Nicole and I decided to go see something new this weekend, so we packed a picnic basket and drove up to the University of California's Lick Observatory. 20 miles of insanely twisty roads I would never be brave enough to ride on two wheels. Here are a few pics (I'll add comments later):

http://img77.imageshack.us/img77/2431/img2140tp2.jpg

http://img485.imageshack.us/img485/2858/img2141eh4.jpg

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http://img265.imageshack.us/img265/3024/img2148sx3.jpg

http://img369.imageshack.us/img369/1018/img2155wb5.jpg

http://img369.imageshack.us/img369/277/img2156ea1.jpg

http://img265.imageshack.us/img265/6659/img2160wo3.jpg

http://img265.imageshack.us/img265/1751/img2162et7.jpg

http://img239.imageshack.us/img239/7126/img2171eq6.jpg

http://img265.imageshack.us/img265/214/img2173wf4.jpg

http://img369.imageshack.us/img369/3020/img2183gk4.jpg

http://img265.imageshack.us/img265/9018/img2190op4.jpg

Very nice. I'd love to carve a mountain but it's all flat country around here. Although those rocks in the road look a bit scary.

Fantastic pictures, as always.

And you don't have to tell me what you two did in the "Lick" Observatory. :wink:

Thank you. And to answer your question... we had lunch! What we had for lunch, on the other hand, I won't mention. :wink:

Fantastic pictures, as always.

And you don't have to tell me what you two did in the "Lick" Observatory. :wink:

Nicole and I decided to go see something new this weekend, so we packed a picnic basket and drove up to the University of California's Lick Observatory. 20 miles of insanely twisty roads I would never be brave enough to ride on two wheels. Here are a few pics (I'll add comments later):


I 'm beginning to worry about you Alex. I wanted to get some good natured ribbing to JMD about the NC lose to the Hokies, but you had to chime in about he scary roads of San Jose.

I drove to the Lick Observatory (Twice) some many years back. I thought the mountain roads near San Jose were tame. I guess I'm just use to the monutain roads in Tennessee. I was in San Franciso last May and drove up the PCH to Stinson Beach and on to Point Reyes National Seashore. Those roads from the Golden Gate Bridge to the Beach were 'insane'. I was driving a rental car and wishing that I was on a motorcycle.

And about your insane ride to Mt Hamiliton, at least you had the good sense to be in good company. That is assuming "bad company" is being alone.

:D You don't need to worry about me... I'm not losing my mind... yet. A big part of why that road wasy scary was its condition - gravel and stones everywhere. There are also a couple of uphill hairpin turns that are pretty scary. Keep in mind, also, that I've been riding for less than a year, so I'm still relatively new to it.

I've ridden small parts of PCH, but looking forward to doing more of it!

Tom, I dare say you are wee bit spoiled (in a good way :twisted: )
http://img369.imageshack.us/img369/1018/img2155wb5.jpg

Yeah, this in a corner would be a bit "challanging"... sometimes it is nice to have a few twisties and sweeping turns where you can enjoy a bit of the scenery too...but not too much don't want to run off the road (ask me about that HELLO! :wink: )

but not too much don't want to run off the road (ask me about that HELLO! :wink: )

Tell us about how you ran off the road. :)

Alex.

I forgot to mention that the photos were a good reminder of my year that I lived in Mountain View. The last time I rode that toward Lick Observatory, I ran out of gas just as I topped the first ridge. We pushed my car back 25 yards and then coasted back right to a gas station near San Jose city limits. I seems like the down hill coast was five miles or more.

The very next weekend, the same friend and I was crossing the Golded Gate Bridge and just started up that steep road going north and I ran out of gas again. I was right at an exit and coasted off highway 101 down to Sausailito.

I guess when one is that lucky. you don't need a reserve tank.

Where in Mountain View did you live?! When I first moved to Cali, I lived in Mountain View, too... on Easy Street of all places. :D Then I moved to San Jose, but I still work in Mountain View... on N. Whisman road.

I LOVE Mountain View... I wish I bought a place here rather than in SJ.

It's been years since I was there and don't remember the street address. We lived within a block of DeAnza College and next to a primary school. I loved the location. We could get to the Santa Cruz Mtns easy and cross over to the ocean. Great area.

That was all in my Navy days. I was stationed at Moffett Field. I worked in the ET shop in the derigible hangar. I heard that they wnat to make the hangar a national historic site.

I ride my scooter up to mt. hamilton every now and then the last time was a few weeks ago...the funniest part for me is passing sports bikes on my 50cc scooter on the way down...this last time up I passed 6 sports bikes going down mt. hamilton.

I was stationed at Moffett Field. I worked in the ET shop in the derigible hangar. I heard that they wnat to make the hangar a national historic site.

This one? (View from the Mercury office building where I work.)
http://img246.imageshack.us/img246/5706/img1426gm2.jpg

Yes Alex, that's it. The Navy base was part of the NASA Ames Research center.

wasn't healthy enough to ride the 599 today but got out on the 50cc scooter

Went up Mt. Hamiliton and for the first time ever went over the other side...boy that was a long ride down to livermore via mines...and it was awsome. The scenery was fantatic..never knew how nice it was on the other side.

