Ducati Monster Forum

I've been wanting to check out some of the roads between 101 and 1 up to Fort Bragg and if I have time get up to Eureka and ride between there and Redding along with some of the surrounding roads.  I know its not an ideal weekend to hit the highways and byways but I have a few days off and don't want to stay in town.  I will leave early Fri AM and plan on returning Sun later in the day.

I need any tips you folks can provide for routes, fun roads, places to stay and eat, etc, given my time line.  I would prefer not to have to be on hwy5 for very long, but other than that I'm open.  Some of the roads I'm considering are 128 from 101 to 1, then 20 from 1 to 101, 299 to Redding, 36 to red bluff, etc. 

I am very comfortable with 300 miles in a day and don't plan on rushing my progress too much.  That is I'll be stopping to take pics and look around at anything that catches my eye. 

Thanks in advance and I promise I will take a bunch of pics and share them if you point me in the right direction. 

Dave

Skaggs Spring Road just above Gyserville connects 101 to 1

Fun road. That's about as far north as I've ever ridden.

I might have to put that on the list.  However I can't afford any tickets and I've heard the road begs to be ridden fast, so I'm sorta scared to ride it, esp this weekend.

I wouldn't know, I had a 620 infront of me while I was trying to ride it... :D hahaha [moto]

It does take some restraint though to keep it in the low triple digits.

128 over the mountains to Hwy 1 is fantastic!! I did the reverse on a ride back from Portland. Take Hwy 1 up to the Garberville area, and pick up Avenue of the Giants. It's 70 miles that parallels, and crosses over, the 101, through GIANT redwoods. (http://a216.ac-images.myspacecdn.com/images01/6/l_613760e33429fb2dba814cc97fc37adf.jpg) Absolutely amazing!!! [thumbsup] [thumbsup] There's a little log cabin general store about half way through the Ave. Good sammiches and cold drinks. Friendly locals too.

Acme Rocket Bike/Steffano Motors ( http://www.steffanomotors.com/gallery-acme.aspx ) is up in Garberville too. Bob's a great guy! I can give you his contact info, just in case. He's got one helluva shop up there... bailed me out when my electrical went all to shite. He's a good number to have in the 'ol back pocket! [beer]

PM sent.

Duckwrench, as always, your wealth of knowledge is a benefit and much appreciated!!!  I should have just called you I guess.  128 is on, then 1 up to Fort Bragg and it looks like MendoDave might have some suprises in store from there

Keep it coming people.  I need my first moto adventure in CA to be a good one!!! [thumbsup]

PS. any overnight stops coordinated with breweries are about as close to heaven as I can imagine.  Just sayin!! [drink]

Start here.  It's worth the $20 just in the time you'll save. http://www.pashnit.com/

I have access to that and planned on doing some research tomorrow, but I figured who better to hear it from than the horse's.....you know what. ;)

Maybe call T-byrd? Not like she knows anything about booze, er nuthin. [beer] [drink] [wine] [laugh] [laugh]

Oyeah, beers in Arcada -Lost Coast.  Plus there's a Indian Casino just north and a strip club south of town.

Damn, I gotta get up there again!

I could meet you at the North Coast brewery for lunch in Fort Bragg if breweries are on the agenda... [beer]

http://tinyurl.com/4lx3ry

Now, now!!! Mid-day beer stops aren't the best idea to begin with, then factor in that their Old Rasputin Imp Stout (9% abv) is on on my top 10 beer list.  That sounds like trouble but I'm sure they have a great reuben, so sounds like a plan!

I would prefer beer partaking after the ride, you know to be responsible and shite.  God I got all growd up and didn't even know it. :P

Mendodave, we're on to meet one way or another. I'll be calling you for sure! [thumbsup]

Thanks for the lost coast tip.  I've had the downtown brown but am always game to have a tap tasteting. 

FWI, I usually base trips around food and beer.  I'll probably die young, so might as well have fun! 8)

At the brewery they only give you an 8 ounce glass of that stuff but if you go 1 block down the street to Piacci's they will serve you a whole pint.

I noticed the same thing when I went to Moylans in Navato, 8 oz of the Kilt but other places will serve a pint.

[threadjack]

Skaggs for pinks!   >:( 


 [laugh]   what's it like getting schooled by a 620?

Beer nazis FTL!!!  Next time you come down this way, check out The Trappist in Oakland.  All the 8,9,10 and 13% belgian beers you can drink. 
I drank so much one night I started talking flemish I think. [laugh]

Big beers are king!!!

Having ridden behind you I can say with certainty that you wouldn't be in the way ;D

Is that the place with the really high ceilings, all of the cases of beer in the front and brewery next to the parking lot?   

Sounds about right, they are on 8th between broadway and washington.  They've only been open for about 6 months but have the best tap selection in Oakland.  Every time I've gone there, the "one round" has turned to 5+ and a rockin good time.  The first time I was there, one of the female bartenders even rode up on a monster.  www.thetrappist.com



There is also Pacific Coast Brewing around the corner at 9th and Washington, damn good beer there too.

 I have a feeling that the next time I come down, I'll be drinking whatever they have at Zeitgeist.

