The Y2K+9 Ride, P.A.T.

(Pc Anniversary Tour)

Pictures, Trip Reports, Photo Links, etc.

The Riders…

And their steeds…

Attendees…

Name	Home City, State, Country	Bike Ridden
Michael Boyd	??, California	???? PC800
Charles Cervantes	Los Angeles, California	1994 PC800
Malcolm Cook	Brampton, Ontario, Canada	1989 Canadian PC800
Julia Coss	Elk Grove, California	passenger with Roy
Roy Coss	Elk Grove, California	2003 GL1800
Lance Coss	Battle Ground, Washington	2006 Harley Davidson Ultra Classic Electra Glide
Sue Coss	Battle Ground, Washington	passenger with Lance
Larry Daggett	Rio Dell, California	1989 PC800
Gary Davis	Gilroy, California	1989 PC800
Robin Davis	San Jose, California	1989 PC800
Ian Elder	Balclutha, New Zealand	1989 PC800
Jim Geary	Felton, California	2004 ST1300
Jerry Grainger	Hillsborough, California	???? ST1300
Thomas E. Humphrey II	Brentwood, California	1994 PC800
Tosh Konya	Troy, Ohio	1997 PC800
Graeme Lowen	Southland, New Zealand	???? GL1800
Maree Lowen	Southland, New Zealand	passenger with Graeme
Bruce Mann	San Jose, California	1989 PC800
Ralph McComb	Healdsburg, California	2004 Suzuki DL650
Peter Noeth	Rocklin, California	2007 GL1800
Bruce Pickett	Federal Way, Washington	1990 PC800
Kevin Quosig	San Leandro, California	2007 Suzuki Burgman
Jason Scarborough	Santa Ynez, California	2003 ST1300
Leland Sheppard	Placerville, California	1990 PC800
David Sigsbee	Memphis, Tennessee	1994 PC800
Art Steinbach	Redding, California	1997 PC800
Mel Straus	Mariposa, California	1989 PC800
John Treiber	Lake City, Florida	Funny looking 4 wheeled thing
Bob Walton	Milwaukie, Oregon	1995 PC800
Dean Williams	Springfield, Oregon	1998 PC800 in glorious yellow
Kel Williams	Springfield, Oregon	1994 PC800
Jerry Wright	Beaverton, Oregon	1997 PC800
32 people		29 bikes, 19 PC800s

Leland Sheppard’s Trip Report…

Hi Coasters,

Well, the 10th (actually the 11th if you include the 1999 preview ride) Pacific Coasts on the Pacific Coast Highway ride is in the books.

It was a good ride in spite of Bruce’s accident.

We had rain late Sunday afternoon and Monday morning but the rest of the time the weather was good. Almost exceptional.

Saturday the 12th, Ian Elder (Balclutha, New Zealand) and I left Placerville on 2 of my beloved PCs: Ian on the ’89 like the ones he has at home and me on my deer-encrusted ’90. We immediately got onto motorcycle roads by taking CA49 through the American River canyon and CA193 over to Lincoln; nice stretches those… There we met Peter Noeth on his uber-PC (also known as a GL1800). We stayed on CA65 and then CA70 out into the farming communities of the northern valley and then caught CA99 to Red Bluff where we stopped for lunch and gas. Art Steinbach from Redding joined us at this point. It had been threatening rain but except for a few sprinkles, we had stayed dry.

Upon leaving Red Bluff, we got onto another wonderful motorcycle road which starts with a sign indicating winding roads for the next 140 miles, CA36. Yesssssssss! All the way to the coast, we wound through the mountains with the road challenging us every step of the way. Ian was right on my tail, followed closely by Art. I suspect that if he had felt like taking off on his own, Ian would have run away from me in those corners. 🙂

In any case, we all had grins on our faces when we stopped at Mad River, population 7, for refreshments.

Onward. From Mad River on, the road gets very narrow. It is actually only one wide lane for a while. And VERY twisty. We get to the coast and turn north making our way through Eureka this time, headed for Arcata up the road a bit.

