Day 14, San Francisco to Monterey

Packed, breakfasted and loaded up, we set out for the Golden Gate Bridge. As we approached, the San Francisco fog/mist was rolling in, as is usual and as we crossed over the bridge, we couldn't see the tops of the towers. Up to our left there was a viewpoint, several in fact, from the hillside overlooking the bridge. That was our destination. We pulled over and took snaps of the mist enveloped bridge. It was eerily quiet up there, the only real sound being the blasts from the fog horns, fixed I assume, somewhere on the underside of the bridge. Paul commented it reminded him of Close Encounters.

The Golden Gate Bridge, through the fog!

Leaving the viewpoint, we had to go back across the bridge, to pick up our way out of the city. It is strange how the fog/mist lingers around this part of the peninsula and in fact it makes it quite cold and miserable. As we made our way along the coast, this mist persisted, giving the bizarre picture, of people on a beautiful sandy beach, enveloped in mist.

We made a stop for fuel, then headed inland and up onto the back of a small mountain ridge, Skyline Ridge, I think it was called. From this point it is possible to see the Pacific Ocean on your right and the San Francisco Bay on your left, both at the same time. On the way up we passed yet another car on its roof. This looked to be a bit more serious than the one we saw a couple of days ago. I wasn't sure if I saw blood or even someone still in the car. Not a pleasant sight, whatever.

We had left the mist behind us but as the landscape changed, we were now enveloped by big redwood pine trees, the density of which plunged us into near darkness at times and certainly sucked the warmth from around us, by cutting out the sunlight. On a positive note though, the road got nice and twisty. They have a scheme here where groups or individuals can adopt a highway. I forget the complexities of it now, Dean did explain. Anyway he told me to look out for a sponsorship sign along this stretch of road. Anyway, on the last section, as we approached our lunch stop, Alice's restaurant, a very biker friendly place, I spotted the adoption sign. Who would have believed it but it is sponsored by the North California Branch of the Norton Owners Club! Well, it wouldn't be Harley sponsored, with twisties like that, eh?

A light lunch and we hit the road again. Continuing along the ridge and with the same superb twisty roads to contend with. Right, left, right, as quick as you can say. Not easy on the bikes we are riding. The Heritage Softail riders, Dud, Steve and Elizabeth were all 'modifying' their footboards on these bends, apparently. I've still not decked the RK's boards and it's unlikely to happen on the remainder of the tour. They are a tad higher on the RK though. The only time Dud touched them down on R66 was when he dropped the thing :-)

We stopped at a place called Boulder City for an ice cream. A vanilla cone, dipped in chocolate for me. I noticed as we rode through there was a sign for the Boulder City Brewing Company. I have seen that back home but not sure what they brew. Will have to do some googling.

From there it was an altogether less interesting ride, the last hour or so into Monterey and to our beds for the night, at the Hyatt Regency Resort. Bags dropped, some of us met up with Dean again a few minutes later, for a little extra ride out.

Monterey is the home of and to give it its official title, The Mazda Raceway, Laguna Seca, venue for amongst other things and only last weekend, the US Moto GP. It's about 6 miles from the hotel, so Dean had said if anyone was interested, he would take us out there. I didn't need asking twice. Dudley, Graham, Paul, Keith, Carl and Allison also came along too.  

We got to the track and quite remarkably, just rode straight in, turning up onto a little service roadway, we pulled up alongside the approach to the Corkscrew, the most famous corner on the track and probably in the entire US. Then we just walked through an open gate that gave us access to the marshal's post. So, we all climbed in and took photos and listened to Dean's stories of when he used race production bikes. I could identify with what he was saying about getting passed by very fast racing bikes, my own claim to fame being that I had that happen to me at Brands Hatch, the racing bike passing me, being ridden by none other than the late, great, Barry Sheene. 

We jumped back on the bikes and rode a little way further up the hill. This brought us to the infamous Corkscrew itself. More photos and some very chuffed people. If only we could have got onto the track for a lap or two or three.....

The Corkscrew, Laguna Seca

After the short ride back to hotel, we showered and went to have dinner, our venue of choice being the sports bar. Seems everyone, well most, had a similar idea. Paul/Steve, Cheryl/Geoff, were already in there and Carol, Dean & Larry, Elizabeth/Johan followed shortly after. It was quite amusing to see the look on Elizabeth's face when her 'starter' of nachos arrived. The plate was piled high with nachos, sour cream, guacamole, etc, more than big enough to be a main course or sharer for two, back home. 

Blog done, it's time for bed. Tomorrow we ride for Pismo Beach. Dud and I are going to Hearst Castle, the only two I believe, so we'll be left behind whilst the others make their way to the hotel. I'm guessing Dean will give us directions to find it ourselves when we're done at Hearst. As I recall though, it is right on the beach off Highway 1, so shouldn't be too hard to find. Famous last words!!