(updated Mar 12)

Our March meeting will take place at 4:00 p.m. in Paradise Campground on Paradise Road just off Hwy 154, east of Lake Cachuma, and north of Santa Barbara. On the way we’ll pass by some good cornering opportunities, the kamikaze ground squirrels of an unusually green Indian Valley, a view of San Luis Obispo Bay, the Fess Parker winery, and Los Olivos, home of you-know-who who’s on trial for you-know-what. Want more? Like an excellent dinner? Done.

If you dig out your October 2001 issue of Motorcycle Consumer News or go to the restaurant web site, there’s a blurb about Cold Spring Tavern (805-967-0066) on 5995 Stagecoach Road. This former stagecoach relay station is down in a canyon on the south side of Hwy 154 and fairly close to the campground. They serve all sorts of critters, so, depending on the menu that evening, this may be your chance to - - experiment. We may get a room reserved for us that seats up to 25. Call in your dinner reservation to Rick Webb (925-825-8903) after 7:00 p.m. and before March 18th.

The tour will leave at 8:30 a.m. from Flames Coffee Shop, 7170 Santa Teresa Blvd., San Jose (408-224-7464). We’ll work our way over to McKean, Uvas, and Watsonville roads, heading south to Route 152 east. A short stint on Hwy 101 south to Hwy 25, and then a bypass of downtown Hollister on Fairview will get us back on Hwy 25 south towards a hydrocarbon and aqueous fluids equilibrium stop at Tres Pinos. From there it’s 25 to Peach Tree Road and Indian Valley Road.

Now I’ll concede that Indian Valley Road is a little rough, but it’s not too bad. Just loosen up your suspension and your attitude, travel at less than zoom speed, and enjoy the lack of traffic and “development”.

A right turn at the end of Indian Valley, three blinks on Cross Canyon Rd., a right on River Road, and we aim left on Mission Rd. in San Miguel. Mission runs up on to Hwy 101 South, leading us to the nearby Fairgrounds exit west at Paso Robles, and what you’ve been waiting for: More lunch than you can eat at Margie’s Diner (805-238-4305), 1135 24th Street. There are also several burger joints within m/c boot range.

After lunch we enter the penalty phase of the ride, which is an hour of freeway riding on 101 south to Santa Maria. Then the route heads east on Hwy 166 to Tupusquet Rd. south - just because it’s there - and eventually to Foxen Canyon Rd., which connects to 154. Riding east on 154 brings us past Lake Cachuma to Paradise Rd. and the campground. The Forest Service charges a $5.00 per vehicle entrance fee, so be prepared.

We have sites #1 and #15 for two days, Friday and Saturday. If you decide to arrive on Friday, they will be available after 2:00 p.m. Additional sites for Saturday are likely. The camp operators offer firewood for sale.

As always new riders and non-members are welcome to come to tours and meetings. Generally we meet for breakfast about an hour before departure. If you are among the first to arrive, please request an area where a dozen of us can sit together. We will start the ride with a short meeting to go over safety guidelines and to distribute maps and directions. Please ride within your limits

Please contact me with anyquestions:rickwebb3@juno.com

-Rick