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Ghost Mountain Riders"First Daze O' Summer Run."
It was a dark and stormy night on the eve of the Ghost Mountain Riders "First Days of Summer" run. It had been storming for several days in the San Lorenzo Valley. Torrential rain, gusting winds, power outages, and all the other things that go along with extreme weather in the Santa Cruz mountains. There was even a twister reported touching down outside of Sacramento!
I checked the Ghost Mountain Riders website to see if there was a "raincheck" date, but it said "rain or shine." I remembered the run last year when we were treated to a dose of sleet on Summit Road, and a Harley bagger went off the road into the gutter. Fortunately nothing was hurt but the riders pride.
This year I'd say there were at least 600 bikes, and we all left at 11:30 A.M., on schedule, from the Troutfarm restaurant. I actually left early so I could position myself at the intersection of E. Ziante Rd., and Graham Hill Rd., to get a photograph of the "pack," and the Sheriff who was stopping traffic for us. I had just enough time to take a couple of shots, fold up my tripod and put away my camera, and make sure everything was strapped down to my bike before the last bike in the pack cruised by. In fact, the last bike was the Sheriff aboard an 1100 Beamer! He saw me taking pictures and waved me by to pass him. He didn't even mind that I had to speed to catch up. So, there I was, the second to the last bike in the pack, followed closely by a motorcycle cop. I found out later that he belonged to a club and was an avid enthusiast out of uniform, so he was having a field day being in our run and getting paid for it!
It's really a treat seeing people standing by the side of the road and reading their expressions: mostly positive, some envious, a few thumbs up, and the very occasional scowl from some motorist who is impatient to get across the stream of bikes to get somewhere. Oh well...
My speedometer broke a couple of months ago and I haven't gotten around to fixing it, so I'm just guessing at the miles and speed. The first portion of the run was on back roads and slow, say, 25 to 45 m.p.h., up and down hills, through dales, and bucolic glens until we reached Summit Rd., where another Sheriff stopped traffic for us. then we were able to burn a little carbon out of our pipes and get up to the breathtaking speed of 55 m.p.h. or so... occasionally.
The thrill of speed didn't last long, however. After we passed over the infamous Hwy. 17
(the major roadway connecting the Santa Cruz area with "The Silicone Valley,") we were on a section of Summit Road that made previous sections seem like the German Autobahn: single file, 25 m.p.h., shoulderless, blind curves, and breathtaking views of valleys and Christmas tree farms that could only be enjoyed with quick glances lest one run headlong into the occasional oncoming vehicle, or run off the road into the gutter!
We did eventually reach Hwy. 9, where everyone enjoyed being able to wined out our bikes on the long sweeping curves that characterize Hwy. 9 and make it such a popular playground for sport bikes and sport cars. We reached our stop at a scenic pullout in very short order, where we got to stretch, schmooze, and if we wanted, to draw cards for the "Poker Run." From this point on we were on our own to our final destination, Camp Krem, about 2 miles west of Boulder Creek up Hwy. 236.
Camp Krem, by the way, is a summer camp for the "developmentally disadvantaged." The Ghosties have a deal with the camp whereas they make a substantial contribution to them in exchange for being allowed to use the camp facilities, (cabins, cafeteria, lotsa parking space,) to party for the weekend.
The ride from this stop resumed on the scenic sweeping curves until the "upper end" of Hwy. 236 (A.K.A. "Big Basin Way,) where the road tuned into a challenging series of 25 m.p.h., sharply descending curves and switchbacks through the Redwoods, before straightening out somewhat (but only somewhat!) for the next 10 or 12 miles into Boulder Creek. Gotta get that cable fixed!
Boulder Creek is worth a whole article, but I want to get this posted, and after all, it is about the RIDE, is it not? So at the first, and only, stop sign in B.C. we turned right for a short (perhaps 2 mile,) run down the lower stretch of Hwy. 236 To Camp Krem.
