Ricardo shows San Francisco to a Tourist...

[MikeO]

17th May

After packing & leaving the comedy hotel(got locked out when my room card failed – TWICE – then the lock failed – it was better than a cabaret ), I get on US99 and make straight for Ricardo’s apartment. As I enter Alameda County, I pass literally hundreds of windmills…

I arrive at Ricky’s place at about 1205, to find he’s not back from the machine shop yet, so I spend some time examining the GS parked outside.

This is not the famous ‘Golem’, but rather, it turns out, Ricky’s previous bike. It’s had a hard life. A bloody hard life…

I mean, what’s this rack all about, eh?
Ricardo soon turns up on his new and shiny KTM…

…don’t be fooled by this display of affection – he’s off-roading it this weekend and it won’t be many years until it looks like its stablemate…

We go to an excellent local Chinese restaurant and Ricky treats me to a splendid lunch. To those of you who are not familiar with Ricardo’s work, he’s a top spec engineer who builds beautiful toys for those afflicted with BMW ownership. I have a set of his handlebar clamps and am desperately trying to fight off the urge to buy a pair of footrests… Better than his engineering prowess, though, is his open, honest and refreshing philosophy on life. Ricardo is a good bloke .

After lunch, we go and do the tourist bit…

The Bay Bridge…

…the unfeasibly steep and winding Lombard Street…

…Alcatraz…

…the Golden Gate…

…which we then crossed…

…to get to see R1150R riding Lori from Formotion, who exchanged my compass for a new one (long story). She and Larissa who is very camera shy, introduce us to Bear, who, at 12½ years old, is the real boss of the outfit…

We then climb up the hills into the Mount Tamalpais State Park. The road is excellent – very twisty and restricted to 35mph, a limit which it’s difficult to break! I’m working very hard keeping up with Ricky – but then he’s not riding a fully laden Adv (that’s the excuse I have selected). Despite the low cloud which blows through now and again, the view from the top is spectacular…

We ride back down and, stopping to take pics of the views as the weather occasionally clears…

…soon arrive at Stinson Beach…

We ride along this twisty and demanding section of Route 1, the Pacific Coast Highway. The coastline is rugged, and I’m reminded of Cornwall…

Ricky has work to do and, as I bid him farewell (until tomorrow, when we hope to meet up with a few more ADVRiders at Alice’s Restaurant), I set course for the Holiday Inn at Mill Valley – I’m knackered

 

[MikeO]

19th May

After a virtually sleepless night (noise in the corridor all night, then someone's car alarm went off at 0530 and intermittently afterwards, until I gave up and got up at 0730), I pack the bike and head towards my meet with a bunch of the chaps from ADVRider at Alice's Restaurant. I feel like shit. The tiredness which I've been suffering from for the last few days is now becoming a major distraction - plus I have a headache, which makes me feel like my head's in a vice...

I take a couple of Tylenol (headache) tablets and head off.

I arrive at Alice's at about 1230, to find a throng of ADVRiders in attendance. I'm still feeling crap and the headache persists, and I'm aware that I'm not exactly the life & soul of the party. I try to remember names (& fail miserably) and explain what I'm doing, where I'm going etc.

Ricky replaces my handlebar clamps (which are adjustable) with fixed ones (which look much better). Pierce and Crash are going to lead me on a long twisty ride south and east, after which I'll be visiting Ned (AARGHNUT! from ADVRider ) and spending the night at his house.

After lunch, the team start departing to their various places of work, whilst Pierce and I fill up with petrol and, in company with Crash (bringing up the rear), we set off down Route 84 towards the PCH...

I'm in difficulty almost straight away. My headache and tiredness are now a significant factor and, after misjudging one of the (many) bends and having to do some late braking, I pull over and wimp out. Pierce comes back to see what's wrong after a couple of minutes & I explain to him & Crash that I'm just going to have a slow ride towards Santa Cruz BMW (where I plan to get my discs replaced later this week) and find a motel, close the curtains and rest up for a few days. Hopefully, whatever bug it is will be shaken by this.

We chat for 45 mins or so, then we go our separate ways. I feel a bit guilty - Pierce had sorted out a brilliant route and it looked like being a fun afternoon - I'm also going to have to ring and give my apologies to Ned & his wife

I ride slowly down the PCH and am convinced I've made the right decision. I'm so tired that I find myself distracted - pilots have a term for this - 'Break Off' - where you feel you are looking at yourself flying the aircraft - I had a similar feeling of detachment - I stop for half an hour and watch the kite-surfers off Pigeon Point...

I carry on, feeling slightly refreshed, and get to BMW Santa Cruz at about 1630. I book the bike in for its brakes to be done on Friday afternoon, find a reasonbly priced Motel 6 just down the road and check in. I can barely keep my eyes open. I ring Ned to cry off, but have to leave my apologies with his wife...

Despite everyone else's efforts, it's been a crap day...