XG-9 and a motorcycle ride

<p>Really bummed. Between my work schedule and the weather I wont be able to go on a ride this week. Next week isnt looking to good either. Sigh...</p>

<p>So in lieu of an actual ride I will just post some photos from my last long ride several weeks ago. 12 hours on the bike in some of the best motorcycling roads on earth. Find a little one and half lane barely paved goat path off Hwy 1 way north of San Fran called Meyers Grade Rd and there you will most likely find me.</p>

<p>All shots taken with my minolta XG-9 with either Ultramax or BW400CN. It has developed a sticky shutter issue so I havent used it after these were taken. Not quite sure what the white bits are on the film...light leaks I guess?</p>

<p>Enjoy. I sure did.</p>

<p><img src="http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5109/5691224734_c0e662e359_z.jpg" alt="" width="640" height="424" /></p>

<p><img src="http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5149/5691224496_52db9358df_z.jpg" alt="" width="640" height="424" /></p>

<p><img src="http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5102/5691224352_2350cac857_z.jpg" alt="" width="640" height="424" /></p>

<p><img src="http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5190/5690649859_696a844977_z.jpg" alt="" width="640" height="424" /></p>

<p><img src="http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5143/5690649575_d49fdcc6d5_z.jpg" alt="" width="640" height="424" /></p>

<p>If I can be doing anything in the world it would be this.</p>

<p>WOW, nice shots. I remember when my wife and I drove from LA to SF on HWY1 12 hours it was worth every second of the trip.<br>

The views were amazing. Can you drive a car on that road in your shots?. I am at work right now and at leat I can marvel at these shots of one of the most beautiful coast lines in the world.</p>

<p>I have to say, nice bike! I like it so much, I ride one too (same color/year). Although, I went for a Caribou Systems topcase instead of hard panniers.</p>

<p>Looks like you had a nice ride though.</p>

<p>Thanks <strong>Kris</strong>. Yes, the road is fully drivable by car. At many points the road is only wide enough for a single car to get thru, so careful around curves. You dont really run into a lot of people out there though. I think on my last ride on the entire 45 miles (there and back, so 90 miles really) of Meyers Grade and some other roads connecting it I only passed 3 other cars. And oddly enough a UPS truck.</p>

<p><strong>Zach</strong>, its good to hear somebody else has a Versys. I really think this is the best bike I have ever owned out of 9 motorcycles and that includes a Ducati 900SS CR. And you cant go wrong with Caribou, thats good stuff. It was indeed a wonderful ride.</p>

<p>What stunning scenery. You make me want to bolt up my old Bonneville and breathe life back into it. Thanks for the inspiration.</p>

<p><strong>Rob</strong>...you have a Bonneville just sitting around that your not riding? Are you INSANE MAN? Get out there right now and start fixing it up!!!</p>

<p>Im assuming its one of the older ones? Or is it from the new Triumph line? Either way, I have always felt like my bike shares a connection to the old brit bikes of old. The Kawasaki Versys has a 650cc parallel twin engine just like the old Triumphs and Nortons. You just cant go wrong with two cylinders and a place to hold on. I kinda nicknamed mine Spirit of Bonneville. :)</p>

Wow thats some beautiful scenery! I also ran from SF down to LA. Very envious of the freee spirit in the writing and the photos! If I could be anywhere do anything etc!! Rock on!

<p>Gorgeous photos.<br>

That Minolta and whatever lens you used is very good.<br>

I don't usually comment but<br>

..</p>

<p>Chuck- Thanks for the compliment. You gotta do the things in life that make you happy. :)</p>

<p>mike- Thank you to sir. That day I took the MD 35/2.8 which is the widest lens I own for my minoltas. It will probably be my main lens for bike travel for the wider landscapes I am likely to shot while out riding. This was the first time I had used it and I rather like it. I think it is the only non-rokkor lens I have as well which means it should have a great coating on it. The MD lenses are more plasticky but received the most up to date coatings if I recall correctly.</p>

<p>Very nice. Some of these views look just like like some parts of England.</p>

 

<blockquote>

<p><strong>Rob</strong>...you have a Bonneville just sitting around that your not riding? Are you INSANE MAN? Get out there right now and start fixing it up!!!</p>

</blockquote>

<p>Definitely!</p>