Guy Boutin's Motorcycle Touring and Travel Pages

Adventures in Sport Touring with the Honda ST 1100, 1300 and the BMW 1200RT

Exploring North America...One Road at a Time

Day 8
June 9th, 2001
Redwood City California

The bed in Dennis' guest room proved to be just what I needed.  I slept very good, after such a harrowing ride across the Bay the night before.

I pulled the pillow over my head when the morning sun lit the bedroom, and managed another 30 minutes of sleep.

I finally made it to the shower at 8:45 am in anticipation the other riders would be begin arriving at 9:30am.  I was looking forward to the great riding that awaited me.   Despite riding 4,000 miles the last 7 days I was still not tired of riding.   Not on a long trip, because everyday is someplace new.

The plan today was a easy 100 miles or so around the Bay area, and of course visiting Alice's Restaurant.  Members of BayStoc (Bay area ST clan) were coming to Dennis', and from there we would head out.  I looked forward to meeting more members of the club I had grown so close to on the ST BBS.

 I was shaving when I heard a rap on the door-

"hey is it ok I pull your bike out and wash it?"

"is this a trick question?"

"no I'hyper, and need something to do"

"SURE, I will be out there soon as I can"

When I made it outside, Dennis' has my ST looking like new.  Gone are the bugs and grime of 4000 miles.  I found it shiny, and ready to go.  It looked really good.  I sprayed it down with Honda Polish and I said, "mine is gonna be the best looking bike at Alice's".  I decided to leave the saddlebags off today, and really get in some good leans.

Other riders began to arrive.  Bill and Kim from Idaho, Don Cortez, frequent BBS contributor and dirt rider extraordinaire.  More riders follow.  The weather is perfect, I can hardly contain myself.

We gather up, about 8 bikes in all, and motor out of Redwood City.  I was relieved to be riding with guys that know the lay of the land.  I can relax and just follow the rider in front of me.  No maps today.

I failed to keep a record of the routes I was led on.  I just followed.  We take whatever road you take from Redwood to get to Alice's.  The weather is pleasantly cool.  Feels just right.  The ST feels much lighter and responsive without my gear, but I still ride in the rear of the group.  I want to soak up the sights and sounds of the ride.

A squid in the opposite direction is giving the slow down sign as we meet, and sure enough a half mile later I am bathed in microwaves from a foot mounted CHP officer with a chase car standing by.  I was zapped so many times on this day by the CHP, I was glowing when I got back to Redwood City.

We pulled into Alice's and line our STs with the other bikes.  What a great hangout.  Bikes of every color and make, are coming and going.  Everybody is out enjoying the day.  We don't have a biker hangout such as this in Alabama. 

I went in the store and bought a Mountain Dew and a bag of chips.  These chips were unique to California and were quite good.  I ate the whole bag.  Don ate some kind of pastry thing.

We get everyone loaded back up and head back out.  I don't know the route, but we turned left out of the parking lot, and went straight through the intersection.  Like I said I was just riding, oblivious to route numbers and directions.  If you want to know the routes, I will leave you to the local guys.

The highway began to twist and I fell in line behind my brother riders.  Man, these guys are riding me in the dirt.  I quickly lose sight of Dennis, Don, and Jeff.  I am not familiar with the road, and play it safe.

This is a great ride, and the reason I am here.  Great riding, great friends, and a beautiful Bay area weather.

Shortly after leaving Alice's, I approach a sharp right curve, I shift my weight over and lean the ST, suddenly I see a image in my left eye flash by.  An east bound yellow clad squid has his Suzuki slide out from under him just as I meet him.  Dust and plastic fly up.  Another squid following  does a helluva job of avoiding the melee.  I find a safe place and quickly turn to check on things.  I parked the ST in a drive way and find the rider up on his feet.  His leathers showing  the scars of the get off.  His left wrist, and radius showing a deformity, and obviously fractured.  He assures me his ok.  The GSR is heavily damaged.  Shifter is sheared off, lights and turn signals damaged.  By now, more squids are turning in to assist their brother rider.  His bike is rideable if he could only shift gears.  I loan my cell phone and arrangements are made for a friend's truck to load bike and rider.  He said he a patch of gravel took him out. 

