Cyclerides.com Weekly Update
8/25/04
 

Greetings Riders,
 
When I left you last week in Gold Beach, Oregon, we had finished Day 6 of our 10 day 3000 mile ride through British Columbia and the West Coast.
The odometer was reading 1621 miles traveled, slightly over half of our miles that we would end up traveling. The interesting thing about traveling without reservations for hotels or a particular destination is that you totally lose track of time and the days of the week. There were several times I had to figure out what day it was to know how much longer we had to ride. On a 10 day adventure like this, you don't event think about the days early on, because you know you have plenty of time to go. But when you start seeing day 7 roll around, you are having so much fun on the road, that you don't want it to end and start trying to figure out a way to extend the trip. We said to each other a couple of times in the last few days of the trip, "This is really fun, I wish we could figure out a way to keep it going". That wasn't going to happen, reality had to eventually make its' way back into our lives. But what we didn't know was that one of our best riding experiences was right ahead of us.
 
Day 7 started out with a quick breakfast bar experience at the Beachcomber Inn in Gold Beach, Oregon.
For once, and for a brief time, we were greeted with some sunshine on the coast as we headed South 37 miles to California border. But it wasn't long until the typical fog on the coast started to find its way onto shore. It was only another 39 miles and we were entering the Redwood National Park and about to embark upon our first real tourist experience, the drive-thru Redwood tree. Yep, this 2 second ride makes bungee jumping look like stepping off the curb. But you HAVE to do it, or you wouldn't be a tourist. Just think, if we had a drive-thru cactus, people from California would be coming over here to do that. After finally calming ourselves from the rush of riding through the Redwood tree, we were on our way to the Eureka.
 
Eureka is one of the most interesting towns that we went through on this part of the California coast. It is an old Victorian Seaport that began in the 1850's that thrived on both logging and commercial fishing. It is a town of 26,000 people, but best known for Old Town Eureka where they have preserved and rebuilt the Victorian houses and buildings that were built in the late 1800's. It is definitely a good place to spend a little time, soak up some history and ride through the old town. You can also visit Redwood Harley-Davidson located right on the Hwy. 101. They were very friendly and helpful with directions and questions about the area. Thanks to the lady at Redwood HD, we took what turned out to be one of the best routes on the trip.
 
I had this route penciled in on my agenda, but was falling into the old clock watching syndrome that we are used to at home and was ready to abandon it until she insisted that we take this ride, and boy are we glad we did.
It is dubbed by the locals as "The Lost Coast", and when you go you will see why, there is no one out there. About 15 miles South of Eureka you take the exit for Ferndale. A beautiful little Victorian town in it's own right. This is also a good place to stop for lunch at Curley's Bar and Grill in the old Victorian Inn Hotel. 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 70 miles you will ever ride. This is a narrow road that will take you through the pines for a view of Ferndale and then up a couple thousand feet through twisties until you then make your way back down into the beautiful rolling California golden and grazing land. After about 18 miles you will see the clouds starting to roll in as you get near the ocean. Mattole Rd. will then take you for a 7 mile ride right on the ocean. 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 where you are likely to see deer along the way. You will then start winding your way up and over a 2700 feet pass for 20 miles before being dropped right into the giant redwoods of Humboldt State Redwood Park and back to the Avenue of the Giants for your next opportunity at a 5000 year old drive-thru tree. An awesome ending to an awesome ride. If you are doing this route near the end of the day, you will want to stay in the town of Garberville. It is the only town in the area that has a choice of motels, food and gas.
 
Day 8 would take us from Garberville to Leggett for our final drive-thru tree of the trip .
This is the Chandelier Tree and is probably one of the more famous drive through trees as it is actually called a drive-thru park. The tree is 315 feet high and is 2400 years old. I wonder what these guys were drinking when they were setting around on the front porch looking at this tree and said: "Hey Bo! How bout we get out the chainsaw and cut a big hole in that 2000 year old tree out there and then charge people to drive through it"? Now that was the thought of the day. But as a tourist you have to do it and take the picture. From that photo op we were on our way to Hwy 1 and heading to some pure California Coast riding. But not before 20 miles of massive twisties on the way to the ocean.
 
South of Fort Bragg you will go through a town called
Mendocino that is billed as a New England getaway, California style. This is a neat little artsy town full of B&B's that dates back to the California Gold Rush and since the 50's it has been a thriving art community. There have been several movies shot here including "The Summer of 42", "Murder She Wrote", and more recently Jim Carrey in "The Majestic". It is worth the stop to cruise through and take a break. From here it is 161 miles of small country towns and California twisty coast riding to San Francisco. The scenery is beautiful and if you have a sunny day it will be a fantastic experience, although you will get your fill of twisties and may want to lay off of them for quite a while. We cut over at Bodega Bay for a stop in Oakland.
 
