Ducati Multistrada 1200 – another ride and another review

Posted on September 3, 2011 by cesardagord

Last year I test rode the 2010 Ducati Multistrada 1200 just after it had first arrived in this parts of the world. The European Motorcycles of Western Oregon offered me another chance to ride the beautiful and powerful Multistrada earlier this month.  This bike is a dream ride, I could not and would not pass on another opportunity to ride it. Therefore, here I am, reporting to you this awesome experience with  comments, photos and videos.

The Ducati Multistrada 1200. September 3rd, 2011

When they hand you the keys, you should know, there isn’t a slot for the ignition key on this bike. And the keys do not look like a regular key.

The Ducati MTS key. September 3rd, 2011

Press that silver button, and now it looks like a real key.  However, you only need the key in its traditional form to open the gas tank, remove the seat, or lock/unlock the panniers, if your bike comes with the Ducati luggage system. Otherwise, you can carry the key in your pocket or anywhere on the bike. It just needs to be close enough to the bike to transmit the authorization that allows the bike to power up.

The Ducati MTS key. September 3rd, 2011

With the key safely stored in your pocked or in the glove box (there is a convenient compartment to the right of the instrument cluster), you only need to press the black button in the top of the tank fairing and the bike will power up. Then the bike’s motor is ready to be started on the traditional way by pressing the handle bar ignition button.

Ducati MTS Cockpit view. September 3rd, 2011

But before starting it, let’s select a riding mode.  As I explained on the other review of this bike, it has four pre-set riding modes.  Urban, Enduro, Touring and Sport.  The first two limit power output to an estimated 100hp.  Touring and Sport let all the horses out to the proclaimed 150hp figure. These settings are based on pre-set levels for acceleration, suspension, traction control and ABS engagement.  You can also add more color to the settings by setting other parameters such as the bike’s load (passenger, no passenger, and different level of load).  And you can finetune the pre-sets with your desired levels of traction control or ABS engagement.  It is a very sophisticated machine.  For this test test ride, I was simply glad to use the default pre-set values.  I put the bike on sport mode.

Ducati MTS four pre-set riding modes. September 3rd, 2011

I would have the bike for a couple of hours, so I took it to my usual testing grounds towards the King Estate winery.

The Ducati MTS at the King Estate winery. September 3rd, 2011

Before getting on the specs and riding characteristics, let’s talk about the looks of this bike. The Multistrada line has had a somewhat controversial set of opinions. The old and the new model alike, but for different reasons.

The Ducati Multistrada 1200. September 3rd, 2011

On this bike, the most talked about item is the beak which is also the air scoop.

The Ducati MTS 1200. September 3rd, 2011

I actually like it.  Specially in carbon fiber finish, how is the case for the test bike. A small detail that makes a difference! To repeat my own words when I reviewed the Ducati Monster, in the end, the Italian designers are proven right. That is, sometimes their designs are controversial, but the more you look at their bikes, the more you get it. Once you see the bike in person, you will visualize high performance, speed, agility, lightness, fun. All of that without turning the ignition on, without hearing the motor, without riding it.  It is just what the design evokes.

The Ducati MTS 1200. September 3rd, 2011

And once you ride it, you will confirm all of those attributes.  If performance is something that you want, this bike won’t disappoint you.

While pushing the bike on the lot or garage and getting it ready for a ride, you will confirm how light it feels. Mounting the bike, the first impression you get is of comfort. And again it feels light as you shift support from right feet to left feet. Great size as well, for an adventure tourer, it is compact compared to the other 1200cc adventure bikes.  I’m 5ft 11″, which is pretty much average size, and this bike fits me like a glove. All commands are in reach and the instrument panel is nicely set forward from you and sits tall, making it easy to keep an eye on the information without moving your eye sight too far from the action ahead.

Ducati Multistrada 1200 - the Instrument panel. September 3rd, 2011

It has a very informative panel. The information is managed by buttons in the handle bar, left side. You can even change riding mode on the fly, by pressing the clutch all the way while pressing one button.  By the way, on the above set up I have the bike on “sport” mode with “no passenger, no bags” (that is the one helmet icon below “sport”). The only negative comment I will make on this bike’s design is regarding the dashboard.  Although it is great for being efficient for packing a lot of information on a compact package, in my opinion nothing substitutes an analog tachometer.

Termignoni slip on. September 3rd, 2011

When you start that motor, you will know, it tells you, the adventure is about to start. Here is a video of me starting the bike, then I change it from “Urban” to “Sport” mode, walk around it and start riding. You will notice the Termignoni exhaust.  It provides a great tune to the already great sounds of this machine. But I’m ambivalent about the looks. If power is not changed by a slip on, I would keep the original exhaust for its double tip design.  It is not like you need more power and better sounds from this machine in its original configuration.

Riding it. Like all Ducatis I’ve ridden so far, all with variations of the Type L motor, acceleration can be summarized in several degrees of effortless. These motors are “torquey” and give you that feeling of enjoying speed. Compared to other bikes on this Enduro or Adventure Tourer segment, the Ducati feels lighter.  Not only on acceleration but overall, but “lighter” gives a feeling of attainability on varied riding conditions. With the Ohlins fully adjustable suspension, and the pre-set modes, you always get the best of what the bike can offer. It is hard for the regular rider to set up a suspension. On this bike, you don’t need to be a genius, you just need to press a button and let itself setup for your riding situation, including the weight you carry with you. Not worrying about the suspension, and having a solid chassis, all you need to do is point the bike to where you want to go, give the appropriate counter steering, twist the throttle to reach your leaning comfort level, and you are rewarded by the Ducati experience disguised as an Adventure Touring machine.

Although this machine is sure to satisfy expert riders, I assure, you don’t need to ride fast to enjoy this machine. Hearing that motor rev in the mid range, curve after curve as you moderately roll on the throttle by the apex will provide the average rider, a guy like me, plenty of riding satisfaction.  But be warned, if you are not careful, it will go fast and you may not notice you are moving fast. Tickets are expensive, so be mindful of the power this bike can deliver.  Remember it has a super bike motor in there!

The Ducati Multistrada 1200 at the King Estate winery. September 3rd, 2011

Although they are smooth motors, Ducatis in general are not your grocery gather, well, for bikes we may say they are not your best mode of transportation for the trip to the Starbucks. They will do that very well, mind you, and they will look good in front of the store as well. But I don’t see these machines doing their best in stop-n-go traffic. They excel on the open road. So if you get one, remember to take it out on the open roads to stretch its muscles and have some fun. And from my riding time with it, although limited in duration, I felt assured the Multistrada is a great touring machine as well.

I mentioned earlier that I would point to only one fault on the design of this machine, which was the absence of an analog RPM gauge. But I hear comments on forums where people question its real capacity as an Enduro machine. Some of the comments are about its price and the cost of repairs when putting the bike in the off pavement situations that have a  higher risk for dropping it. I believe it is fair to think about expensive body repair costs. Thinking about that can ruin the riding experience. But one can find ways to protect the bike with appropriate crash bars.

