BMW K1200LTMotorcycle Trip to Big Sur, CA
and Solvang Motorcycle Museum

July 2006


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On the road again.

This weekend destination are Big Sur and Solvang Motorcycle Museum.

We departed Saturday morning, around 8:00AM (yes... the plans was 7:00Am. We had to fix the chain on Larry's Saddow 750)

The weather was extremelly hot. We got 107F. today on Hwy 5 until near the coast.

Big Sur and Solvang Museum - Click to Open

Cuddy Valley Road - Click to Open

Soda Lake Rd - Click to Open

We pass Frazier Park and rode Cuddy Valley Road. That's always a pleasant road. Then for my first time we decide to get a shortcut on Soda Lake Road.

It's a dirt road that I never had the guts to ride with my K1200LT, but... well. there we go today. It will make the ride at least one hour short.

Soda Lake Rd - Click to Open

Soda Lake Rd - Click to Open

Soda Lake Rd - Click to Open

The LT did well on this road. A lot of dust and I'm afraid the new air filter I just put on the bike is already dirt again...

I was doing 30 to 55mph on this road. There is some miles with a little sand on it that makes scarry.

The total off-pavement on Soda Lake Road was about 25 miles.

Soda Lake Rd - Click to Open

Soda Lake Rd - Click to Open

Soda Lake - Click to Open

On the top right you can see the Soda Lake.

Then, when we finally got to Hwy 58, we decided on another short cut to Pozo: Pozo Road.

That was a mistake.

It's about 15 miles of GS road and the K1200LT was doing really bad there.

Pozo Road - Click to Open

Pozo Road - Click to Open

Pozo Road - Click to Open

I took about one hour to do the 15 miles of dirt on Pozo Rd.

The pictures at the right are the Pozzo Summit.

To many cracks made by rain, big round rocks. But I managed to never botton down the bike, even do we were ridding 2 up.

Pozo Summit - Click to Open

Pozo Sallon - Click to Open

Hot Road Avila Beach - Click to Open

Avila Beach we saw some hot roads parked there and finaly we got at Sycamore Springs campsite.

Let me tell you that this one is not the one I liked, but they had a hot springs and swiming pool. It cost us $45 for the space. Was really hard to find a campsite this weekend.

We had dinner ath F Mclintocks in Shell Beach. Good food, execptional service.

Sycamore Springs Avila Beach - Click to Open

Sycamore Springs Avila Beach - Click to Open

Hwy 101 - Click to Open

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Next morning we head to Cambria to have breakfast at The French Corner Bakery.

As always, Cambria attract many Classic Cars.

Cambria - Click to Open

Cambria Classic Car - Click to Open

Hwy 1 - Sam Simeon - Click to Open

Hwy 1 was a blast.

Temperature perfect for a ride, beteween 58F and 70F

Hwy 1 - Sam Simeon - Click to Open

Hwy 1 - Sam Simeon - Click to Open

Hwy 1 - San Simeon - Click to Open

We stop to see the sea lions couple miles after Hearst Castle entrance, on Hwy 1.

Hwy 1 - San Simeon - Click to Open

Hwy 1 - Sea Lion - Click to Open

Hwy 1 - Sea Lion - Click to Open

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The trafic was light on Sunday and we could do the speed limit almost alway up to big Sur.

Motorcycle Hwy 1 - Click to Open
Motorcycle Hwy 1 - Click to Open Motorcycle Hwy 1 - Click to Open

At Big sur we RippleWood Resort and Restaurant. The food was OK.

The interesting thing there was that 5 miles before Big Sur the temperature was 70F, in Big Sur it was aobut 90, then we rode back and again, 70F.
Looks like Big Sur is a hot place to camp. Glad we didn't stay there.

Motorcycle Hwy 1 - Click to Open

Big Sur Hwy 1 - Click to Open

Big Sur Hwy 1 - Click to Open

Then on the way back to got Nacimiento Road. This road goes trhu a military base and you must have your ID, veicle registration and insurance in order to cross it.

The first 16 miles of this road is a blast for twistes. Then it got hot.

Very hot.

At 101, near Atascadero, it was 113F.

Nacimiento Road - Click to Open

Nacimiento Road - Click to Open Nacimiento Road - Click to Open

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Who is Elton

I was born in Brazil and my wife and I moved to USA, California in 1996, for a change in our lives. Took us some time to learn the language and get into this country, but I think we are doing very well expect the learning a new language after 35 is not easy. We became citizens in 2007.
 My wife and I we love to travel and by the time I was writing this page, we have logged more them 100.000 miles on our BMW K1200LT Motorcycle, many more on our car and much more on the airplane.
Winter we do Snowmobile, Summer we go to the lakes for water sports (PWC) and we motorcycle year around (one of the goods of living in sunny California).

Few months ago we start learning about hiking and looks like the bug got us. We are now doing some hiking trips too.

Web sites for more information: (they will open in a new window. Please check your browser prefferences if it doesn't show up)

Avila Hotsprings Campsite - Not that good.

F Mclintocks Sallon - Good food $$-$$$

French Corner Bakery - Good pastry for breacfast

RippleWood Resort and Restaurant - Food OK $-$$

Solvang Motorcycle Museum - Good time - $5 per person.

 

Click on the map for the full view
Big Sur by Motorcycle