Cyclerides.com Weekly Update 10/27/10

When I left you a couple of weeks ago we were finishing Day 5 of the Oregon Ride. We had gone through Eureka, CA and were spending the night in Ferndale, CA. If you ever get the chance when riding the coast of California, make sure take a lap through Ferndale. This is one of the neatest, well preserved old towns full of Victorian architecture that you might ever see. It is really fun to walk the town and just soak in the history and look at the buildings and houses. And if you get the chance, spend the night in the old Victorian Inn Hotel.

The Victorian Inn was built with Humboldt County local redwoods in 1890. It has been extensively remodeled and outfitted with decor of the era, but still giving you the amenities that we all need today. Every where you look, it reflects life in the early 1900's right down to the pictures on the walls. This is a truly one of a kind old hotel that anyone would enjoy spending the night in. We lucked out and got the only room with a real wood burning fireplace in it, which we needed as it was in the high 40's as we awoke the next morning. The owner is very biker friendly and would welcome any riders that would find their way to Ferndale for the night. You even get a full complimentary breakfast in the morning.

After a wonderful evening in the Victorian Inn, we got up and enjoyed the breakfast before heading out to the cold and fog for our trip around The Lost Coast. We had done Mattole Rd., aka, The Lost Coast Highway back in 2004 when we rode the coast from Victoria, BC to Los Angeles. We liked so much, that we were not going to miss the opportunity to do it again. The road begins in Ferndale and loops to the ocean and back around and drops you off into the Humboldt Redwoods. It is dubbed by the locals as "The Lost Coast", and when you go you will see why, there is no one out there.

Just a block off of main street you will see a sign that says Capetown-Petrolia. Turn here and you embark upon some of the most interesting and exciting 80 miles you will ever ride. And it will take you over 3 hours to complete. This is a narrow road that will take you through the pines for a view of Ferndale and then up 1000 feet through twisties and moss covered trees until you then make your way back down into the beautiful rolling California golden and grazing land. It was extremely foggy as we went through this area. After about 18 miles the fog lifted and we could see the clouds rolling in as we got near the ocean. You will then drop right down to sea level as the ocean is just a few feet to your right.

Mattole Rd. will then take you for a 7 mile ride right on the ocean before turning back East. But watch out for cows as it is open range there and they do take advantage of it as you can see by this picture. From here, your next 30 miles will criss-cross the Mattole River, more California golden, and go through the very small towns of Petrolia and Honeydew. You might see some deer along the way and will most likely see a marijuana grower at the General Store in Honeydew. These guys are stuck squarely in the 60's man! From Honeydew you will then start winding your way up and over a 2700 feet pass for 15 miles before being dropped right into the giant redwoods of Humboldt State Redwood Park where you can see 3 of the tallest and largest redwoods in the United States. From there you are back to the Avenue of the Giants for your next opportunity at a 5000 year old drive-thru tree. An awesome ending to a very unique ride.

Mattole road is a little rough these days, but the serenity of the area and the many diverse landscapes you will go through in 80 miles is more than worth a few rough spots. In 80 miles, I think we only passed 5 vehicles. This is truly a unique route that not many people even know about or think to take. But if you are in the area and are adventurous, I would put this on your list of rides to take.

Once we had ridden through the giant redwoods we took the Avenue of the Giants, Hwy. 101, North to Hwy. 36 right near Fortuna, to head East and make our way back to North Central California. I had seen Hwy. 36 on the map and it looked interesting, but it might be the surprise route of our entire trip. It was one of those roads that your weren't expecting that much out of and it greatly exceeded expectations. Hwy. 299 to the North gets all of the accolades and the designation of a State Byway, but this one is a much more exciting motorcycle road by far. It starts out winding through the redwoods before starting the trek through the low pines and outcroppings through the California outback at elevations of over 5000 feet. It then drops down to cattle grazing land about 20 miles outside of Red Bluff. Be sure and stop at the little General Store at Platina for an ice tea. The bartender there is a hoot.

We pulled into Red Bluff for gas at about 6:30pm, but we really didn't want to spend the night there, so we continued East on Hwy. 36 to a little town just South of Lassen Volcanic National Park called Chester. If you go this way, there is only a couple of hotels in the little resort town, you might call the Best Western a couple of hours out to reserve a room. We reached Chester at about 8:15pm and were ready for some dinner and some rest after one great 300 mile day of riding some incredible roads. This was truly a highlight day of our trip.

