I've had no internet access the past few days, not even any free wifi to poach. :(
Currently in Kanab UT for some lunch then off for the North Rim of the Grand Canyon, overnighting somewhere around there and then to Phoenix tomorrow.
I'll update more later.
Friday, September 29, 2006
Tuesday, September 26, 2006
A study in constrasts
Started the day with breakfast in Calistoga and looking up the nearest Suzuki dealer to get the bike serviced.
The Napa valley is pretty amazing, some incredibly old vineyards there, with buildings/tasting rooms that go beyond opulent.
The entire valley is scented with the sweetness of just crushed grapes. They're starting the fall crush and many vineyards have signs up stating "Crushing today" Suppose it's for the tourists benefit. I didn't stop to find out.
All too soon I was in Fairfield at the Suzuki dealership. In this case Stealership is an apt name given the price they charged me for an oil change. Oh well, it needed to be done. Found a great mexican place for lunch and then hit the road for Yosemite Nat'l Park. Back to the prairie land as I crossed the state just below Sacramento. This part of the state is a giant dust bowl, if it wasn't for aggressive irrigation, the place would truly be a desert. However, once east of Lodi and near the Camache reservoir the road started getting twisty. Much fun! I have to say DAMN! there's some twisty passes in this state. The road up to Priest was intense! Started out at 910ft above sea level and rose to 2500ft in that little bit of twistiness.
I made it to Yosemite just as dark was setting in, at that point I was already getting nervous due to a few bambi sightings along the way. They have a nasty habit of bolting in front of bikes and neither of us would win in a collision. Even more disturbing, rain was starting to drizzle in as I approached the gate station into the park. After chatting with the Ranger on duty about the temperature at night(getting down to +5C), the impending rain, the lack of restaurants/groceries for dinner, I decided to head back to Groveland, 39km west of the park. I'm now holed up in the Hotel Charlotte, got the last room too! Very cute place, definitely a "date place" for a return trip. :)
What was really amazing was once I started to climb into the mountains how the air changed. From smelling dust and the associated smells of dry grass, burnt off grass, to the smell of sage and pine trees. I've never smelt pine so intense as today(not counting opening a bottle of pine-sol)
A few pics from the past couple of days.
Between Redding and the Hwy 20 exit along the I5
...and the wine is bottled poetry
my poor broken crash bar
Don Pedro Lake
The Napa valley is pretty amazing, some incredibly old vineyards there, with buildings/tasting rooms that go beyond opulent.
The entire valley is scented with the sweetness of just crushed grapes. They're starting the fall crush and many vineyards have signs up stating "Crushing today" Suppose it's for the tourists benefit. I didn't stop to find out.
All too soon I was in Fairfield at the Suzuki dealership. In this case Stealership is an apt name given the price they charged me for an oil change. Oh well, it needed to be done. Found a great mexican place for lunch and then hit the road for Yosemite Nat'l Park. Back to the prairie land as I crossed the state just below Sacramento. This part of the state is a giant dust bowl, if it wasn't for aggressive irrigation, the place would truly be a desert. However, once east of Lodi and near the Camache reservoir the road started getting twisty. Much fun! I have to say DAMN! there's some twisty passes in this state. The road up to Priest was intense! Started out at 910ft above sea level and rose to 2500ft in that little bit of twistiness.
I made it to Yosemite just as dark was setting in, at that point I was already getting nervous due to a few bambi sightings along the way. They have a nasty habit of bolting in front of bikes and neither of us would win in a collision. Even more disturbing, rain was starting to drizzle in as I approached the gate station into the park. After chatting with the Ranger on duty about the temperature at night(getting down to +5C), the impending rain, the lack of restaurants/groceries for dinner, I decided to head back to Groveland, 39km west of the park. I'm now holed up in the Hotel Charlotte, got the last room too! Very cute place, definitely a "date place" for a return trip. :)
What was really amazing was once I started to climb into the mountains how the air changed. From smelling dust and the associated smells of dry grass, burnt off grass, to the smell of sage and pine trees. I've never smelt pine so intense as today(not counting opening a bottle of pine-sol)
A few pics from the past couple of days.
Between Redding and the Hwy 20 exit along the I5
...and the wine is bottled poetry
my poor broken crash bar
Don Pedro Lake
on the road again
no fixed crash guard, the suzuki dealership doesn't do their own welding, they shop it out and anything they send out takes a week!?!?!?!?
but a fresh oil change is a good start. I think I'll pop into a welding shop somewhere along the way. Just have to keep my eyes open for a shop on the side of the road.
Leaving for Yosemite Nat'l Park today, it's about 400km from Fairfield.
but a fresh oil change is a good start. I think I'll pop into a welding shop somewhere along the way. Just have to keep my eyes open for a shop on the side of the road.
