Smoke. Fire. Goat. A Pashnit Motorcycle Tour.

[pashnit]

[pashnit]

My pics are similar to Mikes, so be sure and check out his thread too about this ride: http://www.pashnit.com/forum/showthread.php?t=17959

Couple of us gathered in the San Francisco Bay Area for the 2nd Annual BackRoads California Pashnit Tour. This is a ride I designed to hit as many goaty backroads as I could string together. The magic of a ride like this is the sequencing of the roads and of course a rider's propensity for backroads. Some riders avoid them. Some riders love them.

A background project was to hit the lighthouses north of San Francisco. Between San Francisco and Fort Bragg, we hit 3 out of 4 in a single day.

Well, sort of.



I took the group over to the Marin Headlands, which is just up the street from Sausalito. While the Civil War gun batteries are really interesting, there wasn't much to see due to the heavy coastal fog.

Your tour guide showing off the world famous Golden Gate Bridge.

Over there somewhere that is.

[pashnit]

Here's a better picture of the Golden Gate Bridge as viewed from the Marin Headlands.

My 3 yr old is following in daddy's footsteps.



And an even better view for those nowhere near the Golden Gate, here's what it looks like.

Note that underneath that arch thingy is the Civil War era Fort Point.

[pashnit]

The original goal was this:


http://www.wt-group.com/lighthouses.html

One of the more unique lighthouses on the Pacific Coastline. You have to walk across a wooden suspension bridge, 1 person at a time, 150 ft above the crashing surf below. Very cool. Ever in the vicinity, plan a ride out here & cross that off your list.

http://www.nps.gov/goga/pobo.htm

http://www.parks.ca.gov/?page_id=22011

[pashnit]

Ah well. Next time. Hit or miss on that fog.

On up to one of my favorites. Bolinas Ridge overlooking the entire Bay Area.

See the smoke? That's right where we're goin'.





Al on his VStrom, he spent 2 days riding down from Washington to come on his 2nd Pashnit Tour.



Mike on his Vulcan 750. Familiar face, that Mike.

[pashnit]

Obligatory Pashnit Busa shot. Will ride past 80,000 this year.




On out to the coast on fun goaty roads...








So lighthouse #2 was the Point Reyes Lighthouse. Reached via a 22 mile goaty road, actually, more of the bovine persuasion. We had to stop at one point to let all the milk cows cross the road. All the ranches here date to the 1850's.



Point Reyes by the way if you a search on the forum, there's a bunch more pics of this lighthouse here.

As for us, the fog and wind were amazing! Said to be one of the windiest spots on the Pacific Coastline, 133 mph winds have been clocked here. Felt close to that.

Had to park the bikes to they were pointed into the wind so they wouldn't blow over.

Mike btw takes a very good photo.

[pashnit]

Short walk later



Know what this is?



52,000 gallons.

[pashnit]

Whale of a tale I tell ya.



See the lighthouse. It's right here. No really.



See it yet?



In there somewhere. No wonder they needed these lighthouses. Can't see a darn thing.

[pashnit]

Billie is either off-kilter or has to lean into wind. Beside him, it's straight down. Blowing somethin' fierce.



V1.0



V2.0



V3.0 Super Panoramic.

[pashnit]

Okay, so that was fun. Now we've got 300 steps to get oughta here.

See the numbers?



Wind perhaps?



Just how thick was it?

Imagine trying to ride in this soup.