Be sure and take a look at the pictures from this part of the ride
They are beautiful and will take you along the journey with the story that you just read. Next week I will bring you the story about my visit with Arlen Ness, the Godfather of custom motorcycles at his shop in Dublin, CA.
Pictures
Day 7, Pictures Day 8. All pictures from the trip so far.


OCC Update:
I've got my fingers crossed that tickets will go on sale this weekend.
I will send out an email when they are ready to go. There will also be an announcement in the next few days about the National Music act that will be playing on Saturday night. If you are a vendor and would like to reserve a space at this event, email me at info@cyclerides.com .  


 
Readers Rides:

There are now over 120 entries in the Readers Rides section with more to add right now. If you have a good picture of you next to a Sign, a well known part of Americana or a Famous Landscape of where you have ridden, email it to me at info@cyclerides.com to be included in the pictorial. Take a look.


 

This Week's Events 

Wednesday 

The Wild Hare Wednesday Bike Night. Looking for a Bike Night on the East side? Here is a bike night for the East side of town at a really nice location. Stop by and take a look, you will be impressed. It is called The Wild Hare located at 4910 W. Ray Rd. That is the NE Corner of Ray Rd. and Rural Rd. This is a really nice place with a very large outdoor patio. The inside has just been remodeled to double the seating along with adding a DJ, pool tables and games. The Wild Hare has a broad menu including 20 different appetizers, salads, wings, 17 different sandwiches, chicken, filet mignon, burgers and desserts including strawberry cheese cake. There will be food and drink specials that will run during bike night from 6 PM till close.  Stop by and take a look, I'm sure you will like what you see. Info: 480-897-6200. 

Thursday Night
 
Thursday Night features 4 Bike Nights all over the Valley.

Hooters at Arrowhead Bike Night. Ride by and join in on the fun! Hooters will host a Bike Night every Thursday at the Hooters at Arrowhead located just 1 block S. of Bell on 83rd Ave. Stop by for some great food and Hooters Hospitality. There will be 20% off menu items (25% off with Cyclerides.com V.I.P. Card). $2.00 Corona Thursdays and plenty of parking next to the outdoor patio. Stop by for some giveaways and raffles from Hooters and Arrowhead Harley as well as great wings and fun at Hooters. Click Here to see Pictures and all the detailed information.

Casey Jones Grill Bike Night  The evening riding weather is good. You can always count on lots of bikes here. Ride in for what I call the Best Cheesesteak Sandwich in town. This thing melts in your mouth. They have 3 new pool tables, darts and foosball. Located in the Mervyns Shopping Center on the SE corner of 43rd Ave. and Thunderbird Rd. Casey Jones is a great place for a bike night featuring a large outdoor seating and over 150 people inside. And for those of you that want to watch a sporting event they have 50 TV's scattered throughout the restaurant connected to satellite to get any game you can think of. They have a full menu for lunch, dinner and a Happy Hour from 11:00AM - 7:00PM and a reverse happy hour from 10:00PM - 12:00 Midnight. $1.75 domestic bottles and $2.00 Jacks. There are always a lot of bikes showing up for bike night at Casey Jones Thursday night. Join them for open mic night on Wednesdays. Sunday.

Hooters at Ahwatukee Thursday Bike Night. Continues Giveaways and Raffles. The riders in Ahwatukee were wanting a Bike Night of their own, so Hooters Ahwatukee stepped up to provide a great place to come on your motorcycle on Thursday nights. Stop by for raffles, good times and good food at Hooters in Ahwatukee located at 4804 E. Chandler Blvd. There will be raffles and giveaways from Chandler Harley and Hooters as well as 20% off menu items (25% off with Cyclerides.com V.I.P. Card). $2.00 Corona Thursdays and plenty of parking next to the outdoor patio. Click Here for the pictures and all the details.
 

The Bike Night At The Billet Bar. Voted "BEST BIKER BAR IN PHOENIX" by New Times. There is no better place to watch all the Bikes ride down Scottsdale road than from The Billet Bar Patio. The Billet is ALWAYS packed with bikes Every Day. The new bars front and rear provide spacious seating, fresh air atmosphere, perfect temperature and courteous staff. The food is amazing and always the latest in cold libations await. You can sit at the back bar and watch your favorite TV on any of the seven big inch televisions. Play pool, listen to the latest music and socialize. The front patio seats over 75 people and is perfect for people watching on Scottsdale Rd. The Billet Bar is located right next to Genesis Custom Cycles on 3752 N. Scottsdale Rd. Check it out this Thursday night and all weekend long. Info: at 480-941-1876. Click Here for the New Billet Bar Page with pictures. 