The comments people make about the fact the rear wheel size and its consequent limitation of tire choice (see this bike’s specs at the end of this report) seem to be most limiting to some riders. You will not find an aggressive dual purpose tire, let alone a real knobby tire, that will fit that wide rear wheel size of this bike. But you will find something that will provide reasonable adherence on dirt without too much compromises on pavement.

Will the Multistrada do well on dirt and gravel? September 3rd , 2011

I did not ride the Multistrada on a dirt road. Only posed on it for a photo. However, with the risk of sounding like I am bragging about my riding ability, which I am not, I’ve ridden bikes with street tires on dirt and gravel roads.  To be honest with you, I don’t know how much street tires are a real limiting factor, or by how much it will limit performance on dirt and gravel. This bike has the suspension for the “dirty” job, it offers levels of traction control, and levels of ABS control. Unless you are planning on taking it on a mud excursion you should be fine. If you can handle the other 1200 cc Enduro machines (the R1200GS, the SuperTenere 1200, or the Moto Guzzi Stelvio) on dirt and gravel roads, you will be able to do the same with the Multistrada on even if all you can get in terms of tire choice are some mild dual purpose tires.  It has the suspension, it feels light (it is lighter!) than these other three machines, and it has the electronic riding aids to assist you in the job. Granted, I haven’t ridden it on dirt. So this is my speculation.

To corroborate with my opinion, though, let’s have the pros show what this machine can do on dirt roads. This is a video of Greg Tracy’s practice run on Pikes Peak in 2010, with a Ducati Multistrada not unlike the one I tested here.  At some point of this video you will see him ride on dirt at speed.  The machine does it really well! The tires he used are different than the stock Pirelli tires.  But they are not knobby tires. At best, I would classify them as mild dual purpose tires, a good compromise for the 60% pavement / 40% dirt of the Pikes Peak climb.

And here another.

This bike is basically what you get from a dealer’s floor. No knobby tires.

Ducati Multistrada at Pikes Peak, 2010

Would I buy this machine?

Yes!

It is about “when” not “if”. And an Italian machine would go well with my Italian passport.

Cesar at the Ducati dealer, "surrendering" the bike after a test ride. September 3rd, 2011

Now it is your turn. Take one for a test ride at your local Ducati dealer.

Thank you for reading.

Cesar

(NOTE: I have no affiliation to Ducati or Ducati dealers.  I simply like to ride, talk about nice bikes and talk about rides.)

Ducati MultiStrada 1200 Specs

Model: Ducati Multistrada 1200

Year of the bike I tested:  2010

Category:  Adventure touring (with a “sport” twist)

Displacement:   1198.40 ccm (73.13 cubic inches)

Engine type:  V2, or L-type, four-stroke

Power: 150.00 HP (109.5 kW)) @ 9250 RPMTorque:118.65 Nm (12.1 kgf-m or 87.5 ft.lbs) @ 7500 RPM

Compression:    11.5:1

Bore x stroke:    106.0 x 67.9 mm (4.2 x 2.7 inches)

Valves per cylinder:        4

Fuel system:  Injection. Tsubishi electronic fuel injection system, Mikuni elliptical throttle bodies

Fuel control:       Desmodromic valve control

Cooling system:                Liquid

Gearbox:             6-speedTransmission type,

Final drive:           Chain

Clutch:  Light action, wet, multiplate clutch with hydraulic control. Self-servo action on drive, slipper action on over-run

Driveline:  Primary drive Straight cut gears, Ratio 1.84:1: Chain 5.30´; Front sprocket 15; Rear sprocket 40

Emission details:  Follows the US Federal Regulation

Exhaust system:  Stainless steel muffler with catalytic converter and 2 lambda probes, aluminium tail pipes

Chassis, suspension, brakes and wheels

Frame type:       Tubular steel Trellis frame

Rake (fork angle):            25.0°

Front suspension:  Marzocchi 50mm fully adjustable usd forks

Rear suspension:  Progressive linkage with fully adjustable Sachs monoshock. Aluminium single-sided swingarm

Front tyre dimensions:  120/70-17

Rear tyre dimensions:    190/55-17

Front brakes:     Double disc

Front brakes diameter: 320 mm (12.6 inches)

Rear brakes:       Single disc

Rear brakes diameter:   245 mm (9.6 inches)Physical measures and capacities

Dry weight:         189.0 kg (416.7 pounds)

Power/weight ratio:       0.7937 HP/kg

Seat height:        850 mm (33.5 inches) If adjustable, lowest setting.

Wheelbase:        1,530 mm (60.2 inches)

Fuel capacity:     20.00 litres (5.28 gallons)

Starter: Electric

Color options:    Red/racing grey/black, white/racing grey/black (there is a nice Pikes Peak version available with the three colors combined.  2012 models may have different colors, I hear rumors of a matte black finish.)

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Ducati Monster 696 – Test ride and review

Posted on September 3, 2011 by cesardagord

I’ve never been too interested in roadster style or sports motorcycles. But I’ve been thinking more about pavement riding more recently. It doesn’t help that there are so many nice roads in this area. And then the Ducati Monster caught my eye. Something about its design. Something about the Ducati Type-L motors. So why not test this beauty and see what it has to show beyond its sexy shape?

Ducati Monster 696. Eugene, September 3rd, 2011

I couldn’t help spending time looking at the details. The Italians have something about design. They transform the obvious shape into an exotic shape on the detail.  And they make the sum of parts and shapes into a seamless sexy product.

Ducati Monster 696. Eugene, September 3rd, 2011

My friends at the European Motorcycles of Western Oregon were kind enough to let me take it for a spin.

Ducati Monster 696. Eugene, September 3rd, 2011

Its beauty passes the “all angles” test.  And I bet it will age gracefully. Well, this motorcycle has been around for almost 20 years now. And it still looks good today, chances are it will look good tomorrow.

Ducati Monster 696. Eugene, September 3rd, 2011

Here are the specs on this little machine:

Frame: Tubular steel Trellis frame

Wheelbase: 1450mm (57.1in)

Rake: 24°

Front suspension: Marzocchi 43mm upside-down forks

Front wheel travel: 120mm (4.7in)

Front wheel: 3-spoke light alloy 3.50 x 17

Front Tire: Pirelli Angel ST 120/60 17”

Rear suspension: Progressive linkage with preload and rebound Sachs adjustable monoshock

Rear wheel travel: 148mm (5.8in)

Rear wheel: 3-spoke light alloy 4.50 x 17

Rear tire: Pirelli Angel ST 160/60 17”

Front brake: 2 x 320mm discs, 4-piston radial caliper

Rear brake: 245mm disc, 2-piston caliper

Fuel tank capacity: 15l – 3.8 gallon (US) / 13.5l – 3.6 gallon (US) ABS version

Dry weight: 161kg (355lb) / 163kg (359lb) ABS version

Instruments: Digital unit displaying: Speedometer, rev counter, clock, scheduled maintenance warning, oil temperature, trip fuel, air temperature, lap time, warning light for low oil pressure, fuel level, fuel reserve, neutral, turn signals, overrev, immobilizer. Ready for DDA system

