The West - 2nd time

[notarian]

Sometimes you gotta love airplanes. Tuesday was riding Scotland’s Aberdeenshire lowland / highlands, Wed was a flight to California and Thursday was riding the Santa Cruz Mountains – both riding days in brilliant sunshine.

The plan is a ride with daughter Chere' for a week south from Los Gatos and the southern Sierras starting in Bodfish and working our way north to Volcano. After which Chere' will ride back to Los Gatos and I'll go to Sacramento and hook up with Demenshea (Donna) for a 3 week, 6,000 mile ride to Jasper, Alberta via Idaho, Montana, Wyoming, Alberta, BC, Washington, Oregon and back to Los Gatos (Sac for Donna).

Tuesday. Ducati 1098S, Aberdeen to Strathdon, Scotland – the back way.

Joe wanted to visit a pal in Strathdon that he’d not seen for a year. It’s been great riding with Joe over the years as he used to live in Strathdon and knows every paved, dirt and trail in that part of the Highlands.

We took some outstanding back roads between the Dee and Don rivers. Orson and I were on or near some of these for our ride to the west coast and again last month for a ‘Castle’ day.

It’s all different and glorious when the sun is shining.

Cattle country with the highlands in the distance


River Don overlook at Strathdon




Morning coffee stop with Simon. Specialising in leather cases and superb workmanship.




Shop and house




Dirt track Guzzi






The Sentinel – Our motorcyclist guardian of Aberdeenshire roads. In 1914 two brothers were riding and one was killed in an accident. The surviving brother placed a memorial at the location. It’s a place we always stop to give our respects to an ancient motorbiker.

[notarian]

Thursday. KTM 950SM, Bear Creek – Big Basin – Black Rd, California

Time to reacquaint myself to the SM and a little tune up ride prior to Chere’ and I taking off for a week riding the Sierras before meeting Demenshea in Sacramento = nothing better than notching up a couple hundred miles in the Santa Cruz Mountains.

Bear Creek Road (Boulder Creek to Los Gatos) is my favourite SC mountain road and as of last year the top of the west section is brand new tarmac adding extra goodness to an already good road surface.






For some reason people think of Big Basin Redwoods as being smaller cousins from those along the Avenue of the Giants. But reality is that Big Basin’s redwoods are equally Giants. I know this first hand from having climbed them in Big Basin in 1969 topping and trimming out 200 – 300 foot tall redwoods.




Climbing out of Big Basin there’s more fresh and ultra-smooth tarmac


Once up onto the ridge, you can see just how forested the SC mountains are and why it became a logging paradise. Way off in the distance is Monterey Bay.


Black Road and although it isn’t all as smooth as this, it’s a mighty fine road.


Chere' and I will be off in a couple of days.

[Blunder]

Ahhhh, the Santa Cruz mountains, the place where I cut my riding teeth. There be some secret roads there and I'm not telling. Those of you that know, well, you know, keep a lid on it.

Thanks for the pics.  

[FJR-UK]

Lucky beggar! If you get a chance, check out this place in Pescadero:

http://www.duartestavern.com/

[notarian]

Lucky beggar! If you get a chance, check out this place in Pescadero:

http://www.duartestavern.com/

Green Chilli Soup!

[BwanaDik]

Your ride reports are great!  Keep them coming  

[Orson]

Scotland and Northern California?  

you retired folks are startin' to piss me off  

 

[viffergyrl]

Scotland and Northern California?  

you retired folks are startin' to piss me off  

 

 

[veefer800canuck]

Jasper, that's my backyard. 3 hours from my place.

If you get a chance, take a nip out to Miette Hot Springs, which is not far from Jasper. Bring your Speedo!

The road up to the hot springs is fairly entertaining, just watch out for Elk and tourists.




View Larger Map

[notarian]

I was chuffed to bits that Chere’ was taking a week holiday to ride with Dad. Chick, her brother Steve and his pal, Steve2, would do Sunday as far as King City. Chick would try for Friday off work and join us Thursday night for a couple days of riding near Sonora.

Hooking up with the Steve’s


Hwy 25 out of Holister


Followed by Lake Nacimiento, Chimney Rock, Vineyard, Hwy 229 and 58 into Taft (HOT = 114F)






 





114F


Chere' strafing Bodfish/Caliente


Climbing out of the Valley




100 Giants


Wrong turn and found ourselves in Deliverance Land


It was nice tho

[viffergyrl]

Taft. 114 degrees Fahrenheit. What a god-forsaken place. I can say that - I grew up there.  

