Tag: Activities

Having moved to Davis from Sonoma County over 13 years ago, the drudge of Highway 80 became unbearable, especially when fighting SUVs in peak Lake Tahoe tourist seasons. There had to be a more scenic, motorcycle friendly route to visit family in Healdsburg and to the beaches of the Pacific Coast where I spent many a weekend as a kiddo. It didn't take long to discover that Highway 128 was going to be the two-lane adventure that would to save me from the four-lane monster. After 10 years of happy exploration I've found the perfect path to the ocean with only 12 miles of freeway to land you in the quaint seaside town of Elk, transforming a freeway grind into a day of twisties through wine country and redwood forest to experience all that makes Northern California so very special.

Read more

The first annual Lake Tahoe Adventure Motorcycle Ride & Rendezvous was held from August 24-26, 2012 in perfect riding conditions whether you prefer tarmac, dirt, water, gravel, rocks, sand, or all of the above. “The more dirt on your bike, the better,” was the mantra, but my personal goal was to not fall down on my new-to-me KLR dual-sport.

Read more

Wine tasting isn't usually on the menu for motorcyclists, but olive tasting? Bring it on! Jeanne Cooper reports for SFGate that "Inland spots on the Central Coast such as Carmel Valley, Corral de Tierra, Paso Robles and Edna Valley are blooming with olives as well as grapes, and olive oil tasting rooms are sprouting up. And just as the region's wine tasting rooms remain a more low-key, less commercial alternative to those in bustling Napa and Sonoma, the Central Coast's olive oil experiences are equally inviting to the novice and expert alike." Read more at SF Gate.

If you love a good mystery, then you must visit the world-famous “Mystery Spot” just north of Santa Cruz. There, you will witness feats that seem to defy gravity and distort perception.

Read more

If you need an excuse to motorcycle to the Mendocino coast, check out Paul Bunyan Days in Fort Bragg this Labor Day weekend. Named for the bigger-than-life logger and his giant blue ox, Paul Bunyan Days celebrates the history of Fort Bragg and pays tribute to the strength of the people who live here. This year marks the 74th anniversary of the annual event, held Labor Day Weekend, September 1–3.

Read more

When you live in a small town sometimes you just need to escape to the big city. Lucky for me San Francisco is just a short ride from my home in the beautiful Napa Valley. When I heard that one of my favorite bands was playing at Biscuits and Blues in San Francisco, I headed out for the 53 mile ride to enjoy a night on the town without hesitation.

Read more

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.

Read more

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.

I'm a literary junkie, and never pass up an opportunity to visit important writerly sites. One of those is the Henry Miller Library in Big Sur. Even if you're not a literary buff, it's a great place to just sit on the porch and watch the world go by. SF Gate has a great story on this cultural gem with lots of photos, plus information about events.

The Henry Miller Library is a library only in the sense that it is full of books. Books for sale stacked on tables, early editions hanging from the ceiling, more stored in back. The archives of Miller’s writings, letters and rare manuscripts are held off site in safe, climate-controlled storage. The library's most important function, according to director Magnus Toren, is as a sanctuary — for Henry Miller fans, lovers of the arts, and local residents. Read more about it in SF Gate.