Saturday and Sunday 

Pioneer Restaurant and Saloon. Now opening at 6:00AM for Breakfast on Saturday and Sunday. All of us are looking for that quick getaway out of town for an early morning breakfast on the weekends, or a good stop on our way up North. The Pioneer Restaurant and Saloon is the perfect place for that and they are inviting all motorcycle riders to stop by for a good old fashioned breakfast on the patio or a cool drink on the way home. Sundays feature a $6.99 all you can eat breakfast including drinks and any day you can get my personal favorite 1/2 order of biscuits and gravy for $1.95.  This is a great dish. Breakfast starts at 7:00am. Pioneer is also open for lunch and dinner until 9:00 pm. On Saturday nights Canyon Walls plays from 7pm - 11pm. Pioneer is also a great place to get your group together for a sunset dinner ride. Sit out on the patio or the air conditioned dining room. Click Here for the complete menu. If you are organizing a ride, it is the perfect place for a ride end. Pioneer is located just 1 mile North of the Carefree Highway exit on I-17 at Pioneer Rd. exit 225. For private parties call Joey at 602-696-5245 or 623-465-1821. 
 
Hungry Bear Roadhouse In Mayer.  Many of you remember Hailey's Grill in Mayer, AZ. Hailey's went out of business last fall and the building was purchased by the owners of Grand Canyon Harley and has re-opened as The Hungry Bear Roadhouse. The Roadhouse has been completely remodeled to provide meeting rooms for motorcycle groups or any special events. The usable space has now been expanded to the front patio. You can now sit out on the huge patio and eat your breakfast or lunch and watch the bikes roll in for a weekend ride. There will be tables and chairs as well as stools next to the railing to relax and enjoy your favorite beverages. Roadhouse hours are 8:00am - 10:00pm. Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner will be served. Stop by the Hungry Bear on your rides to Prescott. More Info at: 928-632-4211.  

Sunday

Cocomo Joe's Sunday Bike Day. Live Music Every Sunday from 1:30-4:30pm. Live music is also Thursday - Saturday nights at 8:30pm. Many of you have been to Cocomo Joe's in North Phoenix. There is now a day just for riders. Cocomo Joe's is a very open and comfortable place to hang out that is decorated in a Jamaican theme. They have a new large outdoor patio as well as 2 smaller ones around the side. There is a large dining area with TV's all around to keep up on all NFL football on Sundays. See the pictures here. After football season they will be bringing in live entertainment on Sunday afternoons. There is also 3 pool tables and games for your enjoyment. There will be food and drink specials for ride days starting at 10:30am as well as blocked off preferred parking for motorcycles. The day starts at 10:30am with breakfast foods available. Bike day is from Noon - 6pm. Cocomo Joe's is located on the NW corner of Tatum and Dynamite Rd. So if you are riding to or from Cave Creek, or want to take a ride up North and not have to run the DB gauntlet, stop by Cocomo Joe's. 28244 N. Tatum Blvd. 480-538-8008. Stop by this Sunday for opening day. Click Here for all the details.

Sugar Daddy's Blues Biker Sunday Brunch.
Now is the perfect weather to be sitting out on the Sugar Daddy's patio, listening to Live Music while dining from the Brunch Menu. And Sunday Brunch Just Got Better! You now have 3 options to choose from. Option #1: Eggs Benedict – Grilled English muffins, smoked ham, poached eggs and hollandaise sauce.
Served with your chose of fresh fruit or crispy potatoes. ($8) or
Sugar’s Pancakes – You won’t eat pancakes anywhere else. Buttermilk pancakes served with butter and syrup. ($5)
Option #2: Can’t decide what to eat? How about an All-You-Can-Eat buffet for ONLY $12.
Option #3: Order off our regular menu.
Our 5,000 sq. ft. temperature controlled patio has six air conditioning units, misters, and plenty of shade. Sugar Daddy's patio, food and entertainment is becoming a regular Sunday stop. If you haven't tried it yet, give them a try. Complimentary coffee is now served. Make Sugar Daddy's Blues your stop on your ride down Scottsdale Rd. for
Brunch or Lunch from 10am - 5pm. Enjoy live music from 1-6pm Or maybe just relax on the patio with your favorite beverage and enjoy the beautiful weather and watch the bikes roll down Scottsdale Rd.  Click here to see the awesome pictures and details of Sugar Daddy's located at 3102 N. Scottsdale Rd. between Indian School and Thomas on the West side of the road. Stop by and check it out. A great place to hang out. Plenty of Bike Parking. If you have suggestions, email them at sugardaddysaz@aol.com . 480-970-6556.

