Mid-Week Rides: Moss Landing

18 March 2009

Marc writes:

The Captain provided strategic planning for this ride. Breakfast at Bobbi’s in Cupertino, lunch at Phil’s Seafood in Moss Landing. Tactical issues were left to Major WWWobble; his task to find the slowest way between the two endpoints without getting lynched by the other participants. Dick, Marc, recently-forced-into-retirement-unless-something-comes-up Rich, and Brent followed the Major with the Captain pulling up the rear.

WWWobble carried out his duties dutifully. He found a meandering path (see the route map, below) and kept speeds down to the put-put level, even on the portions of Highland and Eureka Canyon that haven’t seen new pavement in several decades. The GS riders claim that the ride would have been a bit smoother if done a bit faster. The Major claimed his suspension isn’t up to the task. Excuses.

Wake up, Brent

WWWobble leads, Rich follows

Dick, Brent, and the Captain

Lexington Reservoir

WWWobble and Brent

One of the Major’s new favorite stops is the Lexingtom Reservoir County Park at, of all places, Lexington Reservoir. He found it on a ride this January [link] when we were scoping out the water situation in the south bay. If you compare the images of the reservoir on that page to the image at your left you’ll see that the recent rains really have helped.

WWWobble

Rich, new helmet

Guess who?

Dick asked that Elkhorn Rd be added to the itinerary and the Major was happy to oblige. I attempted to get a shot or two of the motorcycling Major but could never seem to get him in the proper position. I think that’s a very nice shot of his windscreen, though. Don’t you?

Elkhorn Slough

Mr Photographer

Lunch in Moss Landing

After stopping to admire the birds and pavement at Elkhorn Slough (you had to be there) it was off to Moss Landing and lunch ant Phill’s. It was there that Gary introduced himself to us. He’d read of the plans for the day on these pages and thought he’d try to meet us for lunch. Alas, WWWobble was so good at maximizing the time between breakfast and lunch that we were ariving as Gary was ready to leave. Still, he took the picture of the six riders at the lunch table.

After lunch all headed home. The group fell appart getting on to highway 1. Bob and I stopped for gas in Watsonville. Dick headed north. Rich took the Watsonville exit, then got back on 1 to head home. Brent and the captain must have passed while we were getting gas as we later passed him having a smoke break in Davenport. We stopped at the beach in Pescadero and think Brent passed us there. All in all a good day. About 215 miles for me.

I’ll leave the rest of the report for the birds.