Leaving for Yosemite Nat'l Park today, it's about 400km from Fairfield.
hmmm. change of plans
have to find a Suzuki dealership near Napa. I'm due for an oil change and my crash bar cracked a weld yesterday. Bah!
Oh well, all part of the adventure
Oh well, all part of the adventure
Day 5 - Redding CA to Napa Valley aka Chicken Strips, it's not what's for dinner...
Long, hot, and tiring day. I find riding on the Interstates exhausting, plus it's hard on the tires. My back one is starting to develop a chicken strip. But thankfully I got a chance to work that off later :) Stayed on the I5 from Redding until I hit the Hwy 20 exit. From there I headed west to Clearlake.
The valley from Redding onwards reminded me of the prairies, flat, hot, dry and dusty. With endless fields of grass. The monotony was only broken up by some olive groves and the occasional rest stop.
I found myself tiring quickly today, mostly due to the heat I believe plus I let myself get a bit dehydrated the day before. I had planned on stopping in Clearlake for lunch and a coffee, but bailed on that pretty quick. I popped into the IGA and got shouted at by someone who wanted the parking spot that I was occupying. I stopped, did a u-turn and backed into it, that was my crime. Silly people. Then the IGA was having it's roof re-tarred and the smell had permeated the entire store. Instant nausea.
So bailed on lunch in Clearlake and continued on to the next town. Ended up stopping in Middletown, had the best meal of this trip yet at a panini place. Fantastic sandwiches and salads all washed down with an organic fresh fruit smoothie!
I'm so glad I stopped in Middletown, the next 10 miles were some of the toughest twisties I've ever ridden. Think the switch backs on the ride up to Cypress Mountain, then multiply that by back to back switch backs for 10 miles. Managed to have a few spinchter clenching moments on that one. It's Hwy 29 over St Helena Mt if you're interested.
Tonight I'm camping at the Bothe-Napa State Park. Nice enough, but doesn't compare to the state parks in Oregon. I don't think I've ever heard so many crickets(or maybe it's frogs) in my life!
Another day with not many pictures, not a lot to take pictures of.
Tomorrow, I'm heading through the rest of Napa Valley with a detour through the Sonoma valley. From there I'm thinking I may head east for Yosemite Nat'l park and then for Death Valley afterwards.
The valley from Redding onwards reminded me of the prairies, flat, hot, dry and dusty. With endless fields of grass. The monotony was only broken up by some olive groves and the occasional rest stop.
I found myself tiring quickly today, mostly due to the heat I believe plus I let myself get a bit dehydrated the day before. I had planned on stopping in Clearlake for lunch and a coffee, but bailed on that pretty quick. I popped into the IGA and got shouted at by someone who wanted the parking spot that I was occupying. I stopped, did a u-turn and backed into it, that was my crime. Silly people. Then the IGA was having it's roof re-tarred and the smell had permeated the entire store. Instant nausea.
So bailed on lunch in Clearlake and continued on to the next town. Ended up stopping in Middletown, had the best meal of this trip yet at a panini place. Fantastic sandwiches and salads all washed down with an organic fresh fruit smoothie!
I'm so glad I stopped in Middletown, the next 10 miles were some of the toughest twisties I've ever ridden. Think the switch backs on the ride up to Cypress Mountain, then multiply that by back to back switch backs for 10 miles. Managed to have a few spinchter clenching moments on that one. It's Hwy 29 over St Helena Mt if you're interested.
Tonight I'm camping at the Bothe-Napa State Park. Nice enough, but doesn't compare to the state parks in Oregon. I don't think I've ever heard so many crickets(or maybe it's frogs) in my life!
Another day with not many pictures, not a lot to take pictures of.
Tomorrow, I'm heading through the rest of Napa Valley with a detour through the Sonoma valley. From there I'm thinking I may head east for Yosemite Nat'l park and then for Death Valley afterwards.
Monday, September 25, 2006
Day 4, Humbug Park to Redding CA
Had to get off the 101, found a new route heading east once in California on Hwy 199. Now THAT'S what riding is about! Very little traffic, super twisty almost dragging the peg action. The few cars I did catch up to, all pulled over to let me by. Except for this nasty little hot rod from Oregon that had trouble doing 50mph in a sweeper. Finally got past him after a few minutes.
From there the highway went back into Oregon and I met up with the I5. I wanted to get south towards Napa Valley and quick so the I5 it is. Ugh, 4 hours of slab, tons of traffic, lot's of them big rigs, never pleasant to pass on a bike or to follow behind.
Getting warm now too, was about 30C most of the ride today. I had to stop at pretty much every rest stop for a break and to cool off a bit.