Click Here for all Photos - Great shots of Lost Coast. (For best viewing, Click Slideshow and view Full Screen)
Click Here for Map

Highlights of the Day:
Lost Coast Highway - Mattole Rd.
Humboldt Redwoods.
Hwy. 36 to Red Bluff.

Useful Links:
Victorian Inn
Lost Coast Highway
Humboldt Redwoods State Park
Hwy. 36

Saturday, October 30th
Chester's Harley-Davidson presents "Howling Hogs for Hounds". Presented by BIKERS Aiding ANIMALS Animal Rescue & Chester’s Harley-Davidson. Event time 11am-5pm at Chester’s H-D located at 922 South Country Club Drive in Mesa. Bring the whole family & your pets. Come on over for a howling good time. Food, Live Music, Raffles, 50/50, Silent Auction, Pet Costume Contest starts at 12PM. Prizes awarded for best Pet Costume & Best People Costume, Tattoo Contest, Adopt-A-Thon, and Face Painting. For more information email Sandy Davis sldavis4@cox.net or call Frosty 928-925-1926 or “T” 602-339-1546.

Saturday, October 30th
4th Annual Anthony Holly Memorial Ride. Once a year on a cool fall morning, hundreds of folks shine up their bikes and put the rubber to the road to raise money for Arizona's kids. Come join us for the 4th Annual Anthony Holly Memorial Ride on Saturday, October 30th as we do our part to help Arizona's youth. Tony served our country, his community, God and his family unfailingly. He served in the United States Air Force for four years and was a member of the Air Force Honor Guard. After completing his military service, he became a Glendale Police Officer, where he also served on the Honor Guard. He was shot and killed in the line of duty on February 19, 2007 while coming to the support of a fellow officer. He was 24 years old. There is a $25 per rider and $15 per passenger registration fee and proceeds benefit the children's charities of the Anthony Holly Foundation. The ride will start at the 5 & Diner restaurant, located on the Southwest corner of 75th Ave. and Bell Rd. right next to McDonalds, at 9:00 AM. Registration begins at 7:00 AM. The diner is also offering free coffee to all riders.

Saturday, October 30th
Oktoberfest at Victory BMW. Everyone likes to try out different bikes and this is your chance to take a spin on an brand new 2010 or 2011 BMW motorcycle. The BMW demo truck is going to be at Victory BMW located at 1701 N. Arizona Ave. in Chandler on Saturday, Oct. 30th. To celebrate, Victory BMW is throwing a big Oktoberfest party from 10am - 5pm. Enjoy FREE Food, Music, Vendors, Service and Apparel Specials and New and Used Bike Specials. There will also be a Vintage Bike Show with trophies for the winners. For more information call: 480-899-9113.

Saturday, October 30th
Buddy Stubbs Hogs and Dogs. Ride by Buddy Stubbs Harley-Davidson and enjoy his famous monthly Hogs and Dogs event from 11am - 3pm. LIVE Music, FREE Food, FREE Drinks, FREE Motorcycle Museum Tours with Buddy Stubbs, Pool Tournament and Costume Contest for prizes. Come dressed and ready to shop our great deals. 50% Off Select Helmets, Leather Jackets, Casual Outerwear and Denim Jeans. Test Ride a New Harley. This event is always a good time and one that riders look forward to every month. Buddy Stubbs Harley-Davidson is located at 13850 N. Cave Creek Rd. in Phoenix, AZ. 602-971-3400. www.buddystubbshd.com .

Next Week

November 4th - 7th
10th Annual Rocky Point Rally. Yes, it is on and Mogollon is going to be the featured musical entertainment on Saturday night at Las Palomas on Sandy Beach. This should be a great concert. It is hard to believe, but this is the 10th anniversary of the Rally. I know that some are hesitant to go to Mexico right now with all of the bad press down there, but Rocky Point has seemed to avoid most of the issues that you hear about in the press. Do your own research about issues in Rocky Point, don't let the broad brush of the press decide for you. Then see if you want to go or not. One thing we do know, this is always a good time. Here is the Agenda. If you are looking to make a reservation for lodging, Click Here. If you want a good snapshot of the Rocky Point Rally, check out this video from a couple of years ago. Take advantage of the Pirate Boat Ride special. The first 100 persons with their $10 donation wristband will be allowed to ride for FREE. Click Here for flyer and other Activities going on for the weekend.

