Archive for June 2012

Here's a nice story about an often overlooked area of far-Northern California. In Part 1 of Friction Zone's travel story on Redding, Amy Holland reports, "In the 1850s during the heyday of the California gold rush, the settlement of Poverty Flats on the Sacramento River was nothing more than a shantytown inhabited by those not pale-skinned enough to pass muster in the whites-only town of Shasta. Back then, Shasta, located six miles to the west, was known as the 'Queen City' of California's north and this town of 3,500 residents served as the commercial hub of area mining operations. Every day, its broad streets bustled with activity as mule teams and trains, sometimes up to a hundred a day, loaded up with men and supplies headed for the gold fields in the nearby Trinity and Siskiyou mountains, as well as in the Cascades further to the north…"

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How often do you get to talk with an actual motorcycle map maker about her favorite roads? Jenny Lefferts is COO and Founder of MAD Maps, wildly popular with motorcyclists all around the USA, and MotoSFO's mapmaker of choice. Jenny not only treated us to her favorite highways and byways, but the pit stops and the local secrets you can only get from a deeply embedded local. What rock superstar stays in what North Bay inn during his SF tours? Where's the inn built by a motorcycling Texan who was reminded of the European Alpes. Shuffleboard, anyone? Bluegrass?

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At Overland Expo this year I met Tad Haas and Gaila Gutierrez from Seattle, Washington, who chucked it all for a year and are in the early stages of Overland Now, a year-long journey through the Americas. They're in MotoSFO territory - the Sierras - which is really just opening for summer traffic in May.

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Whether you pitch a tent, lay your head down in a luxury RV, or sleep under the stars, camping remains the best way relax, reconnect with family and friends, and explore Sonoma wine country’s back roads.

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There's something about the way Highway 120 rises above Lee Vining that immediately leaves an impression. It may be the backdrop of Yosemite, or it just may be the sheer immediacy of its rise into something we simply can't see from our vantage point. During our night's stay by Mono Lake we certainly had the next day's crossing over Tioga Pass on our minds.

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When you're coming through San Francisco, take a moment to turn out on Lincoln Boulevard by The Presidio above Baker Beach. I see a lot of motorcyclists park for a moment to look at the view, but rarely getting off the bike for a short walk to explore the beauty and history here. Here's Gail Todd's overview of the walk from SF Gate.

Nestled just south of the Golden Gate Bridge are the Presidio's coastal bluffs, a wild stretch of land streaked with blue-green serpentine rock. The Batteries to Bluffs Trail leads you along the ocean's untamed side, past rugged cliffs, historic gun batteries, hidden springs, dramatic outlooks, an isolated beach and unparalleled views of the bridge. Read the story.

Carla and I trade one ride for another by getting off the bike and onto the horses at Ricochet Ridge Ranch, two miles north of Fort Bragg on the Mendocino Coast.

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Where are MotoSFO contributors riding this summer? Here's a report from Sandy Borden, whose family vacation is maybe just little different than the average. Follow them!

Great Divide or Bust! We headed out from Davis yesterday, June 15th to one of the most famous trails in the states, so during this "farther flung" journey, I won't be posting from our favorite MotoSFO roads for a while.

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As if Hearst Castle wasn't attraction enough, summer brings adult male elephant seals home to mate, loudly and with commitment. Ride a little more than an hour south of Big Sur for this larger-than-life nature channel show, live and loud. Hearst Castle's not a bad stop, either. For that matter, Cambria's nice, too... oh heck. You know the feeling. Just keep riding and exploring.

For visitors to this pristine piece of the Central Coast, San Simeon and Hearst Ranch - without the famous castle - offer a vision of early California that any Golden State lover will find irresistible. Coastal trails wend through egret, pelican, fox, deer, coyote and turtle habitats; cattle graze on sun-bleached hillsides; oak groves give way to evergreen forests and cypress stands; and beaches teem with galumphing elephant seals... In June and July, thousands of male elephant seals return to San Simeon's beaches to molt. Come early in the season and you'll beat both the castle throngs and the worst of the summer fog. Read more about Hearst Castle and the San Simeon area in SF Gate.

Mendocino scores as the cutest town on the north coast. All the buildings are vintage and the local community strives to keep it that way, both for tourism and for the occasional film crew. The town's “Murder She Wrote” character comes at a price and the locals often refer to it as “Spendocino.” While it’s a nice place to visit, there are more authentic experiences to be had nearby. Comptche-Ukiah Road, for example. This route between Mendocino and Ukiah is an itinerary that guests on Leod Escapes tours always rave about. It’s got it all--115 miles riding San Francisco to Mendocino on Highway 1, forest twisties, hidden valleys, and the three tallest trees in the world.

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