This Week 

Saturday, August 28th
Choir Boys Ride For The Families. Here is a good excuse to get out of the heat for a day a take a ride to cooler country. Wind through the tall cool pines of the Arizona high country into the historic town of Jerome...journey through the lush Verde Valley...experience the red rocks of Sedona...and it's all for charity. Registration is from 9:30 - 11:00 at Grand Canyon Harley in Mayer, AZ. 10434 Highway 69. Continental breakfast provided by Hungry Bear Roadhouse. $20 per rider, $35 per couple. Includes poker hand, shirt and ride pin. 50/50, Raffle and Silent Auction. Live music at the Highway Cafe in Sedona. Proceeds benefit the Yavapai Family Advocacy Center.
 
August 28th - September 11th
Spirit of America Ride for Kids. Spirit of America Ride for Kids Worldwide travels from Napa, California to Ground Zero, New York City. Fifteen days on the road riding from Coast to Coast, visiting all parts of America. The United States of America in full living color from your handle bars, as we wander over hills, through valleys, up and over several mountain ranges, crossing rivers, passing lakes, cruising through miles of farmland and unforgettable scenery. What better way to celebrate America! With thousand of riders, out pouring of community participation you will create millions of lasting memories. Be part of this incredible event-join us on the  Spirit of America Ride for Kids Worldwide! For more information on this ride go to www.spiritofamericaride.com . 

Next Week 

Thursday - Monday
September 2nd - 6th.
This ride is getting bigger and better every year.  The Rally In The Rockies will be a place to get out of the heat in Ignacio, Colorado. You can't ask for much better riding than the Telluride loop. The event this year will be held September 2nd - 6th. All Bikes are Welcome. There will be Afternoon And Evening Concerts including BTO and Molly Hatchet, Poker Runs, Biker Field Events, Harley-Davidson Demo Fleet, Biker Bull Busting, Various Contests, Bike Parade, Nearly 200 Vendors and much more. There is way too much to list here. For all of the details and information go to http://www.rallyintherockies.com/.
 

Saturday, September 4th
For those of you staying in town for Labor Day, Myron at the Billet Bar is anxious to show off his new
flamed booths on the Paradise Patio and is throwing a Labor Day Bash with all day drink specials and a live music with the "Dave Dodt Band" from 8pm till 2am. You can choose food from the Billet Bar Menu until 10pm and then you can get delicious Pizza by the Slice until 2am. Or stop by any time and take a look at the newly remodeled Paradise Patio with 2 coolers that lower the temps on the patio in the low 80's. Billet Bar is located at 3725 N. Scottsdale Rd. 480-941-1876.  

Extras 

Here is a video clip of a Saturday Night Live skit with Robert De Niro acting as the Homeland Security spokesman. His job is to tell us all of the terrorists names to watch out for. This is hilarious! Click here for the 2mb video.
 
We all know that riding motorcycles can sometimes be a risky business.
A friend of mine, Charlie Mitchell from Custom Performance just hit a cow this past weekend on New River Rd. and he wasn't planning on that. Fortunately, he was alright. But we need to think about making sure that our families are taken care of in the event of a catastrophic accident. A Cyclerides reader came to me with this and it sounded pretty good. You might want to take a serious look at it. The death or disability of a loved one can cause irreparable financial damage.  Did you know that for as little as $33.22 per month (Age 50) you could receive $250,000 Accidental Death Benefit AND $1,500 monthly Accident Disability Income.  No exam required.  For more information please call Roger Craig at Roger Craig & Associates today at 480-342-9760 or email Roger at Mrterm@aol.com.
 
I played in the Alice Cooper golf tournament a couple of months ago and he made an appearance on stage and played a few songs.
I took this with my digital camera's video feature. The sound isn't too good, but there are some good shots of Alice. It is 1 minute long and 4 mb. Click Here.
 
As for me this weekend, I hope to get my bike back with the new chain installed. Until then, I have been riding the new
Saxon Motorcycles prototype chopper . I'll be talking more about that at a later date.
 
Until Next Week,
Blessings and Safe Riding To All,
 
Barry Caraway
"The Road Is Yours - Take The Ride"
www.cyclerides.com
info@cyclerides.com 

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