General

California Highway 1

This past weekend Tessa and I went on a motorcycle trip up the coast to Carmel. We took Highway 1, which has got to be one of the most scenic and serene (not to mention good for motorcycle riding!) roads in the state. Super good fun!

On Friday we left from Santa Barbara and then headed north up 101 until we got to San Luis Obispo. From there we took 1 over to Morro Bay, and then north thru Cayucos and Cambria until we got up to San Simeon. We stopped for a quick tour of Hearst Castle (Tessa loved it, I thought it was tacky and the spiritual precursor to modern-day Las Vegas) before pushing up through Big Sur and onto the Monterey Peninsula and Carmel.

The next day we rode up 1 to Santa Cruz, and then took the 17 inland to San Jose so that we could visit Road Rider, a very well-known (for good reason, it turns out) motorcycle shop in the area. I picked up a new pair of gloves and a tank bag, and then we headed back down 101 and then took the 156 back out to Carmel.

On Sunday we returned down 1. The weather was nice but a little bit cross-windy through Big Sur, making the ride somewhat exciting. We arrived to Cambria and spent the night there, doing a bit of shopping in the cute little town there. Monday we returned home to Santa Barbara, taking 1 all the way down the coast from Pismo thru Lompoc, and then across Santa Rosa Road to Buellton and taking the 154 over the pass back into Santa Barbara.

All in all, a great weekend and some great riding. Not too shabby!