Friday, October 15, 2004
ALMS 2004 - Day 1
My brother-in-law Cary and I had planned a trip to the American Le Mans Series race at Laguna Seca for a long time - at least 3-4 months. Cary had gone to the race with his brother Chad a couple of times, and it looked like the perfect excuse to ride the FJR up the central coast - one of my favorite areas. By the time the final arrangements were made (after some drama from Sam's band teacher), the whole Bowser family made the trip, including Chad and his wife Amy.
I started out around 8:45am on Friday morning. It took me a while to get the FJR packed (it was my first overnighter). Traffic on the 101 through the Valley was messed up by an overturned trailer, putting me even further behind. After breakfast at my Coco's in Camarillo, I buzzed up the 101 to the 154, and turned north on Foxen Canyon Rd.
Foxen Canyon has been a favorite since I road the Solvang Century on my bike too many years ago. Fun twisties, and it was early enough to avoid the tipsy wine tasters.
Towards the end of this stretch, I was on a high-speed straightaway when I noticed some very large birds sitting on the ground about 20 yards off the road on my left. One of them took off in that slow, ponderous style of large birds - right into my path. I prepared mentally for a heavy impact, but with about 4 feet to spare the bird spoiled his wings, then backflapped just enough to avoid a collision. I continued on, and got that delayed adrenaline rush a minute later.
At it's northern end, Foxen Canyon peters out and the road becomes just another path into Santa Maria. Just before that, there's a road going north that is really fun. Tepusquet Rd. (just Tep from now on) is a windy, twisty, tree-lined road dotted with ranches connecting the Santa Ynez Valley with the 166 north and east of Santa Maria. Whenever I get the chance, I love to ride this road, and this morning did not disappoint. I only saw two or three cars along the way, and smiled my way up and down the canyon.
I stopped for lunch and gas in Arroyo Grande, 32 miles into reserve. Lunch was a little burger place in the Village. The burger was so-so, the fries way too salty. Even Crystal would have passed on this batch. I read my new Falco novel on the tiny little table.
PCH was fantastic, as always. I stopped in Morro Bay to add a few layers against the cold. The early sections made me happy to have the V-1, but as you go north the twists and turns took over, and I had a great ride. I always seem to hit impassable traffic through Big Sur, but the high power-to-weight of the FJR makes even the shortest passing opportunity possible. I do not pass over a double-yellow; I just don't.
I stopped at my coffee house in Carmel for a Mocha and a little more Falco, and headed east on Carmel Valley Hwy to the motel in Salinas. I made good use of the In-N-Out across the street from the motel.