At the Motel 6 in Arcata, Ian’s friends Graeme and Maree (also from New Zealand) were there ahead of us. So was Malcolm Cook from Ontario, Canada and Jim Geary from Felton, California. Shortly thereafter, Ralph McComb (one of the three musketeers from the 2003 ride) arrived on a very funny looking PC (actually a Suzuki DL650 that Ralph dearly loves).

Ian, Graeme, Maree, Malcolm, Ralph, Art, Peter and myself made our way down to Woodley Island and Woodley Marina Cafe where we had a delicious meal.

Sunday morning, the 13th, found Art Steinbach, Kevin Quosig on his Burgman 650 and myself heading out for the wonderful Sunday ride we have become so fond of: CA299 to Weaverville and lunch and gas, CA299 to CA3, south through Hayfork to CA36, CA36 back to US101 and north to Arcata. The sun was shining and all was well with the world. After lunch, Art continued on 299 to Redding to get some things he had forgotten while Kevin and I headed south on CA3.

Everything went fine until just a few miles before we reached US101. It had been looking angry off to the south and that front caught up with us. Kevin was prepared but, unfortunately, my rain gear was sitting back at the motel. It rained hard. Also unfortunately, I learned that my new Shark Evoline helmet is a disaster in the rain. The shield fogs so badly I didn’t dare put down the chin bar (I tried; it made things worse) and I had to constantly wipe the inside with my glove. Needless to say, I was relieved to get back to the motel where I changed clothes and put my jacket, pants and gloves in the dryer to try to get the water out of them.

While I was drying out, most everyone else was arriving. Tosh Konya and David Sigsbee from back east, the Williams boys, Dean and Kel, from Oregon, Bruce Pickett from Washington, Jerry Wright and Bob Walton from Oregon, Roy and Julia Coss from Elk Grove, California with Roy’s cousin Lance Coss and his wife Sue, also from Washington, and last but not least Tom Humphrey from Brentwood, California.

Most of us made our way out to Samoa to the Samoa Cookhouse. It was still raining a bit but not as hard as earlier. At the Samoa Cookhouse, we had a special guest arrive. John Treiber had come down to have dinner with us. It was great to see John up and around after his accident the year before. We missed seeing Pat. John had wanted to come down to thank us for, among other things, naming this year’s ride after Pat. We wouldn’t have had it any other way, John…

We made it back to the motel after dinner without drowning.

Monday, the 14th, we made our way south to Eureka to the Bayshore Mall parking lot where we always get a picture. It was looking pretty gray south of us. We started south on US101, turned west toward the Victorian town of Ferndale on CA211 and then turned onto Mattole Road, the Lost Coast route.

Whatever rain we got was light but enough to make the roads wet. And the cattle guards slipperier. After getting down the hill to the coast OK and then back up into the hills heading for Honeydew, we hit a cattleguard on an uphill grade. I slipped badly going through it. I was upright when I hit it but must have been accelerating thus the slip (I realized later that I used to always close my throttle when crossing one of them but had gotten out of that habit. The habit has been reactivated…). Dean Williams saw me slip and had the presence of mind to figure out what probably happened and pull his clutch in to coast across it. He also shared his thoughts with us (that we probably slipped because of the acceleration) and I suspect he’s right.

Bruce Pickett came next and was probably also accelerating. Bruce went down hard. Bruce ended up with just (I know, JUST?) a broken rib and Blue Pacific was dinged up pretty good. We all helped get the bike off the road, make Bruce comfortable until the CDF and the medics arrived, take pictures for Bruce, and so on. At the point where we were waiting for the ambulance to arrive and Dean and Kel had taken Bruce’s bike to the nearby CDF station, Dean and Kel and the CDF folks stayed with Bruce and the rest of us continued on. (Dean and Kel: This ambulance chasing has to stop. That’s two years in a row. Enough already…)

We made our stop at the Honeydew store and then continued on over the hill and through the woods (Redwoods, that is; in the form of the Avenue of the Giants) to Garberville for lunch.

After lunch, the real fun begins. We jump onto US101 South and proceed to Leggett and the beginning of CA1.