Warranty: 2 years unlimited mileage

Body Color (frame/wheel): Red (red / back) – Dark stealth (matte black / black) – Stone white (matte black / black) – Monster Art colors (matte black / black)

Versions: Dual seat, single seat

Seat height: 770mm (30.3in)

DTC: Not available on this model

ABS: Available upon request

Engine: Type L-Twin cylinder, 2 valve per cylinder Desmodromic, air cooled

Displacement: 696cc

Bore x Stroke: 88 x 57.2mm

Compression ratio: 10.7:1

Power: 58.8kW – 80hp @ 9000rpm

Torque: 7.0kgm – 50.6lb-ft @ 7750rpm

Fuel injection: Siemens electronic fuel injection, 45mm throttle body

Exhaust: 2 aluminum mufflers

Transmission: Gearbox: 6 speed

Ratio: 1st 32/13, 2nd 30/18, 3rd 28/21, 4th 26/23, 5th 22/22, 6th 24/26

Primary drive: Straight cut gears; Ratio 1.85:1

Final drive: Chain; Front sprocket 15; Rear sprocket 45

Clutch: APTC wet multiplate with hydraulic control

Before putting it into motion, I really like to this view of the bike, with that well designed stubby rear end and the view of the tank.  Somehow it reminds me of a 60’s Ferrari 250 GTO or a 60’s Alfa Romeo GTA.  The Italian official racing color doesn’t help in making this comparison.

Ducati Monster 696. Eugene, September 3rd, 2011

Reading the specs, I paid more attention to the weight, the power output, the torque figures and how they relate to each other.  All looks good. But the question is: how does that translate into the riding experience? Well, it moves! And it moves well. If you never rode a Ducati bike, then don’t. Because the Type L engines, their high torque, their sounds, and what this combo represents when in motion is addictive. Add great handling and the result is total pleasure.

This is how it sounds.

The conventional wisdom that V-motors easily show “character” in motorcycles applies to the Ducati L-motors.  Putting the bike in motion requires some slippage on the clutch, as the motor is a bit rough on low revs and the clutch actuation seems to be really narrow. I’m sure a few more miles on this bike would make me a smoother operator. Going through the gears is a very intuitive and smooth process.  Only thing I noticed was a gap between 1st and 2nd gear, first being a bit too short and second too tall by comparison.  But it is only noticeable when riding up on switchbacks and your safe speed happens to be between 1st and 2nd gear.  In 1st you over rev, in second you lug the engine. I chose the 2nd gear after a few tries switching back and forth between 1st and 2nd.

Too bad wind noise overcomes the sweet engine sounds on this video above. But when riding, you really hear it all. It is quite the experience. You can probably notice how it accelerates on the video.  Perhaps not. So let me tell you: it does accelerate effortlessly. A Ducati characteristic. They all like to be in fast motion, reckon. This bike is no exception, the little 696 motor seems like it begs you to indulge in some throttle twisting.

Coming from the perspective of my tall enduro bikes, this bike’s ergonomics put you in a more aggressive stance. Foot pegs are positioned further behind, your body is leaned forward, and you see the road up close.  But it is not as radical as what is today a classic sports bike. It actually is a rather comfortable position. If you, like me, ride adventure touring bikes, I would assume that, like what happened to me, once you get moving and acquaint yourself with the location of the controls, you will forget that you are riding on different ergonomics than your regular set up. But you will certainly notice how well it handles. Like the true roadster that it is.

In terms of price, this bike is reasonably affordable for what it delivers. For being an entry level of the Italian marque, it represents Ducati’s legendary performance extremely well.

Bottom line:  Would I buy it?

Yes!

But.

It would not be my primary bike. Why? Mostly because it is not the most practical machine for my adventure touring style of riding.  But I would love to have one just for day-rides.  There are plenty of nice roads in Oregon where this machine would excel. And I could enjoy the experience and sounds this machine delivers every weekend I’m not traveling anywhere too far from home and with gear. And if I were ever to get into going to a track, this would likely be my machine of choice.  Not to race, just to enjoy the riding experience only a Ducati can deliver. Have you ever been tempted to experience this bike? Stop by your closest Ducati dealer and take one for a spin. Just don’t blame me when you write a check to keep the bike’s keys for good after the test ride.

Edit:  On Autopia, at the Wired magazine, under an article titled “9 Rides Truly Wired Gearheads Should Love” written by Sam Smith and posted on 11/11/2011, there is an interesting bit about the Monster.  The nine rides are a 2012 Mustang 302 Boss, a P-51 Mustang (yes, the WWII airplane), Porsche 911 GT3 Cup Car, The French great speed train (TGV), the 1954-63 Mercedes Gullwing, vintage Chris-Craft boats (any from the 1920-50’s vintage), The 2012 Nissan GT-R, the Aprilia VF4 Factory APRC SE (which he considers the Nissan GT-R of motorcycles), and the Ducati Monster.

And here is what Sam wrote about the Ducati:

Motorcycles are funny things. Unlike cars, most are specialized tools. No one has to use a bike every day, so motorcycle manufacturers are free to build products almost completely without compromise. That’s where the Ducati Monster comes in.

[The Monster] is an old-school, pared-down sport bike, not a crotch rocket, repli-racer or squid machine. The 90-degree V-twin nestled in the Monster’s trellis frame is a strong, soulful piece, offered around the world in displacements ranging from 400 to 1,100 cc. This isn’t a machine of extremes, whether in power, handling or comfort. You get what you get, but it’s somehow always enough.

This is what fast bikes used to feel like. This is also what motorcycling, at its core, is all about: a frame you can see through and just enough power to scare yourself.”

Is that cool or what?

Thank you for reading.

Cesar

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Eugene Celebration – focus on a couple of cars

Posted on August 27, 2011 by cesardagord

Every year the city of Eugene closes its downtown streets for car traffic and opens them (for a fee) for the people. Vendors, musicians, and all sorts of events take place. This year it happened on the weekend of August 26-28. You can see assorted pictures of the Celebration on the “Only Pictures” page of the site.  Here I will show pictures of a few cars that were on display Saturday afternoon in an area of the celebration.

I used to have an auto-rama slot car set, and the two cars were a blue and a red Corvette.  Of this vintage here.

1962 Corvette. Eugene Celebration, August 27th, 2011

This one is in great shape.

1962 Corvette. Eugene Celebration, August 27th, 2011

Check the interior.

1962 Corvette. Eugene Celebration, August 27th, 2011

And what about this 1973 charger? Reminds me of when Matchbox cars collections were graduated to Hot Wheels cars.

1973 Dodge Charger, Eugene Celebration, August 27th, 2011

Beautiful car, nice color, completely straight body.

1973 Dodge Charger. Eugene Celebration, August 27th, 2011

There were many other cars, but these two are the ones I considered most valuable and significant to me.

