Todays Ride 7-8-05, Santa Cruz and more

[chief]

I just got back from todays ride and thought I'd give you a little taste for starters.



This is the lighthouse at the Santa Cruz marina. I've got a few more that need some photoshopping. I'll kick them in ASAP

in brief:
The day started at 10:30am in Saratoga, Ca. with tons of sunshine and temps that are perfect for riding. I headed out on highway 9 From Saratoga and stopped in Santa Cruz and Watsonville before heading home. The route was a total of 160 miles and took around 6 hours as I took an hour break in Santa Cruz and stopped for photo ops here and there (plus a few rests).


This is the route sorta


Highway 9







At 9 and 236


And after they left.
236 is the way to Big Basin and is a fantastic ride. It puts you back on 9 right around here.


Boulder Creek

[chief]

The Boardwalk at Santa Cruz


The Rowing Guy

[chief]

The Marina

[chief]

Saratoga


9


9

[Papa-Ken]

Well Chief,

From one Kenny to another, those are some very nice pictures and it looks like you had a great ride to go with them. Kenneth, Kenny, Ken........take your pick. Or maybe just what my grandkids call me Papa-Ken

[chief]

Originally Posted by Papa-Ken

Well Chief,

From one Kenny to another, those are some very nice pictures and it looks like you had a great ride to go with them. Kenneth, Kenny, Ken........take your pick. Or maybe just what my grandkids call me Papa-Ken

Thanks Ken (that's my pick ). It was a great ride. 9 is a lot of fun especially when the traffic is light. I think I got on there early enough to miss the parade. It was definitely the highlight of the run but strolling around the Santa Cruz beaches on a sunny summer day provides some nice sights too but I'll save those pix for another forum.

[slobert1970]

Ah man...thanks for making me nostalgic and all. I grew up in Santa Cruz and though I love it up here in the Seattle area, I do miss all those great back roads and the surfing, and the Beaches, and...did I mention the roads? Any ways Looks like you had a great ride. Hwy nine is nice if you hit it when not crowded, but I like felton empire grade and empire grade better. I would take nine out of Santa Cruz up to felton then felton empire grade rd to empire grade rd, then head north but I can't for the life of me remember the road that cuts back to Hwy nine, its like deer creek? bucks creek? I dunno, I would need to look at a map as its been awhile.( edit- its jamison creek rd. turns out Tim has it on this site when you click on empire grade...is there any road Tim doesnt know about?) You are right though, 236 is a gem. My mom still lives down in Santa Cruz, and I havent visited since I got the strom. Hmmmm might need to go down and revisit with the bike!
Rob

[chief]

Originally Posted by slobert1970

Ah man...thanks for making me nostalgic and all. I grew up in Santa Cruz and though I love it up here in the Seattle area, I do miss all those great back roads and the surfing, and the Beaches, and...did I mention the roads? Any ways Looks like you had a great ride. Hwy nine is nice if you hit it when not crowded, but I like felton empire grade and empire grade better. I would take nine out of Santa Cruz up to felton then felton empire grade rd to empire grade rd, then head north but I can't for the life of me remember the road that cuts back to Hwy nine, its like deer creek? bucks creek? I dunno, I would need to look at a map as its been awhile.( edit- its jamison creek rd. turns out Tim has it on this site when you click on empire grade...is there any road Tim doesnt know about?) You are right though, 236 is a gem. My mom still lives down in Santa Cruz, and I havent visited since I got the strom. Hmmmm might need to go down and revisit with the bike!
Rob

236 to empire grade and back to 9 on felton empire sound familiar? or something like that. or vise versa.

[slobert1970]

Originally Posted by chief

236 to empire grade and back to 9 on felton empire sound familiar? or something like that. or vise versa.

Ok, I am confused, from the pictures and comments I thought you took 9 from saratoga to 236 back to 9 at boulder creek then assumed you went down 9 to Santa Cruz? Did I miss something? I tried looking at your pictures closer to tell, but 9, 236, and empire have alot of simularities. So do tell, which way did you go?
Rob

[chief]

Originally Posted by slobert1970

Ok, I am confused, from the pictures and comments I thought you took 9 from saratoga to 236 back to 9 at boulder creek then assumed you went down 9 to Santa Cruz? Did I miss something? I tried looking at your pictures closer to tell, but 9, 236, and empire have alot of simularities. So do tell, which way did you go?
Rob

Sorry for the confusion Rob.

I started in Saratoga and took 9 to Santa Cruz. Unfortunately my time constraint did not allow the 236/Empire thing but it will soon. I think I'll take the Buell next time. Anyone up for it any time soon?