We pretty much started down the hill toward the Pacific together but that usually doesn’t last long and this year was no exception. There was a Yamaha Venture ahead of me as we started out and we soon got behind something large. Can’t remember what it was now, truck, tour bus, motorhome (I think that was it) but in any case, at one point the Yamaha managed to get around it and I went right around behind him. He and I continued dicing for a while at which point he slowed down for me to pass.

I continued on down the hill with him not far behind me. When we reached the ocean, I pulled over onto the nice pullout at that spot and he pulled in with me. Turned out to be Rick Nemeth, a southern California PCer, who was just coming back from a long trip. He is selling his PC and has it listed on my site. Very small world. Anyhow, we shook hands and, as the rest of the PCers began to pull in, he continued on.

After a few photos, we headed for Fort Bragg and a well deserved rest. Most of us stayed at the Vista Manor. I love the ocean view from there plus their facilities are pretty nice: Indoor pool, big breakfast room, free wi-fi, etc. That evening we headed for Silver’s at the Wharf (same restaurant as in the past, different name) for a good dinner.

Tuesday morning, September 15th, we started for Pacifica. The sun was shining and the fog was off shore so we got a terrific start for the day. Roy and Julia Coss, Lance and Sue Coss and our friends from New Zealand started out behind us as they were planning some sightseeing on the way to Pacifica.

We stopped for lunch at the Boat House in Bodega Bay. Still sunny. Still beautiful weather. Could this hold up? After lunch, we reach Point Reyes Station and the weather was still holding up. As we started out toward Point Reyes Lighthouse, I could see the fog moving in. Sigh…

We got to the lighthouse parking lot and although it was cold, the fog wasn’t as thick as it has been in the past so we ventured out the half mile walk to the viewpoint above the lighthouse. The fog was staying high enough that we could see ahead and see down to the water and the beaches. We continued on. By golly, we could see down to the lighthouse. It is closed on Tuesdays so we couldn’t go any further. Just as well since the walk down to the lighthouse is the equivalent of a stairway in a 30 story building. Not a walk for the faint of heart… We were able to get photos of the lighthouse, the islands below and the birds on those islands. No whales that I noticed but life was good. Next stop: Marin Headlands and a marvelous view of the Golden Gate Bridge and San Francisco.

Alas, the fog got us here… I managed to get a few photos of the top of one of the bridge supports but that was it. Roy, Ian and company later reported that they had gotten some good photos from out toward the end of Marin Headlands; they were down on the deck and could see under the fog and so got the views I missed.

Onward. As I crossed the Golden Gate, I got a shot of the fog hovering on the bridge. We had arrived during commute hours so motorcycles get through free saving us $6.00. I turned onto 19th Avenue which is CA1 and continued on through the city, out onto the freeway and into Pacifica.

It was overcast (with fog) at Pacifica. Was this an indication of things to come?

Having spent the night near Bruce in Fortuna, the Williams boys had rejoined us in time for dinner.

We had dinner next door at Nick’s and had a special guest show up. Joyce Calvert, who was one of the six people on the original preview ride in 1999 and who has been on several other PCH rides, was in town and joined us for dinner. It was great seeing her again. She was driving one of those funny looking 4 wheeled things but that’s OK; it was still good to see her!

The motel in Pacifica sits about 100 feet from the shore so if you leave your window open at night, you can hear the surf crashing on the rocks on the far side of the parking lot. Fun stuff.

In the morning, Wednesday September 16th, it was still foggy in Pacifica. Windshields wet, seats wet, etc. But as we start south, I see bits of sunlight. Yeaaaaa. Then the fog is above the road. Arms of fog with sunny spots between. This is getting better.

I made a switch this year. Because we are having lunch with our PCing friend Jim Geary, I decided to do the bike photo before lunch. So we go south right past the San Gregorio turnoff and head straight for Pescadero Beach – the second Pescadero Beach. Good. Only one car and it’s down at the end. We pull in and start lining up the bikes. Pretty soon we’ve got a nice long line of 17 PCs and one oversized PC. I have to say that one of those PCs was one of the ugliest bikes I have ever seen. There were only a few pieces of plastic on it: The front fender, the shelter cover and the two passenger peg covers. And that was it. Talk about Frankenbike…

Lot s of photos were taken and lots of farkles discussed. It was overcast with fog but clear down where we were. Not bad.

