Why we ride. A Pashnit Tour.

pashnit

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Haven't posted something like this up in awhile, so thought you guys might enjoy a little 1200 mile ride I did on the busa the other day. -Tim
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Why do you ride?

It was one of those blind-sides. A humdinger. She asked the question and it floated in the air, waiting for that snappy answer. That flowing wordsmith ladden arrangement of flowery juxtaposition that would somehow explain what it is. The why. Why we do what we do.

Meanwhile, the TV camera atop its tripod sat patiently awaiting my response.

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So it was, the usual suspects. The fast. The slow. The relaxed. The ones there to become immersed in that magic land of motorcycle travel.

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The bikes of course were the usual varied sort.

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Every color of the rainbow.
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A VStrom, a large cruiser.

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Do you need the fanciest latest hardware to get out there and ride? Hell no.

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Within minutes, above the foggy marine layer, already in awe.

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With a view that stretches for miles. This is Bolinas Ridge just north of San Francisco. Mt Tamalpias is short distance to the south of us.

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Portrait? Landscape? You pick.

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And the road?

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She shines.

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In winter and Spring, these hills are a brilliant green layer of wavy grass.

That tuff of land at top left is San Francisco. Rest of that is all ocean.

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Shot this same photo quite a few times over the years. Looks a bit different depending on the time of year.

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The grassy hillsides abrubtly end and into the redwood forest

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Winding down the ridgeline

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To the reservoir at the bottom (see the stairs on the far side?)

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My buddy Jeff up from LA and riding with us once more on that Tuono.

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Winding on over to the town of Fairfax along Fairfax-Bolinas Rd

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Al on the Valkryie. Did you think Honda at first glance?

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Few twists and turns. Just a few.
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Out to Hwy 1 and northward bound. I pass this by every time and alway say I'm gonna stop to take a pic. Cool beans.

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The other one.

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Few straights. Few curves. Didn't do any stopping in the curves. Maybe next time.

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Regroup in Tomales

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So I elected to show Jeff one of those oft passed by unknowns. This is Bay Hill Rd. Runs behind Bodega Bay, skirting around it. Great little goat trail to bypass the town.

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Get an idea of what the view is like? The word 'hill' is in the road name.

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Out to the Pacific Ocean

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Reunited. Jeff and I first rode together in 2004 and parked in this same spot. Seems like ages ago.

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Jeff is still on the Aprilia Tuono. I'm still on the Busa. Few more scrapes and bruises on the Tuono. Few more on the Busa, but I always carry a blue Sharpie. ;)

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As is the custom on these rides, I always try to work on something new with the camera. Call it an assignment if you will. This time around it was playing with the 'I wonder what this does' Super-Macro button. One of those, oh cool, look at that. Lens is an inch or two away. Hold real still, snap the pic.

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This one is my favorite. Your camera probably has this button too. Try it sometime. ;)

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Also noticed I could do stuff like this. Whole new world opens up to me.

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Let's ride!

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So I finally tried the mirror shot. Everyone posts this one. Such a conformist.

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Riding with Tom along Hwy 1 on the Nomad

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And the view?

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Wee foggy today, but not bad. Further north we got, more it started to brighten up.

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Lunch in Gualala

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Always tryin' to get that cover shot.

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Jeff & I both stopped here. How can you not marvel at scenes like these.

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Similar but different shot. Same inlet.

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Interesting to look straight down off the cliff face and see this. Looks like great fun!

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Jeff headed up Hwy 1

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....more of this. Tired of the view yet?

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Need to improve that above shot a bit. Ah, that's it.

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Then head out on Mattole Rd, aka The Lost Coast.

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It's the ulimate 50 mile goat trail, but I've always been a sucker for a good view.

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Really can't get enough of scenes like this. Makes the goaty road all worth it.

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...or this. Several bends away. Mind blowing. Just a beautiful bucolic landscape.

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Busa and Wes' SV650 in the wanning twilight

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Drinkin' it all in, and filin' it all away.

I like this one.

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Kevin & I were chatting away on the communicators, and then around a bend we went. Straight into this. All talking stopped. What could you possibly say. It was one of the most striking things I've ever seen. Pinks, orange, blues. The Pacific Ocean. It was one of those moments.

You only get so many of those moments in life.

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It doesn't last long. Only a few miles along the ocean. All that riding just to get to this one spot.

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All worth it. Every mile.

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The setting sun

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...which in turn offered up this as parting shot of the day.

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Marvelous day of riding. Just absolutely fantastic. Another one of those moments.

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First order of business, assail Hwy 299. Wonderful piece of tarmac.

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Another reunion. Craig on the Hayabusa riding with me once more who has a georgeous Busa!

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