We have several accounts of the January tour to Arroyo Seco.
by Bill Jarvis
It was dark and raining when I left home to meet the tour at Sam's in Half Moon Bay. I crested the summit on Highway 92 and was greeted by what appeared to be the sun rising in the West. An azure blue sky and puffy little clouds - it was going to be a great day for riding.
Most of the tour arrived at the same time I got there - Tour Captain Bob Love arrived shortly thereafter. Breakfast was very good and worth a visit if you are ever in the area. Well fed and gassed we lined up parade fashion behind Bob and headed south for Stage Road our first of many turns. Bob had not asked me to ride sweep, but I felt compelled to do so. Wild life was everywhere. Bob was jerking left and right to miss all the road-kill and it seemed like each turn produced more wild life dashing from the side of the road. He made it easy for those following - when ever he took an unconventional line through a corner it was certain that when I got there that wild life was impinging on our road way.
After circling a little (no U-turns) we headed on to Soquel - the group was making such good time we decided we would wait lunch until arriving in Carmel Valley Village. But first we took a water tour around Elkhorn Slough. Lot of road-kill around Elkhorn. After skirting Castroville and Salinas we got on every rider's favorite road, Laureles Grade between Highway 68 and Carmel Valley Road. Plenty of wild life on that road.
After lunch in Carmel Valley Village we headed to camp a mere 30 miles of road-kill and wild life away. The ride was so enjoyable the tour group bought the Tour Captain's lunch. A great time with good friends.
Upon our arrival at Arroyo Seco we were greeted by the hearty members already at the camp ground. All with their favorite foul weather steeds.
Well it was almost like that, but there may be another version. Try reading it with the following items replaced. Replace "Azure Blue" , with "black as a coal mine shaft." Replace "road-kill" with, "something on the road that could kill me if I hit it, i.e. tree limb, tree, running water, large rock, or combination of the four." Replace "wild life" with, "mud and or rock slide." Oh and Bob bought gas in Carmel Valley so I bought lunch.
by Bob Love
The weather report promised blustery and rainy weather from 6:00 AM to 6:00 PM on Saturday. The ride home from work on Friday did nothing to convince me otherwise. As I went to sleep on Friday night I wondered two things: how dedicated is a tour captain supposed to be, and what will be the appropriate method of transportation for tomorrow: motorcycle or kayak?
Saturday morning and it sure was blustery but not really raining. OK, off to breakfast assuming no one else will be there. Wrong, a red F650 greeted me at the restaurant belonging to none other than our president. Oh well, I guess the tour must go on. Off we went (that is the two of us) down 1 onto Stage Road to Pescadero. Up Pescadero Rd. toward Alpine Rd. Lots of stuff (tree limbs, mud, flowing water) on the road. Pescadero Creek (or river) was an absolutely raging, light coffee colored, torrent. Through various roads in the Santa Cruz Mtns, some unfortunately closed, and finally San Jose Soquel Rd. to the coast. Down the coast for a while, then off to Elkhorn Slough for a washing of the bike (salt water I'd guess) and on to Carmel Valley for lunch. Carmel Valley Rd. was of course fun and then on to the campground. I personally enjoyed the ride. There was very little rain, maybe an hour at most. A chance was provided to practice riding on wet debris covered roads which I rarely do.
We arrived at the campground about 3:00 PM and were greeted by three members who arrived in two cars. Great, equal cars and motorcycles. About 3:30 another member showed up in a car. Motorcycles are now in the minority. We heard a motorcycle but where was the rider? The president decided, with no objection from the assemble masses, we would forego the meeting and we departed a few minutes before 4:00. On the way out we met the motorcyclist and a car with two members. Final tally: 9 people, 4 cars, 3 motorcycles, no campers (though the last to arrive on motorcycle had planned to camp).
Just a word about the Arroyo Seco campground. Its really too bad it has been so rainy. This is a really pleasant place to camp in the winter or early spring. The group campsite has a nice BBQ pit and I'd certainly enjoy returning.
by Carol Feldman
This month's meeting was well attended, considering the weather. There were five of us. Two brave souls were on bikes, and the rest were in cars. Tour captain Bob Love led the tour as planned, with Bill Jarvis playing second in command and sweep. Now we know who the true die-hards are. Way to go Bob and Bill!
John and I took 101 straight down to this month's meeting at Arroyo Seco, the dry canyon, figuring it would be wet. We expected floods and traffic, and found smooth sailing. We arrived at 2 pm. Two hours to kill, in a light rain. So we drifted around the campgrounds, and found two lakes, quiet forests, and lots of camping. A beautiful place. Nice winter pick, Bob.
Lars pulled up sometime before 3:30 pm, on four wheels, and we joined up to chat just as Bob and Bill pulled in. They reported a mostly dry and uneventful ride, coming in via Carmel Valley Road. See what taking a chance gets you? Another day of riding, and any dry day of riding is a great day.
At 3:40, with no cover and increasing rain, we took a group photo and declared the meeting over. Just then Greg Hutchinson pulled in, on four wheels, and joined the chat. We occasionally heard the sound of a roaming K bike, but shrugged it off as it faded into the distance. It was obviously searching for us, but what could we do? At 3:50 we hit the road, anxious to get home, and ran into Don Allison (the roaming K bike) and Chris Weld (warm and snug in a van). What about the meeting, they demanded to know. Oh, we shyly answered, it was held and adjourned already. Nice park, eh? But Don would not let the subject change. He was our third die-hard biker, and he was prepared to camp. Oh dear. So we all gathered around for a little more chat before heading out, and Don went into the park to see what he had missed.
All in all, it was a quiet and pleasant day.
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