1962 Northern California Coast Motorcycle Ride - 3-Page Vintage Article

Description

1962 Northern California Coast Motorcycle Ride - 3-Page Vintage Article
Original, Vintage Magazine article.
Page Size: Approx. 8" x 11" (21 cm x 28 cm) each page
Condition: Good
Heading north from Santa Barbara on U.S. 101
in California, 1 tightened down my steering damper a
few notches as George Engle on his R/69 and I on my
KS601 set our thottles for about 65 mph. Both ma-
chines were laden with camping gear and wet weather
equipment in anticipation of the climate ahead. Our
destination . . . Jedcdiah Smith Redwoods State Park
near the Oregon border.
So often have we both made the trip up the more
scenic route, State 1, to Monterey that we decided in
favor of the faster U. S. 101 as far as Salinas; then
over to the coast route, following it as far north as
possible. Our first stop was Monterey.
One of the prettiest spots along the California coast,
Monterey is nestled in the south end of Monterey Bay.
Often the weather is foggy, but while we tarried here it
was blessed with clear enough weather to enjoy the
scenic beauty which makes it famous. The noted author
Robert Louis Stevenson proclaimed this area the most
beautiful meeting of land and water he had ever seen
and while the weather is clear enough to enjoy it, his
words are seldom disputed.
The colored markings on the streets of Monterey
indicate a tourist route taking in many of the historical
attractions in the city Among them are the old custom
house, California's first theatre and the landing site of
Padre Junipero Serra, early pioneer and missionary who
established the famous California missions.
Also on the tourist route near the waterfront is a
museum of life-sized wax figures garbed in authentic
period clothing. Included are such notables as Padre
Serra, the bandit Vasquez, the explorer Portola and
author Stevenson, For an admission of 90 cents this
museum is a must for those interested in California
history and it is open on Sundays.
A local curiosity which gave George and me a
chuckle was a chorus of harbor seals perched on the
end of the breakwater making with Sunday morning
harmony. We have often heard seals bark, but this is
the first time for us to hear so many of them joined
together to make their own merry sort of music.
On up the coast from Monterey along State 1, beauti-
ful vistas of mountains plunging into the surf along a
ragged coast gradually give way to flat mesa land formed
to the edge of the palisade. The view to the right is
always a hillside covered cither with the short grasses
of pasture land or the tall timbers of redwood trees
giving us a hint of what is in store for us as we continue
north.
On the San Francisco peninsula near El Granada is
a community, not shown on the map, called Princeton.
For the motorcyclist whose appetite is stimulated by the
Pacific breezes, Princeton offers a refreshing spot for
a stop; its seafood restaurants and stands easily satisfy
the gourmet. However, for gas it is necessary to ride
four or five miles further to Pacifica, also not shown on
the map.
From there, State 1 winds through the outskirts of
San Francisco, onto the Golden Gate Bridge (25 cents
toll for cars or motorcycles) and into the lowlands of
Marin County along the coast. This section of State 1
is sparsely traveled and consequently is a narrow black
top winding along shallow bays and foothills, but fun on
a motorcycle.
Public campsites on this portion of State 1 unfor-
tunately are scarce, but there is one on the beach just
after crossing into Sonoma County called Sonoma Coast
State Park If it is too breezy to camp on the beach,
then up the road a few miles on the Russian River is
a privately owned campground with spaces to rent for
SI.50 per night that is protected from the wind by a
grove of trees.
About ten miles north of the Russian River are
restored remains of an early Russian settlement in Cali-
fornia. On exhibit arc the buildings and grounds in
which they lived and a church wherein they worshiped.
The vestibule of the church displays photographs and
documents relating the history of these settlers and their
attempt to colonize our country.
From here. State 1 parallels the coast on a shelf
about 500 feet above the water. Views are spectacular
but not as breathtaking as those below Monterey. Some
sections of the road are under construction and traffic
can pass only a few minutes of each hour during the
work day. Small towns along the route are five to fifteen
miles apart and campsites are few until you reach the
Ft. Bragg area.
In the tall pines just outside of Ft. Bragg is MacKer-
richer Beach State Park. It is as clean and modern as
any in California. Its stone fireplaces, picnic top tables
and hot showers are surrounded by a soft carpet of
fallen pine needles.
By now signs of logging country become increasingly
obvious. Whiffs of burning sawdust drift over the hills
from remote sawmill operations and long plumes of
white smoke, visible for miles in the sky, funnel into a
sawdust kiln on a roadside logging operation. The steady
groan of diesel logging trucks through the night and
the buzz of chain saws in the hills during the day tell
the story of civilization's advance through the defense-
less forest.
State Route 1 ends at U.S. 101, “The Redwood
Highway" about 45 miles north of Ft. Bragg. The map
however, shows a secondary road continuing along the
coast just north of Rockport and going nearly 100 miles
to Eureka. George and 1 considered taking this alternate
route but it would be necessary to refuel before trying...
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