Fess Parker Winery - 1/15/06: 250 miles r/t

Together with an old friend from my Microsoft days, Alex, along with a new friend, most recently of H-P, we took a quick cruise up the coast this past Sunday. Both of them have decided (smartly if I do say so myself) to winter their bikes down here in LA. Alex is from Seattle, and Nick from the Bay Area, and there's no question about the riding being better here all winter. Both of the guys had nice big grins on their faces as we headed north up the PCH after leaving the Loew's Hotel in Santa Monica. The weather was perfect, typical California Sunshine(TM) and beautiful surf to our left.

I led the guys on a requisite run up to Neptune's Net north of Malibu, where we stopped for a quick bite to eat. With my failing memory, I wasn't *exactly* certain of how far up past Zuma Beach Neptune's was, and knowing the driveway comes up on you pretty fast, it led to the three of us pulling into two different driveways on either side of "The Net", and then doing the obligatory circuling around, trying to find which side of the building the other guy was on. The biker crowds wasn't that large at that time of the morning, and Nick wanted to keep going exploring up the coast. Tough guy - considering the two of them had just driven DOWN the 101 the day before, in and out of rain & hail most of the way. One of the locals suggested Santa Barbara as a nice ride, and that prompted Nick to remember a favorite winery of his. Off we went.

Aside from a mis-read on the signage in Oxnard, and a double-back to Hwy 154 off the PCH, the trip up was uneventful - that is, until we got up near the top of the San Marcos Pass on Hwy 154, heading towards Solvang, CA. The wind kicked up, and to call it "exciting" is an understatement. Something about being blown around, AND up on top of a mountain pass looking down over a valley is especially disconcerting. As Nick pointed out later - the same wind, on flat ground, probably wouldn't have bothered us at all.

A couple of missed turns later and we found ourselves at the Fess Parker Winery -- yup -- "Daniel Boone" has a family winery up here. Nick apparently enjoyed their Pinot Noir before, so we had high expectations as we pulled in. Great scene though - the genteel Upwardly Mobile out doing their weekend winery tours, and three leather clad Harley riders in their midst, sipping wines. To be honest, I thought most of the wines sucked, and even poured out one of their Syrah's after the first sip. Neither of the Chardonnays in the tasting were very good, but their Viognier was very good. Brought home a bottle of that, along with their "Port style" wine, called "Traditions". Those two are worth seeking out.

After a couple of glasses of port, accompanied by cigars out on the veranda, we tried to race the setting sun back home, so we could get Alex on a flight back up to Seattle that night. We took the coastal route the whole way home, and the wind we'd experienced on the way up was doubly intense on the way back. Definitely scarier than the wind I'd faced in the Rhone river valley in Switzerland last summer - at least there I was on a nice wide - and mostly straight - highway. Up and down mountain turns, and the curves along the coast, I got a bit spooked. To make things more exciting, the temperature was dropping fast, and we soon found ourselves in the dark, in heavy traffic, in Ventura, CA. We were trying to head to a restaurant in Woodland Hills, where I'd split off up Topanga Canyon, and Alex and Nick would continue on to LAX and Burbank respectively. After some ever thrilling traffic dodging on the 101 from Ventura to Woodland Hills, we finally arrived at the restaurant, and each used various remedies of hot water, hot drinks, and/or alcohol to warm ourselves up. Aside from my fouled mood due to the Chicago Bears losing their playoff game to the Carolina Panthers (Carolina?!? WTF!), it was a great trip all around. As always, the Street Glide performed perfectly, and I'm looking forward to these guys coming back in future weeks for more SoCal riding.

By the way - go check out (and buy) some of Alex's games here.

You MUST get "Long Way Round"

REVIEW: Absolutely stunning documentary/series/film/whatever. You follow along with Ewan MacGregor and Charley Boorman as go on their round-the-world journey on a couple of BMW GS's in 2004.

I've read lots of comments about this on various boards; Amazon, IMDB, etc., but none of them really spoke to what struck me - the intimacy you as the viewer have with Ewan and Charley. These guys have no guards up - you see just a couple of friends goofing off, having fun, frustrated, terrified and elated. It is without a doubt, the most "honest" television I have seen, perhaps ever.

I dare even the most hardened biker to not get choked up or be touched by the final episode, when Ewan and Charley are reuinted with their wives after ~120 days, and their final ride into Manhattan. Ironically enough, I was still living in Manhattan in the summer of 2004, and living just blocks away from their final destination party. Damn! I wish I'd know about this then.

Recommendations:
1)If you buy the DVD, definitely look for the 10 episode "Extended Edition" that of the series that was shown on Outdoor Life Network - not the 7 episode version from the original Bravo airing. The extended footage - and the (ahem) colorful language is all the more realistic. Also - make sure to watch the Extras - the scenes are brilliant!

2) Read the book. I haven't yet picked up "The Illustrated Edition", but the standard hardcover is an excellent read - and adds a LOT of color you wouldn't pick up by watching the series. The book is written in an alternating diary style by both Ewan and Charley, and adds their personal thoughts & concerns that just couldn't come across on film.

Also - check out their web site here.

Been offline for a while...

Sorry - with the move to SoCal before the Holidays, it's been slow going on the posting.

The best news however, is getting settled into the new home in Topanga Canyon.
Still under :45 to the office, but very much out in the country. The primary roads up & down are great - but I desparately need to get the headlight on the FLHX upgraded. As I'm now on the backside of 40 years old, I'm noticing that my eye's receptiveness to light has changed. Need a LOT more of it than I used to - whether indoors or out. Heading up the canyon at night absolutley requires my high-beams for me - and I spend a good bit of the ride flicking in and out of high-beam mode due to oncoming traffic. The last thing I need is to be limited in my vision, and come around a corer to one of these.