FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Motorcycle Ride Reviews
Santa Monica to Ventura to Santa Babara to Solvang and Back
Los Angeles, California—Jan 2000
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 Use your cursor along the route to see some pictures! |
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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Motorcycle Ride Reviews
Santa Monica to Ventura to Santa Babara to Solvang and Back
Los Angeles, California—Jan 2000
Up at 9 am Tuesday morning Jan the 4th. It is a most beautiful day. The sky is crystal clear, the wind is mild, the temperature is cool. Perfect riding weather.
Load my gear. Have a little breakfast. Check oil, gas, chain. Hey, time to rock and roll. Lock the front door and start my baby up. Ooooohh, those new carbon cans sound delicious! Phat City.
My route will take me from the Santa Monica freeway (the 10) to the Pacific Coast Highway (highway 1) up past Malibu, to Ventura. About 30 miles of the Sun, beaches, surfers, and traffic. Well, at this time of the year it was pretty clear.
It is now 12 pm and the ride up the coast to "the rock" Just past La Jolla Canyon park was "thank god" most uneventful. My new pipes sound fabulous, the power curve seems smoother but I don't seem to feel that much more power. But, since I am still breaking the engine in - how the heck should I know the difference! Usually you can find a climber or two or three free climbing this miniature "half-Dome." And people just like hanging out to watch the waves.
You’ll go through the middle of the City of Ventura. Police everywhere. They were kind enough to keep an eye on me - I mean out for me - until I made it onto the 101 North. As you know PCH turns into 101 in Ventura.
At about a hundred miles into my trip, I pull off into Summerland just a stones throw before Santa Barbara near Montecito. You'll know you are there when you see "The Big Yellow House" it is a well known restaurant in the area. It is a good place to stop off and give the old wrist a rest. Not to mention your ‘’arse’’ which may be flat as a pancake by now.
It is about 2 pm and my wrists are pretty stiff and tired. The sun and sky are beautiful here in Santa Barbara. State Street is the main drag. Very quaint, very pedestrian, seems like a pretty hip place. Spirit's Path is one of the stores I stopped in. New Age Spiritual items. Like everything else here - it speaks quality. But you probably will want to get some eats. There is plenty to choose from. I had a late lunch at Craviotto's a very nice little Bistro at 512 State Street. Good service, good smiles and good food.
Back onto the 101 North and a bit further you’ll turn off onto the Highway 154 towards Lake Cachuma through the Santa Ynez mountains. The road is pretty nice with only a few patches of crap. 117 mph without anyone looking (shame, shame, shame).
Use your cursor along the route to see some pictures!
You can fuel up at Lake Cachuma Park. Or drive several more miles for a bit cheaper. If you plan on staying overnight at Solvang you might want to spend some leisure time at Lake Cachuma. Full service and the grounds and lake are very well kept.Back on the road after some petrol and a wave to the ranger. You’ll ride past pastures and farming land. The horses and cows love the sound of the Duc. Just before Solvang there is an airport (the name escapes me) where you can go gliding or take glider lessons. I am definitely coming back for that!
Well, it is 3 pm and I made it 137 miles to Solvang (hear that Susan!). I thought about staying over for the night, but decided to stick to my plan and head on to the coast and back towards home. Besides the coastal sunset should be spectacular. So long Solvang.
The roadways are quite beautiful in the late afternoon. However, at this time of the year the winds are vicious along the coastal route. So keep that front end planted.
On the way back I stopped and visited Pacifica Graduate School (my ex is an alumni of this school). It is located in Summerland and its campus is in an idyllic setting. The Joseph Campbell Library and archive is located on the campus. They hated the sound of the Duc BTW.
At about 5 pm, somewhere along the route near Ventura I stopped to watch the sunset. Incredible beauty. Just stop and turn the engine off for a few minutes. The quiet is soothing. Take a few deep breaths and you are ready to make the last leg home.
Hmmmm, the little yellow light . . . Jeeze, I need petrol again. Luckily Malibu is real close. I thought about stopping for some hot coffee. But, it is pitch black out and I can't think of anything but getting home to a hot bath.
Home is finally reached at 283 miles at 7 pm. No adverse traffic incidences, no mechanical breakdowns. I think it went strikingly good. Now, for that hot bath.
I learned a few lessons from this trip:
Warm Gloves or inserts: Even though my gloves were Teknic Violators (top quality gloves), riding down the coast at night, it was so cold it gave new meaning to "white knuckles" They fit in a pocket or tank bag.
Kleenex: Although bugs were few, I had nothing to wipe my visor with. Some cleaning goop would have been nice too.
Clear visor: All I had was my Iridescent gold visor. Lousy at night (and illegal).
Riding jacket or suit: Unfortunately the only jacket I have is a leather evening coat. Very soft, very expensive, very bad for riding. It flaps so much, I almost went deaf. Plus it really does slow you down, it is like having a parachute.
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