I waved frantically at Kim and Bill as they rode by, but they failed to see me. 

I fire the ST back up and continue my ride.  It is sunny, when I enter a shaded area I have trouble seeing.

                          Making the scene at Alice's Restaurant

I arrived at a 4 way intersection and have no idea the direction my brother riders went.  I scan all directions for clues, but nothing.  I take a guess and go straight, reasoning if they turned they would have left a spy.  Probably not the best decision, but there it was.  The road quickly turns narrow and very twisty.  The road is potholed, and bumpy, and  am jarred all the way to my helmet.  Why would they take THIS road?  I ride a few more miles and call it quits.  I decided to turn around and  go back to Alice's.  I crowd the right shoulder on the way back, and it pays off when a cage rounds a blind left hand curve hogging the road.  If I had been a cage, noway we avoid a wreck.

I get back to the stop sign, and see no STs, and ride on to Alice's.

A few miles later a flashing CHP sign warns of a "speed enforcement" area ahead.  I slow down to the posted 35 mph.  A white pick up truck with a young male driver closes in on me and is on my tail light.  I watch him nervously in my mirrors.  What is this guys problem?  The CHP is dead ahead, I am NOT going to speed up.  We top a rise into a straight section of highway, and he quickly moves out around me at 50+, in full view of 3 CHP cruisers.  I see 3 officers scramble to get in their cruisers.  What a lame brain this guy was.  I guess he did not believe the sign warning of a speed trap.  I only worry they get confused and pull me over, clocking the wrong guy.  But this guy came around me in full view, noway they can mess this up.

I ease to the right and let the cruiser  pass.  I soon see the CHP officer writing this guy a ticket, and delivering a stern lecture.

I make it back to Alice's and fail to find any ST's so take off on another road for a ride.  I ride cautiously and move to the right to let the squids by.

Once again, an opposite bound squid is warning everyone to slow down.  Very quickly my picture is taken by a CHP cruiser hiding in a driveway, camouflaged by high bushes on both sides.  I feel like I need one of those badges you see a radiologist wear, to let him know when he is overexposed.

I arrived at another crossroads and have to make another decision about where to go.  I play it safe and go back to Alice's the way I came.

On the way back I see the CHP cruiser with 4 squids on the shoulder.  He lets 3 go, and writes the fourth a ticket.

I get back to Alice's and park my ST.  I will just hang out here till my brothers make it back.  I don't mind.  I got in some good riding and I am having a nice conversation with a  Dutch rider on a gray BMW K 1100 RS.  I struck up the conversation because he had the exact Aerostitch as I.

Soon, a red ST comes into view.  Don! He's back! Quickly the entire clan arrives and we swap war stories.

Dennis says he called home and asked the lovely and gracious Norma if she had heard from me-

"hey we lost Guy"

"WHAT?"

"we can't find him, we fear he is lost"

"don't worry Dennis, he made it from Alabama to California, he can make it from Alice's back to Redwood City"

The lovely and gracious Norma, always the clear thinking one.

I ride in the number 3 spot on the way back to Redwood City.  I am much more into leaning now, and heel the ST over in the curves.  It was a fun ride back to Dennis' house.

Back at Dennis' house we have a big time cookout and pool party.  I eat a BIG hamburger and entertain stories about my trip and motorcycles.  Lots of good conversation and laughs.

Full as we were, we decided to go eat Mexican later that night.

I spent the afternoon, watching the Giants and A's on TV.

That evening we loaded up in Dennis' cage, and took off across the San Mateo.  Let me say this now, in case any of y'all have any doubt, Nascar has nothing on my pal Dennis.  We zipped along at 80-90 mph, 4 abreast.  I looked to my port side, and could have reached out and touched a guy in a Chevy.  They do drive "briskly" in the Bay area.

We meet Don and the lovely and gracious Joyce for a great Mexican dinner.  I had a fabulous beef enchilada with chips and salsa.  It was a awesome dinner that ended all too quickly.  It was a great way to cap a great day.

I crawled into bed about 11pm, looking forward to Big Sur, and the Bixby Bridge the next day.