Cycle News - Archive Issues - 1960's

A.A SHOIT TUa COMING III' PART V lib DAY by Compatriots Just pass Crescent Mills, we were passing the wash tracks of a lumber truck around a curve when we sighted another couple standing hy the road alongside of their big twin. The young lady was pointing a movie came'ra at us so I pulled up under the same pine and we silent a half-hour getting acquainted. Les and Sue Capurro had ridden UP from sacramento via Route 40 along the Feather River and were headed toward Burney Falls through Lassen. Les was about ready to give in to the' weather and tum back, but they joined us and we continued on. At Chester Corners on the north end of Lake Almanor, the lar gest artificial body of water in California, we paused for coffee and rolls. TurnIng east on Route 89, we were flanked for mile upon mile by pine farms; Ponderosa and White Pine trees by the millions. The road was gradually climbing now to Morgan Summit at 5750 feet. Shortly after cresting that, we entered Lassen National Park by the south gate at 5 p.m. The rain had stopped and so did we, a t the Sulphur Works just a short distance IIIto the park. This thermal area is composed of steam vents, boiling pools and bubbling mud pots with a narrow trail winding between and around them. The road north from the Sulphur Works snakes up the side of Lassen Peak to the pass at 8500 feet. It is a two-lane affair, although less than that in some places due to construction. The thin slime of mud was pretty slick in some places but the views were simply fantastic. t\ bun dan t Beauty I would say that we enjoyed some of our most spectacular scenic panoramas from this section of road. The slight that seemed to fascinate my wife was the one ever-present just to our right. Unobscured by any guard rails, the drop-offs of one to two thousand feet were very close to being vertical. But FllV held on tight. (Boy, did she hold on! My ribs were black and blue for a week.) Near the summit we pulled off the road and parked. Les and Sue stayed with tbe Harleys while Fay and I hiked the one and a balf miles to Bumpas Hell. This is anotber tbermal area like the Sulphur Works only more so. Our foot trail took us over glacier-type snow pack~, but we were still below tbe tree line. And it was cold I We didn't tarry 10hg and soon returned to tbe macbines and continued on toward Manzanita Lake. At one point along the way we passed the Devastated Area. It is a large '9.rea absolutely bare of all vegetation from tl)e hot blasts and mud flows of that May, 1915 glimpse of bell when Lassen Peak erupted. Just out of Manzanita, tbe sprinkles turned to rain and it really came down. With hot coffee and tea in our hands we sidled up to the beaters in the main lodge and started the drying out process. Les and I took advantage of a slack in the rain to scout for a campsite while Fay .,nd Sue visited the grocery store for vittles. We faund the l)est doggone site in the country for the conditions prevailing that night and returned to tbe lodge for another cup of nectar. When the lights were dimmed we all left and rode over to a nearby lau ndromat, which was also closing. The building had a good-size porch roof and some one bad thoughtfully provided a picnic table under it. I would be willing to bet that it was the only dry picnic table within 200 miles. Within a balf-hour. the Harleys were under the eaves, out of tbe rain, and the sleeping bags had been spread out. A stew of beef and sirloin tips was bubbling merrily away on tbe stove to the accompaniement of radio music from san Francisco and rain from the beavens. 8th Day Wednesday 221 miles The rain was still coming down as it had all night when we arose and packed our gear. Donning our rain clothes, we returned to the cotree shop. After breakfast, the Ranger assured us it was raining, not only in Lassen, but throughout the Sierras and all the way up the coast. With this information, Les and I decided to cancel the planned Burney Falls and Mount Shasta portions of our trip. The Capurros invited us to their home to dry out before continuing our journey. After riding down the mountain to Redding in an increasing downpour, I checked with the weather bureau and found that no let-up in the rain was expected for three days. SCratching Our planned Eureka leg of the trip, Fay and I accepted the Capurro's invitation and we set south on Highway 99E. By the time we reached Red Bluff, the sun was shining brightly. We shed Our leather and rain gear and by the time we reached Cbico at 2:30 the temperature had reacbed the 90's. After a cold drink we rode on, through an area devoted to wheat farming with enormous fields flanking the highways as far as you could see. It was a very monotonous ride and frankly we all felt better when we reached the Capurro's home near Roseville, a suburb of sacramento and rode into their dri veway at 4:30. Les and Sue were very gracious bosts and made us feel quite at home. While the girls cleaned up, Les and I attacked the Harleys with the garden bose rot the Sattley goop that I had collected resisted all our efforts. After we cleaned up, all of us clambered into Les's automobile and be gave us a conducted tour of the Folsom area. We arrived at the prison gates just before the gift shop closed and spent 20 minutes looking over the prisonermade items. Fay bought a couple of trinkets to take to our folks and our boy. Following the road on around, we paused at the dam on Folsom Lake. Les was raised in the mother lode area just east of Folsom so he knew the area well and made the tour quite interesting. Sue prepared a delicious dinner around rib steak and after the wholesome feast, they showed us some of their movies of motorcycling activities of their area. 9th Day 114 mi les Pancakes and eggs served by Sue started us on our way Thursday morning. Les filmed our departure with his camera as we hit the road at 9:30 a.m. In sacramento. we circled the State Capitol, eyeballing