Tomorrow I'm heading for the Napa Valley! Maybe I'll have to spend an extra day there doing some wine tasting. No room on the bike for wines though. :( If I have time, I'll definitely be stopping in at Cline Cellars, I've met the wine maker from there a couple of times when he's been in Vancouver. See if I can get a personal tour from him.
From there the highway went back into Oregon and I met up with the I5. I wanted to get south towards Napa Valley and quick so the I5 it is. Ugh, 4 hours of slab, tons of traffic, lot's of them big rigs, never pleasant to pass on a bike or to follow behind.
Getting warm now too, was about 30C most of the ride today. I had to stop at pretty much every rest stop for a break and to cool off a bit.
Tomorrow I'm heading for the Napa Valley! Maybe I'll have to spend an extra day there doing some wine tasting. No room on the bike for wines though. :( If I have time, I'll definitely be stopping in at Cline Cellars, I've met the wine maker from there a couple of times when he's been in Vancouver. See if I can get a personal tour from him.
Sunday, September 24, 2006
Day 3, Manzanita OR, to Humbug Mountain State Park OR.
Ahhh... nothing like camping next to the beach, fell asleep listening to the waves breaking on the shore, a shore the size of Long Beach on Vancouver Island.
Made my way into Manzanita for breakfast, found this great little bakery/deli called Bread and Ocean. Chowed down on the best ever chocolate brioche and a monster mug of coffee.
All fueled up, time to head for Humbug State park. Going there soley on the recommendation from some guy I met at Nahalem Park. He grew up in the nearby town of Port Orford and said it was worth stopping in. Hopefully he's right.
As I left Manzanita I immediately got stuck behind a rental RV. My nemesis of the road! GAH! I HATE RENTAL RV's!
That's the one thing I don't like about Hwy 101, it's the only highway through the region and tends to be heavily congested and full of RV's of every shape and size. The scenery can't be beat though.
Stopped at the Yaquina Head Lighthouse park for a visit, picked up my Golden Eagle Passport too.
Had some great fish and not so great chips in a place called Waldport. Fantastic batter generous portions of fish. The chips... frozen crinkle cut ones, sigh.
Oh and if there's ever a sand shortage, it can be found in Oregon, damn there's a lot of sand there! Right up to the highway in some spots.
When I arrived at Humbug Mountain I realised that the guy who recommended it to me must do his camping in an RV. The park is right next to the highway with a creek beside it. At least the creek muffled the sound of the trucks passing by. With nearby Port Orford having a population of about 1100 people, things close up early. So my only choice for dinner was a fish n chips place. Great fish, frozen fries again! What's up with that?!?!?!?
Stopped at the Yaquina Head Lighthouse park for a visit, picked up my Golden Eagle Passport too.
Had some great fish and not so great chips in a place called Waldport. Fantastic batter generous portions of fish. The chips... frozen crinkle cut ones, sigh.
Oh and if there's ever a sand shortage, it can be found in Oregon, damn there's a lot of sand there! Right up to the highway in some spots.
When I arrived at Humbug Mountain I realised that the guy who recommended it to me must do his camping in an RV. The park is right next to the highway with a creek beside it. At least the creek muffled the sound of the trucks passing by. With nearby Port Orford having a population of about 1100 people, things close up early. So my only choice for dinner was a fish n chips place. Great fish, frozen fries again! What's up with that?!?!?!?
Spent the rest of my evening sitting by the fire reading a Chuck Palahniuk book and replanning my route a bit. After this day, I had to get off the 101 as it was too slow going with the traffic and that it's also the main street for many of the small towns it goes through.
Friday, September 22, 2006
Beer
...is good
Had both the Rogue Shakespeare Stout and Deschutes Black Butte Porter today.
The stout I had at the Rogue brewery at lunch and tonight I'm having the porter for dinner, well not on it's own, but with some damn fine mexican food in Manzanita, OR.
Staying at the Nahalem State park tonight, first night camping! Gorgeous cloudless sky, hope it stays that way.
New pics up in Flickr, check 'em out.
Al
Had both the Rogue Shakespeare Stout and Deschutes Black Butte Porter today.
The stout I had at the Rogue brewery at lunch and tonight I'm having the porter for dinner, well not on it's own, but with some damn fine mexican food in Manzanita, OR.
Staying at the Nahalem State park tonight, first night camping! Gorgeous cloudless sky, hope it stays that way.
New pics up in Flickr, check 'em out.
Al
Day 1 Vancouver to Centralia WA
Ugh....
Very late start to the day.
The plan:
Hit the road with a destination of Manzanita OR to set up camp at the State park there.
Didn't happen.
