This afternoon I went on a new years day ride on my beloved PC800, otherwise known as The Tardis. My first destination was Marys Peak. I had expected to encounter snow but did not expect to suddenly run into a solid ice roadway. Just up around the next bend, I encountered a completely covered road. Luck was on my side and I was already crawling along in first gear. I managed to get my bike turned around without incident and slowly creep off of the ice and back onto somewhat bare pavement.
Just after I snapped this picture, a couple riding a large mid 1980s Kawasaki cruiser shot up the road. I waved them down just before they would have shot around the corner and onto the ice. They took a few pictures of the ice and their bike before zipping down the hill.
On second thought, I guess the road that I had just come up wasn’t all that much better than the sheet of ice I encountered just up the hill. At least with the bare ruts, it wasn’t too bad going back down. The scene reminded me of the ice planet Hoth at the time. Although when I look at the photos now, I realize that the snow today is barely a wisp compared to what Drew and I encountered when we rode our dual sports up Marys Peak last month.
My next stop was Seal Rock. I passed through the towns of Alsea and Waldport before turning north on US 101 to find the pullout for this photo.
It was a magnificent day for a Pacific Coast to be on the Pacific Coast.
To all my snow-bound PC800 friends: I am sorry that you couldn’t be out with me on the ride today. It was a truly magical day to ride my Pacific Coast.