Cesar

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The Buena Vista Ferry and the City of Astoria, Oregon

Posted on August 21, 2011 by cesardagord

The Buena Vista Ferry and the city of Astoria have nothing in common with each other.  They are not close to each other there is no common road connecting the two of them. One is a Ferry, the other a city. Except that they are both in Oregon.  The other thing in common is that I planned a ride where I would be on both locations on the same day.

Another beautiful day, another opportunity for a ride. August 21, 2011

Remember that I wanted to ride from Astoria to Gold Beach as my original plan to start exploring paved roads on this new bike? Well, I went to San Francisco instead. I still wanted to check Astoria and ride south on Hwy 101 from there.  And I also wanted to go back to the Buena Vista ferry boat, something that I happened to learn of its existence by accident on my way back from Mt Hood two weeks ago.  So there you go: a motive for a ride. I started by going north towards the Buena Vista Ferry Boat.

Buena Vista Rd. Oregon, August 21st, 2011

Soon I was at the ferry.  It departed just before you arrived at the boarding area? No problems, if you are there it will come get you and it will take you across right away even if you are the only passenger.

The Buena Vista Ferry. Oregon, August 21st, 2011

Check this tower you see to the left on the above picture, the cables that go across the river, and these connectors you see on this picture below (viewed from the boat).  The ferry operates on an electric motor.

Always thetered. Buena Vista Ferry, OR. August 21st, 2011

It is a quick cross. Cheap thrill as well, $2.00 for the motorcycle.

All instructions and disclaimers clearly displayed. August 21st, 2011

My turn to go.

It's in ther GPS. August 21st, 2011

Having completed the first mission for this ride, I got my attention towards Astoria.  There is no direct route between the Ferry Boat location and Astoria.  So I took several roads I’ve never been to before to get there, crisscrossing the state towards the northwest of the state. I went through Independence, OR.

Independence, OR. August 21st 2011

Then I went past Carlton, OR.

Carlton, OR. August 21st, 2011

This is the northern portion of the Willamette Valley, many wineries are located here, and these towns have a few wine tasting rooms.

Carlton, OR. August 21st, 2011

From here I got on Hwy 26. During the summer these main roads have too much traffic. A few miles of that traffic and I was ready to find the smaller back roads.  I got 103 towards 202, free of traffic.  I’m glad people don’t want to bother with these smaller roads.  Keep them for the few people who want to venture out and avoid traffic.

202 Two-lane road towards Astoria. August 21st, 2011

Almost in Astoria, I stopped for photos of this general store in Olney, OR.

General Store in Olney, OR. August 21st, 2011

Home of the “Big O Saloon”.

The Big O Saloon. Olney, OR. August 21st, 2011

I arrived in Astoria and immediately crossed the bridge towards the state of Washington. I had videos of the cross but I managed to delete those files by mistake… Here is the view from the Washington side, looking east.

The Columbia River. As wide as it gets when it arrives at the ocean. August 21, 2011

And looking west, the bridge.

Astoria bridge, connecting Oregon and Washington. August 21st, 2011

I crossed the bridge back to Astoria and rode towards the Astoria Column (or spiral).  Here is a Wikipedia account of the column:

“The Astoria Column was erected in 1926 at an elevation of 600 feet atop Coxcomb Hill, the location of the first permanent American Settlement west of the Rockies. It has been listed in the National Register of Historic Places since 1974, and was refurbished in 1995. This impressive Oregon Coast historical monument is the only one of its kind in the world!

The column displays 14 scenes commemorating important events in the history of Astoria in cronological order. The mural scrolls around the 125-foot-high structure in an upward spiral direction, with the earliest scene at the base of the column. An interior 164-step spiral staircase leads to the top of a viewing platform with spectacular views.”

The Astoria Column. August 21st, 2011

And from there you can see the bridge, like if it were a bridge to nowhere… as it disappears into the fog on the Washington side.

The Astoria bridge. August 21st, 2011

In the same area there is a monument to the Chinook tribes where this area was home. The Chinookans were masterful makers of dugout canoes.

Monument to Chinook Tribes, original residents of the Astoria area. August 21st, 2011

Do you know Astoria was the setting for the film “Kindergarten Cop” with Arnold Schwarzenegger?

It was time for me to start my way home. I took Hwy 101 south, which crosses the Youngs Bay on the bridge shown below.

Hwy 101, Crossing Youngs Bay, just south of Astoria

 Went past Cannon Beach.

Cannon Beach, OR. July 21st, 2011

Continuing south, more fog.

Oregon coast, south of Cannon Beach. August 2011.

Continuing south I went through green fields, and dairy cows. I was about entering Tillamook county.  Here is Garibaldi. It is amazing to me that the name “Garibaldi”, of a French born (Nice) Italian hero, who made history in South America and Europe (mostly Brazil and Italy) carried over all the way to Oregon.  From wikipedia, Giuseppe Garibaldi (Joseph MarieGaribaldi for the French) ( (July 4, 1807 – June 2, 1882) was an Italian military and political figure. In his twenties, he joined the Carbonari Italian patriot revolutionaries, and fled Italy for South America after a failed insurrection. Garibaldi took part in the War of Farrapos, in south Brazil, and the Uruguayan Civil War leading the Italian Legion, and afterward returned to Italy as a commander in the conflicts of the Risorgimento. There is a town called Garibaldi in South Brazil.

Garibaldi, OR. August 21st, 2011

The next large area going south on 101 is Tillamook, where you can find an Air Museum.  That seems to be a good place to come visit in the winter. They have a good collection of WWII planes.

Huge building for the Air Museum. Tillamook, OR. August 21st, 2011

Just north of Lincoln City, I stopped for this picture.  Nothing special about it, except the stories you can read or imagine from all the combined items included in the photo. Hwy 101 is going through that bridge on the left on the background.

Somewhere north of Lincoln City, OR. August 21st, 2011

 South of Lincoln City, a view of marsh lands.  This view could had been taken from Juneau, Alaska.

Between Lincoln City and Depoe Bay, OR. August 21st, 2011

 A last view of coastal landscapes before arriving in Newport.

Coastal landscape, just north of Newport, OR. August 21st, 2011.

Once I got to Portland I took Hwy 20 east and as it usually happens, on the other side of the coastal range I re-encountered the sun. Many farms in the Willamette valley (perhaps in other places as well) use old farm implements as decoration items.

Willamette Valley farm. Oregon. August 21st, 2011

  Farmers are busy working their land.

Willamette Valley farm. Oregon, August 21st, 2011

Cow feed ready for the winter.

Willamette Valley, Oregon. August 21st, 2011

Sheep farm in the valley.

Willamette Valley, OR. Auigust 21st, 2011

This was a long day. Tired and ready to get home, I could not avoid stopping for pictures at the magical hour, when the sun colors the landscape in nice golden tones. Eventually I made it home!

Finally home. August 21st, 2011

This was the longest day-ride with this bike.

