BackRoads California - A Pashnit Tour of goaty proportions!

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The BackRoads California Tour

Our tale begins in San Francisco, California.

Sausalito really, but close enough. Over the years, Pashnit Rides have been the picture of variety, the United Nations of Motorcycledom someone once said. But alas, all that came to an end on the new BackRoads Tour. It was all BMW's.

So ya gots 1 Busa, 1 Duc, and the rest Beemers.




And although one might expect all F650's and GS's, even a GT and RT showed up.




Tim's new Corbin seat on the HyperMotard. Other side says Sopiago Springs Resort for his motorcycle campground up in the Sierra Nevada.

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So you never thought of touring on a Ducati HyperMotard? Think again.

Tim tells us all about his mods and farkles. Note the Ducati side bags, plus the RKA Saddlebags, spare gas tank, etc, etc. Yes, they tried to put on the cup holder, but couldn't find a place to put it.

We're waiting for him to find a place to add the Expresso machine. Tim is big on his coffee.




Alan and his nifty new GS. Check out that bikini fairing.




After riding up Bolinas Ridge Rd, and down Fairfax-Bolinas Rd, we hit Alpine Lake.




All the beemers

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We're talking about panoramics here if you'd like to learn more on how to do shots like this.

If you look at the shot, it's two portrait style (tall) pic glued together. This was my project for this ride (always trying to work on something) in shooting these types of pics. Always worked on supermacros. Get to those in a second.

Camera really picked up the texture of the water! And it's a Canon Pro1 in case you're wondering. (someone always asks)




Tom and his police issue BMW F650. It had a bunch of police goodies on it. I figured the siren would come in handy for slow-poke vehicles in front of you on Hwy 1.






Tim's Ducati Hypermotard ready to travel and rack up some miles. Tim's comment was it's the same size tires as his Yamaha FJR, but 250 lbs lighter and shorter wheelbase. For a (almost) 60 yr old guy, Tim says it'll make ya feel 18 again.

And yes, that's a spare gas tank.

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more of Alan's BMW GS




Fairfax Bolinas Rd along the banks for Lake Alpine. Intensely green this time of year.




Fairfax-Bolinas Rd





Randy checkin' out the dam. This was a first for me at least- the first time I'd seen water cascading down the water staircase. The sound was melodious!

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We took a circuitous backroad route northerly through Marin County.
Panoramic Hwy, Bolinas Ridge Rd, Fairfax-Bolinas Rd, Nicasio Valley Rd, Hicks Valley Rd to Marshall Petaluma Rd. Awesome!




Tim




Although as he was riding by, we noticed a slight problem




Seems the rear rack had broken clean off at the weld. Problem is the rear rack is also the taillight.

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Randy demonstrates proper roadside repair etiquette... Duct tape.




This was the view. Not a bad place for some roadside repair. This is looking southward from Marshall Petaluma Rd. Goaty, but great view!




Rick says I approve!




While they worked on that, I snapped a pic of my new Adaptiv TPX radar detector

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Maybe some height would be needed for a better pic.

The view while standing (balancing really!) atop a fence post. Anything to get the shot. I've been caught standing atop the seat (also carefully balancing! ) of the Hayabusa to get the shot at times.




Marshall-Petaluma Rd - lil different feel than the pic in post#6.




Billie says I approve. Repairs finished. Couple Rok Straps, and all good. (yes, it held for rest of our 3-day ride. )

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Alan




This one kind of looks like a BMW magazine ad.




Alan btw, for those who ride the BMW GS has this. It's a footpeg that rotates, not the usual up down folding action, but rocking forward & rearward. Cool!




Pashnit Riders in Tomales

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We also took a new one for me, Dillion Beach Rd (west out of Tomales), then north on Valley Ford Franklin School Rd. I had been told this was pretty goaty, and favored among bicylists. What we discovered instead was a recently paved smooth joy ride!! No pics though as I'd put the camera away b/c of all the intermittent rain. Get some shots next time. Then north on Joy Rd & out to the Pacific on Coleman Valley Rd.




Reaching the ocean on Coleman Valley Rd

Notice the suggested speed limit on the curves ahead




Yeah, it feels like that.




Gaggle of Beemers