Before they drove off, one of their female companions asked me if she could have her picture taken on my Hayabusa. What was I suppose to say? At least her husband/boyfriend spoke English. So she gingerly hopped on my bike, and even put on my dingy helmet for the camera. Personally, I wouldn�t have put a stranger�s helmet on my head but��.
On northward, we passed by Julia Pfeifer Burns State Park. There was a bit more semblance of civilization here as there were a couple of very expensive looking hotels and a Museum. There were also turn offs and access to the beach, far below. However, we didn�t bother to stop here for some reason. After that, we rode on to the community of Big Sur. Here, the vegetation got thick with Pine trees and thick shrubs as PCH began its drop down into the Big Sur River valley. PCH also moved inland and away from the coast for a little bit as it passed by Pfeiffer Big Sur State Park and Andrew Molera State Park. Everything out here was a state park of some sort. All the better to remain protected from the greedy developers who would love to build on this area so they can sell homes & golf courses to rich people who buy coastal land so only they can enjoy its beauty.
Soon after, the road straightened out for a while as we entered a plateau where Point Sur Lightstation State Historic Park sits on a giant rock jutting out into the Ocean. This lighthouse is a famous landmark for scenic calendars and postcards of Big Sur. Unfortunately, there were quite a few cars sitting on the side of the road taking pictures so I didn�t stop to take pictures. Now I regret that. We would have had some good photos of the area! Damn! Right after Point Sur Lightstation was Hurricane Point and the Bixby Bridge, one of the bridges along PCH built during the 1920�s. Here, the winds kicked up and the temperature dropped to where I was feeling a bit cold even with my leather jacket on. There were times the wind blew so strong as to throw me off line. I had a few exciting moments for sure. Occasionally, the wind would kick up some sand and I got hit with it on my neck�the only exposed part of my body. It was quite painful.
Point Lobos State Preserve came up next. Then Carmel. Then Monterey. As we approached the latter two, the number of cars on PCH multiplied 5 fold and they were all going slow! None were pulling over either. At the very front of the line was, as usual, a mobile home! There were no places to pass so we had to tolerate the slow going all the way to Monterey.
We rode through the very confusing downtown part of Monterey towards Fisherman�s Wharf and Cannery Row. We finally found a place to park after 15 minutes of unrelenting slow drivers. Hey! We got used to PCH being empty. We walked a couple of blocks to eat at some Italian restaurant somebody recommended to Marty. The pizza was good. After lunch, we got on our bikes to ride down Cannery Row and gawk a bit. Turned out there was a Hot Rod show in town and the road to Cannery Row was closed! So, we had to go back and park our bikes again and walk down to Cannery Row. The road was lined with vintage cars and Hot Rods with their owners showing them all off. We spent an additional hour gawking at the beautifully restored and modified cars before heading back out on PCH toward Carmel Valley Road.
It was 3PM when we left Monterey and school just got out. So, PCH coming out of Monterey was jam packed with school buses, cars and trucks! I led our trio and split lanes towards Carmel Valley Road(G16). Along the way there, an old bitch driving a Suburban turned towards the center of the road to block our path. I managed to squeeze through but Matt & Marty could not. They told me later that that old bitch tried to hold them up as much as she can. What was her malfunction?
On G16, the road went through the beautiful and lush Carmel Valley. It was a bit congested with school buses and work trucks however so we tried our best to weave our way to the front. Most of the vehicles turned off except for two work trucks. Just then, G16 began to snake its way towards Salinas Valley. The cool temperature of the coastline was replaced with the warmer inland temperature. The turns were tight and a bit bumpy. However, the two work trucks held their ground and would NOT pullover to let us pass. Both of them were sliding their tires on each turn, seemingly trying their best to keep their speeds up and make it impossible for us to pass on the short straights. Damned bastards! After a few miles, I got fed up with following these two fools, so as soon as I found an opening, I went for it. The Hayabusa�s power really helped. I got by both those stupid trucks, but unfortunately, Matt & Marty where still stuck behind them.
Since I could now concentrate on the road, instead of the taillights of those work trucks, I was able to enjoy the road. The scenery on G16 is quite beautiful. Not quite as lush green as PCH, but more country road like in a Little House on the Prairie sort of way. The road lasted a total of 40 miles as it went up and down, over and under, left and right. Some turns where tight, some where not. There were no signs to remind the traveler what type of turn was coming up. A few turns where downright scary as they were narrow, tight and had some gravel. The road led me down a valley of trees as it followed what I believed to be the Arroyo Seco River. Here, the sun didn�t get much of a chance to penetrate the canopy so the temperature quickly dropped, and going from shadow to light made it sometimes difficult to see what�s ahead. When I exited Salinas Valley, the canopy of trees disappeared and was once again replaced with the arid hillsides so common in California. It also got warmer again as I was back out in the bright Sun. Just then, I saw a deer eating by the roadside. I slowed to a crawl thinking it might cross. I watched it for a few seconds as it stared at me. As I got closer, the deer didn�t move. So I gassed it and right then, the dumb animal jumped in front of me! That was close. At another point, I was riding down a short straight with wooden fences on both sides when a deer jumped out and leaped in front of me, missing me by a good margin. But right after it was another that leapt in front of me. That one was real close and I had to slam on my brakes to avoid a collision. Damn deer. I felt like hunting them right then and there for dinner. After about 30 miles of continuous twisties, I needed a break. I was hot and thirsty so I pulled over the side of a road under a shady tree to wait for Matt & Marty. Luckily, I brought along my tank bag where I had stored a bottle of water. Out here, there weren�t any Liquor Stores to buy drinks from!
|
