Weekend trips are back. Just like the good old times. After a really long time I got to ride some good distance with a riding buddy. Jeff and I were planning this trip to meet Dan, another concours rider not too far from SF bay area. The lure of country roads and California twisties could not wait too much.
101-N took us from Sunnyvale to Novato, via San Francisco. Several firsts for me on this ride, including riding over SF first time and the Golden Gate bridge. I could see the whole bridge first time in a fog-less crystal-clear sunny morning. It was simply beautiful, the roads, the houses, the bay views. Too bad I couldn’t stop as Jeff and I were getting adjusted to each other’s riding styles and stopping would mean breaking the harmony. Besides we were scheduled to meet Dan at Novato by noon. It was wide open country by the time we hit Novato city limits. The freshness of air, the smells, the sights made every single mile enjoyable to ride.
Moylans was the right place to unwind and get prepared for the real ride ahead. Dan showed up at noon and it took us 2 long hours finish our chat and lunch. By 2pm it was the perfect time to hit the road towards twisties. Petaluma on 101 and then some scenic rural road to Bodega bay. How many times I wished to stop for a picture !!! Next time I will stop regardless of how much my rider buddies get pissed at me.
By the time CA-1 showed up to my excitement, the real curves have started. Suddenly I found myself lagging behind and my survival instincts bubbling up inside. Reason ? 35mph two-lane road over steep drop-offs by the pacific, with gusty winds and wave-mist, and Dan riding in a relaxed posture in what seemed to be nerve-wrecking speed to me. I stopped trying to catch up and instead focussed on the lessons in the David Hough’s book. Slow-Look-Lean-Roll. Practise ! Practise ! Practise ! No time to think of scenary while in survival mode. Photography ? Crazy !!!
And so the curves went on and on. Some gentle, some sharp, some blind. The body mingled with the bike, the controls seemed to operate by itself. Sort of Nirvana.
We stopped at Fort Ross for a short break. I was dying to head to the restroom at a solitary shop by the road. The ladt at the counter said “no public restrooms”. So, a hersheys bar for $0.75 bought my way to relieve myself. Loved the rural atmosphere. Wondered how it was to live so close to nature and far from the shopping malls. Guess I can’t just have both. A bunch of riders passed by. R12GS, Ninjas, Buells. Their cornering speeds made my hairs stand up.
Daylight was soon in short supply so Dan had to cut short some routes from his magic basket. We took Mountain view road near Point Arena from CA-1 to head straight towards Ukiah. And Dan didn’t warn us. Before long I realized what sort of heaven and hell I was in. It was like tasting very delicious yet spicy hot cuisine. One moment I appreciate the view and the other I cling to my dear life focussing hard on the cornering techniques. And talk about blind turns. David Hough taught to look through the imaginary point in a right turn. But some blind right turns seemed to go on almost a circle before suddenly becoming a left leaner without an hint of a break. I learnt lessons on this road that my 4700-mile journey failed to teach.
For some fleeting moments the images from my rides in the western ghats in India floated in my head, and it seemed like nothing had changed from the past except I was riding in the wrong lane. The trip to Munnar, Coorg, Ooty. Except for the double yellow line it was hard to think these rides now continents apart.
With merely any daylight left the road sobered up a little when we hit Boonville. As usual Dan and Jeff were waiting for me at a T-junction. While I came to a halt panting like a dog, Jeff gave a sheepish grin. Later I came to know he shared the same feeling as mine, only he managed to not reveal it.
20 minutes more to Dan’s home, now in pitch dark. Less distractions and less things to fear, in a way. To me Jeff’s tail light was everything in the world and David Hough’s “Look where you want to go” ringing in my ears like a prayer. Nothing was better than reaching final T-junction and entering straight to Dan’s marvellous workshop.
We met Dan’s lovely wife Dotty and had the pleasure of beer, homemade beef burgers and chocolate chip cookies for dinner. All the walls are abound with pictures of their children and grandchildren. Dan used to be a parachute jump instructor and the pictures of him instructing jumps made me want to do it someday.
Me and Jeff started for home around 10:30pm but not before some good use of the workshop. Dan helped me adjust the steering head nut tightness and shaved the belly pan of Jeff’s bike. I so much wish Dan was in bay area so we could go often to learn wrenching.
The return ride was eventless but enjoyable. It was a little cold but cozy after put on the rainsuit. Other than a stretching break 40 miles before SF, we ripped all the way, making good time. SF at 1am was another surprise for me, for it looked like mere evening. streets full of cars, and quite a few people including some “high” ones. I never knew SF was so close to my home. While taking the fair oaks exit from 101, it somehow felt exactly like exit 62 from LIE 495 - back in east coast, on my honda days.
395 miles. one day. several firsts. what a trip. and the best part is now I have a riding buddy in the next town. Have waited for this day for really long.
Pics: Ukiah - Feb 06
