Mid-Week Rides: Southbound

Thursday Oct 11, 2012

WWWobble writes:

An easy ride to San Jose for a breakfast gathering of the MidWeek Riders, but first the Captain must fill the new machine with fuel. Next the Captain checks and announces his mileage to be 42MPG for the tank. This is apparently good, as the Captain is pleased.

So seven gather at the Country Inn. Bill Grass with oil residue cleaned off and leaking pressure switch replaced, Dave Emmett joins us again as the Arnold project is near completion, Scott Sharp arrives on an R60/2 I believe, and a good runner it is, Paul Hampton treks down from Alameda to join this southbound ride, the Captain, and your scribe and never lost ride leader, Major WWWobble represents the Nicest People on his sometimes faithful YellowBeater. Good conversation at breakfast, covering multitudes of topics, and separate checks, not requested but well received.

We depart the restaurant and head for the hills, DeAnza, Pierce Road (nice Porsche Turbo Carrera behaving in front of us), then onto 9 which is wet but clean. No traffic, even the Carrera turned off. South on 35 where the road becomes wet but less clean, and the fog and mist increase. This may have to be classified as our first “Winter Ride” of the year.

Over Summit along the Loma Prieta bumping through Eureka Canyon enjoying potholes, cracked pavement, pine needles, dirt, sand, some fall color, fog and overcast. A stop at Corralitos to stretch and then we do the Hazel Dell loop but exit east on Mt. Madonna Rd climbing into cloudy mist and ride thru the park. Empty. Very pretty. Clean, moist smell. Then Hwy 152 west to 101 to 129 where we pick up Anzar Rd.

Anzar is a new road for the Captain which is special because there aren’t many he hasn’t done. It’s sort of a back entrance into Aromas which itself is a unique little town. Then thru Aromas and onto San Juan G-11, a right turn on Tarpey, and then a Left turn on Miguel Canyon G-12…. except WWWobble became a little impatient for G-12 to show up. He turned left on Maher which was an error. Ummm, and an opportunity for WWWobble to do a road he hadn’t done. He decided to “wing it” knowing by now that Maher was not going to connect with roads he had planned to get out to the coast. However we all got distracted by a HUGE tractor trailer truck trying to turn around. Guess he made a wrong turn also. For those few motorcyclists who find WendyPunks an occasional challenge, HAH. Try turning that rig around! He failed his first attempt, then straightened out and found a wider spot where we believe he may have accomplished his goal. WWWobble didn’t accomplish his however, because he turned away from the coast and realized shortly this was wrong. He stopped at school yard where he figured somebody within the esteemed group, or even several within the esteemed group would point out a good plan – in a kind and encouraging manner – to get to Moss Landing. Yeah, that happened alright, and off we went with leader WWWobble in fifth position. Demotes come as quickly as promotes in this crowd, BUT HAH, somebody missed Castroville Rd and led us right up practically onto Hwy 101. Giggle giggle. But even that was an opportunity for Scot to fill the R60 with fuel from a clean looking Valero station that apparently had NOT been informed this was the week to gouge motorists with absurd fuel prices. Scott received good fuel for cheap. Hey, no harm, no foul!

Then back to Castroville Road, which becomes Dolan, which gives opportunity for death defying lurches across heavily traveled Hwy 1 to get into the harbor area where Phil’s is located. All enjoyed fine seafood and conversation and we heard a roar from the bar when the GIANTS won, so everything is perfect. Oh yeah, rain drops falling on the roof, so a damp ride home and the seasons first wet ride. Good fun, no mechanicals, no mishaps, a great way to spend a day.