the state buildings from the seat of our Harley. We had a better view than the tour busses - no dirty windows. Taking Highway 99W for a short distance, we struck west on Route 120 at Davis, heading toward the wine country. Our rain gear was stowed for the rest of the trip and we were riding in our summer jackets (white nylon). The temperature was in the high 80's when we stopped at the Lake Berryessa recreation area and had lunch; cheese and bologna sandwiches. I stretched out for a short nap while Fay took a walk along the river which flowed by the campground. When I awoke, we continued on, turning south on State Route 37 into Napa. Napa is the southeastern entrance to the "Redwood Empire." It is also the center of a fruit and nut raising region. Napa County produces over 100 varieties of grapes and is famous for it's table wines. Riding north on Highway 29 through the heart of the California wine country, we sopped at the Christian Brothers' Winery and took the last guided tour of the day. We both found the tour very interesting but Fay didn't care for anY of the products they served in the tasting room. Pointing the Harley north again, we rode leisurely into St. Helena where we paused to pick up groceries for au r evening meal. About five miles north we made camp and Fay cooked up some grilled cheese sandwiches, tomato soup, macaroni and cheese, and for dessert cantaloupe. lOtb Day Friday 149 miles We left the campground at 7:30 and rode six miles to Calistoga wh ere we had breakfast and looked up the Old Faithful of California. Just north of Calistoga is Mt. St. Helena, an extinct volcano. This accounts for the thermal activity that provides several mineral springs, mud baths and geysers. Calistoga's Old Faithful is one of three faithful gey·sers in tbe U.s. and the only one in Califorrua. The most famous geyser, of course, isOld Faithfulin Yellowstone. After this privately-owned geyser blew, we headed west on an unnumbered county road through the big redwood country. We stopped and walked through a petrified forest and then rode soutb into Santa Rosa. Turning west again on Highway 12, we passed through sebastapol and rode into Guerneville on the Russian River just in time for lunch. We followed the Russian Riverthrough groves of Redwoods west to the Pacific Coast and Highway 1. The wind was really blowing, raising white caps on the river inlet and a pretty high sea was running. We turned inland at Bodega Bay and rode through a narrow valley to Petaluma. Numerous chicken farms and egg ranches lined the highway. Large plum orchards, vineyards and a few cattle ranches took over as we approached San Rafael on Highway 101 where we put up for the night and did the laundry. (Continued Nen Week) Motorcycle racing returns to the Antelope Valley Fairgrounds for the first time in two years on Thursday night, August 31 st, when J .C. Agajanian will stage an AMA Short Track racing card over a one-eighth mile dirt track on the fairgrounds infield. A full fourteen-event card is slated as an added attraction to the annual fair at the Lancaster, Calif. site. Racing will start at 8:15 p.m., with practice runs at 7:3 0 p.m. Aggie expects more than onehundred riders to turn out for the evening's progressive program, which will see all three classes of AMA riders in action together, Experts, Ama teurs, llDd Novices. .Among those expected to compete are such stars as sammy Tanner of Long Beach; Dan HaabyofLawndale: Ralph White of Torrance: Chuck Jones of .Arcadia: Blackie Bruce of La Mirada: Jim Nicholson of Granada Hills; Marty MacDonald of Sepulveda; Shorty seabourne of Lawndale; Bob Bailey of Anaheim; and Phil Todd of Ojai. GRAND OPENING FOR NORM REEVES PARAMOUNT TELL THEM YOU SAW IT IN CYCLE NEWS ••••••••••••••••••••••••••• Filtron Air Filters, Judson Prods. Francisco Casloroil, Dri-slide, Fi- glass tanks & seats, John Cooper & Big John Boots. All Available From SlMPlllN MOTORS 5475 San Fernando Rd. _e.t Lo. Anceles, Calif. 90039 ~~~~ •........ ........• Hourly giveaways of record albums, helmets, windshields, saddlebags and other donated merchandise will be part of the grand opening DesI&IId Exclusl,ely .. al ceremonies at Norm Reeves' plush CHild -.gileS. new Paramount shop, 15745 Lakewood Blvd., Paramount, on Friday and saturday, September 8th and 9th. Present for dbbon-cutting ceremonies at 10 a.m. on Friday that start off the two-day affair will be Mayor Bill Kennedy of Paramount and other lulninaries. Radio station KFOX has arranged to furnish day· long live coverage of the events, as Distributed Nationally by well. KASUMI OIL CO. The elaborate new Norm Reeves Paramount facility feature"s 8000 FOR DEALER INFDRIIATION square feet of air-conditioned showroom, among its many attractions. 25th Av.. 5an IIaleo, Calif. Grand Prize of the opening days' Phone. Aru Code (415) giveaways will be a free Honda 585062AO or 771-4535 so be on hand Ior the festivi.~ti~e~s~._~~~=~~~:!~~~~=!:!! U5UMI0Il MOTOR MAIDS VISIT TRIUMPH as part of their National Convention 'held in Lancaster, Pa. this year, the Motor Maids of America led by their National President Marge Cutwright, rode their cycles to The Triumph Corporation in Timonium, Md. where the.y were given a tour of the factory and entertained at lunch. ~---------------~-- t I t t I I P~GS I t I I t I t I I No. Y-1OO Yamaha Foot Rests. , •• PH. 589-5488, $5.90 pro Ret. I OTHER MOORS t i....s Sf*ial I No. 7·8 %" Frame Clamp Foot Rests t Complete $5.00 pro Ret. t I for eas, i.stalla';o. RIDERS I WE DO SEE YOUR DEALER. No. 1·0 1" Frame Clamp Foot Rests I NOT SELL RETAIL. Complete $5.00 pro Ret. I t ~ AAM7lfL' No. 1-18 11/8" Frame Clamp Foot t I !:dOI'1f'HW Rests E t Complete $5.00 pro Ret. I I I 4915 I No. 3·4 Frame Clamp Foot Rests Complete $5.00 pro Ret. t PASSENGER FOR YAMAHA TRAil MODELS: , -"'If ~ -Ps a , Ji\ ... Pacific Blvd .• Vernan, Cam. 90058 3,4" Phane, 213 589·5488 I ------------~ •

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