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  • Back roads to Monterey

    I've been "beating the bushes" for the last several weeks to find enough work to keep my head above water I finally got a lead on a big wood floor re-finish job, (yeah!) Unfortunately it was 60 miles away, (boo!) 60 miles away in Monterey! (Woo hoo!) DiverRay and I haven't been able to get together for a Sunday ride in a while and this seemed like a good chance. It was supposed to be a beautiful weekend, and I wanted to take the back roads on the way down. My appointment was for 2:00 PM in Seaside, a suburb of Monterey. Ray wanted to be back in Aptos (a suburb of Santa Cruz,) so he could watch some big deal football game at the Windjammer at 3:00. To make all this work we had to be on the road, from his place in Aptos, by 11:00 AM.

    I got out of my place at 10:00 AM. It was actually chilly, hovering around 30 degrees. I had my crotch-high motocross socks on, a sweater, my mesh jacket, lined leather jacket, scarf, watch cap (under helment,) and leather gauntlets. As I road the 15 miles down Hwy. 9 through the redwoods to the lower elevation of Santa Cruz it warmed up considerably, and by the time I road the extra 5 or 6 miles along Monterey Bay down Hwy. 1 to Aptos and DiverRays, I was feeling positively overdressed.


    Close up of a redwood tree



    Monterey is only a quick 45 minute jam down Hwy. 1 from Aptos, and this ride is nothing to sneeze at. The views of the Bay, and Elkhorn Slough are breathtaking, especially for some one seeing them for the first time. But the road itself is rather mundane, and I really love the bucolic farms and orchards in an area called Coralitas that is north of Watsonville. The roads are two lane blacktop that wind over hill and dale at a leisurely 45 mph slowing to 20 mph on some curves. Watsonville is the home of Martinelli apple juices and hard cider, by the way.


    The rolling farmland of Coralitos



    Wow! Jusat think of the, er, ah, tomatoes, yeah, tomatoes you could grow in one of those!



    We eventually came out on Hwy 129, took it for a few miles East to Aromas, a quaint little community where the newest house is probably at least 20 years old. I kind of lost tract of the roads since Ray was leading, but we eventually came out on the legendary Hwy 101. There we turned South and let our bikes stretch for a while, winding up to 75, even 80 Mph. to Salinas, where we got onto Hwy 68.

    The slums of Aromas




    68 would have taken us into Monterey, but I talked Ray into taking another side road that he had introduced me to on another ride some time ago. Laureles Grade Rd took us up, up, up and over a scenic pass and down into the Carmel Valley: some of the most beatiful, and expensive real estate on the West Coast! This was two lane black top with center stripe but marginal shoulders: 55 mph slowing to 20 mph on occasional extreme curves.

    A couple of shots from Laureles Grade Rd






    Some how we eventually came out on Hwy 1 at Carmel. Unfortunately we didn't have time to stop in at "The Hogsbreath Inn," owned by Clint Eastwood. This place has the best nachos I have ever had, bar none! Carmel is quite the place for art. lovers: one can spend a whole day there gallery hopping. Well, Ray had this thing about wanting to see this football game at the Wind Jammer Bar, and it was 1:30 PM, so we parted company at my exit in Seaside where I had an appointment for an estimate. I won't bore you with business details.
    Around 3:00 I road to Fisherman's Wharf where my wife was at "work" plying her trade as a "quick sketch" portrait artist. While I was there I took a few shots with a Pentax camera that a fellow thespian had turned me on to as a reward for helping him rescue a disabled motorhome. Turns out it was a really nice camera!
    SWMBO at "work" plying her trade.




    One of the disreputable "deck hands..."




    The historic Monterey Customs House at the topof the warf.




    The Pleasure boat docks



    The backside of the warf




    I wanted to get back home before it started getting too dark and/or cold, so I headed back up Hwy 1 around 4:00. I got to the Wind Jammer just in time to get a beer out of Rays pitcher, and a free BBQ tri-tip dinner. The crowed was pumped! I hadn't seen a crowed this excited by a football game since my alma mater (Monterey High,) won their first victory over Lubbock High back in 1960. Anyway, I wanted to get home before it got too cold, or I got too... too, so I road back up Hwy.1 to Hwy 9 and back up through the redwoods to home, to watch the final quarter of what even a football cynic like me would have to admit was one hell of a good game!
    Y'know sometimes being self employed really sucks, but then there are other times...
    Last edited by Ken Talbot; 02-07-2009, 02:39 PM. Reason: image spacing to permit full size display
    Old bikers never die, they're just out of sight!