Make sure stop by Mendocino town and have crab sandwich if you  like sea food , the road is nice and twisty, you will love it .

Have fun.

Ya but the Kilt Lifter is about double the alcohol level of, say a pale ale. Hence the small glass.

As for Zeitgeist, I say when in SF, drink Anchor Steam.  Or if they have anything from Moonlight Brewing get that.

Damn, I work on Webster, I gotta get over there.

As promised, here are pictures from the trip up north last weekend.  Big  [thumbsup] to MendoDave for meeting up and leading on some of their local roads.  The route went as follows. 

Day 1-  101 north, 128 north through Booneville,  1 north to Leggett, short stint on 101 north, ave of the giants to Fortuna (approx 300mi).  The section of 1 from Fort Bragg to Leggett is one of the best roads I've been on in a long time (WOW!!)  It's smooth, twisty, has alot of elevation change and is posted at 55mph.  I'm so jealous of those bastards, getting to ride that anytime they want!!!

128 between Booneville and the coast
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v384/vwbliss/Moto%20trip/DSC00725.jpg)

Lunch stop in Fort Bragg at North Coast Brewing, met up with MendoDave and friend
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v384/vwbliss/Moto%20trip/DSC00727.jpg)

hwy1 between Fort Bragg and Legget.  The really fun part over the mountains.
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v384/vwbliss/Moto%20trip/DSC00731.jpg)

Gratuitous Monster shot.  I thought the house and truck in the background were really cool.
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v384/vwbliss/Moto%20trip/DSC00733.jpg)

The famous drive through tree in Legget
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v384/vwbliss/Moto%20trip/DSC00735.jpg)

Ave of the Giants
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v384/vwbliss/Moto%20trip/DSC00737.jpg)

Day 2 - Headed east on 36 from Fortuna in hopes of riding to Red Bluff and back, but the rain just kept getting worse the further we went and temps were in the low 50s.  After warming up over lunch in Hay Fork, and speaking with another guy on a moto that had come from Red Bluff, we decided to head back to Fortuna. (180 miles round trip).   This road is worth the trip and I didn't even get to the really fun part from what I hear.  Maybe next time the weather will hold out.
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v384/vwbliss/Moto%20trip/DSC00742.jpg)

We ended the day at Eel River Brewing in Fortuna.  I highly recommend checking them out.  Great beer and food, but the brew babes are just mean!  [laugh]
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v384/vwbliss/Moto%20trip/DSC00751.jpg)

Day 3 - Retraced the path of Day 1 back home from Fortuna.  Weather was perfect!

Hwy101
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v384/vwbliss/Moto%20trip/DSC00759.jpg)
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v384/vwbliss/Moto%20trip/DSC00761.jpg)

Hwy1
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v384/vwbliss/Moto%20trip/DSC00765.jpg)
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v384/vwbliss/Moto%20trip/DSC00769.jpg)
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v384/vwbliss/Moto%20trip/DSC00771.jpg)

man it's nice up there.  Did you camp or stay in hotels? 

Great shots!

Bummer about the rain, but the dry bits look like they more than made up for it.

We did hotels but there are plenty of beautiful places to camp if you're into that sort of thing

Cool pictures, thanks for sharing! :)

That last picture of the Street Tripple on that shitty little stretch of Pavement that wants to slide into the ocean....

Well, less than a mile before that (to the north toward Westport), is where the Guy on the Blue ST that we met, went off the road. We stopped at the Westport store for a beer just me and him, because Mitch headed on in with his Super Sport, because the hour was getting late.. I said "Hey lets stop at the store for a beer" so we did. I went in and bought a beer, but he stayed outside. The Guy had brought his own Shiny chrome Snifter and a Coke to mix up a Highball. Actually he had two shiny chrome snifters. I said to myself Hmmmnnn.??...

Anyway after 15 minutes or so we got back on the bikes, for the 20 minute ride into town, and I had him lead the way, because I was going to turn off on my driveway In Inglenook, and he was going all the way in to town to meet with his friend. So immediately after taking off I noticed that he couldn't ride anymore, Difficulty keeping it in the lane and such, and I was starting to get worried that he might wreck. I started to think what to do? What to do? And then, just before that place where you took the picture, less than a mile from the Westport store, he went off the side of the road, over the bars, and down the bank into the brush...

I thought Oh no! I hope that isn't a place where there is a bluff! I didn't recall a bluff on that turn but.....I could be wrong. Good thing for him it wasn't a turn with a bluff. That place was two more turns down the road.


I gave him a ride into town after that, and just left his bike there over night because he couldn't ride. It was going to be dark soon and probably no one would notice. We got the ST towed up the hill the next morning with a rope and a truck and two extra people.
Nobody was hurt but he was real lucky. I think his liver is gone or something, that stuff just bypassed the filter and went straight into his blood. I just didn't even expect that at all. I don't think he was drinking before because he rode fine for 50 Miles or so.

Nice pics!  [thumbsup]  Looks like it was fun...minus the ST mishap.  [drink]

T

Holy shit!  When you said you had a story about the guy, you weren't kidding!!!   :o

I'm glad he was ok and good on you for taking care of him!

 :-X

Great pics! Looks like a fun and scenic ride.