We headed back north for the junction with CA84 and the wonderful road up past Alice’s restaurant. As we turned inland on CA84, the sun was shining and the road was dry. Hooray. Off we went. I swear that CA84 from the junction with CA1 to the junction with CA35 (Skyline) was designed by a motorcyclist. If he or she didn’t ride, they were at least sympathetic to riders and riding. No decreasing radius corners, nicely banked, good road surface, corner after corner. It’s a delight.

When we reached Skyline, we turned south. At one point, there is a wonderful overlook of most of the San Francisco Bay Area and we stopped and took photos. Must have been 50 mile visibility. Wow; this is great! Skyline is also a good motorcycle road as we continued on toward lunch.

Turning west on CA9 toward Boulder Creek and Felton, we were still in sunshine and still had dry roads. Wonderful! Just before we reached Felton, we got into a construction zone and had a bit of a wait there but until that point, it was a good ride.

We stopped at the now famous Cowboy Bar & Grill in Felton. Our hosts, Jim and Catherine Geary were there to greet us. They even had a menu printed welcoming the Pacific Coast Riders. Thanks, Jim and Catherine; that’s a nice touch (they did that last year too). I had one of the best burgers I’ve ever had which didn’t hurt a thing.

After lunch, we got everybody together in front of the restaurant and got a people photo. I managed to get into this one because a nice young lady from the restaurant came out and did the camera duty for me. She done good.

After lunch, we continued down CA9 to the junction with CA1 in Santa Cruz only to run into the worst traffic of the ride. CA1 was blocked for a couple of miles. Never did see a cause and it finally let up, thank goodness.

We arrived at the motel in Monterey and got settled in. We rode down to Monterey’s Cannery Row and found parking near Bullwacker’s. It’s a nice restaurant and they let us pretty much take over the patio which is outdoors. Good food, good conversation, good friends. It doesn’t get a whole lot better than this.

Thursday, September 17th, we start out for Lompoc. Once again, Roy, Ian and company are doing their sight seeing thing. And Dean and Kel Williams have departed for home.

We start south and, once past Carmel By The Sea, get into a terrific 74 miles section of twisties (this is second only to the 140 mile section of twisties on CA36 starting from Red Bluff…). The fog is toying with us. Sun, then fog, more sun, more fog, etc. But the road is dry, we can see the ocean, life is still good. I think I almost got a shot of the area that Honda used for their Pacific Coast advertising poster. I believe I was one curve up the hill from where they took their photo. Great photo.

On reaching Ragged Point, I pull in. I could use a good cup of coffee. While there, a couple of lovely young women riding scooters pull in. We had passed them earlier so they had been making pretty good time. One of the bikes was the 3-wheeled Piaggio which is an intriguing vehicle to me. Both front wheels lean, I believe… The other woman was on a Vespa.

Also while there, Tosh pointed out the fact that his PC had just rolled over the 100,000 mile mark. I got a picture of his brand new PC with only 48 miles on it. Miracle of miracles… 🙂

Continuing south, the fog toyed with us for a time and then, as we approached the San Simeon area, it backed off the coast a bit leaving us completely in sun with an intriguing view of the ocean and with dry roads.

At Cambria, and the junction with CA46, Roy and Julia, Lance and Sue, and Bob Walton turn for home. Jerry Wright either turned back with this group or with the Williams brothers; I’m not sure which.

As we passed through Morro Bay, I saw a sight I haven’t seen before: Only the base and the tip of Morro Rock were visible; the rest was belted in fog. I just looked and the photos I got of it don’t show the tip as visible; only the base.

When we got to the south side of Oceano, I discovered that the Rusty Pig was still closed and that the sandwich shop next door was now a Burrito Loco. I love Mexican food so I could deal with that. Every one else seemed to deal with it as well. 🙂

At this point, CA1 swings inland, or to be more precise, the coast swing out away from the highway. We are heading through farm country. Just before reaching Lompoc, we reach the front gate of Vandenburg Air Force Base. CA1 goes left and that point and on into Lompoc.