    My recently re-built, hopped up '79 Special caught fire and burned everything from the top of the engine up: gas tank, wiring, seat, & melted my windshield all over the front of the bike. Just bought a 1980 Special that has been non oped for 9 years. My Skoot will rise from the ashes and be re named "The Phoenix!"
    I've been riding since 1959.

  • #2
    Most awesome, Ed

    Love the pics!

    I miss that area SOOO much and keep telling John we need to get the kids out there sometime... This just lights the fire a bit more...

    There used to be a place (The Emporium?) somewhere along the wharf that was said to have the world's fastest carousel... took many rides on that thing...

    Do you know if it's still there?
    81 SH Something Special
    81 frame, 80 tank and side covers, 79 tail light and carbs, 78 engine, 750 final drive mod, Geezer rec/reg, 140 mains, LH wheels


    79 SF MEAUQABEAUXS
    81SH Nor'eas tah (Old Red)
    80 LG Black Magic
    78 E Standard Practice


    James 3:17

    If I can make at least one person smile, or pee their pants a little, or maybe spit out their drink; then my day is not wasted.

    “Alis Volat Propriis”

    Yamaha XS 1100 Classic
    For those on FB

    Comment


    • #3
      Glad you like the picks Kat. SWMBO wonders if you were thinking of the one that used to be on Cannery Row. it's gone, but there is a really great aquarium there now. Come on out!.
      Special Ed
      Old bikers never die, they're just out of sight!

      My recently re-built, hopped up '79 Special caught fire and burned everything from the top of the engine up: gas tank, wiring, seat, & melted my windshield all over the front of the bike. Just bought a 1980 Special that has been non oped for 9 years. My Skoot will rise from the ashes and be re named "The Phoenix!"
      I've been riding since 1959.

      Comment


      • #4
        That's the one!

        yes... it was on Cannery Row...
        Shame that it's gone now...

        it was a pretty cool place to go

        I spent a lot of time there and at the Monterey Bay Aquarium (also a very cool place to go) back in the late 80's early 90's...

        I always love the ride reports for that area and your pics are always appreciated for the memories they bring back... plus they're really cool...


        as for coming out... man is that ever tempting!
        81 SH Something Special
        81 frame, 80 tank and side covers, 79 tail light and carbs, 78 engine, 750 final drive mod, Geezer rec/reg, 140 mains, LH wheels


        79 SF MEAUQABEAUXS
        81SH Nor'eas tah (Old Red)
        80 LG Black Magic
        78 E Standard Practice


        James 3:17

        If I can make at least one person smile, or pee their pants a little, or maybe spit out their drink; then my day is not wasted.

        “Alis Volat Propriis”

        Yamaha XS 1100 Classic
        For those on FB

        Comment


        • #5
          Kat,
          If you can make it out with the rest of the Famn Damily, my SWMBO is a docent at the aquarium. She "works" every other Sunday afternoon, so she knows what is going to change, and when. You should also know the Aquarium is a LOT bigger than it was the last time you saw it.
          Cannery row has changed a LOT over the last 18 years! The early 80's I used to dive all over the area, and now I don't think you can shore dive. It doesn't bother me much, as I now dive from a boat.
          The roads we ride around here are great, in that most of the traffic is light. Ed and I each try to ride at least two hours a week just for the ride, plus all the "commute" rides we do looking for work, or working in Ed's case.
          Ray Matteis
          KE6NHG
          XS1100 E '78 (winter project)
          XS1100 SF Bob Jones worked on it!

          Comment


          • #6
            Hmmmmmmmmmm

            you have two bikes now... don't you Ray? We could always leave the kids at home...


            Definitely will keep it in mind... maybe the summer of 2010 would be good... John's days off this year aren't conducive to family vacations...

            I have a lot of family in the Long Beach area... would be nice to go visit and then take PCH up to your area... as long as the fog hasn't moved in...
            81 SH Something Special
            81 frame, 80 tank and side covers, 79 tail light and carbs, 78 engine, 750 final drive mod, Geezer rec/reg, 140 mains, LH wheels


            79 SF MEAUQABEAUXS
            81SH Nor'eas tah (Old Red)
            80 LG Black Magic
            78 E Standard Practice


            James 3:17

            If I can make at least one person smile, or pee their pants a little, or maybe spit out their drink; then my day is not wasted.

            “Alis Volat Propriis”

            Yamaha XS 1100 Classic
            For those on FB

            Comment


            • #7
              you have two bikes now... don't you Ray?
              Two running, two in need of repair.........
              I have a lot of family in the Long Beach area... would be nice to go visit and then take PCH up to your area... as long as the fog hasn't moved in...
              Try spring or fall. Summer is "tourist weather", and foggy!!
              Ray Matteis
              KE6NHG
              XS1100 E '78 (winter project)
              XS1100 SF Bob Jones worked on it!

              Comment

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