Monday afternoon my bike was packed and I was ready to hit the road for some solo camping! My KTM RC 390 had fresh rubber and oil and I was itching to get away from life and have fun!
My route from Redwood City took me up 84 and south on Skyline to Summit Road. After a quick food stop at the Summit Store, I turned around and went up Loma Prieta Road instead of my usual route through Highland Way and Eureka Canyon. I didn't realize that Loma Prieta turned to dirt, but was loving the alternate route and fascinated with the terrain and the "compounds" up on the ridge. The view of Mt. Umunhum were also spectacular. I continued on to Pole Line Road (pavement, yay!) and down 152 towards Castroville. A sweet little detour through the Elkhorn Slough and I was onto Highway 1 to make some time through the flats. Highway 218 to Laureles Canyon and then east on the Carmel Valley Road. From there it was south to Jolon and out Nacimiento Ferguson Road.
My original plan was to make it all the way to the Kirk Creek Campground on 1, but my delayed start made that an impossibility in daylight, and I wasn't interested in night riding that section. After fuel and some convenience store food for dinner I decided that Ponderosa Campground would be my home for the night. As I was cruising through the sweet roads on the Hunter/Ligett Army Base I began realizing my small, lightweight summer sleeping bag was a little under-gunned for Ponderosa. I knew that narrow Canyon trapped cold air, and when I arrived discovered the upper camping closed. Oh well, the bivy sack and extra layers would suffice. Unfortunately when I unpacked my gear it was immediately clear I forgot my sleeping bag! Fortunately I didn't forget the flask of Scotch, so I looked at the stars and sipped Scotch until it started getting cold. Cold it got! I slept in full gear, boots, leathers, gloves and a ski hat and it was all I could do to not shiver! Time to work the pre-plan list a little harder.
On the road by 9, there wasn't a soul all the way to the summit, and the roads were in good shape with very little debris. I love Nacimiento/Ferguson Road and it felt so nice to have the sun warming my leathers and the ocean before me.
A quick stop in Gorda for breakfast and $7/gallon gas and I was heading to San Simeon. Gorda to San Simeon is one of my favorite sections of Highway 1 and it was almost completely empty. Once in San Simeon I set up camp at the park south of town and basically lounged around. The big riding day before (205 miles), and the cold night with little sleep had me worn out.
I use Kriega bags for my gear and love them with one caveat. Do not lose the straps! They are specific and without them you are stuck. When I rode into town for dinner I forgot to take them off the bike and two fell off on the short ride to town. Back at camp I was seriously down on myself about no sleeping bag and losing the straps but was determined not to let it deter me. I used the straps I had remaining to run a bag to Cambria to send back home, and went to camp to grab the rest of my gear and go.
Heading north with just my essentials and a 10 liter bag on the back my bike felt great and traffic was extremely light. I decided to head up to Big Sur for a bacon- bow tie and coffee before turning around to return up Nacimiento/Ferguson Road. Heading home I was making good time and after finishing up Highway 218 I went straight to 1 to get to Freedom just south of Aptos. From there I took Coralitos Road to Eureka Canyon to Summit. Eureka Canyon is always rough, but the winter opened up some new potholes. It made for some really fun, point and shoot riding that my little bike loves.
From Summit I continued up Skyline just past Bear Creek when the fun came to an end. Check my other thread for the crappy ending to an otherwise awesome weekend. They say bad things happen in 3's, hopefully I'm good for a while now.
My route from Redwood City took me up 84 and south on Skyline to Summit Road. After a quick food stop at the Summit Store, I turned around and went up Loma Prieta Road instead of my usual route through Highland Way and Eureka Canyon. I didn't realize that Loma Prieta turned to dirt, but was loving the alternate route and fascinated with the terrain and the "compounds" up on the ridge. The view of Mt. Umunhum were also spectacular. I continued on to Pole Line Road (pavement, yay!) and down 152 towards Castroville. A sweet little detour through the Elkhorn Slough and I was onto Highway 1 to make some time through the flats. Highway 218 to Laureles Canyon and then east on the Carmel Valley Road. From there it was south to Jolon and out Nacimiento Ferguson Road.
My original plan was to make it all the way to the Kirk Creek Campground on 1, but my delayed start made that an impossibility in daylight, and I wasn't interested in night riding that section. After fuel and some convenience store food for dinner I decided that Ponderosa Campground would be my home for the night. As I was cruising through the sweet roads on the Hunter/Ligett Army Base I began realizing my small, lightweight summer sleeping bag was a little under-gunned for Ponderosa. I knew that narrow Canyon trapped cold air, and when I arrived discovered the upper camping closed. Oh well, the bivy sack and extra layers would suffice. Unfortunately when I unpacked my gear it was immediately clear I forgot my sleeping bag! Fortunately I didn't forget the flask of Scotch, so I looked at the stars and sipped Scotch until it started getting cold. Cold it got! I slept in full gear, boots, leathers, gloves and a ski hat and it was all I could do to not shiver! Time to work the pre-plan list a little harder.
On the road by 9, there wasn't a soul all the way to the summit, and the roads were in good shape with very little debris. I love Nacimiento/Ferguson Road and it felt so nice to have the sun warming my leathers and the ocean before me.
A quick stop in Gorda for breakfast and $7/gallon gas and I was heading to San Simeon. Gorda to San Simeon is one of my favorite sections of Highway 1 and it was almost completely empty. Once in San Simeon I set up camp at the park south of town and basically lounged around. The big riding day before (205 miles), and the cold night with little sleep had me worn out.
I use Kriega bags for my gear and love them with one caveat. Do not lose the straps! They are specific and without them you are stuck. When I rode into town for dinner I forgot to take them off the bike and two fell off on the short ride to town. Back at camp I was seriously down on myself about no sleeping bag and losing the straps but was determined not to let it deter me. I used the straps I had remaining to run a bag to Cambria to send back home, and went to camp to grab the rest of my gear and go.
Heading north with just my essentials and a 10 liter bag on the back my bike felt great and traffic was extremely light. I decided to head up to Big Sur for a bacon- bow tie and coffee before turning around to return up Nacimiento/Ferguson Road. Heading home I was making good time and after finishing up Highway 218 I went straight to 1 to get to Freedom just south of Aptos. From there I took Coralitos Road to Eureka Canyon to Summit. Eureka Canyon is always rough, but the winter opened up some new potholes. It made for some really fun, point and shoot riding that my little bike loves.
From Summit I continued up Skyline just past Bear Creek when the fun came to an end. Check my other thread for the crappy ending to an otherwise awesome weekend. They say bad things happen in 3's, hopefully I'm good for a while now.
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