2020 SSA Solstice Ride III

[GreenMachine]

KSU tomorrow 5:30 AM West Route.

[GreenMachine]

Lots of smiles and good memories from this weekend.

Heard a report that Wiles was seen near Leggett, but we cannot confirm.

And TahoeBrian's Ducati questionnaire while passing slower vehicles should say, 'Enjoy yourself, bitches!!  I'm Rick James!' on the under-cowling.


Two days basking in sunlight, the cool ocean breeze and the smells of Eucalyptus in the air.  The smoke didn't clear for us until we were 14 miles from the coast, because that's when we decided to stop for tri-tip BBQ in Navarro.  Cool shade in the redwoods, hamming it up with some of the locals, including two women milling around the store feeding a litter of kittens.  O-natural on the arm pits, ladies.   

So many fist pumps we all need to disinfect our gloves. 

[A DRAGON]

Awesome ride this weekend.  Thanks Brian for letting Green Machine and A Dragon tag along.  I'm still on a High thinking of the swerves on Hwy 1.  OMG  I love that road.  The Ocean's panoramic view, The smell of sea salt in the air, and the sound of my V-Twin in my ear.  Some of those roads seem like they don't have an end.  They just last so long.  I'm in heaven. 

I'm thinking this Social Distancing thing really isn't that bad.  Lunch on the side of the road is pretty good.  Thought I wouldn't like it at first.  Get more time with your friends while looking at your motorcycle.  It's just the best.  I even got Green Machine to give up one of his Chicken Bakes from Costco.  Damm That was really great on the road.  Not scolding hot.  Just warm.  Just right.  Riding time in the saddle was just awesome.  I wonder what it is about being on a bike and traveling that is so wonderful to the body?  Just can't seem to get enough of it even though your legs  are hurting and you have to keep stretching out.   You feel so alive just being on that thing. 

On the way home we came home on Hwy 20, from Hwy 99.  As soon as we got out of Nevada City the temperatures dropped.  It was smooth riding after that.. It was just bliss.  I could hear my V-Twin just humming even more.  Those 3 marked turns on that road feel so wonderful to be leaned over and on the gas.  They were made for motorcycles.

Thinking of the bad though.  On Hwy 36 they were straightening out the road. Kinda made me wonder if were going into a new era?  Hwy 1 from Mill Valley all the way to Jenner was  so backed up.  Dam I hate it when so many people have the same idea as me. Gotta stay far away from the city to ride  non-congested roads.  So now when we do our Solstice ride we'll no longer go around Clear Lake.  Have to ride 175 and 253.  Damm those roads are twisty.  So I guess we'll just have to adjust and keep being willing to adjust to the changing times.. 

Really had a great time.  Thanks to Tahoe Brian and his crew along with " The Green Machine"  Your my man.  You ain't no Joke. 

Your truly    "Trigger" 

[GreenMachine]

It's just unfortunate circumstance, but on that last regroup stop before we headed out on our own, the cameras were going, but I shut them off, then on, then off so many times, by the time we finally got everyone on the same page ready to depart I forgot to turn them back on for the good parts of the newly paved volcanic sections ahead.  So much good footage I was looking forward to sharing too!

What you missed was you shooting away after I bogged the bike in 6th gear in one of the many blind corners that go on forever and tighten.     Then when we were coming down off the summit east of Platina, I paralleled a long fat tar snake in a r-h turn that really upside the bike, both wheels.  Not as bad as the one that Ps witnessed on 162, but bike upsetting nonetheless.  I didn't regain my confidence until several turns later, before the bridge at the bottom.

I watched some of the clips from the good parts on 36 though. Not perfect either.  Now I see what TB was talking about those two deer.   Great bike control on his part for slowing a raising his hand.  The one that I thought ran across his path was just moving away from the road to take a stab at shooting the hillside, getting a running start at it.  That shows thought process.  It must have been our bikes being more silent going downhill that didn't strike fear into them until we were on top of them.  I did notice dust in the air in other sections of 36 and 1 when we were climbing and a bit noisier, which I believe are deer or other wildlife getting away from the road before we arrived. 

When are you going to upload the footage you have of Leggett?  About the time you spot the bolt that fell off on hwy 20?   There were so many, you could have just picked up the best one!