444.8 miles (716 km). August 21st, 2011

Not only was this the longest day-ride with this bike, but with this ride on the northern portion of Hwy 101 I completed the entire length of this road on the Oregon coast.  There is, though, still plenty of details to discover on this beautiful part of the world.

Thanks for reading.

Cesar

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Steamboat Inn, Oregon

Posted on August 14, 2011 by cesardagord

I was invited to an organized rider with the nice folks of the local Triumph dealer. I probably mentioned this before, but just in case I will say it again: I’m not much of a group rider.  I like it best when I’m riding on my own, or with a very small group of riders that I know well.  But I always welcome an excuse for a ride, and it would be good to explore a new area of the state.  I had never heard of the Steamboat Inn, so let’s check it out.

Ready to go! August 14, 2011

But I wanted a longer tour, so I got from them the exact location where lunch would take place and I took off for a longer tour.  I started by checking Triangle Lake, the opposite direction of where everyone would meet for lunch. Only people there were the fishermen. As the sun goes further up, motor boats, water skiers, kids and sunbathers take over the lake.

Trangle Lake, early in the morning. August 14th, 2011

From there I turned around and went on the direction of the Steamboat Inn by taking these nice two-lane roads that are everywhere in Oregon.  Here is Territorial rd as the sun starts shining.

Territorial Rd, early morning. August 14th, 2011

There is something especial about riding a perfectly tuned machine on roads like this with gentle curves, beautiful landscapes, and no cars. The road is all yours. Where in the world do you have these perfectly paved roads with so much light use? Granted, I love riding the off-pavement roads as well.  But the options are here in Oregon, like a buffet, you pick the pavement you want, accompany that with the landscapes of your choice, and if it happen that you are also lucky to have motorcycle options, then you get dessert too. As much as I enjoyed Territorial Rd, I needed to go south and east and cross Hwy 5.  Going past Sutherlin, OR, I took County rd. 200 and was now riding on the north banks of the Umpqua river.

Umpqua River, as viewed from County rd 200. August 14th, 2011

Above you see a view looking east, where trees get more sparse and it looks more like a California landscape.  Looking back from where I was coming, it looks more like the Oregon everyone hears about. The green part of the state.

Umpqua River, from county rd 200. August 14th, 2011

County rd 200 takes you to Hwy 138, which continues to take you along the north bank of the Umpqua river, and starts climbing the Cascades, getting closer to the origins of the Umpqua river.

Umpqua River @ Steamboat Inn. Oregon, August 14th, 2011

I had arrived at the Steamboat Inn.Soon after the group arrived.  I realized I was riding anti-clockwise to get there, they arrived from the other way.

Steamboat Inn, Oregon. August 14th, 2011

Steamboat Inn is a hotel and restaurant squeezed between the Hwy and the river.

Steamboat Inn Cabins. August 14th, 2011

The restaurant, as viewed from the river side of the main building.

The restaurant @ Steamboat Inn. August 14th, 2011

The view of the river from the restaurant.

View from the restaurant @ Steamboat Inn. August 14th, 2011

The food was OK, country style. I should had tried something from the breakfast menu from what I saw on other people’s plates.  After the meal, everyone got back to their bikes. They continued their travel on 138, the direction I had come from.

Getting ready. Steamboat Inn, August 14th, 2011

And I took the way they had come from.  A single lane, paved road, that climbed up towards Adams Mtn. on the Umpqua National Forest.  Here is the video of what it was riding this single-lane road.

At some point I was at the highest point on this trip, about 5 miles west of the Bohemian Lookout. I took Sharps Creek rd down to Row River rd. and from there towards Dorena Lake.

Looking north, from Sharps Creek rd. August 14th, 2011

Soon I was home.

August 14th, 2011

Stats for the day:254 miles (406 miles).

Stats for the day. August 14th, 2011

What’s next? Thank you for reading.

 

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Camping on Mt. Hood Area

Posted on August 7, 2011 by cesardagord

When I moved to Oregon in 2005, besides Oregon being such a riders paradise, the primary motive for the move were my close friends of many many years who had grown up in Oregon.  We were all in Ohio at some point, and we all moved to Oregon in 2005.   From OH to OR. For me, since I used to work at The Ohio State and now work for the University of Oregon, it was also from Bucks to Ducks. Every year we organize a camping trip somewhere. Last year it was at the Metolius river, documented on this site. This year, Mt Hood.

Mt. Hood. Oregon, Agust 2011

I packed the Tiger for the trip. It would be a one night camping trip for me. I packed dinner and beer.  I was amazed that my small cooler fits on the small compartment in the Great Basin. I had beer, steak, and a container with potato salad plus ice safely packed.

Travel Supplies. August, 2011

And the steak on top.

Travel Supplies. August 2011

Cooler inside Great Basin bag.

Cooler inside Great Basin bag. August, 2011

Perfect match.

Cooler fits the bag. August 2011

Ready to go.

Ready to go. August 2011.

I took my usual route east. When 242 is open, that is my way to go. Getting the blessing from the Three Sisters.

Sisters view, from Hwy 242's MacEnzie Pass. August, 2011

They followed me along as I started to go north.  Oregon is an incredible state.  I’m constantly reminded of its beauty.

Crooked river, OR. August 2011

From there no more pictures until I got to the campground, 8-mile crossing campground on the east side of Mt. Hood. Distance from home, 225 miles (360 miles).

This little fella wanted to ride my bike. I said: sure.  But the handle bars were too far.

Maybe in 15 years from now.

I cooked my stake, had my Caldera IPA (surprisingly good). All was good.  Good night of sleep. My tent, behind the Tonka truck.

The campsite.

The water “feature” behind my tent.

The creek. Garanteed great night of sleep.

I had a great breakfast with my friends and I was packed and ready to go.

Packed and ready to go.

I decided to go on a long counter-clock circle around Mt. Hood.  I started by going east, then I would turn north, cross the Columbus river and ride east towards Portland and then go south to Eugene.

Looking back (west).

The direction I was going.

Looking east.

Fields of wheat.

Fields of wheat, Mt. Hood. August, 2011

Now going north, I will cross the Columbia river (it is somewhere ahead).  More wheat.

The Columbia River ahead. Oregon. August, 2011

Already on the Washington side of the river, I checked this 1/2 scale replica of the Stone Henge.

Stone Hence Replica, Washington. August 2011

Yes, I was still riding this beautiful Tiger.

Stone Henge replica. WA. August 2011.

The wind coming from the west channels through the Columbia river gorge.  It was really windy here, it is always windy here. And on both sides of the gorge you will find wind mills. Hundreds of them.

Windmills on the Columbia Gorge. Washington, August 2011.

And here is a view of the Columbia river, with Mt. Hood on the background.  I was now traveling west on the north bank, Washington side of the river.

The Columbia River. View from the Washington side. August 2011.

A close up of that same view.  You can see the whitecaps on the river. This is one of the prime locations for windsurfing and kite surfing in the world.  Further ahead I passed by an area that was crowded by wind surfers and kite surfers.

Columbia River. August, 2011

Traveling west, desert views are gradually taken over by green.