Everyone gets checked in. We have arrived early enough that there is time for everyone to catch up. 4:30PM arrives and we leave for Solvang and the motorcycle museum. I find the shopping center it is located in OK but then lose the museum itself. After walking almost all the way around the block, I see Jill Ballard who is opening the museum for us.

For the next hour and a half, we are all fascinated with the wonderful collection of motorcycles held there by Virgil Elings. It includes the last Norton ever built and the last Britten ever built. And, of course, since John Britten was from New Zealand, and we have visitors from New Zealand, Virgil himself was there. We got photos of Ian, Graeme and the New Zealand flag in front of the bike and owner Virgil Elings standing behind it. Wonderful.

The final touch on this visit was having Jill Ballard hand me a business card on which she has written “free admission for 5 years”. That’s intended for the group and so the next time we head south and visit the museum, there won’t be an entrance fee. Nice.

After leaving the museum, a friend of Jason Scarborough’s stopped by to pick us up. I was not at all sure I could find the way to Jason’s again even though I was just there 2 years ago. (I miss my mind…) We had our dinner in Jason’s back yard again and a good dinner it was too. Just like the last one. Watched the sun go down, good food, good conversation, good friends. Again, it doesn’t get any better than that.

Friday morning, September 18th, and the sun was still shining. We managed to lose Ian and Graeme and Maree. They had stopped for gas and I thought they saw us go by but they didn’t. Fortunately, with aid of Ian’s GPS, they caught up with us in Oxnard at the Mickey D’s where we had stopped for lunch. I wanted to stick together as much as possible for the rest of the day as we would be going through LA.

After lunch, we headed down the coast. Once again the fog played with us. Sunny one minute, foggy the next.

We made very good time all the way through Santa Monica but then got bogged down in traffic after that. I’m not used to seeing slow driver’s in southern California but I think I picked every one of them out that day. Even so, it was less than 3 hours from Mickey D’s in Oxnard to the motel in San Clemente. And the weather was mercifully cool.

That evening, we walked from the Casablanca motel over to Dave’s Mexican Restaurant. Turns out that Dave is selling the restaurant. After eating there for the past 10 years, I hope whoever takes over does as good a job with it as Dave has. Oh, and after all these years, his name isn’t Dave. It’s Dan Finn. Apparently many folks make the same mistake so he is used to it. I managed to remember to call him Dan for most of the rest of the evening. I hope we will see him again.

Saturday, September 19th, and we are in the sun again. Everyone except Art Steinbach is off doing other things today so Art and I do the little side ride I’ve been enjoying for the last several years. The best portions of it are the Ortega Highway (CA74) and Mad Madeline’s in Temecula.

As we are bombing along the Ortega, I see a group of sport bikers coming up behind us at a pretty good rate of speed. They get up behind Art and then settle in behind us. We are doing our thing through the corners and, apparently, they were satisfied with the pace so they stayed with us. In fact, when we pulled out onto the Lake Elsinore overlook, one of them gave us a thumbs up as he went by. Coming from a sportbiker, I consider that a high compliment. 🙂

I spot a flying boat parked on the lake but even the 12 times zoom of my camera won’t pull it in close enough. When we get down to the town of Lake Elsinore, we pull off in the city park and catch a picture or two. Turns out it was a fire fighting air tanker from Coulson. I think they contract to help fight fires with their fleet of such flying boats.

We have a good lunch and head south for gas and CA76 which takes us over to I5 and back to San Clemente.

That evening, Ian, Graeme, Maree, Art, Peter and myself ride down to the San Clemente pier and dinner at the Fisherman’s Restaurant on the pier. We spend about an hour wandering around the pier waiting for our table. When it comes there is more good food, good conversation and good friends.

Sunday, September 20th. Art left early to get home. He’s got a 700 mile ride ahead of him. Graeme and Marie took off early for Las Vegas. Ian, Peter and I start for home about 9AM. We pushed fairly hard to get through before the worst of the heat but in spite of that, it was about 100 degrees by the time we reached the Sacramento area.

We’re home and the trip is over for the year.

Leland