I'm running out of time and space, (and scotch and ale,) and I covered the ride, except to say it was very well organized, attended by some of the oldest and baddest clubs around, (Top Hatters, Hells Angels, etc.,) all of whom got along and had a great time. Thanks Ghosties, see ya'll on yer "End of Summer Run!
See website Ghostmountainriders.com
I checked the Ghost Mountain Riders website to see if there was a "raincheck" date, but it said "rain or shine." I remembered the run last year when we were treated to a dose of sleet on Summit Road, and a Harley bagger went off the road into the gutter. Fortunately nothing was hurt but the riders pride.
This year I'd say there were at least 600 bikes, and we all left at 11:30 A.M., on schedule, from the Troutfarm restaurant. I actually left early so I could position myself at the intersection of E. Ziante Rd., and Graham Hill Rd., to get a photograph of the "pack," and the Sheriff who was stopping traffic for us. I had just enough time to take a couple of shots, fold up my tripod and put away my camera, and make sure everything was strapped down to my bike before the last bike in the pack cruised by. In fact, the last bike was the Sheriff aboard an 1100 Beamer! He saw me taking pictures and waved me by to pass him. He didn't even mind that I had to speed to catch up. So, there I was, the second to the last bike in the pack, followed closely by a motorcycle cop. I found out later that he belonged to a club and was an avid enthusiast out of uniform, so he was having a field day being in our run and getting paid for it!
It's really a treat seeing people standing by the side of the road and reading their expressions: mostly positive, some envious, a few thumbs up, and the very occasional scowl from some motorist who is impatient to get across the stream of bikes to get somewhere. Oh well...
My speedometer broke a couple of months ago and I haven't gotten around to fixing it, so I'm just guessing at the miles and speed. The first portion of the run was on back roads and slow, say, 25 to 45 m.p.h., up and down hills, through dales, and bucolic glens until we reached Summit Rd., where another Sheriff stopped traffic for us. then we were able to burn a little carbon out of our pipes and get up to the breathtaking speed of 55 m.p.h. or so... occasionally.
The thrill of speed didn't last long, however. After we passed over the infamous Hwy. 17
(the major roadway connecting the Santa Cruz area with "The Silicone Valley,") we were on a section of Summit Road that made previous sections seem like the German Autobahn: single file, 25 m.p.h., shoulderless, blind curves, and breathtaking views of valleys and Christmas tree farms that could only be enjoyed with quick glances lest one run headlong into the occasional oncoming vehicle, or run off the road into the gutter!
We did eventually reach Hwy. 9, where everyone enjoyed being able to wined out our bikes on the long sweeping curves that characterize Hwy. 9 and make it such a popular playground for sport bikes and sport cars. We reached our stop at a scenic pullout in very short order, where we got to stretch, schmooze, and if we wanted, to draw cards for the "Poker Run." From this point on we were on our own to our final destination, Camp Krem, about 2 miles west of Boulder Creek up Hwy. 236.
Camp Krem, by the way, is a summer camp for the "developmentally disadvantaged." The Ghosties have a deal with the camp whereas they make a substantial contribution to them in exchange for being allowed to use the camp facilities, (cabins, cafeteria, lotsa parking space,) to party for the weekend.
The ride from this stop resumed on the scenic sweeping curves until the "upper end" of Hwy. 236 (A.K.A. "Big Basin Way,) where the road tuned into a challenging series of 25 m.p.h., sharply descending curves and switchbacks through the Redwoods, before straightening out somewhat (but only somewhat!) for the next 10 or 12 miles into Boulder Creek. Gotta get that cable fixed!
Boulder Creek is worth a whole article, but I want to get this posted, and after all, it is about the RIDE, is it not? So at the first, and only, stop sign in B.C. we turned right for a short (perhaps 2 mile,) run down the lower stretch of Hwy. 236 To Camp Krem.
I'm running out of time and space, (and scotch and ale,) and I covered the ride, except to say it was very well organized, attended by some of the oldest and baddest clubs around, (Top Hatters, Hells Angels, etc.,) all of whom got along and had a great time. Thanks Ghosties, see ya'll on yer "End of Summer Run!
See website Ghostmountainriders.com
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!"