Columbia River, view from the Washington side. August 2011.

Finally I arrived to the point where the wind was the strongest. Wind surfers and kite surfers were everywhere.

Windsurfers paradise. Columbia River, Washington view. August 2011.

I continued west until Portland, where I crossed the Columbia river and then the Willamette river.  To avoid Interstate 5, I found the back roads that travel south, parallel to Interstate 5.  Going through the suburbs of Portland and small towns along the way I found this Ford Custom. My grandfather once had one this these cars. A four-door, but on this very color.

Ford Custom, circa 1952. Oregon. August 2011.

Last view of the Mt Hood for this trip.  I was now traveling south on the Willamette valley.

Mt Hood as viewed from the north of the Willamette valley. Oregon, August 2011.

I was surprised that at some point I had to cross the Willamette river via a ferry boat. This is the Buena Vista ferry boat.  I would come back to explore it some more on another trip. By the way, the Willamette river is the river that coming from the Cascades, run through Eugene, just a block from my house before turning north and connecting with the Columbia river in Portland.

Buena Vista Ferry boat. Crossing the Columbia River. Oregon, August 2011.

And that was it for this trip.  On the long way to the campsite, these were the stats:

Stats on the way north to the campsite in the Mt Hood area.

On the even longer way back home these were the stats:

Stats on return trip.

Total for this weekend trip: 519.8 miles (831 km).

Thank you for reading.

Cesar

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A Bridge not too far: The Golden Gate Bridge – Day 5

Posted on July 28, 2011 by cesardagord

It is time to go home. Before I started last stretch of the trip back home, I followed a path towards the beach, to say good bye to the ocean.

A path to the beach. Gold Beach, OR. July 28th, 2011

Here it is.

The beach, at Gold Beach, OR. July 28th, 2011

Looks like my South Atlantic. Cold, windy, and hard packed sand.

The beach. Gold Beach, OR. July 28th, 2011

I had the hotel’s free breakfast as usual, read the local paper, and packed the bike.

Packed bike. Gold Beach, OR. July 28th, 2011

A dinosaur along the Hwy 101

Dinosaur. OR. July 28th, 2011

In Reedsport I took Hwy 38 and went inland. Stopped on the Elk viewing area.

Elk. Hwy 38, Oregon. July 28th, 2011

If you are keeping score about all the wild life I mentioned I had seen along this trip, here is the last one: A Jaguar (of the kind that can still be called a Jaguar).

A Jaguar on Hwy 38. Oregon. July 28th, 2011

And I made it home. Mission accomplished on all counts.

Home sweet home. July 28th, 2011

Last day was a short day. 201 miles (321 km).

Stats for July 28th, 2011

Total stats for the trip: 1,395 miles (2,252 km).  And I’m ready to do it again and spend time on the places I missed this time around.

Thank you for reading.

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A Bridge not too far: The Golden Gate Bridge – Day 4

Posted on July 27, 2011 by cesardagord

It was a great night of sleep again.  Nothing like being on vacation and waking up naturally, with no pressure whatsoever.

The morning view. Westport CA, July 27th, 2011.

Meet Otto, the proprietor of the Westport Inn. 85 and all, he is keeping it going.

Otto, at the Westport Inn. July 27th, 2011

Otto offered coffee and toast.  That was my breakfast. OK, time to get going. This is a photo taken by Ken and Meredith as I was leaving.  It was very nice to have had a chance to meet them and I enjoyed their company during dinner, whale watching and walking around Westport.

Back on the road. July 27th, 2011

Going north, about 10-15 miles from Westport and I had two options: go straight closer to the coast on a dirt road or go more inland and Hwy 1 ends in Leggett, CA, joining Hwy 101. I chose the Hwy 101 for this trip. I will be back to the Lost Coast in the future.  After all, it is not too far from home. And, as I mentioned before, I’m just building the excuses for another trip to this area.   However, my plan on this trip is still go back to key areas in the Lost Coast, just that I will take the paved route.  When I stopped for gas in Garberville, I found those three guys on the Ducati, Triump and Harley bikes.

Fill the tank in Garberville, CA. July 27th, 2011

The Ducati Multistrada 1000DS.

Gas station in Garberville, CA. July 27th, 2011

At Garberville I exited Hwy 101 and went west, back towards the Ocean.  The roads are mostly one-lane sort-of-paved roads. The first destination was Shelter Cover. It is down there somewhere.  The lost coast is called it that way because not always the access was easy. It still is not easy today, as you have to meander on several switchbacks on a narrow road to get to some points. There are other areas where only a dirt road will take you there and others yet with no rod access.  I’m always in favor of not building more roads and not paving the dirt roads.

View of Shelter Cove, CA. July 27th, 2011

Ground zero on the Shelter Cove.  Tsunami Hazard areas, as are mostly all low points on the California, Oregon and Washington coasts. But especially the narrow bay areas.

Shelter Cove, CA. July 27th, 2011

Another view of Shelter Cove. Beautiful shoreline.

Shelter Cove, CA. July 27th, 2011

Looking south. Shelter Cove has a golf course and the houses built around it to cater for the golf lovers.

Shelter Cove, CA. July 27th, 2011

The lighthouse, and the three riders of the Ducati, Triumph and Harley were there again.  They invited me to join them at this point.  I declined, as I like to stop for pictures.  They already have their rhythm. But I knew I was going to see them again on the road, as we were going to take the same roads going north.

Lighthouse in Shelter Cove, CA. July 27th, 2011

Back on the road, I went back east to then join another single-lane road going north towards Ferndale, CA.

Single-lane roads in the Lost Coast area, CA. July 27th, 2011.

To get to Ferndale, I first towards Honeydew and there I got the Mattole road that goes towards Petrolia and ends in Ferndale.  Mattole road was a destination on itself! But first things first.  Here is a view of the area.  Very agricultural on its vocation.

Lost Coast area, CA. July 27th, 2011

Honeydew, on the way to Petrolia.  Mattole road to the left.

Honeydew, CA. July 27th, 2011

Petrolia, and more eucalyptus trees.

Petrolia, CA. July 27th, 2011

A few more miles past Petrolia and I was back at the ocean.  It was extremely windy, winds coming from the north, straight at me.

Mattole rd. California. July 27th, 2011

The road goes on for a few miles along the coast.

Mattole Rd. California. July 27th, 2011

Then the road goes back inland, towards Ferndale.

Mattole rd. California, July 27th, 2011

And here is the view, looking back from where I was coming from. Check the camera strap flying on the high winds. There is a cattle ranch right there, at the beach. Only if the cows had the ability to enjoy the views…

Mattole Rd. California. July 27th, 2011

One final view of the Mattole rd.

Mattole rd. California. July 27th, 2011

And a video of what it was riding on the Mattole rd.

A few more miles on this road and all of a sudden I was in Ferndale.

