Dave's Frost Bite Ride - March 10-11, 2007

Submitted by
Dave Palmer

Well, the Frost Bite ride turned out to be everything but a chilly event. Morning temp's in the 50's gave away to sunny daytime temps in the low 80's.

Thirteen motorcycles participated in the end-of-winter ride around southern California.

After breakfast it was off to our first stop at the Bennett's honey farm near Fillmore. Everyone had a chance to sample honey from different pollen sources. Orange blossom, sage, avocado, wild berry and eucalyptus were some of the samples. It is quite amazing experiencing the different flavors of honey, depending on the kind of pollen.

Next stop was the Fillmore Fish Hatchery. Rainbow Trout by the gazillion were swimming in protected ponds. Soon they would be shipped and released in lakes and streams throughout California. there was also a feeding station that made the impression we were seeing piranha fish with the water foaming up at the toss of some fish food.

Next stop, Santa Paula and the famous and highly photographed bronze statues of two police officers on their motorcycles. One on a Harley and the other on an Indian as they warned valley residents of the coming flood of the San Francisquito Dam in the late 1920's.

Next it was off by scenic route to the village of Ojai. The home of the six million dollar man... if you remember that TV show. We continued past lake Casitas to the foothills of Santa Barbara. Missing all the traffic of HWY 101 and up over the San Marcos Pass, we took the old Stage Coach road to Cold Springs Tavern built in 1846 and still in operation today as a cafe, exotic car and motorcycle stop. On to our lunch stop at the Paradise Road general store. A nice break before continuing on to the Santa Ynez Valley. The final stop for the day was Quick Silver Horse ranch. These horses are special in one vary important way. None is more than 38 inches tall. Like many other thoroughbred horse ranches in the area, Quick Silver has the facilities and breeding one might expect. But everything is in miniature. These are not ponies but true horses bred for the coal mines in Europe.

Wrapping up the day we were off to our hotel in Santa Maria. Following check-in and freshening up, we were all off to Nipomo and the infamous Jacko's steak house. All one has to say is Jacko's and everyone knows they are in for a delectable meal! After dinner several members went to the theater to see the movie Wild Hogs. Others called it a night.

Sunday morning it was on the road again at 8:30 a.m. and through the beautiful country roads to the little town of Los Alamos. From the center of this tiny town, we turned due south and onto the one lane Drum Canyon Road. This, another original stagecoach road, went up and over the mountain. The single lane and definitely remote Drum canyon, is known only by the locals for it's scenic beauty. Finally over the grade we wound up in the town of Buellton for our breakfast stop at a Danish pancake house called Ellen's.