Las Palomas Condo Special for the Rocky Point Rally. Need a place to stay for the Rocky Point Rally? Las Palomas has a condo special that has a lot of extras. Stay on Sandy Beach in one of the newest condo's at the site of the Mogollon concert that will take place on Saturday, November 6th. Here is what you can get: Choose from 1-4 Bedroom condos for $45 per person per night. Minimum 4 people in 2 br condo.
This includes: 2 Continental Breakfasts - 2 Welcome Drinks - $25 Welcome Bucks - $20 credit in food & beverage - 2 for 1 domestic drinks from 5-7pm. Rates are good from Nov. 4th - 7th.
For more details see The Flyer, email reservations@lppmc.com or call 866-360-2324. www.laspalomasresort.net

Friday, November 5th
Motorcycles On Main St. in Mesa Sponsored by Chester's Harley-Davidson. Motorcycles on Main in Mesa is back in full swing. Riders have been asking for something to do on a Friday night for a long time and now it is here at least once per month. This event regularly brings in over 1000 riders for a fun time. Ride to downtown Mesa the first Friday of every month for the Downtown Mesa "Motorcycles On Main St." Cruise Main St. and enjoy Sturgis Style parking on the inside lanes. Park and show off your bike. The night will feature 4 Beer Gardens located throughout the 2 blocks and 4 Live Band Stages. Be sure and check it out this month on Friday, October 1st to join in on the motorcycle fun in Downtown Mesa from 6pm - 10pm. Downtown Mesa is located Just East of Country Club Dr. on Main St. Ride in with Chester's HD. Meet at the dealership at 6:30pm located at 922 S. Country Club Dr. in Mesa. Ride leaves at 6:30pm and ends at the Chester's Booth on Main St. Reserved Motorcycle Parking on the Main St.

Saturday, November 6th
Arrowhead Harley-Davidson Annual Fall Swap Meet and Bike Show. Have some stuff setting around the garage that you would like to get rid of? Now is the time to do it at the BIG Annual Swap Meet at Arrowhead HD. Event time from 8am - Noon. Set up by 8am. No competitve items or bike sales please. Limited space so please email: ahdebay@ridenow.com to reserve your spot.
Bike Show: Bike show registration starts at 11am and trophies will be awarded at 2pm. All bike welcome. Arrowhead HD is located at 16130 N. Arrowhead Fountain Ctr. Dr. in Peoria, AZ. 623-247-5542.

Saturday, November 6th
3rd Annual Easton's Run. Easton’s Run is a charity to raise money and awareness for child abuse. The run will start at Babe's Sports Bar on Higley & Baseline and will end at Chuys Mesquite Broiler on Gilbert and McKellips in Mesa with live bands, tasty food, and great people! We are fencing off the Chuys parking lot, putting the bands outside, and raffling off some great prizes. Sign in 9-11am at Babe's. We would love to see you, your family and friends at the event! Even if you don’t ride, you are more than welcome to come to the end event at Chuys. Proceeds to benefit West Valley Child Crisis Center. We need your help with donations of any kind to make this event as successful as it can possibly be. We’ll gladly accept cash, gift certificates, raffle items, etc. This is 100% non-profit and all proceeds will be donated in Easton’s name to local child abuse centers in need of financial help.

Saturday, November 6th
Help Support Returning Heroes. Double Fund Raiser for American Cancer Society and our returning Vet Heroes. From 11 AM til ? at the Fraternal Order of Eagles - 3600 W Rose Garden Lane in Phoenix (South of Deer Valley Road and West of 35th Avenue). Food-Games-Arts & Crafts - Drinks Raffles. 5 Bands and Music All Day Long. For more information: uwishtoo@q.com

Upcoming Events

Thursday, November 11th

The Cyclerides.com/Westgate Bike Night will present the last night of the Fall Bike Night season on November 11th. If you didn't make it to the first two, don't miss this one. The last one will be a Veteran themed event. Event time is 5-10pm. I will end the season with the Cyclerides.com Toy Event at Westgate on Saturday, December 11th. There will be Live Music with the very popular Urban Roots Band bringing back classic R&B, Motown and Blues. There will be more Vendors, Restaurant Specials, Videos on the giant LED, performances from the 6 million dollar dancing water fountains and of course plenty of motorcycle parking on Coyote Blvd. and beyond. Urban Roots will play from 6-9 pm.
Plan to join us on Thursday, November 11th from 5-10pm at Westgate City Center located next to the Cardinals Stadium and Jobing.com Arena at Loop 101 and W. Glendale Ave. Click Here for Details.

