Alices Restaurant - Your first time there was... year??

[SklyWag]

So I was talking with some riding friends a few weekends ago about Alices and they were all talking about how many years they had been riding up to Alices. I was suprised to find that they thought they were old timers because they had been going to Alices for 5 to 10 years. Now bear in mind that these are Harley Riders, and to look at them you would think they have spent their life on the road, but some have only ridden for a few years.

A little history........................
Unlike Arlo Guthrie's famous song, you are limited by what's on the menu at Alice's in Woodside. Perched atop Skyline Boulevard, this small wooden building is almost 100 years old, having started as a general store for the logging industry. It became a restaurant in the '50s and was bought by Alice Taylor in the '60s, who renamed it after herself and Guthrie's song. It changed hands once again in 1972, when it was bought by Rick and Amanda Rogers.
The Rogers sold the restaurant a year ago to Andy and Jamie Kerr, who were looking for something new to do after selling their printing business.


It does raise an interesting question for discussion here in the Forum and that is.

Do you remember what year was it when you made your first trip up to Alices?
When was your most current trip?

I'll start, I'm really interested in who is still on 2 wheels that matches or beats this
1st time - September 1966
Most current - August 2005

[CRASH]

You got me beat by a solid 10 years. Ah, the days of RD350s up on Skyline ...

[SklyWag]

1st time to Alices was on a 305 Honda Dream

[Quick Silver]

I think I have you beat. Though not on a bike. First time was with my folks, on one of Dads little exploring trips. (I get my wanderlust from him). It was 1960, I was 6 years old, little brother was 3. They where revisiting places that my Mom grew up at.
I remember because my Mom told us that this was the little general store they always went to in the 40's when Grandpa worked on the steam equipment that was there for the logging companies, and we got goodies at the trading post across the hiway. It was a lot less poulated, and primitive back then.
The next time I went back was on one of my early motorcycle forays in 1970 I was 16, and riding a Triumph 500. By then the song "Alices Restaurant" had been released a few years before (1967), and the restaurant had started gaining fame from that.
There was no real Alices Reataurant. She was (I believe) someone Arlo Guthrie knew that lived in a church, in Massachusets.
I still stop by there whenever I get in that neck of the woods though.
Doug

[xmailman]

Never been inside Alice's. Always parked across the street at the store. First time had to be in 1970. Last time 2004, time for a day trip.

Remember a KZ500 being loaded onto a wrecker. It had 28 miles on it. The kid bought it in Redwood City and crashed it on his way up to Hwy. 9

Some of the most exotic bikes in the world show up there. I guess only the Rock Canyon Store could equal it. Big Money = Big ( expensive) toys.

Saw my only RSR 4 wheel drive Porshe there. It was a pro rally car. Not street legal, but...Hey!

[bikerhamlet]

I don't want a pickle, just want to ride my motocycle

[SklyWag]

Originally Posted by Quick Silver

I think I have you beat. Though not on a bike. First time was with my folks, on one of Dads little exploring trips. (I get my wanderlust from him). It was 1960, I was 6 years old, little brother was 3. They where revisiting places that my Mom grew up at. I still stop by there whenever I get in that neck of the woods though. Doug

Hey Doug

I'll give you credit for now for being the first one there Lets see if we find an old biker that can beat us. I'm actually looking for an old pic in my many boxes of Alices with bikes in the 60's.

[SBDOC99]

Does anyone remember the Arlo Guthre song sang on the radio on Thanksgiving Day! How long was it!

[seadog]

Originally Posted by SBDOC99

Does anyone remember the Arlo Guthre song sang on the radio on Thanksgiving Day! How long was it!

My old vinyl copy of Alice's Restaurant is long gone (too many parties), so I don't know how long it was. In '96 Arlo remade the album, on CD,
and the title song is 22:21. I expect that both versions are about the same length.

Re: when did I first visit Alice's?...it was in 1968. I had just gotten out of the
Navy and was on my '65 Matchless G15 (750cc twin)

[BigD]

Around 1969 for me but spent more time at Apple Jacks up the road playing pool and shuffleboard or at Boots & Saddles which has been gone for many years now. Venturies was another lively night spot in La Honda back in the day.