Back on the 101, the sun was shining high and bright, I had begun to warm up and felt really good. I picked up the pace to between 85-90 mph, on occassion hitting 100. The road was just so wide open in many places. Although my senses were on full alert for the ever present CHP, I felt confident enough to run faster than usual. Even though compared to what I had ridden through the past few days, the 101 was a bit boring, it was still a scenic freeway in some places. It certainly is way better than Interstate 5! I felt like a Gazelle galloping across the open plains of Africa with the CHP being the ever present Lion waiting to pounce at any unsuspecting and overconfident prey. I knew that even from a great distance, it was easy enough to spot me with my red Joe Rocket jacket, red helmet, and bright red motorcycle. In addition, being small and moving relatively fast, the human eye is more attuned to me. Hell! I could spot a H-D rider from nearly a mile away so I'm sure an alert CHP officer could easily see me. The only trick was, he/she needed to get close enough to read my speed for sure and not have their Ka-band radar confuse me with other traffic. That's easier said than done. Nevertheless, I didn't allow myself that luxury so I kept checking my six. I knew that the moment I lapse from my full alert status, I would get nabbed.
Passed Buellton, I went by Gaviota State Beach with its landmark railroad bridge passing overhead. A little passed Gaviota was Santa Barbara County's beautiful coastline. The water shimmered in the morning sun and visibility went on for miles along the shore. The hills to my left were filled with yellow flowers in a sea of dark green grass. It all looked so peaceful and soothing. Nothing like Hwy 1 but still good eye candy. |