Saturday, November 13th
'Rock Block' Returns to Phoenix. Rock Block returns to Phoenix Sat., Nov. 13, 5pm, bringing a high energy lineup of 80s classic rock favorites Night Ranger, SkidRow and FireHouse, along with a repeat Rock Block performance by The Chad Hollister Band. The Pearce Warehouse, downtown Phoenix, Lincoln & Fourth Street, debuts as a cool urban venue for the 80s classic rock conclave, presented by Phoenix-based BillingTree and Oregano's. Plus, fans will get satisfaction knowing that 100% of ALL ticket monies (i.e., the entire $25 and $100 ticket amounts) goes to powerhouse charities Childhelp® and Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation (JDRF). "This is the second Rock Block," said Dan Willis of Phoenix-based BillingTree's Board of Directors. "The concert is a rousing event, and this year we couldn't be happier to have these hot groups whose music still resonates as a great time for all. BillingTree has its home in Arizona and we are fortunate we can offer an enjoyable evening and, at the same time, donate all ticket monies to create a windfall for JDRF and Childhelp." BIG TICKET VALUES. Rock Block tickets are on sale at http://www.MyBillingTree.com/RockBlock or call 1.866.977.6849. General admission is $25 and includes dinner by Oregano's. The $100 VIP ticket is a complete package that includes seat adjacent to the stage, VIP preferred parking, dinner by Oregano's and drinks. Doors open at 5pm. ALL ticket monies go to charity.

2010 Rock Block Valley Rally Charity Ride. Ride to benefit your local Biker Against Child Abuse (B.A.C.A.) Ride begins at Buddy Stubbs Harley-Davidson located at 13850 N. Cave Creek Rd. in Phoenix. Sign in at 9am. Last bike out by Noon. $25 Registration includes Rock Block Concert ticket. Free poker hand included in registration. Door prizes at three stops ending at Rock Block Charity Concert featuring NightRanger, Skid Row, Firehouse and more. Free group tours at Buddy Stubbs Motorcycle Museum at 9am, 9:45 and 10:30. Questions to John@mybillingtree.com .

Extras

Mid Week Updates will be made on the Cyclerides.com Facebook.

New Easy to remember Facebook address. Go to Cyclerides.com Facebook. Over 2600 FANS!

Take a look at all the new photos posted on the wall. If you are not on Facebook, you can still view the page, but you will not be able to post. There will be a link there for you to sign up for Facebook if you are inclined. Click the LIKE button!

Rocky Point Insurance Special - Get the best affordable Motorcycle, Car or Truck Insurance for your vehicle while in Mexico. We offer two policies, basic and platinum. Even with the basic policy you will have, should you need it, Legal assist/bail bond, road assistance and medical evacuation. You will also receive a plane ticket home (if scooter is stolen on not drivable). With the platinum policy you will have vandalism protection. Price it, pay online and print it, you are done! CLICK HERE TO GET STARTED. If you have any questions, please call Kirk at 602 363-5386 or email kirk@phoenixbikers.com. Thanks, Kirk from www.phoenixbikers.com

I'm guessing this guy didn't complete the motorcycle safety class before riding his new scooter. Ouch! Click Here to View.

This is one of the most amazing college football plays you will ever see. Even if you are not a football fan, you've got to see this. Click Here to View.

Video of the Week: For those of you that didn't experience the hail storm in Phoenix a couple of weeks ago, here is your chance to see just how devastating it was. Look how big these hail stones are and the intensity which it came down. I've never seen anything like this. Click Here to View. Click on the Video of the Week graphic on the page.

If you would like to sign up for the Cyclerides.com Weekly Update Click Here.

Until Next Week,
Blessings and Safe Riding To All,

Barry Caraway
"The Road Is Yours - Take The Ride"
www.cyclerides.com
info@cyclerides.com