Tomales Bay http://thedarthpeach.smugmug.com/pho...98_L33mh-L.jpg GENUINE EXCITEMENT !! Very catchy........ http://thedarthpeach.smugmug.com/pho...1_LigLm-XL.jpg Heading north past Bodega Bay.. http://thedarthpeach.smugmug.com/pho...9_Cwnij-XL.jpg http://thedarthpeach.smugmug.com/pho...52_hGN5S-L.jpg Stopping to see if another rider needs help........ http://thedarthpeach.smugmug.com/pho...33_eDucs-L.jpg Turns out he's just another FF..... http://thedarthpeach.smugmug.com/pho...51_idqAP-L.jpg Onward......... Nobody is safe from the squish.... http://thedarthpeach.smugmug.com/pho...48_GCy5Z-L.jpg Jay coming around the bend......... http://thedarthpeach.smugmug.com/pho...0_G2xiR-XL.jpg |
So by now as you can tell I pitched the idea of stopping at Tomales........
Still was unsure how far I was going to go.......... But was having fun, so......................... Some harley riders from Colorado.....first time (day) seeing the pacific ocean........ http://thedarthpeach.smugmug.com/pho...09_oqXpL-L.jpg Le Tigre....... http://thedarthpeach.smugmug.com/pho...62_xxxRD-L.jpg Not Le Tigre http://thedarthpeach.smugmug.com/pho...68_rdbYz-L.jpg |
Day 2 on to the redwoods........
http://thedarthpeach.smugmug.com/pho...7_ajXtR-XL.jpg
Ghostryder posing for the 'I was here' shot..... http://thedarthpeach.smugmug.com/pho...99_3eH5C-L.jpg More sacrificing the body...... http://thedarthpeach.smugmug.com/pho...10_Vm3bM-L.jpg http://thedarthpeach.smugmug.com/pho...44_xcVZ6-L.jpg THe CHEESY 'must do' ride through the tree....... http://thedarthpeach.smugmug.com/pho...81_o6449-L.jpg Ya, well, we're both guilty............ http://thedarthpeach.smugmug.com/pho...83_yNJK7-L.jpg And this is where I had to split and go home and take care of business........ http://thedarthpeach.smugmug.com/pho...79_uNtGc-L.jpg http://ghostryder.smugmug.com/photos...73_ed9pF-L.jpg GR continued on to the lost coast and then Tahoe where I met up with him and his buddies a few day later to ride to Yosemite..... B-lining back down 101. Better camera to follow......... http://thedarthpeach.smugmug.com/pho...86_iHWuQ-L.jpg |
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On My Way To N. Lake Tahoe
I had been up working since 4am and it was now 6:30 pm. Still had about 90 minutes to go and needed a push.....
I had no idea how long it would take to really get there and when I asked the gas station attendant who's first language was not that of the english one, about how far was it to N LT he said 'yes, tahoe that way'..... Figured I'd grab a snack......... Dinner of champions..... http://thedarthpeach.smugmug.com/pho...66_wRaYE-L.jpg This, a great dinner and 4 of the funniest guys you've ever met were waiting for me when I finally arrived........ http://thedarthpeach.smugmug.com/pho...51_yg4b8-L.jpg http://thedarthpeach.smugmug.com/pho...66_EqND8-L.jpg Tristan, my new best friend......... http://thedarthpeach.smugmug.com/pho...85_Lv9HD-L.jpg Silent Greg, who is anything but..........:D http://thedarthpeach.smugmug.com/pho...79_euBzV-L.jpg Brian, always conducting business...... http://thedarthpeach.smugmug.com/pho...57_5yKGQ-M.jpg OK. So on to the next day......... Nick, Jay and I decide to take a morning loop around the lake......... It is breathtaking when you see how blue the water is....almost like the Carribean............. http://thedarthpeach.smugmug.com/pho...0_bu467-XL.jpg Another rider we met when we stopped.......... http://thedarthpeach.smugmug.com/pho...09_Kco5V-L.jpg The Bikes........ http://thedarthpeach.smugmug.com/pho...77_cNpiR-L.jpg The trio du jour http://thedarthpeach.smugmug.com/pho...11_EWzVD-L.jpg THE bike............ http://thedarthpeach.smugmug.com/pho...39_DTuen-L.jpg Onward around the lake....... http://thedarthpeach.smugmug.com/pho...05_3efT5-L.jpg http://thedarthpeach.smugmug.com/pho...51_vDeDi-L.jpg http://thedarthpeach.smugmug.com/pho...71_CJ9aG-L.jpg Just before the back of his pants got wet........... http://thedarthpeach.smugmug.com/pho...51_tpjG4-L.jpg Hate it when that happens! http://thedarthpeach.smugmug.com/pho...17_GH8nf-L.jpg http://thedarthpeach.smugmug.com/pho...30_op5Nw-L.jpg The macro works on the new camera......the knees of my suit.......... http://thedarthpeach.smugmug.com/pho...95_BW4Mr-L.jpg |
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Fabulous riding Darth Peach! :thumb
:lurk |
Subscribed!
