Cycle News is a weekly magazine that covers all aspects of motorcycling including Supercross, Motocross and MotoGP as well as new motorcycles
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Ride the Sespe By Donald E. L. Betsworth Photos by Donald W. Betsworth Sespe Creek - the hot springs. Most riders have heard of them, -but strangely not many take the time to go and have a look. Many bikers only hit the desert, some stick to Gonnan, but wherever you ride try the Sespe at least once. To some it will be "bitchin," to others "a big zero," but it will 44 be different, The first ride to the Sespe , my son and I made, well I guess the best way to express it would be to use famous oudaw Cole Younger's favorite phrase, "It's a wonderment." Ses~ is an area that has a lot going for tt, and probably contains something to whet every rider's appetite. You can view scenery - it's best in the spring and occasionally, if you're lucky, a large California Condor, or fish for trout, and for many, girl watching. We all know what trout and girls look like, but to see a condor is a special trea t . The condor is a rare and illusive bird. It's America's largest; some weigh 20 pounds and have a nine-foot wingspan. There are about 80 in the Sespe Condor Sanctuary and are heavily protected. , It wasn't until last year when a friend of mine took his new bike on a shalr.edown ride did I learn what a super trip it could be. In telling me of his ride, the trout, and especially the bare-breasted sweetie swimmin~ in a warm water pool, my interest In the area really perked up. So based on this set of facts, I thought for at least 50 seconds and decided at the first opportunity, I and my riding partner, who is my photographer and number one son , would make the ride. The day we selected was the best riding day in weeks. Short sleeve weather, large billowy clouds, and just a tad of a breeze. This ride turned out to be quite a day. We ran into some super scenery . We had reached the hot springs, then went up the canyon to the end of the road. Then worlr.ing our way back we noticed several scooters parked at the old makeshift sauna , bath. We motored over to inquire how it was and to take a break. I thought the bath contained only bikers, so I got off the old TS and popped the lid on . the thermos of coffee. Just as I took a sip I got a very pleasant surprise. Out stepped a young, very pretty, well put together gal, totally in the buff and also very friendly . She walked over to us like we were "kissing cousins," We talked with her for about 10 minutes about bikes , the route we had ,used . Then she left, walking down the road just free as a bird. I remarked to my partner that she was one of the few girls I'd seen that had a tan every place but the bottom of her feet , I nicknamed her "Golden Girl, " due to her tan and being a true blonde. All over . Later I asked my son who was 16 at the time, what he thought of "Golden Girl," and he replied , "Well, she wasn't the least bit shy." This lovely canyon with its meandering stream can be a killer. Several years ago during a heavy storm the creek became a raging torrent and many people were trapped in the lower canyon by high water. A group of boys with an adult leader tried to get out on a large diesel tractor. Several were washed off and drowned when it , stalled in the creek. Just this year many were airlifted out by helicopter after a heavy thunderstorm . This pretty and playful creek can be tricky to cross even when the water is low. I know several riders , and I am one of them, who have done " laughin " type getoffs in some of the crossings . You know the kind: two miles per hour, a slippery rock, and splash. You're sitting In the creek with a back pocket full of water and your scooter ,is laying on its side sucking up the stuff like a camel after an eight day 'walk in the desert. To find the start of this excellent ride, drive to the pretty little town of Ojai. Get on Highway 55 and head north. From the intersection of 150 and 55 it's 15 miles of narrow, winding but good road to the Rose Valley turnoff. Watch for the sign because it's small and easy to overshoot. Turn and start down the canyon, in three miles you will pass the USFS helicopter base. Continue another three miles on the paved but bumpy road to Lion Campground. Park on the south or right side of the road. This side is free ' whil e the other is the actual campground and you must pay even to park. . Park your rig, off load your scooters and start riding. This was our second trip, the first as I mentioned ' was perfect weather; this time it was Over 90°, dry and dusty as hell . Starting at Lion Camp we turned east and followed the creek down the canyon. At 4 .6 miles the first obstacle pops up. The USFS has cut "tank traps" across the road. This keeps all but the hearty, good , or "damn the torpedo" drivers and riders from going any further. There is no other way but over , so gas it and go. Last year the " traps" were , just big whoop-de-doos and the road smooth. But this time they have deteriorated badly and some four wheel drive units were trying and just gave up. My partner, in going over the last de-doc, gaSsed it a tad too much and did a wheelie right over the top and landed three-quarters of the way down the other side. Fortunately it was right side up and on two wheels. Continue downstream and at 9.4 miles the road disappears into the rocky riverbed. The road on the other side is hard to spot, so look sharp, it's over there. All of the crossings this time were dry , but next time don't count on it . Push on (for a scooter rider that's a poor choice of words) and at approximately 14.2 miles the top of a rise is reached. Take a sharp left - the right fork dead ends in about a half mile and the narrow trail straight ahead is impossible after a hundred yards. The road used to continue for another few miles into the lower canyon but it washed out during the 1969 flood . After the left tum the road soon becomes a stream bed with water, this is the stream coming down Hot Springs Canyon. Stay in the water and shortly the road reappears. At about 15 miles, a rocky set of steps will slow you down. Plonk up the st~, then go right and with 15.7 on tlie speedo, you are at the hot springs. The warm pools are here and the sauna 'is' up the canyon aways. If you are curious like me, be careful when you touch the water coming out of the hill , it's blistering hot. For rock and ridge riders the Johnson Trail ends here, it comes down from Mutau Flats. Its end (or start) is just to the left of the rocky steps you just came over. We' met two riders who had just come down, and they looked mighty tired and dusty , They had started at Gorman, rode to Piru Creek and followed it to Loclr.wood Valley . They followed -the boulder filled stream 'to Mutau Flats then on to the Johnson Trail. According to one of the riders it was 26 miles from Gorman. He looked like he'd ridden 126. , There is a campground at the springs, but it is unimproved and thus no facilities. If you can carry basic camping gear, this would be a fine weekend trip. Maybe you'll be lucky and get a look at a "Golden Girl" like we did. Before you make the long drive, call the Ojai Ranger Station at 805/6464348. They close the road to everyone sometimes due to high water, snow or high fire hazard periods. Several maps are very helpful, and the ones I use are: the Los Padres National Forest Map, the Auto Club: Map of Ventura County, and the USGS Lion Canyon , Topatopa Mountains, Devils Heart Peak topo maps. •