The Wine Weekend

Part 2 - Round and About and then Home

Lunch and the ride

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There were about twenty-five bikes all told, mostly Viragos, but there were some Harleys and Hondas too. We met up at a school yard and it was actually really magnificent to see all the bikes coming up, complete with grins. I also got to meet Joe, whom I originally emailed to ask about 250cc and 535 cc Viragos, a long time ago.

Anyway, Laurel was the leader, and she took us along a brilliant road - just a bit wider than single track, which wound right into the hills. It was beautiful, very green countryside with deciduous trees, following a river. I loved it. There was an interesting switchback where various people lost their footing, and one fall (caused by the biker ahead's mistake) but nobody was badly harmed.

We then rode to the winery where I got a bit more chance to talk to my Net friends and put a face to them. Everyone was pretty friendly, though it was overwhelming with so many people there. I have no idea who half of them were. The winery was a very old one, with a pretty garden, and a sign outside pointing to the dozens of other wineries in the region.

The last lap

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After that, Laurel, her friend from Hawaii on his borrowed bike, Karen and Don and I broke off from the main group to get back to Cambria while the others went about seventy miles further south to eat in a restaurant (again). We got in pizza ;-) We didn't exactly take the most direct route back - but it was certainly scenic!

We were all so tired that bedtime came early. We had a water bed which was a new one for me. It didn't bounce too much and was very comfy.

The following morning, after vast quantities of yummy pancakes and eggs, we went for a final ride out to see Laurel's and Daryl's gas station. It's the oldest one in Cambria, also a general store, and the only liquor store, so they do okay. It has character ;-) A bit behind the store is Nittwitt Ridge, where the town's (deceased) eccentric built a bizarre house from all manner of junk - an old television set served as a mailbox, there were wheel hubs stacked up and so forth - it was quite wonderful but doomed. It's so unstable that, sadly, it will be pulled down in the not too distant future.

We then rode along the seafront to San Sebastian to meet the owner of the oldest general store in San Luis Obispo County - again, a nice old building outside which we posed shamelessly with bikes and leather. From there one can see the castle on the hill, the name of which escapes me at the time of this writing, but I'm sure Laurel or Karen will inform me when they reads it. (Hi, Laurel, Hi Karen!) Not long after, we started back on our way home, this time taking Highway 1 right the way to Monterey - spectacular. But I think, despite all the scenery, the one best memory of that weekend must be the hospitality of bikers; great people, great food, great times. :-) And, to top it all, when we got home, the cat still had food left, and seemed to have done just fine.

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Rides '98

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This document created 28 Oct 1998
Last update 26 Apr 1999
© 1998 Linda Gentile
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