Ferndale, CA. July 27th, 2011

Ferndale has very well preserved buildings from the Victoria era. Here is what I found on wikipedia: “Ferndale is known for well-preserved Victorian buildings, which are also known as “Butterfat Palaces” due to their construction during an epoch wherein considerable wealth was generated in the dairy industry, especially during the 1880s. The entire town is an historical landmark.”

Ferndale, CA. July 27th, 2011

And this building, indicating the Portuguese were here at some point, before the city was incorporated. The city was not incorporated until 1893 according to the official site of Ferndale.

Ferndale, CA. July 27th, 2011

I met those three riders again.  They were spending the night here and would start their ride back south tomorrow.  I wanted to continue going north. Back on the road, I was now crossing the bridge on the Klamath river.

California Symbol, on Klamath river bridge. July 27th, 2011

On my way south, I had noticed lots of people hanging around this bridge.  I slowed down but did not stop to check what it was.  Ken and Meredith had gone this way on their way south and stopped here and told me that what as going on was that a whale had swam up river and was hanging around this bridge. They showed me pictures.  As I was approaching the bridge, those digital boards along the road were indicating to be careful around the bridge, as pedestrians were walking across the highway and hanging out at the bridge. So, was the whale still there?

Klamath Bridge, CA. July 27th, 2011

I parked the bike before crossing the bridge. As I was walking towards the area where everyone was hanging out, this cute 8 year old girl asked me if I was going to the moon. I was dressing on my riding suit. That was a really nice moment. Her father tried to apologize. I simply smiled back, caught off guard by the question, and said, “yes, I’m on my way”.

Klamath Bridsge, CA. July 27th, 2011

And I asked people returning from the bridge if she was still there. And one lady said: yes, she is there, just swimming in circles.

Whale in the Klamath river. California. July 27th, 2011

The story goes that she came in there with her calf. The calf was already a “teenager” and eventually left back towards the ocean.  The mother stayed behind and no one knows why.  People tried to make her go back by using boats, making noise.  Nothing had convinced her by the time I went through. She was there for five weeks and was still healthy at that time. And just literally swam in circles close to the bridge.

Whale in the Klamath river. California. July 27th, 2011

Update:  I searched and found this piece of news from the San Francisco Huff Post, dated August 16th, 2011:

“In a ceremony screened by tall willows, the Yurok Tribe on Tuesday laid to rest a 45-foot gray whale that had delighted residents, passers-by and scientists after swimming into the lower Klamath River with its calf nearly two months ago.

With scientists by its side, the whale died at about 4 a.m. after beaching itself on the northern bank of the river. Crowds of people gathered to the spot within sight of the U.S. Highway 101 bridge and an RV park where they had watched for weeks as it swam back and forth, seemingly taking pleasure in the attention.”

This whale had been there for more than 2 months by the time it died. It was a sensation, and she even had the media on call to check on her.

Media on call at the Klamath bridge. California, July 27th, 2011

I continued my trip towards Oregon. I decided to spend the night in Gold Beach. I found a room at the Gold Beach inn.

Hotel in Gold Beach, OR. July 27th, 2011

This was the view as the sun was setting.

Gold Beach, OR. July 27th, 2011

Next to the hotel there was a restaurant called Spinners. That’s where I had dinner. Another day, another mission accomplished.314 miles (502 km).

Stats for July 27th, 2011.

Next, the last day. On the way home.

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A Bridge not too far: The Golden Gate Bridge – Day 3 Part III

Posted on July 26, 2011 by cesardagord

I like to check the general stores along the road.  This one was in Elk, CA. I would like to mention one thing about traveling on Hwy 1 and 101: the number of bicyclists traveling long distance along the road.  I’ve seen them anywhere along the Oregon  and the California coasts.  Frequent road signs remind motored folks to share the road with bicyclists. And the road is narrow most of the times, with no safe berm for them to ride.  So they basically ride on the edge of your lane.  It is dangerous but I bet it is one great way to experience the beautiful coast.

Store along Hwy 101, Elk, CA. July 26th, 2011

By this time, around 3pm, I was starting to think about a place to spend the night.  All these small towns along Hwy 1 have hotels. Some of them have seen betters days, others look good and expensive.

Hotel in Elk, CA. July 26th, 2011

I kept going.  I wanted to cover more ground before I stopped.  I went through the Mendocino area and at about 4:30pm I was in Fort Bragg. This is a larger town and it was about time to stop for me.  But I checked for accommodations for the night and mostly what I saw were run down motels.  I decided to take my chances and kept going north.  In 20 miles Hwy 1 would veer east and away from the coast, I wanted to find something that would still be along the coastal area.  There were less towns going north, and eventually I got to Westport, CA.  It seemed more like a ghost town, and when I approached the Westport Inn, I wasn’t sure it was a functioning hotel, so I did not think about stopping there. But as I was going past it,  from the corner of my eye I saw a motorcycle in the parking lot of the hotel, so I turned around to check the hotel.

Westport Inn, in Westport, CA. July 26th, 2011

I talked to the couple on the motorcycle, a V-Strom. They were cleaning it and told me the rooms were clean.  I got a room there, still not sure it was a good idea or not. Well, it was for one night and I would continue the next day anyway.  It turned out to be a great choice. I got to know a some more about this lost area of the California coast. This always put a nice flavor to the traveling experience.

My room, at the Westport Inn. CA, July 2011

The view of the Ocean. The hotel was just a small block away form the Ocean.The hotel’s abandoned look had a lot to do with the town’s abandoned look.  The umbrella is going the way of the Cypress on the background.

The umbrella and the cypress. Westport, CA. July26th, 2011

Closing up on the Ocean views.

Ocean View from my room. Westport Inn, CA. July 26th, 2011

The view of the hotel parking lot, with the V-Strom under cover, and my Tiger showing off its beautiful shape and Orange color.

The Hotel parking lot, Cypress on background. Westport, CA. July 2011

The hotel is owned by Otto, an 85 year old who lost his wife two years ago. Although the sign says “food and lodging”, since his wife died food is no longer available. She was the cook and he proudly talked about his wife’s cooking.  Although no food is served, Otto is famous in town for his latte.  Otto recommended the only other establishment in town where I could get food: The general store across from the hotel.

Downtown Westport, CA. July 26th, 2011

I took a quick shower and walked towards the general store.  The store owner/clerk was an older lady, clearly an original hippie.  I ordered a sandwich. She did not think it was odd that I did not want lettuce or tomato in it. She gained some points right there. I got a bag of chips and a beer and went outside to see the world go by as I waited for the sandwich.  Not that there was much traffic going by at that time.  No locals anyway.  There were plenty of motorcycles going by and a few sets of Harley and cruiser groups stopped by at the hotel or the store. Everyone trying to find shelter as the sun approached its setting time.  Anyway, I really enjoy sitting down for a beer with the feeling of “mission accomplished” after many miles riding through all sorts of terrain and landscapes.  It is a reward, a celebration, making it is a special moment itself. It is another great component of what “going for a ride” means to me.

Great spot to sit and see the world going by. Westport, CA, July 2011

This is my view from that perch.