The road was so clean and hardly anybody at all...so far my favorite road to ride so far.

From my house to top of Mt. hamilton is ~20miles and into livermore was about 70miles, went onto calaveras via highway84, then on to felter/sierra then back home.

110 miles and 4 hours later made it home in one piece average 25mph on the scooter including all piss breakes (half dozen) and gas stops ( made two one at the beginning got a gallon, then once a block away from home with another gallon). Only bad thing was I forgot the camera...next time I guess and I'll do it on the 599 going the other way instead.

Oh and the view was soooo clear today! First time I was able to see across the bay in a very looong time...best day of the year so far.

treads from a scooter forum I'm on...got some pics in the top

http://totalruckus.com/phpBB2/viewtopic.php?t=5309&highlight=hamilton

http://totalruckus.com/phpBB2/viewtopic.php?t=43&highlight=hamilton

I'm envious of you this time of year. We have about 2 inches of snow and it's 25 degrees. Even Lance in Florida has limited riding time (I would assume). I had both my bikes out just before this cold front but only 10 miles or so on each. It was about 55 degrees and threat of rain so I stayed close to the home front.

I looked at Google maps the other day and thought the routes east of Mt Hamilton looked interesting. What was the weather like as you crossed the high spots? I have to avoid the Smokies and other routes that go much over 5000 ft until spring. It averages near 15 degrees colder at higher elevation. I may get some riding weather this next week but just short 30 - 50 mile loops for lunch or such.

treads from a scooter forum I'm on...got some pics in the top...
No Sh*t you are passing bikes on that thing! Has more rubber than my car! Nice and looks fun to ride...

I have scooter envy now...The number of things I WANT to get exponentially out passes my income… :evil:

treads from a scooter forum I'm on...got some pics in the top...
No Sh*t you are passing bikes on that thing! Has more rubber than my car! Nice and looks fun to ride...

I have scooter envy now...The number of things I WANT to get exponentially out passes my income… :evil:

it is funny how big bike riders react when I pass them the guys that get really pissed are the harley dudes....but then again I can pass them on my bicycle going downhill

I was toying with 'Virtual Earth and trying to remember my ride years ago to the Lick Observatory. I was seeing if I could pinpoint the area that I ran out of gas. I had good results. I'll put the link to the map. You have to install Virtual Earth.

http://maps.live.com/

I took this clip shot on Mt Hamilton road to comapre with the photo that Alex took.

http://i116.photobucket.com/albums/o39/tomacana/mthamilton.jpg

looks like just before the main gate (on the right) to Grant Ranch...the apex to the left (right turn is the small parking lot) and the first tree (one with all leafs) after that is where I park to go mtb at Grant Ranch

Woked up and saw this out my bedroom window today, can't actually see mt. hamilton but this is the same range of mtns

http://img175.imageshack.us/img175/7121/dscn0812gp5.jpg

I know... I was looking at the same thing on my way home last night. Absolutely beautiful!

You know what's really funny?

Where I live, there are too many "poor indigents" that go buy scooters. All the drunks and bums are riding around on scooters. What's funny is that when you pass one of them (and they're usually leaned over and "tucked in" as if they are on a GP bike), they throw there arm out and put up there thumb as though they were on a motorcycle.

Everytime I see one do this I can't help but think "dude, if you think I'm gonna wave back you are out of your f*ckin mind."

Keep this in context. I'm not downing scooters/scooter riders. I'm specifically bashing the drunks and bums around my town who wave as if they were on a big boy's bike.

I do the wave on my scoot to all two wheelers (when I can) not just on my big bike....but many big bike riders don't wave back when I'm on the scooter, half the time they're like what the hell is that!?

Out of boredom, I attatched a moped engine to a ten-speed bike when I was about 16. Only wave I got was from a cop! :lol: :?

...All the drunks and bums are riding around on scooters...they throw there arm out and put up there thumb as though they were on a motorcycle..."dude, if you think I'm gonna wave back you are out of your f*ckin mind."
I resent the way you are talking about me :wink: and next time I'll wave with my middle finger :P would you wave back then? ...Naw, I won't do that...(especially since I know about all those guns you own!) :lol:

Just curious, how are you harmed or hindered by being kind, courteous and polite? Sounds kinda snobish :shifty , maybe they ARE dreaming they're on a GP bike! Don't censor yourself, censorship sucks...be a waving fool! :welcome You know you want to...it feels good.
What does it cost?

One of the F1 drivers (Senna, maybe?) said, "it's more fun to drive a slow car fast than to drive a fast car slow." Perhaps that's the scooter logic? Our Hondas will do 100+, but how often do we really get to give them such a workout? :wink:

Plus when you fall off the scooter, you can just get back up and keep racing! It looks like loads of fun!