Our month-long stay at an Airbnb in Morro Bay is the perfect place to trial the new bike. Here we are close to our sons and many outdoor recreational opportunities. For us, this is a great way to safely vacation during the COVID pandemic.
Although the California Butler Motorcycle Maps provide us many great riding options, it is the impromptu suggestions from local adventure riders that send us new directions and on our best journeys. Follow our route described below on this Google Map link.
Another Triumph rider at the gas station near our house said one of the best road rides in the area is State Route 41 between Morro Bay and Parkfield. Route 41 is a smooth paved road that winds through avocado and olive groves. Between Atascadero and Creston, we witness amazing vistas, including steep straw-colored pastures and dense groves of trees. Just past Shandon we turn down Cholame Valley Road towards Parkfield. On this paved, but bumpy road we ride through farm fields on either side, while trees dot the hillsides farther away.
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| "Jerry's Corner" on the San Andreas Fault |
We follow Jerry’s advice and wow! We ride through the quaint town of Parkfield, which has eclectic, fun looking – but closed - establishments that we need to visit once COVID is over. The Parkfield-Coalinga road winds us up into the mountain. As Jerry warned, the road turns into the hard packed dirt of the Parkfield Grade with incredible mountain views. The Tiger’s off-road mode performs perfectly, providing grip and traction on the steep, dirt road. Although the road is uneven with occasional debris, the Tiger absorbs the bumps well for both driver and passenger. The steep slopes and hills below us look like velvet shining in the sun, with shades of tan, green, and blue.
As we climb higher in elevation, the scrubby trees turn to taller evergreens, with large pinecones covering the road in places. We pass many cattle gates with open range cows grazing along the roadside. At Route 198 we stop at a roadside pull-off for granola bars and water. Although the weather was warm and sunny until this point, from here we have a windy, cold ride on U.S. Route 101 back to Morro Bay. The Tiger’s instrument display records the day’s ride at 195 miles, over 4 ½ hours, averaging 42 mph.
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| Parkfield Grade |
Jerry also suggested we ride Peach Tree Road, so we head back there another day. This time we take Old Creek Road from Morrow Bay to State Route 46, which passes through Paso Robles wine country. Grapevines fill our view on both roadsides. In San Miguel we stop for pictures at the mission, then take Indian Valley Road to Peach Tree Road.
At this point the landscape turns to cow pastures on treeless, steep slopes with short sage-green plant cover. Well-rounded hills roll one after another, often looking like camel humps.
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| San Miguel Mission |
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| Peach Tree Road |
Peach Tree Road is a paved road that climbs along the San Andreas Fault line. At the top, we stop for a snack and water break. Three other adventure bike riders and a farmer ride by, but otherwise we are all alone. It is so quiet here, with the birds serenading us as we soak in the beauty around us. The fault area is a steep cut in the ground with a small stream and a flat grassy area near the bottom.
Peach Tree Road takes us to State Route 198, which we ride back to Parkfield Grade. Riding the other direction this time, the Grade’s pavement is rougher and the dirt road bumpier than before. The Tiger’s off-road mode helps some, though there are a lot of “wash boards” in the dirt. We snake up and around the mountain and down again, all next to a steep edge. Some of it is good scary and all of it is spectacular. At one point a cow calf on the road stares at us as we ride by.
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| Parkfield Grade |
After passing through Parkfield again, we stop at “Jerry’s corner” for a snack rest before finishing the ride home. This corner is by a creek with a nice blend of large oak trees and open pasture. We watch many birds there, including red tail hawks mating, cute little acorn woodpeckers, magpies, and a bald Eagle souring overhead.
On the way back to Morro Bay via Route 41, we stop at a Taco place outside Atascadero for supper. It has COVID safe, outside dining and the best chili-relleno I’ve ever eaten. All in all, another great moto day riding 189 miles, almost 5 bike hours, averaging 38 mph. 
Our new Tiger motorcycle is the perfect addition to our retirement travel adventures. In the past, we’d often been at a road intersecting gravel and pavement and wondered what’s down the gravel road. This adventure bike takes us a new direction, down dirt and gravel roads, where we see breathtaking views and experience exhilarating rides. We can’t wait to see what direction our bike will take us next.
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