Paso Robles to Cambria to Morro Bay and back

Weather about 68 and sunny today so we are heading out for a ride through the hills to the coast. 

Rural mail boxes along the canyon road

With the help of www.bestbikingroads.com we found a few back roads that are not on the map but suggested as good riding in this area. 

vineyards  like lines drawn on the hillsides

Peachy Canyon Road west of town follows the Wine trail and surprises us in how quaint and southwestern style the vineyards are.  Different than Napa Valley area.  These feel small and inviting, ranch style. 

feel like we are on a trail

rustic farm area

The road is quiet and narrow and winding along the hills.  We turn onto another forgotten meandering trail called Santa Rosa Creek road.  Most of the way it is very narrow and perhaps you could say paved, almost turned back to the contours of the land so rough and bumpy.  We think its probably better suited to a Motocross bike than our big touring Harley!   Billy asks as we make our way treacherously down the mountain side; "how much farther?"  "Oh it's about 10 miles"....... so hang on .

very rough pavement but so worth it

We drop the speed down to about 20 mph and just enjoy the views.

Scottish Highlands???

 Green as grass, like a Scottish Highland?   We think so but must confess we have not been to Scotland.  Eventually the road ends and spits us out at the coast in a little town called Cambria.   Maybe we are right about the Highlands.  Cambria is Latin for Wales!!!   It's about that time of day when we need a bowl of soup and maybe a piece of pie.  Linn's Restaurant is famous for their Olallieberry Pie.  A real berry that is a cross between a raspberry and a blackberry - "Oh la leh" berry......   That's new to us, we have not heard of this fruit so we must try a piece.

Back on the road, a few miles south on Hwy 1 along the Pacific coast we see the Volcanic Plug called The Rock at Morro Bay.  You can see it for miles away,,,, it's 576 feet tall.  As we drove towards it we were wondering what geographic marvel is that?  It's huge. 

Morro Bay - The rock

Time to head back to Paso Robles and complete the loop ride.  Beautiful day, beautiful countryside in the Central Coast of California.