Nicky's Notes: Day 9 of Ride West

Maybe it's the fog or the quiet or the tiredness from riding all day; whatever the reason Brooke and I have both been sleeping like the dead. Oh, here's a side note, checking into the small inns we have been staying at, I have gotten some strange looks when I ask for two beds. Especially, last evening, the lady at the check in looked at Brooke, and then at me and said; "well we do have one room left with two beds, but it costs more" Not wanting to explain, I just handed her the card, and said, "That's fine."

A friend reminded me today that Bodega Bay is where the Alfred Hitchcock film, 'The Birds', was filmed. I can totally see it now. The little town could have a creepy vibe with the constant cloudiness, fog, and fog horn sounding all the time.

Met an interesting French Canadian from Quebec while having coffee. He's also riding a motorcycle on a solo trip (an old Honda 750 pulling a trailer). He's been on the road for two months, traveling from Montreal, across the northern part of the US, up to the Yukon, Alaska, and now into northern CA. He's going down the coast to SF, then across to Tahoe, then to the Grand Canyon, back up through CO, and hopes to be home by mid November. The only trouble he had was a flat tire somewhere in Oregon. Amazing.

We had lunch in Sonoma, and while walking around town, met a guy from Wimberley, TX. He works at a wine tasting room and wine club while spending half the year in Sonoma. The other half of the year, he lives in Wimberley, and does a wine business there. He said Napa is like Dallas, and Sonoma is like Austin. He prefers Sonoma, and claims Napa is overpriced and over-hyped. Joined his wine club, so I'll let you know how the selections are. He has about 100 members from Texas, he said, and customizes your selection for your tastes from the over 100 wineries in the area.

These are two examples of the most enjoyable things about a trip like this; the people you meet. For an introvert like me, it's a challenge and an accomplishment both to have these conversations.

This area is full of vineyards on both sides of Hwy 12 from Santa Rosa through Sonoma to Napa. Known for it's old vine Zinfandel, some of the oldest vineyards date back to the late 1800's. Most of the newer vines are irrigated, and I'm told it costs over $100k per acre to plant a vineyard, not including the cost of the land. Makes me appreciate those $30 bottles of wine even more.

Deciding to try and make Monterey by evening, we bust it down I-80 for a while. HOV lanes are a blessing, and crossing the Bay Bridge with the wind is challenging. Brooke and I both agree that Interstates on a bike are no fun, and we exit off to the PCH south as soon as we can at Pacifica. Brooke loves to talk, and I'm a good listener, so this has been a great experience for the both of us. For both of us, the solitude of riding is energizing between the times of conversation.

Sticking to my rule, we check into a small inn near the wharf in Monterey, have a great dinner at Sands on the wharf (recommended by a local) and walk back to our room under an almost full moon shining over Monterey Bay. Passing a party on the beach, complete with tiki torches and a band, we enjoy the sights and sounds of the evening. I am reminded once again of how blessed I am to be healthy, to enjoy being with my daughter on this trip, and share these memories with all my friends.