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Looks like a lot of fun!
Very nice. Mark H. |
Off to lunch..........
The lovely Mono Lake.......
(last pic before lunch.we were on a mission.......) http://thedarthpeach.smugmug.com/pho...94_zRbuC-L.jpg So we stop at the famed Mobil station on 120 before you head in to the park and the first thing we see is this guy. All I can say is if you're going to commit, might as well go all the way......:lol3 http://thedarthpeach.smugmug.com/pho...34_X5vyh-L.jpg This is by far, the most expensive ceasar salad I've ever had!! Shy of the dressing not being made fresh in front of me, it was perfect, though. http://thedarthpeach.smugmug.com/pho...97_rEErw-L.jpg This little guy seemed to think so as well...... N/C for the extra protien ....... http://thedarthpeach.smugmug.com/pho...57_KDtra-L.jpg The travel genious hard at work....... http://thedarthpeach.smugmug.com/pho...75_SgrhD-L.jpg This is where I made a phone call to figure out some cool routes, but managed to toss my notes with the dishes and promptly lost cell service..... Big deal.........we're winging it anyway!!:clap This is a side road we launched down off of 395........... http://thedarthpeach.smugmug.com/pho...32_kRMAj-L.jpg http://thedarthpeach.smugmug.com/pho...18_8AJFp-L.jpg There.........ish.......... http://thedarthpeach.smugmug.com/pho...30_xktyk-L.jpg For the really good ones go here...... http://www.advrider.com/forums/showpost.php?p=7852650&postcount=66 One of several of the back of GR's bike.. But I kept at it because the scenery was so beautiful and he was in the way:lol3 Actually, it was a great pleasure to have such a cool person to travel with. I usually ride solo a lot, so this was a new adventure indeed!! http://thedarthpeach.smugmug.com/pho...31_4K5ns-L.jpg More beauty..... http://thedarthpeach.smugmug.com/pho...47_Vpeuq-L.jpg http://thedarthpeach.smugmug.com/pho...27_GgTZL-L.jpg We stopped a lot for pictures!! After a few days I could anticipate the stop, but usually it came when I was in 3rd gear and had just pulled my camera out and turned it on!:lol3 I got good at pulling the clutch in with my pinky while holding the camera!! I just had to laugh.......... Everything was so picture worthy I wondered when I was going to run out of space on my card............ http://thedarthpeach.smugmug.com/pho...19_dAGfN-L.jpg GR showing me some tricks....... http://thedarthpeach.smugmug.com/pho...4_V5Vy9-XL.jpg Taking 3 ........... http://thedarthpeach.smugmug.com/pho...33_3CED4-L.jpg Around June Lake...... http://thedarthpeach.smugmug.com/pho...92_oWzLs-L.jpg Lots of these little flowers everywhere.......... http://thedarthpeach.smugmug.com/pho...16_kE5H2-L.jpg Bye June Lake!.......short but scenic loop...... http://thedarthpeach.smugmug.com/pho...42_bRvfr-L.jpg OK, lets go in to the park and see what all the fuss is about.... Shall we??!! http://thedarthpeach.smugmug.com/pho...98_zp5bJ-L.jpg |
Tioga pass ca120
http://thedarthpeach.smugmug.com/pho...40_5VHVf-L.jpg
http://thedarthpeach.smugmug.com/pho...82_qBbPm-L.jpg This is where bigfoot lives......... http://thedarthpeach.smugmug.com/pho...66_Ws4gQ-L.jpg NIce quiet little pond..... http://thedarthpeach.smugmug.com/pho...10_v74Fr-L.jpg Park residant.... http://thedarthpeach.smugmug.com/pho...97_cMpux-L.jpg And then we show up........... http://thedarthpeach.smugmug.com/pho...28_kGj87-L.jpg Sometimes you just have to look up...... http://thedarthpeach.smugmug.com/pho...98_gtVJK-L.jpg Just as I, GR was constantly amazed at what we were seeing....... http://thedarthpeach.smugmug.com/pho...62_nnf3w-L.jpg Tuolome Meadows.. .. http://thedarthpeach.smugmug.com/pho...90_rUVnN-L.jpg http://thedarthpeach.smugmug.com/pho...81_HC4gq-L.jpg http://thedarthpeach.smugmug.com/pho...7_7yFzG-XL.jpg Just mucking around in the water looking for more cool shots......... http://thedarthpeach.smugmug.com/pho...55_eVhAQ-L.jpg At tenaya lake.... http://thedarthpeach.smugmug.com/pho...50_r2mEq-L.jpg http://thedarthpeach.smugmug.com/pho...34_yewEN-L.jpg The bounty hunters finally caught up to GR!!:lol3 Nah..just giving these guys a route/hotel suggestion! http://thedarthpeach.smugmug.com/pho...68_dYvwG-L.jpg It's that commitment thing again.......... http://thedarthpeach.smugmug.com/pho...02_A5jgj-L.jpg I'll just stick to white OR black !!!!! http://thedarthpeach.smugmug.com/pho...31_UfMo4-L.jpg |
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Wow :sweeti Nice report!
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