West
Coast 3
Breakfast
included at the hotel so we were able to make an early start in
making our way to Big Sur towards our next hotel in Morro Bay. First
stop was Laguna Seca raceway. The magical place that has a corkscrew
and entertainment by the bucket full in World Superbikes and MotoGP.
We were so close I had to visit. The lady at the gate was very
helpful in that as we were just doing a quick visit and a volunteer
at the LMM she refunded my money for the day pass as we stayed less
than an hour. I didn’t get to see all the track as it was being
used for a track day and some areas were not accessible. When you
see it on TV it is so much different from when you are there and
identifying corners is difficult when there are no real land marks to
refer to.
Next
on the list that morning was Moto Talbott Collection another museum I
had contacted before leaving home but as events turned out no one
was around to let me I. I had come on spec as they had said the boss
was out of town and the other guy was going to be busy, but they said
they would see what could be done. I left fliers and a note at the
local grocery store in Carmel Valley. The lady there said they
frequently come in for sandwiches when they are busy. It was not a
big detour. Laguna Seca was only ten miles east from our hotel and
Carmel Valley was on the way to Big Sur.
Route
One had only just opened after the winter land slides and got us to
Big Sur and an equally big lunch. The direct route to Morro Bay was
still closed so to get there we took a mountain road over to Highway
101. This was the Nacimiento-Furgusson Road a delightful two hours of
climbs and descents switch backs and hairpins with no safety
barriers, just you, sky and valley on a narrow road.
A real test of
driving skill but reaching speeds of no more that 40mph! We had been
warned at Big Sur that you could not take pictures or stop as there
was a $5000 fine if you did. Well that may have been the case if you
stopped in the military base where the road ends however the views on
this road were worth the effort. We were not alone on this road and I
think the fear was unjustified as each person we asked said the
recommended route was to go back to Monterey! I think they were just
trying to put people off because if this road was full of traffic no
one would be going anywhere. Just like Cornwall in the summer. The
road was a bit wider than a Cornish lane. You can check this out on
YouTube if you want.
Morro
Bay was reached by the end of the afternoon. It was a sleepy place
with most action being done by the seals in the harbour and a nice
sunset.
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