But oil paid the bills.  

Great report and pictures - looking forward to the rest! Plus the Canadian trip with Donna.    

[veefer800canuck]

Holy crap, at that temp, the tar snakes would be real squiggly!!!

[notarian]

I knew I’d have to replace the rear tyre before setting off with Donna but thought it would last until Sacramento (6 days later). Even Werkstratt thought it would go another 1000 miles. Wrong = 2 days later it was well into the wear bars and I bought a rear in Visalia. This put us off course a tad, meaning we would bypass the ride into King’s Canyon. Just as well as a mountain squall blew in for an hour as we arrived at the King’s Canyon tourist centre. We spent an hour under the bus stop waiting for it to abate and finally dashed for the café.

The day before we passed Camp Nelson on 190 and the heavens opened up then too but after about 8 miles we were out of it and racing like idiots down a magnificent section of road into Springville. 190 = what a road!

Chere’ hadn’t been to Yosemite in two decades and fancied seeing it with all the high water crashing down the many falls. Yes, it was crowded but worth it.







More Yosemite




Two nights in Sonora and a big loop out to Cherry Lake via Cottonwood Rd, Cherry Lake Road (very nice tarmac), Ward’s Ferry.






Chick arrived Sonora that evening and the following day was spent riding Sonora, Monitor and Ebetts Passes and over Sheep Ranch to Volcano for the night.








Volcano Inn B&B

[veefer800canuck]

Oooh, if you like falls, and you're heading to Jasper, check out Takkakaw falls near Field BC. Emerald lake is also cool.

You can eat at the Truffle Pigs Bistro in Field, or the Emerald Lake Lodge.


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[Skee]

I realize that roads over there are narrow, but that shot kinda takes the cake.  

Thanks for sharing.  You've inspired me with a goal; a Ducati in retirement.

[notarian]

Chick and Chere’ headed home and I rode a half day with them on some terrific roads as far as Knights Ferry and the covered bridge. Then backtracked up O’Byrnes Ferry and Pool Station Roads and onto Gary and Donna’s in Sacramento.

Pardee Dam




Knights Ferry




The routes


View Directions to Taft in a larger map


View Directions to Springville, CA, United States in a larger map


View Directions to Auberry, CA, USA in a larger map


View Directions to Sonora, CA, USA in a larger map


View Directions to Sonora, CA, USA in a larger map


View Directions to Volcano, CA, United States in a larger map


View Volcano to Knights Ferry in a larger map

[1KPerDay]

Wow.  

[notarian]

Taft. 114 degrees Fahrenheit. What a god-forsaken place. I can say that - I grew up there.  

Too right, but Taft is the stop along our route to get to Bodfish/Caliente Road. The motel had a cold water pool and very refreshing. There's also a Thia restaurant in Taft that after 57 (or there about) trip advisor reviews is a 5 star! Closed on Sundays - wouldn't you know it, but there's a Mex next door to the motel. Must have rolled in around 5-6pm which is a good run from Los Gatos beginning at 8:30 and a stop at Steve's in Hollister for an hour.

[notarian]

Jasper, that's my backyard. 3 hours from my place.

If you get a chance, take a nip out to Miette Hot Springs, which is not far from Jasper. Bring your Speedo!

The road up to the hot springs is fairly entertaining, just watch out for Elk and tourists.




View Larger Map

Great suggestion and I know this now first hand. I'm a little behind in my reporting = Stayed at the Miette Hot Springs and the road to it is by far the best pure motorbike road we took in the first few days in Canada.

[viffergyrl]

Too right, but Taft is the stop along our route to get to Bodfish/Caliente Road. The motel had a cold water pool and very refreshing. There's also a Thia restaurant in Taft that after 57 (or there about) trip advisor reviews is a 5 star! Closed on Sundays - wouldn't you know it, but there's a Mex next door to the motel. Must have rolled in around 5-6pm which is a good run from Los Gatos beginning at 8:30 and a stop at Steve's in Hollister for an hour.

Well I can safely say there was no Thai restaurant prior to 1972 in Taft.   Post up a review and address if you don't mind please.   Me wee small mother abides in Bakersfield so when I visit on the bike... well I take the scenic route (aka 33, Lockwood Valley, Cerro 'NoArreste', 166/33... well you know the drill....)