Thunder Roads Magazine of Oklahoma/Arkansas October 2016 | Page 8

AUSSIE BIKER
PART 2
BY LEIGH MURRAY, AUSTRALIAN RIDER TRAVELER
SEE PART 1 IN SEPTEMBER ISSUE AT WWW.TRMOK.COM

Thanks for joining me on this
continued journey! Once I got the
bike all organized in Pasadena,
CA, I started to do some riding.
First ride was into nearby area
called The Fork in the Road and
the nice view at the Colorado
bridge. I then decided to head
out of LA and rode up the coast to
Morro Bay. Really nice little town
with a colony of seals living in the
harbor. I stayed at the Sandpiper
Inn who’s owner was very helpful
in lending me his personal laptop
to sort out a problem. The next
day, I headed up to Hearst
Castle. Definitely worth a look, but
unfortunately you’re not allowed to
take photos. After leaving Hearst
Castle, just up the road is a beach
where the elephant seals lazy
around on the sand. I then headed
up the coast further to ride the
Big Sur. Wow! What a road for
motorcyclists. The twist and turns

in the road are fantastic and the
views are awesome. Remember
to watch the road as well as the
views, use the vista points to pull
over and take photos.
I finally made it to Monterey
and stopped by the Harley shop
on Cannery Row to buy a t shirt.
Monterey has two places worth
visiting, they are Cannery Row and
Fisherman’s Wharf. Next day was
spent riding around the Monterey
Bay and Carmel by the sea. Was

a great ride however found out
they don’t let motorcycles on the
17 Mile Road. A scenic drive but
park ranger on gate said no bikes.
The alternative route was just as
good. Then next day it was back
down the Big Sur again with the
temperature ranging from quite
cool to very hot in a matter of
miles. Ventura Harley got a visit for
a t shirt then I was back to my base
in Pasadena. From an Australian
point of view, the freeways in LA
are over the top and mostly just
huge car parks. Think that is why
I’ll head out to the country and
smaller cities. Before leaving LA I
rode down to the Born Free bike
show. Was a great show with a
variety of different bikes on show
and the Wall of Death being a
highlight.
Next was Victorville, I turned
onto old Route 66 and came
across the bottle Tree Ranch.
It is an out there sort of place.