At the general store, Westport, CA. July 26th, 2011

Looking south, the Hwy 1.

View from the General Store in Westport, CA. July 26th, 2011

The two riders on the V-Strom, Ken and Meredith, joined me on this nice perch.  We talked some, had a beer together, ate our sandwiches together.  Before the sunset I went for a walk to explore Westport.

The Westport Community Store. July 26th, 2011

Not too much to see.  But lots to learn.

View of Westport along Hwy 1, northern California coast. July 26th, 2011

Ken and Meredith were checking for whales on a view point.  You see the viewing area in the middle of the photo below. I joined them.

Park and whale viewing area. Westport, CA. July 26th, 2011

Looking back at the town, from the whale viewing area.

Westport, CA. July 26th, 2011

Looking south, at the nice coast, at the magical hour of the day.

Westport, CA. July 26th, 2011

A bit of the history of Westport.  To imagine this once was a port city, and that it was a great commercial area. Once the redwood was gone, and trucks became a viable transportation mode, the flimsy port city virtually disappeared, alongside the chute. The chute is gone.

Westport's history. July 26th, 2011

Looking at the ocean now, there is nothing left of the chute. The rocks are there, you can match them from the old picture to today’s picture. But it is hard to imagine any structure ever existed here.

Where is the chute? Westport, CA. July 26th, 2011

What really mattered is that a pod of whales, perhaps descendents of the ones the natives watched 200 years ago, was traveling south along the coast.

Whale in the distance. Westport, CA, July 26th, 2011

Ken and Meredith, watching and photographing the whales

Ken and Meredith, watching whales. Westport, CA, July 26th, 2011.

Walking back to the hotel, I went past some interesting houses.

Westport, CA. July 26th, 2011

Continuing the walk, I went past the old cypress, the sun setting under its battered frame.  They, the Cypress and the sunset, must have been friends for a long time.

The sun and the cypress. Westport, CA, Jult 26th, 2011

As I walked in this not too busy street, one of the locals was arriving from Fort Bragg, where she worked. I asked her what was keeping this town alive today.  She responded: “tourism and pot”. Easy to believe if you ever heard of the history of the so called “California lost coast”. This history and region were recently the background for a film called Humboldt County (2008) where a medical student is stranded for a summer in a remote community of counterculture pot farmers in this area. Back to Westport, it also serves as a bedroom community or a suburb for people who work in Fort Bragg.

The cypress and the busy streets of Westport, CA. July 26th, 2011

Meanwhile, the sun is saying good bye.

Sunset in Westport, CA. July 26th, 2011

Time to go to sleep and rest for another great riding day tomorrow.  Tomorrow I will be entering the officially known lost coast itself. Stats for the day: 291 miles (467km).

Stats for July 26th, 2011

Next: Day 4, to Gold Beach, OR.

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A Bridge not too far: The Golden Gate Bridge – Day 3 Part II

Posted on July 26, 2011 by cesardagord

Where was I? Yes, Tamales Bay.

The Tiger, going North. Tamales Bay, CA. July 26th, 2011

The fog on the distance, where the Ocean is.

Tamales Bay, CA, July 26th, 2011

From Tamales Bay I continued north, the road distances from the Ocean for a while. I stopped for photos in several of the small communities along the way.  In Valley Ford, the results of the evolving economy through many years: from a local bank for dairy farmers to a fish store called fish bank.

The local community banks may have lost the battle to the large global networks. But local produce, homemade food products are advertized and hopefully they acquire a stronger presence in the markets than the large scale operations. What is the meaning and impact of economies of scale on quality of life?  “Local”, “homemade”, “own”, and “old fashioned” are strategic marketing words for food products today.

Local Market, Valley Ford, CA. July 26th, 2011

The road takes me back to the Ocean, and I arrive at Bodega Bay.  The fog has turned into a few clouds far away.

Bodega Bay, CA. July 26th, 2011

I entered one of those Golf “Communities”, where nice houses are built around and in the middle of a carefully designed golf course.  One advantage of having motorcycling as a sport and hobby is that it won’t chain you to a location. Bodega Bay, the city, on the distance.

Bodega Bay viewed from a Golf Course Neighborhood. California, July 26th, 2011.

It was getting close to lunch time around the time I went through Bodega Bay. It is a large community and it took me a while to clear urban areas.  There was some traffic on the road, not too much. Many motorcycles. Going through the city I could smell the different food being prepared on the restaurants along the road: Fish and chips anyone? Tacos? A burger? Many motorcycles parked up front, some restaurants had tables outside. I wanted to keep going so I survived the lure of the food smells.

North of Bodega Bay, CA, July 26th, 2011

This road is absolutely fantastic. As it goes north of Bodega Bay, traffic thins out, the road gets better, the views get better.  Here is a view of the road and the Ocean views, north of Jenner, CA.

Views of and from Hwy. 1, CA, July 26th, 2011

A close up, of the same photo above.  At this point while I took these pictures, I was passed by a group of three motorcycles, that I would call an odd combination: A Ducati Multistrada 1000DS, a Triumph Scrambler, and a Harley Davidson Sportster. I passed them on a road construction flag, they passed me back on another opportunity, and we leap-frogged each other for a while.  They were always on that order: Ducati on the lead, followed by Triumph, followed by Harley.

Close up of Hwy 1 and coast detail. California, July 26th, 2011

Several miles later, going past Gualala and getting close to Point Arena. I could stop at every 100 yards to enjoy the views and take beautiful photos.  It is such a beautiful coast line.  Looking south.

Looking South towards Gualala, Hwy 1., CA, July 26th, 2011

Looking north towards Point Arena. The fog is setting in again. Notice the helicopter on this picture.

When I continued north, this is the scene I found to the side of the road. Don’t know what it was about.  But the ambulance and the helicopter arrived at about the same time at the scene. Hopefully whoever was in need of assistance was OK.

A rescue operation somewhere. CA, July 26th, 2011

The city of Point Arena.

Point Arena, CA. July 26th, 2011

Just north of town there was a sign for a road going towards the ocean, to the Point Arena Light house.  I decided to go check it out.  It was one of those single lane paved roads.  Fun to ride. When I got to the lighthouse, I would have to pay $7.50 to go see it close up. I decided not to pay that money for a one-minute view of the lighthouse since I was on the move. So this is my picture of it.

Point Arena Lighhouse. CA, July 26th, 2011

Every now and then I have to add a picture of this beautiful bike on the report.

The Tiger at the Point Arena Lighthouse. CA, July 26th, 2011

I enjoyed the experience of riding on that single lane road.

Punta Arena Lighhouse rd. CA. July 26th, 2011

And another view.

Punta Arena Lighhouse Rd., CA. July 26th, 2011

And this is a video of the ride on this road.  This bike is really special, it is really a pleasure to ride. Smooth, really smooth.

Continuing north, fog rolls in, bringing another facet of “beautiful” to the landscape and the experience.

Fog rolls in on Hwy 1. CA, July 26th, 2011

Next: Day 3, Part III (To Westport, CA).

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