Up until 2am last night sorting and packing stuff, set the alarm for 7:30 but didn't get out of bed til just after 9. I had intended on leaving at 8'ish,
but by the time I got the bike loaded up, bought a BCAA membership, stopped at MEC for a last minute gadget(needed to replace my water bladder for the camelbak) it was 1:30 by the time I hit the road from Vancouver.
Of course, due to my distractedness this morning I was cruising down Knight st. and realised that I hadn't had breakfast or lunch yet. Quick stop at Duffin Donuts(damn fine sandwiches there) and I was on the way for the border.
Remarkably I wasn't required to submit a DNA analysis or be strip searched at the border. The border guard was quite pleasant and cleared me quickly. Unlike the several people in front of me who got sent off for secondary inspections. Hmm, he must've gotten it out of his system by the time he got to me. :)
To top off the late start by the time I was approaching Seattle it was full on rush hour. Lovely, 20kph from mid-way between Seattle and Everett to Federal Way. It occasionally sped up to the rip-roaring speed of 60kph, but those hopes were soon dashed.
The caffiene fiend was calling my name pretty strong at that point and I managed to find a Starbucks(a Starbucks! in Seattle! who knew!) It was a needed stop, the weather was starting to change(a light rain had started plus the temperature was dropping quickly) and I needed off the bike after that close to 2 hours of crawling along at low speed. The traffic didn't let up until Olympia, but at least I was enjoying the toasty warmth of the electric vest.
For now, I'm chilling in the Motel 6 in Centralia. Comfy bed, and a dinner of Yak meat at the 'Country Cousin' restaurant. Woah, what a place... totally over done in the country chic decor, gingham everywhere, the requisite old time gas pump in the middle of the room, odd bits of memorabilia, etc. But what stood out as an oddity is a poster embedded in my table for a cruise line done in the European Art Deco style, totally looked out of place. The Yak patty melt was good though.
All told though, it's been a good start to my trip. the night before I dodged a bullet as it were in the form of a ticket. I made an illegal left turn during rush hour in front of three cops who were ticketing people doing just that. Thankfully I saw them just as I initiated the turn, quickly put on the right turn signal light and veered into the gas station on that same corner. Managed to squeeze a whole 5$ of gas into the tank and cheerfully drove off. I was so busted when I made that turn, but they ignored me. Gotta like that.
Very late start to the day.
The plan:
Hit the road with a destination of Manzanita OR to set up camp at the State park there.
Didn't happen.
Up until 2am last night sorting and packing stuff, set the alarm for 7:30 but didn't get out of bed til just after 9. I had intended on leaving at 8'ish,
but by the time I got the bike loaded up, bought a BCAA membership, stopped at MEC for a last minute gadget(needed to replace my water bladder for the camelbak) it was 1:30 by the time I hit the road from Vancouver.
Of course, due to my distractedness this morning I was cruising down Knight st. and realised that I hadn't had breakfast or lunch yet. Quick stop at Duffin Donuts(damn fine sandwiches there) and I was on the way for the border.
Remarkably I wasn't required to submit a DNA analysis or be strip searched at the border. The border guard was quite pleasant and cleared me quickly. Unlike the several people in front of me who got sent off for secondary inspections. Hmm, he must've gotten it out of his system by the time he got to me. :)
To top off the late start by the time I was approaching Seattle it was full on rush hour. Lovely, 20kph from mid-way between Seattle and Everett to Federal Way. It occasionally sped up to the rip-roaring speed of 60kph, but those hopes were soon dashed.
The caffiene fiend was calling my name pretty strong at that point and I managed to find a Starbucks(a Starbucks! in Seattle! who knew!) It was a needed stop, the weather was starting to change(a light rain had started plus the temperature was dropping quickly) and I needed off the bike after that close to 2 hours of crawling along at low speed. The traffic didn't let up until Olympia, but at least I was enjoying the toasty warmth of the electric vest.
For now, I'm chilling in the Motel 6 in Centralia. Comfy bed, and a dinner of Yak meat at the 'Country Cousin' restaurant. Woah, what a place... totally over done in the country chic decor, gingham everywhere, the requisite old time gas pump in the middle of the room, odd bits of memorabilia, etc. But what stood out as an oddity is a poster embedded in my table for a cruise line done in the European Art Deco style, totally looked out of place. The Yak patty melt was good though.
All told though, it's been a good start to my trip. the night before I dodged a bullet as it were in the form of a ticket. I made an illegal left turn during rush hour in front of three cops who were ticketing people doing just that. Thankfully I saw them just as I initiated the turn, quickly put on the right turn signal light and veered into the gas station on that same corner. Managed to squeeze a whole 5$ of gas into the tank and cheerfully drove off. I was so busted when I made that turn, but they ignored me. Gotta like that.
Wednesday, September 20, 2006
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